Radhe Radhe readers💙🦚✨,

Author

Akshay was standing in front of the mirror in his room, halfway fixing his tie knot. His blazer lay discarded on the bed while his hair was messily tousled indicating that how many times he had run a frustrated hand through it. A total contrast to his usually organised personality.

His eyes looked distant, unfocused, lost in the conversation he had just had with his younger sister. More than the words, it was the memory of the tears in her eyes that kept stabbing at him. He couldn’t even tolerate the sight of her crying and yet, he had been the reason behind it.

Ever since they had left the Raizada Mansion, Nikki had become the center of his world and the realization that he had hurt her this deeply, now hurt him in ways he couldn’t explain to the world that considered him cruel.

How can even someone say that he can forget her? He? Seriously?
If there was one person Akshay loved beyond the world, beyond reason, it was Nikki, his little sister

He glanced down at the tie knot for the third time. It still wouldn’t sit right. With a clenched jaw, he yanked it loose in one swift go and flung it onto the bed in frustration. His chest rose and fell heavily as Nikki’s tearful face flashed before his eyes again, the guilt eating into him, feeding his irritation.

Just then, he had barely sunk onto the bed, fingers dragging through his hair again, when the door to his room burst open with a loud bang. Akshay's brows furrowed at the intrusion, for a flash of second a hope igniting in his heart to see Nikki there but this amount of strength in her was questionable. When he turned around, to his dismay it was a raging Agastya barging in. "Bhaiyu!" Akshay gasped standing up from the bed.

Agastya didn't answer instead he entered the room like a raging bull with an imaginary fire coming out of his nose just like in cartoons. Akshay gulped, his mind already thinking the worst. Akshay swallowed hard. If Agastya was here in this mood, it meant only one thing that he knew. Something he was never supposed to know.

Agastya stepped in the room and slammed the door shut behind him. With fast strides and a clenched jaw as the muscle in his neck propped out, he walked towards his younger brother. As Agastya was in front of Akshay, he couldn't control anymore and a hard whack landed on Akshay's head while the latter hissed in pain rubbing the sting off,"Oww!"

"Maara Kyun bhaiy—" His sentence remained unfinished as Agastya gave another punch that collided directly with his jaw. Not hard enough to injure, but strong enough to sting and leave its mark. Akshay stumbled back, but Agastya caught his forearm, keeping him from losing balance. "Oww Bhaiyu lag rhi h! Maar Kyun rhe ho?" Akshay complained, rubbing his jaw.

(Qww Bhaiyu, it's hurting! Why are you being so violent?)

"Pehla wala uss budhiya ki baat manne ke liye aur dusra humari behen ka dil dukhane ke liye" Agastya sternly replied, with his jaw clenched and an arm still holding his younger brother in place. Akshay squeezed his eyes shut—His worst nightmare had come true again. He didn’t argue. Didn’t defend himself. He just stood there, holding his aching jaw.

(The first one was for listening to that old woman, and the second was for hurting our sister’s feelings.)

In all this, one thing he had realised was, his elder brother's punch still hadn't lost its strength. One thing, however, became very clear to him in that moment that the punches had only gotten stronger with time. "Lagi mujhe!" He whined lightly. Agastya folded his arms across his chest, an evil smirk playing on his lips,"Wahi maqsad tha beta"

(It's hurting Bhaiyu

That was the purpose dear)

"Kitni baar mana kiya h tujhe uss maa beti ke aas paas rehne se aur unki baatein sunne se" Agastya taunted, with a scolding wrapped at the edges of his words with anger simmering just beneath the surface for his younger brother's peanut sized brain. His younger brother barely had a peanut in his head in the name of a brain and this idiot even refused to use that. Akshay, still rubbing his jaw, shot back irritably,"Arey toh bolengi toh kya kaan band krlunga?"

(How many times have I told you to stay away from that mother-daughter duo and to stop listening to their nonsense?

Oh really? If they start talking, should I just shut my ears?)

"Koi smjh Kyun nhi h yaar?" He whined in frustration, feeling cornered from all sides, as no one seemed to understand his point of view. As if his mother, his sister, and now his elder brother had already decided he was wrong without hearing him out. Amongst all, his elder brother had gone to the extent to show him stars to realise what he did wrong. Agastya's jaw clenched as his eyes scrunched in an accusing manner.

(Why isn't anyone understanding me?)

He didn't control his hand and let another smack land on Akshay's head,"Zyada muhh nhi chalne Laga h tera, Bada Bhai hoon na." He asserted the last sentence, with the authority of the elder brother he was. "Arrey itne violent kyun ho rhe ho?" Akshay protested, shooting him an annoyed glare.

(Your mouth’s running a little too much lately. I’m the elder brother, remember

Why are you getting so violent?)

Agastya raised a brow and took a slow, threatening step closer,"Accha beta yaad dilaun bachpan me kaise maarta tha mai jab tu aisi harkatein krta tha?" Akshay didn’t step back. Instead, he did something that caught Agastya completely off guard. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his elder brother’s torso, pulling him into a sudden hug.

(Oh really? Should I remind you how I used to beat you up in childhood when you pulled stunts like this?)

"Aapko yaad dilaun mai ki kaise aapki maar se bachne ke liye aapko hug krr leta tha?" Akshay’s voice came out muffled against Agastya’s chest.
Agastya froze. For a moment, he simply stood there, arms suspended awkwardly in the air, disbelief washing over his face. This wasn’t how the confrontation was supposed to go. He had come in raging, ready to scold, maybe throw a few more punches but not this.

(Should I remind you how I used to hug you just to escape your beatings?)

But Akshay didn’t move. He leaned into him comfortably, like he had done countless times as a child, seeking the same familiar warmth and safety and slowly, helplessly, Agastya gave in to the shenanigans of the brother he had missed the most.

His arm came down and wrapped loosely around his younger, troublesome brother The hug brought back old memories that were somewhere buried under the soil of negligence all these years in the two young hearts of two kids that had always yearned for each other.

Flashback

"Kitni baar mana kiya h meri cheezon ke aas paas mat aaya kro tum dono! Smjh nhi aata h tumhe?" An eight year old Agastya yelled at his two younger brothers, who had knocked his favourite avenger while playing cricket inside the house.

(How many times have I told you guys to stay away from my things? Don't you guys understand?)

Aryan and Akshay, kept their heads bowed down, not uttering a single word in front of the roaring lion. Agastya's rage filled eyes, for a split second gloomily glanced at the marble floor and there lay his beloved Captain America, One arm near the sofa, the shield under the table, and the rest of him looking like Thanos had snapped inside Raizada mansion.

No one had ever dared to behead Captain America other than his two miscreants, Aryan Singh Raizada and Akshay Singh Raizada.

Agastya's fists balled, his rage simmering within him at the two culprits that stood shamelessly in front of him. Neither had they apologised to him nor had they even tried to get rid of the blame. "Ab khade kyun ho tum dono?" he barked, making both Aryan and Akshay flinch at his thunderous tone.

(Why are you guys standing quietly now?)

