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Kittu's room lay wrapped in stillness. The late afternoon sun slipped in through the half-open window, spreading dull orange patches on the floor.

The smell of morning still lingered faintly in the air.

Two girls sat in the corner, backs pressed against the wall.

One couldn't sit still.

The other looked like her world had tilted slightly off balance.

Piyali shook her head even before Kittu finished speaking, eyes wide, almost scared.

"Tu pagal ho gayi hai? Ye theek nahi hai... main nahi jaane dungi tujhe."

[Have you lost your mind? This isn't right... I won't let you go.]

Her voice wasn't loud but it was trembling. Trembling with the fear of this conversation reaching samar.

Kittu rolled her eyes dramatically and tugged at Piyali's hand, almost whining.

"Piyuuuu, please naa... meri baat sun. Wo bohot achha ladka hai. Usne khud kaha 'main tere liye tohfa laya hoon, bas dekar chala jaunga."

[Piyu, please... listen to me. He's a really nice guy. He said he's brought a gift for me, he'll just give it and leave.]

She spoke like a girl who had already imagined the world with him. Kittu was a bit too stupid in this thing to think about other possibilities.

She was too busy dreaming about what the gift might look like, how it would feel to be chosen, noticed by someone for once.

Piyali slowly pulled her hand back. Her brows drew together, suspicious.

"Tohfa hai toh sabke saamne de. Akele kyun bula raha hai?"

She paused, then shook her head harder.

"Naa naa... main nahi jaane dungi tujhe."

[If it's a gift, he can give it in front of everyone. Why call you alone? No, I won't let you go.]

Kittu's excitement collapsed instantly. Her face twisted, eyes shining with tears already.

"Aisa mat kar yaar..." she said softly now.

Then, almost defensively,

"Dekh... teri toh kahi na kahi mere bhai ke saath gulu-gulu chal hi rahi hai. Meri kyun rok rahi hai behen?"

[Don't do this... you already have something going on with my brother. Why are you stopping me?]

Piyali straightened at once.

"Aye!" Her voice sharpened.

"Ek thappad dungi aisa boli toh."

Then, calmer but firmer

"Aur itna hi milna hai toh apne bhai se pooch ke ja."

[Say that again and I'll slap you. And if you want to meet him so badly, ask your brother.]

She wasn't angry for herself.

She was scared for Kittu.

Piyali had seen the way that man looked,too long. That gaze wasn't admiring yet it gave no creepiness to doubt over.

She just didn't trust men who asked girls to meet in corners.

He called her behind the Durga temple this evening.

The thought alone made her stomach churn.

And if Samar ever found out this had happened behind his back- she swallowed.

Kittu crossed her arms stubbornly, lips trembling.

"Dekh... tujhe meri kasam."

Her voice dropped, serious now.

"Bhai ko hum nahi bata sakte. Wo toh usse kaat ke phek denge."

"Hum bas jaayenge, woh dega, aur hum wapas aa jaayenge."

[We can't tell bhai. He'll destroy him. I'll just go, he'll give it to me, and I will come back.]

She leaned closer.

"Tu wahin reh ke dekhna bas."

[Just stay there and watch.]

Piyali hesitated.

Her heart wanted to scream no.

"Par... ek baar unse pooch lete toh-"

[But...if we can ask him once-]

She Couldn't finish before Kittu smiled suddenly

"Piyuu...

Tujhse poochu ya unse-ek hi baat hai naa."

[Whether I ask you or him, it's the same.]

Then, in a lower voice,

"Tu toh unki hi hai. Teri haan matlab unki haan."

[You belong to him, your yes means his yes.]

The words sat heavy between them. Piyali looked away. She hated how good it sounded and how wrong it felt.

She wasn't Samar's to give permissions.

But she also wasn't someone who could walk away and let Kittu go alone.

Her shoulders sagged as she exhaled slowly. She couldn't convince Kittu and she couldn't leave her alone either. That, more than anything, scared her.

At convincing, kittu was way above her.

-

Samar walked out into the courtyard with a towel slung loosely around his neck. His hair was still damp from the bath, water darkening the collar of his kurta.

He dropped onto the khaat with a tired exhale just as Maaji placed a steel tumbler of chai and a plate of breakfast beside him.

"Garam hai aram se khana" she said, already turning away towards the kitchen.

[It's hot, eat slowly.]

Samar nodded absently. He lifted the towel and ran it through his hair, rough and careless, eyes moving around the courtyard and stopping mid-movement.

Piyali stood near the doorway.

She hadn't even noticed him yet, too busy listening to Kittu whispering something in her ear. Her dupatta had slipped slightly from her shoulder, hands clasped tightly in front of her, as if she were holding herself together.

For a moment, Samar forgot about the chai growing cold beside him.

