Most of the time, people grow out of their promises, either by twisted or unlikely circumstances. Some just never meant it.

Priyanka left to find herself beyond the relationships that once hurt her, but she promised to never abandoned her family - to never turn her back on them. And it was worth it. She found what she was worth for. And her family learned the importance of her in her absence. There were many reasons for her separation from them, but none they understood, and only her dearth broke them. Priyanka left but promised to return, not under the circumstances of almost dying, but it is what it is. She had no other plan of returning to her family.

Sara accused Priyanka of not being there for her family and pressed her into defending herself. Priyanka was with them when Sara was too young to understand anything and when their own mother left them to mend her heartbreak with dying grandparents on their deathbeds. That was what Priyanka had sacrificed. She did not have time to cry and grieve because she was busy taking care of her younger siblings with grandparents and finding her mother on different beds with strangers.

More than any of her younger siblings, Priyanka had spent the most time with their Father, and naturally, his absence stung her the most, yet she did not turn her back on her family to mourn her loss after he left as her mother did.

Priyanka did not blame Sara and Vijay for any of her losses; she never oppugned their upbringing. They never could do wrong as she believed, but maybe her absence affected their such decisions. Sara may act mature, but still was too young to understand the nature of the love she proclaimed for Ceaser. Ceaser did not love her.

"And you, get the fuck out of my house," Krishant's eyes widened at the sudden outburst of Priyanka as she cussed at Ceaser. The realization of the severity of the situation hit him. He stopped to think it through and decided to stay silent while waiting for the opportunity. It was a blizzard crisis, and he had no say in it. He needed to learn the reason for the sudden chaos in the family.

"I can call the cops for you," Krishant offered, and Priyanka paused to look at the questioning man. Ceaser was someone Priyanka wished not to mess with, but he messed with her minor sister first, so it was worth it. She nodded. Krishant noticed her quivering lips as she tried to form a word, but before she could send a thanks on his way, he left with Madison in his hand as he decided to collect his thanks later. Ceasar quietly followed without even sparing a look at his young girlfriend, who was expecting just good for him.

"Leave him alone. I wouldn't meet him again." Sara said before trying to leave after the two men.

Priyanka immediately grabbed her wrist, "Don't you dare go anywhere near him," She warned with gritted teeth as rage poured from her glare. Sara had never seen furious Priyanka before, and it surprisingly quavers her sightly. "Do you even know who Ceasar Madison is?" Sara ponders the question, but her optimistic belief about her so-called love for Ceaser boasts her audacity.

"H-He's an accountant at..." She couldn't even complete her answer at the realization of not fully knowing anything about her lover's workplace.

"He has two daughters half of your age," Priyanka boomed, shocking each being in the house. Sarangi flinched while Vijay blanched in the back. Sara gasped. A shade loomed over her as her features turned dark and glum. The heat spread across her body, and her face flusters in embarrassment, hurt, and disbelief.

"That is not true," she quietly defended as her legs wobbled, "You don't know him." She accused Priyanka as rueful tears escaped her cloudy eyes.

Whereas moments for Priyanka were prompt, she darted to her stupid little sister to shake some senses into her naïve brain. "I don't know the Madisons?" She taunted, more like questioning. She grabbed a hold of Sarah's shoulder and vigorously jiggled her body while Sara just grunted in response. "Just go, and ask any high-schooler about Ceaser. Ask your classmates."

Sara felt sick to her stomach at the horrifying revelation about her boyfriend. Her head started spinning as the squeamishness made its way to her throat. She clasped her throat before darting towards the staircase to reach her room.

Priyanka was faster. She immediately understood Sarah's intentions of hiding in her room and trying to contact her beloved lover-boy. "You're not going anywhere without knowing the truth." She gripped her tighter.

Sara needed time to process. She's been in love with Ceaser for two years, and Priyanka knows nothing about their relationship or her boyfriend. He might be older than her, but not a cheater - she believed each lie he fed her. She swallowed the thick lump in her throat.

"Say whatever you want to. I don't believe you." Sara's eyes widen as she says. Priyanka saw the scared ghost behind the tearful clouds in her sister's eyes. She was scare to face the truth. She was afraid of heartbreak.

"You have to believe me." Priyanka softly says as fear of hurting her own sister eradicated her. "It's for your own good."

"NO!!" Priyanka flinches, "You're lying to me." Sarangi steps forwards as the situation alerts her, 

"He would never do that to me." She shrieked and fell back on the stairs.

Priyanka shrank at her words as disappointment filled her, and it only led to more anger, "Why would I lie to you?"

"Because you don't like Ceaser. He is older than me and unemployed." Sarangi defended, and her words baffled Priyanka.

"Do you hear yourself--"

"You've no reason to be so harsh about him."

"You literally have thousands of reasons to stay away from him. How can you be so blinded?"

"And why do you care?"

"Sara!" Sarangi warned.

"What?" Priyanka asked.

"I asked why do you care?" Priyanka couldn't answer, bewildered at the accusatory-hard gaze of her little sister. "You didn't care for five years. What's the scheme now?"

