“Eighty. Let’s not flatter yourself.”
“Fine. Ninety-five. But listen to me.”
He paused, exhaled. “I’ve watched you survive things most people would’ve broken under. I’ve watched you carry yourself through grief, guilt, heartbreak… and somehow, you still managed to write stories about hope.”
My voice came out quieter than I meant. “Not always. Sometimes I just wanted to disappear.”
He nodded. “And yet you didn’t. You showed up. For Dadi. For me. For people you didn’t even know were reading your words.”
Tears welled up. Uninvited. Annoying. “…Are you dying?”
“No,” he said with a dramatic huff. “Today’s your birthday, and I just needed you to know… you’re not just my sister. You’re my hero.”
I let out a watery laugh. “Did you just say I’m your hero?”
“No.” He bumped my shoulder with his and wrapped an arm around me. “You never complain. You just… keep going. But I see you, Kia. I see when you’re tired. When you’re hurting. And I need you to know—I’m proud of you.”
“You’re the best brother. The most annoying, but the best.”
“And don’t you forget it,” he said, tugging me into a side hug.
“Are we crying without me?” Meeta’s voice cut through the moment as she sauntered over with a mug of coffee in one hand.
I wiped my face quickly, smirking. “Are you finally done eating all my cheeseballs?”
“Nope.” She took a proud sip. “Just taking a little break.”
Roy’s phone rang. He stood, ruffled my hair affectionately, and gave me one last hug—the kind that squeezes the oxygen out of your lungs and still somehow makes you feel better. Then he walked off dramatically, whispering something about “emotionally unregulated sisters” and “cheeseball scarcity.”
Meeta came to stand beside me, her coffee now half gone and her face unusually… serious.
I raised a brow. “Are you about to tell me you are having an affair?”
“No.” She rolled her eyes, then stared down at her mug like it held divine secrets. “I think Kartik is going to be mad at me.”
I froze. “Wait. What? Why? Did you crash the car again?”
“No, dummy.” She looked at me, face blank, voice flat. “I’m pregnant.”
My jaw dropped. “WHAT?!”
My voice definitely cracked the sound barrier. Meeta flinched, then reached out and slapped her hand over my mouth.
“Shhh! He doesn’t know yet!”
I yanked her hand away. “Hedoesn’t—MEETA!”
“I just found out!” she whisper-yelled. “And I still don’t know how to tell him. What if he passes out? What if he cries? What if he names the babyMinutes?”
I burst into full-body laughter. “Oh my God. You’re pregnant. This is real. You’re going to be someone’smother.”
She looked like she was equal parts excited and nauseous. “Right now, I’m torn between puking and overeating. Like, what’s the protocol here? Do I cry?”
I flung my arms around her, still giggling. “Congratulations! Oh my God, this ishuge!”
She hugged me back tightly. “Thanks. I needed to tell someone who wouldn’t faint immediately.”
“Okay, but like…” I pulled back and grinned wickedly. “You better tell Kartik beforeIdo.”
