Chapter Ninety-Five: The Wall, The Kiss, and The Girl Who Wouldn't Look at Him
The morning after the video incident, the mansion was buzzing.
Percy had replayed the kiss footage approximately forty-seven times. Honey had confiscated his phone twice. He'd found it again.
C.N. had created a statistical analysis of "optimal romantic ambush techniques" based on Keifer's method.
Rakii had printed a still frame and added it to the "family romance" album.
Akshi and Chethan were curled together, still grieving Shreya's absence but finding comfort in each other.
And Jay?
Jay was annoyed.
---
It started over something stupid.
Keifer had used the last of the coffee and not made more.
"Keifer."
"Yeah?"
"The coffee. It's empty."
"I'll make more."
"You should have made more when you took the last cup."
"I didn't know you were coming down."
"I always come down at the same time. Every day. For two years."
He blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"That's not an apology. That's a question."
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to say you'll be more considerate!"
He held up his hands. "Okay. I'll be more considerate."
"NOW you say it. After I had to ASK."
"Jay—"
"DON'T 'JAY' ME!"
---
She stormed out of the kitchen.
Keifer stood there, confused.
Akshi whispered, "Pregnancy hormones are gone. What's her excuse now?"
Chethan whispered back, "Marriage."
"Ah. That tracks."
---
Jay walked through the living room. Through the hallway. Toward the garden.
She needed air. Space. Distance from—
Arms wrapped around her waist.
Lifted her.
Spun her.
Pinned her against the wall.
---
Keifer.
Eyes dark. Breath quick. Jaw set.
"Running away from me?"
"Yes."
"Not allowed."
"I'm annoyed at you."
"I know."
"I need space."
"You can have space later."
He leaned closer. "First, you're going to listen."
She glared. "Listen to what?"
"To this."
He kissed her.
---
Not gently.
Not softly.
Deep. Demanding. Possessive.
His body pressed against hers. One hand tangled in her hair. The other on her hip, holding her in place.
She tried to stay mad.
Failed.
Kissed him back.
---
When they finally broke apart, gasping, she glared at him with zero heat.
"You're impossible."
"Your impossible."
"I'm still annoyed."
"I know."
"About the coffee."
"I'll buy you a coffee farm."
"That's ridiculous."
"Your ridiculous."
She laughed despite herself.
He kissed her again. Softer this time.
"I love you," he murmured against her lips.
"I love you too. Even when you drink the last coffee."
"Especially then?"
"Especially then."
---
Neither of them heard the front door open.
Neither of them saw her walk in.
Shreya.
Back from India.
Standing in the hallway.
Watching them.
---
Akshi saw her first.
Her scream could have shattered glass.
"SHREYA!"
She ran. Threw herself at her sister.
Shreya caught her, laughing, crying.
"I'm back! I'm back!"
Chethan appeared. Grabbed them both.
"You're here! You're actually here!"
Jay pulled away from Keifer. Ran to join the hug.
"Shreya! Oh my god, Shreya!"
The four of them—Jay, Akshi, Chethan, Shreya—wrapped together, crying, laughing, talking over each other.
---
Mithun appeared in the doorway.
He'd heard the commotion.
He saw her.
She saw him.
Her smile faltered.
---
He walked toward her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
"Shreya."
She turned away. Hugged Akshi tighter.
"Shreya, please."
She didn't look at him.
Didn't respond.
Just... ignored him.
---
The room went quiet.
Akshi pulled back. "Shreya? Mithun's talking to you."
"I know."
"Aren't you going to—"
"No."
She walked past him.
Into the living room.
Sat on the couch.
Started talking to Jay about India.
Like he wasn't there.
---
Mithun stood frozen.
Chethan approached. "Bro—"
"She won't even look at me."
"Give her time."
"I've given her time. She left for a week. She came back. And she won't look at me."
No one had an answer.
---
The afternoon passed in painful awkwardness.
Shreya talked to everyone.
Jay. Akshi. Chethan. Keifer. Even Percy, who arrived within the hour.
She laughed at his jokes. Hugged Honey. Played with Keiran.
But every time Mithun entered the room, she looked away.
Every time he spoke, she found someone else to talk to.
Every time he approached, she walked away.
---
Mithun tried.
He really tried.
"Shreya, can we talk?"
"I'm busy."
"Please. Just five minutes."
"I said I'm busy."
He reached for her hand.
She pulled away.
Walked out of the room.
---
Jay found him later.
Sitting in the garden. Alone.
"Mithun."
"She won't even let me explain."
"Explain what?"
"I don't even know. She won't tell me why she left. Why she came back. Why she's ignoring me."
"She's scared."
"Of what?"
"Of you. Of herself. Of whatever made her run."
"How do I fix it?"
"I don't know if you can. Not yet. She has to be ready."
"And if she's never ready?"
Jay had no answer.
---
That night, Keifer found Jay on the balcony.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Tough day."
"The toughest."
He wrapped his arms around her. "Any word from Mithun?"
"He's devastated. She won't talk to him."
"She will. Eventually."
"You think?"
"I think love that strong doesn't just disappear."
She leaned into him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He kissed her neck. Soft. Slow.
She shivered.
"Keif—"
"Shh."
He turned her around. Kissed her properly.
The world faded.
Just them.
Just this.
---
From inside, Percy's voice: "THEY'RE KISSING AGAIN! ON THE BALCONY!"
Honey's voice: "Percy, let them have privacy!"
"PRIVACY IS BORING!"
Yuri's camera flashed.
Jay and Keifer broke apart, laughing.
"Again?" Jay asked.
"Again." Keifer grinned. "Worth it."
"Always worth it."
They looked inside.
At their family.
Chaotic. Broken. Healing.
Together.
---
Shreya sat in her room.
Alone.
Staring at the door.
Mithun was on the other side.
She knew he was there.
She didn't open it.
Couldn't.
Not yet.
---
End of Chapter Ninety-Five