64.
Shaurya dropped down beside Aarav on the couch , making Aarav bounce slightly.
"Janwar kahike," Aarav muttered under his breath.
Shaurya only grinned and slid an arm around him, pulling him into a tight hug before pressing a warm kiss to his shoulder.
"Aapko koi aur kaam nahi hai kya? Seriously?" Aarav sighed.
"Nope," Shaurya said, far too cheerfully.
Aarav didn't react, his eyes still fixed ahead — but the small crease between his brows was impossible to miss.
After a few minutes of silence, Aarav finally turned... only to find Shaurya staring at him. More specifically, at his hair.
"What?" Aarav asked, instantly self-conscious, running a hand through his hair.
"You have one grey hair right here," Shaurya pointed, amusement tugging at his lips.
Aarav blinked, then rolled his eyes like it was the most offensive thing he'd heard all day.
"Whatever," he muttered.
Shaurya's laughter slipped out. "So you're the one who dyes hair, and you've been calling me old?"
"You don't have to laugh, okay? Grey hair is natural. Sometimes people get them early. Aur aapne mere dimaag ka jo raita banaya hai—khushi manaiye, sir pe baal to hai at least. Buddhe kahike."
Shaurya laughed harder.
"Haan haan, haste raho. Khud ki jo tond nikal aayi hai uska kya?" Aarav smacked his shoulder.
"Tond nikalna buri baat thodi hoti hai. Ise pyaar kehte hain," Shaurya said proudly. "Aap itna acha khana banate jo ho."
"I literally cooked for you once."
"Usme bohot pyaar tha shayad."
"Kuch bhi." Aarav waved him off. Then, narrowing his eyes, he added, "Aur suno — you're joining the gym again. Samjhe? But before that, you have your doctor's appointment. Because instead of taking medicines, you inhale food like it's oxygen. And I need to start taking care of myself too."
"Right, you have wrinkles," Shaurya said casually.
Aarav whipped his head toward him, scandalised.
"I do not have wrinkles!" he practically shouted.
"Alright, alright," Shaurya bit back a laugh, raising his hands in surrender.
Aarav huffed, folded his arms across his chest, and leaned back against the sofa with a sigh. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady himself.
"Aarav," Shaurya called softly.
Aarav opened one eye, then the other, and looked at him.
"Come here," Shaurya said, tapping his thigh.
Aarav didn't argue. He simply climbed into Shaurya's lap like a koala, looping his arms around Shaurya's neck. The moment Shaurya's arms wrapped around him, some invisible tension left Aarav's body.
"Babyy," Shaurya whispered against his ear, rubbing slow circles on his back. "What's going on in that overworked brain?"
"Yug," Aarav said immediately.
Shaurya didn't interrupt. He just kept stroking his back, silently urging him to continue.
"I'm worried about him, Shaurya. He's such a good friend. And I..." Aarav exhaled shakily. "I messed up again. I don't know why whatever I do turns wrong. I'm tired. Why the fuck can't I just make the people around me happy?"
His voice cracked at the last line.
"Why can't things be easier?"
"In our case?" Shaurya said dryly. "I doubt things will ever be easy."
Aarav pulled away just enough to glare at him. "Well, that made me feel better."
He flicked Shaurya's forehead with two fingers. Shaurya just chuckle lightly.
"A lot is happening with Yug," Shaurya said. "And I like that you care for him. It's good that you want to be there for him—it matters. Just... don't think about him all the time. Think about me too."
"Hm," Aarav hummed, running his fingers through Shaurya's beard. The gesture was soft, affectionate.
Then, because he couldn't help himself—"He's a good kisser, by the way."
Shaurya froze. Fully froze.
"...Who?" he asked, voice flat.
"Yug," Aarav said casually, though the smile tugging at his mouth betrayed him.
"You kissed him?" Shaurya asked, expression unreadable. But Aarav felt Shaurya's arms tighten around him, grip noticeably firmer. Goosebumps rose along Aarav's arms. God, he loved making this idiot jealous.
"Yep. I initiated it. Just thought I should tell you before you go hunting him down."
Shaurya blinked once. "Tongue?"
"What?"
"Did you use your tongue?"
"Oh. No." Aarav answered.
Shaurya immediately loosened his grip and looked away. "That's not even a kiss."
Aarav rolled his eyes. "You need to trim your beard, Shaurya."
He said it to change the subject, but when he looked closely, Shaurya's expression wasn't annoyed—it was quite hurt.
Aarav softened. "Hey. Don't make that face. I'm sorry. I was angry at you that day. I shouldn't have done that."
"So you technically cheated on me?" Shaurya asked quietly.
"We're divorced."
"And you're sitting on my lap right now."
"We're just Aarya's parents."
Shaurya raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Aarya's parents who have sex."
Aarav stared at him, affronted. "You talk too much nowadays, don't you? Aur rahi baat uss chipkali ki—your girlfriend really ruined you. And why were you everywhere with her, huh? Smiling like a fool around her all the time."
"You're getting jealous over a dead woman, Aarav," Shaurya said.
"Whatever," Aarav muttered and buried himself back into Shaurya's chest.
"Aarav."
He lifted his head.
"I love you," Shaurya said quietly.
