Family. A word so small yet carries one's entire world in it. Family was all I had known until I was eighteen. My friends came from my family. They were my life. I don't remember even talking to someone else in school. Neither did Suhana. We were it for eachother and outside, it was the four of us, later in 6th standard— the six of us. It was enough, we were enough. We had found love, we had found friends for lifetime... all in families.

Then, I left. I left and I saw the world from naked eyes. The mean, mean world. I not only heard but saw, best friends who cheated on the other one with the love of their life. Lovers, who were in love one second and in the arms of someone else, in the other. Family, who pulled down other family members for wealth or just for fun. I was picked up from being wrapped in the bubble wraps of love and protection and was dumped in the ocean of hatred, jealousy and despair all around me. Selfishness. So much selfishness!

I was scared of my own shadow in the starting day. Trusting someone was always hard, but this time... I was scared of even talking. If it weren't for Ellie and Killian, I think I wouldn't have ever made it back here in one piece. One day they saw me and decided that I'm going to be their Indian friend. They decided that they were going to be the only two people I will put my faith on for the next five years and I'm glad. I'm glad they did that.

Life was still pretty hard but now I had someone to wipe off my tears after a bad day or week. Killian would go on hunting spree, that's a different thing. Killian treated me the worst. He would bully me just like Sahil bullies Falak, but just like him, Killian would kill anyone else who tried to come in my way. For him, roasting me, is only his right! Only he could tease me, bully me, prank me and then buy me desserts after I start scowling at him.

But, that didn't mean that between all this... I wasn't reminded of how my brother treated me. How Advik would tease me. How my big brother would take my side even when I was wrong when I had a fight with his bestfriend. How my brother would spend not hours but nights looking after me when I was ill. How he would sneak in my room just because he didn't want to sleep alone.

I went from having a permanent roommate to sharing space with strangers who despised my presence. I went from having a comfortable life to thinking about how I'm going to pay for my next week's food. I went from having home cooked meals to spending the day just on a jam sandwich. But that didn't hurt as much as living away from these people did. I had millions of people surrounding me day and night and yet, I was lonely. So fluffing lonely, that sometime it hurt to even breathe. My heart craved for that familiarity, that care and love oozing out of everyone around me.

But I had done this. I had pushed these people away and I deserved everything that came my way—

"Ahaana."

"Aahu!"

"Haan?" I'm shaken out of my thoughts with the loud banging of door. "Haanji Dadda!" I run towards my bedroom door and throw it open, coming face to face with my father's fear stricken face.

"What's wrong?" Is his first question when his eyes finally comes back to my face after checking my body for any visible damage.

"I had earplugs on. I couldn't hear you calling me." I cleared my throat and replied, the lines started to loosen up a bit from his forehead. I walked in his chest. "You come with Advu, okay? Mumma and I'm leaving. We will meet you both directly there." I nod in agreement. Mom and Dad has to— do something. They did inform me but it slipped my mind.

I wave my father bye as my mother descend down the stairs, she gives me a kiss in the air while she's on phone and follows my father. I stand there for some more minutes thinking about what should I do to keep my head away from thinking about the past.

It's been so long I danced!

I fetch my phone and speakers from the bedroom, and head out to the balcony in front of the office. Sliding the balcony doors open, I turn the music on connecting it with the bluetooth.

"Bhai." Zia lightly slaps the table, I move my eyes from the laptop to my sister's face. She looks out of the door. I follow her view and smile. Third day in a row, she's wearing ethnic, for three straight days now. Someone's trying to sweep me off my feets? Or get me to say the words?

She doesn't know I'm home already. I was going to visit her but Zia needed to see me, so I came here in the office where my sister has been working her magic on her bestfriend's reception outfit.

"She's gonna dance!" Zia steals my words. Dance? I haven't seen her dance in five years. No one has actually.

"I'm recording this." Zia gets out of her chair and opens the door. I keep seated as I watch my sister fangirling over my fiancée. She's waiting to start from her favourite lines, maybe. She turns around facing Suhana, while the song plays in the background. Shea smiles at her bestfriend but doesn't speak. I make my presence evident by walking towards the door frame, standing beside my sister, Shea winks at me making Suhana chuckle.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

And she starts dancing. Her wavy hairs moves before her body and I was done for. Knees? I'll be on the ground for all of eternity's, if she's mine in every single one.

