14.
Aarya skipped out of the room holding Yug's hand tightly.
"Papa brush your teeth. Your mouth stink. Ewy" she said before leaving.
Yug winked. "I'm bringing you breakfast, wait here".
Aarav chuckled faintly from his bed, watching them leave. "You two behave. Don't burn my kitchen".
The door clicked shut.
Silence returned — heavy, expectant.
Aarav slowly turned back to the pillow. With deliberate hands, he reached under it and pulled out the golden thread — delicate yet frayed with age.
He stared at it for a long moment. His thumb brushed the shimmer of it — soft, worn, sacred.
A memory flickered in his eyes.
With a soft exhale, Aarav stood and walked toward his drawer. He opened it, then slid out a hidden compartment beneath.
Inside, lay a small black velvet box.
He gently placed the golden thread inside, closing the box with care.
Aarav stared at it for a moment longer, before tucking it away.
"Do I even have the right to wear this ever again?", he whispered softly.
The sound of the shower echoed softly against the tiles.
Steam curled into the air, ghosting around the mirror.
Aarav stepped under the stream, tilting his face up into the falling water. Droplets cascaded down his face, washing away nothing and everything.
He leaned against the wall, his breath slow, heavy.
His fingers trailed over his chest — where a tattoo stretched across his skin:
"Meri duniya tum hi, tum hi aasra.".
Aarav ran a hand through his wet hair, his eyes closing tightly as water streamed down his body. His chest rose, then fell — a breath caught somewhere between longing and pain.
A tear rolled out from his eyes but he rubbed it immediately.
"I hate you".
-------------------------------------------------------------
The ringtone echoed in the quiet room. Aarav looked down at his phone — "Vedansh Shekhawat".
He answered, confused.
"Hello?"
A calm yet gruff voice replied,
"Hum neeche hain. Bahar aao."
Aarav's brows shot up.
"What? How—? I just called you an hour ago."
The call ended.
Aarav stood frozen for a beat, then glanced toward Aarya. She was lounging on the sofa, legs dangling, completely absorbed in the TV, singing along with Shin Chan's theme song — slightly off-beat but charmingly so.
He sighed, rubbing his neck. "Pura ka pura khandaan pagal hai..."
Aarav stepped outside and immediately spotted Vedansh Shekhawat, leaning casually against his car, a cigarette between his fingers, looking like he owned every inch of the world. Maybe he did. Who knows?
Aarav folded his arms.
"Don't you have any work, old man?"
Vedansh smirked without looking at him.
"Good to see you too, Aarav." He took a drag from his cigarette.
"Humari poti kahan hai?"
Aarav rolled his eyes.
"Inside. And no smoking in front of her."
Vedansh flicked the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his shoe, nodding.
Vedansh entered the apartment, his eyes scanning quickly — silently taking in the modest warmth of Aarav's home. The apartment felt home and every inch of it screamed Aarav. Something very different from the Shekhawat mansion.
Aarav called out,
"Aarya! Come here! Dekho kaun milne aaye hai aapse."
Tiny feet pattered across the floor. Aarya appeared in the hallway, her big brown eyes sparkling with curiosity, still humming her Shin Chan tune. She wore a dinosaur clip in her hair, slightly tilted, and a soft cotton frock with strawberries.
She paused when she saw Vedansh.
And he...
He stilled.
The world seemed to stop.
His eyes widened, the air leaving his lungs all at once.
A single word escaped his lips, barely a whisper—
"Zoya..."
His late wife's name.
Aarya blinked, slightly confused, looking between Vedansh and Aarav.
"Papa... Who is he?"
Before Aarav could say anything, Vedansh slowly stepped forward, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"Hum aapke dadu hain baccha, aap yaha aayein". Vedansh spread his arms in front of her. Aarya looked at her Papa to ask for permission, Aarav smiled and nodded.
Aarav, silent now, just watched — a flicker of hesitation, pride, and quiet pain dancing behind his eyes. Aarya ran towards Vedansh with her little feet. Vedansh immediately hugged her tightly and started caressing her face.
Aarya tilted her head and smiled.
"Dadu? Papa yeh to scary nahi hai. But I have this pink clip for you".
She plucked her spare pink clip from her pocket and offered it up with both hands.
Vedansh chuckled softly, eyes still locked on Aarya.
"Who told you I'm scary?"
Aarya opened her mouth to reply, but Aarav quickly placed a finger over his lips, signaling her to stay quiet. She giggled and zipped her lips, while Vedansh watched the silent exchange with a knowing shake of his head.
"Dadu! I want to show you so many things! Come inside, we'll watch Shin Chan together!" Aarya beamed, tugging at Vedansh's hand with her tiny fingers.
But Aarav gently held her back.
"Aarya," he said softly, crouching to her level. "Papa and Dadu need to talk for a bit. Dadu promised he'll spend the entire day with you, okay?"
Vedansh nodded with a smile, already warmed by her affection.
"Yayy! Okay! But come soon, Dadu!" Aarya sang, skipping back into the living room, her little feet making soft thuds against the floor.
Silence followed as Vedansh watched her go, his smile slowly fading, replaced by a weight in his chest. His eyes lingered on the hallway she disappeared into, and for a moment, his mask slipped.
Yeh bachchi mere Shaurya ko theek kar degi. Shaurya khud aayega tum dono ko lene. Vedansh thought.
"Hume laga... Zoya khadi hai saamne."
Aarav turned toward him, his expression softening as he noticed the redness forming in Vedansh's eyes — the way his hands stiffened as if trying to anchor himself to the present.
He was holding back tears.
Aarav said nothing, but a faint smile touched his lips.
Vedansh exhaled, voice barely steady.
"Bilkul tumpe gayi hai... sirf khoon humara hai."
"Dad- I mean Uncle-" Aarav couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth.
"Acha laga sunke hum abhi bhi tumhare dad hai. The transition from 'sasurji' and 'uncle' to 'dad' was long".
"Itne bhi ache nahi hai hum". Aarav rolled his eyes.
"Aap humare bete hi hai Aarav."
Aarav sighed but held Vedansh's hands and gripped it tight. "Dad, you're tired. Pehle baith jao. Aapko dekhke lag rha hai ki your son troubled you too much".
"You're not wrong", Vedansh chuckled as he sat on the sofa and Aarav sat down.
"Are kya kar rhe ho. Koi bhi rajkumar niche nahi baithte, humare saath baitho", Vedansh said while pulling Aarav from the tiled floor.
Aarav sat in silence for sometime while looking at Vedansh. Vedansh let out a smile.
"Bolo hume. Kya hua?" Vedansh said, his voice turned soft. This side of Vedansh Shekhawat was only known to Aarav. Aarav suddenly hugged Vedansh.
"Aap sab thik kar do Dad, I don't care if my life involves him or not. I just want this pain away. Please". Aarav let out a shaky breathe. Vedansh was startled but patted Aarav's back.
"I'll make everything right. Tum 6 saal pehle bol dete, hum tumpar ek aanch nahi aane dete. Surya ke bete ho aur humara guroor. Shaurya ki amanat, humara sapna. Shekhawat ke saath tumara naam joora hua hai".
"I fear I can never accept that name again".
"Par humare Shaurya bhi kam ziddi nahi hai". Vedansh smirked.