"Hahahahaha. "
"Hahahahaha. "
"Hahahahaha. "
The laughter took several long minutes to subside.
Eventually, everyone drifted into the private family sitting room, making absolutely certain that no servants or other family members were nearby.
The room fell into an unusual silence.
Along the largest sofa...
Five brothers sat in a perfectly straight line.
Fahad occupied one end, his posture as flawless as ever, his hands resting neatly on his knees.
His expression remained composed, though a faint stiffness lingered around his eyes.
Beside him sat Fahim, quietly polishing his glasses with his ever-present microfiber cloth.
Fahan, who kept glancing sideways at his brothers before quickly looking away.
Fahish sat with an almost peaceful smile, as though he had accepted his fate.
At the opposite end sat Faha, who had buried his face in both hands.
None of them spoke.
Across from them...Ohi, Naya, and Nahi occupied another sofa.
Every few seconds one of them would remember the image of Fahad standing
inside the wardrobe...
...and immediately have to suppress another laugh.
Near the window...Maya sat quietly in an armchair.Her documentary rested open in
her lap once again.
She calmly turned another page.
The soft rustle of paper became the only sound in the room.
Finally...Naya cleared her throat.
She looked from one brother to another before folding her hands neatly in her lap.
"...All right."
No one answered.
"I believe someone should explain what actually happened."
" ..... "
"....."
Silence.
Five pairs of eyes immediately found something else to look at.
Fahad calmly turned his attention toward the window, as though the garden outside had suddenly become fascinating.
Fahim adjusted his glasses for no apparent reason and studied the pattern of the carpet.
Fahan cleared his throat, his eyes fixed firmly on the ceiling.
Fahish folded his hands neatly, examining a bookshelf with remarkable concentration.
Faha stared at the floor, looking as if he hoped it might open beneath him.
Not a single one of them dared answer.
They looked anywhere except Naya.
Ohi raised an eyebrow, "...Really?"
Still nothing.
Nahi looked down the row of brothers.
"I've never seen all five of you become silent at exactly the same time."
Another silence followed.
Fahan coughed softly,"It's...Complicated."
Faha immediately nodded, "Very ...Very."
Fahim adjusted his glasses ,
"The situation was...unexpected."
Ohi folded his arms, "Unexpected?"
He stared at them.
"I opened a bedroom door and found two grown men hiding inside a wardrobe."
He turned toward Fahim.
"And another two hiding under a bed."
He paused dramatically.
"I feel 'unexpected' is an understatement."
Nahi covered his mouth. A muffled laugh escaped anyway, "Pfft..."
Fahad remained perfectly calm.
"It was a misunderstanding."
Ohi blinked, "A misunderstanding?"
"Yes."
"You accidentally climbed into a wardrobe?"
"...Circumstances developed."
Fahan quietly lowered his head.
"...That is technically true."
Nahi completely lost control again.
"Hahahaha!"
He leaned against the armrest, clutching his stomach.
"I can't believe Brother Fahad actually said 'circumstances developed!' "
Even Fahish smiled,
"It does sound rather unfortunate when phrased aloud."
Naya finally looked toward Maya, "Maya..."
She looked up from her book, "...Yes?"
"Were they truly hiding?"
Maya considered the question.
Then gave a small nod.
"Why?"
"They did not wish to be discovered."
"...Discovered doing what?"
"They wanted to deliver gifts."
Silence.
Ohi blinked , "...That's all?"
"...Yes."
Another silence settled over the room.
Ohi slowly turned toward the five brothers.
"So...You all attempted to secretly deliver welcome gifts. Then hid from each other...
...Which eventually resulted in four of you hiding inside Maya's bedroom."
No one argued.
Nahi buried his face in a cushion.
His shoulders shook violently, "I can't..."
He looked at the brothers.
"You five run companies, laboratories, engineering projects, concerts, and international negotiations..."
He pointed dramatically.
"And this is how you behave over gift boxes?"
Faha quietly mumbled,
"When you say it like that...It sounds bad."
Fahan sighed, "It was bad."
Fahim nodded thoughtfully.
