Having sardines fry calmed her nerves a little but the question loomed in her head. Kulsum wouldn't stay. She would leave. Kaynath scooped some more red chilli fish curry onto her rice. It was spicy as hell and she gasped as the spices hit her. Her mom liked it extra spicy and so did she, but her nose was running now as she got up and went to grab some water.

"I am so glad we have sweets after this," Kulsum laughed. "Looks like your spice tolerance has reduced."

Kaynath gulped mouthfuls of water, which was mildly a terrible decision because it was starting to make her stomach full. "Wanna have a spice contest?"

"You never won at those!" she exclaimed, slapping the table with joy.

"Let's see. I doubt you guys had much spice in Delhi."

"Oh you're on! Whoever eats those three fishes doused in curry wins!"

They each scooped three onto their plate. Their mom shrugged her head, smiling a little. "Don't play with food."

"Are we playing though? You always complain we don't finish food, ummi, so here we are."

"Okay, fine," she relented.

"Count of three!" Kulsum punched the air.

"Wait, wait, this isn't a race is it," Kaynath put her hands up.

"One!" Kulsum shouted as Riyaz chuckled slightly.

"I don't wanna choke–" Kaynath fumbled as she held one fish to eat.

"Two!"

"You're so stubborn!"

"Three!"

Kaynath shoved the fish into her mouth, coughed a little, as Kulsum did the same. She ate with record speed and didn't cough at all or drink any water as Kayanth's eyes teared up, her sinuses getting cleared.

Kulsum won of course and punched the air, as she gulped the last bit down and released a sigh. She closed her eyes and then it shot open. "Spicy! Water!"

Dashing off to get some, Kaynath laughed a little. She had missed her. They were six years apart, with Kaynath being twenty-five and Kulsum thirty-one. It felt like ages apart when they were kids, but now, life caught up to them and she shared most things with Kulsum. It was lonely when she got a job and left for Delhi at first and then UK because her husband travelled for work and sometimes got free tickets to take her too. There was hardly any sound or any one to talk to at her home; all her cousins were much younger than her, and she did hate kids. Well, she never knew what to do with them or entertain them other than give them sweets so their energy settled down.

Kulsum came from the kitchen, munching on a peda.

"Hey,those were extra batches for some visitors!" her mom scolded her.

"Mhm, can't help it. It is delicious," she kissed her mom's forehead.

"I made those," Kaynath hmphed and pouted.

Kulsum came over to her and hugged her sideways. "They could do with some more sweet."

Kaynath punched her on the arm as she yelped and Kulsum ran up the stair s before she got another punch. She really had the energy of a kid while Kaynath felt aeons older sometimes.

Kulsum looked down as she paused midway, gesturing with her head. "Come on, let's Netflix and talk."

"Okay. In a while," she cleared the dishes as her mom scrubbed while she washed and dried the vessels. "I didn't know Kulsum was coming, ummi. Did you?"

"No, she kept it a surprise from all of us," her mom said. "I guess she'll be around for a few weeks. It has been a while."

Kaynath pursed her lips as she remembered her sister's conversation she had walked in on. She said nothing.

"Kaynath–" her mom started as she dried off the last vessel and dashed off.

"Gotta go!" She took the stairs two at a time as Kulsum switched on the television and connected to Netflix.

"What do you wanna watch?"

"Um, your pick," she said. Even though she badly hoped her sister didn't pick romance.

"Okay, some anime then," she flicked through the shows.

Kaynath exhaled in relief until she saw what she picked. From Me to You.

"Nooo, not that romance anime!" she shrieked as she jumped on the bed, snatching the remote.

"Well, how about gay romance!" Kulsum announced.

"Ugh, finee, let's watch From me to You itself."

"Haha, knew you'd give in. I'm sure you secretly enjoy these things. Nothing to be ashamed of."

"Well. I guess. When Mirza forces me to watch some," Kaynath hugged a pillow to her chest.

"You know, in the anime class, you're totally a tsundere. Admit everything already! Bare your heart to me, little one!"

"We are only six years apart," she rolled her eyes. "Also, what. I am not a tsundere."

"Mhm, feelings are held back in. Hence, this is why! I will show you the greatest romance anime."

Kaynath looked away. Love. What was that anyway? All she had were flings in the past few years. It was enjoyable. But nobody stole her heart after all of that so she didn't know. She often wondered how her sister stole Riyaz's heart. It was a love marriage and as long as they married and had kids, her mom was happy. But she couldn't imagine liking someone for so long, and still not being bored of them.

"Have you never gotten tired of Riyaz?"

"Sure have, sometimes it is hard. It's not all flowers and chocolates, or grand romances, you know."

"Yeah, and you liked him since college. That's a long fucking time," Kaynath looked away. "I don't think I could love like that. I never did."

"Well. With you, you want friendships too and you like sex. Sometimes that jumbles things for people."

"They always caught feelings," she muttered. "I mean, before I did, so it seemed like I was always an ass. I am sure I was, a lot. But, I did start saying after that, it's all just for pleasure, no strings attached."

"I am just saying, perhaps you could be aromantic. Or maybe you never connected with anyone enough to know romantic attraction."

Kaynath pondered that for a long while as Kulsum was deeply engrossed in the anime. It was a good one, though she mostly preferred comedy to romance.

"Kulsum."

She paused as she watched Sawako in the anime blush every little time.

"Yes," her sister's eyes were glued to the screen.

Kaynath looked at her and hugged her knees as Kulsum snuck a peek at her and then paused the anime.

"I kissed Mirza."

"Oh my fucking god, I knew it!"

Kaynath arched an eyebrow. "I mean...did you though?"

"Well, you looked like you had something to say."

"Hmm," she mumbled in thought. "I just, I mean, it's not like I haven't kissed before. I don't know. She's nice."

Before she could say more, Kulsum smacked a pillow into her face. "You are so in love, girl!"

"Ow! Shut up! I am not in love. We are friends. We...accidentally kissed."

"Accidentally? How does that even happen?"

"I don't know!" she screamed into her pillow. "It's complicated. I guess."

On instinct she remembered she had texted Mirza and looked at her phone. No texts.

"Ohhhh, so that's who you were texting."

"You are way too perceptive," she grumbled in response. "She didn't seem like she wanted to talk."

"I know you have plenty of one night stands, Kaynath. It just doesn't seem like one this time."

Kaynath thought about them, then pictured Mirza with her soft smile, her generous curves, and the way her hugs felt like she could stay in her embrace forever.

"Have you ever thought that, like, maybe, you might have a thing for her?"

"A thing? What thing? Of course I want to kiss her," Kaynath huffed and looked at her.

"A crush, you idiot."

"No, no. I like being friends. I like going for haircuts to her place though sometimes that's just a pretext so I can see her. I love how she's so warm and friendly. She's a good friend."

"Do you see what I am talking about?"

"What? I am not that dumb that I can't figure out whether or not I have a crush–" she paused, her mouth gaping open. "Oh. My. God."

"May Allah help you," she said softly as Kaynath threw another pillow at her.

"I am so stupid!"

"You certainly are."

***

Another chapter weeee! I wrote some more so a extra treat this week for you guys. I loved writing this chapter and their banter. Read and comment if you enjoyed.