Agastya's eyes flickered back to his Captain America as he crouched down, carefully scooping the broken pieces into his arms like a soldier collecting a fallen comrade. "Itni buri halat toh movie me bhi nhi hui thi!" He muttered, his heart grieving the tragic demise of his favorite superhero.

(Even in the movies, his condition wasn't this bad!)

Aryan nudged Akshay from the side, silently blaming him for the disaster, but Akshay’s wide eyes were fixed only on Agastya’s trembling fists. Sneakily, Akshay left the room leaving his elder brother with a mourning lion on the floor. Aryan tried to get hold of Akshay but the little minion was too fast to wad away on his little feet without getting caught.

Aryan cursed his younger brother for leaving his side at such a crucial moment where death seemed to await him on the other side of the world. He swallowed hard. Great! he had been abandoned on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Agastya remained on the floor, mourning over his dead toy, too consumed in his grief to notice Akshay’s disappearance.

Just as a few minutes passed, Akshay came back running down the stairs, catching Agastya's attention who had been too busy to notice his absence.

Agastya stood up, about to question where he had vanished but Akshay stopped in front of him and silently pushed forward his blue piggy bank. Agastya froze for a moment, then slowly lifted his gaze to his younger brother, one brow rising in a silent question.

"Papa ne mujhe pichle month 500 rupees diye the. Wo Maine isme rkhe h. Aap ye rkh lo, Mai pkka nhi rounga. I am sorry Bhaiyu" Tiny Akshay explained in his small voice, feeling utterly guilty for his actions as held out the piggy bank with both hands, offering his entire treasure like a peace treat.

(Papa gave me 500 rupees last month. I kept it in here. You can take it, I promise I won’t cry. I’m sorry, Bhaiyu.)

Agastya stared at him stunned. He turned around, glancing at Aryan, Aryan stood there like a statue, eyes wide, clearly not expecting this at all. He hadn't thought that the giver year old kid would do that. Neither of them had expected Akshay to go this far.
A heavy sigh escaped Agastya as he turned back. Akshay was still holding out the blue piggy bank without an ounce of hesitation.

Agastya ran a hand through his hair, his gaze shifting between his youngest brother and the blue piggy bank. "Aksh, tujhe seriously lgta h mai tujhse ye lunga?" Agastya asked, his grumpy kid tone melting into that of a responsible elder brother. Akshay's expressions scrunched in irritation at those words. "Aapko Lena pdega!" He whined stomping his foot onto the marble floor like the stubborn kid he was.

(You seriously think I'll take this from you?

You need to take it!)

"Nhi sudhrega na tu?" Agastya asked crossing his arms against his chest, but Akshay didn't reply. Instead, he did what he always did when Agastya’s anger scared him. He suddenly lunged forward and hugged his elder brother tightly between his small arms.

(You're never going to mend your ways, Right?)

His tiny arms wrapped around Agastya’s waist, face pressed into his brother’s stomach as he mumbled with his charming innocence,"Gussa mat hona Bhaiyu! main theek kar dunga Captain America ko promise. Aap ye five hundred bhi rkh lo mai nhi rounga na hi Papa ko btaunga"

(Don’t be angry, Bhaiyu! I’ll fix Captain America, I promise. You can keep this five hundred too, I won’t cry or tell Papa.)

Agastya remained frozen in his place. He hadn’t been prepared for this move, the one Akshay always used when things slipped out of control. But what touched him more was Akshay's words. Aryan, on the other hand, blinked in confusion. This wasn't the first time but every time he saw Akshay charming their elder brothers, he wondered how the little miscreant managed to always do that.

Agastya couldn't control anymore as his lips finally twitched up in a slight smile with his expressions finally softening. His anger dissolving in seconds. He wrapped his arms around his Aksh, pulling the small boy into a firm embrace.

Even Aryan couldn't control anymore and he ran towards his elder brother, flung onto him like a koala. Agastya stumbled with sudden force, but his arm immediately came around his younger brother in pure protectiveness. Aryan only hugged him tighter.

Agastya let out a long breath that turned into a laugh, the last of his anger escaping with it as he looked down at his siblings clinging to him like their life depended on it. As if their world began and ended there. "Nautanki ho poore tum dono," he muttered shaking his head between his chuckle, as he hugged the boys tighter.

(You two are such drama queens.)

After staying sometime like that, three brothers tangled in a hug in the middle of the room, the broken toy forgotten on the floor. Just then, Akshay suddenly remembered the piggy bank still in his hand. Without breaking the snuggle, he pushed it again towards Agastya. "Yeh le lo na Bhaiyu. Captain America ko hospital le jaana padega."

(Take this, Bhaiyu. Captain America needs to be taken to the hospital.)

That did it. Agastya laughed with Aryan. A proper laugh. "Theek hai," he  said as he stepped back a little, taking the piggy bank but placing it right back in Akshay’s hands. "Isse sambhal ke rakh. Jab tu bada hoga na, tab mere liye naya wala laana. Bigger Captain America."

(Keep this safe. When you grow up, bring me a new and a bigger Captain America.)

He stretched his arms wide to show the size. Akshay’s eyes lit up instantly at the idea. That sounded perfect. When he'll grow up, he can get his Bhaiyu ghe biggest Captain America ever made. "Promise!" He yelled with excitement, grinning ear to ear, showcasing his thirty two pearls.

Flashback over

The moment still felt fresh in Agastya's memory. Years later, the same warmth seeped into his chest, the kind that used to dissolve his anger when two tiny arms would cage him without permission. He just rubbed Akshay's back mumbling the same words he did back then,"Nhi sudhrega na tu?"

(You're never going to mend your ways, Right?)

He leaned back slightly to look at this youngest brother in his embrace but suddenly he couldn't see a grown up twenty-five year but an eight-year old who believed that hugs could fix everything. Even the people of ith hearts that were broken beyond repair. The arms that were around him, weren't tiny anymore but they were equally bulky as him. This wasn't the little Aksh he remembered but it was a grown up man that still believed in the child he was years ago.

For the first time, Agastya had realised that Akshay never hugged him to save himself from a scolding.
He hugged him to save Agastya from himself.

"Subah kya kiya tune?" Agastya asked again as he brushed a hand though Akshay's messed hair. Akshay whined trying to fix his hair but before he could utter a word, Agastya threatened,"Sab suna h maine to jhooth mat bolna"

(What did you do in the morning?

I heard everything so don't try to lie)

Akshay sighed, stepping out of the embrace, guilt settling on his face. His voice dropped as he admitted,
"Bhaiyu maine kiya nhi ho gya." He trailed off, eyes lowering,"Bua bahut force krr rhi thi bhaiyu kya krta..."

(Bhaiyu I didn't do it intentionally, it happened

Aunt was pressuring me so much what would I have done Bhaiyu...)

Agastya sighed, not uttering a word as he just watched him for a few seconds and then exhaled a quiet breath. He understood Akshay's words, somewhere relating to the statement. He knew that sometimes the mother daughter duo could be a headache. They could be very persuasive and Agastya knew exactly how difficult it was to stand your ground in front of them. So, he understood where his brother was coming from.

