"Your time is limited,

so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Don't be trapped by dogma --

which is living with the results of other people's thinking."

-Steve Jobs

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Weird

Misha's POV

The drive back home was enveloped in an uneasy silence, but my mind was far from quiet. A cascade of questions swirled in my thoughts, like a relentless storm. How did Karan know about that secluded place, and why did he whisk me away there so abruptly? What was happening, and what was his connection to it all? 

Despite my burning curiosity, I found myself unable to summon the courage to confront Karan with these inquiries. 

When he eventually dropped me off at my doorstep, it was not without leaving yet another enigma in my mind: How did he know where I lived?

That night, when Sahil failed to return home, it dawned on me that I hadn't even had the chance to inform him about my unexpected departure from college with Karan. Concern for his well-being weighed on me, but when I retrieved my phone to send him a message, I discovered that he had already reached out. Sahil had messaged me, explaining that he was staying over at a friend's house for a project. Still, the events of the day lingered heavily on my mind.

My life has undergone significant changes since moving to New York. In college, my social life was blossoming, and I had forged a meaningful friendship. The miraculous reunion with my mother, after years of separation, had left an indelible mark on my heart. Even my relationship with Sahil was gradually returning to its normal, comfortable state. 

Strangely, Karan, without saying much, was making an unexpected impact on my life. In the classroom, his behavior often irritated me, yet it compelled me to be more engaged and active. Today's mysterious events, orchestrated by him, only added to his enigmatic role in my life.

The old adage, "Actions speak louder than words," resonated within me. Perhaps, just maybe, my perspective on Karan was beginning to shift, as his actions and their implications became more complex and intriguing than I could have ever imagined.

Next morning...

I awoke at 9 a.m. the next morning, greeted by the crisp chill of the weather. College was set to start at 10, giving me a mere 40 minutes to prepare. Rushing through my morning routine, I hastily took a bath, got dressed in a blue and white crop top paired with jeans, applied some basic makeup, and hurried downstairs. 

To my surprise, Sahil was already there, arranging plates of breakfast that were already prepared.

Questions flooded my mind. When had he returned home? Weren't he and his friend at his friend's place? 

Before I could voice my inquiries, the delightful aroma of my favorite pancakes wafted through the air, captivating my senses. I rushed towards the table, each bite of the pancakes invoking memories of my mother and her culinary skills. Sahil rarely cooked, but as I savored every mouthful, I couldn't help but be impressed by his culinary prowess. I couldn't stop praising his cooking, though it was the events of the previous night that I wanted to share with him.

Since the abrupt change in Sahil's demeanor that night, we hadn't revisited the past. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him, particularly about why he had distanced himself from me for so many years and what had prompted this sudden transformation. However, looking at his happy face, I couldn't bring myself to raise those topics. It was a quirk of mine, I realized, that I often set aside important matters when confronted with a smiling countenance.

We finished our meal and set off for school, driving in silence. As we rode together, Sahil shared stories about his friend and his friend's parents. I couldn't help but notice a tinge of sadness in his smile when he mentioned his friend's mother. I knew he missed our mother greatly, but above all, he seemed content that we had rekindled our sibling bond, with no lingering misunderstandings. 

My thoughts briefly touched upon our father's imminent return in two days, and I wondered how he would react to the newfound closeness between Sahil and me. It was a change that I believed he had never been fond of, and I pushed aside those concerns for now, choosing instead to relish these precious moments with my brother, fully aware that circumstances might soon alter.

Upon arriving at college, Sahil parked the car in his usual spot, and we both disembarked. Classes were set to begin in 10 minutes, and the corridors were still bustling with students. After entering the college building, we parted ways, each of us heading towards our respective lockers. 

As I walked by, I overheard some voices and was drawn to a crowd gathered near Karan's locker. My curiosity got the better of me, and I approached, my friends already there, capturing the ongoing exchange between Karan and his brunette girlfriend on their phones.

"You think you can ditch our date for that girl? She's just a nerd, baby. Why are you spending so much time with her, wandering around? I waited for you at the restaurant for at least 20 minutes, and when I called you, you said you forgot. How could you do this to me? We've been together for almost a year now," Mahira said, her voice quivering with feigned tears.

"I'm not doing anything wrong. You're making a big deal out of nothing. We both agreed that we'd have our own separate personal lives, and you can't dictate my every move," Karan retorted, his temper flaring. 

His gaze then fell on me, and he stared at me for a few moments with an unreadable expression before dismissing the crowd. Karan's multifaceted personality continued to baffle me—sometimes rude, sometimes composed and mature, and sometimes emotionally distant.

The rest of the day unfolded without any further drama or unexpected encounters with Karan or his group members. Now, I found myself seated in the passenger seat with Sahil driving in silence. I was contemplating how to broach the subject of my meeting with our mother.

"So, Sahil, how was your day?" I began, hoping to gauge his mood. Thankfully, he seemed calm.

"What's on your mind, Mish? You weren't just fidgeting with your hands for the past ten minutes to ask me about my day, were you?" he responded, a wry smile on his face. "But let me answer that for you: My day was fantastic. I aced the math test, thanks to you," he finished, his grin widening.

"Wow! Congratulations, I guess?" I replied, still processing his words. Sahil observed my unease and clearly sensed my nervousness, so there was no longer any reason to hide it. "I met Mom," I confessed after a pause, causing the car to come to an abrupt halt.

"WHAT?? WHEN?? HOW??" Sahil fired off a barrage of questions, turning towards me with a deeply concerned expression. "Did they hurt you? Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me and take me with you, sister? They could have harmed you," he continued without allowing me a chance to respond.

"Calm down, Sahil. Who would hurt me? What are you talking about?" I inquired, my confusion mounting in response to his sudden outburst.

He gazed at me, guilt evident in his eyes, but he remained tight-lipped. It was apparent that he needed some time to process whatever had triggered his intense reaction. Respecting his unspoken request for space, I decided not to press him further on that matter and instead continued with our conversation. 

"Anyway, yesterday Karan took me to that place and allowed me to meet Mom. Sahil, Mom is in a coma," I disclosed, pausing to gauge his reaction. His response was surprising—calm, yet tinged with guilt and sorrow. 

Nevertheless, I allowed him time to absorb the information before continuing, "I'm sharing this with you because I don't want anything to come between us," I added, conveying my desire to maintain our relationship at all costs.

"Karan? How did he even know about Mom and that place? How did it feel, going there?" Sahil inquired, attempting to maintain his composure.

"I had the same questions, but I couldn't bring myself to ask him. He simply instructed me to meet him in the parking lot after college yesterday and then took me there. Once we arrived, something overwhelmed me, and I fainted. It's possible that he carried me inside and facilitated my meeting with Mom," I explained. 

Sahil looked at me with sad eyes, concealing his tears. Without uttering a word, he started the car and swiftly turned it around. We soon found ourselves in front of the beach house, where the bodyguards were stationed today.

"Sahil..." I began to voice my concerns, wondering why he had brought me here once again. 

If Dad were to find out about my numerous visits to this place, I couldn't predict what consequences might follow. He might relocate Mom or take even harsher measures, putting my life in jeopardy or making it an unbearable ordeal.

"Don't worry. I don't want you to risk meeting Mom and endangering your life. I'll bring you here whenever you want, and Dad won't find out, I promise," Sahil reassured me, understanding my apprehension. 

It was a poignant moment, realizing just how much my brother had matured and evolved during the years of our separation.

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Thanks for reading...

Lots of love...

xxx