47.
Everyone had gathered in the dining hall. Shaurya sat between Ravi and Yug, while Aarya sat beside Yug. Eve, of course, had claimed the seat directly across from Ravi.
"It really does smell good," Ravi said, eyeing the spread in front of them. Shaurya gave a small nod in agreement. Aarav stood nearby with Rishi, the chef, while the staff began serving.
But when one of them reached Shaurya with a plate of biryani, Aarav quickly stopped him.
"Wait! He's not going to eat that," Aarav interjected.
Shaurya looked up, puzzled.
"I asked Rishi bhai to make porridge for you. You're not supposed to have anything spicy right now," Aarav explained.
For a fraction of a second, Shaurya's expression faltered—blank, but carrying a hint of betrayal. Ravi nearly spat out his water trying to hide a laugh. Yug pressed his lips together, suppressing a grin. Eve, however, leaned back with a smirk, clearly enjoying the exchange.
"But why?" Aarya muttered, glancing longingly at her own plate of biryani. "It's so good. He should try some."
Aarav gently smoothed her hair. "No, baby. Remember I told you? Shaurya wasn't feeling well a few days ago. He needs to avoid spicy food for now."
Aarya's shoulders dropped in a tiny, reluctant nod.
When Aarav looked back at Shaurya, guilt was etched across his face. He mouthed a quiet sorry. Shaurya sighed but softened almost immediately, offering a reassuring smile instead.
"Why don't you sit and eat too?" Shaurya asked.
"Uh... yeah," Aarav muttered, slipping into his seat as the others began eating.
Ravi was the first to hum in delight, far too pleased. "Seriously, Aarav sir, where did you find this chef? He's incredible."
Rishi, standing a little to the side, bowed with a modest smile.
"It's a pity Shaurya can't eat any of this," Ravi added, almost too casually.
Shaurya shot him a flat look and went back to his porridge.
Eve, meanwhile, hadn't stopped glaring at him from across the table. When Shaurya finally turned and caught her, she instantly shifted her gaze away, pretending to fuss with her napkin.
"By the way, Shaurya," Eve cleared her throat, "did Aarav ever cook for you?"
Shaurya smirked, his eyes sliding to Aarav. "He made me maggi once. It was... unforgettable." His voice carried the weight of seriousness, but Aarav caught the glint of sarcasm beneath it.
Because that maggi had been a disaster. Aarav had nearly choked on it himself.
Inka muh bohot zyaada chal raha hai, Aarav thought, rolling his eyes.
"Papa cooks really well!" Aarya suddenly blurted, almost bouncing in her seat. Yug chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"I agree," he added with a sly smile.
Shaurya blinked, caught off guard. "Oh? And what does he cook?" he asked softly, though his eyes flicked briefly toward Aarav.
"Umm... we make desserts together. And— and he makes the best biryani!" Aarya grinned proudly.
Aarav laughed, shaking his head. "Well, Rishi uncle makes the best biryani, Aarya."
Aarya just shrugged, unwilling to back down from her claim.
Before Shaurya could respond, Ravi's phone rang. "I need to take this—sorry," he muttered sheepishly and stepped out.
The table fell into awkward silence until Eve, as usual, jumped in. "So, Shaurya, can I ask you something?"
He raised a brow at her.
"Well, if you don't mind, sir," she teased, rolling her eyes at his stiff look.
Shaurya gave the faintest nod. "Go ahead."
"How well do you know Ravi?" she asked bluntly.
Both Aarav and Yug rolled their eyes at her shamelessness.
Shaurya leaned back, still poking at the porridge with mild disgust. "I don't know... fifteen, twenty years maybe. Why?"
Yug nearly choked on his water.
"How old are you?" Aarya suddenly piped up, stretching the words with a sing-song tone.
Shaurya straightened instantly. He always did that when Aarya addressed him, as though her questions carried a different weight. Aarav noticed the change and couldn't help but smile.
"I'm... uhh around thirty-nine," Shaurya admitted.
"You're old," Aarya declared, genuinely shocked.
That was enough for Yug—he slapped the table, wheezing uncontrollably. Aarav hid his face with his hand, embarrassed.
Shaurya, however, chuckled. A quiet, genuine laugh that crinkled his eyes until they almost disappeared. The sound was so soft, so rare, that it made Aarav slowly lower his hand to look at him. Yug and Eve gawked like they'd just seen a miracle.
"No wonder Aarav fell for him," Eve muttered under her breath, unable to look away. "That smile..."
Shaurya, oblivious to the stares, was still smiling down at Aarya. And Aarya, confused why everyone else was reacting, simply tilted her head at Aarav who just patted her head and chuckled.
For that brief moment, the table wasn't awkward at all. Everyone found themselves smiling—though each for a different reason.
Dinner ended quietly. Yug had to leave for an urgent call at the office, and Ravi offered to drop him off since he had errands along the way. Eve took a sulking Aarya to bed—still upset about missing dessert—leaving only Shaurya and Aarav behind.
