"Aarohi, where are you?" Akshara yelled into the phone while covering her left ear and weaving through the crowd of people.

"Akshara, I am right behind you. Stop moving," Aarohi said in a calm voice, just a few steps behind her, gently nudging people out of her way.

"What?" Akshara exclaimed over the phone.

"I said, stop moving," Aarohi said, grabbing Akshara's shoulder with the phone still at her ear.

"Aaruuuu!" Akshara screamed, turning around, hugging Aarohi, and swaying her a little. Aarohi hugged her back with a small smile.

Breaking the hug, Akshara exclaimed, "Aarohi, you were amazing! You were the center of attraction, and did you see how your outfits got the loudest applause." Aarohi smiled, delighted by Akshara's reaction.

"Come, let's go backstage. It's quieter there," Aarohi said, taking Akshara's hand and leading her backstage.

On their way, people kept stopping to congratulate Aarohi for her stunning designs. Akshara couldn't have been happier, witnessing her sister's well-deserved success.

As Aarohi and Akshara made their way backstage, the atmosphere grew quieter, providing a welcome escape from the buzzing excitement of the event. Aarohi's fellow designers and backstage crew members greeted her with smiles and congratulatory words, and Akshara watched with pride as her sister graciously acknowledged their praise.

A backstage assistant approached them and offered Aarohi a bottle of water. Aarohi gratefully accepted and took a sip, her eyes still gleaming with the satisfaction of a successful show.

Akshara leaned in closer to her sister and whispered, "Aarohi, I'm so proud of you. Your hard work and creativity truly paid off. This is just the beginning of something incredible."

Aarohi squeezed her sister's hand and whispered back, "Thank you, Akshara."

As they continued to navigate the backstage area, Aarohi's heart swelled with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment. When she started her boutique, she just wanted to bring her sketches to life. Now, three years later, she is one of the few selected designers from India to showcase her designs at the prestigious fashion show in London. And, of course, the designs were submitted by her biggest cheerleader, Akshara.

"Aarohi, let's go out and celebrate," Akshara said, looping her arm through Aarohi's.

"I am tired," Aarohi whined.

"Come on, it's our last night in London," Akshara said in a dramatic tone while sitting in a makeup chair.

"Fine," Aarohi said, narrowing her eyes, and continued, "but let's celebrate in our hotel room."

"Fine," Akshara said, sighing and getting up

"Lets go" Aarohi said putting an arm around Akshara's shoulder

Walking into the hotel room, Akshara crashed onto the bed.

"What do you want to drink?" Aarohi asked, picking up the landline to order room service.

"Wait," Akshara said, getting up. She opened her bag and pulled out a wine bottle. "We'll drink this."

"Where did you get this from?" Aarohi asked, placing the landline back down.

"Listen," Akshara said slowly getting up.

"You stole it!" Aarohi exclaimed, stomping her foot.

"Nobody caught me, plus it's our last night," Akshara said, admiring the bottle.

Aarohi folded her arms and raised her eyebrows.

"By the time they find out it's gone, we'll be out of here," Akshara said, waving her hand.

"And Dad says I'm the bad influence," Aarohi said, taking wine glasses.

Akshara winked and popped open the bottle and poured it into the glasses the girls clinked the glasses. When both of them were buzzed enough, they were sitting in the balcony chairs with wine glasses; Akshara with her feet extended into Arohi's lap and covered in tweety bird blanket and Aarohi in a hotel banket with her feet on the coffee table. There were pudding cups on the floor, different flavored half eaten cheesecakes on the coffee table.

"Akshara, this is the dream - it's just us against the world," Aarohi said with a warm smile

They raised their glasses and clinked them together, saying, "Cheers!"

"This is the life," Akshara remarked, her gaze drifting to the sky, savoring the moment.

_________

Aarohi heard the phone ringing, and she got up with a throbbing head. Holding her head, she murmured, "What did she steal?" as she reached for a glass of water.

"Mhhhmmm," mumbled Akshara, who also heard the phone ringing.

"I'm getting it," Aarohi murmured, slowly moving around the room, looking for her phone. She eventually found it under the couch. Sighing, she checked the caller ID and murmured, "Oh no, it's Mom."

"If I talk to her, she'll know I was drinking," Aarohi said, covering her mouth, and then she walked over to Akshara's side.

"Akshara, wake up," Aarohi said, shaking her a little.

"Go away, Aruu," Akshara murmured, turning to the other side and pulling the blanket over her.

"Akshara, Mom is calling," Aarohi said, looking at the now silent phone.

"Then talk to her," Akshara murmured.

"But she'll know I was drinking," Arohi whined.

Akshara sat up with a sigh, moving her hair away from her face, and blinked at Aarohi. "Just call her back after you freshen up and tell her you just woke up, simple! For this, you woke me up?" Akshara took the phone from Aarohi's hand and placed it on the side table. Then she walked into the bathroom, murmuring, "Order breakfast."

Both of the girls freshened up and had breakfast. They started to pack when Aarohi's phone rang, and the caller ID displayed 'Mom calling...'

"Aksharaaa, Mom is calling," Aarohi said with a smile, showing her phone.

"Put it on speaker," Akshara said, coming closer to Aarohi.

Nodding, Aarohi picked up the call. "Hello, Mom."

