Voices!

Birds are chirping outside. Cars are honking. People are talking-this is what I hear from my open windows, their noises. Everything is making me angry! My head is pounding.

I want them to stop. Stop, for god's sake. I need silence. I need to think. Think about what's happening around me. Around my life. Damn it, it's all in my life!

I feel like I'm no longer in control. That thought scares me!

Everyone is moving on with their lives. And here I am, sitting like a lifeless shell!

I want a normal teenage experience. And yeah, I've got a normal teenage life.

I chuckle humorlessly.

My mind is a mess. I guess in my whole 15 years, this is the first time I'm thinking this much.

I need those voices to stop. They're physically hurting me now.

Let's do some work, Manhaar!

"Where's my phone?!" It should be on the bedside table, right?

"Where is that inhuman creature?!" God, my short-term memory! Now where do I find my phone?

Maybe in the library? No, I remember I don't have my phone with me there.

In the kitchen? I haven't even seen the kitchen yet, so no chance there!

In the living room? No, because after that, I came to my room and called Mr. Bello in Nigeria, so there's no way I left it there.

In my room?!
"Let's search it, maan, let's search it!"

---

My room looks like someone just barged in to steal something, and when they didn't find it, they angrily broke everything!

Yeah, that's how it looks right now. But still, my phone is missing.

Let's check the dining room.

I push open the dining room door and there's my second older brother, seated at the table, his face buried in his phone. I stop for a second, taking in the awkwardness of this moment.

"Uh, hey," I say, trying to sound casual, but my voice feels stiff.

He looks up, surprise flickering across his face. "Hey. Didn't expect to see you here."

I scoff a little. "Yeah, well, I didn't exactly plan for this reunion either."

He chuckles, "How's it been? You look... different."

"Thanks, I guess? You look like you just crawled out of a cave."

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "At least I have a cave. You've got a whole disaster zone up there." He gestures toward my messy hair.

I roll my eyes, but there's a spark of connection in his teasing. "Right, because your room is any better."

"Touché," he admits, grinning. Just then, the front door swings open, and our youngest brother bursts in, bringing a whirlwind of noise.

"Guess who's back from jail- or school?!" he shouts, racing into the dining room.

I can feel the tension snap back into chaos. "Great, just what I needed," I mutter under my breath.

"What are you looking for?" Aditya asks, bouncing on his heels, clearly hyped.

"My phone," I reply, trying to keep my annoyance in check. "Have you seen it?"

"Nope! But I found this!" He holds up a random sock. "Want it?"

I can't help but laugh despite my frustration. "No thanks! I'm pretty sure I'd rather keep looking for my phone."

"Why don't you just call it?" Vyom suggests, glancing at me with a knowing look.

"Because It's on silent mode!" I snap, my irritation bubbling back up.

I say, hesitating. "It would help if we could keep in touch, you know? I don't even have your number."

"Right," he says, pulling out his phone. "Let's fix that. What's your number?"

I quickly give it to him, and he types it in. "Now you can text me when you find your phone-or if you just need to vent."

"Thanks," I say, feeling a bit lighter.

Before I can respond, our younger brother pipes up again, "I'll help! Let's search together!"

"Fine, but no more sock jokes," I say, shaking my head with a reluctant smile.

"Deal!" he says, diving into the nearest drawer, pulling out random items.

As I watch them, the noise outside fades slightly. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a bit of peace in this chaos.

---

I cracked my knuckles. "Woah! It's getting messier-WHAT!" I glanced at the wall clock and realized it was already a quarter past seven.

"I've been sitting here for over four hours, oh my god!"

I was checking my family's background because I still didn't understand why there were no other family members around. I had looked into it before, but they're so private that I couldn't find anything. So my last option was to hack their database, and now it's messier than before!

This family is just unpredictable!

"Forget it! I forgot to bring my laptop, and trying to do this on my phone is pain in ass! I'll deal with it later."

I just wanted to freshen up right now.

I sat up from the bed and thought, "Woah! Calm down, calm down!" The mess around me was all my doing. I guess I got so caught up in finding my phone that I forgot to tidy my room, and now everything was scattered on the floor.

But right now, I was too lazy to clean up. I tiptoed to the bathroom.

A hiss escaped my mouth. How could I forget about my thighs and ribs? They're still healing! I even forgot to bring my medicines.

Now how the heck am I going to ask them for medicines?

Forget the medicines-I forgot about pads too! Great.

At this point, it felt like I left my home behind.

Should I ask one of them? I don't even know any shops around here! But who should I call?

Manbir? No way! He's terrifying.

