Hello Violets...
Kaise ho sab ?
This chapter will began with Arini's Pov after she woke up from Nap .
Also, reminder: this chapter is unedited, so... read at your own risk 😅
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Now go on... continue reading! 👀✨
[10.2K Words]
________________________
Char botal vodka
Kaam mera roz ka...
Na mujhko koi roke
Na kisi ne roka...
———————————————
Ugh. These jerkasses.
I had planned to take a nap. A proper one. Shut my eyes, slow my breathing, let my body recover while my mind stayed alert. Instead, I was surrounded by barking voices, hollow threats, and the stench of stupidity. They kept talking as if noise alone could intimidate me. It was almost insulting.
That female voice was still not audible. Which meant only one thing.
She was not here yet.
Interesting.
I could kill all of them right now. Snap necks. Fire bullets. Break bones until the floor drowned in blood. It would take me less than a minute to turn this room into a morgue. But then I would lose my chance to see her. And I had not walked into a Bratva hub, allowed myself to be drugged, tied, and dragged like a trophy just to slaughter replaceable men.
I was here for her.
So yes, I was willingly tied to this chair, surrounded by these brainless fools, because curiosity had always been my poison and my power. I wanted to see that girl. Her face. Her courage. Or the delusion that made her believe she could touch me and walk away alive.
Through barely parted lashes, I observed the room with clinical precision. It was dull, functional, stripped of any personality. A large reinforced window on my left, probably bullet resistant. A steel bat leaning casually near the door, placed there more for intimidation than actual use. Twelve, maybe thirteen armed men. Poor stance. Loose grip on their guns. Their confidence came from numbers, not skill.
Predictable. All of them.
I continued pretending to be unconscious for a few more hours. Long enough to make them comfortable. Long enough to let their guard down. Time meant nothing to me. Patience had always been my strongest weapon.
Then I heard it. "Is she still unconscious?"
I almost laughed.
Of course not, you absolute moron. But congratulations for underestimating me so thoroughly.
One of the men hesitated. "Should we spill water on her, ma'am?"
I would kill him for that suggestion alone.
Over my dead body. This dress cost more than your entire bloodline and future combined.
A soft laugh slipped past my lips. Controlled. Mocking. Dangerous.
"The audacity," I murmured.
I opened my eyes slowly. Deliberately. I turned my gaze toward the nearest guard and stared straight into him, not at his face but deeper, into the fragile illusion of courage he carried. His shoulders stiffened instantly. His breathing changed. Fear flashed across his eyes before he could suppress it.
Good.
The girl stepped into my line of sight.
I studied her without emotion, without hesitation, the way a predator assesses prey. Mask covering her face completely. Hair tied into a tight bun, dark brown, disciplined. Almond shaped brown eyes that tried to appear steady but betrayed curiosity. No earrings. Slightly outward ears. Height approximately five feet one. Slim frame. No visible combat scars. No fighter's tension in her muscles.
Conclusion reached quickly.
She could not fight me.
She shouted, disbelief thick in her voice. "YOU WERE CONSCIOUS?"
I exhaled lazily and leaned back against the chair. My hands were still tied behind me, metal biting into my wrists, but my posture remained relaxed. Comfortable. In control.
"Oh, you are so noisy," I said calmly. "You sound like a chicken screaming right before it gets cooked."
Her jaw tightened, anger flaring.
I tilted my head slightly, eyes cold. "But let me give you some advice. Improve your guards. They are painfully stupid. If someone intelligent enough walks into your so called secret Bratva hub, at least double check after drugging them. Common sense is not illegal, you know."
"I do not take people seriously who are tied up and in my mercy," she snapped.
A faint smile curved my lips. Sharp. Unforgiving.
"Oh?" I asked softly. "Am I in your mercy?"
Slowly, without drawing attention, I moved my bangled wrist and pressed the hidden switch on the bracelet. Heat ignited instantly, sharp and merciless.
I shifted my tone, deliberately mocking fear. "Oh my Lord. I am terrified. What will happen to me now? Will you kill me?"
She laughed, the sound arrogant. "So much overconfidence."
I chuckled. "Did your higher boss allow you to kill me? What will happen when Ikhail finds out you killed his prey? Will he spare you, or will you beg before he ends you?"
The bracelet burned hotter. My skin screamed. Pain exploded through my wrist, sharp and consuming. Blisters formed instantly. Flesh protested violently. But pain was temporary. Control was permanent.
She said nothing.
I tilted my head again. "What happened, honey? I thought I was in your mercy."
She rushed forward and grabbed my jaw, fingers digging in. "Yes. I cannot kill you. But I can take everything from you. I can break your bones."
My wrist felt like it was on fire. I needed to move the bracelet into my palm. Carefully. Slowly. I shifted my hand. The burn intensified, searing into my nerves. My palm screamed in agony. But my face remained blank. Emotionless.
I pressed the bracelet against the wires and began rotating it.
She stepped back, watching me. "What now? Cat got your tongue?"
I smirked faintly. "No. I was thinking. What kind of girl joins Bratva and dares to try killing me? And why? Because I do not remember Ikhail or his son having any personal interest in you."
The wires weakened. I could feel it.
God, it burned. My palm throbbed violently. The pain crawled up my arm. But pain had never been my weakness. It was just information.
She turned away dismissively. "An enemy's enemy is a friend. I do not need relations to help him."
"Loyal," I remarked coldly.
"Very much," she replied, lifting the steel bat.
The wires snapped.
Only ropes remained.
Fast. Faster. I did not want even a scratch on my face today.
She swung the bat with force.
I slid the bracelet back onto my wrist, caught the bat mid air effortlessly, and rose from the chair in one fluid motion. I wrapped my forearm around her neck from behind, cutting off her breath just enough to remind her of reality.
I turned off the bracelet and pulled my gun from the inner pocket of my poshak, a pocket custom designed for weapons. Precision mattered.
I pressed the barrel against her temple and looked at the guards calmly. "If anyone moves, I shoot her. And you all know I have two lawyer best friends who enjoy paperwork."
"LOWER YOUR GUNS," she screamed, panic finally cracking her voice.
They obeyed instantly.
I glanced at my wrist and palm. Burned. Blistered. Raw. Skin peeling.
"Tch," I muttered. "This fucking Anuj. Cannot build one thing without consequences."
I looked back at her. "You are weak. And delusional. Thinking you could kill me. A textbook example of stupidity."
I turned toward the guards. "One by one. Start shooting yourselves. If you want her alive. Cause I also want some entertainment after being bored for hours ."
Silence filled the room.
I pressed the gun harder against her temple. "Look at that. None of them wants you alive. How tragic."
A gunshot rang.
One body fell.
Another shot.
Then another.
Twelve gunshots. Twelve bodies collapsing. Blood splattered the floor and walls.
I chuckled softly. "Impressive loyalty. Still idiots."
I exhaled. "Now that it is only us, let us fight fair. If I win, you reveal your face. If you win, you may escape."
I released her and stepped back.
She lunged at me desperately.
I ducked effortlessly and kicked her calf muscles. She crashed to the ground.
