“Only a few days since school started and you all are already this unserious?” the teacher scolded while the entire class sat in exhausted silence. “Do you even realize you’re in high school now? Is eleventh grade a joke to you people?”

Nobody replied.

Mostly because everyone was too sleepy to defend themselves at eight in the morning.

The lecture continued for another two minutes before Mr. Parekh finally walked out after giving one last warning about discipline and attendance.

The moment the door shut—

the classroom exhaled collectively.

“I’m sure his wife hates him,” Arjun sighed dramatically from the second-last bench near the window before leaning back lazily in his chair.

From the last bench behind him, Ishaan Malhotra and Rohan burst out laughing.

“Maybe he’s just frustrated with life,” Rohan added helpfully.

“Maybe YOU all are frustrating,” Manan muttered quietly without looking up from his notebook.

Arjun immediately turned toward his desk mate in offense.

“What do you even know? You voluntarily study during free time.”

Manan simply adjusted his glasses and ignored him professionally.

Meanwhile Ishaan remained half-spread across the last bench, absentmindedly staring at the classroom AC like it personally betrayed him by not cooling properly.

Then suddenly—

“By the way,” Arjun turned around in his seat dramatically, “when do we finally get to meet the girl of your dreams?”

That instantly got Ishaan’s attention.

He looked at Arjun with immediate suspicion.

“Never,” he replied flatly. “Especially if you keep shouting like that.”

Rohan smirked knowingly beside him.

“It’s that new girl from Science, right?” he asked casually. “The one with Shivani.”

“Apparently,” Ishaan muttered.

“Wow,” Arjun blinked. “They’re friends already?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s the point of basically living with her if you don’t even know who her friends are?” Arjun complained dramatically.

“I do NOT live with her,” Ishaan corrected immediately. “I go home at night.”

“Sometimes,” Rohan coughed.

Ishaan ignored him.

“And she barely talks anyway,” he continued. “You people act like I have investigative access to her brain.”

Arjun slowly grinned.

“Why?” he asked mischievously. “Scared you’ll cross a line?”

Ishaan instantly rolled his eyes.

“Shut up.”

But unfortunately for him—

the slight pink tint near his ears gave him away completely.

Rohan noticed first and physically leaned back laughing.

“Oh my God,” he wheezed. “He’s trying to behave respectfully.”

“THIS is character development,” Arjun gasped dramatically.

Ishaan threw a notebook at both of them.

Meanwhile poor Manan sat there silently wondering how he got trapped between academically doomed boys every single year.

~
Meanwhile, across the senior wing, Sayra Khatri was already halfway through revising the chemistry chapter before the next lecture even began.

Around her, the classroom buzzed with conversations, laughter, snack sharing, and absolutely anything except academics.

“Stop it, Sayra,” Kavya cried dramatically from the bench ahead of her. “You’re making my head spin.”

Without even looking up from her notebook, Sayra calmly flipped the page.

“How about you study too instead of crying about it?”

Kavya gasped in offense.

“Or,” she said while suddenly sitting up straighter, eyes sparkling with excitement, “I can introduce you to some premium-level gossip instead.”

That immediately told Sayra no studying would happen now.

Before she could refuse, Kavya had already begun narrating dramatically.

“...and THEN Rishika said we were being lame which honestly was rude because SHE’S the one who disappeared during lunch yesterday—”

Sayra listened absentmindedly while underlining a line in her notebook, though eventually she realized something.

“Wait,” she frowned slightly, finally looking up. “Where’s Rishika?”

“On your right,” Shivani replied calmly from beside her without even lifting her head properly, “arguing with her boyfriend.”

Sayra blinked.

Then slowly turned to her right.

And there indeed sat Rishika on the desk beside theirs, arms crossed tightly with the most unimpressed expression imaginable.

In front of her stood a boy trying very hard to look apologetic while continuously explaining something.

“I literally said sorry five times.”

“Make it six.”

“That’s not how apologies work.”

Beside him stood another boy silently, hands inside his pockets, expression cold enough to make him look emotionally unavailable by birth.

