INSEPARABLE HEARTS 2

Chapter 128

Happy Reading

The city streets were strung with golden fairy lights, shops gleamed with red and green ribbons, and the smell of roasted chestnuts lingered in the air. It was the weekend before Christmas, and the mall was bustling with families, couples, and laughter echoing through the corridors. Among them walked the Malhotra family.

Sumitra clutched her shopping bag tightly, a little nervous but beaming all the same. This was the first time all four of them were out together like this in years—her, Andy, Abeer, and Angad. Not for school. Not for an emergency. Just… a family day out.

“Okay,” Angad grinned, holding up his phone. “First things first. Everyone smile!”

Sumitra chuckled and nudged Andy.

“Smile, Mr. Mehra. Your son is turning into a camera freak,” she said playfully.

Andy, ever the stoic one, gave a reluctant smile as Angad clicked a candid family selfie. Abeer stood a little off to the side, pretending not to be invested.

“Hey, Abe!” Angad called. “Come help mom pick something. Or are you going to stand there like an awkward tree?”

Abeer raised an eyebrow but walked over.

“It’s Sumitra,” he said softly, still unsure of how to transition from years of distance.

But she smiled, genuinely. “Help me pick something bright. I always go for beige and blue. Let’s try bold this year.”

Abeer glanced at the racks and picked up a deep maroon scarf. “Try this. It’s not your usual... but I think it’ll suit you.”

She took it, surprised. “That’s actually... really good.”

He shrugged, hands in his pockets. But his lips twitched. A flicker of pride, buried but real.

Across the store, Angad was filming short clips on his phone.

“Okay now, look at dad pretending to know what he’s doing,” Angad whispered into the mic, pointing to Andy inspecting jackets.

Andy rolled his eyes. “Give me that,” he said, taking the phone. “I’ll show you how

_________

The mall was dressed in Christmas spirit—strings of fairy lights wound around banisters, glittering trees stood proudly in corners, and soft carols played in the background. The air was full of cinnamon, cardamom coffee, and the sound of happy chaos.

Keerthi, Dharshi, and Elena were wrapped in winter shawls, hands full of shopping bags and laughter. It had been a while since they'd had a day like this—just the three of them, without drama, without secrets, without trying to fix anything. Just being girls.

“We need sparkle,” Elena announced, holding up a sequined emerald green dress.

“You need therapy,” Keerthi deadpanned, wrinkling her nose.

“Girls, be nice,” Dharshi laughed, arms full of tried-on clothes. “It’s our first New Year’s dinner as a family, remember?”

They giggled at that. It was still surreal—how life had folded their stories together so unexpectedly. From best friends to step-sisters… it sounded like something out of a teenage drama series, but it was real.

As they made their way toward the escalator, Keerthi stopped dead in her tracks.

“Is that—?” she began.