"Oh. Did it hurt?" I asked in mock concern. "Come on. Get up."
She attacked again, wild now, aiming for my abdomen.
I grabbed her wrist, twisted sharply, struck the joint, and heard the crack. Her scream tore through the room.
"Oops," I said calmly. "I think I broke it."
I punched her face hard. "That was for assuming I was ever in your mercy."
I slammed her against the wall by her neck. "At this point, I do not care about seeing your face. I care about ruining it. How dare you swing a bat at me."
Punch.
"How dare you to think it will ever land on my face ?"
Punch.
"My hands will take weeks to get recover now because of you but I have returned the favor for that , yours will take months ."
Punch.
Blood poured from her nose. Her lip split open.
I smiled faintly. "Are you okay?"
I kicked her abdomen mercilessly. "Because I do not care."
Her eyes swelled shut. I do not fight for entertainment. I fight to destroy.
She crawled, desperation overtaking strategy, and threw powder toward me. I turned away instantly. Poison.
She jumped out of the window. I ran after her.
She landed on sand and survived the fall. I fired once. Twice. Thrice. She ducked, fast despite injury.
The door behind me burst open.
More footsteps. More enemies.
Fine. I still had bullets and I needed some entertainment anyways .
I raised my gun and aimed at the door. I kept my finger on the trigger when I saw a familiar figure.
AKSH.
He ran straight toward me, yanked me so close that I barely had time to react, wrapped one arm around my waist and the other around the back of my head, and buried his face in the crook of my neck.
What happened to him?
His voice came out rough, broken. "Why are you so careless?"
"Why do you care?"
His heartbeat was racing. Fast. Too fast. I could feel it against my chest.
Was he worried for me?
No. Why would he worry for me.
He is a jerk.
"Because I care for you," he said, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes, "and I cannot stop caring about you."
What did he just say?
Is he alright?
Since when did the jerk Singhania start caring about me?
He suddenly dropped to his knees and took both my hands in his, pressing his forehead against my palms, against the bangles.
What the hell is he doing?
Did he find me because of these bangles?
Then I felt it.
A warm drop fell on the burned skin of my wrist.
Is he crying?
I dropped to my knees as well and pulled his head gently onto my shoulder.
Whatever is wrong with him,
I do not want him to cry like this.
I signaled his guards to leave the room, then turned slightly to block him from their view.
He started sobbing, his grip tightening as if he was afraid I would vanish the moment he loosened it.
Hey Bholenath.
Isko kya ho gaya.
"What happened, Aksh?" I asked softly. "I did not... die, yet."
He snapped back in that same broken, crying tone, "Shut up. Just shut up. And let me breathe."
I blinked.
Did he just yell at me?
I didn't asked him to stop breathing.
I have never been this confused in my entire life.
He was holding me like he would crush my ribs if I moved, telling me to shut up, and crying at the same time.
Oh God, I am already terrible at consoling people.
What am I supposed to say?
Do not cry?
Or maybe, you are an adult so behave like one? No. No. That sounds rude.
Oh, I miss Bhavya.
She would have known exactly what to say and how to handle this.
"Aksh, my dress will get drenched by your tears. Stop crying," I said.
Really, Arini?
Out of everything you could have said, this is what came out?
UGHHH.
After manipulating half the world, this is how I respond to someone crying on my shoulders.
GREAT.
He looked up at me.
Fatafat raita samet lo, Aaru, before this jerk starts mocking your emotional intelligence.
I quickly wiped his tears with my thumb. "Let's go..."
He nodded.
God, he looked adorably stupid right now. His nose was red, cheeks flushed pink, eyes slightly puffed. Like an overgrown toddler who just lost his toy.
I bit back a laugh.
We both stood up, and I said, "Let's stay in Rajasthan for a few days. Raani Maa requested both of us to stay at the palace."
"What about the great Anavika Singh Rajput?" he asked. "Will she even let me breathe there?"
"Breathe kya," I replied casually. "She'll even offer you coffee. With poison mixed in."
He laughed, and together we walked out of the room.
[A/N : I can relate with Arini , we both have zero emotional intelligence irl .]
Arini and Aksh stepped out of the building when a car screeched to a halt in front of them. Aakarsh stepped out, his expression sharp and unreadable as always.
I walked straight to him and hit his arm. "I told you to find me in the morning, and it's two in the afternoon now. What kind of jiju are you?"
"Aayi nahi ki nautanki shuru ho gayi, haina," he replied flatly, clearly unimpressed.
She huffed. "At least tell me you found the hub and saved those girls."
He looked at her with a slow, dangerous calm. "Arini, did you really forget that I am a mafia king, not some street robber? You risked your life and still thought I wouldn't find the hub?"
She looked away, jaw tightening. "Still, you didn't come to find me."
He stared at her in disbelief. "Your husband had the entire Churu blocked. My team couldn't even get proper access, and I didn't want to start killing his guards."
She made an exaggerated 'O' face.
Another car arrived then, and Anavika stepped out. She walked straight up and pulled Arini into a tight embrace. "Why did you go alone to save that green eyed brat? And he was perfectly fine the whole time. I told you to stay away from him, and now look at these blisters on your hands."
"Di, I am okay," Arini said quietly.
Anavika moved to her car and returned with an ice filled bag. "Take this. Your jiju ate my head off, asking me to bring ice for you, water for you, snacks for you, and what not."
Arini looked at Aakarsh. He immediately looked away.
She hit his arm with a grin. "Ohhh, so you're not that heartless after all."
She slipped her hand into the ice filled bag and drank some water.
She is smiling and grinning with them. A real smile. The kind that reaches her eyes and softens her entire face. She looks genuinely happy, relaxed, tension free, like the weight she usually carries on her shoulders has been set aside for a while.
The moment we stepped out of the building and she spotted Mr. Rathore, she ran straight to him and hit his arm, almost aggressively, like she was angry at him for something, yet smiling all the while. There was no hesitation, no guarded posture. Just her, raw and unfiltered.
Whenever I have seen them together, I have always felt happy for her. He treats her like a sister, scolds her, worries for her, get roasted by her, get irritated by her, handle her tantrums. But at the same time, a sharp sting of jealousy twists inside me. Around him, she is never serious. She laughs freely, jokes shamelessly, hits him without thinking twice. She lets herself be careless.
She is never like that with me.
Will I ever get that version of her? Again ?
You ruined it yourself. Now shut up.
I clenched my jaw. Even my subconscious refuses to take my side.
I didn't walk toward them. I stayed where I was because I didn't want to disturb that moment. I couldn't hear their conversation, but I could guess it easily. Anavika di must have asked her to go with them. I know the tone she uses, commanding yet full of concern. And I know Arini well enough to know she probably refused.
Why would she refuse?
She turned toward me suddenly, and my heartbeat spiked again, sharp and reckless. At this rate, I will die of a heart attack before I even get the courage to confess my feelings to her.
She walked up to me, stopping way too close for my sanity, and said casually, "Where were you living for the past two days? Let's go. You take your stuff and we'll go to the palace together."
