The winter air outside was biting cold, but as Siya and Heer stepped into Mihir's house, a wave of warmth greeted them—both in temperature and in the strange comfort that lingered in the atmosphere. The moment Siya entered, she smiled brightly and rushed toward Sunny, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Sunny! I've missed you," she said with genuine warmth in her voice.
Sunny held her gently and replied with a laugh, "And I thought you'd forgotten me after going away for so long!"
Meanwhile, Heer stood still at the doorway, her eyes quietly scanning the space before resting on Mihir. There was something in her gaze—curiosity, maybe admiration, or perhaps a question she herself couldn't answer. She stood silently, thinking, *Fate is strange. Sometimes the one you're meant to find stands right in front of you... but belongs somewhere else.*
Mihir stepped forward and gently closed the door behind them. But before he could even turn around, there was another knock. He paused and looked toward Sunny.
"Did you invite someone else?" Mihir asked, slightly puzzled.
Sunny shook his head. "No, brother. I wasn't expecting anyone else."
Mihir opened the door cautiously. It was the postman, holding a bundle of letters and a medium-sized parcel.
"Mail for Mr. Mihir," the postman said.
Mihir thanked him, quickly took the items, and without showing any reaction, slipped them under his arm and took them to his room.
Back in the living room, Heer's eyes remained fixed on Sunny. She raised her brow and asked with slight sarcasm, "So… this is the person you're going to marry?"
Sunny turned toward her sharply, unaware of who she was. "And who are you to ask that? What does it have to do with you?"
Siya immediately stepped between them, placing a hand on Sunny's shoulder. "Relax, Sunny! This is my sister, Heer. She just returned from out of town."
Sunny blinked in surprise, a little embarrassed. "Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you. I didn't mean to sound rude."
Heer gave a faint smile, a mixture of acceptance and curiosity. Mihir, stepping back into the room, picked up on the tension and tried to change the mood.
"So," Mihir said lightly, "how are you both feeling after coming here? Comfortable?"
"To be honest," Siya said cheerfully, "it feels like home already."
Mihir chuckled. "Glad to hear that. Shall I bring something warm? Maybe tea to beat the cold?"
Sunny raised his hand. "No need, brother. I brought everything with me."
While they chatted, Heer kept stealing glances at Mihir, watching how calmly he spoke, how he tried to keep everyone comfortable. There was something about him—quiet, distant, but not cold. Mihir, however, was busy talking to Sunny and didn't notice.
Trying to get to know his friend better, Mihir asked casually, "Sunny, if you don't mind, I wanted to ask… when and how did you and Siya meet? Just curious."
Sunny smiled and was about to respond when Siya interrupted with a soft laugh.
"Let me tell him!" she said.
She sat down, folded her hands in her lap, and began, "It started back in school. We didn't talk much at first, but in the second week, we had a conversation that lasted six days straight—every day. We started to feel a connection, a kind of trust. Slowly, that turned into something deeper… something like love."
Sunny nodded in agreement and added, "And when we told our families, surprisingly, they supported us. It's rare, but we were lucky."
Heer leaned forward, smirking playfully. "She's also obsessed with that old romantic song. You know, the one with the baboon—"
"Hey!" Siya laughed, throwing a cushion at her. "Don't expose me like that!"
Sunny joined in the laughter. "I'm staying silent. I've learned not to mess with sisters."
Then Heer turned to Mihir with a gentle smile and said softly, "Mihir… will you be my friend?"
Mihir looked at her, surprised for a second. Before he could answer, Sunny teased, "Wow, Sir! She asked you but didn't even look at me."
Mihir laughed. "Don't worry, Sunny. You've always been my first and best friend."
Sunny clapped his hands. "That's the spirit. Now we're all friends!"
The group burst into laughter again. For the first time in a long while, Mihir felt like he belonged somewhere. They spent the afternoon sharing stories, joking, and laughing like old friends.
Then Siya asked curiously, "Mihir, do you really live alone in such a big house?"
Mihir's smile faded just a little. "Yes," he replied quietly. "I've been alone for a long time now. There's no one else."
Heer touched his arm lightly and said, "But now we're here. You won't be alone anymore."
Sunny stood up, stretching his arms. "Alright, brother. Show us your palace! We want to see how you've set it up."
Mihir smiled and gave them a tour of the house. They admired the structure, the antique feel of the rooms, and the warmth of Mihir's little library. After the tour, they all settled back in the living room.
As they talked more, Mihir slowly began to open up about his past—just fragments, but enough to let them feel the weight he carried. He didn't speak with self-pity, just honesty. And by the time he finished, all three guests had tears in their eyes.
"What happened?" Mihir asked gently, noticing their silence. "Don't take it too seriously."
Sunny wiped his eyes. "Brother, you've been through so much. And yet you're still standing strong. That's not ordinary."
Heer looked at Mihir with something deeper than admiration now. It was the beginning of something she didn't dare name yet—but it was there.
As evening fell, Siya and Heer received a call from home. They hesitated to leave but knew they had to.
"We'll be back soon," Siya promised.
Sunny stayed a little longer to help Mihir clean up. Before he left, he handed Mihir a sealed envelope. Mihir waved him goodbye and then sat down quietly.
Opening the envelope, Mihir found a letter and money—ten lakhs, sent by Leon. The note was brief:
*"Hello Mihir, I'll process your passport and visa in three months. Take care."*
Mihir sighed and muttered to himself, "So the passport is ready…"
He wrote a reply that night, sharing about his new friends and the strange comfort they brought him. Then he lay down and fell into a deep sleep, perhaps the most peaceful one he'd had in weeks.
By morning, he was awakened by a loud knock. He opened the door to find Sunny—this time, with his mother.
Sunny's mother smiled warmly and said, "Beta, if you ever need anything, just let me know. Don't keep things inside."
Mihir smiled faintly. "I'm used to it now, Ma."
Sunny put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to be anymore. I'm here for you, always."
Sunny's mother had brought homemade food. After she left, Sunny sat beside Mihir.
"Bro, do you do any kind of work?" he asked curiously.
Mihir nodded. "Yes, I do, but it's mostly from home. That's probably why you never see me out."
Sunny grinned. "Fair enough. By the way, if you ever want to go anywhere, let me know. I'll take you."
Mihir smiled. "Actually… I'm thinking of getting a car. Any suggestions?"
Sunny's eyes lit up. "Ask Sia's dad. He'll know the best dealers. What's your budget?"
"Ten lakhs," Mihir replied.
Sunny nodded, "Done. I'll talk to him and get back to you."