For her, dance has been always a freedom. From herself, her worries, her anxieties. It was a way by which she brought herself back to the present. If she chose to dance at this time, I'm sure she was overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. To dance, is to heal. To dance, is being a bird and just flowing... sailing... as high up in the sky as she wanted. Her body didn't move, it floated... the lyrics in the background were her waves and she glided away with those waves. The pink hue returned on her face telling me, she was back here. Out of her heart & head and around me.

I didn't know when I moved steps closer to her. The music had stopped and so did her body. She met my eyes. I held her hand... entwining our fingers. Her palm felt warm in my cold ones. Just like her being in my life gave my otherwise chilling heart, a fresh, warm breath of hope.

"What's wrong?" The words are out before I can stop myself, she barely nods before looking behind me and I realise Zia's still here. I take a step behind, letting air pass through us, my gaze still intact on her face. Her eyes slides back to me, she pats my chest twice before pulling away from me and walking to her best friend.

"I recorded you and I'm going to put it on stories!" Zia's voice fills the now quiet area. I don't turn around knowing my sister will be leaving— "okay. Gotta go. Catch yaa later." I hear Zia's voice fading away as she runs into the house. I turn my head sideways, Shea looks confused. Her eyes still looking at where her bestfriend once stood. A smile stretches over my lips as shakes her head and turns around meeting my eyes.

I walk towards the balcony and put my wrist over the fence, her body takes the empty space beside me. Standing exactly how I'm standing. I chuckle shaking head at her. My eyes falls on both our hands on the glass fence. Our rings shines. I open my palm, she keeps her left hand in my right one, and I interlock our fingers.

"What's up with the outfit, Shea? It's not uncomfortable?" I tease. She keeps looking at something far ahead, her cheeks flare making her bite down on her lower lip. I laugh quitely, as turns her head down trying to hide away her blushing face. With our hands still interlocked, I turn around, leaning my back against the glass while she stays the same way. I tuck her wild hairstands behind her ears with my other hand. She steps closer, coming to hug me. I pull her warm blushing body closer.

"Did you go through the pdfs I sent you... biwiji?" I feel it. The hitch of her breath. I feel it all too well. I called her biwi that day, not knowing this word had such effect on her. I knew why she's wearing these clothes. Just to hear that word again. But I didn't give her what she wanted... until now.

"Hm?" I hum, she gulps the breath down and exhales, looking up and meeting my eyes. "What pdf?" I roll eyes.

"Do you ever check your phone? Actually no. The correct question is... what do you do on that device every second of the day, if not work?" And just like that all the blush, smile and teasings fly off to whatever corner they came from.

"I'm going to get married in few days. My day is spent looking after myself, resting, gossiping and telling everyone how tired I am." She tells me in such a gentle honest manner, I almost let it go. Get married? Or main mujra karne wala hoon? What about my rest? Me looking after myself? Iski akeli ki shaadi hai? Hawa se shaadi kar rahi hai ye?

"Shea, you be grateful to waheguru that I fucking l—adore you enough to let these stupid little things go. Did you even go check up on the house work?" If she says no, I'm throwing her down this building and then jumping behind her to catch her.

"Yes. I did. I also changed the flooring."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't like it?" She looks at me with 'are you dumb' written all over her face.

"But I liked it!" Yeah. Pretty soon I'd be found throwing my legs around in air because this woman just doesn't listen to me. Or anyone for that matter.

"And who asked for your opinion in my house? You designed the penthouse according to your taste no? This house should scream Shea." She states, loud enough for everyone in the world to hear. I slap my hand over her lips.

"If I so much as see a pink light in my house na, Shea. Main kuch kar doonga tujhe!" I warn her. She takes a step closer.

"Kya karoge? You gonna punish me, hmm? Throw me over—" I slap back my palm over her lips before looking behind her to see if someone heard us. Her teeth sinks into my palm, the pain rushing straight to my fucking legs. I hiss.

"Hadd besharmi pe utar rakhi hai tu, besharam aurat!" I shake my head at her, she kisses the place she bit on before bringing her left hand to my palm that is on her mouth. She goes to bring my hand down with hers but something catches my eyes.

Something really thin and fine. I hold her hand and turn it around. The black thread she always has is gone and so is the watch. And that's why I see it.

The letter S inked on her skin. She tries pulling her hand back. I tighten my hold on it and pull it to my chest. My eyes flicks to her face. "When did you get this?" I expect her reply to be 'just some days back'.

