I swiveled around the chair, turning to look at my friends aka family aka pain in my fucking ass. Interlocking my fingers on my chin, I waited for anyone or knowing them, everyone, to speak up.

When nobody did, I asked. "What do you want?"

Falak pushed Advik ahead and when he looked back at her, she glared, her eyes narrowed gesturing at me with her chin.

"I need your car." Advik murmured, huffing at Falak. She can be pushy when she wants to be.

"Ofcourse no, but please go ahead and humor me." I leaned back into the chair, my left hand fingers tapping on the work table.

"We need it for a prank. I swear we'll hand it back without a single scratch." Suhana walked towards my side of the table and I moved the chair sideways, looking at her.

"Take Advik's Rover, or better his." I nodded towards Yug.

"No. We need the latest addition of our family. Please!" My sister perched up on the glass table, I pushed the laptop back to make space for her. The gloomy day would've turned brighter, if only the table wouldn't have been of good quality. Yes, I love drama. I thrive on it.

"Who're you pranking anyways? You guys don't seem that stupid to prank me with my own car. Who's the victim this time?" I look around, murmuring to myself. "And everyone else is already here, unless you're going after our parents this time." My eyes meet Advik and Yug's, their faces pale, my eyebrows raise. Hm. Them averting their eyes from me, something's off.

"Sh—" Suhana started to speak but Myra beat her.

"Ahaana di is coming." The words left Myra's mouth, my eyes snap to Advik from Yug's little sister. Advik gives a slight nod of his head, agreeing to Myra's statement.

With my eyes still on Advik, I moved my hand to the drawer which had the keys and throw them on the table. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Falak nodding at Yug, he pulled Myra out with the car keys, Falak followed them both.

Suhana put her hands on my chest but I turned the chair around and looked out of the glass walls, looking at the busy streets of Mumbai.

"Go. Receive your sister, Advik." My voice is hollow. Just like my heart has been for five years.

"I wasn't aware of her arrival till last night. Falak and Mom informed me after she boarded." Advik stood between my view. I meet his eyes, my heart breaks more at the glossiness in his eyes.

"O-Of course... it's her home. She was going to come back someday." I muttered, trying to keep my face emotion-less.

"Come... with us?" Suhana walked coming to cup my face in her palms. "She's here for you, Sahil. Only for you."

My sister. My Zia. The caring one. The faithful one, even after her best friend walked out on her 5 years ago... she still doesn't have an ounce of hatred or bad feelings.

"I'd rather be somewhere I'm needed or cared about. I'm nothing to her and she's.... dead to me." I removed her hands from my face.

"It's Ahaana, Sahil. Our Ahaana. Your She—" Suhana said. Her happiness could be felt in her words. Her best friend is coming, of course she's cheery.

"Stop calling her— that! She's just a selfish brat to me. Who chose her own fucking self over both the families. Over you. And over me!" I gritted out angrily.

"Sahi—"

"Go." I cut him off, he looked at me with a sad face. I glared.

"I'll be at the penthouse." I picked up the phone from the table.

"She's not going back. She's here to stay." Advik muttered.

"I'd move out." With those being the final words, I walked out of the office.

The elevator dinged opening, I pressed the 'P'. Seconds later, it stopped on the last floor of the building. I walked to my right side of the door and headed straight to the master bedroom. My fingers already typing the message.

International Airport. I need the video.

Pressing the send button, I threw the phone on the bed and then my jacket. Pushing the sleeves to my elbows, I pulled open the button to my chest and then slumped down on the bed.

Flashback

"Kya hua. Bata toh. Shea, if the PT teacher sees me bunking, he'll make me run 5 laps." I softly whispered to her. She looked back at me with her eyes wide open and her finger on her lips, to tell me to shush it up.

"I saw Advik Bhai and Falak." She whispered.

Shit!

"Shea, they are out because.... uhh.... Shreya Ma'am called them both. Our English teacher." I whispered back to her.

"Shreya Ma'am's is in the teacher's room. I saw them both going towards the hockey field." She narrowed her eyes, as if catching up on my lie.

"Ye tera Maths class hai na? Why were you looking out of the class?" I asked, trying to divert her attention.

"He's teaching geometry. I don't understand anything." She turned to face me completely, pouting.

"Class attend karegi tab hi samjhegi na? Come. Let's go back. I'll talk to them." I pulled her hand back to me. She pouted but started walking. She entwined our fingers, I looked around to see if anyone was around.

"He shares everything with you. You don't tell me and Suhana anything." She whispered looking down at her feet. Our feet moving together in a rhythm.

