The next morning, sunlight streamed into Sanya's room, glinting off the tiny plastic Ganesha idol on her nightstand. She sat cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through her phone for signs of less drama and more normalcy. No such luck.
Her system fairy-lit into vision:
**[Daily Sign-In: Reward — 1 x cheap sunglasses (Delhi market knock-off); Learn: Basic Handwriting Analysis (Skill: Novice); 10 rupees in coins.]**
Sanya smirked, flipping the sunglasses over in her hand.
> "Now I can scrutinize 'death threats' in love letters and look cool at the same time. Thanks, universe."
Downstairs, family melodrama was already warming up. Mummyji and Chiku Bhaiya were deep in urgent whispers, Tayiji hovered, and even Dadi seemed to be plotting with her rosary beads.
As Sanya passed through the living room, she caught the tail end of a phone conversation.
"…Yes, yes, find out about that Rekha girl. She's always encouraging Sanya…"
Mummyji hung up, startled by Sanya's presence. "Have some breakfast, beta. I made your favorite—paratha with extra ghee. You seem so… drained lately."
Sanya just grinned, "I'll take it to go. Big day, family research project." (She didn't mention her real plan: a park meeting with Rekha and two new college friends, Anjali and Sameer.)
In the street, Sanya slipped on her fake sunglasses and skipped down the lane. The neighborhood's nosy aunty, Mrs. Bhatia, tried to stop her:
"Young girls out so early—who knows what sort of activities!"
Sanya smiled brightly. "Oh, you know aunty, saving the world one paratha at a time."
She reached the park, the gang already assembled. Anjali nudged her: "Heard about the proposal drama? Your family's become society news again."
Sanya exaggerated a groan, pulling out coins from her new reward. "Let them talk. Did you guys know you can tell a liar by their handwriting loops? I just learned that—for reasons."
Sameer grinned, "Guess you'll have to analyze all the love letters for us."
As they laughed, a rickshaw squealed to a halt and Vicky himself winked at them from across the street. "Still playing hard to get, Sanya?" He tried swaggering, but his shirt was inside out.
Sanya quipped, "At least get dressed before you stalk people, Vicky."
Her group hooted. Rekha whispered, "Epic. You're my role model."
Sanya winked, "I'm just surviving the Star Plus universe. All of you are coming with me."
Meanwhile, back at home, Mummyji's search for an astrologer picked up steam, and Mrs. Bhatia stood by her window, pen poised, ready to report every movement.
Fueled by junk system rewards, unlikely skills, and the start of true friendship, Sanya faced another day with a sly grin. The melodrama would come—but so would her next victory.
**End of Chapter 6**