(Continued): Home, But Louder

“Why are you staring at the ceiling like it owes you money?”

Anaya turned her head.

“Aarav,” she sighed. “Do you knock?”

“I did,” he replied. “You were too busy thinking.”

“Thinking is dangerous,” she said. “That’s why I avoid it.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Clearly.”

He sat on the edge of her bed.

“So. Summer job.”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

“You just said you’re working.”

“I said I’m going to work,” Anaya corrected. “Not that I’ve figured out where.”

Aarav shook his head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“You love me.”

“I tolerate you.”

“That’s love.”

Their mother’s voice suddenly echoed from the hallway.

“Why is the door open?”

“Because air exists?” Anaya replied loudly.

“Don’t answer back.”

“I wasn’t answering back. I was explaining.”

“Anaya.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Sleep.”

“It’s too early.”

“It’s not.”

“It is.”

“Do you want me to come there?”

Anaya instantly pulled the blanket up.

“Nope. Sleeping.”

Aarav laughed quietly. “Goodnight, rebel.”

“Traitor,” she whispered.

The next morning—

“Wake up.”

Anaya groaned. “No.”

“Wake. Up.”

“Why?”

“Because the sun is up.”

“That’s the sun’s problem.”

Her mother pulled the curtains open.

Anaya hissed. “Cruel. Unnecessary. Evil.”

“Get up,” her mother said. “Breakfast.”

Anaya sat up slowly. “If this is about me working, I’m still half asleep.”

“At least be awake while refusing food,” her mother replied.

At the table—

“So,” her father said, sipping tea, “what kind of work are you looking for?”

“Something simple,” Anaya said. “Normal.”

Aarav smirked. “Define normal.”

“No special treatment,” Anaya replied.

“No ‘call your brother’.”

“No ‘your family owns half the city’.”

“No—”

“—discounts,” Aarav finished.

“Yes!” Anaya pointed at him. “Especially discounts.”

Her mother frowned. “Why are you allergic to comfort?”

“I’m not allergic,” Anaya replied. “I just don’t want shortcuts.”

Her father smiled. “That’s good.”

Aarav leaned back. “So internships?”

“Yes.”

“Corporate?”

“Maybe.”

“Creative?”

“Also maybe.”

Aarav stared. “You’re very prepared.”

“I’m emotionally prepared.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“It should be.”

Her phone buzzed.

Riya: Are you awake?

Anaya typed: Unfortunately.

Meera: Did your family interrogate you yet?

Anaya: Still ongoing.

Kavya: Miss you.

Anaya: Miss you more.

Her mother glanced at the phone. “Who’s that?”

“My emotional support humans.”

Aarav smirked. “You mean the chaos committee?”

“Yes.”

Later, in the living room—

“I found a few listings,” Aarav said, holding his laptop.

“Finance. Marketing. Operations.”

Anaya peeked. “Too serious.”

“You want to work,” he said.

“I want to experience work,” she corrected.

“Not die on day one.”

He sighed. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” she said sweetly, “you’re helping me.”

“Against my will.”

Her mother passed by. “Tea?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No caffeine.”

Anaya gasped. “This house is oppressive.”

Her mother ignored her.

Aarav looked at Anaya. “There’s one position here.”

She leaned closer. “What is it?”

“Assistant role. Temporary.”

She frowned. “Who’s the company?”

He paused. “Malhotra Group subsidiary.”

Anaya froze. “Malhotra?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that—”

“Big,” Aarav finished. “Very big.”

She stared. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Too scary.”

Aarav raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t even read.”

“I don’t need to. The name alone sounds strict.”

“That’s a company, not a person.”

“Companies have vibes,” Anaya argued.

“And that vibe is… cold.”

Aarav smirked. “You’re judging without facts.”

“I judge for survival.”

Her mother called from the kitchen.

“Anaya!”

“Yes!”

“Stop arguing!”

“I’m discussing my future!”

“Do it quietly!”

She looked at Aarav and whispered dramatically.

“See? Suppressed.”

He laughed. “Apply.”

“I’ll think.”

“You always say that.”

“And I always surprise you.”

That night—

Anaya lay on her bed, scrolling.

“Assistant—Corporate Operations,” she read aloud.

“Strict environment. High expectations.”

She sighed. “Yikes.”

Her phone buzzed.

Riya: Guess what?

Anaya: What?

Riya: I slept all day.

Anaya: Proud of you.

She stared at the screen, then at the job listing again.

“High expectations,” she murmured.

“Well… I do like challenges.”

She hit Save.

Not apply.

Just save.

“For later.”

She smiled to herself.

“Baby steps.”

Outside, the city slept.

Inside, two very different worlds were slowly, unknowingly moving toward the same future.

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