Then there's Aviyansh, who's basically a carbon copy of Manbir. No chance I'm talking to him.

I hadn't seen Reyansh or shivyansh since lunch, so they might not be home.

When Aditya and I were searching for my phone, I saw Vyom leave the house. So now my last option is...

"ADITYA!!" I screamed at a pitch that might attract the neighbors!

But what should I do? I don't even have his number!

ADITYA'S POV:

I was halfway down the hallway when I heard a high-pitched scream. "ADITYA!!" It echoed through the house, and I exchanged a glance with Shivansh.

"What was that about?" Shivansh asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Sounds urgent," I replied, already picking up my pace. We hurried to her room, adrenaline kicking in.
I hope she is fine! God please she is fine right?!

As we burst through the door, I found her sitting on the bed, wide-eyed and clearly flustered. Clothes and random stuff were strewn across the floor like a tornado had hit.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to gauge the situation.

She looked at me, her face a mix of panic and embarrassment. "I need... um, pads! And some pain killers! Please!"

I blinked. "Pads? Like, uh, the-"

"Yes, those!" she cut in, clearly flustered.

Shivansh snickered. "You need pads? And you called him for that?"

"I didn't know who else to ask!" she shot back, crossing her arms defensively.

"But it's embarrassing!" she hesitated, biting her lip. "I mean, can't you just go to a store and pretend it's for a girlfriend or something?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Do I look like I have a girlfriend? Or a clue?"

"Maybe just say it's for your sister!" Shivansh suggested, grinning.

She groaned. "Fine! Just go before I change my mind!"

"Alright, we'll get the pads," I said, trying to suppress my laughter. "But you owe us a favor for this one."

"Like what?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe a pizza when we get back?" I shot back, and we all chuckled.

Shivyansh stepped forward, more serious now. "I'll get the pads. Aditya, you look for her medicines."

"Got it," I said, feeling the pressure mount. "But where do we even find those?"

"Uh, maybe the same store?" He suggested, already heading for the door.

"Let's go!" I said, running after him.

As we dashed down the street, I couldn't help but think about how ridiculous this was. "I can't believe we're buying pads," I muttered. "What's next? We'll be picking out nail polish?"

"Don't give her ideas," Shivansh laughed, shaking his head.

We made our way to the nearest convenience store, the late evening sun casting long shadows on the pavement.

We paid for our items and hurried back to the house, a mix of anticipation and hilarity fueling our steps. When we arrived, she was still on the bed, her expression shifting from panic to relief as we handed over the goods.

"Finally! Thank you!" she exclaimed, grabbing the items from my hands.

"Just remember our deal," I said, raising an eyebrow.

She smirked. "You guys are ridiculous. But sure, pizza's on me."

As she started to get ready, I couldn't help but feel that this bizarre adventure had somehow brought us closer. Maybe it wasn't just about the pads; it was about trust, support, and being there for each other, no matter how awkward the situation.

MANHAAR'S POV:

I finally felt a wave of relief as I opened the door for Aditya and Shivansh. "You guys actually made it!" I exclaimed, snatching the pads and painkillers from their hands. I couldn't believe I had put them through that, but at least they were good sports about it.

"Yeah, well, we're also collecting on that pizza deal," Aditya said, crossing his arms with a smirk.

"Fine! Just get started on dinner while I handle... this," I said, gesturing to my
messy room and the supplies. They rolled their eyes but headed toward the kitchen.

Once I was settled, I couldn't help but grin at how absurd this day had turned out. My older brothers were in the kitchen, preparing to make pizza from scratch. I could hear them bantering back and forth, the sounds of laughter mixing with the occasional clattering of pans.

Curious, I joined them a few minutes later. Aditya was trying to stretch the dough while Shivansh struggled to open a jar of tomato sauce.

"Need some help?" I teased, leaning against the counter.

"Not from you," Shivansh shot back, feigning annoyance. "Go sit down, little sis."

I rolled my eyes but felt warm inside.

As they worked, Aditya turned to me, a grin on his face. "What toppings are we doing? You get to decide since you made us do this."

"Definitely pepperoni, but can we also do mushrooms? I feel fancy," I replied, smiling.

Shivansh raised an eyebrow. "Fancy, huh? We're making pizza, not gourmet cuisine."

"Hey, it's my pizza," I shot back, giggling. "And if you're nice, I might let you have a slice."

Just then, the door swung open, and Manbir, our eldest brother and Vyom walked in. "What's cooking, everyone?" asked Vyom, eyes lighting up at the sight of dough and toppings.

"Pizza night!" Aditya shouted, his enthusiasm contagious. "And you're just in time for the fun."

