Veda Rajveer (you are only mine)

2. Something has changed

Veda come home, Everyone had rushed to the airport to pick up Vivek Bhaiya, but she was the only one left out. The thought gnawed at her, making her feel forgotten. She had been looking forward to his return, but now, coming home alone made everything feel off.

She pulled out her keys, unlocking the door with a heavy sigh. As the door creaked open, the house was dark and silent. Of course, no one's home, she thought. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. But just as she took a few more steps, the lights suddenly flicked on.

"Surprise!"

Veda froze, her breath catching in her throat. Standing in front of her was Vivek, and around him was her entire family. Her mom, dad, sister all clapping, cheering, and laughing."Vivek Bhaiya?" Veda stammered, her eyes wide in disbelief. "But... you were supposed to land later!"

Vivek stepped forward, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "That was the plan," he said, pulling her into a tight hug. "I told you the wrong time so I could surprise you. We couldn't celebrate without you, Veda." The realization hit her all at once, and Veda felt her emotions overwhelm her. Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she could stop them, they spilled down her cheeks. She laughed and cried at the same time, clutching her brother tightly.

"I can't believe you did this," she said through her tears, her heart swelling with happiness. The sadness she had felt moments ago disappeared, replaced by the warmth and love of her family.

"We'd never leave you out," her mom said, stepping forward to join the hug. Everyone gathered around, their voices full of joy and laughter, and Veda realized that this moment, this surprise, was more than she could have ever hoped for.

Veda was the second child in the family, and when she turned three, her mother gave birth to Vidya. With a newborn in the house, her parents became busy and had less time for her. They always carried guilt for that, but her older brother, Vivek, stepped in and took care of her, becoming her companion and protector. This created a special bond between Veda and Vivek.

🌼🌼🌼

The clock ticked past 2:00 AM, but the three siblings were dusting off shelves and wiping down surfaces in Vivek's room. It had been closed for so long that the air felt stuffy, and everything was covered in a fine layer of dust. Yet, the late hour and the cleaning didn't bother them. They were together, and that's all that mattered.

"Man, I can't believe how much stuff I left behind," Vivek muttered, holding up an old book and tossing it onto the pile of things to keep. "Feels like I've been gone forever."Veda sat cross-legged on the floor, organizing a box of old trinkets. "So, how was life over there?" she asked, her tone curious. She looked up at Vivek, who was rummaging through another pile of things.

Vivek paused for a moment, thinking. "Busy, mostly. Between work and trying to settle in, I didn't have much time to relax. But I did make a few friends. We'd go out sometimes, but nothing too crazy."
Before he could continue, Vidya, who had been silently sweeping by the window, chimed in with a grin, "Wait, wait. So bhaiya, you're saying your 'wild nights' were just, what, going out for coffee? Maybe catching a movie?"

Veda burst into laughter. "Seriously, Bhaiya! Living on the edge!" she teased, her voice barely above a whisper to keep from waking anyone else. Vivek rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "It wasn't like that," he defended himself half-heartedly, but the grin on his face gave away that he didn't mind their teasing. Vidya, not letting it go, added, "Next, he'll tell us how he stayed up till 10 PM reading books!"

That was the final straw. Veda and Vidya both broke into uncontrollable giggles, clutching their stomachs as they tried to keep quiet. Their laughter echoed softly in the dimly lit room, and even Vivek, himself, started to chuckle. He reached out, trying to shush them, his voice low but filled with amusement. "Shhh! Guys! It's late! You'll wake up the whole house!"