Sarangi sighs, aware of the damage Sara has bought with her unintentional accusations and further that she would bring. The day she dreaded the most: each one of them hurting Paris. It was inevitable. Now, no matter what she would say, bandages wouldn't heal pellet wounds.

Almost a whisper, "I am your sister." Priyanka upheld.

"And you didn't remember that for five years?" Words spew without its brain. Tears brimmed the older sister's eyes as she fells silent. "You don't know him as I do." Sara turned and trudged up the stairs. "Don't bother with the cops. Ceaser's did nothing wrong."

"How will you explain that to the law?" Vijay challenged. Sara was stunned at the dare of her own big brother. "We need proof that Anthony is a criminal, but you're a minor, and he's married. He has no way out of this."

"You do not threaten me now. You were least interested in my life till now. Why are you pretending?"

"No one is pretending," Vijay screams back.

"Vijay! Calm down." Sarangi held down her son.

"Why do you think we're lying to you? We're your family." He said.

"I am out of here. I don't wanna talk about this." Sara declares, but Priyanka stops.

"You're wiser than this." Priyanka resonates, "Listen to us."

"I know what I am doing."

"Don't be so stubborn," Priyanka yelled.

"And you don't tell me what to do."

"Watch your words. I wouldn't tolerate this."

"I wish you never came back."

The room grew speechless.

Finally, guilty, Sara could not face her beloved sister after such a harsh saying. She ran away to her room.

________

"She didn't mean it. You know that, right?" Sarangi tried consoling her eldest daughter. She felt sore, both physically and mentally. The worst birthday she could expect from her family only. 

They had a thing to ruin everything around her, to ruin her; she was better away from them.

Her train of tears never stopped, and her heart ached more.

"She wished that I had never come back." Priyanka sobs on the floor of her room as her mother and brother consolidate her. "What does that mean?" Sarangi meets Vijay's eyes as those were filled with as much concern as hers. "She did not want me to come back, or she just wished me dead? Which one was it?"

"You're misunderstanding it, Priyu. Sara did not mean anything she said." Sarangi empathizes,"I remember. Sara was so happy when she heard you were coming back alive and safe." Priyanka just cried more in response. Vijay sat beside her elder sister to hold her as she sobbed, but his elser sister immediately rejected him.

"You stay away from me." She moved away from him, "You're no different. You're even worst than her."

Vijay just looked at his sister. He silently moved to the door, understanding that his sister needed time to herself, and he too allows himself some rest. "Just...don't blame yourself for our mistakes."

Sarangi stayed behind. Leaving Priyanka by herself seemed worrisome for the night, "Please forgive Viju. Try to understand him only this once. I know you're hurt by the--"

"I'll forgive him. But I wouldn't forgive you." it stunned Sarangi, "Whatever steps Sara and Vijay have taken will be blame on you." Priyanka accused hoarsely, "You failed as a mother. You really thought that hiding from me would save you? Viju would've told me soon, but it was you - who stopped him. Am I right?"

"But I didn't mean it like--"

"I don't know why did you hide it from me. But I wouldn't have eaten you if you'd just told me the truth from the beginning."

"I know I have made a grave mistake, but please..." she mumbled.

"I would have thrashed that jerk a little, and that would've been it. I wouldn't have killed him, Mom. He's my brother too. You cheated me, and then you cheated me more." Priyanka thrashed Sarangi with aggression, "WHY?"

"Because I thought you'd die." Her mother cried and instantly regretted it. Beans of tears flowed through her horror-filled eyes as she gaped at Priyanka.

Priyanka slumped back as Sarangi continued, "Vij-Viju needed money, but he refused to take your money. I couldn't even ask you. You were in coma. I had no other choice. He didn't know either that I had sold your house, and Viju wanted to tell you as soon as you woke up, but I knew you'd feel betrayed. Please, forgive me if you can."

______

An hour passed, and everyone's hearts at home were still aching. They were still crying in their corner of comfort. Priyanka was still uncomfortably lying on the floor, and her eyes burned from constant sorrowful tears, but her heart did not stop bleeding.
She didn't even hear Krishant coming in.

He only stood there, looming above her head. He thought about executing his plans at that very moment. She was helpless and apart from her people. He had the perfect opportunity, but he had reasons to wait, and that'd more fun.

Instead, he painted his features with pain and pity as he approached his professed girlfriend. 

"Priya?" he called, and she jerked up by his soft voice. "Are you okay?"

She stays motionless but continues sobbing. She thought Krishant was already gone as he was gone for more than two hours. Priyanka thought about his presence and the effects he could bring. She straightens before saying, "W-Will you do m-me a favor?"

"Of course," he answers immediately, "Tell me anything."

"Can you drop me at The Grand? I can go by my--"

"At this hour?" he saw the opportunity before throwing the bait.

"Yeah. I can't stay here."

"I understand. I'll drop you off," he politely says, "But I suggest you come with me."

"What? Where?"

"To my home." Priyanka gasps. "Hotels are not safe or hygienic." His pointed nose wrinkles. "And I live alone with enough spare guest rooms. What do you say?"

"No. I don't think--"

"Please. I would love to have you as my guest." he spares a smile.

____