I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. "I had booked an estate for the team to stay, and for both of us too. But fine, we'll stay in the palace."
God save me from that aatankvadi Anavika di.
By any chance, did you mean Arini when you said God?
Shut up.
After an hour of driving, we reached the estate because I had to collect my stuff. The moment we entered, the first thing I saw was Bhavya pacing around the hall like a restless mouse searching for cheese.
She spotted Arini and instantly rushed toward her, completely ignoring my existence, like I was some decorative wall or an invisible piece of furniture.
I rolled my eyes and went upstairs. My bag was already packed. I hadn't done anything since arriving in Rajasthan anyway. I had been restless the entire time, my mind completely messed up, tangled and consumed by thoughts of Arini.
I grabbed my bag from the room and came back downstairs. That's when I saw Bhavya holding Arini's hand.
I mean, to apply ointment.
She spoke softly but firmly, "Mam, please."
Arini exhaled and sat back on the couch. "Bhavya, it's alright. You're getting tense for no reason."
"Mam, you said we're friends outside the office," Bhavya insisted, not backing down. "And this is not your office. So give me your hands."
Arini hesitated for a moment, then finally stretched both her hands toward her. Bhavya immediately began applying ointment to her burned, blistered hands, her touch careful and gentle, as if even the slightest pressure might hurt her.
I stood there silently, watching the scene, my chest tightening at the sight of those injuries, realizing just how much she had gone through, quietly, without letting anyone see the depth of it.
[A/N : Le arini .. I want entertainment so let's fight ]
Arini and Aksh entered the palace. She went straight upstairs, while he paused to greet the elders respectfully before following her.
They reached a room that was clearly Arini's. He knew it instantly because a bold engraving on the door read, "Only Aaru's."
He frowned slightly and asked, "Arini... this is Mr. and Mrs. Rajput's palace, so why is your name engraved here?"
She looked at him, her expression softening, and then smiled. "It's a very long story. Anavika di had this engraved."
He nodded, glancing around the room, taking in the familiarity and quiet ownership of the space, while Arini's mind drifted back to an old memory.
Flashback 14 years ago ~
"MAAAAA!!"
"RAAANIII MAAAAAAAA!!"
Little Anavika and Arini were screaming at the top of their lungs, both gripping handfuls of each other's hair, fists tangled tightly, neither willing to let go.
Reem Rajput rushed in and gasped. "Oh God. Anu and Aaru, what are you both doing? Leave each other's hair right now."
Arini spoke through big, tear filled eyes, her voice trembling. "Nooo, she is very bad... ghamandi hain ye. She said it's not my palace and I have no right to live here."
Anavika gasped in disbelief. "Maa, she is lying. I just told her not to go to the basement chambers. Dad once denied me too, so why should she go there?"
Arini cried harder. "Nooo, Raani maa... she is lying too. When I tried to go, she stopped me and grabbed my hair, so I grabbed her hair too."
Reem glared at Anavika and said firmly, "Anuu, leave her hair. She is younger than you. Behave properly."
Anavika huffed but finally released Arini's hair.
Reem then crouched down to Arini's level and gently wiped her tears. "Arini beta, this palace is yours too. Don't take your sister's words to heart. Your Ranvijay uncle denied her once, so she thought it was banned. Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you. Don't cry, beta."
Arini sniffled. "Mujhe bhi yaha apna room chahiye, jisse jab main yaha aau toh ye mujhe dubara aisa na bole."
Reem nodded immediately. "Done. You can have whichever room you like."
Arini looked at her carefully. "Pakka?"
Reem nodded again.
Arini added, "But I want you to ask Anu di to engrave my name on that room's door. If she does that, I will forgive her."
Reem turned toward Anavika. "Anuu, look, she is your younger sister. Beta, she comes here only sometimes. We don't fight like this with our own. I understand she might have poked you, but she's your best friend, right? Won't you give her just one room in this big palace of yours?"
Anavika looked at Arini, then at her mother, and nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But she pulled out twelve of my hairs. Look at her hands. I held lightly, but she pulled hard."
Reem bit her cheek, suppressing a smile, and glanced at Arini's hand, where strands of Anavika's hair were still tangled. She looked back at Anavika. "I will apply better oil. You'll grow more hair."
"She will pull them again," Anavika complained. "Whenever she comes, her only motive is to make me bald. Since she was six months old, she has been pulling my hair."
Reem nodded. "I will tell her not to pull your hair, and you also don't fight with her. Okay?"
Anavika nodded.
By the end of that summer, Arini's room had been finalized. Anavika herself designed the engraving, and her name was carved onto the door. From that day on, that room belonged only to Arini.
Flashback ends~
Arini looked around the room slowly. "Aksh... tell me one thing."
He turned toward her, his expression attentive. "Yes?"
She sat on the edge of the bed, fingers pressing lightly into the mattress. "Is there something you noticed in the past few weeks? Anything odd. Or something you thought was weird, but dismissed it, thinking it was just in your head, so you did not bother about it?"
He shook his head after a brief pause. "No. Why?"
Arini nodded once. "Nothing. I just do not want to miss any information. Even if it feels negligible, I still want to know it."
He nodded in understanding. "I know."
She asked again, her tone shifting to business. "How is your company doing in the tech sector?"
He sat down on the chair, leaning back slightly. "It's doing good. There have been no cyberattacks or breaches, and a few new launches are in preparation."
She nodded thoughtfully. "That's good." Then, casually, she added, "What about Kavya? Has she stopped orbiting around you like a moon or something? I did not see her here either."
He nodded. "Yeah. She is on vacation. Some family related trip for a month."
Arini exhaled softly. "That's actually nice."
Arini glanced back at her phone , at a message and then closed it , she thought 'I am not sure, Yet' .
I placed four bottles of beer on the table with a loud thud. Aakarsh looked up, frowning. "I am not a bartender, you know."
"Par bewde toh ho na."
"Arini!" He pointed his index finger at me, and I immediately hit it away.
"Truth is always bitter, you know. You drink alcohol like a fish gulping water. So stop acting and pick up a glass."
He exhaled slowly. "Zehr toh nahi milaya hai na?"
(You didn't mixed poison in it , right ?)
I shook my head. "Nahi. Mood nahi tha."
(No. I didn't have that mood today .)
He nodded, picked up a glass, and poured the drink, first into mine and then into his. I sat across from him. He looked straight at me. "So what happened today? Because you do not drink unless your mind is completely fucked up and you have no idea what your next move is."
I stared at the glass for a second. "I am drinking after three years. Three years ago, you were the one sitting in front of me while I drank. And today, you are here again." I looked up at him. "Kahi aap hi toh vo nahi?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Kya?"
"Panouti."
(Bad luck)
"Arini, now this is too much," he said flatly.
"No, seriously. I drank too much when I was in Italy, and now when my liver and kidneys finally revived, you returned," I replied calmly.
He leaned back slightly. "Fine. I get it. It is serious."
I nodded once. "Good."
We raised our glasses. A sharp clink echoed between them, and then we started drinking. One glass. Then another. Then another.
After an hour, the table was littered with three empty bottles and one half filled bottle standing weakly between us.