Unlike the first boy, he hadn’t spoken a word.

He just stood there witnessing the chaos like he regretted knowing these people personally.

Sayra observed the scene quietly for a second.

Then looked at Shivani.

“Why is the second guy standing there like security staff?”

That made Shivani snort unexpectedly.

“Because,” she replied dryly, “that’s Dev.”

“Oh.”

“And Ruhaan dragged him here for emotional support.”

“Against my will,” Dev Rana spoke up suddenly without changing his expression.

The entire nearby group burst into laughter.

Even Sayra smiled slightly.

Meanwhile Ruhaan looked betrayed.

“You were supposed to support ME.”

“I supported you by coming here physically,” Dev replied calmly. “Don’t ask for emotional labor too.”

~

Teasing Ishaan about Sayra was Arjun's new hobby at this point.

“Should I ask Arohi about her?” Arjun suggested thoughtfully while turning around in his seat again.

Ishaan Malhotra looked at him like he had lost basic survival instincts.

“So she can broadcast it to the entire school by lunch break?”

“That is…” Rohan nodded seriously while flipping through his book, “a valid concern.”

Arjun ignored both of them confidently.

“Then,” he snapped his fingers dramatically, “we use a stealthier approach.”

Ishaan already hated where this was going.

“Let Dev and Qureshi befriend her,” Arjun declared proudly. “They’re in the same class anyway.”

There was a pause.

Then Ishaan slowly blinked.

“Can you stop?”

“What?” Arjun defended himself instantly. “I’m helping.”

“You’re behaving like an unemployed auntie.”

Rohan snorted loudly at that while continuing to skim through his physics book.

Meanwhile Dev, who had entered midway carrying a guitar case, looked between them suspiciously.

“What now?”

Ruhaan followed behind him eating chips.

“Why does everyone look guilty?”

Arjun pointed dramatically toward Ishaan.

“He’s gatekeeping crush girl.”

“I’m not gatekeeping anyone,” Ishaan groaned.

Ruhaan gasped theatrically.

“Wait— is this about Sayra?”

Ishaan instantly sat up straighter.

“Keep your voice DOWN.”

Ruhaan lowered his voice immediately but kept grinning like a menace.

“Oh my God,” he whispered loudly anyway. “Protective behavior already.”

“Not protective,” Ishaan argued.

“Hm,” Dev placed the guitar down calmly. “Then why do you look stressed every time they mention her?”

Silence.

Arjun looked emotionally victorious.

Rohan looked entertained.

Ruhaan looked seconds away from writing wedding vows.

And Ishaan looked like he regretted having friends entirely.

“You people seriously need hobbies,” he muttered while leaning back against the bench again.

“We HAD hobbies,” Ruhaan replied proudly. “Then your love life appeared.”

“I do not have a love life.”

“Yet,” Arjun corrected helpfully.

Ishaan Malhotra smacked Arjun across the shoulder before getting up from his seat with an annoyed sigh.

“Hopeless people.”

“Lovestruck people.”

Ishaan ignored him professionally.

The rest of the boys followed behind anyway as they slipped out of the classroom before the next teacher arrived. The corridor buzzed with students heading downstairs toward the ground since almost everyone had a free period.

But naturally—

the band room was a far superior destination.

The moment they entered, Ishaan immediately threw himself dramatically onto the bean bag near the corner.

“Finally,” he groaned while burying his face into it, “good air conditioning.”

“Can’t believe we’re bunking already,” Arjun chuckled while dragging a stool near the keyboard setup.

“Technically,” Ruhaan Qureshi corrected while opening a packet of chips, “you and Rohan are the only ones bunking.”

He pointed around proudly.

“We are musicians. This is an educational environment.”

“Yeah whatever,” Rohan scoffed while lying down across the couch like his bones no longer worked.

Dev Rana walked toward the amp calmly before plugging in his guitar.

“We literally have a free period,” he reminded them. “Almost everyone’s outside.”

A lazy silence settled for a moment.

Then from inside the bean bag came a muffled voice.

“What about her?”