"Leave my hand." I said halting just before the turn.

She looked at me sad and confused. Slowly, she removed her fingers and turned to go. I pulled her back to me with her wrist.

"Shea.. if someone spots us this close.. they'll call our parents. And I don't want your parents to not trust me. They'll make us change school. Do you want me to be away when we only have this one and half year with us?" I whispered. I looked at the clock on my wrist. It was the last class of the school. I have just 1 minute to talk to her and drop her back to her class. If she doesn't head back to the class, the teacher will mark her as absent and it's gonna suck when our parents find out.

"Can't you fail in your 11th and repeat?" She smiled teasingly.

"You want Dad to kill me?" I glared but a smile playing on my lips.

"You know na I know there's something going between Bhai and Falak?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Haan Haan.. meri detective. You know everything in the world bas geometry ke alawa." I flicked her forehead softly with my forefinger. She giggled.

"Go. I'll be wait by your class?" I smiled, she nodded and smiled back.

"Tell him Shreya Ma'am called you to hand some books in my class, okay? See you in 20." She nodded and then waved her hand to me, turning to go back in her class.

I turned around and headed back towards the hallway we just came from. Climbing down the stairs, I stroll straight to the hockey field.

I walked towards the bleachers on the left side—nothing— my feet crossed the field and to the bleachers.

"Agar tumhara ho gya ho toh chal lein? Shea phir se follow kar rahi thi." I glared at the two. Falak quickly stood up, cleaned her skirt and walked away with a blushing smile. I rolled my eyes.

"2 saal isne haan nahi kia. Ab isne haan kia toh meri Ahaana ko problem ho gai." He took my forwarded hand and stood up. He cleaned the back of his pants and we started walking.

"When you know it's her Maths class and she definitely will be looking out of the window... toh why did you take this way?" I glared at my bestfriend.

"Some teachers were standing on that door." He replied back and I scoffed.

"Toh jaruri hai? You guys are together the whole day in the class. Then calls. Or tumhe akela bhi milna hai? Kyuuu?" I looked at him with a disgusted face.

"You're just jealous ki tujh par itte restrictions hai. Agar allowed hota toh tu bhi aise hi behave karta Ahaana ke saath." I rolled my eyes.

He's correct though. If there weren't so many restrictions on me, I'd behave like a lovesick puppy too.

"And why don't you just tell her? Sach bata de na? She already knows that you like Falak bas ye hi toh bolna hai that Falak likes you back?" I asked. We reached into the class and headed straight to our benches in the last.

It was our free class and the art teacher didn't give double shit about what was happening in the class.

"She's in 9th. Just a kid. Or waise bhi... if I tell her... she's going to blackmail me with it for every little thing. I'd rather wait. Waise bhi who knows... what if it doesn't work out with Falak?" He said. Our gaze turned back to the middle of the class where Falak sat talking with some girls. As if feeling our— Mehrotra's eyes— she turned to look at him and then blushed making me roll my eyes. Again!

"They teach reproduction chapter in 8th. She knows we're going to get married. She's no kid." I whispered. Soft enough for his ears only.

"Still. I can't have her threatening me with this for everything. Divert her." He whispered back. I clenched my jaw and turned to look at the front of the class.

"Then be careful. I was out and spotted her going there... what if I'm not around sometime. Don't go from her class side next time. And check her class schedule before planning these meetups." I glared. He nodded in agreement.

Advik and I waited outside her class after the final bell. Suhana came out before her. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"She was out of the class for almost 20 minutes. Didn't answer any question after she came back. He's threatening her to call Rudra Uncle." She informed. I looked behind her to see the teacher scolding her.

"Sahil! No!" Advik pulled me back. I glared at him.

"He's shouting on her." I narrowed my eyes looking at the scene.

"She needs to focus on the subject. I know she'll not risk having him call Dad." He said. I nodded lowly. Turning my attention back to her.

He dismissed her, she turned around and the first expression— rolled her eyes. I scoffed. She really needs to take him seriously.

"I'm informing Shikha Maa about this." I told her as soon as she stopped in front of us. The smile wiped off her face. I ignored her sad face and walked ahead, all three of them behind me.

"Let this one go. I promise I'll study better, starting today." She cribbed behind me.

"No," I said sitting in the car. They all settled down in the backseat. The driver started the car.

"Okay then, I'll tell Uncle about you barely passing in Accountancy." She looked at me from the gap in the corner of my seat. Her fingers poking my back.