"My birthday. Last year." She replies and jerks away her hand. My hold had loosened so she was able to easily step out of my arms. Before she can take another step back, I pull her to me. Her wrist behind her back, making sure it stings her a little. "Shai!" She breathes.

"You have my initials inked on you since a year?" I question, her hair moving a bit with my breath fanning the sides of her face. "What if I didn't agree to this relationship?" I leave her wrist.

"Mera pyaar aapki sehmati ka mohtaaj nahi, Sahil. Aap chahe iss rishte ke liye mana kar dete... main samjhti aapki baat. Dil toda tha maine aapka. Aapka pura haq banta tha mujhe naa apnane ka. Ye maine kisi ko dikhane ke liye nahi banwaya—ye mere liye hai... meri khushi ke liye." Then she brings her hand to her lips, between us, and kisses the tattoo. My heart, it feels so fucking heavy. Clogged with emotions that I find it hard to even breathe.

"But I'll be forever grateful to you for accepting me. Thankyou for giving me another chance. I'll spend the rest of our lives cherishing and loving you." She stands on her tip toes and places a feathery kiss on my cheeks.

"Why wrist? Why here?" I rub that tattoo, gently. Like it's not my thumb but a feather.

"You always kissed me here." I look at her to see her looking where my thumb grazes her skin. I did. I always kissed her wrist. I couldn't kiss her lips so I kissed her wrist. Kissing her wrist was like creating intimacy between us. It was a intimate experience for us and plain harmless thing for our parents and friends. It was our thing.

"Why don't you kiss it now?" She asks. I let a smile stretch over my lips, my palm comes to cup her cheek. With my little finger under her jaw, I tilt her head a little. "Because now I can just kiss your lips." And then I crash my lips on hers. She gasp, I take it as my chance to tease her tongue. But before we go deep into it, I pull away. My eyes looking at our surroundings and then at her closed eyes. She breathes out through her slightly parted lips. I swipe my tongue on her lower lip once more, before moving my head back.

I'm about to let her go, knowing she has to leave soon but, "I have seen your love. I have seen your achievements that you so proudly wear on your face. But let me also see the scars you hide under this exterior. Let me also kiss them better." My voice barely a murmur. Her eyes flutters, she gulps down the lump in her throat. Her heart beats erratic.

"Why?"

"Because I want to see how many times you needed me and I wasn't there by your side. Because I want to feel and live your pain and this time, I will hold you to my chest as I make you forget about all those bad memories by kissing each of them away."

"Then why are you punishing me if you have forgiven me? Why are you holding those words locked in your heart?" She questions making me smile. I keep my hands on her shoulders after tucking some hairs behind her ears.

"Aapko lagta hai main aapko punish kar raha hoon? Ho sakta hai na main ek sahi samay ka intezaar kar raha hoon, hm?" I graze her neck with my thumb, our eyes stays locked. She goes to speak but I keep my finger on her lips. Shushing her up. Wanting her to hear something from me first.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Wo aakash mein badal..." I start whispering. Her eyes go wide for a second when she realises I'm telling her a poetry.

"Wo aakash mein badal,
Wo baadal mein baarish
Wo baarish mein boondein...
Wo boondo mein pani,
Wo pani mein aansu
Wo aansu mein namak...
Wo namak mein zakham,
Wo zakham mein hum
Wo hum mein main
Wo hum mein tum,
Haan tum.. haan tum,
Bas tum... sirf tum."

With each of my words we drew in closer to eachother. By the end of my lines, she had cupped my cheeks. She takes away my breath with her lips. It's not a slow, passionate kiss. Its barely a smooch. Rough. Painful. But deep. As if she's trying to sink herself and not just her teeth in me. I grunt. "Ahaaa.." I groan out her name from the throat. She doesn't reply and goes for that same harsh kiss again. I tug on her hairs.

"I love youuuuu!" She growls as if she's angry at me but I know it's just the intimacy between us wrecking havoc in her. I pull her to my chest. Hugging her close. She clings to me with her hands wrapped around my neck.

"I'm so late." She whispers making me chuckle.

"Bhai's gonna throw a tantrum and be a bish, hai na?" She questions, I bob my head in positive still in the hug. She groands pulling away. I let her. Smacking another quick kiss on my lips, she runs away. I stand there wrapped in the blanket of warmth she left behind.

"She was busy romancing with her fiancé. Not my fault!" Is the first thing my brother says to my parents when we reach our table. I give him a stare. He totally ignores it, and takes his seat.

