The next morning began far earlier than Pragya would have preferred.
The curtains of the hotel room were still drawn, keeping the early morning sunlight outside.
The city had already begun to wake.
But one particular person had absolutely no intention of joining it.
Pragya was fast asleep.
Completely unaware.
Meanwhile, Anubhab had already been awake for nearly half an hour.
He had finished checking his messages, gone through a few work emails, and even ordered breakfast.
Finally, he glanced toward the other bed.
Pragya hadn't moved.
Not even slightly.
Anubhab smiled.
There was his sister.
His legendary sleepyhead.
He picked up his phone and called her.
Her phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Nothing.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Anubhab shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
He walked over to her bed.
"Pragya."
No response.
"Angel."
Nothing.
"Pragya, wake up."
A muffled sound came from beneath the blanket.
"Hmm..."
"Get up."
"No."
Anubhab laughed.
"No?"
"No."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"Come on. We're going to the beach."
There was silence.
Then—
"Five minutes."
Anubhab stared at her.
"Absolutely not."
"Please."
"No."
"Dabhai..."
"Don't 'Dabhai' me."
Pragya pulled the blanket over her head.
"I'm sleeping."
"You have exactly ten minutes."
"No."
"Eight."
"No."
"Six."
"No."
"Four."
Pragya suddenly sat up.
"What?"
Anubhab grinned.
"You heard me."
"You were counting backwards!"
"Yes."
"You can't do that!"
"Why not?"
"Because I wasn't prepared!"
"You've been sleeping for nine hours."
"I needed ten."
"You'll survive."
Pragya glared at him.
"You're horrible."
"And you're late."
She dropped back onto the pillow.
"I'm not going."
Anubhab folded his arms.
"Fine."
He turned around.
"I'll go alone."
Pragya's eyes opened.
"Wait."
He stopped.
She stared at him suspiciously.
"You're actually going without me?"
"Yes."
"But you promised we'd go together."
"And you promised you'd wake up early."
Pragya frowned.
"That was before I remembered how much I hate mornings."
Anubhab laughed.
"Get ready."
She groaned.
"Fine."
Twenty minutes later, Pragya finally emerged from the bathroom.
Her hair was tied loosely, and she was still rubbing her eyes.
Anubhab looked at her.
"Awake?"
"Barely."
"Good enough."
"Where's breakfast?"
"Waiting."
Pragya immediately became more enthusiastic.
"You should have started with that."
Anubhab shook his head.
"You are impossible."
"I know."
They had breakfast together, with Pragya repeatedly insisting that she had not slept too late.
Anubhab disagreed.
"You were practically unconscious."
"I was resting."
"You were hibernating."
"Very funny."
"Thank you."
Pragya narrowed her eyes.
"I don't like you today."
"You'll like me again after breakfast."
She took another bite.
"Maybe.
A little later, the two siblings finally reached the beach.
The moment Pragya stepped onto the sand, her expression changed.
The morning breeze touched her face.
The sound of the waves filled the air.
She looked toward the sea and smiled.
Anubhab watched her quietly.
This was the Pragya he knew.
The one who could become excited over the smallest things.
The one who could forget every problem the moment she found something beautiful.
"Come on!"
She suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Where?"
"Beach!"
"We're already on the beach."
"Closer."
"Pragya—"
Too late.
She was already pulling him toward the water.
Anubhab laughed.
"You're still five years old."
"And you're still boring."
"I brought you here!"
"Because I forced you."
"You begged me."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I requested politely."
"Repeatedly."
"That's called enthusiasm."
Anubhab shook his head.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you love me."
"Unfortunately."
Pragya gasped dramatically.
"Unfortunately?"
"Yes."
"You're such a terrible brother."
He laughed.
She ran closer to the waves.
"Don't go too far!"
"I won't!"
"Pragya!"
"I said I won't!"
A small wave reached her feet.
She jumped back.
Anubhab burst out laughing.
"What?"
"You got scared!"
"I didn't!"
"You literally jumped."
"It was cold!"
"Sure."
Pragya scooped up a little water and splashed it toward him.
Anubhab stepped back.
"Don't."
She smiled mischievously.
"Why?"
"Pragya."
She splashed him again.
"That's it."
He walked toward her.
Pragya immediately ran.
"No!"
"Come back."
"Never!"
"You started it."
"I regret nothing!"
She ran along the shoreline, laughing.
Anubhab followed.
Eventually, he caught up with her.
"Got you."
"Dabhai!"