"I agree Mehrotra. We aren't going to share anything with these two." I glared looking at her from the little gap. She narrowed her eyes and then started slapping my forearm from the other side of the seat, Advik and Suhana laughed out at us.

I jerked my eyes back open. Her laughing, blushing, teasing face still roaming around in the back of my head. Her voice ringing in my ears, slowly.... fading away in darkness.

5 years. 5 long years.

Laying there, still, for some more moments. I exhaled loudly. A face I hadn't seen in 5 years. A voice I hadn't heard calling and cribbing to me. 5 years.

Having enough of her thoughts, for the next year and so, I rolled on my stomach and then settled down on the edge of the bed. Leaning down, I untied the shoe laces and then peeled off the clothes one by one.

Turning the shower off, I walked out of the bathroom, with one towel wrapped around me and the other around my neck. I rubbed the towel in my hairs and threw it on the floor in the closet.

Putting on some pants, I walked towards the one room that makes me forget this world. Closing and locking it behind me, I walked and flicked the lights on, starting to do the only thing I know can stop my now boiling emotions.

The door thumped loudly for the hundredth time and I groaned, putting the brush down on the pallet, I flicked the lights off and then walked to unlock the door.

"What the fuck man? I am knocking this door down for last 10 minutes and you can't be bothered enough to open the damn fucking door?" Hood bellowed standing there and I looked at him bored.

"It's been what 20 minutes since I am here? Leave me alone!" I muttered.

"5 hours, you have been here for almost 5 hours. And, why was I, being a dog again?" He questioned, then continued, "I thought we're done with that shit-- now that Suhana and Yug are Roka-fied."

"For someone who is getting paid to work for me, you sure question a lot." I raised my left eyebrow at him.

"For someone who does all your dirty work, I have to be careful at what I am getting myself into. Can't have the girls pressing charges for recording them without permission." He replied back.

"For someone who should just follow the instructions, you sure put your mind and nose where it doesn't belong." I crossed my hand on chest.

"Yes and for someone who is a part of all the shitty things you do, you keep a lot of secrets. Were they all there to receive the new girl? Who is she waise?" He questioned. Again.

"For someone who thinks he's a smartass, you're a dumb shit. Never saw her in family pictures of Mehrotra's?" I questioned. His lips turned in 'O' and then his eyes wide open. I rolled eyes.

"Yeaaahhh. Who's she?" He questioned again. This man has a lot of questions and I'm not willing to answer any.

"My sister. I'll take it from here, Hood. Thankyou." I heard Mehrotra before I saw him.

"Your father wants to speak to you. Sent you whatever you needed. I'll be at the door." Hood nodded at me and Advik, then walked out leaving the two of us alone.

"You asked him to re—"

"Not your fucking business, Mehrotra. Stay out of my shit." I looked at my best friend who is not my enemy but I can't see him past that for now.

"Sahi—" His words cut off by his phone. He pulled it out and I saw the name 'Samyak Uncle'. I pulled it out of his grip.

"What?" I asked receiving the call.

"Ad— Sahil. I've been trying to reach you, bete." My father said in a extra loving voice and I know... I just know that he wants me to do something which he knows I'll not want to.

The only time my father shows me sweetness is when he wants a favor from me.

"Daddy, I'll get diabetes with your sweetness. Please, tell me what you need me for now? " I rolled my eyes walking back inside the room and turned the lights on. Advik followed me and looked at the freshly made painting. I rolled my eyes when I saw him smirking.

Twit!

"Umm... your mother. Not me Sahil, okay. Your mother wants to throw a family dinner tonight. She wants you here in 20 minutes." I closed my eyes, almost groaning out loud.

Of-fucking-course!

Family dinner which consists of Mehrotra's and Sahdev's. Idiots. We eat together, every meal of the day!

We live in front of each other. It's like walking out of Sahdev's and walking inside Mehrotra's, because those are the only two flats on that floor and the main doors are always open.

"Mr. Sahdev, please let your wife know I won't be joining. I have some place to be." I replied picking up my phone. Advik looked at me with tired face.

"Sahil.. we have things to talk about. Now that she's—"

"Okay. Gotta go. Bye!" I cut the call off.

"Where do you have to go?" He asked taking his phone from me.

"I am thinking... umm... some club or better— the gym?" I replied when he turned the lights off and we both walked out to the closet.

"We already hit the gym in the morning, remember?" He said behind my back as I changed from my now-colored-in-paint pants to some joggers and then threw a tshirt on.

