Today is the big shopping day.

We’ve already ordered our sarees online from an emerging Indian ethnic brand here in London—we really wanted to support local Desi businesses.

Today, however, is all about the mall heist.

We need makeup and accessories to complete our looks, followed by a proper girls' day out.

I quickly got ready and knocked on Isa’s door. Having Isa as a roommate has been a blessing.

She moved into this apartment with me during our first year at LSE; I was lonely, she needed a place to stay, and it just worked out perfectly.

A minute later, she stepped out.

"Ready for the heist?" I asked.

"I was born ready," she replied with a sassy shrug.

We headed down to my car, and after a short ten-minute drive, I pulled up to Inayat and Safiya’s neighborhood.

They hopped in immediately.

"What’s up, babes? Are the husbands sulking?" I asked, making them both roll their eyes.

"We aren't with them twenty-four-seven, Kriti. It’s just that whenever they have a break from work, they want to talk," Inayat explained with a shrug.

"They're worse than clingy babies," I muttered under my breath, earning a sharp glare from both of them.

Yep—just as their husbands are possessive of them, these girls are no different.

You can't talk a bit of trash about their husbands without getting in trouble.

After reaching the mall and grabbing everything we needed, we headed to a newly opened cafe nearby.

"You guys grab a table. I need to use the restroom," I told them, handing my bag to Inayat.

Inside the restroom, I was about to head out when I heard a soft whimper.

"Hey? Is someone there?" I called out.

A girl stepped out from one of the stalls, her eyes red from crying.

She looked Indian and couldn't have been more than twenty.

"What’s wrong, dear?" I asked gently.

"I was out with my brothers, but I suddenly got my period," she sobbed.

"Luckily, my clothes aren't ruined, but I don't have a pad with me."

She seemed naturally sensitive and overwhelmed.

"Wait right here. I’ll be back," I told her.

As I rushed out of the restroom, I slammed right into a wall.

Except, it wasn't a wall—it was a person.

I looked up and froze.

It was him.

The same man from two days ago.

He looked genuinely concerned.

"Is my sister okay? She’s inside," he said urgently.

He must be the brother she mentioned.

"She’s fine," I reassured him, trying to keep my cool. "She just got her period and needs a pad. Don't worry, I’ll handle it."

I hurried to the table where my friends were sitting, grabbed my bag, and ran back.

I handed the pad to the girl through the stall door.

A few minutes later, she came out and washed her hands, looking much more relieved.

"Thank you, Di. You’re a lifesaver," she said sincerely.

"It’s nothing. As a girl, it’s my duty to help you out. And don't cry about it, dear—it’s completely natural. No need to panic."

"It’s just... I don't feel comfortable asking strangers, and I didn't know how to tell my brothers," she admitted nervously.

"It’s okay. It happens even to the best of us," I said. I turned to leave, but she called out to me.

"Excuse me, Di? What’s your name?"

"I’m Kritika," I said, offering her a smile and my hand.

She shook it. "Advika Agnihotri."

"Take care, Advika," I said before walking out.

The man was still standing there, pacing.

"She’s okay now. You can stop worrying," I told him as I passed.

I didn't wait for a response and headed straight back to my table, my heart doing a strange little flutter.

I sat in my room, aimlessly scrolling through Instagram when a familiar account popped on my feed.

Reyansh Rathore.

My brother.

His recent photos were a constant stream of his friends and the woman I loathe the most—his girlfriend.

She is the one responsible for snatching away the two people I loved the most after my parents in this world.

Looking at his feed, I realized I wasn't in any of his recent pictures.

There was a time when his social media was all about his sister.

I scrolled down, deeper and deeper, until I reached a photo of us posted five years ago.

The caption made my eyes sting with tears:

"Even if the whole world turns against you, you will always find me by your side. My love for you will never fade, my dear sister."

Every promise he made felt like a lie now.

He had chosen her over his own blood.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself of the words Inayat always tells me:

"He will regret it, Kriti. He will regret every tear he’s caused you. Time will reveal the truth, and the weight of that guilt will be his karma. Don’t shed your precious tears for someone who chooses to be blind to your worth."

The problem was, despite everything he put me through, I didn't want him to suffer.

He might hate me, but I couldn't bring myself to hate him, no matter how hard I tried.

He was the same brother who stood by me whenever someone dared to look at me the wrong way.

He was the one who stayed by my side every time I was sick and shielded me from the media when they tried to paint me as a spoiled rich kid.

He had even risked his life once just to protect me.

I told myself I wanted nothing to do with him.

He lost the right to be my brother the day he...

I shook my head, forcing the memory away.

I didn't want to remember that cruel day.

Suddenly, a ping from my phone pulled me out of the darkness.

A smile finally touched my lips when I saw the person's name: Samiksha Bhabhisa.

She is the older sister and mentor I had always wanted.

I opened the text and chuckled.

Bhabhisa: To the Bua-to-be, I hope you’re picking out the best names for your nephews or nieces. I definitely don't trust your boring brother’s taste!

Me: That’s your right, Bhabhisa. You’re the one carrying them and dealing with morning sickness— Not to mention being kept under lockdown by your overprotective Husband!

Bhabhisa: Are you saying you aren't going to name them?🤨

Me: No, I want you to do it. I know you have the best taste in the world❤️

Bhabhisa: Are you buttering me up?🤨

Me: No, just stating facts! Besides, I think the mother should always have the final say in the names.

Bhabhisa: But what about tradition?

Me: I don't care much for that tradition anyway. You’re the one doing the hard work, facing the sickness and the mood swings. You and Bhaisa have the most right to choose.

Bhabhisa: I really did get the best sister-in-law. Although, sometimes I crave a little drama— I wish you were one of those "kaleshi" sisters-in-law from the TV shows!

Me: I’ll pass on that! I might be a chaos queen, but I don't like lighting fires in someone's happy life.

Bhabhisa: Like I said... the best.

I smiled, feeling a bit of the weight lift off my chest.

Me: And I got the best Bhabhisa. My brother definitely landed someone way out of his league! (Just don't tell him I said that.)

Bhabhisa: Oh, I’m definitely going to flaunt the fact that my sister-in-law thinks I’m the better half.

Me: Take care, Bhabhisa.

Bhabhisa: You too, Princess.

Samiksha Bhabhisa is truly the sweetest person I’ve ever known.

She and Aadarsh Bhaisa were classmates since high school, but back then, they were fierce academic rivals, always at each other’s throats.

Surprisingly, they ended up at the same college too.

The turning point happened in their final year.

A guy proposed to Bhabhisa right in front of Bhaisa, and my brother got so jealous that he actually punched the guy in the face!

When Bhabhisa tried to confront him about it, he ran away.

The Crown Prince of Udaipur literally ran away!

He avoided her for almost a week after that.

Then, out of nowhere, Bhaisa asked Maasa to send a formal marriage proposal to Bhabhisa’s family.

Her father was an old friend of Babasa, so our families were already well-acquainted.

Everyone was shocked by his request.

First, because Bhaisa is such a reserved person, and second, because he was always grumbling about how much Bhabhisa annoyed him.

When Bhabhisa finally asked him why he wanted to marry her, he finally confessed his feelings.

And here’s the plot twist: Bhabhisa had a crush on him since high school!

They only clashed because of their massive egos.

Now, they are happily married and about to welcome their babies.

After my parents, Aadarsh Bhaisa and Samiksha Bhabhisa are my absolute ideal couple and I hope I find someone who truly cherishes me and always stays by my side.

How was the chapter?