19
The morning light slanted softly through the sheer curtains, painting the floor in golden rectangles as the hum of the city below slowly rose in volume.
Vaani stirred awake, blinking away the remnants of sleep.
Her limbs felt heavy, her mind sluggish from the long night before, but the quiet of the morning brought her a strange kind of calm.
She took a quick shower, steam curling around her as she leaned into the warmth of it, letting the water wash away the heaviness of last night's phone call, of guilt, of that hollow ache in her chest. She towel-dried her hair, feeling a little lighter, a little more settled, and reached for her formal wear, assuming she'd need to be at the Abu Dhabi office again today.
But then-ding.
A notification buzzed on her phone screen:
"Hey Vaani, the rest of the Abu Dhabi work is all onsite with the paint and build crew, so you don't need to come in. You can start on the designs for the Mumbai project. Work from home for the rest of this week."
She read it twice, then a soft smile tugged at her lips.
Finally. A full week at home.
A chance to just... breathe.
She picked a simple top and pajamas, tied her damp hair into a loose braid, and padded barefoot to the kitchen.
The house was quiet, still holding the sleepy warmth of morning.
She set a pot of water to boil, added the tea leaves, ginger, cardamom, a splash of milk-her hands moving with practiced ease-and leaned against the counter as the aroma of chai began to fill the air.
She was just pouring the chai into two mugs when she heard the soft shuffle of footsteps.
Dhruv emerged from the hallway, dressed casually-black joggers, a grey T-shirt, hair still a little messy from sleep. He looked relaxed, but surprised, seeing her already at the stove. His gaze flickered from the mugs to her outfit to her bare feet.
They both froze for a second, eyes meeting across the morning quiet.
"You're not going to work?" they asked at the same time.
And then both of them blinked, slightly awkward.
Vaani was quick to recover, stumbling through a rushed, "Uhh-sorry, I meant-I just thought you usually-"
"I have work from home today," Dhruv cut in, calm and casual, stuffing one hand into his pocket as he stepped into the kitchen. "Meetings all on call."
"Oh," she nodded, hugging the mug closer to herself, "me too. They said I could stay in and work on designs."
There was a beat of silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Just... quiet.
Dhruv reached for the second mug-the one she'd made for him-and gave her a soft, "Thanks."
She blinked at him. "Welcome."
He didn't go to the dining table like he usually did. Instead, he gestured toward the living room. "Come. Sit."
A little surprised, she followed him, curling into one corner of the couch as he sat at the other end, stretching his legs out and crossing one ankle over the other.
For a few minutes, they sipped their chai in silence. She scrolled through her emails, occasionally typing something with intense focus, her brows slightly furrowed.
Dhruv watched her from the corner of his eye.
She looked calm on the surface, but there was something restless in her body language-the way she was typing so quickly, her lips pressing into a thin line every time her phone buzzed with a message.
She'd tug her braid forward every now and then, absentmindedly twisting it around her finger before letting it drop again.
Her foot tapped lightly against the floor in a rhythm even she didn't seem aware of.
He took a sip of his chai and finally said, "The chai's good today."
Her head snapped up, as if she hadn't expected him to speak. "Oh," she said, blinking. "Thank you."
There was something in her voice that was softer than usual-almost apologetic, or maybe just tired.
"You always make it like this?" he asked.
She nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Usually. It's how I made it back home."
He gave her a small smile. "It's nice. Better than the one we get in the office vending machine."
She smiled too, a little shyly. "That's not really a high bar."
He chuckled under his breath. "Fair enough."
She turned her eyes back to her phone and began typing again, but this time a bit slower, as if she was trying not to seem too distracted. He sipped again, watching her quietly.
He didn't ask her about the night before. Didn't bring up what he'd overheard. Somehow, it didn't feel right to confront her-not yet. Not when she wasn't ready to share it herself.
But he also couldn't stop thinking about it.
That conversation with her father. The way her voice broke. The guilt she carried on her shoulders like it belonged solely to her.
He didn't know what to do with that knowledge yet.
So he sat beside her, in silence, sipping the chai she'd made, trying to act as though this was just another regular morning-when really, everything had quietly shifted.
Vaani was curled into the couch, laptop balanced on her knees, fingers moving quickly over the trackpad.
She had opened up her design software but was clearly distracted-half her tabs were unrelated, and Dhruv noticed her toggling between emails and what looked like scholarship forums. She wasn't even pretending to focus on the floor plans anymore.
Dhruv sat beside her, the now-empty chai mug in his hand, observing her quietly.
He knew what he'd heard last night.
And he hadn't said a word since-but it hadn't left his mind for a second.
The guilt in her voice, the weariness. The helplessness of someone trying to stretch herself across too many ends just to make something work for someone else.
He didn't want to corner her about it. But he wanted to... test the water.
