The twin sisters, Anisha and Anika, walked over to the plush living room sofa, falling into a comfortable silence as they turned their heads to watch Rahul busy himself in the open kitchen.
Watching Rahul skillfully wash and chop vegetables with the practiced ease of a professional chef, the younger sister, Anika, began to murmur softly to herself.
"Why didn't Rahul come to Dhaka sooner?"
"If I had met a guy like him years ago, I can't even imagine how much happier my life would have been."
Anisha nodded slowly in agreement, her gaze never leaving Rahul's silhouette. "Yeah... he's like a beam of light cutting through a storm. He just suddenly appeared and illuminated everything."
"How long has it been since this apartment felt this... alive?"
"If only he could stay in Bangladesh forever," Anisha whispered.
Hearing her sister's wistful tone, Anika suddenly turned to face her. She hesitated for a moment, her voice dropping to a serious note. "Sister... about last night..."
Before Anika could launch into an explanation or an apology, Anisha gently cut her off.
"You don't need to say it. I already know."
"What you told me at the boutique was right: if we don't take a risk and live a little crazy now, we'll just grow old and wonder 'what if'. I know Rahul isn't staying here for long. This time, I'm choosing to leave myself with no regrets."
After declaring this, Anisha suddenly stood up from the sofa, smoothed her skirt, and walked purposefully toward the kitchen.
"Rahul, let me help you!"
Her voice was incredibly firm, lacking its usual timid edge.
Rahul, who was currently struggling to debone a chicken using a Western-style chef's knife, immediately waved his hand when he saw her approaching.
"Anisha, it's fine! Honestly, just sit back and relax. I've almost got this handled."
"No," Anisha said, walking right up to his side and looking him dead in the eye. "I want to help you. Are you really going to reject me?"
Rahul stopped what he was doing. In that moment, he felt a shift in Anisha's energy—she seemed more grounded, more present—but he couldn't quite put his finger on the cause.
"Alright then, Chef Anisha. Help me peel and wash these potatoes."
Rahul pointed to the sink, then suddenly realized he was missing a huge opportunity. He hadn't filmed any of this!
"Anika! Do me a favor and bring my DJI camera over!" he shouted toward the living room.
Anika grabbed the gear, powered it on, and immediately pointed the lens at her own gorgeous face.
"Hello, YouTube! This is Anika, Rahul's new official executive producer and exclusive photographer!"
"Today, I'm taking you behind the scenes to show you a side of Rahul you've never seen. Follow my lead!"
She flipped the camera around, framing a cinematic shot of Rahul skillfully stir-frying while Anisha worked closely beside him, rinsing vegetables.
Rahul flashed a brilliant, sunny thumbs-up to the lens.
"Guys, it's a long story. My old hotel turned out to be a disaster zone, so I've officially moved into the penthouse with the twins. And I'm declaring it once again for the record—this is NOT a script!"
An hour later.
Rahul brought the final dish—crispy, seasoned potato shreds—to the large dining table.
"Alright, ladies. Wash up! Dinner is served."
Looking at the four aromatic Indian-style dishes steaming on the table, Anika let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration.
"Wow, Rahul... it smells absolutely incredible!"
"It looks better than anything I've seen in a five-star hotel!"
Anisha stood by the table, clapping her hands like an excited little girl. The sisters were showering Rahul with the kind of pure emotional validation he hadn't felt in years.
"It's nothing fancy," Rahul said modestly. "I couldn't find half the spices I usually use, so it's a bit of a localized version. I hope it's edible."
"You're way too humble! This butter chicken looks perfect. I'm getting the wine—we have to celebrate!"
In high spirits, Anika walked quickly to the floor-to-ceiling wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle of premium red. Thinking back to the night before when she showed up at his hotel room with whiskey, a knowing, secret smile played on her lips.
By now, the sun had completely set. The sprawling lights of Dhaka gradually flickered to life, glowing through the massive windows. Anika intentionally dimmed the main lights, leaving only a single warm, amber pendant lamp hanging over the dining table.
The atmosphere instantly turned intimate and sophisticated. Sitting facing the windows, Rahul could see the endless sea of city lights stretching toward the horizon.
The sisters had even taken a moment to change into stunning evening gowns and touch up their makeup. Anisha wore a sultry, wine-red slip dress that perfectly highlighted her curves, while Anika wore a daring black mini-dress.
Red wine was poured into three crystal goblets. Looking at the two masterpieces of beauty sitting across from him, Rahul felt a bit lightheaded before he had even taken a single sip.
He picked up his camera, focusing first on the wine and the vibrant food, before panning slowly across to Anisha and Anika. Behind them was the shimmering, chaotic beauty of the Dhaka night.
With soothing lounge music playing softly from the hidden speakers, Rahul felt a wave of profound emotion. Who could have imagined that just a few days ago, he was a miserable corporate drone in Mumbai, drowning under a mortgage and a girlfriend who treated him like an ATM?
The current Rahul just wanted to raise a middle finger to his past life.
"Anisha, first, I want to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have stood you up the other night."
Rahul cast aside his thoughts, raised his glass, and looked directly at Anisha with a gentle gaze before tilting his head back to drain half the wine.
Anisha raised her glass, her eyes appearing as soft as moonlight. "It's okay, Rahul. You're right here in front of me now, aren't you?"
She matched his pace, finishing her entire glass in one go.
Anika wasn't about to be left out. She raised her goblet with a charming smirk. "And what about me? I want to thank you for giving me such a beautiful memory last night!"
She, too, finished her wine. After just one glass, a soft, alluring flush appeared on both of their cheeks under the warm amber light. Their eyes grew slightly hazy.
"Come on, eat! Tell me if it actually tastes good," Rahul said, pouring them each another round.
The sisters picked up their forks, tasting the chicken and the potatoes. While it might not have been Michelin-star quality, they both gave him glowing, enthusiastic reviews. They were genuinely happy from the bottom of their hearts.
After a few more glasses, Anisha seemed to transform. The shy exterior melted away. She rested her chin on her palm and looked at Rahul with a bold, hazy gaze.
"Rahul... be honest. Do you like my dress tonight?"
Rahul set his glass down and gave her a firm thumbs-up. "You look breathtaking, Anisha."
Anisha bit her lower lip softly, slowly tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The movement was slow, deliberate, and incredibly moving.
Suddenly, Rahul felt a light pressure against his foot under the table. It didn't stop there—it moved slowly up his calf.
Rahul inhaled a sharp breath of cold air and shot a glance at Anika. Is she playing those games again?
But Anika was currently standing up, walking toward the wine cabinet to get a second bottle.
Rahul's head snapped back toward Anisha.
"Rahul... why are you looking over there?" she whispered, her eyes locked onto his. "Did you really think I wouldn't dare?"
Hiss—
Rahul reached out and instantly clicked his camera to 'Off'.
Expert Guide Follow-up:
The tension in the penthouse has reached a boiling point with both sisters now actively vying for Rahul's attention. As Anika returns with the second bottle of wine, how should Rahul navigate this? Should he lean into the "double trouble" dynamic of the evening, or should he try to focus his attention on Anisha to balance out his earlier "memory" with Anika?