The Sisodia heirs stood unrivaled in control and possession, their world a testament to their might. To onlookers, their lives were a manifestation of perfection, with their family and surname commanding respect, prestige, and reputation.
Yet, behi...
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"Di, are you even listening to me?" Jivika descends the stairs after Tarini with a hint of exasperation.
"I was thinking how about I cook today," Tarini replies, ignoring her question, and settles onto the sofa, adding, "for my husband."
"Are you upset with him?" Jivika asks, narrowing her eyes.
"How did you know?" Tarini looks up with suspicion.
"I guessed it. That's why you are planning to punish poor bhaiya like that." Jivika's tone was laced with sympathy, recalling the many cooking experiments she had performed, leaving the kitchen almost burning and the people around bewildered.
"You would forget how to count if your poor bhaiya told you the number of zeros in his bank balance," Tarini retorts, glaring at her, but that doesn't last long.
"Jitna chipkali deewar se nahi chipakti, utna woh office is chipke rehte hai. Pata nahi konse chand-taare khareedne ke sapne abhi inke adhoore hai. Mujhe toh..." She once again launches into a rant, one Jivika has heard twice this morning, and she knew it wouldn't be the last.
(He sticks to his office more than a lizard sticks to a wall. I don't get what dreams of buying moon and stars are still incomplete for him.)
"Forget that for a while, Di," Jivika interrupts, her voice rising above Tarini's. She grasps her hand, attempting to calm her down. "We were talking about shopping trip. Remember?"
"We weren't. You were making a plan!" Tarini reminds, huffing at the end.
"Same thing. We are going tomorrow, right?" Jivika batts her eyelashes, trying to coax Tarini, whose attention diverts from her.
"Shirina," Tarini calls out, rising from her seat.
Jivika also turns, following her gaze, finding Shirina walking in through the entrance.
Shirina takes in their presence, and strolls towards them, a polite smile appearing on her lips.
"Hello," she says with a subtle hesitation, firmly gripping her bag's strap. She wasn't awkward or nervous, but she hadn't yet learned a way to catch up with people after a gap, even if it was small.
"It's so great to see you." Tarini steps forward, warmly embracing her in a side-hug, which Shirina reciprocates, while Jivika inquires about her well-being.
"I'm good," Shirina responds, her smile growing more genuine.
"You came at the right time. Otherwise, this girl would have continued to pester me," Tarini states, sounding glad.
Jivika lets out a fake gasp, saying, "I haven't backed off. We are going out tomorrow, and that's final."
"Going out to where?" Shirina asks, intervening.
Jivika tells her about the shopping plans with Tarini, who was reluctant to join. A not-so familiar comfort takes over Shirina, as they engage her in their talks, continuing to bicker all along.
