The Singhania Brothers

Ved and Rukmini jumped at my voice. I should have knocked, but I didn't think she would be here.

"I didn't do anything bhaiya, she was just emotional and we were talking." Ved stuttered. I glared at him.

"What happened to the promise of not letting her eyes get wet even for a second?" I asked him, reminding him of the promise he gave me and Anjali on their wedding.

"I didn't realize my wife was a crybaby." He mumbled, and got a punch on his bicep from her. I chuckled at them. They were adorable. Words I had been picking up from my wife.

"I didn't know you were busy, since you were absent when the meeting commenced ten minutes ago, I came to call you. See you guys later." I shut the door behind me making a mental note to knock on any door I enter from now on.

Ved soon joined me, but gave me a stink eye from time to time for disturbing his time with his wife. Serves him right for disturbing me with my wife all the time. I returned the glare and continued through the day. No matter how punctual the company ran, the year end was always a big deal. Long hours of billing, looking into records and finishing the tax and filing returns was a big deal. Luckily tomorrow was 31 March. I need to talk to my wife about a long vacation after this.

My phone rang, making me smile looking at the caller ID. 'Wife'. "Hey baby. Hundred years to you." A warm chuckle sounded on the other end.

"Why?" Her smile evident. "Why are you dreaming about me when you are at work?" She asked, knowing my answer.

"I just think of work when I am at work, else I am always thinking of you." I retorted and she giggled. I smiled, sighing, feeling the tiredness evaporate at her smile.

"I called asking you if I can come now with dinner. Ma sent both boxes here and I said I'll meet you and we shall eat together." I smiled.

"Come over madam, this office is always yours." She chuckled and I knew she nodded her head.

"I'll be there in 15 minutes Rudra." I hummed in agreement, opening a mail that popped up in my inbox.

"Meet you here baby." I chuckled when she whined at the endearment I used for her.

Just like she said, she was by my door in fifteen minutes — hair still pinned in that half-done bun she always twisted when working late, kajal slightly smudged, and her laptop bag still slung over one shoulder. That bag was practically a body part at this point.

"You didn't even drop it off in the car?" I raised an eyebrow, watching her set the dinner on my desk.

"I wanted to, but then thought that I could give you some company if you are up to staying late." She sighed, finally lowering herself into the seat across from me.

I scoffed. "I don't understand something. Shouldn't you try to get me out of my bad habits like staying up late and working? Instead you join me." I scoffed playfully.

"Sometimes you pick up the bad habits from your partner." she smiled, unboxing the food Ma had sent. Let's eat before exhaustion tires us down."

I leaned back, letting the smell of ghee and warmth coat the cabin. "What's on the menu?"

"Bhindi fry, maa ke haath ka toor dal, rice, and roti," she said, handing me a spoon and taking one herself. "She even sneaked in that mango pickle I love."

"Maa spoils you more than she ever did me."

"Because I let her," she winked.

We didn't talk much after that. Just shared quiet bites, passing rotis back and forth, sometimes stealing from each other's portions. Between the chaos of March and both our businesses, these small pockets of peace were rare. Precious.

As we packed up, Anjali took out her phone. "I'll just check on Priyanshi before we head out."

I waited, adjusting my sleeves, eyeing the unopened files on my screen that would definitely wait till tomorrow now.

"Hello? Hey!" she said, voice soft. "All good?"

A pause. Then a warm smile tugged at her lips. "You're going now to the jeweller? You couldn't wait till morning?"

Another pause.

"Yeah, yeah. A pair of bangles, anklet, and the chain. You are not going anywhere at this ungodly hour. We will collect it on our way home and give it to you tomorrow."

I looked at her, already guessing the direction of the conversation.

Anjali nodded along as she listened. "Okay, then I'll hand it over to dadi."

She hung up and turned to me. "She's going to the jeweller right now. Alone."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course she is. Some women of this family." She rolled her eyes.

Anjali raised an eyebrow. "You're one to talk, weirdo." No one has ever called me that.

"Okay, fair."

"Let's go, we have another task to do before we hit the bed."

"At least tomorrow it gets over." I groaned. I didn't even hesitate.

"Yes, finally." She added.

She slid her hand into mine as we left the office building together, the late-night calm of the city beginning to settle in. I watched her speak softly on a quick follow-up call to her assistant while I drove. Our fingers remained laced even when she typed with one hand — a habit we had unknowingly built into our routine.

We were laughing about Mahi being the perfect prank partner — when the headlights blinded me.

It was a second. Maybe less.

The truck came from the right, screeching and merciless. The horn didn't even have time to sound before impact.

Metal groaned. Glass shattered.

Anjali's hand slipped from mine as the world tilted.

And then—

Black.

Boom, Boom Shakalaka.

Bye.

Hiding with a devilish smile.