26. You Love Me the Most
Karma is sweet, right?

***

"No, no, no, no, absolutely not!"

"Please!" Aara begged.

She had brought me to her room, locked the door, and sat by my feet on the floor as I sat on her bed. She pretended to massage my legs which I wasn't complaining about. However, I wasn't falling into her trap.

"You know how stubborn your brother is," I told her.

"He loves you. He'll listen to you," she stated as if it were that simple. Our love story would've made Jane Austen stop believing in love had she been alive.

"He loves you," I argued. "In fact, he has known you longer than me. You have the advantage."

"He treats me like a child!"

"Why is this ball so important?" I finally asked. "You were just complaining how fake everyone was."

She moved next to me and looked around the room as if someone was eavesdropping. Then, she leaned in and whispered, "Promise, you won't tell anyone?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Did someone ask you to the ball?"

"How'd you know?"

"I can't find any other valid reasons for this conversation." I had my doubts. All the quiet ones had secrets.

"Okay, first promise me you won't tell anyone," she said desperately.

I couldn't believe it had come down to this. The girl I couldn't stand before was now trusting me with her secret. I was her confidant.

The sun might as well rise from the west tomorrow.

"I won't tell anybody," I said. "I promise. But this promise is only valid as long as some guy doesn't murder you."

"Josh isn't like that!" she said defensively. "Okay, his name is Josh. He's also a senior. He's hot! You won't believe how jealous the other girls are because he asked me to go to the ball with him."

"You said yes before asking Ashar?"

"I didn't think he would make a big deal out of it," she admitted. "He has allowed me to go before. My brother had no issue when I attended any dances or any after school clubs at my old high school or middle school. He's so . . . protective here. He's worse than mama . . . "

She fell quiet as if confused whether she should've brought her mother up or not. I was lost whether to tell her I knew or not to tell her.

"He wants to keep you safe," I said. "You don't know how much he loves you and Rosie."

She nodded sadly. "Too much love hurts. That's why I want to sneak out to the ball. I'll be back by ten. Can you keep my brother busy till then?"

"You're crazy, but I'm not." I stood up straight. "I'm not becoming a part of your lie."

"It's fool proof," she insisted, standing up. "All you have to do is distract him while I sneak out to the ball."

"How easy do you think it is to distract your brother?"

"Well, take him out on a date or something."

I glared at her. "When was the last time you saw us go out on a date?"

Her eyebrows furrowed and I immediately regretted my words. I knew her response before the words even left her mouth.

"Why do you both never go out on dates?"

"You know what," I said quickly, "I'll try to convince him one more time. If he agrees, good. If not, you're on your own."

She sat down with a huff. "No guy has ever asked me out. Never. This is the first time someone I liked asked me to the dance. The first and the last time. I'll be that Indian girl who dresses in the nicest clothes and has everything but can't go out because of her old-fashioned, conservative brother and sister-in-law!"

The brother-sister duo was putting me in a dilemma. I understood her feelings down to the last word. Ashar could give her the education and the discipline. But he was holding her back from her social and relationship skills.

"I'll talk to him," I told her. "If he doesn't agree . . . we'll figure something out. But no lying to him."

"Promise?" she asked beaming.

I nodded slowly.

She gave me a tight sideways hug and even kissed my cheek.

"You're the best, my dearest sister-in-law," she said gleefully.

I had to smile a little at her.

* * *

Aara put me in such a conundrum that I had no idea how to approach her brother. I didn't talk to Ashar until after dinner when everyone was in bed. He was up on his laptop, typing something furiously.

"How much work does my mother give you?" I asked as I took a seat next to him on the sofa.

"It's not work exactly." He sighed. "Graphic designing isn't enough. I'm learning a programming language. I'll be able to make more money changing fields."

"What're you gonna do with so much money?" I asked playfully.

"Let's see." He smiled softly. "I'll buy a yacht first. Then, a mansion like this one. A little smaller would also suffice. Maybe a private jet. No, scratch that. I'm not increasing my carbon footprint. I can just ride first class to my private island on a regular airplane."

"Very noble thoughts," I remarked. "The first time I heard you not mention your sisters."

"That is because those things are my retirement plan," he stated. "For now, I must fry my brain with coding if I want my sisters and I to afford a mansion."

"Ashar?"

"Yes?"

"You work hard for your sisters," I started slowly. "It's great. But don't you think you guys all deserve a life outside of studying?"

He turned to me. "What do you mean?"

"I know you're not thrilled Aara has her hair done and new wardrobe," I said cautiously. "That's understandable. But a girl her age wants to look good among her peers who are all well dressed and well groomed. She can't be studying twenty four seven. She needs to have social skills too if she wants to succeed in life."

