𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 | 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐦

EPISODE 5

Four long years had passed since I last saw her. University was a whirlwind of lectures and late-night study sessions, and Conor was deep into his work. Life had kept us busy, but today, something extraordinary was about to break the monotony.

I came home from university, my energy drained and my mind foggy. As I settled into dinner with my family, hoping for a quiet evening, Dad suddenly dropped a bombshell.

"Oh, I just remembered something," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Mom looked up from her plate, curious. "What did he say?"

Dad's eyes sparkled. "Manny gave me a call a while ago."

Conor, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "Manny? What did he want?"

Dad continued, "He said that Kam is getting married."

Conor's fork paused mid-air. "Married?!"

Dad nodded, grinning. "Yes. She's getting married around next week. And he has invited us."

Mom's eyes widened. "Wait. You mean we're going to India?"

Dad's grin widened. "Yes."

The world seemed to tilt for a moment as my mind raced. "We are going to India?"

Dad chuckled. "Yes, yes. He even sent us tickets."

My heart raced as the realization sunk in. "We are going to India. That means we'll meet Uncle, Aunty, Kam and..."

Conor's voice broke through my thoughts, teasingly. "Ari."

I felt a surge of happiness I couldn't contain. My heart skipped a beat, and I tried to maintain my composure. "When are we leaving?"

Dad, still beaming, replied, "Tomorrow night."

I nodded, barely able to keep my excitement in check. Tomorrow night. It felt like a lifetime away, yet so incredibly close. My thoughts were consumed with images of Aarya—the way her eyes sparkled, the way she laughed, the way she made me feel like the most special person in the world.

As I lay in bed that night, my mind raced with memories of our time together and dreams of what awaited. I could hardly wait to see her again, to hold her close, and to relive the magic we once shared. Tomorrow night couldn't come soon enough.

I'd been waiting for this day with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. We reached their house during the daytime, the sun casting a warm glow on everything. Uncle had come to pick us up, his face lighting up with a broad smile. As we drove through the familiar streets, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation.

Once we arrived, the house was bustling with the energy of preparation. Kam was the first person I saw. The moment she spotted us, her face broke into an enthusiastic grin. "You guys are here!!!" she exclaimed, rushing over. We embraced each other in a heartfelt hug, and I couldn't help but feel a little giddy. Seeing Kam was like a warm reminder of the wonderful time we were about to have.

"Conor," Kam said, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "I can't believe you actually found someone. You sure you didn't threaten him?"

Conor laughed, a playful smirk on his face. "Oh, shut up," Kam shot back, though her tone was filled with affection. She then took us to our rooms, each one carefully prepared for our stay.

After freshening up, I went downstairs, my heart skipping a beat as I hoped to catch a glimpse of Aarya. But to my dismay, she was nowhere to be found. My excitement turned to a slight twinge of disappointment. I decided to ask Kam, hoping she'd ease my curiosity.