Akshay’s shoulders slumped as frustration finally surfaced on his face. He looked at Agastya with tired, pleading eyes. "Sab mujhe galat smjh rhe at least aap toh sahi smjho, aap toh mujhe jaante hona" There was no defiance in his tone anymore but just pleading.

Now, he was just a younger brother asking to be understood by the one person whose support mattered the most in that moment. Agastya stared at him for a second, unreadable as always. Then he scoffed,"Jaanta hoon beta ki kitna bada budbak h tu"

"Bhaiyu!" Akshay blinked, offended. Agastya smirked, fully aware that he had hit the correct spot. "Kya Bhaiyu?" Agastya rebuked lightly. Akshay pouted faintly, trying not to look childish, but failing miserably.

(What Bhaiyu?)

"Akal h tere yahan" Agastya tapped Akshay’s forehead lightly, as if trying to produce sound to prove that it's empty, "ya bheja khaali hi aaya tha?" Akshay instantly swatted his hand away angrily, irritation flashing across his face like a child caught doing something stupid.

(Do you even have a brain in there?

Or were you just born without one?)

That tiny act of rebellion made Agastya chuckle at his grumpiness. "Aap na auntiyon ko tarah taane maarne lage ho" Akshay huffed back as he folded his arms across his chest. There was annoyance in his tone, but beneath it sat a strange comfort. His Bhaiyu had been on the edge since they had returned and seeing this old version of his Bhaiyu, Akshay felt something inside their fractured bond quietly stitching itself back together.

(You’ve started throwing taunts like those aunties now)

He wanted everything to feel normal again. He wanted to grow close to his father and his favorite elder brother too but his grandfather’s words held him back every time he tried.

After going through the albums Rashmi had brought the previous night, reliving the best moments he had shared with his elder brothers and his Dad something inside him had shifted, he wasn't able to hold back anymore from reconnecting with them. The memories had hit harder than he expected, softening parts of him he didn’t even realize had turned rigid over the years.

He had missed a lot of time with them and he wasn't willing to miss anything more just because of someone else's words. That was why, earlier that day, he had assured his mother that everything would be fine because this time, he truly intended to make it so.

He had never felt so grateful to Rashmi for making him realise something such as this. A part of him wanted repay this kindness and reconnect with her too but in the process of trying to fix what was broken and reconnect with everyone, he had ended up hurting the one person who mattered most to him, his little sister.

"Toh tu kaam hi aise krta h," Agastya shot back sassily, sass dripping from his voice as if he had been waiting for this whole conversation to say that line. Akshay groaned, plopping down onto the bed defeatedly, done with Agastya's taunts,"Mummy ne bhi bahut sunaya. Kaash mana hi krdiya hota Nikki toh at least itna gussa nhi hoti"

(So you do things that deserve it.

Even Mom scolded me a lot. I wish I had just said no to Nikki in the first place, at least she wouldn’t be this angry.)

Akshay spoke his voice remorseful as he clenched his hair in the fists almost pulling them apart from his head. frustration and regret twisted inside him. His last words came out heavy, soaked in remorse. This wasn’t about getting scolded anymore. This was about hurting the one person he could never bear to upset. Agastya snapped his head towards him at lightning speed, his brows shot up in interest,"Nikki tujhse gussa h?"

(Nikki is angry with you?)

Akshay didn't look up, suddenly finding the floor more interesting as he nodded slowly, shame crawling up his neck as he admitted,"Bahut zyada." He face palmed himself, his memories letting the guilt seep further into the depths of his heart. The curses within himself growing louder every second because honestly he never thought that there would be a day when he would be the reason behind his little sister's tears other than the times he used to tease her mercilessly.

(Too much)

Yet the day stood in front of him today and he wasn't prepared.

A faint smile tugged at Agastya’s lips, one he tried and failed to hide. There was something oddly satisfying about knowing his sister had given Akshay a hard time.

"Accha h, meri hi behen h woh tujhe sabak sikhayegi" Agastya said, patting Akshay’s back with exaggerated approval, as if he was proud of Nikki rather than sympathetic toward his brother. Akshay’s head shot up instantly, eyes narrowing in betrayal and annoyance. He shoved Agastya’s hand away with a glare. "Aap na jao uahan se" he said grumpily, clearly upset that the one person he expected support from was enjoying his misery instead.

(Good, she’s my sister after all. She’ll teach you a lesson.

You just go away from here)

Agastya watched him with an almost wicked amusement that only an elder brother could afford. Akshay genuinely thought his elder brother would help him but the man was instead smiling and enjoying his misery. What better could one expect from Agastya? Agastya harshly shoved Akshay away, knocking over his head as his palm landed on the back of Akshay’s head with a practiced smack that clearly wasn’t new. "Owww," Akshay winced clutching his head. That spot had now officially become Agastya’s favorite punching bag.

"Mai toh yahin baithunga" Agastya announced taking the seat on the bed with full authority as if he owned the room, completely ignoring whatever Akshay had said earlier. Akshay scooted away from him, rubbing his head as he complained irritatedly,"Jab dekho tab maarte rehte h"

(Now, I am sitting here only

You keep hitting me every time you see me)

When he saw no intention of Agastya going away, he got up from the bed in frustration. He snatched his coat, straightened it with sharp, annoyed tugs and snarled angrily at his elder brother,"Baithe rho yahin mai office jaa rha hoon" He wore his coat in one swift and buttoned it before walking towards the washroom muttering,"Koi Izzat hi nhi h"

(Stay right here, I’m going to the office.

There’s no respect for me at all.)

Honestly, he genuinely missed the old days, the same days when he was the eldest at home, the one ordering everyone around, the one people listened to. Now, he was back to being the youngest. Back to being the one getting scolded and jabbed by his brothers while his sister continued with the princess treatment she had been entitled since birth.

"Nautanki!" Agastya remarked chuckling as he shook his head at his official drama queen of a younger brother. Akshay was about to enter the washroom as his steps halted midway when he heard his elder brother's voice from behind, this time without sarcasm and taunts taunts,"Tu bura bhai nahi hai, Aksh. Bas bewakoof hai chote"

(Drama queen!

You’re not a bad brother, Aksh. You’re just an idiot, little one.)

Akshay didn't turn around. He couldn't. He inhaled a deep shaky breath taking those words as they affected his overthinking brain. His brother had managed to strike the point that had been nagging him the most all this time. Those words hit exactly where it hurt the most. The very thought that had been chewing his brain since morning, since the moment he made the wrong decision. Agastya had spoken it aloud so casually, yet so accurately.

Behind him, Agastya noticed the stiffening of his posture and smiled faintly. Since he breathed the air in the room, he knew what had been nagging his menace of a brother.

Initially he was angry at his younger brother but maybe his brother's hug did do it's magic like always. His perspective had changed altogether and he could understand what Akshay was suffering from. He could now see what his brother had been struggling with.