The room immediately went quiet.

Dev looked over blankly.

“Like you,” he replied dryly, “our attention isn’t on her twenty-four seven.”

Ishaan lifted his face just enough to glare at him.

“It was a normal question.”

“No,” Ruhaan grinned mischievously, “that was yearning.”

“I hate this room.”

“Why don’t you go check then?” Arjun teased while spinning the drumstick between his fingers dramatically.

“She might be roaming around the corridor missing you.”

Ishaan threw the nearest cushion at him without opening his eyes fully.

Meanwhile poor Rohan groaned loudly from the couch before covering his face with a handkerchief.

“Please,” he muttered. “Let me sleep in peace. I cannot witness this romance subplot before noon.”

“There IS no romance subplot,” Ishaan argued immediately.

Ruhaan gasped dramatically.

“Oh wow,” he whispered. “Denial stage already.”

~

After wasting almost an entire free stretch of the day in the band room under the excuse of “practice,” being bullied relentlessly by his friends, and surviving Ruhaan’s nonstop commentary about his non-existent love life, Ishaan Malhotra finally escaped the room for air.

And diet coke.

He stood near the vending machine beside the staircase, waiting impatiently while the machine made concerning mechanical noises before finally dropping the can.

“Ishaan?”

He turned around at the sound of his name just as he picked up the can.

Sayra Khatri stood a few steps away, bag hanging from one shoulder while a notepad rested against her chest.

For some reason—

his posture straightened instantly.

“Oh, hi,” he stepped forward casually.

Then he frowned slightly after glancing at his watch.

“Why are you still here?”

Sayra raised a brow immediately.

“That’s my question too.”

“I asked first.”

She rolled her eyes lightly before answering anyway.

“Had to clear some doubts with ma’am,” she said. “You?”

Ishaan looked away for half a second.

“Stayed back with the band for…” he paused dramatically, “…absolutely no productive reason.”

That made her laugh softly.

“Thought so.”

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before lifting the can slightly toward her.

“Coke?”

“No thanks.”

“Good,” he nodded seriously. “More for me.”

Sayra shook her head in disbelief.

The corridor around them was unusually quiet now, most students already gone home after dispersal.

“Did no one else stay back with you?” Ishaan asked after a moment.

“Not really.”

He looked around once instinctively before sighing.

“I’ll drop you home.”

Sayra blinked.

“Huh?”

“Let me grab my bag first,” he continued casually like he hadn’t just decided that instantly.

“Oh… okay.”

And somehow she followed him without questioning much.

They walked through a side corridor Sayra had never explored before, quieter and more isolated from the main academic block.

“So THIS is the famous band room,” she commented as they stopped outside a door near the end of the hallway.

Ishaan snorted softly.

“Famous according to who?”

“Half the school.”

“That’s concerning.”

He slid the door open casually—

only for Sayra to witness complete and utter chaos.

Rohan was still lying dead on the couch with a piece of curtain thrown over his face like a deceased Victorian child.

Arjun and Ruhaan Qureshi were aggressively headlocking each other near the drums.

And Dev Rana sat on the floor untangling wires with the exhausted expression of a man questioning every life decision that led him here.

The room froze for exactly two seconds after noticing Sayra.

Then Ruhaan immediately pushed Arjun away dramatically.

“GUESTS.”

Arjun nearly fell over a chair.

Rohan removed the curtain from his face slowly like he was being resurrected against his will.

Meanwhile Dev looked at Ishaan.

Then at Sayra.

Then back at Ishaan.

And sighed deeply.

“You brought her here,” he said flatly.

Like this confirmed all his worst predictions.

“Why are you guys STILL here?” Ishaan Malhotra deadpanned immediately.

Sayra Khatri blinked slightly at the sudden shift in his tone.

It wasn’t rude exactly—

just noticeably different.

Sharper.
More casual.
Less careful.

Around her, Ishaan usually spoke softer somehow, even while teasing. But with them? He sounded completely at home in the chaos.

“I asked you idiots to pack up,” he continued while glancing at his watch dramatically, “like seven minutes ago.”