"You know, Jijuuu," I blinked hard, trying to clear my vision, "I think my alcohol tolerance has reduced."
He nodded slowly. "Same here. Three years ago, it was nine bottles, as far as I remember. Now I feel dizzy after just three."
"I get your reason," I said, squinting at him. "When people get old, their ability to do anything reduces."
He looked up sharply. "I am just twenty nine years old."
"Still old."
He placed both his hands flat on the table. "Fineee. Bring it on. This is personal now."
I got up, and my legs wavered instantly. The terrace air hit my face, cold and sharp, but it did nothing to steady me. My vision was blurred, the world slightly tilted, as if it was laughing at my attempt to stand straight. I picked up my bag, which I had kept near the terrace door, my fingers fumbling with the strap. After a second of imbalance, I dragged it near the table and dropped it there with little care.
"Eight," I announced, squinting at the bottles as if they might run away. "Eight bottles are here. Let's see who finishes more."
He gave a slow, exaggerated nod, a dangerous smile stretching across his face. "Game fucking on."
He poured again. This time, there was no talking. No teasing. We were not drinking anymore. We were gulping the alcohol, staring straight into each other's eyes like it was some unspoken war. Pride versus pride. Stubbornness versus ego.
One bottle. Finished.
Second.
Third.
Fourth.
With the fourth, my chest felt heavy. I took a few quick breaths, holding the glass in my hand like it was the only thing keeping me upright. He noticed immediately.
"What happened, young person?" he smirked. "Nikal gayi hawa?"
I lifted the glass, refusing to let him win even this moment. I gulped the remaining liquid in one go, the burn sliding down my throat. "We'll see that at the end."
The fifth bottle was emptied soon after. Only two or three remained now, standing like silent witnesses to our stupidity.
My head started spinning violently. The world fractured. Four Aakarshs appeared in front of me, all of them pouring drinks into glasses, all of them equally annoying.
I blinked hard.
Four glasses.
"Jiju..." I muttered, pointing vaguely.
"Hm?" He responded, blinking just as slowly as I was.
"I am seeing four glasses," I said honestly. "Which one should I pick?"
He stared at the table, squinted, then looked back at me with full seriousness. "Whichever has more liquid in it."
He was completely wasted too.
I nodded, trusting his drunk wisdom. I picked the second glass and, by pure luck, it was the real one. I gulped it down.
Sixth bottle.
Seventh.
And then the world gave up on me.
I slipped off the chair and fell onto the terrace floor with a loud thud, ending up seated, legs sprawled ungracefully. Aakarsh burst out laughing, the sound echoing in the open air.
"Hahaha... young human..." he wheezed.
As if on cue, he lost his balance too. He slid off his chair and landed beside me, still laughing uncontrollably.
I looked at him, sitting there on the floor like a fallen king, and started laughing as well.
"Hahaha... Oldie..."
We crawled around on the terrace floor, unsteady and laughing, and began counting the empty bottles scattered everywhere.
"1... 2... 3... 4... 5..." I continued, squinting hard to make sure the bottles were not multiplying on their own.
He suddenly looked up, eyes wide in drunken realization. "Ariniii... eleven bottlesss..." He paused, processing it slowly. "We broke our previous record."
I raised both my hands in victory, nearly losing my balance again, and he mirrored me instantly. Our palms met in a sloppy high five.
"We both are still youngggg brooo..." I declared proudly.
He giggled, that uncontrollable, childish giggle that comes only when sense has completely left the body. I looked at him, tried to stop myself, failed miserably, and then I started giggling too.
"Saaariiiiii duniyaaaaaaaaaaaaa," Arini screamed, stretching the words dramatically while pointing straight up at the sky.
Aakarsh instantly completed it, equally loud and equally dramatic, "Jalaaaaaa dengeeeeeeee."
Meanwhile, downstairs, Aksh received a call from Bhavya informing him that Arini was not picking up her calls. His uneasiness spiked immediately. He started looking for her, moving through the corridors with growing impatience, when he suddenly bumped into Anavika.
She frowned at him. "Andhe ho kya?"
"Aapse kam," he shot back without missing a beat.
"Aksh!!" she snapped.
"Di, I have no intentions of arguing with you right now," he said curtly, looking straight at her. "I am looking for my wife."
She rolled her eyes. "For some reason, I am also looking for my husband. I do not know where he has disappeared. He is neither picking up my calls nor replying to my messages."
Aksh paused and slowly looked up from his phone. "Wait. Arini is doing the same."
Anavika's expression changed as she looked at him. "That means..."
"They might be together," he completed.
Anavika pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "If that is the case, then they are definitely cooking something up. And both of them are extremely stubborn. They will not tell anyone anything."
Aksh nodded. "I checked downstairs already. They are not there. Maybe... the balcony, your room, or the terrace."
She immediately started walking. "His room was empty, and I was just in the balcony. That leaves only the terrace."
Aksh followed her without another word.
When they reached the terrace, both of them froze on spot. Their eyes widened in perfect synchronization, shock written all over their faces.
Arini was sitting on a chair, legs crossed regally, chin lifted like a queen on her throne, while Aakarsh stood beside her, fanning her dramatically with his hands. Like a queen and her extremely dedicated servant.
Anavika snapped, "What the hell is going on here?"
Arini and Aakarsh slowly looked at her. Then their gazes shifted to Aksh. They blinked. Once. Twice.
And then both of them burst out laughing.
"Newww servantsss," Arini slurred happily, pointing at Anavika and Aksh. "Now you can also become king," she told Aakarsh seriously. "We will make them work for us."
Aakarsh nodded with full authority. "I will make them dance for me."
Arini wheezed, holding her stomach. "They are servants, not bar dancers."
Aksh stepped forward cautiously. "What happened to them?"
Arini suddenly tapped Aakarsh's biceps excitedly. "Jiju jiju... I know someone who looks exactly like this man."
Aakarsh squinted at Aksh. "This woman also seems familiar to me," he said thoughtfully, looking at Anavika. "Do we know them?"
Arini shook her head very seriously. "No no. We do not know them. We are just getting that stupid deja vu."
Anavika stared at them, utterly done. "They are very drunk."
Aksh rubbed his forehead. "They are wasted."
Arini suddenly raised a finger. "Excuse me. We are not drunk." She leaned toward Aakarsh and whispered loudly, "We are emotionally unstable and chemically confused."
Aakarsh gasped. "Exactly."
Arini pointed at Aksh. "Why is that man looking at me like that? Does he have a problem?"
Aakarsh leaned down and whispered, "Do you trust him?"
Arini thought for a second. "Depends. Will he bring me profit or not?"
Anavika snapped, "Enough. Get up. Both of you."
Arini hugged the chair. "No. This is my throne."
Aakarsh saluted. "Long live Queen Arini."
Anavika looked at Aksh, and Aksh exhaled slowly. "Am I thinking what you are thinking?"
Anavika nodded with a dead serious face. "Unfortunately, yes. I am thinking exactly the same thing."
