The sun was setting, 6 in the evening. That shitty sun had made the whole day lava; it never sees the month just a sky devoid of clouds and starts spreading its warmth without caring if it cuddles or burns. Vyani was zoned out. She still hadn't found the other earring, and Tis was on full surveillance of her sister; in his divine brain she was already the villain.218Please respect copyright.PENANAboW7AsP98a
“Did you see her killing that prisoner, huh?” Vyani screamed at him. They were on the terrace; no one cares what you do on the terrace until you jump from it.218Please respect copyright.PENANAnm97SDPkFJ
“Are you seriously defending a murderer-”218Please respect copyright.PENANAbcRXITqQGF
“You can't call her a murderer when you don't have any proof!”218Please respect copyright.PENANAutP71WviwS
“Vyani!! Shut up! I will perish you to ashes, you are on my side, she is on the other one stop trying to turn the boat around!!” Tis screamed back this time.218Please respect copyright.PENANAIzqcy9dOzs
“But we didn't find anything in Ridha Didi's house too! My sister is innocent.”218Please respect copyright.PENANA8RDqtR5ZN4
“Then what was her earring doing there? It was freshly dropped.”218Please respect copyright.PENANA37Rh2QxeKO
“I don't know, but I know my sister can't kill! She is even afraid of dead cockroaches,” Vyani said, rubbing her temples.218Please respect copyright.PENANAy5wJtA0Fr6
“Dead cockroaches, not dead humans,” Tis replied.218Please respect copyright.PENANAjlriwLDzIT
It was almost 7 p.m. when Vyani went back to her room, not locking the door from inside because maybe she wanted someone to finally come in and see the mess she had made not of the room but herself.218Please respect copyright.PENANAsw6sKiYB3h
7:18 p.m., Ayaan’s phone rang. He was just out of the shower, the type of guy to shower after a long game of football. He wiped his hair and put on the nearby black T-shirt as he picked the call. The caller was no one else than Raghav.218Please respect copyright.PENANAmN5atjfL7K
“Where did you get my number? I thought I blocked you,” he said, wiping his hair.218Please respect copyright.PENANAeHNdlQcLXN
“How did you recognise it was me? Great, now you love my voice,” Raghav said in a tone anyone could call annoying.218Please respect copyright.PENANA7AYaTvJ259
"Ugh, Truecaller. Now answer or I am hanging the call and blocking you again,” Ayaan answered.218Please respect copyright.PENANApFXJ4cO5uM
“Ya ya, Sankshipt had it, and we have unfinished business. I think you forgot.”218Please respect copyright.PENANAevVOOOO2ee
“What business?” Ayaan asked, taking a bite of the apple he had just grabbed from the fruit basket in the dining table.218Please respect copyright.PENANAGhADGSw9mX
“That day, you and your little girlfriend, Vyakhya-”218Please respect copyright.PENANAYauYp13GVk
“What?” He choked on the apple. “Vyakhya? And what did you say? My what?”218Please respect copyright.PENANAlw66MPbWXO
“Your girlfriend. Come on, it was so obvious she likes you. So embarrassing,” Raghav replied.218Please respect copyright.PENANATiwvpoVI2k
Ayaan smirked as he replied, laying on the bed, apple in his hand, hair wet and voice cold, “Who doesn’t like me? And who exactly is Vya- ...what was the name?”218Please respect copyright.PENANAaNeQjD5wXp
“Vyakhya. That topper girl who defended you. You don’t even know her name? Poor her,” Raghav replied.218Please respect copyright.PENANA7NUGhBtV2Y
Ayaan smirked again and pretended to think, his hand wrapping around his phone loosely. “Ummm… oh, that short-hair one? With the black band? Who has a small mole near her lips?”218Please respect copyright.PENANARQ1QrNJN2B
“Yeah, yeah, I think you know her enough to know this much about her-”218Please respect copyright.PENANAQwzoUQBLXA
The reversing horns of a car in the driveway, maybe Ayaan’s father was back as he hung up the phone, ghosting whatever Raghav was saying with no intention of calling him again. After dinner, he blocked him again.218Please respect copyright.PENANAjZAlCdTLlh
“Who is it?” Sankshipt asked from the kitchen when his little sister went to answer the door, because the bell rang.218Please respect copyright.PENANApjwJMgG6Q7
“Suraj Aunty,” his little sister replied in a small voice.218Please respect copyright.PENANAhLXvY49tPp
“Beta, come here out for a second,” said the aunty.218Please respect copyright.PENANAS0rcDt0sl3
Sankshipt paused stirring the gravy, removed his headphones, washed his hands, and came out in quick steps, wiping his hands on the apron. Fixing his glasses, he saw Suraj aunty, his neighbour, who had a tiffin in her hand.218Please respect copyright.PENANAigtT94Fosd
“Aunty, namaste,” he greeted her with his hands joined.218Please respect copyright.PENANAlXHLjC2gY3
“Here beta, til ke laddoo. Eat it with your sister,” she handed it to Sankshipt.218Please respect copyright.PENANA2HG7hVqABV
“Thanks a lot, aunty,” he said in a warm voice before going in and keeping them.218Please respect copyright.PENANAjMYc22kbRn
She smiled at him before leaving; his sister locked the door as soon as she left.218Please respect copyright.PENANAe36CQlX6X8
The day ended with Vyani lying on her bed with a web of thoughts in her consciousness-how to defend her sister, whom she herself was doubtful of; how do you treat a wound which makes you feel alive? You only feel alive when it bleeds thoroughly.
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