Asif and Tithi

★ Asif's POV ★

Dinner was fun.

I mean… really fun.

Tithi laughed the entire time. Dad cracked the lamest jokes. And I… well, I was just happy watching them both being like that.

After the last spoonful of custard disappeared from our plates, we began cleaning up. Tithi, of course, tried to help, but...

"No no no, princess. You just chill. Me and your useless brother will handle this." Dad pointed his thumb toward me.

"Useless?" I scoffed.

"Accurate," he grinned.

Tithi puffed her cheeks and looked annoyed. "I'm not made of glass, you know!"

"Too bad," I smirked. "Dad said no, so the law is final."

While she crossed her arms and sulked on the couch, me and dad started washing the dishes. The kitchen was filled with warm water, soft bubbles, and an oddly peaceful silence between us. Occasionally, he hummed a song. Occasionally, I messed up stacking plates.

Once everything was cleaned up, we joined Tithi back in the living room.

She was giggling like a maniac at a comedy drama on TV.

I sat beside her, watching her kick her legs while laughing at some slapstick scene.

But then… a thought struck me.

Wait.

Where's she gonna sleep?

Without overthinking, I turned to Dad.

"Uh… where is Tithi gonna sleep tonight?"

He wiped his hands with a towel and casually replied,

" I have cleared the storeroom today. Though her furniture's arriving tomorrow."

"Oh…" I nodded. "So for tonight?"

Tithi's smile faded a bit.

Well, crap. That didn't help.

"…Hey," I spoke quickly, "you can sleep in my room. I'll take the couch tonight."

Tithi immediately shook her head. "No! I'm not making you sleep outside because of me."

I tilted my head, smiling. "Come on. You're the guest here, right?"

Dad chuckled. "He's right. And besides, that couch is where your brother usually naps after skipping school anyway."

" Hey, don't expose me like that..." I muttered under my breath.

And so it was decided.

I got up, headed to my room, and began cleaning up like my life depended on it. The usual laundry clutter was thrown into the wardrobe. I changed the bedsheets, fixed the pillow, wiped the table. Even opened the window for fresh air.

"Alright, ready!" I called out from the doorway.

Tithi walked in slowly. Her eyes wandered across the room like she was stepping into a whole different world.

It wasn't much.

A single bed by the window. A study table with half-read books stacked up. A cheap shelf with comic books and dusty notebooks. Wardrobe in the corner. Not really impressive.

But her eyes sparkled.

"Wow…"

I scratched the back of my neck. "It's not that special."

"It is," she replied, almost whispering. "It's… warm."

Warm, huh?

For a second, I wondered how her room used to be at her mother's place.

Cold.. quite.. or alone?

She sat on the bed, bouncing slightly.

"This bed smells like you."

"Ew, don't say it like that!" I cringed.

She laughed. "It's a good smell. Not stinky."

"Geez… Don't make it weird, Tithi."

She kept smiling.

"I missed this," she said softly.

"…Missed what?"

"You being awkward and loud."

"…I'm not loud," I argued.

"You just shouted again."

"Tsk…"

" Wait, you remember our interactions when we were small?"

I couldn't really believe it, as she was a kid of 3 years old that time.

She giggled, " Obviously, I remember.."

Man.. I missed her cute smile. I smiled at her too.

"Well," I said, stretching my arms, "make yourself comfy. If you need anything like water, towel, extra pillow, just knock."

She nodded.

"Thanks, big brother."

That " big brother " felt… weird. But nice. Like a warm patch on a cold day.

I left her room... I mean my room.... and quietly shut the door behind me.

Dad was already slouched on the couch with a cushion under his head.

"She's settled?" he asked, eyes half closed.

"Yeah," I replied, plopping down beside him.

"She's really back…" he whispered. "Finally."

I looked at him. His smile was soft. Gentle. The kind you don't see often from him.

We didn't say much after that. Just a few sleepy "good night"s and "don't hog the fan" jokes. He headed to his room soon after.

And now, I was alone.

In the living room.

On the couch.

Under the ceiling fan spinning like a lazy helicopter.

I grabbed my phone to scroll through before sleeping.

3 unread messages.

The first one was from Sajim.

> "Brooo—how did the date go?! Did she slap you?"

I chuckled.

Then came one from Sara.

> "Don't make Tithi cry. Or I'll break your nose."

…Straight to the point as always.

And then…

A message from her, Ayesha.

My thumb hovered before I tapped it.

> "Thanks for today. I had a lot of fun."

I felt my ears go warm.

…She had fun with me.

I nervously typed back.

> "I'm really glad. I had fun too. Maybe… we can go somewhere again next time?"

Sent.

Wait…

Was that too much?

Was that creepy?

I stared at the screen. No reply.

Dang it, Asif. You messed it up again...

Ping!

New message.

> "Same here."

My face went red.

I put my phone on my chest and stared at the ceiling again.

A smile slowly formed on my face.

What a day…

From meeting with Ayesha to enjoy the day with her. From meeting with Sara to having Tithi back at home. And from being alone… to having a lively family again.

I closed my eyes and let sleep pull me under.

Maybe… just maybe…

Life's about to change.