Rhea's POV
I knew the day was doomed the moment Kabir looked at me and froze.
Not dramatically.
Not obviously.
Just—paused. Like his brain needed a second to reload.
And of course, he said nothing.
Typical.
I had actually put effort today. Hair behaving. Outfit cute but not screaming I tried. Minimal drama. Maximum effect.
Neel noticed last.
"Why do you look… different?" he squinted.
"Because she's a girl," Samar replied wisely. "They do that sometimes."
I rolled my eyes. "Shocking discovery. Please write a thesis."
Kabir still hadn't said a word.
Which meant—he noticed.
ENTER: KARTHIK SHARMA (UNINVITED DLC)
Just as we were about to leave—
"WAIT."
I turned.
Karthik stood there, keys in hand, London-returned confidence radiating.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"We?" I repeated.
"Yes," he smiled. "I'm bored."
Neel immediately grinned. "Oh you're coming. Definitely."
"NO," I protested. "This is not a family picnic."
Karthik slung an arm around Samar's shoulder like they'd known each other for years.
"Anyone who annoys her this much is already my friend."
Traitors. All of them.
Kabir finally spoke.
"…He can come."
I stared at him.
"You too?!"
He shrugged. "Safety reasons."
Karthik smirked. "See? Smart boy."
I pouted.
Everyone laughed.
THEY LIKE HIM. TOO MUCH.
This was supposed to be my group.
Within ten minutes—
Karthik was roasting Neel's fashion sense
Samar was calling him "Bhai but cool"
Kabir was listening to him like this was a TED Talk
And me?
Ignored.
I folded my arms. "I exist, by the way."
Karthik didn't even look at me.
"Yeah yeah. Drink water."
Samar cackled.
I glared harder.
Kabir glanced at me, lips twitching.
Serves him right.
AMUSEMENT PARK = UNHINGED ENERGY
The rides were chaos.
Samar screamed on the roller coaster.
"I WILL NEVER MOCK FEAR AGAIN," he yelled.
Neel laughed like a villain.
Karthik recorded everything. "This is blackmail."
Kabir sat next to me on the Ferris wheel.
Quiet. Windy. Almost nice.
"You're… different today," he said softly.
I smiled. "You noticed."
"Yeah."
And then—
"HEY LOVE BIRDS," Karthik shouted from below, "NO PROPOSALS WITHOUT ME."
Moment = DEAD.
Kabir sighed.
I laughed despite myself.
MCDONALD'S WAR ZONE
Everyone was starving.
We piled into booths, shouting orders.
Kabir sat beside me.
Naturally.
He leaned in. "You want fries?"
Before I could answer—
Karthik slid between us with military precision.
"She wants nuggets."
I stared. "I—"
"And a Coke," he added.
"BRO," Neel laughed, "YOU'RE MORE PROTECTIVE THAN HER FUTURE HUSBAND."
Kabir choked on his drink.
Samar grinned. "So Kabir, how does it feel being blocked by blood relation?"
Kabir recovered smoothly.
"…Temporary setback."
I hid my smile.
ENDING THE DAY
By the time we left—
My cheeks hurt from laughing.
My ego was bruised.
My almost-moments were repeatedly assassinated.
Karthik stretched. "I like your friends."
"They're my friends," I muttered.
He smirked. "They're ours now."
Kabir walked beside me.
Quiet again.
"You had fun," he said.
I nodded. "Yeah."
He glanced at Karthik ahead, joking with Samar and Neel.
"…Your brother's a menace."
I smiled. "Runs in the family."
And for a second—just a second—
Our hands brushed.
Until—
"RHEA WALK PROPERLY," Karthik yelled.
I groaned.
Chaos. Always.
But somehow?
I wouldn't trade it.
I didn't mean to overhear it.
I swear.
I was just coming back from the washroom with an ice cream I absolutely did not need when I heard my name.
Which is always suspicious.
Karthik x Kabir (Private. Dangerous.)
Karthik's voice was relaxed. Too relaxed.
"So," he said, "how long?"
Kabir didn't play dumb.
"Depends. You're asking as a brother or an interrogator?"
I paused mid-step.
Karthik chuckled. "I like you already."
Kabir replied evenly, "That makes one of us."
I bit my lip to stop smiling.
Karthik continued, "You're quiet. Observant. You watch before you act."
Kabir didn't deny it.
"And," Karthik added casually, "you look at my sister like she's not a joke."
Silence.
Then Kabir, honest to a fault.
"She's not."
My chest tightened.
Karthik sighed, dramatic. "See, that's the problem."
Kabir stiffened. "I'm not crossing lines."
"I know," Karthik said. "That's why I'm warning you."
"Warning me about what?"
"About the fact that she pretends she's tougher than she is."
Pause.
"And about the fact that if you ever hurt her—"
Kabir cut in, calm but firm.
"I won't."
Karthik laughed softly.
"Good answer. Wrong audience."