"From an objective perspective...Our decision-making process deteriorated considerably."
Fahish smiled faintly,
"I believe pride became a significant variable."
Ohi laughed, "A significant variable?"
He looked toward Fahad,
"And what was your variable?"
Fahad answered without hesitation.
"...Poor timing."
For three whole seconds...Nobody reacted.
Then everyone burst into laughter again.
Even Fahad closed his eyes for a brief moment.He knew...There was no defending today's events.
Naya wiped tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes.
She smiled warmly at the five brothers.
"...This family truly is strange."
Maya quietly looked around the room.
Her gaze moved from one laughing face
to another.
After a moment, she spoke in her usual calm voice, "...I do not think it was strange."
Everyone looked at her.
She tilted her head slightly.
"...You simply became overly competitive."
The brothers looked at Maya.
Faha smiled sheepishly, "...She's right."
Fahan nodded.
"We may have acted like fools.....But at least everyone had the same reason."
Fahad looked toward Maya.
...
Naya wiped a tear from the corner of her eye before looking at Maya with genuine curiosity.
She tilted her head, "...Maya."
Maya looked up from her documentary.
"...Yes?"
Naya studied her for several long seconds.
Then, in complete seriousness, she asked,
"...Are you human?"
Silence.
Every eye in the room turned toward Maya.
Maya didn't answer immediately.
Instead...She actually thought about it.
One second, Two, Three.
Her brows drew together ever so slightly as though she were carefully analyzing the question from every possible angle.
Finally...She gave a small nod,
"Biologically, yes."
Silence.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Ohi blinked.
Nahi stared.
Fahan slowly covered his face.
Faha's shoulders began trembling.
Fahish looked down, already fighting a smile.
Even Fahad's expression became unusually still.
Fahim adjusted his glasses,
"...Technically...That is a correct answer."
That was all it took.
Nahi exploded first."Hahahahahaha!"
He doubled over, clutching his stomach.
"I-I can't breathe!"
Ohi collapsed backward onto the sofa.
"She actually analyzed the question!"
Naya buried her face in a cushion, laughing so hard she could barely speak.
"I only meant—"
Another fit of laughter interrupted her.
"I didn't mean biologically!"
Faha was laughing so hard that tears rolled down his cheeks.
"She... she thought it was an examination question!"
Even Fahish couldn't hold back anymore.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"...Only Maya could answer something like that."
Fahan leaned back against the sofa, shaking his head.
"...This family will never recover from today."
Even Fahad...
The eldest brother who almost never laughed...Lowered his head as the corner
of his mouth lifted into the faintest smile.
Nahi had somehow ended up sitting on the carpet because laughing on the sofa had become impossible.
Every few seconds he would remember the image of Fahad standing inside the wardrobe...and another fit of laughter would seize him.
"Hahaha—"
He pointed helplessly toward the eldest brother.
"I-I'm sorry...I really am...But every time I look at you..."
He buried his face in a cushion.
"I just see...the wardrobe!"
Even Ohi had tears in his eyes.
Naya leaned against the armrest, trying to regain her composure.
"Enough..."
She inhaled deeply.
"No more...If we keep laughing like this, someone outside is going to hear us."
Eventually...Everyone managed to calm down.
Fahim straightened his glasses.
His expression returned to its usual composed seriousness.
He looked around the room.
"I have an important proposal."
Everyone looked toward him.
Fahim folded his hands together.
"Everything that happened today...The wardrobe."
Then toward Fahish and himself.
"The bed....And the collective loss of dignity."
He cleared his throat.
"...Should remain inside this room."
He looked at every cousin in turn.
"No one outside this room is ever to hear about today's events."
His gaze swept across the cousins.
"The probability of severe embarrassment increases dramatically if this information becomes public."
Fahan nodded immediately.
"I support that proposal."
Faha raised a hand, "Me too."
Fahish smiled faintly.
"I would appreciate everyone's discretion."
Even Fahad gave a single, approving nod.
"I agree."
Silence.
The cousins exchanged glances.
Ohi smiled, "...That's unfortunate."