"I wasn't romancing! We were discussing about the flooring of the house!" I slap my hand down on the table as I take my seat. Our parents looking between us in absolute amusement.

"I saw her come from the balcony and then seconds later, I saw him come out from the same nook. She was blushing and he had that crazy smile going!" I hate him. I hate this man so fluffing much. I'm gonna kill him in his sleep tonight. I call bullshitz on the fact that's he's my brother.

"Adv, stop it!" My mom chuckles looking at my father's cheeks turning pink in embarrassment. Waheguruji, Chakk lo aap bas ab mainu!

"Thank goodness these two are moving out. I cannot imagine living with them after they're married." My brother shakes his head. Same, kanjar. Same.

"Stop it now you two!" Dad slaps the table lightly. I ignore them all and pick up the menu.

"I pity Falak." I whisper, loud enough for only my brother to hear. "You should. I keep her on toes." He mumbles back. I shake head at the fluffer. Falak really needs to upgrade her choices. Buy some other plan or something. What did she even see in this dum dum?

•

The dinner went smoothly. Too smoothly. I wanted to get done with the hard part— telling my parents about the accident. But I didn't know how? How do you start a conversation about these things? Do you like jump in straight? Or beat around the bush? I don't know. I really wish there was some manual on things like these.

I swivel my spoon around, playing with the cheesecake crumbs. "Uh.. so I have been meaning to share something." I say making all three pair of eyes turn to me. My brothers confused gaze turns to understanding and a smile stretches over my lips when I feel his fingers interlacing with mine under the table. Mera kanjar!

"Remember I didn't pick up Sahil's call... uhh... dadu's call?" I meet my father's eyes, he gives me a nod to continue. "I-I actually had an accident that night."

"What?" I leave my spoon and reach out for my father's hand, my other hand tightening in my brother's hold.

"I fell down and lost consciousness, that's why I couldn't get in touch with you people."

"You lost consciousness?" My father speaks and I can feel the temperature around us crashing down. There's a reason everyone's so scared of Rudra Mehrotra. When he's pissed, it's over for everyone. Except my mother. The woman has him in a chokehold.

Ahaana! Focus!

"It wasn't that big of a deal, Dadd—"

"You knew about this?" My father cuts me off and looks at my brother. Bhai gives a nod. "Since when?"

"Leh. I told him when we were in Leh." I speak for Advik. My father pulls his hand away from my hold. "Papa—" He stands up, before I can, my mother reaches for his fingers. "Rudra." Their eyes meet. I don't know what he sees in there, but whatever it is, it makes him sit down.

"You had this accident two years back, Ahaana! And you couldn't be bothered enough to tell your family about this?" Each words comes out harsher then first. He's not angry but disappointed.

"What else is there huh? Who was there? What did the doctor say? I want to see where you were hurt." With each words he gets closer and closer to me. I look around, we were in the private corner away from all the eyes and ears. Moving my legs out from under the table, I stand up and go to sit beside my father.

I knew things will come to this so I had come prepared. Bringing the dress up to my mid thigh, I pull the biker shorts up. "Ahaana!" My mother gasps as the scar comes into view. My father's thumb touches it. I look up at his face. His eyes focused on my mark as he grazes it with his thumb. He looks up at my face, the moment I see tears in his eyes... my eyes welled up.

"It doesn't hurt, Dadda." I whisper as the first tears runs down his face. "Not anymore."

"Was I so wrong Ahaana? To let you do whatever you wished? I shouldn't have supported you this much. It was a mistake. I let you break all of us for your one smile and look at where it has got me!" His eyes narrows, jaw tight and I know it's taking his all... to not shout on me, to show his anger. I really wish he was here with me. He'd help me handle this situation so much better.

"Papa. Calm down, please." Advik speaks for the first time since this topic started. "Yes, she should have told us when it happened but it's been two years now. It was the pain. Her body couldn't handle the pain and she passed out. And then she had Falak and Suhana with her. Remember they went to inform her about Dadu, they took care of her." They did. The moment Suhana saw the bandage wrapped around my thigh, she slapped me. Later on, she gave me a ice pack for my cheeks and checked my injury.

"Falak and Suhana knew about this?" Ofcourse my father holds on to those words.

