Page 8 of The Promise of a Traitor

Aastha Di. Being Amyra’s Aastha Di was everything to her. When her baby sister had struggled to say her name and settled on Aastha instead, she’d been more than happy to co-opt the new identity. And after years of being her parent’s disappointing Aashika, it had been wonderful being Aastha.

Aastha had been fun and bold and exciting. But mostly, Aastha had been loved. First, by her little sister and then by…Dammit, those stupid tears were back. She blinked rapidly, hoping no one would notice.

“There’s this new show that I wanted to watch with you.” Amyra’s bright eyes met her own red rimmed ones. “I’ve been waiting forever for you to get back home!”

Aastha grinned. “Are you sure forever isn’t an exaggeration? I’ve only been gone a few hours.”

“Foooorrrrevvvveerr.” Amyra dragged the word out, grinning back, the mischief in her eyes lightening Aastha’s heart.

“Amu,” their mother’s irritated voice cut through. “I was talking to your sister.”

“And now I’m talking to her,” Amyra retorted, grabbing Aastha’s hand and dragging her over to the door of their room.

Aastha laughed, following her sister into the room and allowing her to shut the door behind them.

“There!” Amyra’s satisfied smirk had Aastha’s own smile widening. “Saved you from her.”

“And I am forever in your debt for that,” Aastha said lightly.

“No.” Amyra’s voice got sadder. “That would be me.”

Aastha’s smile slid off her face. “Amu,” her voice gentled.

But Amyra turned away from her, her pretty, teenage face set in tight, mutinous lines. “So, how was he? The guy?”

“He was…” Aastha’s throat closed up, her voice deserting her.

“I heard you telling Ma that it wouldn’t work out. What’s wrong with him?” Amyra plopped herself down on the bed they shared. Her sharp, assessing gaze stayed on Aastha’s face.

Aastha sighed, pulling out a scrunchie from a drawer and twirling her hair into a messy bun.

“Aastha Di?” Amyra was still watching her carefully as she repeated her question. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing.” The word was whisper soft, but Aastha felt it resonate in her soul. “There is nothing wrong with him.”

“Then why won’t it work out with him?”

Where did she even begin to explain what lay between Advik and her, the toxic debris of the relationship she’d imploded with her lies and deceit? No one would understand, not even the little sister who adored her.

“He doesn’t want me, Amu…He,” Aastha hesitated before continuing, “wants someone or something else. Someone I could never be.”

“But-“ Amyra opened her mouth to argue but didn’t get very far before their mother swept in.

Binita Agarwal’s face was flushed, a feverish excitement lighting up her eyes. Dread pooled in Aastha’s gut. Anything that made her mother this happy couldn’t possibly be good for her.

“Aashika.” Her mother came forward to cup Aastha’s cheeks, fingers gripping her face tightly, making her mouth pucker like a fish’s.

“What’s happened?” Aastha asked, trying desperately not to gulp like a goldfish.

“He said yes.”

A dull roaring filled her ears, the blood draining from her face. “W-what?” she whispered.

“Advik, Maya’s son. He said yes to the alliance!”

Binita let go of Aastha’s face and twirled around, gathering a perplexed Amyra into a tight hug. “Everything’s going to be alright now, bacha. Everything!”

With that, she swept out of the room, calling for Aastha’s father who was probably resting in his room.