𝙁𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚

Chapter 16 - Fights and confusions

Akshit's Pov

Finally, after our ride filled with Tiara's questions and interrogations, we reached home. Upon reaching, she immediately tried to open the seatbelt, but alas, she struggled. So, I quipped, "Huh. Let me!" With a slight smirk, I turned to help her, but at that moment, she managed to open it herself. As she unbuckled, she retorted, "Always so judgemental" and swiftly exited the car. Hearing her reply, I felt a bit irritated, so I sat in my car for a while to calm down.

From the car, I watched Tiara make her way inside the entrance. Suddenly, out of the blue, Shruti appeared and questioned Tiara, "How was the dinner?" with full excitement. Tiara, perhaps a bit tired and annoyed, replied, "Not now yaar, Shri, at least let me go to my room and freshen up." Hearing this, Shruti, with a sad face, said, "I was just asking casually." Tiara quickly apologized, saying, "Sorry yaar Shri, just tired and honestly frustrated too," and they finally headed inside from the entrance. Releasing a sigh, I parked my car and went inside.

Seeing me, Shruti asked, "Bhai, you're here now?" Without saying anything, I looked at Tiara, who also glanced at me and said, "He picked me up." Tiara added, "Okay, let me go and freshen up," and headed upstairs. Shruti then started her questioning, "You picked her up? How did you know where she was? And Why?" I replied, "Why do you want to know?" Shruti persisted, "Because that was my best friend's date-night." I teased, "I knew your taste in men was bad, but that much bad? and for your best friend too? I didn't knew that." Shruti responded with a mock-serious tone, "BHAI!!" and I went to my room to freshen up.

After freshening up, I was in urgent need of coffee, so I walked out of my room to go to the kitchen. Coincidentally, Tiara also emerged from her room. She didn't directly look at me, but perhaps she noticed me through the corner of her eyes, and she hurriedly went downstairs.

Confused, I made my way to the kitchen for coffee, and at that moment, she came for a water bottle. She commented, "Do you just text people while seating in a restaurant or do you eat too?" I chuckled and replied, "When does my buisness concern you?" Tiara teasingly responded, "Nope, I just wanted to know what you do other than texting people in a restaurant," and with that, she went outside.

After preparing my coffee, I made my way out of the kitchen, the aroma of the freshly brewed coffee still lingering in the air. As I stepped into the hallway, I overhear Shruti's inquiry directed at Tiara. I was just a few steps behind her. Shruti didn't saw me coming.

"Oye, bhai picked you up?" She asked, to which Tiara responded, "Yeah, as aunty said so," sent a shiver down my spine. I realized Tiara would find out the truth now. I cursed myself for not coming up with a better excuse.

Suddenly, Shruti chimed in, "Aunty? But maa never said that. I was at home the whole time, and bhai left after you left." Tiara's shocked "What?" made me realize I needed to intervene. Stepping into the conversation, I quickly said, "Maa called me and asked me to pick her up."

Shruti's disbelief was evident as she questioned, "Maa called you? But her phone was with me. Maa handed me her phone to figure out why it was lagging and it took me a long time to fix it. So, when did Maa contact you?"

I had to think fast. "You didn't have her phone the whole time, right? Maa called me when she was free," I replied, trying to end the conversation.

Without waiting for further questions, I hurried upstairs. But Shruti's voice trailed after me, "Ugh, but when was maa free? She was busy, I don't know." I couldn't help but feel annoyed that she had to bring this up in front of Tiara. I thought to myself, 'This sister of mine will land me in trouble one day. And why does she always have so many questions?'

With these thoughts swirling in my head, I reached my room, sipped my coffee, and felt a bit calmer. I glanced at my phone and saw the texts with Tiara still open. Realizing I forgot to save her number, I decided to do it. But as I typed her name, 'Tiara,' but then I tried 'Miss Tantrums,' but that felt off.