“You know, you’re gonna have to stop worrying about me at some point. You can’t spend the rest of the year tagging along with me to the university.” One hand resting on the steering wheel, Rito reached out to turn the dial of the car radio. Some generic pop song blasted out of the speakers, filling the car with its saccharine lyrics.

Rito wasn’t much of a fan, but she hated it less than Abhi did. And irritating her brother as much as possible was her current mission. If he wouldn’t leave her alone, she would make damn sure every moment in her company made him want to pull his own hair out.

A few seconds passed in uncomfortable silence. Then, Abhijat shifted on the passenger seat, turning to stare menacingly out the window. “I don’t trust those people. Dileep Haval had you jailed. And now you’re going back to work for his wife. How can I not be worried?”

“It was a misunderstanding,” Rito said for what felt like the hundredth time that week, equally frustrated. She knew it wasn’t fair to get annoyed with her brother, particularly when she wasn’t telling him the whole truth. Had their positions been reversed, she’d have been worried sick too. Still, that didn’t make this entire situation any less frustrating.

“Besides,” she said, trying to change the subject as they rolled to a stop at a red light. “Even you can’t deny that things are getting better. Yesterday’s press conference was honestly more than anything I’d expected. Papa was surprised too, I could tell.”

Abhijat grunted. “He’s planning something. Why’d he have to drag Papa’s name into it anyway?”

“He didn’t. That journalist did–”

“He didn’t have to respond. He could’ve ignored her, moved on to the next question–”

“Yeah, ‘cause that would’ve looked so much better.” She rolled her eyes as the light turned green and they started inching forward through the traffic once again.

“It’d have been less disingenuous.” He glanced at her through the corner of his eye. “If you really believe that Fasih meant what he said, Rito, you’re more gullible than I thought. This is the man who pretended to be friends with Papa, to respect and admire him, for years before he betrayed him without a second thought. Did everything in his power to destroy the man who’d made him who he was.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Everything he said at that conference was to further his own agenda, to make himself look magnanimous and loyal in front of the cameras. And to divert people’s attention away from the real issue at hand – Badal's murder. If you think for a second he wouldn’t throw Papa under the bus to save his own skin, you’re delusional.”

“You think he did it?” Rito asked quietly after a moment’s pause, turning down the radio. “You think Fasih killed Badal?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he did,” he snapped, keeping his eyes trained on the traffic-clogged scenery outside. “I don’t trust that slippery bastard as far as I can throw him.”

“You know,” she said mildly, turning left as the campus came into view. “Fasih isn’t that big of a guy. I daresay you could throw him far enough if you put your mind to it.”

Abhijat’s phone buzzed. Out of the corner of her eye, Rito saw Ruqaiya’s name flashing on the screen. She glanced at her brother and raised an eyebrow.

Abhi shrugged, received the call, and put the phone on speaker. “Qia?”

“You two need to start preparing for the trip to Maralana, pronto. There’s no more time to lose.”

They looked at each other, surprised. “How did you know I was planning to go to Maralana?” Rito asked.

“How did you know I was with Rito?” Abhijat demanded at the same time, their voices drowning each other out.

“It’s not rocket science,” Ruqaiya droned. “I know what time your sister leaves for work, I know what happened between her and Dileep Haval recently, and most importantly, I know you, Abhijat. Hence, I added paranoia and overprotectiveness to arrive at annoying chaperon.”

Abhijat grunted. “And who told you my sister will be going to Maralana?”

“A little birdie in an oversized cardigan. You’ll be going as part of the PM’s delegation, of course. And Dileep Haval has been invited personally by Maganti, as the new head of the Amven project. So Rito will enjoy every perk and facility as part of his group.” She sighed. “Though if you don’t want to go, Rito, if you’ve changed your mind, you have only to say the word. You have no obligation–”

“I want to,” she cut her off, stealing a glance at Abhi. “I really want to go, okay? And it’s my decision to make. But more importantly, how’re you so sure Fasih will be able to leave the country? Wasn’t the guy who killed Badal swearing up and down that Fasih paid him to do it? I’d have thought there’d be an investigation.”

“Keep an ear to the news,” Ruqaiya said cryptically. “This little mess will sort itself out soon enough.”