The yacht finally eased back into the dock, its engines sighing as if relieved to be alive.
Pranati stepped onto solid ground, her knees still weak, her heartbeat refusing to slow. For a second, she just stood there—feeling the earth beneath her feet, the night air on her skin, proof that the sea hadn't swallowed them whole.
Siya rushed to her immediately and wrapped her in a tight hug.
"Are you okay?" she whispered urgently. "Pranati, that storm—"
"I'm fine," Pranati said, exhaling shakily. "I mean… I think I'm fine. At one point I genuinely thought this was it—like, full Bollywood climax scene. Wind, waves, dramatic background music—everything."
Siya pulled back slightly, scanning her face. "You're really okay?"
"Yes, yes," Pranati nodded quickly. "I didn't fall, didn't drown, didn't become headline news. And anyway—" she leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "—I was saved."
"Saved?" Siya echoed.
Pranati's eyes lit up as if she'd been waiting for that question.
"You won't believe it. The water was rising—like rising, Siya—and the yacht tilted, and I slipped, and then—" she gestured wildly, nearly losing balance again, "—this hero just appears out of nowhere. Strong grip, very calm, very… composed."
She paused, thoughtful. "Honestly, very unfair."
Siya blinked. "Unfair?"
"Yeah," Pranati continued seriously. "Who stays that calm during a storm? I was screaming internally. Maybe externally also. I'm not sure."
Behind them, three figures had stepped off the yacht.
Arnav. Ranav. Arav.
They stopped the moment they heard her voice.
"And then," Pranati went on, completely unaware, "I was like wow, this feels so filmy. I half-expected slow motion. If there was background music, I swear it would've been dramatic violins."
Ranav leaned slightly toward Arav. "Is she… narrating the disaster?"
Arav nodded. "With commentary."
Pranati finally turned.
She saw them.
Her words slammed into a wall.
"Oh."
Silence stretched.
Then Pranati cleared her throat, leaned toward Siya, and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, "I told you. I talk less. You talk more."
Siya stared at her. "Pranati… you just delivered a monologue."
Arnav folded his arms slowly, one eyebrow lifting almost imperceptibly. His gaze held hers—steady, unreadable, faintly amused.
"Talk less?" he repeated quietly.
Pranati straightened immediately. "Context matters," she said firmly. "High-stress situation. Near-death experience. Emergency storytelling."
Ranav coughed to hide a laugh.
Arav openly grinned.
Arnav said nothing more. He simply watched her—the flushed cheeks, the rapid explanations, the way she tried to out-talk her own embarrassment—and for the first time since the storm, something in his chest loosened.
The danger had passed.
But the noise…
The noise had just begun.
---
Ranav cleared his throat, stepping forward before the silence could turn truly uncomfortable.
"You're Pranati… right?"
Pranati nodded immediately. "Yes. Pranati Kaur." Then, as if remembering her manners a second late, she added, "Nice to officially confirm it."
Ranav smiled faintly. "Ranav Singh Raizada. And—" he tilted his head sideways, indicating the man beside him, "—we're Arnav's younger brothers."
Arav didn't wait for further introduction. "Advocate Arav Singh Raizada," he announced proudly. Then he pointed at Ranav. "And this less-cool, slightly over-serious specimen is ACP Ranav Singh Raizada."
Ranav shot him a warning look. "I heard that."
Pranati's lips curved into an easy smile. "Nice to meet you both." She paused, then glanced back at Arnav. "ASR… your brothers are really lively."
Arnav's eyebrow lifted slowly.
"Unlike…" Pranati began, then stopped mid-sentence.
The pause stretched.
She seemed to reconsider several life choices in that second.
Arnav waited.
Ranav waited.
Arav waited—with interest.
Pranati waved her hand abruptly. "Forget it. Sentence cancelled." Then, with complete seriousness, she added, "Honestly, all of you talk too much."
There was a beat.
Then Arav burst out laughing. Ranav pressed his lips together, clearly trying—and failing—to look stern.
Arnav just looked at her.
That same unreadable gaze. Calm. Measuring.
And yet… something flickered there.
Pranati shifted slightly under his stare, suddenly very aware that she had, once again, said far more than necessary.
"Well," she muttered, adjusting her dupatta, "nice meeting everyone. Eventful night. Storms. Introductions. Casual near-death experiences."
She looked at Arnav once more. "Goodnight, ASR."
And before anyone could reply, she turned and walked away—leaving behind three brothers, one raised eyebrow, and a silence that felt oddly… warm.
To be continued....