I backed away before I was officially guilty of eavesdropping.
My ice cream melted.
So did something else.
The Shift (Uncomfortable Awareness)
The rest of the evening felt… off.
Not bad.
Just different.
Kabir didn't stand too close.
Didn't tease as much.
Didn't interrupt when I spoke.
He watched.
And I hated how much I noticed it.
At one point, Samar nudged him. "Bro, you've gone silent. Did London bhai scare you?"
Kabir replied, "I respect him."
Neel burst out laughing. "OH THIS IS SERIOUS SERIOUS."
I rolled my eyes. "You're all idiots."
But my heart wasn't laughing.
Later (Too Quiet)
We were walking back.
Neel and Samar were ahead, arguing about something loud and pointless.
Karthik was on a call, already bored of us.
That left me and Kabir.
Again.
He finally spoke.
"Your brother cares about you."
"No kidding," I muttered.
"He's… intense."
I smiled faintly. "That's the polite word."
Kabir hesitated. Then, softer—
"You deserve people who are careful with you."
I stopped walking.
"Is this you being careful?" I asked.
He met my eyes. Didn't look away.
"This is me being honest."
Something shifted then.
Not fireworks.
Not confession.
Just… weight.
Awareness.
I realised this wasn't just banter anymore.
Wasn't just chaos and jokes and almost-moments.
This was something standing at the edge, waiting to be named.
And I wasn't sure I was ready.
Neel shouted from ahead, "ARE YOU TWO WALKING OR HAVING A MOMENT."
Moment ruined.
Kabir stepped back automatically.
I laughed. Too loud. "WE'RE WALKING."
But as we moved again—
I knew one thing for sure.
Whatever this was?
It had changed.
And there was no pretending it hadn't.
The house lights were on.
That was my first warning.
The second was Dad's shoes neatly placed outside, which meant he was home early — a rare and terrifying phenomenon.
Karthik unlocked the door casually, humming like he hadn't just emotionally sabotaged my entire day.
We stepped in.
Mom was on the sofa.
Dad beside her.
Both smiling.
Smiling is never good.
"So," Dad said lightly, "amusement park?"
My stomach dropped.
"Yes," I replied carefully. "How did you—"
"Kabir plays basketball well," Dad added, sipping tea.
I froze.
"…Why are we talking about Kabir?"
Karthik LOST it.
He laughed so hard he had to hold the doorframe.
"OH my GOD. You should've seen your face."
I spun on him. "YOU—"
Mom tilted her head, amused. "Rhea beta, relax. Sit."
That sentence alone told me I was finished.
THEY ALREADY KNEW. SOMEHOW.
Dad folded his hands.
"You were late."
"Because traffic," I said instantly.
"And smiling," Mom added gently.
"I always smile."
"No," Karthik said, helpfully evil.
"You don't."
I glared. "WHY are you like this?"
"Because I love you," he replied sweetly. "And because your crush is painfully obvious."
I squeaked.
"I DO NOT—"
Dad interrupted. "You defended him when Neel joked."
Mom nodded. "And you stopped mid-sentence when his name came up."
Karthik added, "And you didn't insult him once today."
The room went silent.
I whispered, "…That was self-control."
They all laughed.
DAD + BROTHER = FULL TEASING MODE
"So," Dad leaned back, amused, "good boy?"
I crossed my arms. "He's… respectful."
Karthik clapped. "OH THAT'S IT. SHE'S GONE."
Mom smiled softly. "You like him."
I muttered, "Maybe."
Dad raised an eyebrow. "Maybe?"
Karthik smirked. "She smiled at him on the Ferris wheel."
"I WAS LOOKING AT THE VIEW."
"The view named Kabir," he shot back.
I buried my face in my dupatta.
"I'M NEVER GOING OUT AGAIN."
MOM TAKES MY SIDE (THANK YOU)
Mom stood up and walked over, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Enough teasing," she said, though she was smiling.
"She doesn't need to explain herself."
I looked up at her gratefully.
She added softly, "He seems calm. I like that."
I stared. "YOU TOO?"
She winked. "Mothers know first."
Karthik laughed. "Told you."
Dad smiled, tone warm now.
"We're not teasing because we're angry."
Karthik added, quieter, "We're teasing because we're not worried."
That… shut me up.
THE WHOLESOME TURN
Karthik slung an arm around my shoulders.
"You had fun today," he said.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"And you were happy," Mom said.
Dad stood and pulled us all closer, awkward but sincere.
"You're growing up," he said softly. "But you're still our kid."
Suddenly—
Big family hug.
Karthik squeezed too tight.
Dad patted my head.
Mom held my face gently.
I laughed into her shoulder.
"You're all annoying."
Dad kissed my forehead. "Inherited."
When we finally pulled away, Karthik whispered smugly—
"Next time, I'm sitting between you two on purpose."
I groaned.
But I smiled.
Because embarrassment aside…
I felt safe.
Seen.
Loved.
And somehow… ready.