“Don’t slander us in front of a guest,” Arjun grinned before immediately walking over toward Sayra like a social butterfly unleashed into civilization.

“Hi,” he said proudly. “I’m Arjun.”

Then he pointed toward Ishaan.

“We’re unfortunately classmates.”

Sayra laughed lightly.

Meanwhile from the couch—

“Rohan,” Rohan introduced calmly without even sitting up properly.

He looked spiritually exhausted.

“You know US already,” Ruhaan Qureshi smirked while leaning against the drums.

“Of course,” Sayra nodded thoughtfully.

She pointed toward Ruhaan first.

“Rishika’s boyfriend.”

Then toward Dev Rana.

“And Dev.”

Dev actually smirked slightly while continuing to untangle wires.

Ruhaan looked personally attacked.

“I have a name.”

“I don’t know your name,” Sayra replied casually.

Silence.

Then the room exploded.

Arjun physically bent over laughing.
Rohan started clapping from the couch.
Even Dev looked entertained now.

Meanwhile Ishaan turned away instantly because he was laughing too hard.

Ruhaan looked devastated.

“Wow,” he whispered dramatically. “Public humiliation.”

“Character development,” Arjun wiped fake tears.

Ruhaan pointed accusingly toward Sayra.

“Ruhaan Qureshi,” he introduced properly this time with wounded dignity.

Sayra nodded politely with a small smile.

“Nice to officially know your identity.”

“I’m never recovering from this.”

“You’ll survive,” Dev replied calmly.

Ruhaan gasped.

“Not YOU too.”

Sayra’s eyes wandered around the room after the laughter settled slightly.

Guitars rested against the walls, wires scattered near the amps, notebooks filled with lyrics tossed around carelessly, drumsticks everywhere for some reason.

It looked messy.

But lived in.

“You’re all in the band?” she asked while looking around curiously.

Arjun replied proudly before pointing around dramatically like a tour guide. “The nation’s future superstars.”

“The nation is doomed then,” Dev muttered.

“Ignore him,” Ruhaan sighed. “He’s emotionally unavailable.”

“I’m physically unavailable too if you don’t leave in two minutes,” Ishaan interrupted while grabbing his bag from the chair.

Sayra noticed it then—

despite all the teasing, they naturally listened to him.

Not because he acted superior.

They just… respected him.

And somehow that surprised her more than his popularity ever had.

Ishaan Malhotra locked the band room behind them while the others had already started walking ahead with Sayra Khatri between them somehow.

And surprisingly—

she didn’t even feel awkward anymore.

“You know,” Arjun started dramatically while walking backwards in the corridor, “we were genuinely shocked when Ishaan told us Aarav bhai has a sister.”

“Arjun has been emotionally excited to meet you ever since,” Rohan added casually.

“Really?” Sayra looked at Arjun in amusement.

“Don’t sell me out like that,” he complained instantly.

Rohan ignored him peacefully.

“Ishaan didn’t let him,” he continued. “Otherwise this idiot would’ve been standing outside your class on the first day itself.”

Sayra blinked.

“Ishaan didn’t let him?”

By then Ishaan had finally caught up with them and naturally fallen into step beside her.

“I what?” he frowned suspiciously.

“Nothing,” Arjun replied way too quickly.

Sayra looked between them before chuckling softly to herself.

Ishaan narrowed his eyes immediately.

“You people are plotting.”

“We’re networking,” Ruhaan corrected confidently.

Then suddenly Ruhaan Qureshi turned toward Sayra with fake seriousness.

“You must be wondering why we stayed back today.”

“I—”

“Actually,” he interrupted dramatically, “we lose track of time while practicing and this happens a lot.”

“Mostly because nobody here understands time management,” Dev Rana added calmly.

Ruhaan ignored him.

“So next time you’re leaving late,” he continued proudly, “you can just ask Ishaan to accompany you.”

Sayra instinctively looked toward Ishaan.

He simply shrugged casually.

Like it wasn’t a big deal.

Which somehow made it feel less awkward.

