Anand groggily turned over, eyes half-closed, and mumbled, "Priya, answer the call."
"Don’t disturb me!" she grumbled, pulling the pillow over her head to muffle the sound.
Sighing, he reached for the phone, irritation bubbling under his drowsiness. “Hello, Anand speaking,” he muttered, barely awake.
The voice on the other end roared through the speaker, startling him awake. “You donkey! Monkey! Pig! You absolute, brainless, moronic pussy cat!”
Anand bolted upright, wide-eyed. "Jagathi?" he gasped, voice squeaking with panic as he suddenly sat up straight, completely alert now.
“God! Jagathi, I’m your elder brother! Show some respect,” Anand groaned, rubbing his temple as the tirade on the other end continued. “Morning! It’s barely morning, and you’re already calling me all kinds of animals. Is that fair?”
“Those animals are better than you, you idiot! What are you doing, sitting there like a dumb rock while Dad arranges this alliance?” Jagathi fired back, her words coming fast and sharp. “They’re coming tomorrow, Anand! I don’t even know who these brainless people are, but you better stop this, or I swear, it’ll be the last day of peace for you!”
Anand sighed, leaning back against the headboard and calling her by her nickname, “Lucky, Dad didn’t tell me a thing. Besides, what’s wrong with meeting them? Who knows, you might even like—”
“Oh, Hello!, don’t you dare start preaching the Bhagavad Gita to me!*” she snapped, cutting him off. “I’m not in the mood for any of your philosophy. I don’t care what you, your wife, or Vinodh and his wife are planning. All I know is, you’re going to stop this alliance, or I’ll ruin everything myself!” With that, she hung up, leaving the line buzzing.
Anand stared at the phone, his jaw dropping in disbelief. Priya, who had been listening with mild amusement from under her pillow, peeked out as Anand raised his hands skyward in mock prayer.
"Bhagavan, what kind of sister did you give me? She's literally demanding me to ruin her marriage prospects!" he exclaimed, flopping back onto the bed. "If Dad or Chachu finds out I’m sabotaging an alliance, they’ll both hunt me down with their licensed guns! God save me.”
Priya chuckled, shaking her head. "Looks like you're in for a long day, Mr. Husband."
Anand groaned again, "I need a miracle, not a long day!”
The doorbell rang. Priya got down from the bed, stretching slightly. “I’ll check who it is,” she said, walking toward the door.
Anand stretched his arms lazily and sat up straight, yawning. “Probably Dad and Laxman Uncle. They must’ve come back from Mysore,” he guessed, running a hand through his dishevelled hair.
Srinivas and Laxman were brothers and partners, running a successful children's magazine that featured stories, articles, and novels dedicated to young readers. They had been attending a press conference in Mysore and were supposed to return to Vijayanagaram today. Anand figured they might drop by with updates from the event.
As Priya reached the door, she glanced back at Anand. “If it’s them, you better be ready for an interrogation about Jagathi’s latest drama.”
Anand groaned, rubbing his face. "Don't remind me... I'm not mentally prepared for round two yet."
Priya walked through the living room and opened the door with a warm smile, welcoming Srinivas and Laxman inside. The two brothers stepped in, visibly tired from their journey, and sank into the couch, loosening their ties and shrugging off their coats. Priya excused herself briefly, heading toward the kitchen.
YOU ARE READING
Misty Rain
Romance"Oye, Miss Universe," he teased, a playful grin dancing on his lips. She shot him a fierce glare, determination etched across her features, and turned away to walk forward. "Lucky!" he called after her, quickening his pace. She continued to ignore h...