"Dad, I know it hurts you—"

"No, Adv. It doesn't hurt, beta. It's breaking me apart! The feeling of my own offspring not needing me, shatters me. When you were born, I was delighted... over the moon. But you grew up to be a Mumma's boy. I didn't hate it but it obviously made me feel left out when you showered your entire attention and love on your mother. I know every kid has a favourite parent and for you, it was your mother. And I wanted the similar experience. I wanted to see my kid's eyes shine when she sees me." His words are not directed towards me, it's all for bhai. He continues, "When your mother got pregnant with Ahaa, I knew this kid.. it's going to be mine. I could feel from the first month that it's a girl and her eyes are going to shine for me. It was as if I was given second chance at life, Advik. Second chance at being a father." I sniff, now side hugging him, hiding my face in his chest.

"And shine, they did. She was two months early, it worried me but the moment I held her for the first time— everything stopped. 'I would go to war for this little thing' was my first thought. I would've killed and died for her. With you, I was a father and you were my little side kick but with her, I was the protector... the provider... the superhero. It would get on my every last nerve when there were times she'd only seek him. I wanted to play mind games on a little boy, it was downright cruel of me. I wanted to hurt him, because he made her laugh louder than I did. He was stealing the shine in her eyes!" I laugh between the tears in his chest as his voice rises in exasperation. His hand comes to the back of my head and I look up. He joins our forheads.

He voice softens, "But now seeing that she's completely wiped me away from her life. That I'm merely a father to her and not Dadda, Paa, or Mr. Rudra Papa Mehrotra, it breaks me to pieces Advik. She pushed me away for five years. I let her, thinking she needs this time away. She was too dependent and it was just making her a shell, she was living with us but she wasn't able to grow so I gave her whatever she asked me. When I agreed to send her to London, I didn't know she'll not even contact us. I didn't just loose my daughter that day but also my wife and son because you hated me for letting her leave so easily."

"But I didn't know, Adv. I didn't know she'd push us all away. I thought it'll be easier, she'll calm down, come here and sort things out with him and then while she studies there, he can focus on his work here and continue their long distance relationship. I was going to get them married after she returned completing her Bachelor's degree."

"I didn't know that she'd not even pick our call, leave sorting things out. I didn't know she'll be so ruthless that she'd not even hear his side of the story. That day I realised I had created a stubborn little monster!" I hide my face back in his chest, that guilt feeling which had barely subsided, coming back to me in full force and it felt the pain wanted to claw out of my chest. I released a deep breath to stop myself from not breaking into hysterical sobs.

"But now finding out that even when she was at the worst, she never reached out to us hurts me more than anything. She stopped needing me, her father and that... I think has to be the absolute worst thing a father can feel. I didn't want that. I wanted her to stop being dependent on us and grow emotionally but not in this way. Not by pushing us away like we were just some strangers with memories." More tears falls from Paa's eyes and my fingers brush them away. Then, I wrap my hands around my Dadda's neck and hide myself in his neck. Hugging him tightly.

"I know my actions and words don't align but Dadda it wasn't because I didn't need you. It was because I knew you'd go above and beyond to see me—to make sure I was okay. I was scared Dadda, I thought if you knew I had hurt myself you'd make me leave everything and get me back to India. And we both know you would have done that. You would have brought me back here if you knew I hurt myself. I-I wasn't ready to face him at the time, Paa. I had crumbled many hearts. I had so much to put back together and so little energy. I had to take a breather and restart before coming here and sorting life out." I mumble in the hug. Papa tries to pull away from the hug but I don't let him, I tighten my grip— as if this one hug would solve everything.

"You pushed me away, Aahu. You didn't let me attend your graduation ceremony. You ignored three of my FaceTime requests." I pull my face away and glare.

"Paa, I was in the class thennn!" I wail out. He looks away making a huh face.

"Yes, I'm sorry for the graduation thing. Your daughter was pathetic idiot then so give her a pass. And I have never once ignored your Facetime calls. I might have ignored everyone else's but never yours." I point out. "Because you knew I'd be there in your face the next day!" See where I get the smugness from?

"Dad. Please. I know you're having a moment with your precious little shit, but she's twenty four, stop cradling her in your lap like she's two we are in public." My brother says from behind me. I cast the fluffer a look. Dad does the same.

"You sleep in your mothers lap every other night!" Dad comments. "You're just jealous she loves to spend more time with me." Bhai smirks, Paa and I turn to my mother at the same time. She's been silently watching all three of us since this discussion began.

"I get her undivided attention the whole night!" Dad grins at Mumma.

"Rudra!!"

"Dad!"

"Dad!" All three of us yells at Dad at the same time. I get down my father's lap and in between the couple. Paa looks away from his wife to me, his boyish grin turns to scowl.