Aksh turned around and shut the terrace door firmly. "Fine. Let us tolerate them together and not let anyone else find out they are completely wasted."
Anavika walked toward the table where the empty bottles were lined up like trophies. She started counting, lips moving silently. Then she froze and looked back at the two drunk humans. "Aksh... they drank eleven bottles of beer."
She looked down again. Counted once more. Looked up. "What are they? Because humans do not drink like that."
Aksh walked toward Arini, but Aakarsh immediately stepped in front of him, spreading his arms like a bodyguard.
"You cannot touch the queen without her consent," Aakarsh announced proudly.
Arini added dramatically, "And I have a husband as well."
Aakarsh nodded in agreement. "I also have a wife."
Arini stood up unsteadily and positioned herself beside Aakarsh, linking her arm with his. "We both are married, so stay away from us."
Aakarsh nodded again. Very seriously.
She blinked. Hard. "Wait... we are not married."
"We are," he said confidently.
Arini frowned and pointed at herself, then at Aakarsh. "WE are not."
Aakarsh made an 'O' face, processing that information. Then he nodded. "Okay."
He thought for a second. "We are not married to each other, but we have married to different persons."
Arini nodded approvingly. "Yes. Correct. And we are very long distance brother sister."
He nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. I have a husband and she has a wife."
Aksh and Anavika simultaneously slapped their palms against their foreheads.
Arini shook her head vigorously. "No no nooo. I have a wife and you have a husband."
Aakarsh frowned deeply, offended. "I have a husband? I also said the same. I have a husband."
Arini nodded solemnly. "And you are a wife."
He nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I am a wife."
Anavika closed her eyes. "I am going to need therapy after this."
Aksh muttered to her "Book one for me as well."
Arini frowned. "Jijuuuu... we can keep this green eye human as your servant. He is kinda cute."
Aakarsh nodded thoughtfully. "But what about this lady?"
Arini tilted her head and scanned Anavika from head to toe. "She is kinda arrogant. I think we should just hire this cute guy."
Aksh pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh, while Anavika's jaw tightened dangerously.
Anavika crossed her arms. "Excuse me?"
Arini waved her hand lazily. "Shhh. Servants are not allowed to talk without permission."
Aksh finally lost it and snorted. "Servant? Me?"
Aakarsh clapped once. "Yes. You will clean my shoes. They are imaginary, but still very expensive."
Aksh bowed dramatically. "Anything else, Your Majesty?"
Arini squinted. "Yes. Compliments. Minimum five per hour."
Aakarsh added, "And if he forgets, we fire him."
Arini gasped. "No no. We do not fire. We demote."
Aksh laughed openly now. "Demote me to what?"
Arini smiled sweetly. "To emotional support human."
Anavika pinched the bridge of her nose. "I swear, I married into madness."
Aakarsh pointed at her. "See. Arrogant."
Arini nodded seriously. "Very. She has villain energy."
Anavika glared. "I am standing right here."
Arini leaned closer to Aakarsh and whispered loudly. "Servants have sharp hearing. Be careful."
Anavika muttered, "I am never letting them drink together again."
Arini suddenly pointed at the sky. "Jiju... do you think clouds judge us?"
Aakarsh nodded solemnly. "Yes. That one looks disappointed."
Aksh laughed so hard he had to hold the railing. "I am officially done."
Arini smiled proudly. "See. Even servants are happy under my rule."
After a few minutes, Arini suddenly turned and pointed at Aksh, curling her finger at him. "You. Come here."
He walked closer obediently. She tried to reach his face, rose on her tiptoes, stretched more, then frowned when she still could not reach.
Aakarsh announced proudly, "Kneel in front of our queen."
Aksh was actually about to kneel when Arini stopped him instantly. "No no. You do not kneel. You were not arrogant. Sit on that chair."
He walked over and sat. Arini followed him, leaned in dangerously close, inspected his face like a detective, then poked both his cheeks twice before retreating with a disappointed sigh.
"Jijuuu... he looks like my husband," she said seriously. "But my husband is more good looking. He is also a jerk. But a good looking jerk."
Aakarsh nodded with full conviction. "Hmmm. Facts."
Aksh blinked. "I am sitting right here, you know."
Arini waved her hand. "Yes yes. Duplicate version."
Anavika crossed her arms. "Duplicate? Excuse me?"
Arini squinted at her. "You are the manager of duplicates. Please stay aside."
Aakarsh leaned closer to Arini. "Queen, should we return this defective piece?"
Arini thought deeply. "No. Keep him. He is funny."
Aksh placed a hand on his chest. "I feel so honored."
Arini ignored him and suddenly pointed toward the edge of the terrace. "Jijuuu... let us jump from here."
Everyone froze.
"We will reach downstairs faster," Arini continued proudly. "Then we can find our missing people in Rajasthan."
Aakarsh nodded enthusiastically. "Correct. I also need to find my wife. Let us jump."
Both Aksh and Anavika ran toward them at the same time.
"STOP," Anavika shouted.
Aksh grabbed Arini from behind instantly. "Have you lost your mind?"
Arini struggled lightly. "Green eye servant. Unhand the queen."
Aakarsh tried moving closer to the edge again. "It is okay. Sand is soft."
Anavika grabbed his collar. "You jump and I will personally bury you in that sand."
Arini gasped dramatically. "Violence against royalty."
Aksh held Arini tighter. "You are not jumping anywhere."
She frowned at him. "Why are you hugging me without permission?"
He blurted, "Because you are drunk and suicidal."
She tilted her head. "That sounded rude."
Aakarsh defended her. "She is not suicidal. She is adventurous."
Anavika groaned. "I need therapy."
Arini suddenly smiled at Aksh. "You are very warm for a servant."
Aksh sighed. "This is my worst promotion."
Aakarsh clapped again. "Queen, new rule. No jumping today."
Arini pouted. "Fine. But tomorrow."
"NO," both Aksh and Anavika yelled together.
Arini blinked, then giggled. "Wow. Servants are loud."
Aakarsh nodded wisely. "Union issues."
Aksh buried his face in his palm. "I am never letting them drink again."
Arini looked up at him innocently. "You promise?"
He answered instantly. "I swear on everything."
She smiled sweetly. "Liar."
Arini now turned and cupped Aksh's face with both her hands. "Woahhhh... it's sooo soft. Jijuuu... we can cook him for our dinner."
Aakarsh came closer, rubbed Aksh's face seriously, and nodded like a master chef. "Yes. We must boil him first."
Arini pulled her hands back thoughtfully. "But... we don't have water."
She suddenly gasped. "Waitttt. We still have some beer left. We can boil him in beer."
Aksh's eyes widened in pure horror. "Excuse me?"
Anavika opened her mouth to protest, but Arini cut her off instantly.
"But don't cook her," Arini said, pointing at Anavika. "Her lipstick will add chemicals in our food. Only cook this green eye servant."
Aakarsh agreed instantly. "Correct. Preservatives are dangerous."
Aksh looked at Anavika helplessly. "You are just going to let this happen?"
Anavika rubbed her temples. "At this point, I am reconsidering every life choice."
