3.
The marble halls of the Chauhan Palace glowed in the warm hush of midnight.
Rose petals lay scattered like secrets on the corridors, and the scent of sandalwood hung heavy in the air — like the palace itself was holding its breath, listening for the first whispers of a newlywed couple behind some ornate door.
But Shaurya Shekhawat wasn't behind any door yet.
He had just stepped away from a quiet but long conversation with Rajmata, still feeling the gravity of her blessings lingering in his chest. His heart, however, beat a little faster now — not because of nerves, but because the walk from the inner courtyard to Aarav's room felt impossibly long.
Maybe it was the anticipation. Maybe it was the fact that Aarav was his now.
Officially. And of course, how can we forget the Suhagraat?
He reached the golden inlaid door of Aarav's room, hands loosely folded behind his back, expression composed — calm, collected, gentle as ever. Sighing.
But he paused when he saw someone already standing there.
Aarohi.
In her lavender lehenga, she stood arms crossed, blocking the door like a very determined bouncer at a royal nightclub.
Shaurya blinked. "Am I being... intercepted?"
Aarohi raised a brow, grinning like a lioness guarding treasure. "This path is closed, Jiju," she declared. "Only those who have cleared Sister Security Protocol may enter."
Shaurya sighed softly, amused. "Star Plus should be banned".
"I wonder if they'll ever make a serial of a gay couple. BUT HEY DON'T DISTRACT ME!" she said, wagging a finger. "You may be married to my brother now, but that doesn't mean I'll just hand him over like a mithai ka dabba."
He tilted his head, the faintest smile playing on his lips. "I assure you, Aarohi, I'm just as exhausted as your brother. All I really want right now is to lie beside your brother and sleep".
Aarohi narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You two are just gonna sleep?"
"Yep".
She stepped closer, arms crossed. "Still not enough. I've waited years to torture my jiju. You're not escaping with just a smile Jijaji. You must pay the toll."
Shaurya raised an eyebrow, now mildly curious. "And what's the toll? Cmon quick!"
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Itni jaldi kya hai jiju. Aarav bhaiya kahi bhaag nahi rahe. Suhagraat mein sabke asli roop dikh hi jaate hai. Wow".
"Aarohi". Shaurya rolled his eyes.
"Well, no amount of money is equal to my brother's worth... but let's still talk numbers."
Shaurya's laughter was soft but genuine. "Of course."
Aarohi leaned in like a conspirator. "So tell me, Mr. Shekhawat — how much are you willing to offer for one night with my brother?"
He gave her an indulgent look. "Half."
Aarohi blinked. "Half...?"
Shaurya nodded solemnly. "Half my assets. All legal. One signature away."
Aarohi's jaw dropped. "You're insane!"
He shrugged, straightening his shoulders. "I love him Aarohi".
Aarohi stared at him for a beat, then burst into laughter. "You better not go back on your word, jiju. I'm printing this conversation and framing it."
"You're welcome to it," he said, gently stepping past her.
But she stopped him with a hand on his arm — her voice, for the first time, warm and quiet.
"Take care of him, Shaurya."
He looked down at her, eyes softening. "Always."
With that, she stepped aside and flung open the door with dramatic flair. "Go forth, husband of my brother! And enjoy your royal night! Aur palang tod mat dena".
Just as Shaurya stepped into the room, a loud, unmistakable voice echoed from the end of the hallway.
"EARPLUGS, PEOPLE!"
Shaurya froze.
Aarohi groaned. "Oh god, no."
Veer Shekhawat appeared, half-buttoned kurta, hair a glorious mess, carrying what looked suspiciously like a tray of mango lassi.
"I just told the kitchen staff to shut down all night service. Because tonight, my dear Rajput brethren, someone is going to scream 'Shauryaaaa' so loudly, the chandeliers will shake." Veer grinned.
Shaurya looked heavenward.
Aarohi was laughing so hard she had to hold onto the wall for balance.
"Veer go home".
"Aaj to main rukne waala hu, sound effects jo record krni hai". Veer then stepped towards Shaurya and massaged his shoulders. Then handed him a glass of water.
"Yeh lijiye jal. Aarav ka gala kahi sukh na jaaye".
Shaurya then sighed and pushed Veer out of his way and closed the door behind him. Veer started singing loudly:
"KUNDI LAGALO SAIYAAN, TUMHARE KO JANNAT DIKHATI , JANNAT DIKHATI MAIN".
The air inside the room smelled of rose petals and mischief.