"Aur rhi baat Nikki ki" Agastya continued, his voice softer than usual at the mention of his sister,"toh wo tujhse gussa h aur tu usse manana humse behtar jaanta h Aksh. According to me, just apologise to Nikki properly, wo shyd maaf krdegi tujhe."

(And as for Nikki

She’s angry with you, and you know better than anyone how to make her calm down, Aksh. According to me, just apologise to Nikki properly, she might forgive you.)

Agastya said the words with a softness, that was rare to come from him. Akshay's grip tightened around the handle, his fingers securing the hold as his knuckles went pale. He swallowed hard as he heard his brother getting up from the bed while the latter continued with a slight firmness behind his words,"Ek hi advice dunga chote, agar dubara ye sab nhi chahta h toh just don't be too good to others for your own good Aksh."

(One piece of advice, little brother, if you don’t want all this to happen again, don’t be too good to others at your own expense, Aksh)

He paused a second before adding the words that had clearly been sitting heavy on his heart. "Kuch log acchai ke layak nhi hote and you need to recognise those people before it's too late to fix everything." Silence followed as Agastya said the final words he wanted to convey to the brother he couldn't see struggling anymore.

(Some people don’t deserve your kindness, and you need to recognize them before it’s too late to fix everything)

Akshay stood there, not turning around as his shoulders slightly slumped, eyes closed, absorbing every word like they were being carved into him. He heard the faint sound of the door opening. Then closing. Then Agastya’s footsteps fading away.

Once Agastya left, the silence in the room felt louder than everything that had just been said. Akshay’s eyes finally gave up. The opened with the tears that had been stubbornly clinging to the rims slipped free as he blinked rapidly, looking around the empty room as if someone might catch him in this vulnerable state.

He inhaled deeply, trying to compose himself, but his chest felt unbearably tight. He felt suffocated but moreover pressured from all sides. But beneath all that weight, there was one strange relief that at least someone had understood him.

Without wasting another second, he pushed the washroom door open and stepped inside, shutting it behind him like he was shutting the world out for a moment.

-×-

Agastya descended the stairs with a rare calm settling in his chest. The storm that had been raging inside him since morning had finally quieted after speaking to Akshay. A faint smile rested on his lips as he stepped into the hallway, feeling lighter than he had in hours.

He was about to turn toward the kitchen when something in the lawn caught his attention. No—someone.
His brows pulled together as he narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to make out the figure sitting alone at the garden table. Curiosity replaced the ease on his face as he changed direction and walked toward the lawn.

With each step closer, recognition struck.

It was Nikki.

But what piques him was that she wasn’t doing anything. She was just sitting there. Silently, being completely unaware of her surroundings. Something metallic glinted between her fingers under the daylight. A small silvery object she kept twirling absently, her eyes locked onto it with an intensity that made Agastya’s smile slowly disappear.

What had caught his sister’s attention so deeply that she hadn’t even noticed him approaching?

His steps instinctively slowed. He stopped a few feet away, careful not to make a sound, watching her from a distance as she remained lost in whatever thoughts were running through her head, the silver object spinning lazily between her fingers like it held all her focus captive.

Agastya closed the distance quietly, his shoes barely making a sound against the stone pathway. As he came to stand just behind her chair, his eyes finally caught a clear glimpse of the object spinning between her fingers. It was a silver stud earring. His brows furrowed because Nikki already had both her earrings on.
Which meant one thing, this wasn’t hers and worse… it looked familiar. So who was the owner?

"Ye kiska h?" He asked loudly as he stood Nikki as he stood behind her, hands pushed into his pockets.
Nikki jolted in her seat, a small gasp escaping her lips. Her hand flew to her chest in the reflex and the earring slipped from her fingers but she caught it mid-air before it could hit the ground.

(This is who's)

"Dara Diya!" she breathed out, eyes wide as she looked up at him.
Agastya didn’t react to that. He walked around and pulled a chair in front of her, sitting down with deliberate calm. His gaze didn’t leave her face."That's not an answer to my question Nikki," he said evenly, but the firmness in his tone tightened the air between them,"Kiska h ye?"

(You scared me!

Who's is this?)

As he sat across from her, Nikki mentally cursed her luck. Why...just why God? Out of all people. The one person she was trying to hide things from. Why did he always have to be the one who noticed everything?
She curled her fingers tightly around the earring and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

"Mera!" She lied smoothly because honestly she wasn't even aware of whose it was actually. What would she tell him about it?

(Mine)

The lie came too fast. Agastya’s eyes narrowed almost instantly. He didn’t believe her for even a second. He was clearly not buying it. "Dusra Kahan h?" He interrogated again using his elder brother tone this time, making Nikki gulp.

(Where's the other one?)

"Up...Upar rkha h" she stammered, trying to sound normal, but the slight shake in her voice betrayed her. Agastya’s eyes didn’t leave the small glint of silver peeking through the gaps of her clenched fingers. His mind was working faster than his expression showed. The stud looked painfully familiar, like a memory trying to surface but refusing to fully form. His brows knit together as he stared at it, trying to find where he had seen it before.

(It's...It's kept upstairs)

"Kahin Dekha..." He started, more to himself than to her, his voice laced with suspicion and thought. Before he could complete the sentence, Nikki snapped,"Kya byomkesh bakshi bante rehte ho, kaha na mera h"

(I have seen this somewhere...

Why do you keep acting like Byomkesh Bakshi? I told you, he’s mine.)

Nikki's voice rose as she yelled the sentence, her irritation slipping out from behind her words against her brother's persistent interrogating stance. A part of her knew that she wasn't annoyed by the question but of the thing she was trying so hard to hide. Her fingers tightened more around the earring as if physically shielding it from his sight. There was defensiveness in her tone, the kind that comes when a person is cornered and doesn’t know how long their lie will hold.

Agastya was taken aback by outburst would be an understatement. He just rolled his eyes but let the matter drop off for now. "Fine" He grumbled, leaning back into the chair. But the way he sank into the seat, folding his arms across his chest, carried a silent message. The matter wasn’t finished. He was only postponing it.

Agastya slumped back in his chair , folding his arms to his chest as he muttered,"Don't get irritated, Aksh ka gussa mujhpe utaar rhi ho." At the mention of Akshay’s name, Nikki’s eyes flared instantly. The fire in them was so evident that Agastya almost regretted bringing it up. She shot him a glare sharp enough to cut through him, her jaw tightening.

(You’re taking Aksh’s anger out on me.)

In that moment Agastya realised that after his mom, his sister was the only person whose mere glare pierced his soul. He expected another retort but was glad when she didn’t say a word.
But the way her gaze hardened made it very clear that this was a topic she was not willing to touch.

That was Agastya's cue. He smirked evilly. A slow, wicked smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Time for some entertainment. "Waise..." he drawled casually, getting his younger sister's attention,"akele baithi ho, Dada kahan h tumhare?" He spoke the following words with a teasing behind his tone. Nikki shot him a deadly glare, the kind that should have warned any sane person to stop. But Agastya was far from sane when it came to pulling her leg.

(Btw...