Casually.
So he cleared his throat and asked, "Hey... about Vihaan."
Her eyes lifted immediately, cautious, alert.
Dhruv kept his tone light. "You mentioned he's applying for his masters, right? Where does he want to go?"
Vaani blinked. "Oh... yeah, he does."
He watched her carefully as she closed the distracting tabs and set the laptop aside.
She started listing, quietly, "He applied to a few universities in the UK-Edinburgh, Imperial... but he's more keen on the US. He got into a couple of good places there too. Georgia Tech, Columbia, UCLA..."
Dhruv gave a soft, impressed nod. "That's a solid lineup."
"Yeah," she said softly, smiling a little. "He's worked hard for it."
"And which ones has he shortlisted?" Dhruv asked, voice casual.
She didn't seem suspicious yet-she answered, "He's mostly down to four now. Edinburgh from the UK, and in the US it's UCLA, Georgia Tech, and Columbia."
"Columbia, huh?" Dhruv smiled. "Joining my alma mater, is he?"
She looked at him, her expression unreadable, and nodded slowly. "He was very happy when he got in."
"Good choice," Dhruv said, tapping his fingers lightly on his mug. "A master's from the US would be great. Right?"
The moment he said it, he felt her shift.
Just slightly.
Her posture didn't change much, but he could sense it-something had closed off.
Her eyes flicked to him, almost questioning. Her lips parted like she was about to say something, but then she didn't.
Instead, she just gave the safest possible reply: "Yeah... it would."
Dhruv watched her closely. The hesitation hadn't gone unnoticed. The pause before she spoke. The tension in her shoulders. The way she didn't say yes so much as not say no.
He leaned back a little, nodding as if in agreement, but inside, the conversation from last night echoed louder.
"We've already exhausted all available scholarships..."
"It's a lot of strain in the same year..."
"I feel so guilty for stripping Vihaan away from his dream..."
Vaani wasn't choosing her words lightly-because she couldn't afford to.
"Did he seem more inclined toward Columbia?" Dhruv asked again, carefully.
She glanced at him, then looked away, picking at a loose thread on the cushion. "He... did. It's his dream school."
Dhruv nodded. "I can see why. It's a great place."
Silence stretched between them again.
And then, without thinking, Dhruv asked-genuinely this time, not just as a test, but because he wanted to know-"Why didn't he pick it then? If he got in."
Vaani froze for the smallest second.
And then, quietly-too quietly-she said, "He's still... exploring all options."
Dhruv didn't push. She was protecting something. Someone.
He didn't know what stung more-her not telling him, or her feeling like she couldn't.
He wanted to tell her he knew. That she didn't need to carry it alone. But something told him this wasn't about knowing. This was about letting her say it herself when she was ready.
So he only said, gently, "Well, whatever he picks... he's lucky to have you looking out for him."
She blinked, looking at him like she hadn't expected that.
And she smiled-small, tired, but real.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He gave her a small nod, eyes still on her.
And even though the silence came again, this time it didn't feel heavy.
It just felt... honest.
Dhruv took one final sip of his now-lukewarm chai and leaned back slightly on the couch, watching Vaani as she scrolled absentmindedly through her phone.
She wasn't focused, not really. He could see the lines of distraction on her face, the way she was half-present in the room, half somewhere else entirely.
Probably still thinking about Vihaan. About everything she wasn't saying.
He set the mug down on the table beside him and said, casually, "Call him over today."
Vaani looked up. "What?"
"Vihaan," Dhruv said, nonchalantly. "Call him over today. And Vedant too."
She blinked, confused. "Today?"
"Yeah." He glanced around the quiet apartment. "Everyone's at home. They won't get bored."
Vaani furrowed her brows, clearly still processing. "But... why?"
Dhruv gave a half-shrug. "Why not? It's a Wednesday. You're working from home, I'm home... they could come hang out. They haven't seen the place yet, right?"
"I mean..." She looked away for a second, searching for a reason to say no. "They... they make a lot of noise," she said, softly, almost like a warning.
Dhruv gave a short laugh, then looked at her with more weight behind his words than she expected. "This house is too silent all the time, Vaani."
She met his eyes.
And for a moment, she wondered-was he still talking about her brothers?
Because it didn't feel like it.
There was something deeper in the way he said it. Something pointed. Like he was gently calling out the silence between the two of them. The way they moved around each other like distant planets, orbiting in perfect, practiced politeness-but never colliding, never warming.
A little noise would be good.
Vaani looked away quickly, brushing her thumb across the screen of her phone. "Okay," she said, voice quieter. "I'll text them."
Dhruv leaned back again with a satisfied little nod. "Great."
She opened her chat with Vihaan and typed a quick message:
"Vihaan and Vedant, wanna come over today? We're both working from home."
