By the time Sakshi reached home after college, she was already tired. Her bag hung lopsided on her shoulder, and she kicked off her shoes the moment she stepped inside.
"Mumma, I'm home!" she called out, stretching her arms dramatically.
Before her mother could appear, Aarav—her younger brother who studied in class 12—jumped out from behind the sofa like a ninja.
"BOOO!"
Sakshi screamed and hit him lightly with her bag.
"Aarav! Pagal ho kya?! Main mar jaungi ek din!"
Aarav laughed, completely unbothered.
"That's the plan, di."
Sakshi glared at him. "Mumma!!! Aarav is irritating me again!"
Aarav made an innocent face the moment their mother came into the room.
"Main toh kuch nahi kar raha, Mummy. Di hi drama karti rehti hai."
Sakshi gasped, betrayed. "You liar!"
Her mother sighed, already used to this daily comedy.
"Bas, dono chup. Sakshi jaake fresh ho jao. Aarav, homework kar lo."
Aarav stuck his tongue out at Sakshi the second their mother turned away.
Sakshi chased him around the living room, both laughing and shouting until their mother finally raised her voice.
"DON'T RUN! Padosi samjhenge ghar mein earthquake aa gaya!"
They both stopped instantly.
Aarav whispered, "Earthquake? No. Just Sakshi di's footsteps."
Sakshi again reached for her slipper. "You want to die today?"
Aarav ran to his room, slamming the door, yelling, "FIGHT ME IF YOU CAN!"
She rolled her eyes, muttering,
"Nalayak bachha."
---
Evening – When Their Father Returns
The house was warm, filled with the smell of dinner cooking when the front door opened. Their father walked in, tired but smiling.
"Main aa gaya."
Sakshi dropped her phone and rushed to him.
"Papa!"
Aarav appeared too, but way more casually. "Hi, Dad."
Their father kissed Sakshi's forehead.
"College kaisa tha beta?"
"Bohot tiring," she pouted. "And that professor ne itna boring lecture diya—I almost died."
Aarav snorted. "Di almost dies every day. New news batao."
Sakshi slapped his arm. "Shut up!"
Their father shook his head with amusement.
"Aur tum dono shuru ho gaye…"
He placed his bag on the table and sat on the sofa as Sakshi brought him water.
"Papa dinner kab khaenge?" she asked sweetly.
Aarav smirked from the side. "When di stops telling him long stories."
Sakshi glared. "Papa mujhe maarne ka permission de do."
Their father laughed softly.
"Don't worry, Sakshi. Ek din yeh khud sudhar jayega."
Aarav dramatically gasped. "Papa! You think I'm the problem?"
"Beta," his father answered calmly, "hum sab ko pata hai."
Sakshi burst into laughter, hitting Aarav with a cushion.
Their mother called them from the kitchen,
"Sab table par aao!"
And the family sat together—laughing, teasing, talking about school, college, and life.
Sakshi was clumsy, emotional, childish…
But in this home, with her family, she was loved exactly the way she was.
Sakshi told her parents that she and her friends decided to have a trip to Rajasthan for 4-5 days. She asked them to allow her " please! papa , mummy we'll return in five days . I swear I'll not do any mischievous activity there"
Her father think for minutes " okay you can buy you have to promise that you not roam at night "
" I promise " sakshi said