A spirit spring! She remembered reading about stuff like this in books. They were supposed to wash away toxins and heal you.
She noticed a two-story villa and decided to check it out.
The place was amazing. The living room was huge, with a fancy sofa and a massive chandelier. The kitchen was packed with brand-new, working appliances. The master bedroom was all set up, and even the bathroom had running water.
In a study, she found a diary on a desk. It said this place was powerful and full of secrets. It had a movie theater, a training room, and a medicine room with potions from another world. The black dirt outside could make plants grow super fast. There were two storage sheds: one where time stood still and one where it passed normally.
She went back to the spring and took a drink. The water was sweet and made her whole body feel warm and tingly. But then a terrible smell hit her. She looked down and saw her skin was covered in a nasty, black goo.
She thought about leaving, and in a blink, she was back in her apartment. She ran to the shower and scrubbed for a full hour.
When she got out, she felt incredible—lighter and full of energy. She decided she had to start working out before the apocalypse hit. She also noticed the cut on her finger was completely gone.
She caught her reflection in the mirror and gasped. Her skin was perfect, and she even looked a little taller. That spring was unbelievable.
She tested the space by sending her phone in and calling it back with just a thought. She tried to go in herself, but she couldn't. Then she noticed a sort of clock in her mind that read 00:00.
She checked the diary and found out she could only go inside for 20 minutes a day, and she'd already used up her time for today. The good news was that any unused time would roll over to the next day.
She checked the time. It was almost dinner. She had to get ready to see her family.
She threw on some blue jeans and a purple top, took a taxi, and arrived at her family's old house a few hours later.
She knocked. The maid opened the door, gave her a cold look, and just walked away.
Ruhi was used to it. Even the staff looked down on her. But in her past life, she'd been so desperate for her family's love that she never even noticed.
"Sister, you're finally here! We've all been waiting. What took you so long?" Siya said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.
Hearing that voice, Ruhi clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white. Memories came flooding back, and she wanted to scream at them all.
"Sister? Are you listening? Did I do something wrong?" Siya asked, putting on her best hurt-puppy expression.
Ruhi snapped out of it, forcing herself to stay calm.
Just then, her third brother came out after hearing Siya's pitiful tone. He took one look at her fake tears and got instantly angry.
"Siya, what's wrong? Did Ruhi do something to you? Just say the word, and I'll deal with her."
Siya wiped a pretend tear. "It's nothing, Brother. It's not Sister's fault. I just got a little emotional seeing her after so long."
Ruhi just watched, bored. She'd seen this act a thousand times.
Her brother shot her a look of pure disgust. "Apologize to Siya."
"Why would I? I didn't do anything," Ruhi said, her voice flat.
That made him even angrier. "How dare you talk back to me!" he shouted, stepping forward to slap her.
Behind him, Siya smirked.
But as his hand swung toward her face, Ruhi caught his wrist. In one smooth move, she twisted his arm behind his back. He let out a high-pitched scream.
He stared at her, shocked and in pain. "Let go! Let go of me!"
Ruhi didn't flinch. "I thought you wanted to teach me a lesson?"
"No! I won't! I take it back! Please, let go!"
Hearing the noise, the rest of the family rushed out. They froze, stunned to see their usually timid daughter manhandling her brother.
"Mom! Dad! Help me!"
Ruhi let go. As everyone rushed to her brother's side, she walked straight over to a stunned Siya.
*SMACK!*
Ruhi slapped her across the face.
Siya finally snapped out of it, holding her red cheek. She stared at Ruhi, a mix of disbelief and rage on her face. "You... you hit me!"
Ruhi gave a cold smile. "What? Your dear brother said I bullied you. Since I'm getting blamed for it anyway, I figured I might as well do it for real."
Everyone crowded around Siya, completely forgetting the third brother, who was still moaning on the floor.
Ruhi looked down at him, alone and ignored. "See?" she said mockingly. "The sister you wanted to protect is getting all the attention, and no one even bothered to help you up."
Then she turned and walked away, leaving him speechless.
---
The dining room was quiet, the kind of quiet that feels heavy and fake. The long table was covered in all of Siya's favorite foods: butter chicken, biryani, and paneer tikka. The sight of it almost made Ruhi laugh. It was so predictable.
So *this* is the "special dinner" Mom made, she thought. Of course it is.
She pulled out the chair at the far end of the table, the one nobody ever wanted. It creaked as she sat down. She didn't wait for anyone else. She knew a show was coming, and she needed to eat.
After years in the apocalypse, surviving on scraps, the smell of real food was almost overwhelming. It was amazing.
She piled a plate high with biryani and took a bite. The rice was perfect, and the meat was soft. It was a taste of a normal life she never got to have. She ate calmly, savoring every bit.
A few minutes later, the rest of the family came in. She could feel them glaring at her, but she just kept eating. Chairs scraped as they sat down. Her mom sighed loudly. Her brothers were practically fuming. But nobody said a word.
"He must have told them to behave," she thought, scooping up more food. "He can't get Grandpa's money if I walk out. Not yet."
Mr. Gupta cleared his throat, trying to sound like he was in charge. He looked at his daughter—the new confidence in how she sat, the cool look in her eyes. It made him nervous. The pushover was gone.
He forced a smile. "Ruhi," he said, his voice too cheerful. "How is everything at school?"
Ruhi finished her bite, put her fork down, and wiped her mouth. She took her time. Finally, she looked right at him, her expression blank.
"Dad," she said, her voice steady. "Let's not pretend. Lawyer Jain already called me. I know about Grandfather's inheritance."
The reaction was instant.
*"What?!"* The word burst from everyone at the table at once.
"How did you get that call?!" her second brother demanded, his coolness completely gone.
Ruhi let a small, faint smile show. She tilted her head, pretending to be confused. "Why wouldn't I get the call?"
Everyone immediately looked at Siya, their faces full of panic. Siya, who was still rubbing her cheek, went pale. You could see her brain working overtime to come up with a lie. She bit her lip, trying to look sweet and concerned.
"Sister," she said, her voice syrupy, "we just meant... well, didn't Rohal tell you not to answer your phone until he called you first?"
Ruhi's eyebrows shot up in fake surprise. "Oh! He did say that," she agreed. Then she paused, letting her gaze settle on Siya. She looked genuinely curious. "But... how did *you* know what my boyfriend said to me?"
The question shut down the whole room. Siya's mouth hung open. Nothing came out. She looked desperately at her parents, but they just looked away, guilty and embarrassed.
In that dead silence, Ruhi had her answer. It was all true. Everyone knew about Siya and Rohal. Everyone was in on it. She was the only one who had been kept in the dark.
Author's note—If you like my store, then please give me feedback, and it's my first novel, so forgive any mistakes.