She laughed as he gently caught her by the shoulders.
"Apologise."
"Never."
"Then—"
"No!"
They both started laughing.
For a while, there was no IIT.
No assignments.
No distance from home.
No responsibilities.
No worries about the future.
Just two siblings enjoying a morning beside the sea.
Eventually, they sat on the sand.
Pragya looked toward the horizon.
"It's beautiful."
Anubhab nodded.
"Yes."
"I think I needed this."
He looked at her.
"I know."
She smiled.
"I've been so busy since coming here."
"You're adjusting."
"Trying."
"You're doing well."
Pragya leaned against his shoulder.
"Thank you for coming."
"Always."
She remained quiet for a while.
Then suddenly—
"Dabhai?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to embarrass me at the anniversary?"
Anubhab smiled.
"Definitely."
"I knew it!"
"You're my sister. It's my responsibility."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"Unfortunately."
He laughed.
"You've learned."
By the time they returned to the hotel, the morning had disappeared.
Pragya checked the time.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"We have to get ready."
Anubhab looked at the clock.
"We have plenty of time."
"Not enough."
"We have hours."
"I need to choose my clothes."
"You packed them already."
"I need to decide."
Anubhab sighed.
"That's what I was afraid of."
Pragya grabbed her bag.
"Don't disturb me."
"I'm going to take a nap."
"No!"
"Why?"
"Because you'll sleep through the event."
He laughed.
"Fair point."
Pragya disappeared into the room with her clothes.
Anubhab sat down and shook his head with a smile.
A few minutes later, her voice came from inside.
"Dabhai!"
"What?"
"Which one looks better?"
"I'm not coming."
"Dabhai!"
He laughed.
"Give me a minute."
And once again, the hotel room filled with their familiar arguments, laughter, and teasing.
By evening, they would leave for the anniversary celebration.
And neither sibling knew just how many unexpected encounters the evening had waiting for them.
By six-thirty in the evening, the chaos that had occupied the hotel room for most of the afternoon had finally settled.
The room, which only an hour earlier had looked as though a small storm had passed through it, was now surprisingly orderly.
Pragya's clothes were finally chosen.
Her accessories were arranged.
Her handbag was packed.
Her phone was charged.
And, most importantly, her brother had survived the entire process.
Barely.
Pragya stood before the large mirror in the hotel room, staring at her reflection.
She wore a beautiful silver gown that shimmered softly whenever she moved. The elegant fabric fell gracefully around her, giving her a sophisticated appearance while still retaining the youthful charm that was so distinctly hers.
She adjusted one of her earrings.
Then she turned her head slightly.
Then the other side.
Then she checked her hair.
Again.
Behind her, Anubhab let out a dramatic sigh.
"Are you planning to attend the anniversary or conduct a photoshoot?"
Pragya turned around.
"Can you please be quiet for five minutes?"
"I've been quiet for twenty."
"Impossible."
"I'm very capable of being quiet."
"You're incapable of being serious."
"That's because you're making me wait."
Pragya rolled her eyes.
"You could have gone downstairs."
"I could have."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because Papa specifically told me not to let you wander around alone."
Pragya stared at him.
"I'm twenty-two."
"I know."
"I'm an adult."
"I know."
"I can take care of myself."
"I know."
"Then why—"
"Because you're still my baby sister."
Pragya's expression softened.
"Dabhai..."
Anubhab smiled.
"Come here."
She walked toward him.
He gently fixed a small strand of hair near her face.
"There."
Pragya looked at herself again.
"How do I look?"
Anubhab smiled.
"Beautiful."
Her expression brightened.
"Really?"
"Really."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
Then she looked at him properly.
He wore a perfectly tailored blue tuxedo that complemented him exceptionally well.
His hair was neatly styled, and his entire appearance had the polished elegance of someone who had spent years attending formal events.
Pragya tilted her head.
"You look handsome too."
Anubhab raised an eyebrow.
"Too?"
She immediately corrected herself.
"You look very handsome."
"Better."
"Your ego is unbelievable."
"You started it."
"I was being nice."
"And I appreciated it."
Pragya laughed.
"Come on. Let's go before you start admiring yourself."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I was checking my tie."
"Three times."
"Details matter."
"Of course."
They both laughed.
For a few seconds, they simply stood there.
Brother and sister.
Far away from Kolkata.
Far away from their familiar home.
Yet somehow, standing beside each other made the unfamiliar city feel a little less strange.