"Is this about the ball?" he asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "You're pushing her into a different world, but you're also not letting her explore that world. Do you not have any faith or trust in your own sister?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. I was certain he was only listening to me because of last night. He sort of looked . . . cute? His dark hair was ruffled and eyes were so clear they were sparkling under the lights. He wore a plain black t-shirt and grey shorts. For some reason, he pulled it off well.

I reprimanded myself for getting distracted. This was Ashar. Just my fake husband. We were pretending.

"It's not her I'm worried about," he said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "You tell me, Ano. She hasn't spent two full months in this school. Why should I let her to go to a ball?"

"It's a charity ball," I told him. "At a private school. Do you know who loves doing charity so they can write it off on their taxes and look good? Lots of rich people. Do you understand how good of a networking opportunity it is? She can get great references for ivy leagues and for anything in the future."

I had to try the route Ashar would understand. Someone with no social skills wouldn't comprehend how important it was to network. No wonder he never got a well paying job.

His silence made me wonder if I had overstepped my boundaries one more time.

"I know you have to play the role of the big brother, the mom, and the dad," I said calmly. "You know better than me how to raise them. I just don't want her to build resentment against you for a stupid school dance. You've worked too hard for them."

"You care about me that much?" He raised both of his eyebrows.

I didn't know what to say. Had I sounded like that? It was his background making me softer towards him. He could understand my pain of losing a parent. I didn't know how he survived jail for two years. I couldn't survive a day.

"Why would I care?" I asked looking away as he expectantly waiting for my answer. "I'm just keeping up my act. I have to take her side so she's not suspicious of us not being a real couple."

"Well, you're doing a little too good of a job with that," he said not angry at all.

"You know she asked me today why we never go out on dates?" I chose not to mention I had said that to her first.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Ashar!"

"I'm just kidding," he said rolling his eyes. "First, honeymoon. Now, dates. This girl . . . she needs to stop watching Netflix."

"Exactly! She has no social skills."

He rolled his eyes but smiled. "Fine. Call her in here."

He had a rather charming smile when he was tired.

I wasted no time running to grab Aara and drag her to the room. She stood in front of her brother expectantly for the final verdict.

"What time is the ball?" Ashar asked.

"Seven to ten," she replied.

"If you're not home by ten thirty at the latest, you're never allowed to go to a ball or a school event ever again," he said. "Am I clear?"

She didn't even answer. She ran and hugged him, not containing her excitement. Ashar laughed while she thanked him continuously. She made all the promises he wanted and listened to him with the utmost importance.

I grinned, feeling good.

The feeling of accomplishment overpowered me. Seeing two smiling faces made me smile.

"I love you so much," Aara told her brother. Then, she ran over to my side and hugged me. She refused to let go. "You're the bestest sister-in-law. I love you."

Ashar almost seemed surprised. "Don't trust her, Ano. She told me she wanted to fry off all your hair in your sleep."

I turned to face her and she grimaced. She shook her head as her brother laughed.

"I thought you were horrible at first—no offense—but I was wrong! That was before I loved you," she said innocently. "Don't listen to him. He's jealous you might love me more than you love him."

"Ano, tell her," Ashar said. "You love me the most."

I had to smile at the idiot. He was having fun pulling my leg with his charade. Honestly, it wasn't hard any more pretending to be in love with him. It was so simple and easy now that I had no hesitation.

"I love you the most, Ashar," I said going along. Aara made a face while Ashar kept his eyes on me. He was making my heart flutter. "But Aara can have some of the love too."

"See, I'm glad you didn't turn out to be Hayat number two," said Aara. "That girl was a nightmare."

"Aara . . . " Ashar said in a warning tone.

Since Aara was there, I knew I could get some information. Ashar would never give it up willingly.

"How long has it been since she left?" I asked Aara.

"Anmol—" Ashar began again.

"Four years," Aara said quickly. "She ditched him for a movie. The movie got shelved. Karma is sweet, right?"

"Aara, Anmol, I don't want to hear her name again," said Ashar sternly.

"No one wants to bring up the witch anyway," Aara said shocking me. Ashar didn't appear happy. "What? She loved you, but she was so mean to Rosie. She left us when—"

"Aara," Ashar said his jaw clenched. "You will close this topic and go to your room if you want to go to that ball."

Aara let me go and bid us both goodnight.

As I didn't want Ashar to change his mind about Aara going to the ball, I didn't ask any further questions. Ashar got a call anyway and he stepped out of the room.

I went to bed, lost in my thoughts.

She left us when—

What was she going to say?

* * *

A/N

Double update. I owed you guys. I just want to finish this story. I would say just one section (12ish chapters) left. So many more secrets need to be revealed.

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—K-K-Kiran