IT'S FOREVER

Chapter 8

SHIVANYA'S POV

I didn't realize-or should I say, I'm too excited to realize-that we are about to land in Canada. The whole flight was chaotic as hell. Shweta Chachi and Pragati Chachi were busy praising my brother, while my aunts, on a call with my mom, was taunting me. He is the real "mummy ka para."

All the dads were sleeping as usual.
Arya was looking out of the window, listening to music.
Dhruv spent half the time watching a YouTube video, probably preparing to top a class test, which isn't even happening any day soon, and the other half taunting me along with my mom.
And my favorite, Vansh, was doing nothing but annoying me by mimicking our mothers. At one point, though, he took my side, and that's why we're inseparable. Vansh genuinely is the ideal brother everyone wants, and I feel so lucky to have him. Even though he's not my biological brother, he's no less than one. In fact, he is the real one.

And me? I finished my book and looked around, overthinking as usual: What if my father and his friends had never met? Would I have this beautiful life? Would I have friends like them? Classic overthinker behavior.

As for my brother, he's not here. Dron's family is the one we're meeting. The six of us grew up together, though mostly five of us, since Dron's parents were abroad most of the time for business. Three years ago, when they moved abroad permanently, Shivam also went with them because they've always been best friends. It's always been like this.

Vansh is the one I share all my problems with, despite his joker personality. He always manages to make my day better. Truly, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Shreya, my other best friend and my mom's friend's daughter, will be joining us next week, while Arfa is already here.

Whatever. I'm so excited to meet my brother after six months. He only comes to India during holidays or special occasions, and we used to have so much fun. But Dron never came. He stayed back for his "new friends." Practically, we haven't met in three years. He hasn't even contacted Arya or me. His parents keep forcing him to visit, but he never listens.

"Back to Earth, bitch," Arya interrupted my train of thought.

"Yeah," was all I could say.

"We're about to land, so put your seatbelt back on," she said.

"Okay, thank you," I replied. She smiled in response.

I buckled my seatbelt as Arya held my hands tightly, something she always does. That pain in the ears during flights is the worst part, but surprisingly, I didn't feel it this time. We had a smooth landing.

In the blink of an eye, we were out of the plane. Damn, the airport's infrastructure is more beautiful now.

We grabbed a bite to eat and headed toward the main exit, where I saw my brother waving at us along with two other guys. I ran to him and hugged him so tightly that everyone laughed at the scene in front of them. He hugged me back just as tightly, and for a moment, I didn't want to let go. A typical brother-sister moment after not meeting for so long.

"I hate you so much. You haven't even called me in over a week, and you didn't care to answer my calls or texts. What kind of brother are you?" I whispered in his ear as I hugged him.