Meanwhile, at Ethan's residence, another pair of siblings was preparing for the evening.
Eleanor stood before the mirror.
She wore a beautiful blue gown.
The colour suited her perfectly, giving her a graceful and elegant appearance.
Her hair had been styled carefully, and delicate jewellery completed her look.
She turned slightly in front of the mirror.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
"Ethan?"
No response.
She turned around.
Her brother stood near the window.
Ethan Rodrigues was dressed entirely in black.
A perfectly tailored black tuxedo.
Black trousers.
Black shoes.
A black shirt.
Even his expression seemed to match the colour.
Eleanor stared at him.
"Of course."
Ethan glanced at her.
"What?"
"Black."
He looked down at himself.
"Yes."
"You had an entire wardrobe."
"I like black."
"You own other colours."
"I don't wear them."
"You have worn blue before."
"Once."
"Green?"
"No."
"White?"
"No."
"Grey?"
"Technically, that's close to black."
Eleanor laughed.
"You're impossible."
Ethan simply adjusted his cufflinks.
Eleanor watched him for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"You look handsome."
He looked at her.
"You look beautiful."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
For a moment, the teasing disappeared.
Ethan's eyes moved toward the framed photograph on the table.
A photograph of his grandparents.
His expression changed almost imperceptibly.
The coldness disappeared.
The hardness softened.
Eleanor noticed.
"You're thinking about them."
"Of course."
She walked toward him.
"They're going to love tonight."
"I hope so."
"They will."
Ethan remained silent.
His gaze stayed on the photograph.
"They deserve it."
Eleanor nodded.
"They deserve everything."
To the world, Ethan Rodrigues was a terrifying man.
The CEO of Rodrigues Industries.
A self-made billionaire.
A ruthless businessman.
A perfectionist who tolerated no excuses.
A man who expected punctuality, discipline, and results.
His employees knew better than to waste his time.
His competitors knew better than to underestimate him.
His name carried weight.
His presence could silence a room.
But there was another Ethan Rodrigues.
One almost nobody outside his family had ever seen.
The grandson.
The brother.
The child who had once needed someone to tell him that everything would be okay.
And that Ethan existed because of two people.
His grandparents.
They had never been merely his grandparents.
They had been his parents when his parents weren't there.
They had raised him.
They had raised Eleanor.
They had protected them from the ugliness of abandonment as much as they possibly could.
When Ethan was young, he didn't understand why his parents weren't around.
He only understood that other children had parents who came to school events.
His didn't.
Other children went home to their mothers and fathers.
He went home to his grandparents.
Other children complained about their parents.
Ethan secretly wished he had someone to complain about.
But his grandparents never allowed the absence to become the centre of their lives.
They gave him what they could.
His grandmother was the gentle presence who always knew when something was wrong.
She could recognise his sadness even when he refused to speak.
She would sit beside him quietly.
She never forced him to talk.
She simply stayed.
His grandfather taught him resilience.
He taught him that being abandoned did not mean being defeated.
He taught him responsibility.
Discipline.
Self-respect.
Most importantly, he taught Ethan that family wasn't always about blood.
It was about who stayed.
And they stayed.
Always.
When Eleanor was little, she would run into their room whenever she was frightened.
When Ethan was angry, his grandfather would take him outside and walk with him until he calmed down.
When either sibling succeeded, their grandparents celebrated as though the achievement belonged to the entire family.
When they failed, they were never made to feel worthless.
They were simply told to try again.
Those memories had shaped Ethan more than he realised.
Perhaps that was why he had become so fiercely protective of Eleanor.
Perhaps that was why family meant more to him than anything money could buy.
And perhaps that was why tonight mattered so much.
Sixty years of marriage.
Six decades.
A lifetime spent beside one person.
Ethan had spent days planning the celebration.
The venue had been selected carefully.
The decorations had been personally approved.
The guest list had been checked.
Every detail had been examined.
Not because he wanted an extravagant party.
But because he wanted his grandparents to feel loved.
He wanted them to look around the room and realise that the life they had built had mattered.
Every sacrifice.
Every struggle.
Every difficult day.
Every time they had chosen their grandchildren.
All of it had led to this.
A family gathered together.
A celebration of love that had survived sixty years.
Eleanor walked closer to him.
"You know what I think?"
"What?"
"Granny is going to cry."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"She always cries."
"And Granddad will pretend he isn't emotional."
"He always does."
Eleanor laughed.
"He'll probably blame the decorations."
"Probably."
They shared a quiet smile.
