6.
Aarav had been sitting in his office for over three hours now. The digital face of his watch blinked: 9:58 AM.
Any moment now.
And right on cue, the door opened with practiced ease.
In walked Vedansh Shekhawat, every inch the man he'd always been—broad-shouldered, eagle-eyed, and aged with a certain ruthless grace.
The years hadn't softened him; if anything, they'd made him sharper.
A cigarette smoldered between his fingers, curling smoke trailing like a shadow.
God, in His strange sense of humor, had apparently blessed the chain-smoker with lungs of steel.
Behind him followed Raghav, or Raghu as everyone called him—Vedansh's ever-silent shadow. Built like a wall, always unreadable, always watching. If Vedansh was the thunder, Raghu was the quiet storm that came after.
Aarav didn't look up right away. When he did, his voice carried its usual dry edge.
"You're late," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Thought your lungs finally gave up. Figured Raghu here cried the whole ride over."
Vedansh chuckled, a sound like gravel and old war stories. "You haven't changed."
"But I look better," Aarav quipped. "It's called sexy."
Raghu rolled his eyes. Aarav caught it and smirked.
"So?" Aarav asked, tone turning curious. "What brings the legend himself to my humble office?"
Vedansh gave a small shrug. "Nothing dramatic. I just wanted to see you."
That caught Aarav off guard. He blinked. "Really?"
Vedansh's tone softened—barely. "Rajmata asks about you often. You should visit her. After Surya passed... it's just you and Aarohi now. You know how much you mean to her."
Aarav narrowed his eyes. "So you came to emotionally blackmail me? Classic."
"If that was the plan," Vedansh scoffed, "I'd have had Raghu tie you up and throw you in the car back to Amritnagar."
"I've missed your affection."
Vedansh moved closer, his gaze heavier now. "I came to remind you of what's yours. You're not a boy anymore. The throne waits. The Shekhawats are ready to serve the crown again. You made Rajmata a promise."
"That boy didn't have tattoos," Vedansh added, eyeing Aarav's inked arm with faint amusement.
Aarav's smile faded into something quieter. "That boy didn't have wounds either."
Vedansh placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "I'm not here to force you. Just to remind you—you've always had a place with us. With me."
The room fell silent for a moment. Then Vedansh stepped back, lighting another cigarette with a flick.
"So. How's life treating you here?" he asked. "I've been keeping up with your work. Impressive. Though Yug still seems suspicious to me."
Aarav rolled his eyes.
"Life's been good," Aarav said. "Food's terrible, though."
"You remember how you used to shadow me all day?" Vedansh said, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Just because Surya sometimes asked you to leave the palace?"
"You loved me, old man," Aarav grinned.
Vedansh didn't deny it.
Then, after a moment, he asked, "Do you have something to say, Aarav?"
Aarav paused. The answer formed in his throat but stayed there. Too much time had passed. Too many walls had been built.
"No," he said instead. "Nothing right now."
Just then, Raghu—silent until now—cleared his throat. "Forgive me, sir. But... the woman and the little girl you visit often... are you involved?"
Vedansh turned sharply, giving Raghu a glare that could silence a riot.
But Aarav raised a hand. "It's fine."
He sat back, exhaling slowly. "Yes. Her name is Aarya. She's mine."
Vedansh said nothing, but his eyes demanded the rest of the story.
Aarav met his gaze evenly. "You remember when Shaurya and I were looking for a surrogate? Eve was the perfect match. A good friend. Neither of us knew she'd gotten pregnant before I left Amritnagar. She tried to reach out. I was the only one who picked up."
Raghu blinked. Vedansh's expression didn't shift much, but something quiet passed behind his eyes.
"So," Vedansh finally said, "Shaurya's the biological father?"
Aarav nodded. "Yes. But he doesn't know. I raised her. I wanted to keep her far from both royalty and the underworld. She deserves better."
Vedansh took a drag from his cigarette. "So you're protecting her. From her own father."
"Yes and no." Aarav replied. "If Shaurya ever comes and asks about her, I'll tell him. But until then, she's mine."
Vedansh took a long moment, then said, "Can I meet her?"
Aarav didn't hesitate. "Yes. Of course. But not now. She's too young to understand. Let me try to talk to her first. And also if my daughter wants to meet you or Shaurya, it's totally her decision".
"I agree".
Vedansh gave a slow nod.
"Does she look like me?" he asked suddenly.
Aarav laughed. "Chiiii—no. She's pretty. Got Shaurya's eyes."
Raghu nearly choked trying to hold in his laughter. Vedansh only shook his head, bemused.
"Then she must be beautiful," he murmured, eyes distant. "Shaurya had his mother's eyes. Fierce and warm. Like fire wrapped in silk."