Nahi nodded enthusiastically.
"Extremely unfortunate."
Naya sighed dramatically,
"...Because this is the greatest story we've heard all year. We're carrying priceless information."
Fahan immediately sat upright.
"...Absolutely not."
Faha immediately sat upright, "No telling anyone."
Nahi folded his arms, "And why not?"
"Because..."
Faha searched desperately for an answer.
"...Because!"
Ohi laughed, "Very convincing."
Faha pointed accusingly.
"You three are already planning to tell people."
Nahi didn't even bother denying it, "...Maybe."
Ohi grinned.
"This kind of news deserves to be shared."
Fahish smiled helplessly, "...Please don't."
Naya folded her arms.
"You expect us to keep quiet after discovering two brothers in a wardrobe and two under a bed?"
She shook her head.
"That's a very difficult request."
Fahim looked toward Fahad, "...Brother."
Fahad slowly reached into the inside pocket of his suit and removed a sleek black bank card.
He held it up between two fingers.
The room became silent.
Naya looked at the card...Then at Fahad.
Then back at the card.
Ohi's eyes widened, "...That's unfair."
Nahi swallowed, "...He's negotiating."
Fahad spoke calmly,
"...Confidentiality has value."
He placed the card back into his pocket.
"...I trust you'll make the correct decision."
Silence.
The three cousins looked at one another.
Then...Almost instantly...All three straightened their posture.
Naya smiled with perfect elegance.
"...Of course."
Ohi nodded with complete seriousness,
"One should always listen to the eldest brother."
Nahi placed a hand over his heart,
"We would never dream of ignoring Brother Fahad."
The five brothers stared at them.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Fahan sighed,
"...You three surrendered surprisingly fast."
Ohi smiled innocently,
"...Wisdom is knowing when to change your position."
Nahi nodded solemnly,
"And respecting the eldest brother is an important family tradition."
Faha blinked.
"...Thirty seconds ago you wanted to tell the entire mansion."
Naya smiled sweetly, "...People grow."
The room fell silent.
Then...Even Maya looked up from her book.
She watched the cousins for a moment before quietly saying,
"...That was a very rapid character development."
Ohi stared at Maya.
Nahi blinked.Naya pressed her lips together.
Then—
"Hahahahahaha!"
The laughter gradually faded.
One by one, everyone finally managed to calm themselves.
Nahi wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"I've laughed more today than I have in the past six years."
Ohi took a deep breath and nodded.
"My stomach actually hurts."
Even Fahad let out the faintest sigh,
"...I believe we've had enough excitement for one morning."
Fahan leaned back against the sofa.
"I completely agree."
Maya quietly closed her documentary and placed the bookmark between its pages.
The room became peaceful.
Outside, sunlight streamed through the tall windows, and a gentle breeze stirred the curtains.
For a few comfortable moments...
No one spoke.
Then—
A loud growl echoed through the room.
"..."
Everyone slowly turned toward the source.
Nahi looked down at his own stomach.
"...It has betrayed me."
Ohi laughed,
"I was wondering how long it would take."
Naya smiled,
"...How about we all go eat?"
There was immediate agreement.
Faha stood first, "Excellent idea."
Fahan nodded,
"I suddenly realized I'm starving."
Fahim adjusted his glasses,
"Considering the amount of energy expended through prolonged laughter, replenishing calories is scientifically reasonable."
Nahi pointed at him,
"Only you would turn lunch into a scientific report."
Fahim replied without missing a beat.
"I merely stated a fact."
At last, Fahad rose from the sofa.
He straightened his suit jacket with his usual calm elegance, "...Very well."
He looked at everyone.
"Let's go eat."
One after another, they stood.
Maya quietly picked up her documentary.
Ohi noticed,
"No reading at the dining table."
Maya looked at him,"...I wasn't planning to."
Nahi grinned, "We're just making sure."
Maya gave a small nod, "...I see."
Faha walked toward the door and held it open with an exaggerated bow.
"After you, Miss Maya."
Maya inclined her head politely,
"...Thank you."