Then Eleanor looked at her brother carefully.
"You're nervous."
Ethan frowned.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"No."
"You've checked the schedule four times."
"That's called being organised."
"You checked whether the cake had arrived."
"It was important."
"You called the decorator."
"Also important."
"You called the restaurant manager."
"I own the restaurant."
"Exactly."
Eleanor laughed.
"You're nervous."
Ethan finally sighed.
"Maybe."
"Why?"
He looked at the photograph again.
"Because I want everything to be perfect."
Eleanor's expression softened.
"It doesn't have to be perfect."
"It does."
"No."
She shook her head.
"They don't care about perfection."
Ethan looked at her.
"They care that we're there."
She smiled.
"That's enough."
Ethan didn't respond immediately.
Then he nodded.
"Maybe you're right."
"I usually am."
He gave her a look.
"Don't ruin the moment."
She laughed.
Back at the hotel, Anubhab checked his watch.
"Ready?"
Pragya grabbed her handbag.
"Ready."
He looked at her.
"Phone?"
"Yes."
"Wallet?"
"Yes."
"Room key?"
"Yes."
"Anything else?"
Pragya thought.
"No."
Anubhab nodded.
"Good."
They walked toward the elevator.
As they waited, Pragya suddenly looked at him.
"Dabhai?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you excited?"
"For the anniversary?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
"Have you met Eleanor's grandparents before?"
"Yes."
"Do you like them?"
Anubhab smiled.
"They're wonderful people."
Pragya nodded.
"I've heard so much about them."
"They raised Ethan and Eleanor."
"I know."
Anubhab's expression became thoughtful.
"They went through a lot."
Pragya remained silent.
Then she said softly,
"I hope tonight makes them happy."
"It will."
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
Pragya looked at herself in the mirrored wall.
Then she looked at Anubhab.
"Dabhai?"
"Yes?"
"Don't embarrass me."
He smiled.
"I make no promises."
"Dabhai!"
He laughed.
"Come on."Across Chennai, two cars were preparing to leave.
One carried the Banerjee siblings.
The other belonged to the Rodrigues family.
Two families.
Different backgrounds.
Different stories.
Different struggles.
Yet tonight, their paths were about to cross.
Pragya had no idea what awaited her.
She only knew that she was attending a celebration.
Eleanor was excited to introduce her new friend to her family.
Anubhab was looking forward to seeing old acquaintances.
Ethan was focused entirely on making the evening special for his grandparents.
None of them knew that tonight would be more than an anniversary.
It would be the beginning of new connections.
New friendships.
New misunderstandings.
And perhaps a particularly memorable clash between two people who had absolutely no idea how much they were about to irritate each other.
At the venue, the elderly couple stood together.
Sixty years.
They looked at each other.
The grandfather smiled.
"Can you believe it?"
His wife laughed softly.
"Believe what?"
"Sixty years."
She smiled.
"Feels like yesterday."
"Does it?"
"No."
They both laughed.
Around them, preparations were almost complete.
Flowers.
Lights.
Photographs.
Music.
Everything had been arranged beautifully.
But when Ethan entered the venue, he didn't look at the decorations first.
He looked at his grandparents.
His grandmother noticed him.
Her face immediately lit up.
"Ethan!"
He walked toward her.
"Granny."
She held his face between her hands.
"You look so handsome."
He smiled.
"You say that every time."
"Because it is true."
His grandfather chuckled.
"Don't spoil him."
Ethan smiled.
"You've both been doing that for years."
His grandmother gently tapped his arm.
"And we will continue."
Eleanor approached them.
"Grandpa!"
Her grandfather opened his arms.
"My little girl."
She hugged him.
The four stood together.
For a moment, Ethan's eyes became slightly distant.
This was the family he had fought to protect.
The family that had protected him first.
He looked at his grandparents.
And silently promised himself one thing.
Tonight, would be theirs.
Not his.
Not Eleanor's.
Not Rodrigues Industries'.
Theirs.
Because sixty years of love deserved more than a celebration.
It deserved to be remembered.
Outside, the first cars began arriving.
The evening had officially begun.
And somewhere among the arriving guests were the Banerjee siblings.
Pragya stepped out of the car, her silver gown catching the soft evening lights.
Anubhab straightened his blue tuxedo beside her.
She looked toward the entrance.
"Ready?"
He smiled.
"Always."
Neither of them knew that the moment they walked through those doors, their lives would become a little more complicated.
And considerably more interesting.
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