Why are you sitting here alone, where's your Dada?)

"Aapko kaam nhi h?" She chided. Instead of backing off, his smirk only deepened. Her annoyance was fuel to him. He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table, chin propped over his knuckles, eyes gleaming with mischief,"Bahut important kaam h na, tumhari taang kheechna." Nikki's nostrils flared and Agastya couldn’t help the soft chuckle that escaped him. He absolutely loved irritating his little menace.

(Don't you have work

I have a very important job, pulling my leg all the time.)

"Mai mummy ko bula dungi" Nikki whined, threatening Agastya to stop, still contemplating in her head whether bashing a chair at her elder brother's head would be too extreme.
Agastya’s expression changed instantly at the mention of their mother, his playful playfulness vanished. He went back to being grumpy straightened, firmly saying,"Mai nhi darta tumhari mummy se"

(I'll call mom.

I am not scared of your mom)

"Aapki bhi h" Nikki shot back without missing a beat. She unintentionally stated the fact Agastya had always tried his best to deny. Those words felt foreign but hit Agastya's patience hard. Agastya’s jaw tightened, teeth gritting together as he looked away from her, refusing to let her see the sudden flicker of anger that crossed his face. "Meri nhi h" He straight off denied.

(She is your mom too

No, she's not my mom)

"Kyun aapko Papa ne bhagwaan se vardaan me maanga tha?" Nikki rebuked making Agastya turn towards her in pure horror. His eyes filled with disbelief. No one spoke to him like that. No one dared. If it was any other brother, except Shivansh, they would've regretted it. But since it was Nikki, Agastya balled his fists restraining his anger,"Zyada nhi bolti ho tum?" he warned through clenched teeth.

(Did Dad ask for you as a blessing from God or something?

Don't you speak too much?)

But Nikki didn’t flinch. She leaned back into her chair, mirroring his earlier posture, eyes filled with defiance. "Just because aapka naam Agastya h iska mtlb ye mat smjhaiye ki aap bhi kisi Apsara se paida huye h" she muttered dryly as if she wasn't just dealing with the lion.

(Just because your name is Agastya, don’t start thinking you were born from some Apsara.)

His eyes widened at the mythological jab. The audacity of this little brat. Rage simmered within him. He leaned forward and raised his index finger at her in warning coldly so at least now she would take him serious, "Dekho Nikki, mujhse aise baat krna band kro, mujhe mazak pasand nhi h"

(Look, Nikki, stop talking to me like this. I don’t like jokes like this.)

"Toh shuru kyun kiya?" Nikki scoffed, her brows knitted in annoyance as she banged her fist lightly on the table. Agastya sighed, his anger constrained because annoyingly enough, his little sister wasn’t wrong. He was the one who brought it upon himself when he came to tease her.

(So who started it?)

"Jab aap itne sensitive h ki aapse mazak sehen nhi hota toh krte hi kyun h?" Nikki muttered under her breath, snickering at Agastya's non-existent patience level. Agastya's eyes widened instantly as he heard nothing beyond the word 'sensitive'.

(When you're so sensitive that you can't handle jokes, then why do you even do one?)

That was the worst someone had said to him.

"Tum mujhe phir se sensitive bula rhi ho?" How the heck could that girl use that word in his reference? He snapped in disbelief, his patience wearing thin with each second as the word directly hit his beloved muscles he had spent hours building at the gym.

(You're calling me sensitive again?)

Of all the words in the dictionary, that was the one she chose? The one that mocked the very image he had built of himself with years of maintaining a tough exterior? Nikki gave him a tight lipped smile leaning forward onto the table,"Aapka toh naam hi nazuk kali hona chahiye tha"

(Your name should’ve been something like 'delicate flower' instead.)

Agastya's EGO was bruised, that would be an understatement. Agastya was baffled and he couldn't form anymore words. He stared at her, momentarily speechless, then he opened his mouth again to warn her but Nikki just rolled her eyes, slumping back into the chair grumbling intently loud enough for him to hear,"Naam rishi pe kya rkh diya gyaani smjhte h apne aap ko"

(Just because people kept his name after a saint, he has started considering himself some scholar)

"Mai nazuk Kali?" Agastya asked again recovering from the shock with his muscles hurting from the hurt Nikki had caused by her words. Nikki nodded proudly without any hesitation. Agastya gritted his teeth, saying,"Tum...Tum na dadi amma ho"

(Me and a 'delicate flower'

You...You are a grandmother. An old fossil)

He retorted finding the best word in his dictionary that he could throw at his younger sister. Nikki gasped dramatically hearing the accusation,"Haww". The word didn't sit well with her and Agastya smirked finally satisfied with her reaction. Revenge for his muscles had been successfully taken.

Nikki saw the smirk and it annoyed her further hence she did the unexpected, played the trump card, she did the one thing she knew would wipe it off instantly, "Shivansh Bhaiya!" She yelled at the top of the lungs, her voice only to be muffled when a panicked Agastya lunged forward in panic and kept his palm over her mouth. "Chup!" he hissed under his breath, eyes wide in alarm as he looked around instinctively.

(Shut up!)

Nikki struggled against his grip, trying to shout again through his hand. And then, without warning she bit him. "Ahh!" Agastya yelped, pulling his hand back while glaring at her in shock. Nikki opened her mouth to scream again, but Agastya immediately straightened up, composing himself with fake dignity. "Fine, tum choti ho isliye mai tumhe maaf krta hoon" He said calmly, pretending to not be offended by anything that just happened.

(Fine, you're younger than me that's why I am forgiving you)

"Seedhe seedhe bolo na darr gye" Nikki's eyes narrowed at the chameleon of a person in front of her. Agastya smirked but chose silence, refusing to give her that satisfaction. "I forgive you" Nikki muttered grandly, waving her hand in the air as if granting him mercy. Now it was Agastya’s turn to glare,"Maine kab maafi maangi?"

(Just say it directly that you got scared, didn’t you?

When did I even ask for your forgiveness?)

"Toh maine maangi thi?" she snapped back instantly, brows furrowing.
Agastya groaned under his breath.
At that moment, he realised something very important. He could fight the world but he could never win an argument with this girl.

(Did I ask for one then?)

"Accha ye sab chhodho" Agastya said not wanting to dwell further into the never ending argument, another battlefield he would surely lose,"Mujhe kuch important baat krni h." Nikki raised a brow at the uncalled truce. She couldn't comprehend the sudden change in the tone. Her narrowed eyes didn’t relax, but confusion slipped into them. "You don't like Rashmi right?" Agastya asked catching Nikki off guard.

(Okay leave all this

I need to talk to you about something important)

She blinked at him while Agastya lips curved in amusement as he read his younger sister's expressions. Her lips parting slightly as if she had been caught with a secret she didn’t know was visible. For a brief second, her face betrayed everything she had carefully buried under indifference.

The amusement on Agastya's face deepened because he had read her correctly. He had managed to crack something that Nikki hadn’t voiced to anyone and in that moment, he felt oddly proud not because he had caught her, but because he understood her. He realised that maybe she needed someone she could trust with things she didn’t say out loud. And who could be better than him for that role?

