62.
Yug rubbed his eyes, blinking away the blur. As his surroundings sharpened, he froze — and then shot upright so fast he nearly fell off the bed.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he half-yelled.
Shaurya was sitting on the couch like he owned the place, arms folded, staring at him with that annoyingly calm expression.
"Good morning," Shaurya said flatly. "You sleep like you're dead."
"It's evening. You didn't answer my question." Yug shifted up, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. It was already insane that Shaurya had somehow gotten inside his locked apartment. But then it clicked.
"Aarav sent you," Yug muttered.
"No," Shaurya said. "If you're thinking he sent me here, you're wrong."
Yug frowned. "Then?"
Shaurya leaned back. "You should answer your calls. He's been trying to reach you. Anyway, he'll be coming here soon."
Yug narrowed his eyes. "Shaurya. What do you want?"
A beat.
"When Aarav comes here," Shaurya said quietly, "you're not going to do anything stupid. And you know exactly what I mean."
Yug let out a long breath and dropped back onto the mattress. "Are you serious right now?"
Shaurya raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not some lovesick teenager, Shaurya," Yug snapped. He paused, then added, "Actually, let me spell it out for you, since you seem a little slow today."
Shaurya didn't react — just waited.
"Look," Yug said, calmer now, "I might like Aarav, yes. But you? You clearly love him. And he loves you too. So let's just... not ruin that. Not for my ego, not for whatever the hell this is."
He gestured vaguely between them.
"But don't get too happy," Yug added, scoffing. "I'm not praising you. Aarav just loves you way too much — more than you ever loved him. And honestly? I don't get it. Who the hell willingly stays in a relationship that toxic?"
Shaurya's jaw tightened. "What did he feel?"
Yug stared at him — really stared — before speaking.
"He was lost, Shaurya. Completely. And maybe you don't remember half of it — thanks to the drugs, the shit you drowned yourself in. But he remembers everything. Every day. Every night. Every bruise you left behind when you told him to let go."
Shaurya looked away sharply, eyes darkening.
"And did any of you come for him?" Yug continued, his voice rising. " No. Did his sister? No. Did that perfect, royal, pure-blooded family give a damn? No. Only your dad came after he accidentally found out Aarav had your daughter."
Yug shook his head.
"Aarav never talks about Amritnagar because his grandmother is disappointed in him. Because he doesn't fit their perfect mold. That's why he doesn't want the throne. Not because he doesn't deserve it — but because your family made him feel like he doesn't."
Shaurya swallowed hard, but didn't interrupt.
"You know what the worst thing is?" Yug said softly. "He would never tell you this. Never. Because that's who he is. Loyal to a fault."
He looked down, laughing bitterly.
"And you're worried I'll try to kiss him again? I'm just mad that I stayed with him for this long but..."
Yug met Shaurya's eyes — tired, honest, and strangely calm.
"I'm not your enemy, Shaurya. I just want him to be with someone who doesn't break him."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then Yug added, quieter this time:
"If that someone is you, then... try not to fuck it up again. And I'm not blaming you Shaurya. You were not yourself, but your family could have tried to mend things between you guys".
Shaurya didn't speak for a long time. His jaw kept clenching and unclenching, as if he was swallowing words he didn't know how to say.
Yug finally murmured, "...sorry."
"No." Shaurya shook his head. "Actually... thank you."
He stood, exhaling deeply, then awkwardly patted Yug's back—too hard, as usual.
Yug winced. "Dude—can you touch people normally?"
Shaurya ignored that. "You asked why I came," he said over his shoulder.
Yug raised an eyebrow.
"I came to check on you," Shaurya said simply. "Thought you were dead."
Yug snorted. "Of course."
Shaurya turned toward the door, but Yug called out, "Wait—want a drink?"
"No," Shaurya replied instantly. "Aarav won't like that."
Yug muttered under his breath, "Cringe."
Shaurya paused, gave him a sharp look, and Yug just lifted a hand in a lazy wave.
Shaurya finally left.
The moment the door clicked shut, Yug groaned and dropped back onto the couch.
"How the fuck did he even get in here?" he muttered. Then sighed. "Unbelievable."
-----------------------------------------------------
"Papaaaa, not like this! Here it's too big," Aarya whined.
Aarav buried his face in his hands. He'd been helping her make a collage for school — and honestly, both father and daughter looked equally done with life.
"But they're almost the same size!" Aarav argued, pouting right back.
Aarya pouted harder.
"Why do they make kids do so much work?" Aarav muttered dramatically. Then he glanced at Aarya and softened. "Okay, show papa again."
"Papa?" Aarya called in her tiny voice.
"Hmm?"
"Where's Mr. Shekhawat?"
Aarav froze. His smile dropped instantly.
"Aarya—"
"I'm here, Miss Aarya," Shaurya said as he entered. Both of them turned. Aarya immediately hopped off her chair and ran into his arms.
Shaurya picked her up effortlessly.
"I'm sooo tired, Mr. Shekhawat. They're so bad," she complained.
"Who?" Shaurya asked, sitting beside Aarav with her still clinging to him.
"My school teacher. My hand hurts." She rested her head dramatically on his chest.
Aarav gaped. "Shaurya — seriously? I told her to take a break. And now she's complaining to you?"
Shaurya chuckled. "They're bad indeed."
"Shaurya!" Aarav glared, but Shaurya only smirked.
"Well, since you worked so hard today," Shaurya said, reaching into his coat, "I have something for you."
He pulled out a rose.
Aarya's eyes sparkled. "For me?"
"And this," Shaurya added, pulling out a sunflower for Aarav, "for your papa."
Aarav took it, immediately rubbing his nose to hide the blush creeping up.
