Tainted Flames

𝟐.

"AMAIRAAAAAAA!" Naisha shouted as I stood in front of her, her eyes wide with disbelief as she took in the sight of her sports car, with a noticeable dent on the side

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Oops?"

"Oops?!" Naisha exclaimed, "You know Dad will kill me this time if he knew."

I shrugged again, my devil-may-care smile. "He won't find out unless you tell him."

Naisha rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Yeah, of course. Last time when you took my car, he didn't find out until he saw it on the news! news about--

"about the high-speed chase and the police helicopter hovering over the car," I finished with coolly.

"Exactly!" Naisha exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Do you realize the trouble you put me through every time you take my car?"

I chuckled, "Come on, Naisha, it's not like it happens every day."

She gave me a deadpan look. "No, just every other week."

"What can I do? Dad took my sports car aur baaki ki cars chalane me maza nahi aata," (What can I do? Dad took my sports car, and driving the other cars just isn't as fun,) I said.

Naisha sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible, Amaira."

I grinned. "But you love me anyway."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a small smile. "Yeah, yeah, whatever"

As Naisha and I bid goodbye, she suddenly realized "wait tu ghar kaise jayegi ab?" (Wait, how are you going to get home now?)

I spoke, "I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll take a cab."

Naisha scoffed, "With your hate for cabs, you'll probably end up hijacking the cab and causing another headline."

"Good idea, Naisha," I said dramatically, widening my eyes for effect.

Naisha gave me a look of disbelief. "Please tell me you're joking."

I laughed, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "Of course, I am. I'll just call a cab like a normal person,"

after bidding her goodbye standing on the sidewalk, i thought about my next move. "Ugh, I hate cabs," I muttered to myself. The thought of taking a cab made my skin crawl, but I knew I had no other option. Dad would definitely find out if I called one of our drivers from the quarters this late at night. The last thing I needed was another lecture about responsibility and curfews.

With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and opened the cab-hailing app. A few taps later, I had a cab on its way to my location. I leaned against a nearby lamppost, checking the estimated time of arrival. ten minutes. Not too bad.

The cab arrived sooner than expected, and I climbed in, giving the driver my address. as I got out of the cab in front of mansion, I paid the driver and walked towards the back door. and tiptoed inside.

As I stepped into my room, I let out a sigh of relief. i took off my shoes and lay down on my bed, thinking about everything that happened earlier. From the tense family dinner to the car accident with that guy.

I glanced at my phone, noticing a few missed calls and messages from Vriddhansh. He was probably checking up on me. iska toh roj ka h chhodo. (leave it its his everyday thing)

The next morning was busy as usual at home. Mom was giving orders to the staff, Dad was reading the newspaper, and Chachi was planning breakfast with the cooks. everyone seemed to be going about their routine as if nothing had happened.