She stared at the screen for a second before hitting send. Not even five minutes later, her phone buzzed.
Vedant: YES TAI OMG. We were just saying we were bored af.
Vaani: Vedant, no swearing.
Vedant: Sorry Tai. Got in the feels.
Vihaan: 2pm okay, Tai?
She turned the phone slightly toward Dhruv. "They'll be here by 2."
"Wonderful," he said, with a calm smile, standing up and stretching. "Good. I'll set up the old PlayStation then. See if it still runs after all these years."
"You're really serious about this?" she asked, watching him cross the room.
"I don't joke about gaming," he said without turning, and she gave the softest chuckle.
Dhruv heard it.
He didn't say anything, but the faint smile that touched his face said enough.
~·~
It was just after 1:30pm now. The soft hum of the city on a Wednesday afternoon filtered in through the slightly cracked windows.
The usual formal rhythm of their household-muted footsteps, quiet utensil sounds, the gentle clink of coffee mugs-was already being replaced by the anticipation of younger energy approaching.
Vaani busied herself in the kitchen, prepping a little extra chai, wondering if she should pull out the snack tins. She opened the fridge and debated making sandwiches but then decided against it-Vihaan would probably want to order something loud and unhealthy, and Vedant would just copy him.
Meanwhile, Dhruv was crouched by the living room console, wiping the dust off the old PS4, reconnecting the HDMI and wondering if they still had any decent games left in storage. He'd pulled out two extra beanbags from the storage room and tossed them lazily by the carpet.
He wasn't exactly the kind of guy who hosted a lot of people-his space had always been clean, structured, efficient. But somehow, imagining a bit of noise... felt necessary. Like opening a few windows in a stuffy room.
More than anything, he had seen the way Vaani lit up just slightly when Vihaan and Vedant were around. She laughed louder. She talked faster. She forgot to be careful.
He didn't want her to forget everything.
Just enough to breathe.
At 1:57, the doorbell rang, followed by a series of urgent knocks like someone couldn't wait.
Vaani was already walking toward the door when she heard Vedant's voice from outside, yelling through the wood: "TAI OPEN UP, I'M STARVING."
She opened it with a small smile, and in tumbled her two brothers-one carrying a bag of chips, the other with a PS controller he clearly refused to leave at home. They were already yelling, laughing, asking what was for lunch and if Dhruv really remembered how to play FIFA.
Dhruv came out of the hallway, looking at the two of them with a raised brow. "You guys always come in like this?"
"This is us being civil," Vedant grinned.
Vihaan gave Dhruv a fist bump. "Thanks for calling us over, Jijaji. This place needed a little life."
Vaani glanced at Dhruv then-he met her eyes for half a second, and she knew he caught the irony of that sentence too.
He smiled.
And she smiled back, this time-unreservedly.
Maybe... a little noise would be good after all.
The door closed behind Vihaan and Vedant with an energetic thud, their laughter echoing into the quiet apartment as they kicked off their shoes and barged inside like they owned the place.
Dhruv stepped aside, letting them through, but his eyes didn't follow them immediately. Instead, they landed on Vihaan's face-there, for a fleeting moment, Dhruv caught it.
That flicker of something heavy beneath the surface.
It was subtle. The way Vihaan smiled just a little too quickly, the way his shoulders were up as if holding a weight he didn't want anyone to see.
He was laughing, but his eyes weren't. And then-just as quickly-it vanished, hidden under the charm, the jokes, the cool big-brother energy he wore like armor.
Dhruv didn't say anything, but his gaze shifted to Vaani.
She was just a few steps behind her brothers, closing the door gently. And for a second, she wasn't wearing any mask. Her face held that soft, familiar sadness he had seen far too often lately-the kind that lived in the corners of her mouth and the silence in her eyes.
She was watching Vihaan. Quietly. Sadly.
But the moment Vihaan turned around and looked back at her with a teasing smirk-"Tai, you gonna let us ransack your kitchen or what?"-she snapped into motion.
"Oh yeah, of course, please! Raid the chips drawer. I even restocked," she said, voice light, smile in place like nothing had been there before.
Dhruv observed the exchange silently.
And then his eyes fell on Vedant, happily kicking off his sneakers and heading straight for the console like a kid in an arcade.
Of all of them, he was the only one who was truly okay.
Unaware.
Untouched.
Just... living in his simple, buzzing teenage world.
Dhruv exhaled through his nose. Quietly.
"Vaani," he said, interrupting the chatter.
She turned. "Hmm?"
He patted the space on the couch next to him. "Come sit here."
There was a small pause, but she walked over and sat beside him, her smile still playing at her lips, but he could feel the heaviness beneath it.
Dhruv checked his phone and cleared his throat. "I just need to take a quick work call. I'll be back in a bit."
She nodded. "Sure."
Vihaan gave him a thumbs-up, Vedant was already halfway through booting up the console.
