That evening, Mishra House was buzzing like someone turned up the 'drama' dial to eleven. Sanya could hear whispers and huddled conversations behind closed doors. The grown-ups were plotting again—she could practically smell the conspiracy mingling with the aroma of milk boiling over in the kitchen.
At dinner, Tayiji made a big show of sighing and wringing her dupatta. "Sanya, do you care nothing for the family's honor? And now scooter rides! Tomorrow all of Noida will gossip about us."
Sanya spooned sugar into her chai, sweetening things up. "Let them. At least it'll give them something new to talk about besides my shaadi."
Chiku Bhaiya muttered, "You know, you could have been settled by now if you just agreed with Vicky's family—"
Sanya cut in, tone light but eyes sharp, "Settled how, Bhaiya? In Tihar Jail visiting hours?"
Even Dadi, usually Sanya's last hope for support, tutted, "Don't talk like that. Have patience and pray."
Under the table, Sanya's phone buzzed:
**[Night Sign-In Reward: 1 x tiny Lord Ganesha idol (plastic); 30 rupees; collector's edition bottle of Frooti.]**
She rolled her eyes fondly, slipped the little Ganesha in her pocket, and decided to keep the Frooti for later. Tonight's system offering was pure 2009 nostalgia.
**After dinner, in the hallway outside her room—**
Sanya caught snippets of conversation:
"She's out of control, always smart-talking!"
"We should call that new astrologer—maybe a puja will fix her."
She grinned, twisted the cap off her Frooti, and knocked softly on Rekha's window. Rekha, still up cramming for a college test, popped her head out.
"Escaping or sharing snacks?" Rekha whispered.
"Both. You wouldn't believe what my 'luck' gave me today," Sanya replied, passing the Frooti. "Plastic Ganesh, extra sugar, and a dose of classic melodrama. Want some?"
They shared a quiet laugh, Frooti and friendship soothing out the sting of the day's melodrama. Inside, the family's plotting faded away for a moment.
Under the dim streetlight, Sanya looked up at the stars.
> "Day by day, reward by reward. You try to tie me up in family drama, but you'll never expect what I do next."
If this was her Star Plus universe, she thought, she'd at least have fun rewriting the script.
**End of Chapter 5**