"How many times have I told you two to never sit between us?" Dad says giving the same look to my brother. There are some rules in Mehrotra household— First, never walk into their room without knocking. I mean never. Advik and I have learnt it the hard way very early in our lives. Second, only Dad sits beside her. Not even on the other empty side. We sit infront of the couple. Third, he loves us but not more than her. We will always come second— see why I don't get along the father stealer?

And the fluffing hypocrisy, he hated it when I gave even a second of attention to Sahil but when it comes to my mother, I'm always second.

Fourth, her nights are his. We can be with her every second of the day but the moment the clock strucks 10PM, we're done.

The same rules are for the Sahdev siblings. Our fathers are obsessed with our mothers. And it's not that they don't fight—they have the worst fights— but even when they are fighting the rules doesn't change. My mother can throw as many insults and curses as she wants, but she sits by his side. Never away, never in the front. Always by his side.

"So you just used me for my womb, hai na? There's no hugs or tears for Mumma? Everything's either for Bhai or Dadda, never Mumma, right?" And here's where I get the dramatics from.

"Because you don't hold grudges like all these people. I knew you forgave every single mistake of mine the moment you pulled me in your chest from the elevator, the day I returned. That first hug was all that mattered to you and me." She nods agreeing with every word of mine.

"Mera bacha ghar aa gya tha. Mujhe or kuch nahi chahiye tha." Mumma takes me in a bear hug kissing my cheeks and I put my head on her shoulder. Not crying. Not speaking. Just hugging her and breathing in her arms. "I love you, Mumma." I whisper. "I know. I love you so much, chinu." I smile at the nickname but I don't complain. I'm her chinu. Her little baby. I'll be her chinu even when I have babies of my own.

"Another dessert?" Papa says behind us. I break the hug and look at him at a very inhuman speed, raising my hand, I bob my head. Advik does the same. Papa shakes his head at us, laughing.

•

Quickly finishing my raspberry sorbet, I share—fight for— Bhai's Carrot halwa icecream, while Dad and Mumma go use the restrooms before we leave. And no, I don't think about what's taking them so long.

Geez guys! Give the newly wedded couple some privacy, it's not as if they have been married for twenty nine years.

I steal the last bite—which was too big for my mouth but I still shoved it— while my brothers breaths fire at me. "Ghar chal tu." He mumbles raising his hand to gain our servers attention.

Dadda comes first, followed by my blushing mother. I keep myself from gagging out loud. "Your mother wants to watch the waves." Papa tells me while Bhaiya clears the bill. My mother loves the waves. She loves the sound of the ocean at night. All four of them spends some time at Marine Drive after their dinner dates.

"How do you know? Where did she tell? Wasn't she in the wash—"

"Get the car. Both of you." Papa cuts my rambling off, I narrow my eyes at him. He's always taking advantage of his 'Dad' tag. Bhai puts his hand on my shoulder and we both walk out. Mom and Dad joins us when the valet brings our car. Bhai takes the driver seat, I call shotgun—to no one in particular because my parents are already settled in the back seat. No fun!

Koi apna nahi,
Gham ke maare hai hum..

I go to turn the volume up but stop when I hear phone dialing from the back seat, I glance back at my parents to see Papa holding his phone out on speaker while he waits for the other person to receive his call.

"Ji Papa?" Falak's sound fills the car. I look at my brother, whose ears are all perked up now. I make my eyebrows dance giving him a teasing smile, he rolls eyes at me.

"Where are you?" Papa's voice makes me turn back my attention to him. "Home." My bhabhi says from the other side.

"And where were you supposed to be?" Papa questions, his voice all 'pissed off.' Huh? That's new. My parents loves Falak more than me. And that says a lot!

"Uh.. Dad, I-I got something at the last moment. I'm sorry I couldn't inform you about that." Falak clears her throat before speaking, I look back at my brother and notice his face. Like really notice with my Sherlock eyes. His jaw seems clenched. So is his fist on the wheel. His left hand rests on the armrest and he is digging his thumb over his engagement ring. He's angry! At Falak!

Smart Shea!

"What did he do?" Papa says and I look back at him, the car stops at the red light. Bhai looks out of the window. "Nothing Papa. As I said—"

"What. Did. He. Say?" Mom snatches the phone from Dad as his angry eyes stays on my brother. "Falak, I'm sorry. Rudra's being his usual hulk self." Mumma throws a glare at my father.

