CHAPTER XXXIII
A Little Chaos and a Lot of Love
I don't know why… but today, something felt different.
There was a strange joy blooming inside me — quiet, soft, but warm like the first light of morning peeking through the window. Odd, considering I'd actually hurt myself just yesterday when I slipped and fell into the pond. Now I had a slight injury on my knee and a full-blown cold, thanks to being drenched head to toe. Since morning, I'd been sneezing non-stop — "Haachoo… haachooo" like a broken record, nose red, eyes watery.
Still, I got up, took a warm shower, got dressed, and wrapped myself in a cozy shawl before making my way to the hall. I plopped down on the sofa with a sigh, trying to feel somewhat alive.
And there she was — my elder cousin sister, Saumya — sitting calmly with a cup of tea in her hand.
She looked up at me with a half-smile and said, "Vedehi, I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now… but definitely not like the way we met last night."
I blinked at her for a second before a mischievous grin spread across my face. "Oh come on, sometimes it's good to meet people in strange, unexpected ways. Makes life memorable, don't you think?"
She rolled her eyes but her tone was laced with concern. "You think everything is a joke. You treat every serious situation like a comedy scene. Do you even realize? If we hadn't found you last night… God knows what would've happened. You might not be sitting here this morning, laughing like this."
That made me pause.
"…Huh?" I asked softly, caught off guard by the seriousness in her voice.
"You heard me," she said, her voice tightening. "You were this close to… not being here anymore. You could've died, Vedehi. Do you get that?"
I looked away for a moment, feeling a strange flutter of guilt in my chest. But I quickly tried to shake it off with a chuckle. "But that didn't happen, right? Someone or the other would've saved me. I'm a very lucky person."
My voice tried to sound light, but I knew she wasn't convinced.
"Of course," she said sarcastically, "When you have a doctor in the house, why worry? Dad would've rushed in like a superhero and pulled you out just in time."
I smirked, holding back a laugh. "Exactly! Uncle's profession had to be useful one day, right? Good thing he's not just saving strangers."
She shook her head, but this time with a soft smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Maybe," I said, leaning back on the couch. "But at least I'm alive and still sneezing."
We both laughed, and for a moment, the heaviness melted away.
Yes, life was messy.
Sometimes I got hurt. Sometimes I scared the people I loved. And sometimes… I didn't even realize how much danger I'd walked into.
But moments like this — sitting on the couch, wrapped in warmth, talking nonsense with Saumya — they reminded me that despite everything, I was surrounded by people who cared. Who'd fight for me, scold me, pull me back from the edge… and still love me at the end of the day.
Even if I did sneeze all over their sweater.
Warm Smiles and Hidden Truths
Sita walked toward me, her delicate hands cradling a cup of steaming coffee. The aroma hit me first — rich, familiar, comforting. But it wasn't just the coffee that made my heart skip a beat. It was the way she looked at me… the way her fingers brushed against mine as she handed me the cup.
A gentle touch. Brief. Barely there.
But enough.
Enough to send a quiet warmth spiraling through my chest — one that mirrored the soft smile we both exchanged, a smile that held a thousand unspoken words, and the kind of comfort only love could bring.
Just then, the moment was disrupted.
"Wow… you're really beautiful," a voice chimed in beside me.
It was Jasmine.
She slid onto the seat next to mine, her gaze now fixed on Sita with unmistakable curiosity.
"What's your name?" she asked brightly, tilting her head with interest.
From the corner of my eye, I glanced at Jasmine. I didn't say a word, but instinctively, I shifted just slightly — enough to create a bit more space between us. Enough to remind her where boundaries stood.
Sita, ever composed and kind, replied with a soft smile, "My name is Sita Mahalaxmi."
Jasmine blinked, clearly not expecting such a traditional name. "That's such a classical name," she said. "Just like you — graceful and elegant."
Sita offered a polite "Thank you" and then, ever the thoughtful one, asked, "Would you like some coffee or tea?"
Jasmine waved a hand dismissively. "Oh no, I don't really like either. But thank you."
Sita nodded, still smiling. "Alright. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
With that, she turned and walked away, heading toward where my sister Tanu was sitting.
I watched her go — the way her sari flowed like water behind her, how she moved with quiet dignity. My heart followed her steps.
And then, Jasmine spoke again.
"So… between the two of you — who's older?"
I turned back to her. "Sita," I replied without hesitation. "She was born on June 26. I'm September 18."
She paused, frowning slightly. "Wait… so how did your mom give birth to both of you in the same year?"
I choked.
Literally. A small stream of coffee shot out of my mouth, and I quickly covered it with a napkin. "Sorry," I muttered, coughing and laughing at the same time.
Jasmine chuckled. "So… Sita is your sister, right?"
I narrowed my eyes slightly, taken aback. "She looks like my sister to you?"
She shrugged innocently. "Well… you both look kind of similar. Your faces… I don't know, there's a resemblance."
I took a deep breath and leaned back. Then, calmly, I said, "The one sitting with Sita — that's my sister, Tanu. She's two years older than me."
A pause.
"And Sita… Sita is not my sister. She's my wife. Officially."
The last word hung in the air between us. I didn't say it to boast. I said it to draw the line. To place the truth where it belonged.
Jasmine blinked, the mischief in her expression softening into realization.
And maybe, just maybe… respect.
She didn't say anything after that. And I didn't feel the need to explain further.
Because the truth didn't need to be loud — it just needed to be clear.
And in that moment, it was.
To be continue....