𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮

Dad and I stepped out of the hotel, the sun hitting our faces as we got into the car. The streets were buzzing with activity, but my mind was already thinking about Reena and how she'd react to Dad's surprise.

As we reached the Desai mansion, I pushed open the front door, only to find Reena sitting in the living room with sunglasses on and a cup of coffee in hand. She looked like a hungover diva straight out of a Bollywood movie.

"Well, well, if it isn't our little party queen," I teased.

Reena lowered her sunglasses, revealing her bloodshot eyes. "Says the one who loves to do the same!"

Before I could reply, Dad walked in behind me. "Seems like you girls had a wild night." Dad said as if he didn't knew anything because we know the gaurds and maids report everything to him

Reena's eyes widened in surprise. "Dad! When did you get back?"

"This morning," Dad replied with a stern look. "And what's this I hear about some strawberry tonic?"

Reena tried to play it cool, waving her hand dismissively. "It was just a little experiment, Dad. Nothing serious."

Dad chuckled. "Experiment or not, you both need to stop these late-night adventures. Remember, the Desai family is always in the spotlight."

"Noted, Dad," I said with a sheepish smile. "But since you're back, how about dinner together tonight? It's been a while since we all sat down for a proper family meal."

Reena clapped her hands. "Yes! But I'm ordering dessert. No objections!"

Dad raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. But no more experiments with drinks!"

Later that evening, the three of us sat around the grand dining table. The warm glow of the chandelier above bathed the room in soft light. Laughter filled the space as we shared stories, jokes, and memories.

As the dessert was served, Reena leaned back in her chair. "You know, Dad, life is never boring with us, right?"

Dad nodded. "True. And as long as we stick together, we can handle anything."

A comfortable silence followed before I spoke. "Here's to more chaos, more memories, and... maybe fewer hangovers!"

We clinked our glasses as we smiled

Later at night

As I changed into my pajamas, the cool night breeze gently caressed my face. I sat by the window balcony, my eyes fixed on the softly swaying flowers in the garden below. The world outside felt calm, but my mind was racing. I reached for my file, filled with the new designs that needed to be finalized for the upcoming fashion show. A pencil found its usual spot tucked behind my ear as I flipped through the sketches, the work of our junior artists. Some designs showed potential, but others made me wonder if we needed a serious hiring overhaul.

The sound of the door opening drew my attention. Reena walked in, hugging a pillow to her chest. She quietly shut the door behind her and stood there for a moment, a faint smile on her lips.

"What happened?" I asked, my brow furrowed.

Reena's smile turned soft and a little sad. "Saw Mumma in my dream," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.I nodded, understanding the bittersweet feeling that always followed dreams like that. She climbed onto my bed and plopped down, curling up with her pillow.

"Why do you only have black or white bedsheets? Seriously, Rey, add some color! This room looks like a photography studio," Reena teased, rolling onto her back.

I chuckled. "I don't know. I guess I never really paid attention to stuff like that." I handed her the file. "Take a look at these. Do you think any of them are good enough for IFL?" I leaned against the headboard, watching her flip through the pages.

Reena frowned as she studied the designs. "Rey, you need to hire better people. These are tacky af. I mean, look at this one! Who would even wear that?"I rolled my eyes. "Excuse me! We need to hire more people. You're the second partner, and you own more shares than me. This is your responsibility too, you know."

"Ahh, well..." Reena grinned mischievously. "What can I say? I just like wearing dresses, not designing them.I crossed my arms. "Oh, shut up! I only wanted this company to be a media and entertainment business, but you're the one who insisted we turn it into an all-in-one empire."

Reena waved me off dramatically. "Whatever, Reyyy. Let's just sleep. You've been obsessing over this for days." She closed the file and placed it on the table beside the bed. "Now come on, sleep!" She patted the empty spot next to her.

I hesitated for a second, but then shook my head and lay down beside her. The familiar comfort of having Reena around made the tension ease from my body.

"Remember when we used to have sleepovers in Mumma's room and stay up all night talking?" Reena said softly, her eyes staring at the ceiling.

"Yeah," I smiled at the memory. "We thought we were so grown-up, staying up until midnight."

Reena chuckled. "And Mumma would always bring us hot chocolate, pretending not to notice that we'd taken over her bed."

"Those were the days," I said, my voice trailing off as the nostalgia wrapped around us like a warm blanket.

Reena yawned. "Well, tonight's just like that. We'll figure everything out in the morning. For now, sleep."

I closed my eyes, letting her words settle. The breeze drifted through the window again, carrying the scent of blooming flowers. For the first time in days, my mind finally felt at peace.