"This is sooo pretty!" Aarya squealed, kissing Shaurya's cheek.
Shaurya glanced at Aarav.
"Mr. Shekhawat?" Aarya asked.
"Hmmm?"
"I don't want to call you that anymore."
Aarav choked on air.
"Oh?" Shaurya said, clearly amused.
"Papa doesn't like it when I call you that. He becomes angry bird." She pointed at Aarav.
Aarav immediately relaxed his whole face. "I do NOT look like— okay, fine."
Shaurya snorted, earning a glare.
"But what do I call you? I already call him Papa..." Aarya pouted.
Then her eyes widened. "OH! Can I call you Daddy?"
Shaurya coughed.
Aarav coughed harder.
Shaurya looked at Aarya... then slowly at Aarav... then back at Aarya.
"I don't think your papa would like that," he said carefully.
"He likes calling me that," Shaurya muttered under his breath.
Aarav's soul left his body but he managed to roll his eyes.
"Aarya," Aarav said softly, holding her tiny hand. "Call him Dadda."
Aarya's whole face lit up, her smile wide and toothy.
"OKAY!"
She turned immediately to Shaurya.
"Dadda?" she called out in her sweetest voice.
"Yeah?" Shaurya replied, smiling — and for a moment he went completely still, as if the word had knocked the air out of him. His heart felt full... painfully full. It was something he had been dying to hear from his daughter.
"Dadda," Aarya continued innocently, "Papa said he loves you."
"Hmm? Excuse me, Aarya — when did I say that?" Aarav asked, eyes widening.
"You just did. Before Dadda came." Aarya shrugged.
Shaurya couldn't hide his smile.
"Do you love Papa too?" she asked Shaurya.
"Of course I do, Aarya."
"More than me?"
Shaurya chuckled—Aarav leaned in a little, clearly waiting for the answer.
"Well... that's debatable," Shaurya said. "I don't know what to say about that."
He looked at Aarav, whose expression was openly curious now.
"I think... I love your Papa more," Shaurya finally admitted.
Aarav slapped his forehead.
But Aarya went silent. Her lips trembled, her hands folded across her chest.
"You don't love me," she said, voice tiny and wounded.
"I never said that," Shaurya protested.
Aarya hopped off his lap and turned away stubbornly.
"I—"
Aarav snorted under his breath.
"Alright, alright, Aarya," Aarav said, kneeling next to her. "Why don't you bring some ice cream for your Dadda? That will definitely make him love you even more."
"Yep. Definitely," Shaurya muttered, playing along.
"Really? Okay!!"
Aarya brightened instantly and sprinted toward the kitchen.
"Jay bhai, help her—she'll make a mess otherwise!" Aarav called out.
Shaurya watched her disappear and then turned back to Aarav, impressed.
"Did you just see her run like that?"
"Yeah, I know your bones could never," Aarav replied dryly.
Shaurya laughed.
"And you!" Aarav added, narrowing his eyes. "Why did you say that to her?"
"Say what?" Shaurya asked, too casually.
"You know what I mean."
"Well, I don't," Shaurya smirked.
Aarav rolled his eyes. "Seriously."
He sighed. "Anyway, I'm going to Yug's place."
He stood, sunflower in hand — but Shaurya grabbed his waist and pulled him straight onto his lap.
"Shaurya! Leave me. It's late."
"Tell me what wrong I told her," Shaurya said, his arms tightening around Aarav's waist, one of his hand slowly going under Aarav's t-shirt as his finger caressed Aarav's hips.
Aarav stayed quiet — even after all these years, this closeness still hit him hard.
He cleared his throat, failing miserably to hide his blush.
"Was I wrong," Shaurya murmured against his ear, "when I said you like calling me Daddy?"
Aarav choked on air. "No—I mean—"
"You don't like calling me that?" Shaurya teased.
"Shut up, idiot!" Aarav hissed and smacked his head lightly with the sunflower.
"Why did you tell her you love me more than her?"
"Well... isn't it true?" Shaurya asked, rubbing his beard against Aarav's cheek.
Aarav felt his stomach flip. Still the same feeling. The first time they started dating.
"She's just a child, Shaurya. Aap sach-me pagal ho," Aarav muttered.
"She's my daughter, Aarav," Shaurya said softly. "But you're the love of my life, baby."
Aarav looked away, trying—and failing—to hide his smile. His hands automatically slid over Shaurya's arms, the ones still wrapped firm and warm around him.
"Why are you smiling, baby?" Shaurya whispered.
Aarav's voice softened. "She called you Dadda."
Shaurya stilled.
Then his heart actually hurt with how full it felt.
And watching Aarav smile for him — like that — he fell in love all over again. He loved how Aarav would be more happy for him. Always.
"I was waiting for her to call you that Shaurya. Hum chahte hai ki aap bhi woh cheez feel kare woh maine kiya tha. Everything. From holding my hand to calling me Papa. Everthing was magical Shaurya. Everything is magical with her".
Shaurya didn't say anything which Aarav could totally understand. Because he himself would be speechless sometimes at times like this.
"Anywayyy, leave me now. I have to go," Aarav said, tapping Shaurya's chest lightly. Shaurya loosened his grip immediately, letting him slide off his lap, though his hands lingered for a second longer.
Aarav stood, brushed his pants, and turned to leave—but paused.
Leaning down, he cupped Shaurya's jaw gently and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Shaurya stilled.
"Thanks for the flower," Aarav murmured, his lips brushing dangerously close to Shaurya's skin as he pulled back. "But it was still cringe. Don't do it again."
Shaurya let out a low chuckle, eyes warm.
Aarav's ears burned as he walked away, secretly smiling.
"He's too much for my heart", Shaurya muttered.