After bidding you good night, Shubman knew where he had to go next.

As soon as he reached home, he wasted no time and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

He stood in front of his sister's bedroom where there was always some kind of music playing. It was Beat It by Michael Jackson this time.

Knocking on the door, he waited. No response. He tried again, much harder this time so that there was no way she couldn't have heard it.

"Di, I want you to help me with something," Shubman said as soon as the door opened.

"Because Ishan is out of station, do you finally want my help?" His sister asked rhetorically, letting him walk in.

She turned off the music and sat with her legs criss-cross on the edge of her bed, pushing back the hood of her pajamas.

He told her he was planning to take you to this place and he wanted a double check on the outfit he'd be wearing.

"As long as you choose the right type of satin and style, it's fine," Shahneel said. "Black satin shirts are good to go. Black pants are definitely an option. That's all I have to say."

That was good then. He was given clearance by his fashion-line-owning sister.

"Keep your blazer away," she reminded. "You already look stupid enough wearing one everyday."

"It's work attire," Shubman said, tugging at his blazer subtly before he turned to leave.

"Shubi," his sister's voice stopped him again. "No gratitude. Are you forgetting something?"

Sighing, he just turned around again. He hoped she forgot but never in this lifetime.

"You're the best sister ever," he muttered.

"Kindly," Shahneel demanded.

The younger one rolled his eyes a little before he put a smile on his face. "You're the best sister ever."

"And?" She raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"I'm very lucky to have you with me," Shubman said and she smiled.

"Sit on the couch. I'll recommend you a few pick-up lines," his sister said, her spirits lifted up greatly.

"I don't need them," he said with disinterest.

"Yeah, but you'll listen to me anyway," Shahneel added. "I've lived almost 900 days more than you. Sit down."

He groaned slightly before settling on the couch across her bed.

She thought for a moment before starting with basics because Shubman had no clue.

"This has to be one of the most heart touching quotes so far," she explained. "So you tell Y/n that if she lives to be a hundred, you want to live to be a hundred minus one day so you never have to live without her."

"But why does she have to be the one in the end to feel grief in my absence?" He questioned. "Can't it be together?"

Shahneel just looked at him with the most done face one could ever give someone before she spoke up again. "You know what, get out."

-

You skipped outside the diner after successfully not choking yourself to death while trying to complete dinner as fast as you could.

As soon as you found Shubman leaning against the car and waiting for you with the smile he reserved only for you, you ran into his arms.

No warning. Just went straight for a bone-crushing hug that almost knocked the air out of his lungs.

Nothing can surprise him, really. But with you, all his guard would be let down naturally.

Only with you.

"Missed me?" Shubman asked with a chuckle, wrapping his arms around you.

You just hummed in response as he cradled you a little, just happy to finally be with him.

Sometime back, if anyone said this will be you in the future, you wouldn't have believed it, even if they changed time for you.

Yet here you were, having finally found your person when you least expected it.

You find love when you least expect it.

Not saying anything for a while, you let yourself be rocked like a baby in Shubman's arms.

Then you brought up what you heard in the afternoon.

"I heard my co-workers speaking during break," you started, still hugging.

"Do they bother you?" He asked immediately and you shook your head as a no.

"It seems that my former manager was found dead in the middle of some road," you said, recalling what they were sharing. "Two days back."

You didn't say anything more and felt Shubman stop cradling you.

He never meant for you to find out. But you did anyway, and he wasn't going to lie to you. No. Never to you.

"Was it you?" You asked, head on his shoulder.

Maybe he should've been more careful. Maybe he should've made sure the man was marred beyond recognition before being thrown in the streets.

For now, he was more concerned about your well-being.

"Yes," he said and before he could go further, stopped him. "If you think I-"

"He deserved to die," you said with a drab voice. "People like that, they deserve to die."

Shubman almost did not hear you say that, if not for his sharp hearing.

He wanted to pull away to see the expression on your face, so that he could at least understand what you were thinking to a minimal degree.

But when you showed no interest in leaving his arms, he didn't try.

He only tightened his hold on you, kissing your head.

Your words and actions were foreign to you too. And you didn't know if you'll rethink all this later.

It was like that satisfying feel you get when you rub your eyes. You understand how bad it is only when you stop.

Maybe for now, you thought of nothing else.

You were risking it all. A vague concept of kissing death was what you were doing.

In all the time you were out on your own, you never abandoned that monotonous yet peaceful routine.

Not earning much, but content with it. A comfortable life as you called it in the beginning.

You thought nothing could get in the way of your routine as you walked through the bougainvillea.

That you'd keep doing it for the rest of your life; no bustling or expectations. Just you and your perfectly planned day.

Only one thing went wrong. You fell in love.