my duppata got stuck in your watch

3

Jiya could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she rushed to the car, trying to escape the weight of her actions. But there was no avoiding what was coming next. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and the moment she saw Aman’s name flashing on the screen, she knew she was in deep trouble.

The car door slammed shut, and she quickly answered the call, bracing herself.

"Jiya!" Aman’s voice was sharp, the concern laced with anger. "Where the hell are you? What is wrong with you? What were you thinking?"He bambared her with questions

Jiya’s breath caught in her throat. She had no good excuse, no valid reason to give. "Bhai, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to happen. I just... I just wanted to get away, you know?" Her voice trembled, the weight of guilt crashing down on her. She knows whatever she did was wrong and he have every right to be angry.

"Jiya!" Aman roared, his voice thunderous, making her wince. "Do you realize how worried everyone was? You can’t just disappear like that! This isn’t some game!" He said more sharply than he intended to say.

Jiya felt a lump in her throat, the reality of what she had done hitting her all at once. She couldn’t look at her phone; she could already imagine the scowl on Aman’s face. "Bhai, I promise next time I won’t do anything like this again. I just… I needed a moment. Please understand."she pleaded.

Aman’s voice softened for a split second, but the frustration was still evident. "You always do this, Jiya. You run away when things get tough. You never think about the consequences." His voice broke, a mix of worry and hurt. "This isn’t just about you. Do you get that? You put us all through hell by disappearing suddenly."

Jiya could feel the tears welling up, the sting of his words digging deep into her heart. "Bhai, please… I’m not strong like you, okay? I just needed some space."

Aman’s voice turned colder, frustration turning to disappointment. "You don’t get it, do you? You’re not alone. You think you can handle everything by yourself? Look at what you’ve done. You don’t even know how much you’ve hurt us."

Jiya’s chest tightened,  and she bit back a sob. "I didn’t mean to hurt anyone... I never do."

Aman sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself. "Jiya, I don’t want to fight with you. But you’ve got to understand the damage you cause every time you do something like this." His tone had softened, but it was filled with a deep, painful truth. "We’re family, Jiya. We’re supposed to have each other’s backs. Not run off and get lost in some club."

Jiya swallowed hard, the sting of reality setting in. "Bhai, please don’t make me go home. I can’t face Mom, and you know how she’ll react."

Her brother is understanding but can't say same for her mom, she is stereotype mom. She doesn't understand this things. But besides that she loves her kids more than anything.

Aman was quiet for a moment, and Jiya knew he was weighing her words. "I’ll take care of Mom. But don’t think for a second that this won’t affect us. You have no idea how much this hurts me too."

Jiya wiped away a stray tear, her voice breaking as she spoke. "Bhai, I’m sorry... I swear, I’ll change. Just please... don’t be angry with me."

Aman let out a deep breath. "I’m not angry, Jiya. I’m just... I’m disappointed. You have to stop running away from everything."

Aman’s voice came through, calm but firm, laced with concern. “Jiya, how many times do I have to tell you? The world is not as simple as you think. I can’t always be there to protect you.”

“I know, Bhai. I understand, but… please, I’m not a kid anymore. Just trust me for once, okay?” she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly.

Aman let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine, forget all that. I’ve sent you tickets. You’re catching the morning flight back home. No arguments.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “What?! No way! I’m not coming back!”

“What do you mean, no way? You’re there alone, Jiya. Your safety is my responsibility, and you’re coming back. That’s final.”

“Bhaiiii! Please, listen to me! I’m safe here. I’m staying at the place , and I'm not alone, I'm staying here with my friends . I just need a little freedom, just this once.”

Aman’s tone softened, but his worry was evident. “Jiya, you’re my life. If anything happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Jiya felt a pang of guilt but held her ground. “Nothing will happen, Bhai. I promise. Just let me stay till the wedding is over, please. I’ll be careful, I swear.”

There was a long pause on the other end before Aman finally relented. “Fine, but on one condition. The moment the wedding is over, you’re coming straight back to Canada. And if there’s even a single problem, you’ll see the strictest version of me you’ve ever known.”

A huge smile broke across Jiya’s face. “Thank you, Bhai! You’re the best! I promise I won’t disappoint you.”

Aman sighed heavily. “You’re always putting me in these situations, Jiya. I just want to see you happy, but I need you to be safe too. You’re my entire world.”

Her voice softened. “You’re mine too, Bhai. I’ll make you proud, I promise.”

“Don’t give me a reason to regret this, okay?” His tone was stern, but she could hear the teasing edge to it.

“Never! I swear. Love you, Bhai!”

“Love you too. Now go and get some rest. And stop making me lose sleep, Jiya.”he said jockingly.

As the call ended, Jiya leaned back in her seat, a small smile playing on her lips. No matter how strict Aman could be, his love and care were her greatest comforts. She vowed to cherish that bond and prove herself worthy of his trust.

Jiya sighed deeply, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past. Aman’s voice still echoed in her mind—a mixture of worry, love, and authority. She knew he was right, but she couldn’t help feeling suffocated at times. For him, she was a child who needed constant protection. For her, this was her chance to breathe freely, even if only for a little while.

As the car sped through the streets, she allowed herself a small smile. At least Bhai agreed to let me stay till the wedding, she thought. Her phone buzzed again, pulling her out of her thoughts. This time it was Sana, her best friend and the bride-to-be.

“Where are you, madam? Everyone’s asking for you!” Sana’s excited voice boomed through the speaker.

“I’m on my way back to the venue, Sana. Had to step out for a bit,” Jiya replied, trying to sound casual.

“Well, hurry up! We need you here, Miss Maid of Honor,” Sana teased.

Jiya chuckled. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Don’t let the party die without me.”

As the call ended, Jiya leaned back and took a deep breath. She needed to push Aman’s concerns out of her mind for now. Tonight was supposed to be about celebrating Sana’s happiness, not worrying about her overprotective brother.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the grand venue. Jiya adjusted her lehenga and stepped out, her heels clicking against the marble driveway. She glanced at herself in the car’s side mirror, ensuring her makeup was still intact. The reflection showed a confident young woman, but her heart raced with nervous energy.

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