Aaina couldn't help but feel giddy with anticipation and happiness as she waited in Viaan's room. All but ready to surprise him. He had sounded so disheartened by the fact that he was in his home city, after so long and couldn't, just couldn't visit his home.

Because of stupid rules.

It was unfair.

And both of them knew well life was unfair.

So, the plan to surprise him, well, them had brewed unexpectedly. Well, it wasn't exactly a planned surprise at first. She knew she was going to meet them. There was no way in hell, she wasn't going to meet them when they were here, so close to her.

But the plan of surprise had brewed like a spur of the moment decision.  A decision that comes to life, the moment Ansh barged into her cabin holding his phone at a hand's distance looking totally comical while she pondered what he had done to her staff?

They always allow him to enter her cabin permissionless.

It was unfair on many levels and yes, she was sulking because her power seemed to have been disrupted.

And she was having a headache-inducing day just fine without Ansh's endearment term singing and inventing spree.

"Ina, my love, my dearest, my sun, and moon, the center of my universe, my one and only savior..."

Hearing Ansh's every ridiculous term of endearment, Aaina could feel her eyebrows slowly rising to her hairline. His term of endearments made her feel really-really endangered.

And she didn't like feeling endangered.

"What do you want?" Aaina couldn't help but ask him sounding totally suspicious of his intentions. What brought so much sudden affection to her?  What's he up to? Why is he buttering her? And why is he still here?

"Ina sweetheart, " he began again only to be cut-off by her narrowed eyes as she questioned him:

"And why aren't you on your merry way back to Mumbai? Don't have a shoot to do or something?"

She didn't know why he was still lingering at her place? It has been a good few days since they got the results and Sisira laughed again. Sisira was slowly starting to talk again. The doctors were hopeful that she'll forget all the trauma as time passed. She hoped that the doctor's hope comes true. For now, Sisira is still a selective speaker talking with just Ansh, Viaan, Savvy, Ro, and her.

And this brought her again to the fidgety Ansh in her cabin. It's not like she wants him to go away. She likes his company even if she feels like dropping him from top of mount Everest sometimes. She still likes his annoying presence but his buttering and fidgeting weren't giving her any good vibes.

"Now, Now...don't be so rude, Inu. I'm your brother-in-law show some respect and courtesy, " Ansh spoke totally pretentiously.

Aaina couldn't help but snort hearing Ansh's words. When had they ever spoken respectfully? She just remembers them fighting like cats and dogs all their life. There first meeting has also ended up in an argument over the logistics of Maggie making.

Yes, silly she knows but that's the point. They always have been exceptionally silly around each other, always.

"Well, I can have you respectfully and courteously thrown out of here, little brother" Aaina informed Ansh very pleasantly.

Ansh pouted.

"You're mean, "

"I know, tell me something I don't know, " Aaina said flatly as she turned the pages of the case file. She was recently studying before Ansh's entrance.

"Help me na, Inuuu" Ansh whined pitifully and Aaina sighed hopelessly.
What had he done now?  She threw him a look that screamed— start speaking before I lose patience.

"You see Vi's next match is here and I told mom that I'm Vi's lucky charm. You see their first test match ended us as a draw and they lost the second match. But in their third match, I went to see it and they won that match and even the series. And I told mom this, said Vi will feel more confident with my presence in the stadium. But I don't know why mom didn't believe my words much. She seems to trust you more, so could ya?" Ansh said almost sounding like a petulant child.

Ansh forwarded his phone to Aaina while Aaina gave him a look that screamed "I wonder why?" Nonetheless,  Aaina relented under Ansh's kicked puppy looks and dialed Ishana's number.

"Hello, how are you, Ma"

"I'm good too, "

"Yes, I was wondering that, "

"Yeah, I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Yeah, I don't mind. Yes, Ma. Yeah, take care. No. I know Love ya too"

Aaina's disconnected the call with Ishana smiling. She had started addressing Ishana as Ma, recently to avoid showing any discord in the family and giving the vultures out there any chance to plant fake images of them in front of the world.

"So, " the eager expectant eyes of Ansh begged her to hurry. Begged her to tell him, he has succeeded in the mission. He has succeeded in evading the boring pretentious, political battleground of a party.

"Well, Ma asked me to make sure you behave, little brother"

Ansh scowled.

Aaina grinned.

But it didn't take much for Ansh to move on from the momentary displeasure as he tried getting Aaina on board for his surprise plan.

Aaina agreed quite easily, after all, she was a prankster herself. And no matter, how hard she had to work or do over-work to snatch a day for herself. A few extra minutes with her family. She over-worked without any complaints.

