The sun was warm on my face when I opened my eyes, the soft golden rays slipping through the curtains. I blinked lazily and smiled. Sarthak was lying beside me, still asleep, his arm wrapped around my waist. His breath tickled the back of my neck and honestly, waking up beside him had become my new favorite part of the day.
I shifted carefully, trying not to wake him, but he groaned and tightened his hold on me.
"Where are you going, little trouble?" he murmured, voice rough from sleep.
I giggled softly. "To check on Manya. You can continue your beauty sleep, Mr. Handsome."
He opened one eye, smirking. "You mean our beauty sleep. Don't run away before my morning kiss."
Rolling my eyes, I leaned forward, brushed my lips against his quickly, and escaped before he could pull me back. His laugh followed me out of the room — low, teasing, and far too charming for this early hour.
---
When I reached Manya's room, the door was wide open. The first thing I saw were torn photographs scattered across the floor — pieces of memories ripped apart. Some had Jai's face shredded out, others were just folded, as if she'd tried to erase him from her life but couldn't.
And there she was — sitting by the mirror, tying her hair neatly, pretending nothing had happened.
"Manya…" I whispered, walking in.
She looked up and smiled like everything was fine. "Good morning! Why are you still in your nightgown? Don't you have college today?"
I crossed my arms. "Wait, what? You're acting like last night didn't happen! You were crying like your world ended, remember? You're engaged to Jai — the same Jai who broke your heart!"
She picked up her eyeliner, calm as ever. "I'm not engaged to him yet. But yes, I'm going to his office today. I'm giving him the marriage contract. A business deal — nothing more."
Her voice was cold, distant, her eyes burning with something between anger and pride.
"I'll never forgive him, Samira. Even if he begs, I'll never forgive him."
I wanted to argue, to remind her that revenge never heals hearts — but before I could, she grabbed her purse and walked out, her heels clicking against the floor like sharp punctuation marks.
---
After she left, I went back to my room to get ready.
Sarthak was already half-dressed — crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled, and those abs. For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
He caught me staring and smirked. "Take a picture, Sammy. It'll last longer."
I threw a pillow at him. "You wish, Mr. Showoff."
We both laughed, and after a little teasing and rushing, went downstairs for breakfast. Grandpa was reading the newspaper, Anvi was scrolling through her phone, and Manya was sitting beside them — smiling, actually smiling, talking about work like she hadn't cried herself to sleep two nights ago.
Breakfast felt oddly peaceful, like everyone was trying to hold that fragile calm together.
---
Back to College — as Professor Samira
The drive to college was calm, but my nerves weren't.
It was my first day teaching at the same place where I once studied — my home turf, but now I wasn't the student running late with coffee; I was the one standing behind the desk, the professor.
The security guard smiled and greeted me. "Good morning, Dr. Samira! Welcome back!"
That "Dr." still felt strange, but it made me smile.
Walking through the familiar halls was like stepping into old memories — my laughter echoing in the same corners, my old classroom now turned into my office. It smelled of chalk, coffee, and nostalgia.
When I entered my class, the students were loud, half of them glued to their phones. I smiled, placing my files on the desk. "Alright, everyone. Let's begin before I start collecting those phones."
They straightened instantly. Power of tone — still works.
One brave student raised her hand. "Ma'am, you look way too young to be a professor. Are you sure you're not lost?"
The class laughed, and so did I. "I'll take that as a compliment. And yes, I'm your professor, not your classmate — sorry to disappoint."
Soon the lecture flowed easily. I introduced myself, cracked a few jokes, and even shared how nervous I was on my first day as a student here years ago. By the end of the hour, they were engaged and actually listening — and I felt proud.
During the lunch break, I texted Sarthak:
> Me: Survived my first lecture without fainting.
Sarthak: I'm shocked. No disasters?
Me: Only one — a student called me "too young."
Sarthak: They're not wrong. I'd fail every class just to stare at you.
Me: Stop flirting, Mr. Businessman.
Sarthak: Not flirting. Just appreciating my professor wife.
His message made me blush so hard that one of my colleagues, Riya, teased me, "Newlywed glow and secret smiles… must be love."
I laughed. "Something like that."
---
The Collapse
By the time I reached home, the sky was deep orange. Everyone was already having dinner, laughing about something Grandpa said. I joined them, but just as I took my first bite, I noticed something — Manya wasn't there.
"Maa, where's Manya?" I asked.
"She said she had a business meeting," Maa replied casually.
My fork paused midair. "Where?"
"At a bar, I think. The Persian Billy."
And that's when everything spun. I felt dizzy, my chest tightening. The next thing I knew, everything went black.
---
The News
When I opened my eyes, I was on my bed, everyone crowding around me — Maa crying, Grandpa pacing, Sarthak holding my hand. A doctor was checking my pulse.
"What happened to me?" I croaked.
The doctor smiled warmly. "Relax, Mrs. Trouble. You're perfectly fine. Just… pregnant."
For a second, I blinked. Then it hit me. "Pregnant? Like, baby pregnant?"
He nodded.
"Oh my God, I'm going to be a mommy!" I squealed, jumping up — but Sarthak quickly pulled me down.
"Stop jumping, little trouble, you'll hurt the baby!" he said, trying to hide his grin.
"Samira, calm down!" Maa scolded between tears of laughter.
Even the doctor chuckled. "Congratulations — but yes, please don't bounce like a rabbit."
I giggled and threw my arms around Sarthak. "We're going to be parents!"
That night, I fell asleep with my head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat against mine — steady, warm, protective. Everything felt right again.
---
The Morning After
When I woke up the next morning, there was someone snuggled beside me. It wasn't Sarthak — it was Manya, her arm wrapped around me, still asleep.
I smiled, brushing a strand of hair off her face. "Wake up, sleepyhead."
She groaned, opened her eyes slowly, and mumbled, "Good morning, Mommy-to-be."
I froze. "You heard?"
She smirked softly. "You were screaming it in your sleep, Sammy."
I laughed. "Oops."
She sat up, suddenly serious. "Please make me the godmother, okay? I'll be the best aunt ever."
"Of course you will." I paused, then noticed her clothes. "Wait—why are you still in yesterday's dress?"
Manya's face changed. Her eyes dropped, and for the first time, I saw fear flicker there.
"Samira… last night, when I went to the meeting, Jai was there."
My stomach tightened. "What happened?"
She swallowed hard. "I drank too much. Someone spiked my drink. I don't remember everything clearly… but Jai was the one who stopped it. He saved me, and—" she hesitated "—I think we… I slept with him."
My eyes widened. "WHAT?"
She panicked. "It wasn't like that! I didn't mean to! I just… I didn't know what to do!"
Seeing her trembling, I pulled her into a hug. "Hey, hey, calm down. You're safe now. That's all that matters."
After a long silence, I tried to lighten the mood. "By the way, was he good—"
"Samira!" she shouted, eyes wide.
I laughed. "Just joking! Relax. You're blushing."
She threw a pillow at me, and for the first time in days, she laughed — a small, shaky laugh, but real.
I looked at her, my sister, my best friend, and thought — no matter how messy, unpredictable, or chaotic our lives get, we always find our way back to each other.
And that morning, between laughter and tears, new beginnings quietly bloomed in both our hearts.
---