She stepped through the doorway first.
The others followed behind her, still smiling from time to time whenever someone accidentally glanced at Fahad.
Each time it happened...
Nahi had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing again.
Fahad noticed, "...Don't."
Nahi immediately looked away.
"I'm not laughing."
"...You're smiling."
"I'm smiling respectfully."
Shaking his head with quiet resignation, Fahad continued walking.
The brothers gradually settled into their seats around the long mahogany dining table.
Crystal chandeliers cast a warm golden glow across the polished wood, making the silver cutlery and fine porcelain shimmer softly.
The servants moved with practiced silence, placing dish after dish before the brothers .
As always, Fahad occupied the head of the table.
The others took their customary places without needing to be told.
Maya sat quietly beside the window.
The room was filled only with the soft clink of silverware, the gentle pouring of water into crystal glasses.
After several minutes...
Nahi leaned back with obvious satisfaction.
"...I think I was genuinely starving."
Fahan glanced sideways.
"You announced that before you even sat down."
Ohi laughed,
"You finished two plates before anyone else."
Nahi looked completely unapologetic.
"I worked hard today."
Faha raised an eyebrow, "...Doing what?"
"Laughing."
The entire table smiled.
Fahim calmly folded another piece of bread.
"Continuous laughter engages multiple muscle groups. Technically, his statement possesses a degree of scientific validity."
Nahi immediately pointed at him.
"There! Even Brother Fahim agrees."
Fahan sighed.
"He agreed with your biology, not your logic."
"...Close enough."
Soft laughter traveled around the table once again.
Meanwhile...Maya quietly examined the dishes before her.
She reached for vegetables.
Fahim noticed,
"You consistently regulate portion size."
Maya looked toward him, "...Yes."
She offered no further explanation.
The brothers exchanged almost imperceptible glances.
No one pressed the subject.
Mahim had taught them something important after learning fragments of Maya's past:
If Maya wished to speak....She would.
If she did not...Forcing her would only
deepen the silence.
So the conversation drifted elsewhere.
Ohi picked up a bread roll,
"I still maintain today's greatest achievement belongs to Brother Fahad."
Fahad didn't even look up,
"...I recommend changing the subject."
"I refuse."
Nahi grinned broadly ,
"The wardrobe incident deserves historical preservation."
Faha groaned dramatically,
"Can we please let history die?"
Fahish smiled into his glass of water,
"Unfortunately... history tends to survive because witnesses exist."
Naya nodded thoughtfully,
"There are currently nine witnesses."
Fahan rubbed his forehead,
"...That number concerns me."
Ohi leaned forward with theatrical seriousness,
"Imagine explaining this to future generations."
He lowered his voice dramatically.
"'Children... your great-uncle once hid inside
a wardrobe because he wanted to secretly deliver a welcome gift.'"
Nahi nearly choked on his water.
Faha covered his face, "...Please stop."
Even Fahad closed his eyes for a brief second before exhaling, "...No memoirs."
Faha quickly added,"...Especially no songs."
Everyone looked toward him.
"...I know exactly who would write one."
His eyes slowly shifted toward Fahish.
Fahish took another calm sip of water.
"...I make no promises."
"Oh no..."
Laughter swept around the table.
Across the table...Maya quietly observed everyone.
The effortless way they interrupted one another without fear of offending.
[ Night, 09 : 40 PM ]
The mansion gradually fell silent.One by one, the lights behind the windows disappeared.
The distant conversations faded.
Footsteps in the corridors ceased.
Even the night guards settled into their quiet patrols.
Maya slowly close the book she had been reading.
The room was illuminated only by pale moonlight spilling through the open balcony doors.
A cool night breeze drifted into the room, gently stirring the white curtains.
Maya stood.
Her movements were so light that the wooden floor made no sound beneath her feet.
She walked to the balcony and rested one hand lightly on the stone railing.
For a brief moment, she looked across the sleeping Sunayana estate.
Silver moonlight covered the gardens.
The fountain shimmered quietly.
Ancient trees swayed gently in the wind.
She took a slow breath.
