Chapter 23

Sanaya’s P.O.V As soon as I step into the house, hoping to quietly slip into my room without waking anyone up, the living room lights flick on, bathing the space in an unforgiving brightness. I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. And there she is—my mother—perched on the couch like some all-knowing force of nature, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. It’s such a cliché moment, straight out of every Bollywood movie where the rebellious daughter gets caught sneaking in, but standing here in the middle of it? Not so funny.  I let out a nervous laugh, trying to play it cool even though I can feel the heat creeping up my neck. “Uh… Maa? Why are you still up?” My voice is light, casual, as if this is just another normal night, as if I didn’t just come home at two in the morning wearing a revealing party dress.  She doesn’t even blink. “The real question is, where have you been?” Her tone is sharp but not loud, the kind of quiet anger that unsettles me more than any shouting ever could