"What's happening beta?" Mumma sweetly trues to coax her. "Falak. Tell me if I need to kick his arse! I'd totally love to do that." I tell her. She softly chuckles. A little, faint smile spreads over my brothers face hearing her chuckle.

"I'll help her." Papa added making her giggle again. I smiled at the image of her.

"We'll be at Marine drive in 10 minutes, baby." Mumma informs her, we all impatiently wait for her answer. Falak's place ain't too far away from Marine.

"I'll see you guys there." Her replies almost a whisper but it makes all of us smile wide, not my stupid brother though. Mumma cuts the call and I sit straight in my chair. No one speaks anything. If he wants to tell us—

"I wanted to take her out for the weekend before the functions starts because we have been having some major timing problems in our relationship. We barely even text. She said no. It pissed me off." Bhai breaks the silence. I put my hand over his, he turns to me and starts fidgeting with my little finger.

"Did you yell at her?" Papa gently asks. Bhai shakes his head in negative. "Did you see her after this conversation?"

"We had this discussion the day before Roka, after the Roka I tried again but she got really upset and left. She hasn't answered any of my calls or messages since then." Bhai stops the car and at the same time another car stops infront of us. Falak's car. She gets down the car and stops beside ours. We all get out as well. Her eyes goes straight to my brother. She hugs Mom Dad and then comes to me. I kiss her cheeks, tightly hugging her.

Bhai walks past us and looks for an empty spot. We follow him and sit down, in such a way that Falak's sitting with him. "So is it a thing that if you both fight you give up on us as well?" Papa speaks the first. Falak looks down in embarrassment.

"I can disown him if you want." Papa continues with a smile. Falak shakes her head in negative smiling. She looks at my brother and leans into his arms slightly. His body relaxes so much with just that tiny act. It's as if he can finally, finally breathe again. I go all awe at the couple in my heart.

Tera-mera rishta hai, saanson se bhi najook...

"He didn't fight. I did." Falak tells my father. "He just wanted to spend some time together and I got upset without even telling him why I didn't want to leave." She looks at him. Their eyes meet.

"How about you guys shoo away to some corner and sort this out?" I snap my finger at them gesturing to leave. Falak shakes her head in negative, vigorously might I add. "We can sort this here. Stop shooing me off! I just saw you guys." She pouts at her parents in law. I roll eyes. Mumma cups her cheeks.

"Mera bachhhha!" She lightly squeezs her cheeks, Bhai and I look at eachother. These two birthed two but loves our partners and friends more than us.

"So why don't you want to go?" Bhai asks her. "Because it's her wedding!" She points at me.

"We going for two days. Not two months yaar Falak." My brother groans shaking his head at his woman.

"But I have so much work to do!" She opens her hand starts counting, "Her jewellery shopping is pending. Then I have to sort out her luggage, this brat—as her fiancé calls her— is living out of trolley bags for almost two months now. The dance rehearsals begins in two days. I have to help Sahil in packing both their stuff. Suhana and I have to safely set aside all our outfits for all the wedding functions. You have to handle so many things. She has a house to decorate and I damn well know she gonna fight with Sahil if Suhana and I are not there with these two crazies. And so much more."

"Adv, I know I don't have time for you but she just came back and she's gonna be married in fifteen days. We have been together for almost a decade now and we have all our lives to be together but Ahaa? She just returned after spending the hardest five years of her life and I just want her to be with him, be with us and not worry about any single thing. And just enjoy this most special and beautiful time of her life." Damn you fluffing tears! And damn you Falak! I'm so done sobbing every few minutes today. My eyes burn. But my heart is so so full at the love, it's so fluffing full I think it's gonna burst open.

"Yeah fuck! I have to meet the wedding planner and then the food tasting. Shit. You're right we have no time to take a vacation! If I try, Sahil's gonna break my fucking legs."

"Okay. You guys, please.. stop." I cry making them turn to me. "Ahaa.." Falak wraps her arms around me and I keep my head on her chest, weeping like a baby.

"I don't deserve this love. I really don't. Please go take that vacation. Please don't make me feel bad. I'm gonna be so mad at myself if you guys have differences because of me. I will handle everything. We hired the planner for a reason. Why are we paying him if we have to do everything on our own? I'll sort my luggage, I promi—"

"Ye aapke chinu radio ka off button dekho kidhar hai?" My brother mocks, I slap his forearms while the other three laughs at us.

