Aditya was just coming down the stairs when his eyes fell on Anamika.

  She was sitting cross-legged in the hall with a fluffy cat cuddled in her lap, gently petting it and whispering to it like it was her best friend in the world — and it totally got her.

  Watching her like that made Aditya pause mid-step. His eyes sparkled, and a soft smile tugged at his lips.

  He just stood there at the last step, mesmerized like someone watching their favorite scene unfold in real life.

  But before he could take another step,

  Ira came running in like a mini tornado and bumped right into him, sending both of them tumbling to the ground.

  Hearing the commotion, Anamika looked up.

  Seeing Ira lying right on top of Aditya, she instantly got up and started walking toward them.

  Ira scrambled to her feet, huffing.

  "Why were you standing there like a street lamp, huh?"

  But then she spotted Anamika walking over and quickly paused, switching into her inner dialogue — “No, no. Be sweet, Ira. Be cute! Gotta make this softy girl feel just the right pinch of jealousy. She needs to regret saying no to my brother!”

  Then with an exaggerated smile, she held out her hand to Aditya and said cheerfully, "Still the same, aren’t you? Always bumping into me like it’s your job!"

  Aditya, still a little confused, took her hand and stood up.

  He opened his mouth to speak, but Ira quickly tugged at his arm and chirped, "No need to say sorry! Come on now — we have a hotel reservation! Don’t wanna be late!"

  And just like that, she happily dragged him away.

  Anamika stood still for a moment, watching them. Then she handed the cat to a servant nearby and softly whispered to it, "I’ll be back soon, okay?"

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  Then she quietly followed them outside.

  Meanwhile, outside…

  Aditya was clearly upset, but before he could even start, Ira was already holding her ears like a little kid, pouting.

  "Okay baba! I’m sorry. Don’t scold me in front of your bestie, please? At least pretend to love me when she’s around!"

  Aditya raised an eyebrow.

  "What??"

  Seeing that her plan might backfire, Ira quickly turned the drama dial to max:

  "You don’t love me anymore! Even after all these years, you still get mad at me! You’re so mean! I should just... I should just disappear—"

  Before she could finish, Aditya held her hand firmly and interrupted, "Stop! Say one more silly thing, and I’ll hit you. You’re not going anywhere, Ira. Got it?! And who said I’m angry at you?!"

  Wiping her fake tears, she sniffed, "So… does that mean you do love me?"

  Aditya sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and held his ear like a guilty kid, "Okay, okay… sorry! I won’t do it again. Whatever my wild kitty says… I’ll do it. Happy?"

  "Promise?!" she asked, eyes twinkling.

  "Promise," he smiled.

  Ira grinned like a little devil and glanced toward Anamika — who had just stepped out.

  She had caught those last lines but didn’t show a single emotion on her face.

  Aditya went to bring the car. Ira turned to Anamika, all smiles, "You know… Adi loves me so much! Like, too much! He just can’t stop caring about me."

  She looked at Anamika’s lowered gaze and thought smugly, “Today, you’re going to burn, girl. Even if you don’t love my brother now, you'll regret letting go of a guy like him!”

  Just then, Aditya pulled up the car in front of them. As Anamika began to move toward the front, Ira dashed ahead and took the passenger seat next to Aditya.

  Aditya looked at Anamika — as if wishing she had been the one to sit beside him.

  Ira leaned toward him and whispered slyly, "What’s wrong, bro? Didn’t like me sitting here?"

  Aditya just smiled and said, "No, it’s fine. You sit."

  Anamika smiled faintly and slipped into the back seat.

  Aditya started the engine, and the car pulled into the most luxurious and expensive hotel in the US — Vetri Cucina.

  As the car stopped, a staff member came over. Aditya handed him the keys, and the valet gave him a card.

  “Sir, please give us a call when you're ready to leave.”

  Aditya nodded and moved to open the door for Anamika.

  But before he could, Ira jumped out and rushed to open the door for her.

  Both Aditya and Anamika were shocked. Ira instantly regretted it and muttered to herself, “Wow! Instead of increasing my aura +999, I just dropped it to -999!”

  As Anamika stepped out, Ira quickly clutched Aditya’s arm — like a possessive girlfriend.

  Aditya found it a little odd but brushed it off, thinking maybe Ira just didn’t want to stay away from him after so many years.

  Ira began leading Aditya inside, but Aditya looked back and smiled at Anamika — as if saying, Come with me…

  Anamika smiled in return.

  And what she did next… completely stunned Aditya.

  She quietly came to his other side and gently held his hand — just like a little child would.

  Ira made a face and snapped, “Why did you hold Adi’s hand?!”

  Anamika replied with a soft smile, “A few days ago, Aditya told me… whenever I go outside, I should hold his hand. Otherwise… i might lose him.”

  Ira turned to Aditya with her best judgmental look and thought, “This idiot brother of mine! Tells me it’s one-sided love, and in front of her — he’s playing full romantic hero! But fine! I’m not backing down from this mission!”

  While Ira remained firm in her plans, Aditya felt butterflies in his stomach.

  He was genuinely overjoyed — not just because Anamika remembered something he had said… but because she remembered it enough to hold his hand.

  Meanwhile, Anamika’s ears had turned red — hidden beneath her loose hair.