Aarav's smile lingered for a moment as he spoke, "She's beautiful."
But then something flickered in his expression — something almost fragile. The way her eyes crinkled when she laughed, the quiet confidence in her little footsteps... Aarya had Shaurya written all over her.
His smile faded. Just a little.
Vedansh didn't miss it.
He sat there, watching Aarav in silence. As though reading the words Aarav didn't say. Then, with a small grunt, he stood up, brushing invisible dust from his sleeves. His movements were slow, unhurried.
"I should get going," he said, his voice rough but steady.
Aarav stood too, half out of politeness, half from instinct. He expected Vedansh to walk away then — like always. But the older man paused near the door, eyes scanning a painting on the far wall, though he clearly wasn't looking at it.
He spoke again, quieter this time. Not to Aarav, not really. Maybe to the room. Maybe to himself.
"You know... Shaurya was never easy to raise." A dry chuckle escaped him — fond and fatigued. " Too damn stubborn. Even as a child, he'd rather bleed in silence than ask for a bandage."
Aarav stayed still, breath shallow.
Vedansh's voice dropped just a little more. "Some kids are born with fire in their chest. And they burn everything just to feel something. They act like they don't need anyone — but they do. Not to fix them. Just... to stay."
He turned then, eyes meeting Aarav's. They weren't cold. Not this time.
"I won't say more than that. But I'm his father. And I know when my son is trying too hard to stand like a man... while drowning like a boy."
He gave a short nod, more respectful than formal. "Thank you for telling me about Aarya. I'll be dying to meet her".
With that, Vedansh opened the door and walked out — leaving Aarav broken.
Aarav's chest tightened, his breath hitching as a burning sensation rose behind his eyes.
He slumped into the chair, fingers tangling in his hair, trying to keep the flood inside — but it was too late.
The tears came fast, silent at first, then shuddering.
He pressed his palms into his eyes like he could stop it, like he could will the ache away.
The door swung open with a soft click.
Yug entered, mid-sentence about a client call, but stopped dead when he saw Aarav — shoulders hunched, hands trembling, his entire frame shivering with quiet sobs.
"Aarav?" Yug rushed to him, alarm flaring. "What the hell—hey, hey. Talk to me. What happened?"
Aarav didn't respond, only shook his head, burying his face in his hands.
Yug crouched beside the chair, gripping the armrest tightly, scanning Aarav's face. "Did they find out about Aarya? Aarav, look at me. Did they say something?"
Aarav tried to breathe, but it came out broken. "Yug... Shaurya, he-he needs me..."
The name cracked something deeper inside him. Yug's jaw tensed.
"I swear to God," Yug snapped, his voice low, furious, "For fuck sake Aarav, how many times have I told you? It's Aarya who needs you, it's us, me and you. Shaurya Shekhawat is just a tale for her, Aarav."
"Yug—" Aarav's voice was barely a whisper. "It's not that. It's just... him. Mujhe nhi pata. Mujhe nhi pata ki us insaan ka naam sunte hi mera dil kyu jalne lagta hai. Woh kabhi mujhe lene nahi aaya Yug. He doesn't fucking cares."
Aarav chuckles in between through his tears.
Yug exhaled hard, then softened. He placed a steady hand on Aarav's back, drawing slow circles. "You've changed, Aarav. You're not the same man who walked away years ago. You've built something. You've built AaryaYou're stronger now, whether you feel it or not."
Aarav didn't move, just let the warmth of Yug's hand ground him.
"She needs you. Aarya needs you, not the version of you that crumbles at the ghost of him. "
Yug gently pulled him into a hug, arms wrapping around him with the kind of firmness that doesn't ask questions. Aarav didn't resist — he leaned into it, exhausted and heavy, letting himself be held for once.
"We'll face this together, Aarav," Yug murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just let me stay by your side. I promise I'll help carry the weight. You don't have to love me—I just need you to let me love you."
Aarav pulled back slightly, just enough to meet his eyes. "Doesn't that hurt?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Yug's jaw clenched for a second, but his eyes didn't flinch. They burned—not with anger, but something deeper. Ache. Devotion.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "It hurts like hell. But love, for me... it's still the most beautiful thing I've ever known. I'd rather feel it and ache than never feel it at all."
He leaned in, their foreheads brushing—close enough to share breath. Yug's hands reached up, thumbs gently massaging Aarav's temples with the care of someone handling something fragile, treasured.
Aarav let out a shaky sigh, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment.
And in that quiet, something softened. Not broken. Just... unguarded.
"We'll be alright".
Shaurya will be alright. Aarav told himself.