The conversation kept flowing naturally after that as they walked through the nearly empty campus corridors.

Apparently she found out unwanted information about them and absentmindedly made pointers of them in her brain:

1. Arjun and Rohan were not technically part of the band but practically lived in the band room anyway.

2. Ruhaan had once gotten suspended for climbing the school gate.

3. Dev rarely spoke unless absolutely necessary.

4. And Ishaan somehow escaped punishment for things everyone else got scolded for.

“That’s because teachers love him for no reason,” Arjun accused.

“No,” Dev corrected. “Teachers tolerate him because he sings at every annual function.”

“That’s literally contributing to society.”

“You contributed to three broken mic stands.”

“Art requires sacrifice.”

Sayra laughed quietly listening to them argue.

It was strange.

Watching Ishaan here felt very different from watching him in the cafeteria surrounded by screaming girls and attention.

This version of him was easier.

Lighter.

He kept interrupting people, shoving shoulders, stealing jokes halfway through sentences, naturally walking slightly slower whenever Sayra lagged behind without even pointing it out.

And she realized something then.

The reason people liked Ishaan so much probably wasn’t just because he could sing.

It was because he made people around him comfortable without trying too hard.

Unfortunately for her—

that observation stayed in her mind longer than she intended.

The conversation continued all the way till the school gate until suddenly Dev Rana slowed his steps.

“You guys go ahead,” he said casually. “See you later.”

Everyone looked at him.

Confused.

Arjun frowned immediately. “My house is literally in the same direction.”

Dev gave him a tight-lipped smile before suddenly grabbing his arm.

“Did you forget?” he asked pointedly. “Hum samose khane jaa rahe hai.”

The emphasis was painfully obvious.

Arjun blinked.

“Huh?”

For one terrifying second nobody spoke.

Then Rohan instantly caught on.

“Oh RIGHT,” he nodded dramatically. “Ye thoda bhullakad hai.”

He looked toward Sayra Khatri politely.

“Memory issues.”

Sayra nodded slowly despite still having absolutely no idea what was happening.

Meanwhile Ruhaan Qureshi was trying not to laugh already.

“We’ll leave you two to it then,” he grinned awkwardly.

“Wait,” Sayra frowned. “Won’t YOU join them?” she asked Ishaan Malhotra.

And unfortunately—

that was the wrong question.

“Oh he doesn’t like samosas,” Arjun replied instantly.

Silence.

Then Sayra physically stopped walking.

“WHAT?”

Her voice echoed loud enough for passing students to turn around.

Ishaan actually flinched.

“You don’t like SAMOSAS?” she stared at him in genuine disbelief like he had admitted to criminal activity.

Behind them, the boys instantly broke into silent laughter.

Ruhaan had physically bent over.
Rohan covered his mouth.
Even Dev looked entertained.

“I— uh—” Ishaan stuttered while trying not to laugh at her horrified expression. “I’m sorry for having preferences?”

“This is NOT a preference, Ishaan,” Sayra deadpanned immediately. “This is a crime.”

“I don’t hate them!”

“You just said you don’t like them!”

“They’re too—”

He stopped himself carefully.

“Too what?” she narrowed her eyes.

The boys watched like this was live television.

“Too potato-y,” Ishaan admitted weakly.

Ruhaan collapsed against the gate laughing.

“TOO POTATO-Y?” Arjun repeated in disbelief.

“You deserve jail time,” Sayra declared.

“I eat other snacks!”

“That’s not the point!”

“I didn’t know liking samosas was a legal requirement for friendship.”

“It absolutely is.”

Ishaan looked genuinely amused now, unable to stop smiling at how personally offended she looked over a fried snack.

And weirdly—

this was probably the most expressive he had seen her so far.

“Congratulations,” Dev said calmly while dragging Arjun away again. “You finally made her emotional.”

“Over SAMOSAS,” Rohan added proudly.

“I hate all of you,” Ishaan sighed.

“No,” Sayra corrected seriously while crossing her arms, “you hate samosas.”

