The Next Evening

  Katherine had just wrapped up taking James’s statement when the Shahis arrived one after another. Kasra was the last to enter, bearing food.

  “Dinner’s here!” he announced, setting the takeout on the coffee table. The savory aroma drifted through the room, turning heads along with the figure trailing behind him.

  Natasha hovered in the doorway, her steps hesitant.

  “Hi… is Seven around?” Her voice was soft, almost tentative, as she scanned the room, hoping to find him among the unfamiliar faces.

  Where is he? Why does it feel like there’s always a crowd here? Her thoughts were tangled with anxiety.

  “He’s at the lab, checking on the stem cell culture,” Sana explained warmly. “He should be back soon.”

  Natasha nodded, her lips pressed into a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. It had taken her all day to gather the courage to come over, and now, he wasn’t even here. She lingered for a beat, wrestling with her options: wait outside or return another time? Maybe a call would’ve been better… or a text. But, he hasn’t even accepted my WhatsApp invite yet!

  Kasra, catching her uneasiness, gestured to the spread. “Dr. Gill, would you like to join us for dinner? There’s plenty to go around.”

  Color rose to her cheeks. “No, thank you. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll come back another time,” she said, her voice faltering before turning to leave.

  As the door clicked shut behind Natasha, Ami, ever the doting mother, offered to feed her precious daughter. But Sana shook her head with a smirk. “No, Mom, I’m good. You guys go ahead, I’ll wait for Seven.”

  Ami put on a theatrical gasp. “Oh, I see how it is! I’m no longer your favorite, huh?”

  “Oh, come on, Mom,” Sana teased, lips quirking. You’ll always be my number one. But what’s wrong with having a few number ones?”

  Laughter erupted in the room. Ami clutched her chest in mock despair. “A few number ones? Oh, I’m wounded! I spent all these years doting on you, only to be demoted to one of many?”

  Sana’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Mom, you’re irreplaceable! But a little competition keeps everyone on their tippy-toes!”

  Ami heaved a dramatic sigh. “So that’s how it is! I even have to compete with a newcomer…” She shook her head in feigned disbelief. “What is this world coming to?”

  Sana blinked, her crystalline irises shimmering with whimsical innocence. “Mom, that newcomer saved my life. Twice. Shouldn’t that make him your favorite, too?”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Chuckles rippled. But Ami wasn’t done. Still in full performance mode, she tapped her forehead as if struck by an epiphany. “You’re absolutely right! Oh, lookie, he’s your competition now!”

  The room burst into laughter again, the warmth between mother and daughter shining through the tit-for-tat banter.

  As the noise settled, Ami noticed Lara sitting quietly beside Sana. “Lara, dear, why aren’t you eating?”

  Lara beamed sweetly. “I’m waiting for everyone to start first, Aunt Ami.”

  Ami immediately zeroed in on her eldest. “Kasra! Where are your manners?! You let her wait?”

  Kasra, sharp as a tack, answered with mock seriousness, “Mom, I’m looking for the food she ordered. Just hang tight.”

  “You’d better be,” she warned, narrowing her eyes. “Otherwise, people will think I didn’t raise my boys to be gentlemen.”

  Before Kasra could snap back, Seven walked in, blissfully oblivious to the ongoing family drama. He greeted everyone with a casual lilt and made a beeline for the coffee table, grabbing Sana’s order and setting up her tray with practiced familiarity.

  Ami seized the moment. “Look at that! Seven’s first thought was to make sure Sana eats. And you? Clueless! No wonder you’re still single!”

  Kasra shot a sidelong glance at Seven, who wondered why he was suddenly being mentioned. Feeling a headache looming, Kasra rubbed his temples. “Mom, cool your jets, please. For your info, Seven is also SINGLE.”

  Ami crossed her arms, brow arched. “How do you know?”

  “Instincts,” Kasra deadpanned, praying the topic would die there.

  But Ami wasn’t letting up. “Instincts? Don’t be ridiculous! Seven’s a soldier. If he’s still single, that’s understandable. But you? Don’t tell me you only meet businessmen at work?”

  Kasra felt a familiar wave of frustration rise. “Mom, Seven works at a hospital too. Plenty of ladies there, sheesh!”

  That opened the floor for Sadra, who jumped in like a referee with a grudge. “Don’t talk to your mother like that! I married her at 23. You’re almost 30, with nothing to show for, and you’re still talking smack here! What example are you setting for your brothers?”

  The brothers, for their part, focused on chewing very, very quietly. In moments like these, invisibility would’ve been a gift.

  Kasra finally located Lara’s order and handed it over with a fork and napkin. “Here you go. Sorry for the wait.”

  “Thank you, Chief. I’m sorry for the troub—”

  Ami cut in like a hawk. “That’s what he should do! And stop calling him ‘Chief.’ He’s a block of wood!”

  Lara bit back a laugh while Kasra scowled.

  Sana, watching the whole exchange with growing mischief, chimed in. “Mom’s right. Lara shouldn’t call him that. If she’s going to impersonate me in public, she needs to sound natural. Get used to calling him Kas or brother. They’ll need to look comfortable together, or people will notice.”

  Katherine nodded approvingly. “Good thinking, Sana. Lara’s got your mannerisms down, but family dynamics are just as important.”

  Ami’s chest swelled with pride at Sana’s quick wit; she threw her a covert wink. You just became my favorite again, Princess.

  Seven, quietly amused by the conspiratorial duo, leaned close and murmured, “Mission accomplished? Can we eat now?”

  Sana blinked, caught off guard by his perceptiveness, then recovered with a coy smile and opened her mouth for the next bite he offered.

  Ami, catching the tender exchange, felt her pulse skip.

  Good heavens. Sana has never shown interest in any man. She’d always brushed off suitors ruthlessly. What if she’s really fallen? Or… oh no! Did she mistake gratitude for love?

  Her gaze drifted between them, intrigue sparking like wildfire. But there's no doubt this silly girl has excellent taste! Oh! I must discuss this matter with Sadra!