"What is even there to like in her?" Nikki grumbled, her expressions going back to solemn annoyance. She crossed her arms defensively, looking away as if the topic itself irritated her existence. Agastya bit the inner of his cheeks to stop the laugh erupting from his throat. "But wo toh kitne pyaar se tujhse baat krti h, gale bhi milne ki koshish ki thi pehle dinn?" He teased again but this time Nikki scoffed instantly, her face twisting in visible distaste,"Gale lagna or gale padne me fark hota h"

(But she talks to you with so much affection, she even tried to hug you on the first day, didn’t she?

There’s a difference between a hug and clinging onto someone.)

The sarcasm in Nikki's tone got Agastya that very moment. He chuckled really hard unable to control his amusement anymore. His shoulders shook as genuine amusement took over. Maybe finally, he has gotten someone in the house, who shared the same insane genes and unfiltered mouth, he had inherited from his parents. "You always prove to be my sister" He blurted out proudly before he could even realise what he was saying.

"Because I am" Nikki shrugged nonchalantly, the previous distaste in her tone vanishing with a subtle pride that was impossible to miss as she reminded her brother. Agastya's expressions softened at that very moment. He just leaned forward on the table with his chin resting on his palm as he said with longing, his gaze fixed on her with an unusual longing that rarely surfaced in his eyes,"Toh call me once"

(So call me once)

"Hain?" Nikki asked him, confused by whatever he said. "Call me Bhaiyu?" Agastya urged, trying his luck his heart slightly walking on trembling hope that she would address him that. That she would at least agree. He tried to sound casual but failing to hide the hope trembling in his voice.

(Huh!)

He hated how vulnerable that made him feel. Ever since he had heard her call Shivansh ‘Bhaiya,’ something had been silently bothering him. He had brushed it off, told himself it didn’t matter, but it did. More than he wanted to admit. Wasn’t he her brother too? Didn’t he deserve to hear that from her lips at least once?—His inner voice questioned him painfully.

Nikki, on the other hand, was a little taken aback because she had never expected her most nonchalant brother to ask her that. But then, her previous irritation took over and she huffed, looking away stubbornly from him,"Nhi bulaungi aap mujhe bahut irritate krte ho"

(No I am not gonna do that, you irritate me a lot)

She wasn’t in the best mood since morning, and Agastya’s earlier teasing had only added onto it. Her annoyance spoke louder than her heart at that moment. Agastya's smile faltered, the softness in his eyes morphing to sadness as he heard her. A silent hurt arose in his heart as he quickly tried to hide it. He swallowed the sting that arose in his throat, looking away for a second—wasn't this the answer he had expected, then why did it hurt him this way?

His heart silently shattered but he didn't let it mirror onto his face. Something inside him cracked silently, but he didn’t let it show. He composed himself within seconds, plastering a faint smile on his face, hardly going back to the usual Agastya Singh Raizada, he was. Reaching out, he gently ruffled Nikki’s hair, the gesture carrying more affection than words ever could, silently telling her that he didn’t mind even though he clearly did.

For the first time, he just let go of his massive EGO and muttered enough to be audible to the person sitting in the room,"I am sorry" his words carried a steadiness as the words felt foreign to Agastya almost unfamiliar but he let them slip. Nikki's eyes widened when she heard them. She snapped her head towards him with a pace that he feared that she might snap her neck. Nikki blinked, contemplating if she had heard right and she wasn't dreaming.

An apology that too from Agastya was something she had never imagined hearing in her lifetime.

But the soft smile on Agastya's face and the sadness lingering behind his identical orbs, made her instantly feel  bad for whatever she had said to him a moment ago. Did she hurt him?— she asked herself, not understanding if she had read the quiet sadness right or not. She replayed her own words in her mind, suddenly unsure if she had gone too far. She wasn't even sure if she had heard her elder brother right, the apology was something she had never dreamt of hearing from Agastya ever.

"Ab?" Agastya asked again, his words bordering a plea that came from the bottom of his heart. Nikki gulped, unable to understand that was Agastya being serious with her right now or was he just teasing her again. Her mind was confused, her heart slightly shaken. Was he serious? Or was this another one of his tricks? But something in her elder brother's eyes told that it wasn't the latter. Yet still, Nikki wasn't ready to call him anything. He had been nothing but annoying to her so she spoke in a low tone, nodding her head with authority,"Sochungi."

(Now?

I'll think about it)

She said with finality and Agastya's hope again shattered. What better had he expected from his luck?— he  mocked his miserable self, reckoning it was even expecting something. What had he even thought? That things would change in a moment? That she would instantly accept him just because he had swallowed his pride?—The thoughts hurt him physically even though it came from him.

"Accha chalo ab, apna chota sa dimaag zyada mat chalao. Dard hone lagega" Agastya flickered her head, earning a whine from the young creature. Instead a mischievous smirk played on his lips as he said,"Ye btao saath dogi mera kisiki akal thikaane lagane me"

(Alright, now stop overworking that tiny brain of yours. It might start hurting.

Tell me, will you help me set someone’s brain straight?)

"Kaun?" Nikki asked her ears piquing in pure interest while her brows furrowed. Agastya leaned forward and whispered foxily, the smirk never leaving his lips,"Chudail." Nikki's eyes widened as she gawked at him as if he had said an alien language.

(Whose?

A witch)

-×-

The lights on the other side of the Raizada mansion flickered before stabilising, casting a soft amber glow over the empty street outside the Raizada mansion. Beneath the lonely lamppost across the road, a pair of eyes tracked Ekaghra's car disappearing through the mansion gates.

His black hoodie, the same from what he had worn the time he was in the store when she saw him. A faint curve twitched his lips upwards when the remembrance of those dark brown orbs touched him. The faint trace of his expensive cologne seemed almost out of place in the night air, as if even the wind carried a memory of him. His well-built frame rested under the cone of light, the hood shadowing most of his handsome face except for the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. A rare crack in his otherwise patience nature of his just because of her.

Slowly, he slipped his phone out of his pocket. The gum between his teeth moved lazily as his jaw worked in rhythm with his thoughts. Without taking his eyes off the mansion, he tapped the very first number in his call log. As the phone touched his ear, the ring went for once and then twice as a voice echoed from the other side of the call line.

"Hello" A heavy voice grumbled from the other side. The smirk on his lips lightened as he perched his head, his free hand slipped deeper into the pocket of his hoodie casually, unbothered, as if this were the most ordinary update of his night,"Woh aa gye h Dad. I am still there"

(Dad he has arrived)

-×-

"Idea toh accha h aapka,"Nikki complimented, nodding her head with an impressed smile. She hadn't expected something so good from her thick-skinned perpetually grumpy brother. Agastya raised his invisible collar, proud of his own mind's creation. She leaned into the chair, adding with a smirk tugging at her lips,"Itne bhi bure nhi ho aap"

(Your idea is good

You aren't that bad of a person)

"Mai bilkul bura nhi hoon smjhi?" Agastya said playfully glaring at the miscreant. Nikki giggled, not even a little scared by the glare thrown at her way. Just then the door opened and Nikki's ears piqued at the sound. Her head snapped toward it as recognition flashed across her face.
"Papa" she whispered lowly, already on her feet, getting up while pushing the chair back in the process.