"And you still couldn't inform me about her arrival. I was the last one to know, hai na?" I looked at him and then huffed. Not expecting a answer in return, I continued. "I'd rather spend the night at a weird place then have dinner with her."

I walked out of the room, he followed behind. Hood stood up from the waiting couch and pressed the elevator button.

"You're just running away Sahil." Advik muttered behind me and I stopped in my track.

"Not more than your sister. And yes.. watch me walk away and not give a shit about anything." I stated. The elevator opened and we three headed inside.

"He's being extra dick-y today. What's wrong?" Hood muttered in a hushed voice but in that cubicle space, I heard it clearly.

"A certain someone brings that side of him. You must've heard the name. Ahaa—"

"Shut the fuck up, fucker." I glared at him getting a chuckle in return.

Advik threw me the car keys and I headed inside my car, which was out to pick her up today. My hands itched to turn the phone on and watch that video just to get a glimpse of her.

Hood tapped on the passenger side window but I ignored him and turned the ignition on, leaving him standing there.

Knowing my mother will throw a fit if I don't turn the phone on, I switched it on, 'entally swearing to not open Hood's chats.

My phone rang just as it turned on and I rolled my eyes.

"Haanji Mumma." I said in a extra sugary voice.

"Sahil, stop being a brat and come home." My mother said in a extra frustrated or angry voice.

So much for being sugary.

"Mumma, I'm Samyak's son... ofcourse I am a brat. Brat-ness twirls around in my DNA." I replied taking a sharp left towards my home.

My mother's happiness matters to me. Not everyone can walk out on their families that easily.

"Sahil. Papa hai wo tumhare." My mother chided.

Definitely angry!

"This brat will see what he can do. Bye." I hung up.

Parking the car at my spot, I turned the ignition off and relaxed in my seat, my eyes closed as my breathing started to calm. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. My grip loosening on the steering wheel.

They say true love is choosing your love even when they're sometimes wrong or brings out the worst in you. Choosing them when nothing around you feel right. Choosing them when you feel like not belonging together. Choosing when you're at your worst with eachother. Choosing.... because at the end of every messed up reason of not choosing... you know... you just know that if you loose them... you'll loose yourself.

I chose her when she was just 2 hours old. And she chose me when she had to get a injection when she was 3 months old and she didn't stop crying until I played with her fingers. We chose eachother when at 2 and 5 years of tender age, we walked hand in hand with her on her wobbly feets in the park. Our love blended us way before she was born or I was born. It was a love written in destinies.

And, our grandparents, wrote our destinies... but we were very happy with the choices they made for us.

I was just three and half at the time, when my mother called me to her and showed me the littlest thing in her arms. New born baby Ahaana.

"Sahil.. see Shika Maa's baby girl." She whispered. I looked at my mother and then the baby cocooned in her arms. She was so tiny. Just like a little bird. So very small. So fragile.

I put my small fingers out and touched her little cheeks, with just my forefinger. Scared, I might hurt her.

"Sofy sofy." I whispered with my eyes locked on her face.

"Yes. She is. Just like Suhana." My mother said, referring to my baby sister who was born just days ago.

"Nah, moree sofy. Liikee—" I tried to memorise a particular touch to describe.

"Like?" Rudra uncle asked smiling.

"Shi Maa's cheeks shea cleam." I looked at Shika Maa who was laying on the hospital bed, everyone chuckled at me.

"So what should we call her? We are thinking about Ahaana." Her father said as I looked back at her closed eyes.

"Shea." The people around me laughed loudly.

"Shea is not a name baby. She'll hate you if you call her by a butter name." My mother rubbed her nose on mine but I continued looking at the baby's face.

"No. Shea." I stated, making them all chuckle.

"Baby, let's take her back to Shi Maa? She has to feed." My mother whispered, I noticed I had her small fist wrapped in my hand.

Apparently that was the day the arrangement changed. From getting Advik and Suhana married to Sahil and Ahaana ending up together to change the friendship into official relationship.

And from that day, I made sure that only I called her Shea, not even her parents, brother, her best friend. No one. Only I called her Shea and she made sure of that too. And she obviously didn't hate me for naming her Shea.

But maybe, she did hate me for something that gave her the courage to walk out on me. The day she stopped being my Shea, my anything. The day she left without giving me a chance to speak for myself.

From my everything to my nothing.

With a new burning rage of being abandoned, I got down the car just as Advik stopped his car beside mine. Hood rolled his eyes at me from the passenger seat. I ignored both of them and locked the car, walking inside the building and then the elevator.