As Dhruv walked toward the bedroom, he glanced back once. Just a small glance.
Vaani had already turned toward her brothers, folding her legs beneath her on the couch.
"So, Vihaan, Vedant... what's new?" she asked, her voice chipper and smooth, as if the earlier conversation hadn't weighed on her all night. "Don't tell me your lives are still as boring as ever."
Vihaan shrugged, sitting opposite her. "Nothing much. Got an 80% on my last research assignment."
Vaani's eyes lit up. "Eighty?! That's amazing, Vihu!"
He grinned. "Yeah, not bad, right?"
Vedant flopped onto the rug in front of the TV, game controller in hand. "And I-well-I got into King's College."
Vaani blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what? Vedant! That's huge!"
He gave a little smirk. "Yup. You're looking at a future Londoner now."
Vihaan threw a pillow at him. "Don't act like you own the city already, idiot."
"I'll send you a postcard from Big Ben," Vedant shot back.
Vaani laughed-genuinely this time. It slipped through her, unguarded.
But Dhruv, just barely out of earshot and pretending to scroll through emails, could hear the difference in her tone. He didn't need to see her face to know she was trying. For them. Holding everything inside and stacking it behind soft jokes and gentle smiles.
Inside, Vaani was listening to her brothers talk-mostly Vedant, excited and loud, describing his London plans-and out of the corner of her eye, she caught Vihaan's silence.
He was smiling, yes, nodding along. But not really talking. Just being there.
And she knew why.
He was watching his little brother live his dream.
The same dream he'd had. The same one he'd been prepared for. The same one he now had to wait for... or maybe, let go.
But he didn't say it.
And she didn't say it.
They both just sat there, two siblings wearing brave faces for each other, pretending that nothing had shifted.
"Tai," Vihaan said, finally breaking the pause, "remember when you used to bribe me with chocolate so I'd stop crying before my maths tuition?"
Vaani smiled. "Only because you'd blackmail me into doing your art homework otherwise."
"Blackmail is a strong word," he said.
"Fine. Strategic negotiation," she corrected, laughing.
They all laughed. Loud and full.
Dhruv walked back into the living room with a stretch, rolling his shoulders like he'd just come back from a workout, not a conference call.
His expression was neutral, but there was the faintest hint of amusement playing on his face-almost like he'd heard everything and was enjoying the shift in energy inside the apartment.
Vedant, seated cross-legged on the floor with a controller in hand and a plate of half-finished chips beside him, turned with wide eyes.
"Dada! Where were you, man? It's been, like... forty minutes!"
Before Dhruv could answer, Vaani looked up from her laptop on the couch, her tone calm but gently correcting, "Vedant, it's still office hours, na?"
She gave her youngest brother a light look-the kind that held both affection and that unspoken elder sibling authority.
Vedant blinked and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Oh. Right. Sorry, Dada."
Dhruv waved it off casually as he walked toward them. "No apology necessary. I was just on a call. All done now." He reached down and plucked the extra controller from the table. "So. Who's losing to me today?"
Vedant grinned, instantly shifting back into game-mode. "Big words, Dada. You're rusty."
Dhruv plopped down between the two of them, a natural fit, and within seconds the screen flashed to life, loading the FIFA menu with familiar beeps and team lineups.
Vaani watched from her spot on the couch, her fingers still moving over the trackpad and the stylus, flipping through layout drafts and design elements-but her eyes.
.. her eyes kept drifting back to the three of them.
And that's when she saw it.
Not just how Dhruv played the game, but how he was in the moment-with them.
It wasn't formal. It wasn't "let me entertain your brothers because I have to." It was easy. Natural. He nudged Vedant when he got too cocky, gave Vihaan a half-serious pep talk before a virtual penalty kick, ruffled both of their hair when he won a round.
"Vihaan, you had the shot-the shot!-why did you pass?"
"I panicked, okay?"
"You're applying for Ivy League, and you panic in a FIFA match?"
"Stop bringing up my academics, this is my fun time!"
They were all laughing.
Vaani couldn't look away.
Because this... this was different.
It wasn't Dhruv in his usual calm, collected, slightly-reserved self. It wasn't the office boss or the meticulous planner. This was Dhruv with his sleeves rolled up, leaned back against the couch, laughing freely with two teenage boys, fully present and warm and-brotherly.
It shouldn't have surprised her, but it did.
She'd always thought of Dhruv as someone who understood things, sure. Someone who could be patient, kind, even unexpectedly soft in small ways. But this level of effortlessness-with her brothers?
That was something else entirely.
She'd expected a polite man doing the bare minimum. Maybe some small talk. A few nods. Definitely not someone who would make space for them in the apartment like they belonged. Like they'd been his family all along.