Then, with effortless precision, she climbed over the balcony railing.
She caught the decorative stone edge below, lowered herself smoothly, and descended using the carved ledges built into the mansion's exterior.
Within moments, her feet touched the soft grass below.
She straightened her clothes, brushed a few blades of grass from her sleeves, and began walking through the moonlit garden.
The estate looked entirely different at night.
The flowers had folded their petals.Jasmine released its sweet fragrance into the cool air.
Fireflies drifted lazily above the hedges like tiny floating stars.
The pond reflected the full moon with almost perfect clarity.
She walked without hurry.
Eventually, she reached an old wooden bench beneath a sprawling banyan tree.
The branches stretched overhead like a protective canopy, casting delicate shadows across the ground.
For several moments, she simply watched the night.
The gentle rustling of leaves....The distant chirping of crickets...The whisper of the wind through the trees...
It was peaceful.
From the small satchel she had brought with her, Maya carefully removed a sketchbook and a graphite pencil.
She rested the sketchbook on her lap.
Scratch..... Scratch.... Scratch.
Gentle, precise strokes gradually formed the outline of a face.
The quiet scratching of graphite against paper suddenly stopped.
The night breeze continued to stir the leaves overhead.
Then...Her hand stopped, a presence.
Standing somewhere beyond the line of ancient trees.
Maya neither turned nor showed any sign of alarm.
After a few silent seconds, she spoke in her usual calm voice,"...You can come out now."
Silence.
The figure hidden among the shadows froze.
How...?
He had been careful.
He was standing dozens of meters away, concealed behind the thick trunk of an old banyan tree.
He had made no sound.
Not a single twig had snapped beneath his feet.
Maya calmly added, without looking behind her,"...There's no point in hiding."
The stranger's eyes widened.
She isn't even facing me...
How did she notice?
For several more seconds, he remained motionless, wondering if she had merely guessed.
Then Maya quietly closed her sketchbook.
"If I were guessing...I wouldn't have spoken with such certainty."
The stranger's expression changed from surprise to genuine astonishment.
She even understood what I was thinking...?
A quiet breath escaped him, "...Impressive."
Slowly, he stepped out from behind the tree.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"...I suppose there's no point hiding anymore."
He stepped out from behind the tree.
Moonlight revealed his face, Farhan.
"...You really are frightening sometimes."
light filtered through the branches, revealing only the outline of his figure as he approached at an unhurried pace.
He stopped several meters from the bench, careful not to invade Maya's space.
"...Can I ask you something?"
"...Yes."
He folded his arms,
"I was at least fifteen meters away.You never looked behind you....Your senses really are extraordinary."
Maya lowered her gaze back to the sketchbook,
"...I'm simply accustomed to noticing
small changes."
Farhan glanced at the empty space at the opposite end of the bench.
He walked over and sat at the far end of the bench, leaving a respectful distance between them.
Neither spoke for a while.
The only sound was the gentle scratching of Maya's pencil against the paper.
Farhan's eyes gradually wandered to the sketchbook.
From where he sat, he could see the portrait slowly taking shape.
Every shadow was carefully placed.
The face on the paper already looked remarkably lifelike.
Farhan watched quietly for a few moments.
"You ...You're very talented."
"...Thank you."
The breeze turned another page of the sketchbook before Maya calmly held it in place.
"Humm ...Your way of getting down from the balcony was impressive."
The pencil stopped."...You saw that?"
Farhan nodded,
"I couldn't sleep. So I was standing by my window."
He looked toward the upper floor of the mansion.
"Then I saw someone climb over a balcony.
I was about to shout because I thought an intruder had gotten into the mansion."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"...Then the moonlight hit your face."
Maya listened without interrupting.
Farhan continued.
"I followed from a distance.I wasn't trying to spy on you...."
Maya looked at him for a moment.
"...I know."
Farhan smiled sheepishly,
"I suppose I wasn't as discreet as I imagined."
Maya resumed drawing.
Farhan rested his elbows on his knees and gazed out across the moonlit pond.
The two sat together beneath the ancient banyan tree.