Arini poked Aksh's cheek again. "Do servants scream before cooking or after?"
Aakarsh thought deeply. "Depends. If he screams before, meat becomes soft."
Aksh panicked. "I am a human being."
Arini nodded. "Yes. Fresh ingredients."
Anavika snapped, "Arini, stop."
Arini looked at her sternly. "Do not interfere in royal kitchen matters."
Aakarsh added, "She is Head Chef."
Arini smiled proudly. "And you are Sous Chef."
Aakarsh bowed slightly. "My honor."
Aksh closed his eyes. "I married into madness."
Arini heard that and leaned closer. "Did you say married?"
He froze. "No. I said... marinated."
She gasped happily. "Even better. Marinate him in beer."
Aakarsh clapped again. "Add some salt."
Anavika yelled, "ENOUGH."
Arini frowned at her. "Why are you shouting? You will scare the food."
Aksh muttered, "I already am scared."
Arini patted his cheek gently. "Don't worry. We will eat you with respect."
Aakarsh nodded solemnly. "With honor."
Anavika groaned out loud. "I am never leaving these two alone again."
Arini suddenly brightened. "Jijuuu... after cooking him, can we keep his eyes? They are pretty."
Aksh yelped, "NO."
Aakarsh considered it. "As decoration?"
Arini clapped. "Yes. Palace aesthetic."
Aksh grabbed Anavika's arm. "Please save me."
Anavika sighed. "Welcome to married life."
After half an hour, the terrace had turned into complete chaos. Absolute madness. Anavika and Aksh were visibly exhausted from handling them, physically and mentally. Taking them downstairs was not even an option anymore, not unless they wanted to create a legendary scandal in the palace. Arini's head was spinning like a tornado caught in a storm, while Aakarsh was barely able to process words, faces, or reality itself.
Arini suddenly tapped Aakarsh's shoulder with dramatic seriousness. "Jijuuu... I think... we should choose our support humans," she paused, squinting her eyes as if deciding the fate of the world, "and I don't like that egoistic lady, so I am choosing that green eye servant."
Aakarsh nodded instantly, placing a hand on his chest with exaggerated loyalty. "As you say, Queen."
Arini smiled proudly, then slowly started walking toward Aksh, her steps uneven and suspiciously zig zag. She raised her hand, waving it in the air, trying to focus. Three Akshs stood in front of her. All looking equally confused. "Which servant is the real one?" she asked seriously.
Aksh shook his head helplessly and gently held her raised hand. "This one," he said softly.
Arini took a wobbly step closer to him, her balance clearly on vacation. "You knowww..." she murmured, leaning closer, "I am tired of ruling as a queen. My shoulders are veryyy... heavy with weight." She blinked slowly. "Mind taking them for me?"
He frowned in confusion. Before he could respond, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Sit on ground... kneel..."
His frown deepened, but given the situation, resistance was pointless. With a sigh, he lowered himself onto one knee. The moment he did, Arini moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck from the back. Her cheek brushed against his, warm and careless, before she wrapped her legs around his waist.
She mumbled softly, almost sleepily, "Take me to room... piggyback ride."
Aksh's heart began pounding so loudly it felt like it might burst out of his chest. His face turned red instantly, his throat went dry, and his thoughts completely abandoned him. He blinked rapidly, trying to think straight, and failed miserably. Clearing his throat, he nodded. "Okay... hold tight."
He carefully looped his arms under her knees so she would not slip and slowly stood up, adjusting his hold as gently as he could.
Anavika, who was holding Aakarsh's arm to keep him from wandering off, dug her nails into his sleeve when she saw Arini clinging to Aksh like that. Her jaw tightened instantly. She muttered under her breath, "Ye kamina... ek din merese bohot buri tarah maar khayega."
Aksh, completely unaware and very much on cloud nine, turned slightly and spoke, "I am taking her to the room. Aap Mr. Rathore ko sambhal lena."
Anavika's jaw clenched further, but she gave a stiff nod anyway.
Aksh carried Arini away, while the terrace was finally left with empty bottles and a drunk mafia boss and a pissed wife of his .
My heart is thumping like I had just run a marathon without stopping. God, she is so close. Way too close. And completely drunk. She did not even recognise me properly and was already planning to cook me for dinner like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Drunk Arini is far more dangerous than the normal one. At least the sober version gives warnings before destroying lives. This one just smiles and does it. I silently prayed that she would fall asleep soon, because if she stayed awake any longer, this situation was officially a gone case for me. I could not even say no to her. She does not ask. She announces. And then executes her plans without waiting for consent from the universe.
Right now, I was genuinely scared. Her one hand was tangled in my hair, fingers curling dangerously close to my scalp, while the other was wrapped around my neck like she owned that space. My mind cruelly replayed the last time she got drunk. She had pulled my hair so badly that night that I walked around with a headache until morning, and she laughed about it the next day like it was some fond memory.
Once she is drunk, fir toh jaahil aurat hai ye. Absolutely fearless. Absolutely unstoppable.
And yet.
She was also... adorable. Infuriatingly adorable. She did the most ridiculous, unhinged things, and somehow my stupid heart and traitor brain found it cute instead of alarming. The way she mumbled nonsense, the way she leaned into me without hesitation, the way she trusted me without even realising it. It should have scared me more than it did.
I am an idiot. A complete one. But I cannot help it.
I love her.
And right now, with her breathing warm against my neck and her weight resting on my back, I knew one thing for sure. She will be the death of me .
I closed the door of the room and spoke as calmly as my rapidly failing nerves allowed. "Arini, we reached your room."
She hummed lazily. "So?"
So... what do you mean by so?
I spoke again, slower this time, choosing my words like they were explosives. "You said you want to sleep, so leave my neck and rest on the bed."
She exhaled softly and mumbled, "But I am more comfortable this way."
WHAT!
Calm down, Aksh. She is drunk. She does not know what she is saying. She also does not know what she is doing. Unfortunately, my nervous system knows everything.
I nodded like a very obedient, very scared human. "But you will get disturbed when I move or roam around, so you should lie on the bed. It will also be more comfortable."
She replied instantly, "Will you also lie on the bed?"
I blinked. Hard.
I am doubting now. Is this even Arini? Or has some dangerous, affectionate version of her possessed this body?
Ugh.
I looked around desperately, hoping to find a couch, a mattress, even a chair big enough to fake sleep on. Nothing. Just a single sofa that could barely fit a child and one lonely chair. Oh my God. I do not even have excuses left now.
I spoke quickly, "No, I have work and—"
I got cut off by a sharp tug on my hair. No. No no no. God, not today. Please not today.
She spoke in a warning tone, "Did you just say no to Queen?"
Calm down, Aksh.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Accept your fate.
I shook my head instantly. "No... no. I will lie down on the bed as well. Just... do not pull my hair. You know you are very kind and sweet and pretty, Queen."
She patted my head like she was rewarding a loyal pet. "Yeah, I am not cruel. Why would I pull such soft hair?"
Yeah. You did. Once.
I have trauma.
I do not trust you on that again.
