Radhika gasps dramatically. “Ishika, please reconsider your life choices.” Ishika laughs. And something in my chest shifts at the sound because it’s not forced or careful anymore, she has started smiling a bit more…carefree.
I lean back slightly, letting the moment settle, watching her as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, still smiling faintly. There’s something different about her here. In this space. With my people. She’s still herself—still sharp, still observant, still carrying that quiet awareness like she’s always measuring her place in the room.
But there’s less…tension.
Less bracing.
Like she’s not waiting for something to go wrong.
Like she’s letting herself exist without holding everything together. And it does something to me.
Radhika unpauses the show with a warning look in my direction. “If you speak again, you’re out.”
“Dictatorship,” I mutter.
“Silence.” I sigh dramatically.
Then lean back again. And, after a second—Ishika shifts a bit closer. Her shoulder pressing into mine. Her hand resting near my thigh, not quite touching, but close enough that I’m aware of it.
I glance at her. She doesn’t look at me. But there’s a small, almost secret smile at the corner of her mouth.
Letting the noise of my family fill the room. Letting Radhika’s occasional commentary break through the tension of the show. Letting Ma’s quiet presence anchor everything in place. Letting Vedant’s rare, perfectly timed reactions add to the rhythm of it all. And letting Ishika exist in it. With me.
There’s a scene on screen that makes Radhika gasp dramatically. “See! This is why you don’t go into creepy places alone!”
“That’s common sense,” I say.
“You don’t have common sense.”
“I have selective intelligence.”
“You have selective stupidity.” I grin, shrugging slightly, only to earn a silent glare from everyone except Ishika. Ishika lets out a soft huff beside me.
I glance at her again, her gaze flickers across the room—at Ma, at Radhika, at Vedant—and then back to me.
And for a second—Just a second—It looks like she’s…full. Like she’s taking it in. Like she’s letting herself feel it. The feeling of belonging. The thought hits me hard enough that I have to look away for a second. Because my chest tightens in a way I’m not used to. I’ve always had this. This chaos. This noise. This…home. I’ve taken it for granted more times than I can count. But her—She’s lived without it for so long. Lived with walls so high no one could see over them. Lived like every connection came with an expiry date. Lived like needing someone was a risk she couldn’t afford.
And now she’s sitting here.
In the middle of my world.
Letting it touch her.
Even a little.
My hand moves before I think about it, settling more firmly around her shoulder, pulling her just a fraction closer. She doesn’t resist. Doesn’t even hesitate and rests her head on my shoulder. I look down at her for a second. At the way her lashes rest against her cheek. At the way her expression has softened without her realizing it. At the way she’s not guarded right now.
I don’t know who’s behind what happened. I don’t know why her car failed. I don’t know who thought they could get close enough to her to scare her like that. But I know this—I will not let her live in fear. Not again. Not ever.
Whoever is behind it—They made a mistake.
A big one.
Because now—It’s personal. Radhika gasps again at something on screen. Vedant mutters, “Idiot,” at a character. Ma shakes her head, smiling faintly.
And Ishika—Ishika lets out a quiet breath against my shoulder. My grip on her tightens just slightly. A silent promise. She doesn’t hear it. Doesn’t need to.
I’ll keep her safe. No matter what it takes.