"Aruuu! How was the fashion show? I've been trying for a while. Where were you, girls?" came a sweet voice from the other side.

"Mumma, the show went great," Akshara said, and Aarohi continued, "we were sleeping." Akshara gave a thumbs up and added, "we just ordered breakfast."

"Alright, I see," Anupama said. "When is your flight?"

"In a few hours. We'll check out soon," Aarohi said.

"We'll call you once we board," Akshara assured.

"Okay! Make sure you bring everything back. Don't forget anything," Anupama said. The girls rolled their eyes, and Anupama added, "Especially you, Akshara, don't forget your charger again."

"Mumma, we're not ten," Akshara whined.

"I will make sure she doesn't forget anything," Aarohi said with a smile, reassuring her mother.

With their bags packed and their flight ahead, the sisters headed to the airport, their hearts full of memories from their London adventure.

______

Back in India, Anupama smiled as she looked at her phone.

"So how are they?" Anuj asked, sitting on the bed and picking up a book he reads during the night.

"Good!" Anupama said with a smile.

"See, I told you there's nothing to worry about," Anuj said, opening the book.

"It's been two weeks since they've been gone. I miss them," Anupama said, looking at a picture of the girls on the side table, where they were hugging each other.

"I miss them too," Anuj said, closing the book. "This time tomorrow, they will be here."

"Yes, they will be," Anupama said, pulling the blanket closer.

"Are you going to tell her tomorrow?" Anuj asked, looking at Anupama.

"Should I?" Anupama asked, uncertain.

"Anu, you can't drag this out anymore," Anuj said, adjusting his glasses.

"I know. It's just," she said, swallowing a little, and then continued, "you know how worked up Akshara gets whenever I bring up her... her..."

"Her father," Anuj completed her sentence.

"Don't say that," Anupama said, placing her hand over his. "You are her father," Anupama emphasized. Anuj slowly nodded and said, "I am her father," and continued, "that's why I think she should know about this."

"She will. I will tell her tomorrow," Anupama nodded.

"It will be okay," Anuj said, placing an arm around Anupama, and she nodded, leaning into him.

________

"Anu, come, they are here," Anuj called from the living room loud enough for Anupama to hear while she was in the kitchen.

The girls entered, dragging their suitcases behind them.

"Daddyyy!" Akshara screamed and ran to Anuj, who was waiting with open arms. "I missed you, darling," Anuj said, breaking the hug. "The house was so boring without you," he added in a quiet tone to ensure Anupama didn't overhear.

"I heard that," Anupama said from behind, walking past them to see Aarohi

"She has ears of a bat," Akshara whispered to Anuj, who nodded with a smile, adjusting his glasses.

"Aarohi, congratulations," Anupama said, hugging her daughter.

"Thanks, Mom," Aarohi replied, hugging her back.

"Now if you are done. Can I please see my father" Aarohi said and Akshara stuck her tongue out and hugged Anupama and said "Hi Mumma, your daughter tortured me over the last two weeks"

Anupama playfully slapped Akshara shoulder while Aarohi had her mouth open side hugging Anuj who smiled and said "its good to have both my girls back"

Aarohi and Akshara freshened up and All four of them settled at the dining table, sharing stories and catching up with each other on what they had missed in the past two weeks. Laughter, love, and the joy of being together filled the room as they cherished their time as a family.

Anuj looked at Anupama and cleared his throat, indicating her to say something.

"Akshara," Anupama began, clearing her throat. Aarohi looked at her, sensing something was amiss from the way her parents were looking at Akshara.

"Yes, Mumma," Akshara said, touching her now-empty plate.

"Akshara," Anuj said this time.

Akshara nodded with a smile and said, "That's me." Aarohi placed her hand on Akshara's lap. Akshara glanced at Aarohi, who wore a worried expression. Confused, Akshara scrunched her eyebrows and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Your father had to go to the hospital," Anuj said, looking at Anupama.

"Are you okay?" Akshara asked, looking concerned at Anuj.

"Not him," Anupama clarified quickly, seeing both girls becoming anxious. "Mr. Shah."

Akshara let out a sigh of relief and, after a few seconds, shook her head. "What am I supposed to do about that?"

"He wants to see you," Anuj said, pausing for a moment.

"Why?" Akshara asked in a quiet, defensive tone, shaking her head.

"Akshara," Aarohi murmured, trying to keep the situation calm.

"I'm just asking," Akshara said, looking at Aarohi and continuing, "I mean, he didn't show up for the past 20 years, and now he wants to see me?" Her tone grew louder.

"Akshara," Anuj said, signaling her to calm down.

"I am calm," she said, her tone quieter

"It's serious," Anupama said, and she continued, "we think you should meet him."

"No," Akshara said firmly, getting up. She repeated, "No," and then ran upstairs.

"Akshara, just listen," Anupama called after her.

"No, Maa," Aarohi said, getting up as well. "If she doesn't want to meet him, she isn't meeting him. And why should she? He didn't bother to see her when she was sick, happy, or during any of the other million milestones in her life." With that, Aarohi also ran upstairs.

"And we were worried about Akshara getting worked up," Anuj said, sighing looking at Aarohi

Anupama sighed and sat down, placing her hand on her forehead.

"I'll talk to her when I get home," Anuj said, getting up. "Don't worry too much." Anupama nodded, and he left for work, leaving the situation in the hands of time and their love for their daughters.

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