Then she slowly loosened her grip from my neck and hair, climbed onto the mattress with zero balance, and patted the space beside her. "You will sleep on the right side. I like the left side."
I am not ready for this. Not emotionally. Not mentally. Not spiritually. But I nodded.
(I looked in front , breaking the fourth wall and staring into reader's eyes ) Yes, I prioritised my hair over everything else because what else did you expect, cuties? I do not want to go bald at the age of twenty five. I can sleep on cactus if required, but this situation felt like a nuclear bomb wrapped in silk sheets. But hairs are my first priority .
I walked slowly and sat on the right side. She also sat and looked at me with her big doe eyes.
God. That look should be illegal.
Aww, so cute.
Calm down, Aksh. She is drunk.
"Lie down," she ordered.
I obeyed immediately.
She pulled the duvet over us and lay down as well. It was the first time we were sharing a bed like this. In Mumbai, I always slept on the couch. She worked late nights, sometimes on the balcony, sometimes in bed with her laptop open and her mind elsewhere. Once, she had offered me the bed, but I refused because I did not want her uncomfortable on the couch.
The only time I ever slept on a bed was when she stayed at Rajvansh Estate.
And now this.
I stared at the ceiling, eyes wide open, heartbeat loud enough to wake the dead. I could feel her gaze burning into my face. I could feel heat crawling up my cheeks. I did not want to look at her. I really did not.
Then she shifted closer.
Very close.
Her arm brushed mine, her fingers accidentally tangled with mine, and she whispered softly, almost to herself, "Why are you so stiff?"
Because I am trying very hard not to lose my mind.
I swallowed and replied quietly, "You should sleep, Arini."
She hummed again, this time softer. "You smell so good"
I looked at her and said, my voice barely holding together, "I... I think we should create a wall. A pillow wall. I... I mean, you will be more comfortable with pillows." I was completely, utterly stuttering, like my brain had disconnected from my mouth.
She frowned slightly, eyes heavy but sharp in authority. "You do not get to order me. I am the queen."
Yeah.
Okay.
Universe, if you are listening, this is a perfect time to strike me with lightning.
She leaned closer, so close that I could see every tiny eyelash, every sleepy blink. And then, without warning, she moved. In one sudden, careless, very drunk moment, she came on top of me. Not entirely, but enough. Her upper body pressed against my chest and torso, her legs still resting on the side of the mattress. Her palms landed flat on my chest, right over my heart.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Her weight was warm, grounding, dangerous. Her breath fanned across my face, slow and uneven, and God, she looked unfairly adorable like this. Too close. Too real. It took every ounce of self-control to keep my hands exactly where they were and not react like a fool in love.
Aksh. Calm down.
She is drunk.
Sober Arini would never do this.
Do not cross a line that cannot be erased.
She smiled softly, lazily. "You are so warm."
Then she leaned even more, resting her head in the crook of my neck like it was the most natural place in the world. Her hair tickled my skin, her forehead pressed lightly against my collarbone, and suddenly her presence felt overwhelming in the quietest way possible.
I had no words left. None.
I wanted to scream, to laugh, to cry, all at once, but nothing came out. So I did the only thing a hopelessly lovestruck idiot could do. I matched her breathing. Slow. Careful. Controlled. I focused on that rhythm like it was keeping me alive.
I tried to ignore her fingers lazily threading through my hair.
Tried to ignore the way her other hand rested on my stomach, warm and possessive even in sleepiness.
"This is nice," she murmured, half-asleep now. "Do not move."
As if I could.
I swallowed hard and whispered, more to myself than to her, "I am not moving."
She sighed contentedly, her grip tightening just a little. And in that moment, with her breathing evening out and her weight settling against me, I realised something terrifying.
This was not just difficult. This was dangerous.
Because if she remembered none of this tomorrow, I would remember every single second.
"Akshh..." I heard her mumble, her voice soft and broken, nothing like her usual sharp tone.
God.
Arini never spoke to me like this. Not this gently. Not this vulnerably. My already weak heart folded in on itself all over again.
"Hm? What happened?" I asked quietly, afraid that even my voice might hurt her head.
She shifted slightly against me and winced. "I feel nauseous... mera sar fatt raha hai and I feel like vomiting," she whispered, eyes squeezed shut.
There it was.
This is what alcohol does. First it steals your senses and lifts you into a fake high, then it throws you back down, dizzy and sick. Eleven bottles. Even if Mr. Rathore had shared, she had still consumed at least five or six. Way too much for someone who had not touched alcohol in years.
I loosened my grip on the bedsheet that I had been clutching like a lifeline and wrapped my arms around her back instead, steadying her as I slowly sat up, her face still pressed against my neck.
"Wait... just a moment," I murmured softly. "Hold on for a second, okay?"
She nodded weakly.
I lifted her carefully, cradling her like she weighed nothing, and carried her to the washroom. The harsh light made her groan, and she swayed the moment her feet touched the floor. I immediately held her, one arm around her shoulders, the other rubbing her back in slow, comforting circles.
"I've got you, Arini," I said firmly but gently. "Do you want to sit?"
She shook her head no, her hand flying to her throat as she swallowed hard.
"Okay... okay," I whispered. "Take your time. Breathe slowly. I'm right here."
When she tried to stand, her legs trembled, so I guided her down to sit on the floor instead. I crouched beside her, continuing the gentle rubs on her back, counting my own breaths so she could follow them.
Then it hit her.
She leaned forward suddenly and vomited. I reacted instantly, holding her hair back without a second thought. If she had to wash her hair tomorrow because of me, she would actually murder me. I knew her routines too well. Monday and Thursday. Anything else and she would be pissed for a whole week. No experiments with her hair. Not today. Not ever.
"It's okay," I murmured, even though she could barely hear me. "Let it out."
When she was done, she slumped slightly, exhausted. I helped her rinse her mouth, supporting her carefully because the moment she tried to stand straight, she almost banged her head on the washbasin.
"Easy," I said, tightening my hold. "Slow."
I wiped the water from her lips with my thumb, my touch light, almost reverent, and then carried her back to the room. I placed her gently on the bed, dimmed the lights, and opened the window to let fresh air in. The cool breeze would help with the nausea.
I poured a glass of water and sat beside her, holding it up. "Have it in small sips."
She looked at me with those big doe eyes, glassy and tired, and God help me, I was weak for that look. Always had been.
I nodded reassuringly. "Slowly. I'm here."
I brought the glass to her lips, steadying it while she took careful sips. When she was done, I placed the glass aside and studied her face.
"Do you want to eat something?" I asked.
She shook her head no, already looking half-asleep.
I helped her lie down again, making sure she did not end up flat on her back. Of course, even drunk, she was stubborn. She tried to roll the wrong way.
"Arini," I sighed softly.
She ignored me.
Left with no other option, I lay down beside her and gently pulled her toward me, positioning her so she rested on her side, her head against my chest. It was the only way to make sure she stayed safe.
She sighed, finally settling, her grip tightening slightly on my shirt.
Only then did I allow myself to exhale.
"So jao, Arini," I whispered, brushing her hair back gently. "I am right here. I am not going anywhere."