And for the first time in days-weeks, maybe-she forgot the worry sitting in her chest. She forgot about education loans and deferred dreams, about guilt and numbers and the weight of trying to keep everyone afloat without sinking herself.
Because watching them now, she could almost believe that maybe... not everything had to be done alone.
"Tai," Vedant's voice broke her thoughts, "are you even working or just spying on us?"
She blinked. "I am working."
"Sure," Vihaan added with a teasing glance. "You've been staring at the same line on your screen for the last ten minutes."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm brainstorming."
"Looks more like soul-searching," Vedant grinned.
Dhruv turned his head slightly, just enough to catch Vaani's gaze. There was a flicker of something there-something knowing, something... gentle. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to.
Vaani quickly looked back at her screen, cheeks tinged with the faintest color.
"Anyway," Vedant said, pausing the game and stretching, "I'm starving. Please tell me there's more food."
"I'll heat up some parathas," Vaani said, already rising.
"I'll help," Vihaan said, standing as well.
"I'll guard the console," Dhruv said solemnly, gripping the controller like a sword.
"Great knight," Vedant bowed dramatically. "Protector of FIFA."
They all laughed again.
Vaani walked into the kitchen with Vihaan, her heart oddly light.
But even as she poured oil on the pan and laid down the parathas, her mind flicked back to the living room-where Dhruv sat between her brothers like he'd always belonged there.
In the kitchen, the gentle hiss of oil on the tawa filled the space as Vaani flipped the parathas with practiced ease. Vihaan leaned against the fridge, sipping water from a steel tumbler, pretending to be casual. But Vaani knew him too well.
She turned slightly, watching him, then spoke softly.
"Vihaan, are you okay?"
He blinked. "Yeah, Tai. Why?"
She hesitated for a moment, then turned down the flame and leaned back against the counter beside him. "Vihu... I want to talk to you."
He paused, stiffened ever so slightly, then gave her a small smile-too small, too light to be real. "Tai, can we... talk afterwards? When we go back maybe?"
Her heart ached at that. The 'afterwards' that never came. She reached out and gently touched his wrist. "Vihu, but-"
Before she could finish, Dhruv suddenly poked his head into the kitchen, a smirk on his face. "Hey, Vaani, talk later-I need Vihaan right now. We've got a rematch going. It's urgent."
Vihaan laughed immediately, glad for the out. "Saved by the bell," he said, ruffling Vaani's hair before walking out with Dhruv.
She stood there, leaning back against the counter, the spatula in her hand going limp. Her other hand rested lightly against her chest, just above the ache forming steadily in her heart.
She had tried.
Again.
And again, the conversation slipped away like water through her fingers.
It wasn't just the guilt anymore-it was fear.
Fear of making it harder for Vihaan to keep pretending, and fear of Dhruv accidentally making it worse.
He kept bringing up masters programs, the US, Columbia-without knowing Vihaan hadn't even confirmed his admission.
Without knowing he hadn't paid a deposit.
Without knowing... the dream might already be slipping.
And Vaani still hadn't told him.
Not about the loan. Not about the scholarships running out. Not about the impossible math of paying for two overseas educations and a wedding all in one year.
She swallowed hard, staring at the parathas, burning ever so slightly around the edges.
Then Dhruv returned, quieter this time. His tone gentler. "Are you good?"
She looked up quickly, startled. "Huh? Yeah... I'm fine."
He didn't believe her. It was clear in the way his brows knit together for a second, and then relaxed like he was choosing to let it go-for now. "You can tell me if there's anything," he said simply.
Vaani shook her head. "No, no... it's alright."
And again, he nodded. But not before she saw it-that flicker of disappointment. That small, sharp pang in his eyes that she wasn't yet letting him in.
He turned to the stove. "Parathas are done. Come on," he said. Not cold. Not warm. Just... neutral.
She stood still for a second after he left, biting the inside of her cheek. Then she picked up the warm parathas with tongs, placed them on a plate, added some chutney and a few extra pickles the way Vihaan liked, and carried them out.
As she walked back into the living room, she caught sight of them.
Vihaan and Vedant were already back in front of the screen, controllers in hand, squabbling over player formations. Dhruv sat between them, tossing casual quips, and yet his eyes flickered once-to her-as she entered.
He didn't say anything, but he noticed.
She settled the plate down on the table near them. "Here. Eat this before you three faint from low blood sugar."
Vedant grinned, already reaching for a piece. "Tai, legend. Actual legend."
As the boys dug into the food, Dhruv leaned back slightly, resting one arm over the back of the couch. And though he smiled as Vedant shoved half a paratha into his mouth and began to dramatically narrate a football commentary, his eyes drifted back to Vaani again.
There was something still there.
Unspoken.
Unresolved.
She sat on the edge of the single armchair, legs tucked up slightly under her, trying to act like she wasn't still carrying a mountain in her chest. But her eyes gave it away every time they landed on Vihaan-and lingered a little too long.