It's quite easy to pretend to be free, to make it seem like being a workaholic was a habit and not sheer necessity. But she knew the difference between the necessity to work and acting to work quite fine. There was a list of people besides her family depending on her. If she lags behind. If her firm loses its name. They would suffer more than her. There will be a decrease in income and it will force her to slack some people. People whose livelihood depended on her.

And she had studied enough to know what unemployment does to people. She may not know how it feels to sleep with a hungry stomach for weeks. She may not know how it feels to work beneath her capability and station. But she has enough empathy and a sense of responsibility to know that people depend on her.

So, she doesn't slack off her work like ever. She has the responsibility of two enterprises and over a few thousand people work in those. And she cares for them. She knows their lives depend on her the most.

So, she works overtime, sets examples, and makes sure all her staff knows that, knows what's expected from them and what's accepted in her empire.

And maybe, that's why Viaan believed her without any doubt when she informed him — she couldn't come to meet him. He didn't have even the slightest doubts that she might be planning something else.

He knew she was busy. He knew, how busy she could get. Both of them knew that well. For she had spent days keeping watch over boys falling asleep due to exhaustion on shooting sites and they kept reminding her of the necessary things like eating and sleeping when she worked herself to death.

But every single ounce of energy seemed to worth it and even more when the reason for her hard work flashed in front of her eyes.

Viaan's expression on finding her in his room, wearing his stolen shirt was worth everything.

"Hey, love, "

She couldn't help the cheesy grin on her face watching Viaan freeze on his steps. The way his eyes widen, the double-take, and the way light seemed to seep out of his eyes.

A light of utter happiness and devotion.

The way his eyes zeroed on her. The way he looked at her like she was the most beautiful and perfect creature on this whole planet.

She knew, she wasn't.

But at that moment, she felt so. His gaze made her so as she flung the garland of her arms around his neck like a wedding garland.

"You said you were busy, "

"I thought you'll be a little more pleased by my presence, "

maybe she was feigning hurt, maybe she really liked to see him fumble over his words.

"I'm, God, I'm...I can't explain I words how delighted I'm, "

"Really, your actions seem to contrary, " She teased slightly, only to have her breath stolen.

His lips crashed on her suddenly and unexpectedly. But it didn't mean she wasn't pleased with it. She was, she really was as she felt every feeling he couldn't confess being poured in that kiss. This was nothing like their first kiss.

This kiss was something more. Filled with something more. It had elements of fire and longing in it sealed with primal desires and love. She could feel him come alive against her. She could feel his soul awakening and mingle with hers.

And she loved every breath-stealing moment of the kiss.

"You don't know how terribly I missed you"

His warm lips brushed against hers as he tugged her closer. She pressed her head against his sculpted chest, relishing the firm, hard muscle. Nestling closer, She listened to his heartbeat not quite admitting how he tugged at her heartstrings with his words.

She just tightened her grip on him. Relaxing and taking in the familiar sweaty earthy smell of home. His embraces always felt like coming home.

"You know you're quite smelly, right now" She informed him dutifully yet made no move to leave him anytime soon.

She missed him.

Missed him more this time along.

Maybe because there were no girlfriends to avoid and feelings to hide this time around. Maybe because they were finally together and it wasn't a pretend thing.

There were numerous such reasons — reasons, this short separation felt so long this time.

Maybe it all ended up with how comically complicated their relationship was before this. They always had been revolving in circles around each other.

He chased her in the beginning, she avoided him afraid for dear life. She chased him afterward, he avoided perplexed. It was a strange cycle with jealous partners and flings involved in-between yet they started and ended with each other always.

Like it was meant to be.

And she didn't actually believe in that stuff but sometimes their relationship makes her think so.

But at this moment with her arms wrapped around his neck, her head resting on his chest. She felt they were perfect the way they are.

And whatever his witty response to her smelly comment was supposed to be. It was cut off by a mad shriek followed by loud cacklings from outside. Well, there goes the serenity of their moment.

She could feel Viaan stiffen under her, about to move out and check what's wrong? But a small murmur of "Ansh, " relaxed him instantly.

"Crazy, "

She could feel the vibrations of silent laughter escaping him with the word. Yeah, that word summed up the whole situation and their friends and family. Though she sincerely hopes that Ansh succeeded in capturing the panic on Savvy and Ro's expression.

She could possibly become a millionaire selling that clip. 

Though her daydreams of insanity were curbed quite thoroughly by Savvy barging in Vi's room. And in seconds she was pulled from Vi's homey arms and in Savvy's warm embrace, being twirled around the room feeling quite euphoric surrounded by her favorite people.