"Do you know how lucky we are?" My mother looks at her daughter in law in adoration. I keep hugging her, she kisses my head every two seconds while her hand pats my back softly. If she keeps this up, I'm gonna sleep. But I don't tell her that, I just stay in her arms. "To have Falak and me in your life? Bery bery lucky." I mumble, my brother comes to smack my head but Falak shoves his hand away, I show him my tongue.

"The only good thing this stupid did in his life is falling in love with this one." Papa smacks my brothers head and nods at Falak. I high-five my father, Falak shakes her head at us.

"So we cool now?" My brother turns to the love of his life. She blinks smiling. I pull away from her and stand up. "Go see her off and then we leave. I'm sleepy." I wipe away my tears. My parents stand up too. Bhai gives his hand and helps her stand up.

"I'm still angry that you didn't join us for dinner." Papa stated. "I'll come and make your favourite Paneer tomorrow to coax you." Falak giggled hugging him.

"Thankyou for everything you—"

"Bahu hoon main iss ghar ki... haq banta hai Mumma mera sab sambhalne ka." Mumma places a kiss on her head. Falak then turns to me. "Don't even. You called me brat!" I warned.

"Such hypocrisy, Aahu! He calls you brat, british return princess and what not, yet you only see my brat?" She shakes her head pouting. "Just because he also calls you Shea and kisse—" I slap my hand on her lips, her eyes go wide as she looks at Mumma Papa.

"The bestie in me made an inevitable appearance, I'm sorry." She mutters making my parents laugh. I look at her in absolute disappointment.

"The bestie in you needs to die!" I hissed, slapping her arm. She rubs on the spot.

"I second that!" Bhai says pulling her away from us.

•

"I'm so tired." I say again, my head leaned against my brothers arm. He 'mhms' typing in his phone. Our parents whispering and giggling in the corner. Awe! Newly wedded couple busy coochie kooing?

Gags Internally!

The elevator stops, I look at the floor number. 9th. The door opens and he steps in. "Umm.. yeah? Yeah. Um.. Can you please repeat?" He says on the phone shaking his head a little and standing beside me. At his voice, my brother looks up from his phone and so does my parents. I stand up straight too.

"No. As my assistant already informed you, we're currently not working on anything new for the next couple of days. The new collection work will begin from December. Suhana and Ahaana looks into final designs." He continues, his back to us. I sneak my finger to his side and lightly tickle him before quickly bringing my hand back to my sides.

"Yes. Yes. Sure. Please get in touch with Joey, he'll help you with whatever you need. You too, Mr. Bansal. Goodbye." While he's on the call, I repeat my action, but this time he clutches my hand before I can take it back. I gasp and look around to see all three pair of eyes on us. My cheeks flare at their teasing smiles while he cuts the call and turns around with my hand still in his hold. I try to pull it back, feeling warm with my families eyes on us.

"You forgot I'm not ticklish." He says without caring that we have my parents and his best friend with us. "But she is." My brother says from behind me. When he looks above my head, and smirks. I know I'm done for!

"Papa!" I yell feeling the heat of my brother's body behind me. The elevator stops at that moment. My father pulls my laughing mother out leaving me with the satans.

"Mumma. Aapko chinu rah gya!" I try again, scared out of my fluffing wits.

"Shai. Nahi na. Bhaiii. Please." I try looking at both of them, walking backwards till my back touches the elevator walls. The door starts closing but Sahil put his hand and then steps out. My brother tugs me out with my wrist. "What's happening?" I hear my bestie say from the stairs.

"Suh! Save me." I try to go to my bestie but the first wave of tingles shoot through my body when my brother softly grazes my sides. Before I can say more, both the men starts their torture session.

"Hahaha! Sha—shaiiii! Pleaseeee. Hahahahhaha! St-stappphh! Can't—" I continue laughing and thrashing around, flailing my arms and legs and hairs between the guys. They don't stop. I squirm and wiggle while laughing almost crying hysterically.

"Bhaaaiiiii. Hahahha!" I can barely breath by the time they are done torturing me. They stop and I sit down on the floor breathing in and out, deep and fast. They sit down too, Suhana who has been laughing her arse off while recording, comes near us. I put my head in my brother's lap and close my eyes still working on calming my heartbeats. Another hand comes and wipes the sweat from my face, I lazily peek to find the hand belongs to my fiancé.

"You guys so bad!" I whisper closing my lids. One of them replies but I don't know when sleep takes over me in seconds.