~·~
"Broooo," Vihaan groaned dramatically, rubbing his face. "It's 8!"
Vedant dropped the game controller with a jolt. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah," Vihaan held up his phone. "8:04 p.m. Aai is gonna kill us. She said come back by 5, we've overstayed by-" he did a quick calculation, "-three hours."
Vaani, who was seated cross-legged on the carpet with a cup of chai in her hand, blinked. "Three hours?! How-"
"I told you PS time warps reality," Vedant muttered, scrambling to put his shoes on.
"I have to drive fast now," Vihaan said, grabbing his bag and tossing Vedant's hoodie to him. "No pit stops. Just straight back before she texts again."
But before they could bolt, Dhruv, who had been lounging near the kitchen arch, arms folded and watching the chaos with a soft grin, spoke up calmly.
"Just stay the night."
Vihaan and Vedant paused mid-exit. Vaani's head snapped up.
"What?" she asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
Dhruv looked at her, then at the boys. "Yeah. Why not? Grab a change of clothes from your house, and crash here. It's late, the traffic's going to suck, and honestly, we're halfway to midnight already."
Vihaan looked at Vedant with barely disguised excitement.
"Seriously?" Vedant asked, lighting up.
"Seriously," Dhruv nodded. "Go grab your stuff. Vihaan, you drive responsibly-no drifting."
"Me?" Vihaan said, mock-offended as they ran out the door. "I'm the most responsible."
"Sure," Dhruv said with a teasing raise of his brow.
Vaani was still staring at him, surprised. "Aapko... ye sab karne ki zaroorat nahi thi."
Dhruv met her gaze, steady and unbothered. "It's not a big deal."
She frowned lightly, her expression not annoyed, but... questioning. "They'll make noise. It's not exactly peaceful when the two of them are around."
"That's the point," Dhruv replied, voice low and relaxed.
Vaani looked confused. "What?"
He stepped a little closer, not imposing-just enough. The kitchen light glinted against the edge of his jawline, his hair still slightly messy from lounging on the couch earlier. There was something about the way he was looking at her-not teasing, not casual.
Something a little more real.
"A little chaos in this house might be good," he said, eyes still on hers. "It's been too quiet. Especially since you moved in and started trying so hard not to take up space."
She blinked at that. A faint furrow of confusion between her brows.
"I mean," he continued, one corner of his mouth twitching up slightly, "you move like a guest in your own house. Lights off by 10. No music. No loud phone calls. You brew your chai like you're worried the steam might disturb the silence."
She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. But he wasn't done.
"They're family. If they make noise-it's fine. I like it."
She exhaled a slow breath. "But..."
He leaned just a little closer, just enough that she caught the playful glint in his gaze, even though his voice had dipped into something quieter. "Besides," he added, "between you and me, I've always had a soft spot for troublemakers."
Her breath caught slightly, not because of the line-but because of the way he said it.
Like he wasn't just talking about Vedant and Vihaan anymore.
She tried to hold onto her composure, turning back slightly toward the window where the boys were already getting into the car parked outside. "They'll bring the house down."
"Then let them," he said.
She looked at him again-and for a moment, it was just the two of them in the soft golden light of the living room. No noise, no brothers, no pressing guilt or secrets or financial calculations.
Just... him.
And the quiet way he was trying to take her burdens without forcing her to name them.
He turned away then, giving her space to think, to breathe, walking over to where the empty chai cups were left on the table. "You want dinner now or later?"
"I can heat it up," she said, moving automatically toward the kitchen.
He turned back. "Or we order junk tonight. Your brothers will vote for pizza anyway."
She chuckled lightly. "You're enabling them."
"They're already corrupted," he replied, shaking his head in mock dismay.
And she watched him for a long second, quietly, before whispering just loud enough, "You're very different from what I expected you to be."
He looked up. "And how's that?"
She tilted her head, eyes soft but curious. "I thought you'd be not be a fan of all this. Keeps to himself. Doesn't like interruptions. Especially noise."
He smirked faintly. "You're not entirely wrong. I am like that."
She raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem like it."
He took a beat, then looked directly at her. "Maybe I just make exceptions."
Her heart skipped slightly, and for the first time in weeks-maybe longer-she wasn't sure how to respond.
And so, just 15 minutes later, the door opened and Vihaan yelled, "We're back with pajamas, Maggi, and too many clothes!"
Vedant added from behind, "AND UNO CARDS!"
Vaani burst out laughing as Dhruv just shook his head.
"Paratha, pizza, and a game night?" Vedant asked, dropping his bag.
"Perfect night," Vihaan confirmed.
Vaani looked one last time at Dhruv before moving toward the boys to help them unload the grocery bag.
