Her brain froze.

He said come outside hostel gate now

Call cut. yaa he was like this he talked less but still made everything special

Shristi came running down the corridor like a tiny hurricane of excitement.

The moment she spotted her brothers standing there, like 3 pillars keeping her up right she didn't even try to slow down.

She launched herself at them.

The result?

A full-force, bone-crushing, heart-melting group hug that almost made all three of them lose their balance.

"Whoa! Careful!" one of them laughed, grabbing her before she toppled over.

Shristi squeezed them tighter, practically bouncing in their arms. and they stayed like that for a minute like puzzel pieces fitted in

She couldn't believe they where here finaly after so many years

Her eyes were shining with happiness.

She pulled back suddenly, staring at them suspiciously.

"Okay... now tell me."

They looked at each other.

Veer asked pretending  innocence what was she talking about .

"The surprise!" she demanded dramatically.

Another brother held up both hands.

"Calm down, titti. Calm. Down."

Her hersh bhiya smirked. And asked her to.pack her bags

Shristi blinked. And asked but why

He said all of them are heding to her favorite place

Her jaw dropped so fast it could've hit the floor.

"But bhaiya-"

"No buts."

Rishabh bhai interrupted immediately.

"We already talked to Mosi and Mosaji. Your exams are nowhere near, and we've taken permission."

Veer  added dramatically,

"So you are coming with us."

"No excuses."

Shristi looked from one face to another, still processing.

"But-"

tomorrow we're going shopping."

"And," the hersh bhiya added with a grin, "we're dedicating an entire day to your torturous skincare. I already ordered your favorite products."

For a moment she just stared at them.

Then her face lit up like a festival of fireworks.

"Ohhh bhaiya... you guys know me so well. Even beter then i know.my self ."

She threw her arms around them again.

"I love you."

And she meant it with every bit of her heart.

One of them laughed softly and patted her head.

And the harsh bhaiya asked her to go and do packing .

Shristi suddenly paused.

And said but where will you wait  The warden won't let you in.

They started walking towards the car She ran inside like someone had just announced free food and unlimited shopping.

In barely fifteen minutes, she had packed everything. (Excitement is a powerful motivator.)

She rushed back outside dragging her suitcase.

she came flying back out.

Suitcase in one hand.

Bag in the other.

Hair slightly messy.

Eyes shining.

Rishabh bhai grabbed her suitcase.

Veer took her bag.

And harsh bhaiya opened the car door like a royal chauffeur.

"Your carriage, princess."

She sat down happily.

And they went towards the airport to take a flight to vrindavan

A few hours later...

They landed and as soon as shristi steped out side the airplane she feelt a rare calm love and a strange feeling as if something was going to start here in the place where her Krishna spent his entire childhood and fell in love where the air carried love warmth and sound of radhe-radhe like a heart beat  with  it where the narrow lanes are made as if they where meant to help love come closer and river Yamuna flowed by caring untold emotions and wishes people are too afraid to ask out loud and  everything felt  love touched ,divine and full of life the entire city felt like it was made my lover for love where monkey and cows lived freely monkies making mischief sitting on roofs and cows walked proudly like they owned the city and the humans where just here (will they kind of did )

Shristi stuck her face to the car window like an over excited tourist

They  reached their private villa soon .

and rested for a while and freshened up. but coudent go to the temple as it was late and it will be closed now

Later, Rishabh bhai walked into the kitchen and announced loudly,

"Chef Rishabh is making Maggi."

Shristi ran behind him instantly.

"You're going to burn the kitchen."

"Excuse me? I am a professional."

"You once burned boiling water."

"That was an experiment!"

After ther usual banter and  many kitchen fights

they were sitting together eating Maggi shristi stealing more from her brothers plate after finishing hers and laughing over nonsense.

After eating, the brothers stood up.

"Come on."

"We're going shopping."

Shristi narrowed her eyes.

"Wait."

They froze.

"Tell me the full plan first."

"How will we shop without knowing the mission?"

Her eldest brother sighed dramatically. And asked her to sit

She plopped down on the couch immediately.

"Now listen carefully."

He paused.

"We are going to..."

"...Bangkok."

For one second Shristi froze.

Then-

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

She jumped so high she almost hit the ceiling.

"I wanted to go there SO BAD!"

She kissed the air dramatically.

"Bangkok, I'm coming!"

Then she started dancing around the living room.

" Balle balle! Shawa shawa!"

Her brothers burst out laughing.and told her that It's a 15-day trip

"And tomorrow we will be attending the famous braj ke holi."

Shristi gasped like someone had announced free diamonds.

"I LOVE HOLI!" And braj ki holi is my dream

She clapped excitedly like a toddler and said .

"This is officially the best holi of my life!"

Later they went shopping.

All four of them.

Her brothers kept rejecting clothes.

"Too short."

"Too transparent."

"Absolutely not."

Shristi glared at them.

"Are you my brothers or the fashion police?"

"Both."

Finally they reached the billing counter.

Shristi proudly took out her card.

But the salesman smiled politely.that the bill is already paid

She slowly turned.towards

Harsh bhaiya.

Standing there looking extremely innocent.

Classic.

He did this every single time.

She shook her head but smiled.

Inside, she felt proud.

Her brothers were the kind of gentlemen every girl deserved.

When they got home, the brothers cooked dinner together.

Later they all sat in the living room gossiping.

Harsh bhaiya started applying oil to her hair. And then his phone rang and the caller I'd showed Akshat singaniya reading that name shristi felt a little different and glanced at it a little longer  as if it was somthing ment to be remembered she leaned back and rested her head on his lap.

He gently stroked her hair and he cut the call eventuly and  they talked about random memories, stupid fights, and funny childhood stories. But while doing all this this name Akshat singaniya rested on her hed like it owned a parmanent place their

Slowly...

Her voice faded.

Her breathing softened.

She had fallen asleep.

This place...

These people...

This lap...

It was her safest space in the world.

Her brothers carefully picked her up and tucked her into bed like she was made of glass.

Then they quietly went to their rooms.