"I thought you left?"  "I turned around the small lane there" he pointed in the direction. "Why? I thought you didn't want to see me." she slugged slightly. "I couldn't resist" he sighed. "Does it mean....?" she cocked an eyebrow hopefully. "So this is the girl?" the man from the other night resurfaced. "What is your problem Dev?" Akash pulled Khyati away from the guy. "You are my problem. But, now it seems my problem has a weakness" he teased.

"Khyati!" Meera pulled the girl further away from both the males. "Stay away" Alesha stood on the other side angry. "Great. Even the ladies. And you" he pointed at Meera. "Aren't you the techie?" "Shut up and get out of here" Khyati's mom raged out. "Why are you going to drive me off of your porch again?" the guy spat back. "That's no way to talk to an elder" Meera stomped her foot. "And especially not-" Alesha was cut off as a slipper smacked the man in the face. "Auntie"

A few lego blocks hit his face alongside, courtesy her twin brothers. "Get out of here" Akash smiled at the two youngsters. "I'll-" Another smack stopped him in his tracks. A tight slap from her mother. The girls winced with the slap slightly. "Stay away from my daughter" she warned and the man scampered away. "Mom?" was the low voice she spoke out in.

ALL OF THEM. They all knew something she didn't know. 

They all turned around horrified. They knew the guy.

"Khyati. Let's go inside. We shouldn't be doing this on the street" Akash held her by the arm and indicating at the neighbor halfway out of the window. "I can.. walk by myself" she shrugged him off lightly. He let go of her but, followed in step. 

Once they were all seated, Khyati waited for a minute before clearing her throat. "What was that about?"

"See, Akash has family problems. And he has always loved you, that's what the love letters come in and that guy has been targeting Akash for some time now and I think that's all?" her mother summarised. "Loved me?" Khyati went all wide-eyed. "Oh you didn't tell her? I think I should go" her mom slipped away. "Love letters? The stalker was you?" Meera was clearly flabbergasted. Alesha looked suspicious. "You knew about this?" 

"She found out. She found out through the picture I sent you. She checked the camera and found me" He explained. "That's why you didn't let me tell her to move on!" Meera pointed out. "Move on? You like me?" Akash questioned. "You're an idiot" Alesha scowled.

"Okay pause. Everybody. One the two of you like each other. I gave him consent to pursue my daughter and gave him the idea of a love letter because she was a bit too much into those books, romance and stuff. But, yeah that's him. The guy you called stalker was him, it was supposed to be a secret lover but let's leave it there and get to the main point that her dad is coming home in an hour. So all of you out of here" her mother was clearly done with the children acting dumb plus Khyati's dad was not someone to be messed with.

"OH-okay" the children stumble out of their way. "Where are you taking my daughter?" her mother asked pointing at Akash holding Khyati's hand and dragging her along. "I....I" he stuttered and still didn't let go. "I'm still here you know? I'm her mother if you didn't realize?" she reminded. "I'm sorry. I'll get your permission next time" he bowed slightly. "Shameless" The girls spat back. "Paay laagu sasu maa" (Bless me mother-in-law) he winked at Khyati and touched her mother's feet. "Oh great. You're here" a deep voice jolted all of them off their feet.

"Papa!" The twins came running in, the revving of the Thar's engine had called for them. "And I see my boys have missed me. Go up and wait for me, okay?" he let down the little boys that scrambled all over him. The boys nodded and ran away. "You were going to arrive in an hour?" her mother walked closer. "I was but, I missed you"

Okay what just happened here? My dad did not just say that in front of me and my friends.

Her dad whispered something to her mom and she lightly pushed her husband with a glare and walked away, embarrassed. "Khyati, go help your mother. I need to talk to your friends" he quoted it with a glare at the rest. 

"You." he glared at Akash as they all sat down at her father's instruction. "Yes?" he looked up. "Come here" her father instructed. "Roll your sleeve up"

Akash did as said. A real bad idea honestly. Her father pressed Akash's left elbow pit and then right. He smiled and then ripped skin off of Akash's arm revealing a new moon phase tattoo. A small one but, one nevertheless. "Creep. What else can I expect of a Syndicate leader?" her father scoffed. "I can explain" Akash was clearly trying to keep his calm. "Go ahead" her father handed the cover-up skin back. "Huh?" was all Akash could say. "You said you were going to explain. Do it"

This wasn't something he expected but, he took a seat nevertheless. "My sister. If I don't do it then my sister will have to do it. And the family elders don't really support females and it would be really hard on her. I took the blow for her once and have been doing so from then. Like you did, for your sister. "He mumbled the last part. "You brat. How dare you investigate me?" her father raised his voice. "It was the truth nevertheless" Alesha added. "Don't get me started on you. I thought you were a good child. Cherry oracle? You performed with her under that name? Even after you know what Cherry Oracle is? And Meera? You didn't even stop them?"

"Khyati knows. She's not a child. We slowly got her into it on purpose. She needs to get accustomed to it. Her friends are into it. At least she won't get bullied anymore for not knowing. She can protect what she wishes to. And please tell me you don't wish to hold on to the old generation thing of passing the power to males only" Meera retorted. "I don't want to give it to her because she is vulnerable" 

"I shouldn't be saying this but, I once.... accidentally got her drunk and I don't think it was very vulnerable" Alesha answered nervously. "True" Akash mumbled. "How do you know?" Meera asked on behalf of Khyati's dad. "Alesha sent me a video for help" Akash lied blatantly. "I needed help of how to get her un-drunk?" Alesha lied seamlessly. "And what did you guys do to get her un-drunk?"

"Lemon. I got her to taste lemon. And she fell asleep after that" Alesha answered. "Okay hold up. Pause. How did she act after getting drunk?" Khyati's mom intercepted. "She was bold, very bold. Dangerous. She had a vibe like you." she turned to Khyati's dad. "And like a person befitting the post of the leader of the ROD (Rose of Death)" she added. "Where is Khyati?" Meera asked. "I sent her to sleep" Khyati's mom answered. "I think it's about time you tell her about it" Akash suggested. "Just saying. It's upto you"