~·~
The living room was alive with chatter and soft clinks from the kitchen as everyone helped set up dinner. Vedant was loudly proclaiming his Maggi recipe was "superior" to any ready-made pasta, while Dhruv set out plates with a calm ease, listening with a faint grin on his face.
Vaani was at the stove, heating up the parathas, her mind half on the conversation, half on the crisping edges of the bread. The comfort of her brothers' laughter, Dhruv's quiet presence, and the aroma of warm food felt like a moment suspended in warmth.
And then-
"TAIIIIIIIIIII!" came a sudden, high-pitched yell.
Everyone froze.
Dhruv nearly dropped the water jug. "What happened?!"
Vedant looked around in alarm. "Why are you screaming like that, bro?"
Vihaan stood with his phone in his hand, eyes wide like saucers, face pale but stunned. "No-nothing, I-uh-I thought I saw a cockroach."
Vedant frowned. "Bro. You're not even near the floor."
Vihaan blinked. "Right. Sorry. My bad." He shoved his phone in his hoodie pocket and walked briskly to the kitchen, face composed again.
Vaani raised a brow. "What's going on?"
"Tai," Vihaan whispered as he reached her side, "Tai come here. Now. Please."
She frowned, wiping her hands on a towel. "Vihaan-"
"Just see this," he said urgently, pulling out his phone and handing it to her.
Vaani took it and read the email.
Her breath caught.
Dear Mr. Vihaan Joshi,
We are pleased to inform you that an additional merit-based scholarship of $17,000 has been awarded to you for the upcoming academic year.
Your revised tuition is now $25,000, with an estimated accommodation cost of $10,000.
Congratulations once again on your admission to Columbia University. ..
She felt the world blur for a second.
They listened. The appeal. The follow-up calls. Her quiet begging over emails.
They listened.
Her eyes welled up before she blinked it back.
"Tai..." Vihaan said softly, reading her expression. "You can't send me, can you?"
Her gaze flicked to him. His voice was too quiet. Like he was trying to make it easier for her to say no.
"Even with this," he went on, "it's still... a lot. $35,000 is not a joke. It's okay. I understand. I can go next year or later. Who says a master's has to be right now, right?"
She looked at him-her little brother trying so hard to seem okay. That same boy who used to cling to her leg on his first day of school. And now, sitting here, swallowing his dream so no one else had to.
Vaani didn't say a word.
"Tai?"
She grabbed his hand. "Come with me."
Confused, Vihaan followed her silently to the bedroom. She pulled the laptop from the shelf and powered it on. He sat beside her, glancing at her from time to time, unsure what she was doing.
"Tai," he whispered, "it's okay, seriously. You don't have to-"
But he stopped when he saw what she was doing.
On the screen: Columbia University admissions portal.
Below that: Pay tuition deposit: $1,000 to confirm seat.
"Tai... no. Wait," he said, his voice catching in panic. "What are you doing? You need to ask Aai-Baba. That money-if we don't go, it won't come back-"
She didn't reply. She took out her card. Entered the details. Hit confirm.
Vihaan was staring at her, heart thudding.
She turned the laptop toward him and placed it in his lap. "Welcome to Columbia, Vihaan."
Vihaan sat frozen, looking at the screen, then back at her.
"T-Tai... really?" he asked, voice cracking.
She smiled, tears in her eyes now too. "Yes, really."
Vihaan's face crumpled as he leaned forward and hugged her tightly, his voice trembling. "Thank you... thank you, Tai... thank you so much..."
She held him, brushing his hair the way she always did when he was little. "You earned it. I'm just helping you get there."
He pulled back, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie. "What about Aai-Baba?"
"I'll handle it," she said firmly. "You just focus on being the best student that place has ever seen."
He gave a teary chuckle, nodding.
Just then, the door opened and Dhruv stepped in. "What's going on? Dinner's getting cold-"
Before he could finish, Vihaan stood up, rushed forward, and hugged Dhruv tightly.
Startled, Dhruv instinctively hugged back. "Not that I'm complaining," he said with a small chuckle, "but what's this for?"
Vihaan, still holding onto him, whispered, "Dada... I'm going to Columbia."
Dhruv's arms tightened slightly in surprise. He pulled back to look at Vihaan's face, then at Vaani, who stood near the bed, smiling softly, her eyes glinting with emotion.
"No way," Dhruv said, a slow smile spreading on his face. "Seriously?"
"We just paid the deposit," Vihaan nodded, still dazed. "I'm going."
Dhruv looked from Vihaan to Vaani. His expression changed-softened with understanding.
"Congratulations, Vihaan," he said, placing a proud hand on his shoulder. "You're gonna kill it there."
Vihaan laughed, overwhelmed, wiping his tears again. "Thank you... seriously."