(I am not at all a bad person)

The note from the afternoon flashed in her mind and before she could process why her heart had begun racing, her feet were already moving. She hurried toward the hall almost instinctively. Agastya's gaze even snapped towards the hall as he saw Nikki getting up.

He glanced at his watch and deciphered that it may be his Dad and Aryan but there was something in Nikki's restlessness that gnawed at him. That made a quiet unease settle in his chest. Still, he pushed his chair back and followed her trail without questioning it.

"Papa," Nikki yelled happily as she reached the hall and saw Ekaghra and Aryan entering through the main door, with the former seeming to advise something to the latter mid-walk. Just then, Nikki rushed to her Dad, colliding into him with such a force that made him stumble a step or two. "Arrey, sambhal ke" Ekaghra laughed warmly, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to steady both of them. Nikki clung to him tightly, almost as if she needed the hug more than usual.

(Be careful)

The exhaustion on Ekaghra’s face dissolved within seconds as he held his daughter close. The stress, the long hours, the weight of the day, everything faded in that one embrace. Truthfully, this was the most heartfelt welcome he had ever received after returning from work.

On the other hand, Nikki's arms only tightened onto her father as she pressed her face into her father's midriff, hiding there like a child who had found the safest corner of the world. The note from the afternoon has disheveled her in ways she couldn't even speak out loud. The words still replayed in her mind like an old cassette. After everything in the morning, the note had only added onto the heaviness of the day.

She didn’t need explanations. She didn’t need solutions. She needed just a hug, a hug from her Papa. Something that could make her forget every uneasiness, every negativity that crawled into her heart. Ekaghra looked down at her amused, his fingers automatically slipping into her hair as he ruffled it with affection. He glanced at Aryan from the corner of his eye, who stood there pretending to be unbothered but was very clearly low-key jealous of the royal welcome their father had just received.

"How was your day?" Ekaghra asked, ruffling Nikki's hair with affection. His voice softening without him even realising it. "Good" Nikki replied back mumbling into him. On the other hand, Shivanya, who had just entered the hall was a spectator to the whole event. A tender smile curved onto her lips as she watched her husband’s face light up in a way she hadn’t seen for years. She was more than happy seeing the smile on Ekaghra's face, the moment Nikki hugged him so dearly.

The way Nikki clung to him, the way Ekaghra held her without hesitation, it filled a quiet corner of Shivanya’s heart with a satisfaction she couldn’t explain.

"Papa ki bacchi, aaj mujhe toh aise hug nhi kiya gya tha?" She mischievously rebuked, playfully glaring at her daughter at the biasedness. There was no jealousy in her tone but pure playfulness. If anything, she enjoyed the moment more than her husband, seeing him cherish the years he had missed onto all these years.

(Papa's princess, you didn't hug me today like this?)

"Mai krr deta hoon" Aryan spoke tiredly, but his tone carried that familiar childlike softness as his arms opened wide open to engulf his mother into a hug. Shivanya melted into the hug without resistance. Aryan held her from the side, his head lowering slightly as if he had shrunk back into the little boy he once was. One of her hands rose instinctively to his face, cupping his cheek with such tenderness that it almost looked rehearsed by years of habit. "Mumma," he whispered, and in that single word lived every version of him she had ever known.

(I'll do that)

"Aapke pati mujhse bahut kaam krwate h" He complained about his father, pointing at the accused with his hand. "Ekaghra!" Shivanya said in name with firmness, he eyes already overshadowing with a protective stance that had taken over her the moment she heard her husband making Aryan overwork. She was practically glaring daggers at Ekaghra through her eyes.

(Your husband makes me do a lot of work)

"Jhootha h tumhara laadla" Ekaghra countered, defending himself from the false accusation immediately. Aryan, meanwhile, lifted his head, glancing at his mother with an exaggerated set of puppy eyes, silently asking her if he could ever lie to her. Shivanya only shook her head at the familiar drama, smiling despite herself as Aryan hugged her tighter.
But in the middle of all this warmth, someone else in the room stood very still.

(Your beloved son is a liar)

"Mumma's boy" Agastya grumbled, under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear, his arms folding across his chest as he deliberately looked away from the sight.
Aryan shot him a glance and replied casually,"Aap bhi the aapko yaad dila doon toh"

(You were also one of I should remind you)

Shivanya froze at the sentence so did Agastya, old memories flooding their memories at the mere sentence. It was as if someone had opened a locked trunk of memories without warning. The old hugs, the careless laughter, the affectionate scoldings, everything rushed back so vividly that for a second it felt like the years in between had never happened. Shivanya gulped, giving a subtle side glance at her second eldest while Agastya remained stoic on the surface, as if the inner turmoil affected him in no way.

Shivanya saw the heaviness, the memories he was trying not to remember and Her heart cracked silently, but she swallowed it down like mothers always do but she held herself back. She stepped in instantly, "Ab jhagdo mat, chalo khana lagati hoon" she spoke in the motherly tone, though the faint tremor behind her words wasn't something Ekaghra missed as he settled into the sofa with Nikki.

(Okay don't fight now, let's go, I'll serve the food)

Even though he wasn't unaffected by Aryan's statement, the reality clicked quite quickly into him. His eyes moved around the room, instinctively accounting for everyone. Shivansh might be in his room. Amrita and Rashmi were somewhere inside their rooms but what worried him was his youngest son's absence. "Aksh kahan h?" He asked almost on the cue.

(Where is Aksh?)

"Dopeher me office gya tha uske baad jabse wapas aaya h tabse aapne kamre se nikla hi nhi" Shivanya answered, her words settling the room into a quiet silence. Except Aryan, everyone in the room of what had happened in the morning and they somehow caught the cue why Akshay had preferred a lock in suddenly.

(He went to the office in the afternoon, since the moment he had returned, he didn't came out of his room)

No one commented, but the understanding passed silently between them. Yet Nikki remained silent through all this, not even giving a subtle reaction at her Dada's absence. She remained seated at her place, still half-hugging her father as Akshay’s name floated in the air around her. Ekaghra glanced at Shivanya, who silently passed him a look that said she'll explain to him later. "Chalo sab utho khana khaana h, go freshen up" Shivanya said grabbing the attention of the room.

Slowly everyone either headed to their room to freshen up or to the dining hall.

(Okay guys freshen up now, I'll serve the food)

-×-

"Tere neel nayan ki kashti me ab saari umar bitani h..."

(Now I want to spend my whole life in the boat of your blue eyes…)

The soft melody of Aditya Rikhari's songs played through his room like usual. The curtains flew into the room as the gush of the winds reached him. In the middle of that quiet room, Viaansh sat by the window. One leg folded, the other stretched, his back resting against the cold wall as he stared outside, gazing at the moon as if it carried the face he had been yearning to see.