Among the series of embraces, laughter, and general chaos that defined them. The third person around them went quite unnoticed until last. And truthfully speaking, Aaina had all but forgotten about her supposed cousin's presence with the team.

She didn't know how to greet the shocked looking girl in front of her. What to be the estranged sister or the supposed stranger? Though for the first time in what felt like ages she didn't have to choose. For the girl in front of her did just that for her and She was more than happy to be just "Aaina Randhawa, " 

After that things escalated in a total madhouse with Savvy dramatically clutching his chest wallowing about heartbreak. Ansh yelling about over-dramatic Vampires. Ro being calm as a cucumber slumping far from the squabbling kids.

And maybe in some alternate universe or future, she would have been irritated by this lot disturbing her time with Viaan. Maybe then she would have wished for them to go away or get lost but not now. Not when she had been part of this madness even before Viaan and her became something. Not when she overworked to spend time with all of them.

So, she just let the shenanigans began after all Viaan always had been part of a package deal.

So, without any surprise, her rest of the day orbited around a mad bunch. And it didn't come much as a surprise to her that Ritisha didn't recognize her. She really didn't expect them to keep any of her pictures in the mansion.

So, she was a stranger to both her cousins and she liked it just like that. She got to know them as strangers without any past drama being a hindrance in her path.

Aaina didn't attend the final match at the stadium. She had a very important case to present in the court but she was there welcoming them for a team victory dinner at Viaan's place.

---------------------------

Now, when the party was over for hours and everyone else deep in slumber. Aaina was standing in the balcony of Viaan's room enjoying the night breeze and relishing the lingering happiness of the mad stories of their shared youth.

The sleeping on the terrace, the mad antics, the way they were always named together. Everyone knew if one of them was around the others couldn't be far away. They were a joint package, one couldn't be named without mentioning the others. They were always a part kind of things.

Viaan, Aaina, Savvy, and Ro. And if Ansh was in close vicinity he would be automatically added in the merry group of mischief-makers. It was those days that maintained the remaining bits of innocence and goodness in the black swirling her soul. It stopped her from turning totally bitter. It helped her be what's she is.

Kind, harsh, cold, warmth, calculative, caring, just, cynical.

A good ruler.

"Couldn't sleep, "

The soft voice of Omisha interrupted her musing.

"Yeah, you too?"

She asked her turning towards the girl and getting a glance of four boys in deep slumber on the mattress. Savvy and Ansh clutching Viaan's both arms. They seemed to be in a tug of war for Viaan in their slumber too. Ro slept peacefully using Savvy's stomach as his pillow while his one hand rested on Viaan's chest. Even sleep they galavanted towards each other.

"Hmm...its all too unfamiliar and new " Omisha confessed coming to stand beside Aaina on the balcony, joining her scrutiny of stars.

"Surprised by their bluntness, " Aaina questioned her not hiding the smirk tugging on her lips.

They all weren't something Omisha was used too. She knew that from the expression on Omisha's face when all of them were reminiscing the past stories fondly.

Sleeping under the open sky on the terrace of Viaan's ancestral village home in summers after washing the terrace, spreading mattress, and tying mosquito curtains for safety against those tiny beasts. The way they had spent most of those nights listening to old stories about Viaan's grandfather's childhood days or those times was something Omisha couldn't fathom.

Neither she understood the importance of picnic days for them.

Omisha didn't quite understand the madhouse a house became when all of them were under one roof and how their elders prayed that they somehow didn't manage to bring the whole house down. Those were the fun old days.

The quite free days, where they were just children for the elders. They were the crybabies and mischief-makers. The free souls running through the mango orchards and stealing raw mangos.

And Aaina sometimes wished, they could again be that just children, forgive for their mischiefs quite easily.

"No, just not quite used to it. You know people have never really spoken to me like this ever. It was always yes mam or no, Mam. No debates, " Omisha admitted then confessed almost softly "not quite what I was taught, "

"Princess things, " Aaina stated knowingly.

"Yups, the choices, " Omisha admitted with forlorn look wishing there life could be as simple as the life of Disney princesses and the princesses the world dreams to be.

"From choices I remember, Friends or sisters?" Aaina questioned Omisha with a look in her eyes. A look Omisha identified quite easily. This was an important choice. Her choice will define the course of their relationship.

And so she thought about those two words carefully. Friends were a choice itself while sisters they would always be. There wasn't any choice in that relation. So, what to be. What she always will be or what she chose to be? The decision was quite easy.

"Friends, " Omisha declared

"The road won't be easy, " Aaina warned.

"Nothing really is easy, " Omisha answered and both of them knew that well.

For just being pretty and looking perfect every day was hard too.

~to be continued~