The next morning, my head was pounding. I could barely remember anything after getting drunk. When I dragged myself downstairs, everyone was sitting on the couch, except Manya. Their eyes were fixed on me, as if they had been waiting.
"Why is everyone sitting here? Not at the dining table? Doesn't anyone have to go to office or college?" I asked, confused.
Sarthak's cold, devilish voice cut through the silence.
"Wow. You think we'd welcome you with breakfast after you both got drunk and even ordered nine male models?"
Mom added sharply, "Right. Didn't we tell you not to go to the bar?"
"But Maa," I protested, "I didn't go willingly. Anvi forced me."
Sarthak raised an eyebrow. "Did she force you to get in the cab? To drink until you couldn't walk straight? To call for male models?"
"No… but the situation was different."
"Then explain the situation," he demanded.
At that exact moment, Aarne walked in.
"What happened? Did they do something?" she asked.
"Yes," Sarthak replied icily. "They went to a bar, ordered nine male models, and got drunk."
Aarne chuckled. "It's fine. I've done the same at their age. Don't be so harsh, let them have some fun."
"Right, sister Aarne!" Manya chimed in quickly.
"Shut up!" Sarthak snapped. His temper was rising. "Don't interfere in our family matters. And you two—Manya and Samira—you're coming with me on a business trip as punishment."
Manya's face lit up. "Wow, Brother! Where are we going?"
"Africa," he said flatly.
Her smile disappeared instantly, tears threatening to fall.
"Now go to college. Don't go anywhere else afterward—I'll pick you up myself. And Manya, you're coming with me to the office for your internship."
"Okay," we both mumbled, defeated. There was nothing else we could do.
At College
The moment I reached, Anvi rushed over.
"Did he hit you? Or get angry like my brother does?"
"No," I sighed. "He didn't hit me. But now I can't go anywhere after college, and he's dragging us to Africa on weekends."
Anvi burst out laughing. "Wow! You're going on vacation with your love!"
"Shut up! What love? That love is buried now—he's getting engaged."
"Okay, okay. Not love then… Brother," she teased.
"Good. Now let's just go to class."
In Class
Uncle Anirudh came in to teach, though his eyes kept flicking toward Anvi. After the test, as we were leaving, his voice stopped her.
"Anvi, come to my cabin," he said softly.
I waited outside while she went in.
"Anvi, I want to talk to you," he began.
"I don't want to," she snapped, clearly angry.
"Please… just listen to me for a moment."
"Fine. Start."
"I know you love me."
Her eyes widened. "What? How do you know?"
"So it's true," he said, almost relieved. "Why did you lie about having a boyfriend?"
"Yes, I love you! I've loved you for more than four years. You never noticed. You went abroad to get married—and now you're asking me why I lied? Do you have any shame left, or did you eat it up, you old man?" Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"It's not true," he insisted. "I went abroad to manage a branch, not to get married. Anvi, I love you. I love you so much I can't live without you. Every day, every hour without seeing you—it was like being trapped in a cage. Please, be mine forever. I'll never let you go again." He dropped to his knees, holding her hands desperately.
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" she whispered.
"Because I thought you'd never date anyone else. But then… you went to a bar and ordered male models…" His voice cracked, tears filling his eyes.
Anvi softened. "Okay… I'll give you a cha—"
Before she could finish, he kissed her passionately, as if he had waited for this moment forever.
"Wooooooo!" I suddenly cheered from the doorway, unable to hide my happiness.
But then I froze. Sarthak was standing behind me.
"Samira," he said calmly, "let them enjoy. Let's go home."
I nodded quickly. "Okay, let's go."
The car ride was suffocatingly silent until I broke it.
"Brother, when are you buying your engagement outfit?"
"My assistant will handle that," he said bluntly.
At Home
When we reached, Sarthak instructed, "Go inside. Tell Aunty I won't be home for dinner."
"Okay, I'll tell her," I said, stepping in.
At dinner, no one waited for me—they had already started. They invited me to sit, and I quietly joined.
Later, I went to my room and called Anvi.
"So… what happened after that kiss?" I teased.
"Nothing much. We went to an amusement park, had ice cream…" she giggled.
"I'm so happy for you," I said warmly.
"Thanks. I need to go—Mom's calling. Bye!"
"Bye-bye."
I hung up and lay in bed, my mind circling one question:
Where did Sarthak go, that he skipped dinner tonight?