Kittu waved a hand impatiently.

"Bhaiii... suno toh!"

[Brother.... listen!]

No response.

"Bhai!"

[Brother!]

He blinked, pulled back into the moment.

"Hmm?"

Kittu grinned, a little too brightly.

"Main aur Piyu aaj shaam ko mandir jaayenge."

She tilted her head toward Piyali.

"Haina, Piyu?"

[Piyu and I will go to the temple this evening. Right piyu?]

Piyali's chest tightened. The words sat heavy on her tongue. She looked at Samar.

He was calm, as always. Relaxed posture, unreadable face. But she knew him well enough now. he noticed things others didn't.

Lying to him felt so wrong. Almost disrespectful.

"Hainaa, Piyu? Bol toh sahi."

Kittu's fingers dug sharply into her arm.

[Right piyu? Say something.]

"Ah- "

Piyali flinched, rubbing the spot instinctively.

Samar's eyes narrowed slightly. Slightly warning kittu to not do that again before his eyes turn towards piyali again.

"Kya baat hai? Bolo."

[What's the matter? Say.]

"Baat? N-nahi... baat toh kuch bhi nahi...bas.

Mandir hi jaenge."

Piyali shook her head quickly.

[Matter? N-no... there's nothing really... just

We just want to go to the temple.]

Her voice betrayed her before she could stop it.

Samar didn't respond right away.

He took a slow sip of chai, leaning back against the wall, eyes never leaving her face.

Those few seconds stretched unbearably.

Piyali felt exposed, like he could hear her thoughts.

Finally, he nodded.

Then casually,

"Theek hai. Shaam ko main aaunga toh le jaunga."

[Alright. I will come in the evening. I'll take you.]

Kittu froze.

"Nahi...matlab- Wo... aap kaam se thak jaoge. Hum paas hi ja rahe haina."

Kittu rushed in, laughing nervously.

[No… I mean-well… you will be tired from work. We’re going nearby anyway, right?]

"Haan" Piyali added quickly.

[Yes]

"Mandir yahin paas hi hain."

[The temple is right nearby.]

Samar's gaze moved between them.

"Toh?"

[So?]

Kittu swallowed and quickly replied"Aur... Riya bhi toh aa rahi hai."

"Hum paidal hi jaayenge."

[And… Riya is coming too, We will go by walking. ]

Silence again.

Samar leaned back slightly, resting his palms on his thighs. He looked at them once more-longer this time.

Something about their tone, eyes unsettled him.

Still, he nodded "Theek hai."

[Okay.]

Relief washed over Kittu's face instantly.

"Jaldi Jao aur jaldi lauto" His tone was Firm.

[Go quickly and come back soon.]

"Shaam ko der se jana theek nahi."

[It won't be right to go late in the evening]

Piyali lowered her eyes. Here he was concerned for them as they lied and somehow that made the lie heavier than before.

Evening settled quietly over the house.

The courtyard lights had just been switched on, their soft yellow glow spreading over the mud floor.

Samar stepped inside, dust clinging to the hem of his kurta. He set his slippers aside, eyes automatically drifting toward the inner rooms. It was too quiet.

He walked a few steps further and stopped near the kitchen.

"Maa...wo dono aagyi wapis?"

[Maa... have the girls come back?]

Maaji looked up from the stove, surprise flickering across her face. She wiped her hands on her saree then shook her head slowly.

"Nahi beta... abhi tak nahi."

[No, son... not yet.]

Something tightened in his chest.

He glanced outside. The sky had darkened more than he'd realized. The evening was slipping into the night.

Just then, Ajay entered through the front gate, stretching his arms after a long day.

"Kidhar gaye wo log? Mandir?" he asked casually.

[Where did they go? Temple?]

Samar turned to him. ”Haan. Piyu, Kittu aur unki koi dost ..."

[Yes. Piyu, Kittu, and maybe one of her friends....]

Ajay frowned, thinking for a moment.

"Kaunsa mandir?"

[Which temple?]

"Durga mandir."

[Durga temple.]

Ajay's expression changed.

"Aaj toh band hai....Safai chal rahi hai wahan."

[The temple is closed today... cleaning is going on.]

Samar froze. His fingers curled together, knuckles pressing into each other. His mind began replaying things he had ignored earlier.

He closed his eyes briefly and exhaled. Hard.

His jaw tightened, muscles shifting as something dark passed through his eyes-not anger yet, but the beginning of it.

They lied, risking their own safety. Samar had always believed that Kittu would never lie to him- unless she

was doing something he wouldn’t approve of.

And as for Piyu… he would deal with her in his own way now.

Without another word, he walked out of the kitchen.

"Tu gadi nikal"  his voice is too calm.

The calm before the Strom.

[Bring the car.]

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