Anshika's POV :
Seriously. Swati aunty has such a big house but now I have to live with two Mr Attitude in a same room. Why are most of the rooms in aunty's house locked?
Anant is sleeping on the other corner of the room on Sumit's bed while Sumit is snoring loudly while sleeping on a matress below.I can't sleep because of Sumit's snoring
Ahhhhh! I feel like I am stuck here between two idiots.
Why had mom and dad left me here. I hate them.Their work never ends like this menace's snoring. "Sumit "
"Grhm what? " He said half asleep.
"Will you please stop snoring. I can't sleep "
"Then try earplugs. Or death. Both are peaceful"He replied tossing to the other side.
" I am choosing violence.Now take this pillow."
"You're literally waking me up.....for sleeping? "
"No.I am waking you up for screaming in Morse code while sleeping. "
" Can you both shut up. I am trying to sleep here. " Anant's voice interrupted us.
" I can't believe I am being ordered to not sleep in my own room by you two. "Sumit complained.
" Now return me my pillow. "
"You want your pillow after disturbing my sleep. Fine. Then take this. "
" What the - "
I throw the pillow at Sumit again but he kicks it and it lands on - him .
"Again! This is the second time you are throwing something on me since I came here. Can't I have a peaceful day. "Anant said while staring at me.
" It's his fault. He threw it in your direction. "
" I just tossed it away. It's not my fault. It's her fault"
Anant picks two pillows and throws it at us. " Let's begin the war. "
Now they both are throwing pillows at me together and before I could throw back at them - Sumit snatches the pillow - bastards.
"This is cheating. 2 vs 1"
Suddenly my phone rings. We stop. I pick it up - Aunty.
"Yes aunty. "
"Put the phone on speaker Anshika"She asked me.
" Done aunty"
"Why are you three howling like wolves. "She asked.
" We are busy in a pillow fight Mom and Anshika is the victim.Call us later. Bye"Sumit cuts the call and he starts hitting me with the pillow.
But luckily - I am saved because Aunty comes in time to rescue me from those two.
"What are you both doing. Teaming against her? " Aunty scolded them. " I will be going back tomorrow for my work. You three have to live together. Can't you try to know each other more. It seems now I only have to do something. " Swati aunty said while staring at us.
"Okay. I have an idea. Since you all can't sleep then come with me. We will get to know each other more. "
______________________________________
It's already midnight.We seem like three ghosts waiting for aunty while she is writing something on some papers.
She approches us little later and sat next to me. " So i have some questions which my colleagues used for a party in our office. Each person would answer a question truthfully.No cheating.I will monitor you all. Now let's begin with the youngest present here. Sumit"
Aunty clears her throat like a dramatic host.
"So Sumit, the question is… *What's one secret talent no one expects from you?*"
He grins like he's been waiting for this spotlight. "I can sleep anywhere, anytime, under any circumstance. Earthquake? I'm snoring. Breakup? I'm snoring. World ending? Wake me up after it's over."
"That's not a talent, that's hibernation," I say, rolling my eyes.
"I'm practically a panda. Adorable and endangered."
"Annoying " Anant mutters, just loud enough for him to hear.
Aunty laughs and passes my question to me. My turn.
I glance at the question.
"Great," I mumble. "*What's one thing you pretend doesn't bother you—but totally does?*"
The room goes quieter than I want. Even Sumit stops munching on invisible popcorn.
I fake a smirk. "When people chew loudly… or exist loudly."
"You literally live with us now," Sumit says, offended.
"Exactly."
Anant's eyes are on me for a second too long.
He pulls the next question.
He reads it out slowly. "*Do you believe in soulmates or is that just rom-com stuff?*"
I expect him to say something smug or sarcastic. But he shrugs.
"I think… sometimes people just click. Doesn't mean it's permanent. Just means it mattered."
Aunty nods with a soft smile. "That's… surprisingly poetic."
"Are you sick?" Sumit fakes a gasp. "Do you have feelings for someone?"
Anant throws a cushion at his face.
"Swati aunty, your turn. What's something you miss from your teenage years?"
She chuckles, like we just handed her a memory.
"Hmm. The butterflies. You know, when you had a crush and your stomach would flip over something as small as a smile or a 'hi.' That innocent kind of stupid. Miss that."
I smile without meaning to.
"So romantic," I mutter.
"So ancient," Sumit adds. Aunty smacks the back of his head playfully.
"Okay, okay! My turn again!"
He digs out a chit and reads it in his best imitation of a game-show host voice."* If you had to survive a zombie apocalypse with only one among the people sitting left and right to you , who would you choose and why?*Obviously, Anant. At least he won't throw a pillow at me mid-apocalypse."
"Wow. So you'd rather die with him than survive with me?"
"Smart choice. She'd be too busy fixing her hair to run."Anant said particularly feeling proud with Sumit's choice.
"Excuse me? I'd use you both as bait and escape. Survival 101."
"Next question - Anshika" Aunty said glancing at me.
"*What scares you more: falling in love or losing someone?*"
I blink.
That's not a fun one.
I pause for a beat too long before replying.
"Both," I whisper. "Because they usually happen back-to-back."
Sumit goes quiet. Even Anant doesn't joke this time.
Before it can get heavier, Sumit claps his hands. "Alright! Mood ruined! Who wrote these? Shakespeare's ghost?"
I chuckle, and the tension slips a little.
"Fine," I say, "Ask me something stupid next time."
"Challenge accepted," he says, grinning wickedly.
Next question. Anant picks one, groans, then reads,"If you had to be stuck on an island with one of us, who would it be? And why?"
His eyes flick between us.
"Definitely not Sumit. He'd eat all the coconuts on day one."
"Hey!"
Anant leans back with a smirk. "I'd choose… Aunty. She'd keep us alive. And emotionally stable."
"Safe choice,Coward" Sumit replied.
"Strategic," he corrects. "Survival first, drama later."
Aunty beams like she just won something.