Sayra Khatri continued walking with a visible pout all the way to the bus stop while Ishaan Malhotra struggled to keep a straight face beside her.

He had never seen someone take samosas this seriously.

“Are you REALLY this upset over that?” he finally asked, laughter slipping into his voice.

“I’m not upset,” Sayra replied immediately while looking away.

“I’m disappointed.”

Ishaan bit back another smile.

“Same thing.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No,” she repeated stubbornly.

Ishaan looked away for a second to hide his grin.

“Mhm,” he hummed dramatically.

Sayra glared at him.

A few minutes later they boarded the public bus home, finding seats near the back.

And for the entire ride—

Sayra ignored him.

Completely.

Every time Ishaan tried speaking:

1. she looked outside,

2. adjusted her bag,

3. or pretended to be deeply invested in traffic.

Honestly?

He found it hilarious.

“You’re actually committed to this,” he muttered at one point.

No response.

“Wow.”

Still nothing.

By the time they reached their apartment building, Ishaan was dangerously close to laughing out loud again.

“I’ll leave then,” he said casually as Sayra stepped into the lift.

“Huh?” she looked up immediately before pressing the open button automatically.

“I have to go home.”

“Because I’m mad?”

That finally made him laugh properly.

“No,” he shook his head. “And besides, didn’t you say you’re disappointed and not mad?”

Sayra rolled her eyes.

“Same thing.”

“Hypocrisy.”

Ishaan sighed dramatically.

“Kaam hai mujhe ghar pe,” he explained. “And after that I’m going to Arjun’s place.”

“Ohhhh.”

She dragged the word slightly longer than necessary before narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

“Yaha tak kyun aaye phir?”

Ishaan blinked once at the question like the answer was obvious.

“To drop you, of course.”

And annoyingly—

he said it so casually.

Like it wasn’t even something worth mentioning.

Sayra stared at him for half a second before quickly looking away again.

Ishaan pressed her floor button on the lift panel before stepping back out.

“Now go,” he pointed toward her lazily. “And eat something properly otherwise your brother will kill me.”

“Yeah whatever,” she scoffed.

The lift doors slowly began closing between them.

And right before they shut completely—

Ishaan grinned.

“I still don’t like samosas.”

Sayra gasped in betrayal just as the doors closed fully.

And Ishaan walked away laughing to himself.

~

“Do we REALLY need to go?” Aarav Khatri groaned while loosening his tie for what was probably the fifth time in ten minutes.

Across the cabin, Maan Malhotra calmly sipped his coffee.

“Work is work.”

Apparently emergency business trips weren’t uncommon in their lives.

Especially not when the company was handling something major.

After three meetings, endless discussions in the boardroom, and everyone collectively losing patience, the conclusion remained the same—

both of them had to fly out.

Maan had already offered to handle it alone if Aarav was too worried about Sayra Khatri, but unfortunately both their signatures were mandatory for the deal.

“Ishaan barely takes care of himself,” Aarav sighed dramatically while dropping back into his chair. “Uska kya hi dhyaan rakhega.”

Maan snorted softly.

“It’s SAYRA we’re talking about,” he replied. “Wo khud responsible hai. Honestly it’ll probably become her taking care of Ishaan.”

Aarav reluctantly knew that was true.

Still—

“I know,” he sighed again, softer this time. “It’s just… usko aaye hue zyada time nahi hua yahan. I don’t wanna leave her alone already.”

Maan’s expression softened slightly at that.

Then suddenly Aarav sat up again.

“Should we hire another househelp?”

Maan stared at him blankly.

“You fired Sarla aunty.”

“She took too many leaves.”

“She took TWO.”

“That’s excessive.”

Maan sighed deeply.

“And ever since then we’ve been too busy to hire someone else,” he reminded him.

Aarav leaned back thoughtfully.

“Then we should ask someone,” he decided. “Or maybe send somebody from office temporarily.”

Before Maan could reply, there was a knock on the cabin door.

Their manager stepped inside carefully.

“Sir, should I book the flights for tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah,” Aarav nodded absentmindedly.