"You've known Shaurya for two decades?" Yug asked, watching Ravi's hands tighten and loosen on the steering wheel.
Ravi nodded. "We basically grew up together."
Yug's gaze lingered on him. There was a faint scar near Ravi's eye—barely noticeable unless you looked closely, but once you saw it, it was hard to ignore.
"How did you meet him?" Yug pressed.
Ravi drummed his fingers against the wheel, jaw tight. "You talk too much."
"And you don't talk enough," Yug countered, unfazed.
Ravi exhaled sharply.
"I guess you don't want to talk about it," Yug said at last, turning toward the window.
"Well..." Ravi cleared his throat, surprising him. "How do I even say this? You know Ozge?"
"Of course," Yug replied immediately.
Ravi gave a humorless chuckle. "My family owed him.
My father—he was desperate, stupid. Took a loan without realizing what kind of monster Ozge was.
The interest kept doubling, month after month, until it turned into an amount no ordinary man could ever repay.
So... my father decided to sell us instead. "
Yug froze, his stomach dropping.
"Ozge wasn't just a mafia," Ravi continued flatly. "He ran human trafficking rings as well. And when money didn't come, he sold organs. That's how my brother died."
Yug's breath hitched. He turned to look at Ravi, whose lips twisted in something between a smirk and a grimace.
"You asked," Ravi muttered. "Now you have to listen."
"I'm listening..." Yug whispered.
"It was almost twenty years ago. Shaurya had just come back from abroad.
Vedansh Shekhawat, of course, wouldn't let him breathe—kept pushing him into inspections of dealers.
One of those dealers was tied to Ozge. Shaurya could've walked away, like everyone else.
No one wanted to cross that man. But Shaurya?
He's always been stubborn. He went undercover, right into the belly of it. "
Ravi's grip tightened on the wheel, knuckles pale. His voice dropped.
"And that's where he found me. My family locked up with dozens of others. I was..." he paused, throat working, "...I was barely alive. Being used, broken. I was sexually assaulted. When he walked in, I thought it was another one of them."
Silence stretched for a moment. Ravi's voice was low when he continued.
"But it wasn't. Shaurya killed them. Every single bastard in that room. And then... he came to me. I'll never forget it. He didn't flinch. He didn't look away. He just... held me. Me—when I was nothing but filth in everyone else's eyes. When I was someone even dogs would've refused to touch."
Yug blinked fast, fighting the sting in his eyes.
"After that, he freed the others too. Paid off the families' debts. And because the Shekhawats hate human trafficking, he forced Ozge to answer for it. That night..." Ravi's smirk returned, bitter and sharp, "...Shaurya even killed one of Ozge's sons. He couldn't stand the stench of him."
"He was too young for that," Yug whispered, almost to himself.
Ravi's voice turned rough. "Yeah. But he still did it. People shivered by Ozge's name. But Shaurya is the only one to exist who could tackle Ozge at such a young".
"Vedansh Shekhawat was of course furious because his son could have get killed that day. But Shaurya didn't care. Shaurya brought me to the Shekhawat mansion. People were different there. They were strangely human but still human".
Yug's breathe shook.
"From then on, we trained together. He never saw me as different."
"You're not different," Yug muttered automatically.
Ravi gave a small shrug.
"I— I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you all that," Yug said, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm.
"Ugh, don't cry," Ravi chuckled.
"What should I do then—laugh?" Yug shot back.
Ravi stayed quiet, eyes fixed on the road.
Moments later, he pulled up outside the office building. "We're here."
Yug sat back, exhaling to steady himself. Ravi glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. Yug turned, meeting his gaze.
"I just want you to know... you're no different. I'm glad you survived all of this. And I'm glad Ozge is dead. He deserved it."
Ravi muttered, "You don't need to pity me. I'm sick of hearing that over and over."
"Of course your lover would say something sweet like that," Yug teased under his breath.
Ravi gave him a flat look. "Why do you all think Shaurya is my lover?"
"See, you just said it yourself," Yug grinned. "I didn't even mention his name. And after all these years, you expect me to believe nothing ever happened between you two? Just confess already, man. I won't judge."
"Shaurya is my brother," Ravi said firmly. "Always will be. We're not blood, but I'd fucking die for him." His voice carried a weight Yug didn't dare question.
Yug smiled faintly. "So... you never fell in love? That must be boring."
Ravi's lips curved slightly. "Who said that? I did fall in love."
Yug blinked. "But you just said Shaurya is your brother—"
"Shaurya isn't the only Shekhawat son, you know."
Yug froze. His eyes went wide. "Wait. Wait. HOLY SHIT—" He almost shouted, pointing at Ravi. "YOU LIKED VEER?!"
Ravi unbuckled his seatbelt calmly. "I think you should go. Didn't you say something urgent came up?"
"BUT—"
"Go."