Ishaan pocketed the key, the metal still warm from the broker's hand.
Ravi slung his helmet over the Bullet's mirror, wiping sweat with his sleeve.
Ishaan: "Office hunt's off for today. Too tight. Drop you at your place?"
Ravi: "Nah, boss. Grab a taxi. Got packing to smash—loan papers, shift in 2-3 days. Modern Ninja videos? Paused. No shoots till I'm settled."
Ishaan: "You sure? I can haul boxes."
Ravi (grinning): "Already clipped backup shots from every session. Got four days' uploads ready. Channel won't blink. Need help? I'll shout. Otherwise, handle your queen."
Ishaan: "Loud and clear. Call anytime."
Ravi: "Sure."
Ravi flagged a yellow-black cab, tossed his helmet in, slammed the door.
Ravi (leaning out): "Tomorrow loan bank, day after keys. See you in the towers!"
Cab merged into traffic. Ishaan kick-started the Bullet, roared toward Legacy Construction.
Porch. 5:47 PM.
Ishaan killed the engine, leaned against the bike, pulled out his phone. Dialed Simi.
Simi: "Hero! You rang?"
Ishaan: "Party details. Don't want to crash late."
Simi: "Dad's birthday bash. Tomorrow, sharp 6 PM. Juhu villa. Poolside, live band, seafood overload. Wear something sharp—Dad's dying to grill you on that rescue story again."
Ishaan: "Sharp it is. Anything off-limits?"
Simi: "Just don't outshine the birthday boy. Bring Ari if she's free."
Ishaan: "She's swamped. I'll pass the invite."
Simi: "Cool. See you tomorrow, ninja."
Call ended.
Ishaan slipped the phone away, eyes on the revolving doors.
Half an hour crawled. Sun dipped, painting the glass orange.
Ari burst out at 6:18, blazer over arm, ponytail loose, eyes hunting.
She spotted him, broke into a run, vaulted on the pillion.
Ari: "Missed you. Home?"
Ishaan: "Detour. Got a key. Flat to show. Broker said evening visit—your call seals it."
Ari locked arms, "Gun it. Show me our future."
Bullet snarled to Santacruz East.
Tower A, 12th floor. Ishaan slotted the key, door swung open.
Ari stepped in slow, eyes wide.
Hall swallowed her footsteps. She spun, taking in the space—dining corner, pooja nook, light flooding from wraparound windows.
Ari: "Ishaan… this hall alone is bigger than our current everything."
She jogged to the kitchen, fingers tracing granite.
Ari: "Four-burner? Chimney? I could cook feasts without elbow wars."
Master bedroom.
Ari: "Walk-in? Attached bath with rain shower? Pinch me."
Second bedroom.
Ari: Guest Room here."
Third.
Ari: "Ma's. Quiet corner, garden view."
Balcony. L-shaped paradise.
Ari stepped out, wind whipping her hair. Garden below, sea breeze beyond. Sunset bleeding gold over the pool podium.
Ari (voice soft): "This… this is peace. Morning chai here. Evening walks there. Gym downstairs? Pool? Ishaan, confirm it. Now."
Ishaan: "Rent?"
Ari: "How much?"
Ishaan: "Fifty thousand. Deposit four months—two lakhs."
Ari (eyes widening): "Fifty? For this? That's robbery—in our favor. Current dump's Twenty-five and smells like mold. We're stealing. Lock it."
Ishaan: "Tomorrow I pay from my sales gigs. Deposit split—half now, half next month. Ma gets the rest of your bonus for furniture. We empty the old place before deadline. Three days max."
Ari (nodding fast): "Done. Our home."
They locked up, Bullet homeward.
Building gate. 7:45 PM.
Lajja and Misahay on the stairs, arms crossed like bouncers.
Lajja: "Late again? With bags yesterday, now empty-handed?"
Ari dropped her tote, pulled out phone, and swiped to videos.
Ari: "Better. New home. Watch."
She played the tour—hall spin, kitchen zoom, balcony breeze.
Misahay leaned in, eyes bulging.
Misahay: "This… this is ours? Gym? Pool? Security?"
Lajja snatched the phone, replayed the balcony.
Lajja: "What a view? Garden? Fifty thousand rent?"
Ari: "Fifty. Ishaan's handling deposit from his earnings. We shift in days."
Lajja's face cracked—anger to glee in seconds.
Lajja's eyes gleamed as she replayed the balcony video for the third time, mind racing: Grandfather's side squeezes into that old mansion, no rent, no space, no view. My friends will drop their phones when I post this on WhatsApp status—pool, gym, sea breeze. And those brothers-in-law's wives? Green with jealousy. Finally, we rise.
Misahay puffed his chest, thoughts churning: My brothers think we're beggars after the eviction. Wait till these photos hit family group. Guard salute, infinity pool, garden walks. They'll choke seeing this—'Misahay's family upgraded while we rot in the old wing.'
Ari (smiling): "Happy?"
Lajja: "Ecstatic. Pack tonight. I'm buying new curtains tomorrow."
Misahay: "And a nameplate—BAJAJ FAMILY. Gold letters."
Inside.
Ari whispered to Ishaan.
Ari: "They're glowing. Show-off fuel."
Ishaan: "Let them. Tomorrow keys. Day after—ours."
Door closed.
Ari on bed, Ishaan on floor mattress.
He slipped the Seiko off his wrist, set it on the side table—ticking softly in the dark.