No matter how still the night felt, yet his heart was restless. Sleep didn’t leave Viaansh that night. It was stolen from him. Snatched away mercilessly by memories that refused to let his mind rest. Every time he shut his eyes, Nikki was there.

Either smiling or arguing. Even the most absurd comments from her, now made him laugh. He felt as if he was relieving every memory from the morning. He could still stare at the moon and see her eyes. The same dark brown orbs that were looking at him with those eyes that had managed to make him feel things he never had words for.

A small smile stretched across his lips, something very weird to do when he was alone. He didn't feel like going on a bike ride today but to sit and stare at the moon from the window that never caught his attention. This was Nikki's magic according to him, she was making him do things he never did, making him forget what he was.

It was just one meet and she left so much effect on him. He doesn't know what the future might hold for him.

He glanced at his bed, the sheets remained stretched without an ounce of crumble on them. All because he hadn't even slept on it. Everything was useless to him currently. The bed, the song, everything that came his way.

"Maine Raatein guzari tere Ishq me saari.."

(I have spent my nights all in your love...)

The song continued to play syncing to Viaansh's situation but the guy was long gone. Sleep didn’t stand a chance today because tonight, he didn’t want it. He wanted her memories more. The moon rays fell onto his face, his heavenly sculptured features radiating under the moonlight as if the night itself had paused to admire him. His handsome features are adorned by the moon itself, making him look almost divine in the quiet glow of the night. His blue eyes caught the silver light, shimmering beneath it.

He walked to the chair where his bike jacket hung. Picked it up and slid onto himself in one swift, the leather settling onto his shoulders like the fabric has memorised those broad shoulders. He rolled his neck once and adjusted the collar with an effortless ease.

His fingers moved to his hair next, pushing it back with a careless swipe,
Just the way, she had seen him. He adjusted his hair, giving off his regular badboy look. As his hair strands were messily pushed back, the silver in his ear became visible, glinting under the silver light.

There was something unfairly attractive about the boy who dressed like this at midnight simply because a girl had taken his sleep away. And he was gonna steal her away.

He reached for his keys, the metallic jingle cut through the song but this time a small smile curved his lips again, slower this time. Viaansh never checked his look twice, he knew he was effortlessly handsome. But this time he turned towards the mirror again, checking if everything was in place.

Because when it came to her, he was never gonna take any chances.

-×-

Nikki made her way upstairs, she hadn't been able to sleep for the past three hours, tossing and turning onto the bed. The note revolved in her mind, her Dada's silence gnawed at her, the black hoodie with the silver stud flashed into her brain and a sudden pair of blue eyes made her heart forget everything.

Since she wasn't able to sleep, she decided to go downstairs and have some water because apparently the jug in her room was empty as well. The world seemed to be between her and her sleep tonight. Her mind mostly focused on, how quiet her Dada looked at the dinner table. He wasn't even talking to Rashmi as well, no matter how much the latter tried.

She suddenly felt bad for fighting with him. A knot arose in her chest, and she seriously wanted to check on him before going to him but she let go of the idea. She wasn't ready to fight with him again. Not when she had so much on her mind.

Just as she tugged at the door of her room's door, her eyes downcast while she entered and closed it behind herself with a sigh. She turned around to almost get an heartattack. "Ahh" she let out a shriek low enough for not others outside to hear, her hand reaching her heart as she saw him there.

The same annoying pair of blue eyes.

Her eyes widened in shock. Was he seriously there or was she experiencing some sleep deprivation effects?— she couldn't believe her eyes as she saw him standing near her open window, guessing he had sneaked in from there.

Leaning casually against the frame like it belonged to him more than it did to her room. Moonlight spilled over him, cutting across the black bike jacket he wore, making the leather look darker and sharper, looked effortlessly handsome, like he hadn’t even tried and yet still managed to look completely impossible to ignore in his calm posture.

Hearing her shriek, his blue eyes lifted to her the moment she noticed him and Nikki froze. So one of her troubles had himself come to adorn her with his presence. Her breath caught somewhere between confusion and disbelief.

But before everything, something struck her mind before shutting the door a little too quickly, instinctively lowering her voice,"Tum Yahan Kya krrr rhe ho?"

(What are you doing here?)

Viaansh’s lips curved into that familiar, shameless smirk as he lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug,"Tumhare baare me soch rha tha, isliye neend nhi aa rhi thi." His words came out effortlessly flirty as if he didn't fear anyone could hear them.

(I couldn't sleep because I was thinking about you)

Nikki wasn't astonished by his words she already had a certain playboy image of him in her head but still, something in the ease of his confession caught her slightly off guard. She quickly brushed the feeling aside.

"So tum meri neend kharab karne aa gaye?" Nikki’s eyes narrowed immediately as she snarled, her irritation masking the way her heart had skipped at his words. He didn’t answer that directly. Instead, he pushed himself off the window frame and took a step closer, casually pulling something from his hand and placing it into hers, a helmet, much smaller for his head though.

(So you came here to ruin my sleep instead?)

"You need to come with me," he said, voice low and certain as if he had decided already for her. As if the destinies had already been set. Nikki looked down at it, her eyes still wide but then she looked back at him asking in bewilderment,"Where?"

"On a bike ride." Viaansh spoke casually as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. A pause settled in the room. For a moment, Nikki just stared at him, trying to process what was happening. This guy had sneaked into her room in the middle of the night and now wanted to take her somewhere? Was he even listening to himself?

Her irritation was rising yet her brows furrowed further when she reasoned the absurdity of the idea,"Why? Like… why me? Go with your friends Viaansh." His name sounded like a melody to his ears when it came from her.

Viaansh wanted to tell her to repeat but something in her words finally took his restlessness away,"They aren’t the ones keeping me awake Nikita," he said softly, taking another step closer now,"You are."

He asserted the last two words, directly looking into her eyes. Nikki stepped back instantly, suddenly the space between them felt smaller than the room itself. She wanted to shove the helmet back into his face but something about the divinely features kept her from hurting them. They felt too precious.

Nikki’s grip tightened slightly on the helmet, her palms turning sweaty due to the guy in front of her but she refused to show it. Viaansh just smiled, holding onto the helmet with a much softer grip, studying her like she was the only thing in the world worth paying attention to at this hour.

"Toh chaliye Devi," he said, a faint teasing edge returning to his voice as his lips curved slightly. While he leaned forward, near her ear whispering huskily the last words like a secret meant only for her,

(Then let's go, Devi)

"Otherwise I might have to steal you away princess and your brothers won't like it"

-×-

Ek dinn chapter reh jyega aur Mai update ho jaungi.
Assignments hi assignments the toh imma very sorry for late update😭. Life sucks in uni. I submitted Idk how many assignments in one go💀
Viaansh is so me, random Banda ekdum😂💀. I like him (not more than Darshu though)

Darshu is my dream guy and Viaansh is me😭✋.

Unedited✨ (bhool chuk maaf)
Hehe💀