Then suddenly—

“By the way,” he called out.

The manager paused.

“Do you happen to know any reliable househelp?”

The poor man blinked in confusion.

Meanwhile Maan physically closed his eyes in disbelief.

“Seriously?” he deadpanned. “Are you gonna ask EVERYONE in office now?”

Aarav considered it for two whole seconds.

“…not a bad idea actually.”

He was already reaching for the intercom when Maan shoved him back into the chair dramatically.

“STOP being overprotective.”

“I’m being responsible.”

“You’re behaving like Sayra is five years old.”

“She’s new here!”

“She literally handles life better than both of us combined.”

Aarav muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like:
“Still.”

Maan sighed before finally giving up.

“I’ll ask mom,” he said. “Wo ghar se kisiko bhej dengi for the week.”

That finally relaxed Aarav slightly.

“Great,” he sighed in relief.

Then after a pause—

“…still think we should install cameras.”

Maan threw a file at him immediately.

~

“What’s with all the suspense?” Sayra Khatri asked dramatically while resting her chin on the teapoy, eyes moving between Maan Malhotra and Aarav Khatri sitting across from her on the couch.

The two had randomly announced they needed to discuss something important—

but only after Ishaan arrived.

Which honestly sounded concerning.

Before either could answer, the main door unlocked.

“What’s SO urgent?” Ishaan Malhotra called out while stepping inside still holding his helmet.

“I have a very busy schedule.”

“Liar,” Aarav replied instantly.

Ishaan ignored him professionally before dropping onto the carpet beside Sayra, placing his keys and helmet on the teapoy.

Sayra turned her head slightly toward him.

Still pouting.

Still visibly offended over the samosa situation from earlier.

And for some reason—

that was way too cute for Ishaan’s mental stability.

He sighed quietly and looked away before he accidentally smiled at nothing.

“Do you know how busy I am?” he asked again while squinting suspiciously at Maan and Aarav.

“You literally came here in under ten minutes,” Maan deadpanned.

“That’s friendship.”

“That’s unemployment.”

After a few more unnecessary comments, Aarav finally explained the sudden business trip situation.

The meetings.
The emergency signing.
The flights tomorrow morning.

And eventually—

the actual reason Ishaan had been called.

“We need you to stay here till we’re back,” Aarav said finally.

Ishaan blinked once.

Then shrugged casually.

“Easy.”

Almost TOO quickly.

Aarav immediately turned toward Sayra.

“You’ll be comfortable with that right?” he asked carefully, concern obvious in his voice.

Sayra instinctively looked toward Ishaan for a second.

He looked entirely unbothered, leaning back against the couch with one arm resting over his knee casually.

Like staying there was the most normal thing ever.

She looked back at Aarav and nodded lightly.

“Don’t worry.”

Aarav visibly relaxed.

“Great then,” Maan sighed while leaning back. “We leave tomorrow morning.”

Then suddenly—

“Oh and Sarla aunty will be back from tomorrow.”

Ishaan’s head snapped up instantly.

“REALLY?”

Sayra blinked at the sudden excitement.

“Who’s that?”

“The househelp we had here,” Maan explained. “Apparently your brother fired her one week before you arrived.”

Sayra slowly turned toward Aarav.

“You FIRED the househelp?”

“She took too many leaves,” Aarav defended himself immediately.

“Two,” Maan muttered.

“Discipline matters.”

“Psychopath.”

Ignoring him, Maan continued talking to Sayra.

“She’s actually really good and we didn’t wanna leave you with someone unreliable,” he explained. “With Sarla aunty we can at least relax. Plus Ishaan already knows her well.”

At that, both Sayra and Ishaan nodded aggressively in perfect sync like this was extremely important information.

Maan looked between them.

“…why are you both reacting like Sarla aunty is a celebrity?”

“She makes amazing parathas,” Ishaan replied instantly.

“And threatens people affectionately,” Aarav added.

“She once threw a slipper at me.”

“For good reason,” Maan nodded.

Sayra looked mildly concerned.

Ishaan looked nostalgic.