Manbir and Vyom joined in, immediately diving into the preparation. I watched as my brothers worked together, the kitchen filled with a mix of flour, laughter, and sibling banter. It felt like home.

As we rolled out the dough, I found myself lost in the moment, surrounded by my brothers. I was no longer just a teenager who had caused a scene; I was part of something bigger-something that reminded me that I have a family too.

After a while, the pizzas were assembled, and the delicious smell wafted through the air as they baked. I could hardly contain my excitement. "This is going to be epic!"

Once they were ready, we gathered around the dining table, the pizzas in front of us looking mouthwatering. Just as we settled in, Aviyansh and Reyansh joined too.

Manbir took a seat, glancing around at us with a smile. "So, how was everyone's day? I hear you had quite the adventure."

Woah they told him!! Tele-transporting was fast bro!

I couldn't help but laugh as I recounted the chaos of the day, my brothers chiming in with their own takes on the ridiculousness of running errands for me. As we shared stories and dug into the pizza, I felt grateful for this moment.

SHIVYANSH'S POV:

As the laughter and chatter filled the dining room, I noticed that Manbir and Aviyansh were mostly quiet, listening more than participating in the conversation. The rest of us were animatedly discussing everything from school to the latest memes, but I kept glancing over at our sister.
She sat there, poking at her half-eaten slice of pizza while the rest of us devoured ours. It was clear she wasn't really eating.

"Hey," I said, nudging her lightly with my elbow. "You're going to let all this deliciousness go to waste?"

She looked up, blinking as if she'd just realized we were all eating. "I'm fine! I'm just... savoring it," she replied with a sheepish smile.

"Come on, that slice looks lonely!" Aditya chimed in, winking at her. "You can't let it feel abandoned."

"Yeah, pizza deserves love too!" I added, leaning in with a playful grin.

"Seriously, how can you just play with your food?" Reyansh teased. "It's like you're on a diet or something."

Manhaar rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "I'm just not that hungry right now." I know she lied. But I let that slip!

"Not hungry? Blasphemy!" Manbir finally spoke up, pretending to be appalled. "You're a teenager; you're supposed to eat everything in sight!"

"Exactly!" I exclaimed. "If you don't eat more, I'll have to start calling you 'Miss Half-Pizza.'"

Aditya chimed in, "That doesn't sound like the sister we know. Come on, let's see you conquer that pizza mountain!"

Manhaar laughed but still hesitated. "Okay, okay! Maybe just one more slice."

"Just one more?" Reyansh teased, already reaching for another slice. "How about two?"

"Two it is!" Manbir declared, piling two slices onto her plate. "There! No more arguments!"

Manhaar shook her head, laughter in her eyes. "You guys are ridiculous."

"Just doing our job!" Aditya said with mock seriousness. "You have to eat! It's for your health!"

As the boys continued their playful banter, I watched Manhaar finally pick up a slice and take a big bite, her laughter mingling with ours. It felt good to see her enjoying herself, even if it took a bit of coaxing.

"See? Pizza magic works every time!" I grinned.

"Alright, alright! You win!" she said, her mouth full. "But I'm not eating any more after this!"

"Challenge accepted!" I laughed, enjoying the warmth and chaos of the moment.

MANHAAR'S POV:

I stared at my plate, the food cooling as my brothers' laughter filled the room. It felt surreal-just two days ago, I was drifting through life alone, without a guardian or a place to truly call home. Now, here in India, I was surrounded by the warmth and chaos of my brothers, their playful teasing urging me to eat more.

As i watched them joke and nudge each other, a smile crept onto my face. Back in Nigeria and in Gwalvanshi residence too, I had often felt isolated, trapped in my own thoughts, wondering if this was all life had to offer. But now, seeing their
camaraderie, I realized how wrong i had been. They were vibrant and alive, infusing the air with a sense of belonging i had never experienced before.

My heart swelled with gratitude as i thought about what it meant to be part of this family. They weren't just sharing meals; they were sharing lives. Each laugh echoed a promise of support, of love that i had yearned for. The loneliness that had once wrapped around me like a heavy cloak began to lift, replaced by the warmth of connection.

With a deep breath, i picked up my fork, feeling a spark of determination. This was more than just food on my plate; it was a new beginning.

In this moment, surrounded by the people who would stand by me, I felt the first glimmers of hope light up my heart.

I am ready to savor it all.

That's all for the chapter!!
I don't even know my self too! That why I write this chapter! It's just something clicks my mind I thought to write today!

Hope you enjoy it!
Love yaa all 🤌🏻🌷
Stay happy and healthy.

🌷🤍🧿