Prologue
Nisha
This ends today.
Three words, and my heart slams against my ribs. Sitting at the edge of my bed, I stare at the message in my inbox once, then twice. But the more I read it, the more the threat pulses through me, making my body tremble uncontrollably.
Unable to bear the torture any longer, I snap the laptop shut and toss it aside. Leaning forward, I press my elbows to my knees and bury my face in my hands, fingers tangling in my hair, desperately trying to hold myself together as the questions begin to loop endlessly through my mind.
How did I let things spiral into this mess? How do I pull myself out of this?Is there even a way out of this?
I am still struggling for answers when a soft knock at the door cuts through the chaos in my mind. I look up and find Kavya standing in the doorway. And just like that, a sense of calm settles over me as my eyes meet my sister’s.
Kavya and I have always looked a lot alike—same warm brown eyes, the same long chestnut-brown hair that tumbles over our shoulders, and the same fair skin that flushes easilywhen we’re upset or excited. Even though she’s four years older than me, we’ve grown up hearing people say we look like twins.
She steps into the room with a small smile and sits beside me. Her eyes drop to the suitcase by my feet, lingers there for a moment before drifting back to me. She studies me so intently, her steady gaze searching mine, making me gulp in nervousness.
“I know what’s bothering you,” she says softly.
At her words, every nerve in my skin bristles.Did she find out about...
But before I can open my mouth or even begin to string together an excuse, she continues. “I know you’re upset that I am not coming with you on this trip.”
My shoulders sag, and I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. The trip. Of course. She’s talking about the family trip we’re taking to celebrate my B.Com final results.
“I just… I can’t miss the interview, Nisha. It’s important. It’s the kind of opportunity I’ve been dreaming about for years,” she says, her voice laced with guilt.
I nod slowly, guilt coiling in my throat… a tight, choking knot born out of everything I am hiding from her. Yet somehow, I manage to push the words out, “I get it.”
Relief flashes in her eyes. “If it weren’t for this, I’d be there with you, Mom, and Dad to celebrate your top scores,” she whispers, her hand resting on mine. “I am so, so proud of you.”
She draws in a deep breath before giving my hand a squeeze. “I promise, when you’re back, we’ll celebrate properly. Just the two of us. Like we always do.”
That makes me smile, even if only faintly, as my mind pulls back the curtain of time. I still remember how, as a little girl, I’d trail behind her in a lopsided braid, clutching a juice box. How I always looked up to her, like she hung the stars in the sky. How we shared every little secret, from failed exams to silly crushes, giggling under a blanket until midnight.
But now, I am hiding things from her, and it makes me feel horrible. God, how I wish life were still as simple as it was when we were little. When I could unburden my heart freely, without dreading the damage the truth might cause.
“I still remember,” I whisper, holding back the regret and clinging to the good memories, “that silly bracelet you made me when I turned ten. The one with the plastic heart beads.”
She grins, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You call it silly, but let’s not forget, you wore it everywhere. Even to school.”
I chuckle, tucking my legs beneath me on the bed and turning to face her. “You called it sisterhood magic. Said it would keep the nightmares away.”
“Didn’t it?” she asks.
I nod, the smile fading just slightly. If only those bracelets were strong enough to protect me even now, when I need it the most. Deep down, I know my sister has always been and will always be there for me, bracelets or not. The real struggle is letting her in. It’s the one thing I just can’t seem to do.
“It wasn’t just the bracelet I had faith in,” I murmur, my mind spinning in circles. “It was you. You’ve always protected me, even when I made it hard for you.”
“Hey,” she says, tilting her head to catch my gaze. “Don’t go all sentimental on me. You know it’s an elder sister’s job to protect, even when the younger one makes it difficult. And that’s exactly what I am doing. It’s something I love doing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
I stare at her. I don’t know how my sister always manages to get to me with just her words. Even now, as I keep looking at her radiant face, I notice how her hair is pulled into a loose bun, with soft wisps gently framing her beautiful features, making her look every bit the caring, protective sister she’s always been. And all of a sudden, my secrets sit at the tip of my tongue, aching to be set free.
“I am letting go of the trip,” I whisper, though what I really want is to confess and tell her about the mistake that has been eating me alive. But the words stay locked in my throat. Instead, I give her a small smile and say, “In a few days, I’ll be turning twenty-two.”
She nods. “I know.”
“And this birthday, I don’t want an expensive dress or fancy dinner.”