A small smile tugged at Aarav's lips. "I love you."
Shaurya suddenly frowned. "Wait... is it raining?"
Aarav blinked, listening. The soft patter had started to grow louder.
"Yeah. Thank God. It was getting too hot anyway."
Shaurya stood up immediately. "Let's go outside."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, come on."
"Nope."
Shaurya pouted—actually pouted. His eyes big, lips pushed out like a drenched puppy already imagining the rain.
Aarav sighed. His heart wavered.
"Okay, fine."
Shaurya grabbed his wrist and practically dragged him out like an overgrown, overly enthusiastic child.
"You used to love rain," Shaurya said as they stepped under the downpour.
"I still do," Aarav said softly, tilting his face up to the sky.
Shaurya grinned. "Let's dance."
"NO." Aarav didn't even let him finish.
"You'll love it." Shaurya didn't wait. His hands slipped around Aarav's waist, pulling him into the rain fully. Water hit hard, cold and heavy, making Aarav scrunch his eyes shut and gasp.
The world around them blurred, wind whipping through the trees, water soaking through their clothes instantly. Aarav blinked through the droplets, hair plastered to his forehead, watching Shaurya laugh—really laugh—as if the rain washed every burden off him.
Shaurya slid his hand around Aarav's waist and pulled him in—slowly, gently—like he was afraid Aarav might disappear if he moved too fast. Aarav's breath hitched for a second, and his hands instinctively rose to Shaurya's neck, fingers slipping into his damp hair.
"You need a song or something?" Aarav asked, raising a brow.
Shaurya nodded, dead serious.
Aarav huffed a laugh. "You're so dramatic."
Still, he took a breath and began humming, the soft tune trembling between them as the rain poured around their bodies. Their steps fell into a slow, unplanned rhythm—Aarav swaying into Shaurya, Shaurya guiding him like he'd never forgotten how Aarav fit in his arms.
Shaurya leaned in, his voice barely audible over the rain.
"Sing it."
Aarav rolled his eyes lightly but the smile on his face gave him away. He rested his forehead against Shaurya's and began singing, voice low and warm:
"I have died every day waiting for you...
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you...
For a thousand years..."
Shaurya's fingers flexed on Aarav's waist, pulling him closer—close enough that their chests pressed, breath mixing with the scent of rain and earth.
"I'll love you for a thousand more..."
They turned slowly, the world fading, the backyard glowing with the dim lights reflecting off the water. Rain dripped from Aarav's lashes, from Shaurya's jawline, sliding down the hollow of his neck.
Aarav swallowed, voice softer, more vulnerable as he reached the last line—
"One step closer..."
Their faces were inches apart. Aarav could feel Shaurya's breath on his lips.
Shaurya whispered back, voice hoarse,
"One step closer."
And then Shaurya kissed him.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't frantic. It was deep, slow, consuming—like the storm itself leaned in to watch.
Shaurya cupped Aarav's face with both hands, thumbs brushing his cheekbones as rainwater mixed with warmth.
Aarav's hand slid down to Shaurya's wet, impossibly hard chest, feeling the steady thud of his heartbeat under his palm.
The kiss grew harder, desperate, like they'd spent years holding back and didn't know how to stop now.
When they finally pulled apart, breathless, foreheads touching, Shaurya wrapped his arms around Aarav and rested his head on his shoulder. The rain had softened to a drizzle.
Shaurya whispered against Aarav's neck,
"Sorry... I don't have a jacket right now."
Aarav's lips curved into a soft smile—because he remembered.
The first time Shaurya kissed him.
And even now, soaked in rain, holding each other, it still felt the same.
Shaurya then finally lifts Aarav from the ground and twirls him around.
"It's so fucking embarrassing, Shaurya."
"You love it, baby," Shaurya murmured with that stupidly smug smile.
Aarav rolled his eyes, but the blush on his cheeks betrayed him. They were so absorbed in each other, in the rain, in their messy little bubble, that neither of them noticed the figure standing at a distance.
Yug.
He froze, unsure if he should interrupt or disappear. His chest tightened at the sight—not with anger, not exactly, but something rawer... something he didn't want to name.
"Kisi ki jalne ki boo aa rahi hai. Even the rain couldn't hide it," a voice drawled behind him.
Yug flinched, whipping around.
Ravi stood there, annoyingly dry under a black umbrella, wearing that trademark irritating smirk.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Yug hissed.
"Protecting them from some creep gawking at them for minutes," Ravi deadpanned.
Yug clenched his jaw but didn't respond. He turned again to Shaurya and Aarav—still lost in their own world, their foreheads touching, moving like no one was watching.
"Seriously, man," Ravi sighed, nudging him. "Just get inside the car. It looks like it'll take a while in there."
Yug exhaled sharply and followed him to the car. He slipped into the passenger seat, and as he adjusted himself, his eyes landed on a small figure curled up in the backseat.
A kid—fast asleep, hair sticking adorably to his forehead.
Yug blinked.
"Wait... isn't that Shaurya's nephew?"
Ravi nodded casually.
"What is he doing here?" Yug asked, confused.
"He wanted to meet Shaurya," Ravi said with a sigh. "Also pulled out some of my hair to make me bring him."
"Deserved", Yug muttered.