Shaurya quietly closed the door behind him, letting the soft click echo in the royal silence. For a moment, he stood still, taking it all in — the string lights across the canopy bed, the shadows dancing on the ivory walls, the dim golden glow of the lamps... and the figure on the bed.
Aarav Singh Chauhan was on all fours, meticulously rearranging petals on the silken duvet — muttering something under his breath about symmetry and aesthetic and "no one told me red on red looks so tacky!"
Shaurya leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Aarav didn't notice him at first.
But then, maybe it was the way the air shifted. Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was instinct.
Aarav looked up — and froze.
Caught red-handed with a handful of petals and an expression that flickered from surprise to horror to indignation in 0.2 seconds.
"I can explain," he said, sitting upright quickly, as if Shaurya had caught him stealing from the royal treasury.
Shaurya raised a brow, amused. "I'm listening."
Aarav flailed the rose petals dramatically. "It's our suhagraat, Shaurya! The ambience has to be perfect. What kind of wedding night would this be if the bed didn't look like an Instagram post?!"
Shaurya's lips curved into a smile as he walked slowly toward the bed. "I was expecting you to light a bonfire and summon a Bollywood choreographer too."
Aarav huffed. "Don't tempt me. I had the playlist ready. But someone," he narrowed his eyes, "took forever talking to Rajmata."
Shaurya reached the edge of the bed, now just a foot away. "You missed me?"
Aarav opened his mouth to sass back — but nothing came out. His voice caught in his throat, and all he could do was nod a little too quickly, his eyes suddenly refusing to meet Shaurya's.
Shaurya reached out gently and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Aarav's ear.
And just like that — Aarav smiled.
Soft. Sheepish. Real.
Then — the sass returned.
"You're late," he pouted, folding his arms. "And I hate your moustache."
Shaurya blinked. "What?"
"It's intimidating," Aarav said dramatically. "What if we have children someday? Do you want them to be born scared?"
Shaurya let out a soft laugh and sat down on the bed beside him. "I'll try not to glare at the babies."
"You better not," Aarav said, mock-stern. "I want our kids to love you more than they love me."
Shaurya smiled, but didn't reply. His eyes were just... on him. Drinking in every movement, every sparkle, every breath.
Aarav softened again, nudging him slightly with his shoulder. "You okay?"
Shaurya nodded slowly.
Aarav leaned in, eyes suddenly wide. "Wait. You're being quiet. Too quiet."
Shaurya exhaled deeply.
"I'm just... overwhelmed," he whispered.
Aarav blinked at him.
"I spent so many years thinking we'd never get here," Shaurya continued. "That you were too good... or it was too complicated... or that fate would find a way to ruin it."
"But we made it," Aarav whispered. "We did."
Shaurya gave him a small smile, but Aarav could see it now — something shimmering at the corner of his eye.
"Shaurya...?" Aarav sat up straighter. "Are you—?"
A tear.
A real one.
Aarav's mouth fell open. "Oh my God. You're crying."
Shaurya looked away, chuckling through the tears. "No, I'm not."
"You are!" Aarav gasped, crawling toward him and taking his face in both hands. "Who are you and what have you done to my emotionally constipated husband?!"
Shaurya laughed again, blinking quickly. "It's just one tear—"
"That's more than I've seen in a decade!"
Aarav sat back dramatically on his heels and then climbed—without invitation—right into Shaurya's lap, wrapping his arms and legs around him like a smug, affectionate koala.
Shaurya wrapped his arms around him instinctively, grounding them both in the moment.
Aarav cupped his face again. "You're allowed to cry, you know. I'm not going to tease you forever."
"Really?"
"Okay, I'll tease you in five minutes, but not now."
They both laughed, foreheads resting against each other.
"I love you," Aarav whispered. "More than anything. More than food and—"
Shaurya interrupted, his voice deep and sure.
"We'll register our marriage as well baby. In Greece. I want everything permanent."
Aarav's breath caught. His lips parted in surprise.
And then he smiled, tears threatening his own lashes now.
The bed of rose petals was forgotten. The lights twinkled above them like stars eavesdropping on fate.
And the two of them sat there for what felt like an eternity — Aarav wrapped around Shaurya like he never planned to let go.
And maybe... he never would.
"Shaurya promise me one thing".
"Boliye. Agar aap jaan bhi maang le humara hum de denge".
"Okay stop it Romeo. Promise me you'll always come back to me, even if we fight, even if I get mad at you or leave you. Waise yeh hoga to nahi par phir bhi".
"I'll leave with you wherever you go. Hum apne bhagwn ko chorke kaha ja sakte hai".