Her breathing slowly evened out, heavy and deep, and I stayed awake, listening to it, like it was the most important thing in the world.
After a few hours, when the exhaustion finally won and my eyelids felt too heavy to fight anymore, I drifted off. My mind went blank, my body relaxed, and for a rare moment, everything faded away.
That peace lasted exactly a few minutes.
A sudden, sharp impact slammed into my lower abdomen, knocking the air straight out of my lungs. Before my brain could even process what had happened, I was flying off the bed and landing on the floor with a loud thud.
"Ow... fuckk."
I groaned, clutching my stomach, blinking rapidly as I tried to regain focus. My vision cleared and the first thing I saw was her.
Arini.
Fast asleep. Completely unbothered. A whole natural disaster in human form.
Her hair was everywhere, messy and wild, strands stuck to her forehead and lips. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing slow and deep. One leg was stretched to the far corner of the bed like she was claiming territory, and the other leg was resting exactly where I had been lying just seconds ago.
The crime weapon.
I stared at her in disbelief.
But of course, my stupid, traitorous heart chose that exact moment to melt.
She looked... adorable.
No. Correction.
She just kicked you off the bed, idiot.
She can kill me too someday, honestly. I will probably still find her cute while dying. But fuck, it hurt. That kick had landed perfectly. Precision. Deadly accuracy. Straight to the soul.
I exhaled slowly, pushing myself up from the floor with a hiss. "Never again," I muttered, more to myself than to her.
I decided to sit on the edge of the bed instead. Nope. No more lying beside her. My survival instincts had finally kicked in. I valued my organs. My ribs. My life.
I sat there, hunched slightly, rubbing my lower back, watching her sleep like nothing in the world existed.
Half an hour passed.
Then another kick landed.
Then another.
This time on my back.
I winced. Hard.
Honestly, it had been thirty minutes and my back was now officially begging God for mercy. She had turned the bed into a battlefield, and I was the only casualty. One leg swung. Another twitched. Her knee dug into my spine like she was practising some secret martial art even in her sleep.
What kind of monster sleeps like this?
I looked up at the ceiling, jaw clenched.
"GODDDD," I whispered dramatically.
"Are you even listening to me??"
Because if you are, this feels very personal.
I glanced at her again. She murmured something unintelligible in her sleep and turned slightly, her face scrunching for a second before relaxing again.
Cute. Deadly.
Unfair combination.
I sighed, defeated, and carefully moved further away, as if handling an unexploded bomb. I perched on the very edge of the mattress, back straight, muscles tense, ready to dodge if another attack came.
"Bas karo, Arini," I muttered softly. "Main insaan hoon, football nahi."
She didn't respond. Of course she didn't. She slept peacefully, while I sat there, half-awake, half-in-pain, fully in love, questioning every life decision that had led me to this exact moment.
As if on cue, she shifted again on the bed, turned to the other side, and mumbled something incoherent. My entire body froze.
No.
No no no.
I slowly looked over my shoulder to check if she was about to launch another attack. Thankfully, she just hugged the pillow tightly, her brows scrunching slightly like she was dreaming about fighting someone. Probably me. In her dream, I was most likely a villain.
I shook my head with a weak laugh. "I stay awake all night taking care of you, and this is my reward."
My eyes drifted back to her face, softer now, calmer. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, faint but noticeable. She looked tired in a way alcohol could not explain. Like someone who carried too much on her shoulders and never really put it down.
The irritation in my chest melted.
I stood up quietly and pulled the blanket over her properly, tucking it around her without waking her. I moved her leg gently so it would not hang off the bed anymore. This time, I was careful. Very careful.
Then I grabbed the chair and placed it near the bed, sitting down with a tired sigh.
"Fine," I murmured softly, watching her sleep. "You win. I'll guard from here."
My back still hurt. My entire body was exhausted. She was sleeping peacefully.
And somehow, that made everything worth it.
Next morning, Aakarsh was already in the kitchen, moving slowly like his bones had aged overnight. He was preparing the sacred hangover drink, lukewarm water mixed with honey and lemon, muttering curses under his breath as his head throbbed with every small movement.
Arini arrived a minute later, one hand pressed to her forehead, eyes half closed, hair tied messily. She dragged a chair and dropped into it with a dramatic sigh.
"Jiju... I think we drank a lot..."
At the exact same time, both of them groaned,
"Mera sar fatt raha hai..."
They froze for a second, then looked at each other and burst into weak, painful laughter.
She waved her hand lazily. "Prepare that for me as well. I'm sitting near the dining table and I am not moving an inch from here."
He hummed in response, too tired to argue.
After a few minutes, he returned with two cups and slid one toward her. She grabbed it like it was life itself and took a careful sip. Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
"It worked very nicely..." she murmured. "My brain is a little clearer now, like I know what I have to do next. But the aftermath is so poor..." She winced. "And worst thing is my memoryyy. I remember everything. I wish that everything just vanishes after the night passes but nope, it's opposite .. at night I have no memory and the next day I remember every detail ."
He nodded gravely. "Same. Queen Arini. Servants. Commands. Absolute hell. Very hectic memory."
She took another sip, then looked at him more carefully. Her eyes narrowed.
"Wait... what's on your neck?"
He instinctively placed a hand over it, and the moment he did, realization hit her like lightning. Her eyes widened.
"Oh god, Jiju. You guys are filthy." She leaned back, scandalized. "Kuchh toh sharam karo. Shaadi abhi bhi secret hi hai aap dono ki."
He rolled his eyes hard. "Shut up."
She raised a brow, clearly enjoying this. "Aap dono aise kaam karo and main bol bhi nahi sakti. Waah shampy, waah."
[A/N: Jaane de nagma.]
Then she leaned forward again, squinting.
"Oh god... your lips also have cuts." She made a face. "Chiii. You ruined the terrace of this palace for me now."
He glared at her. "Arini, shut your mouth. And don't forget we are a team. Once they wake up, their unnecessary drama and teasing will begin. Join hands with me and you'll be in benefit."
She sighed dramatically. "Fine. But still..." she muttered, "you guys are filthy."
Then she leaned closer and whispered, curiosity burning in her eyes,
"Par kya kya hua?"
He shot her a deadly glare.
She immediately leaned back, raising her hands. "Fineee... don't tell me."
Then, even more quietly, almost to herself, she whispered, "I'll ask Anu di."
"Don't you dare, Arini," he warned.
"Oh, I definitely dare," she grinned, evil and satisfied.
He took another sip from his cup, shaking his head in defeat. After a moment of shared silence and mutual headache, they both stood up slowly and headed toward their respective rooms.
As Arini walked away, she muttered under her breath,
"God... we drink like it's a sport."
And Aakarsh, rubbing his neck again, muttered back,
"And I'm never competing again."
Arini shotted back "You said the same three years ago as well."
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^_^ Thank you so much for reading this chapter, dear Violets. I truly appreciate your time and support—it means a great deal to me. Your support inspires me and I'm grateful to have you with me on this journey. Until next time, keep blooming beautifully. 💜
Your Author ~ ITA 🫶
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