Dhruv looked at Vihaan with a small, genuine smile, arms crossed, his voice warm and steady. "I'm really excited for you, Vihaan. Seriously."
Vihaan gave him a small, bashful nod, still looking slightly dazed from everything that had just happened. "Thank you, dada."
But then Dhruv suddenly straightened and said, "Wait here." Without any more explanation, he turned and walked to the large wooden cupboard against the wall.
Vaani and Vihaan both exchanged glances, confused but curious, as they watched Dhruv rummage through the shelves. For a moment there was only the sound of shifting fabric and wooden drawers being opened and closed.
And then he turned around holding a navy-blue hoodie with a familiar crest emblazoned across the chest in bold white:
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Vihaan's eyes widened instantly. "No way..."
Dhruv walked back to him, holding it out. "Here. For the upcoming Columbia cohort."
Vihaan took a hesitant step back. "Dada... this is yours."
"I know," Dhruv replied calmly, holding it out further. "I'm lending it to you."
Vihaan blinked, heart already thudding in his chest.
"You can give me mine back when you get your own Columbia hoodie," Dhruv said with a half-smile. "Till then-let the world know you're going. We like to flex it."
Vihaan laughed, a bit overwhelmed. "You sure?"
"Absolutely."
Vihaan slowly took the hoodie with both hands, as if it were some ceremonial mantle, and pulled it over his head. It was a little loose on him, but it fit in all the right ways. Like he had stepped into a dream he hadn't yet allowed himself to believe.
"How do I look?" he asked, turning to face Vaani.
She looked at him, tears pricking the corners of her eyes again. She pressed her lips together to stop them from falling and smiled. "It suits you."
Vihaan beamed. "I'm gonna go show Vedant!" he said quickly, and before either of them could reply, he dashed out the room like a kid on Christmas morning, yelling for his brother.
Vaani chuckled softly and shook her head. "He's gone."
Dhruv turned to her, watching the softness in her face. "Columbia's a good school."
She nodded. "One of the best."
He gave a little shrug. "Then it's a good thing he's got that hoodie to prepare him mentally."
She looked at him, sincerely. "Thank you... for lending it to him. That meant a lot to him. I could see it."
"Nah," Dhruv said lightly, waving it off. "It's just fabric and old college ego. Let him carry it for a while."
They stood there for a second, the sounds of Vihaan excitedly narrating everything to Vedant echoing from the other room.
"Come," Dhruv said softly. "Let's eat. I'm starving."
Vaani nodded, brushing away a stray tear quickly before it could fall too far down her cheek.
They stepped out of the bedroom and back into the living area, where the brothers were now laughing and dancing in a haphazard circle around the dining table.
Vihaan was doing some odd mix of bhangra and American college frat dancing in his oversized hoodie.
"THIS IS MY TAI!" he shouted proudly, "AND THIS IS HER HUSBAND! WHO GAVE ME THIS HOODIE! I AM GOING TO COLUMBIA!"
Vedant was filming all of it, of course, narrating it like a dramatic sports announcer.
Vaani watched them with a glowing smile. Her eyes shimmered, and before she could stop it, one quiet tear rolled down her cheek - not from pain, but from something achingly full.
Dhruv noticed.
He leaned close and whispered, "He's been wanting that for a while, hasn't he?"
She nodded, voice catching slightly. "I'm so glad it worked out. After all those-"
She paused. Her throat closed around the words: after all those sleepless nights, after all those emails I sent, after all the scholarship applications, after the conversations at 2am...
She stopped herself and quickly composed. "After all those... prayers."
Dhruv tilted his head slightly, studying her for a moment. He could tell there was more to the sentence. But he didn't press.
Instead, he simply nodded. "Well, whoever prayed... did a damn good job."
Vaani gave a small smile, grateful that he didn't push, even though part of her wondered if she should've told him the truth.
They walked toward the dining table as Vihaan collapsed into a chair, flushed and happy, his smile stretching across his entire face. Vedant flopped next to him, dramatically placing a hand on his chest. "I need electrolytes after that celebration."
"You need roti," Dhruv said, passing the plate toward them.
Vaani brought out the warm dal and sabzi, placing them down as Vihaan clapped his hands. "Let's eat! Because this Columbia student is starving."
They all laughed, and the dinner began with joy so effortless that even Vaani felt the heaviness of the past few weeks ease off her shoulders.
Later that night, as the plates emptied and stories flew across the table, Vaani looked at Dhruv - really looked at him - and saw something in his quiet presence that settled in her chest like warmth after a storm.
He hadn't demanded answers. He hadn't asked for anything.
But he had stood by her brother, gifted him pride, and allowed joy to grow in their home.
He caught her staring and raised a brow.
She smiled, just a little.
Dhruv smiled back - knowing, wordless, steady.
The room felt a little fuller than usual.
And for the first time in a long time, so did she.
??