65.
"If you guys are done, can we please go inside?" Ravi said, loud enough for both of them to hear.
Yug stood beside him, arms folded, expression unreadable.
Shaurya turned first at the sound of Ravi's voice, fingers slipping away from Aarav's waist. Aarav was about to tease him—something playful, something soft—but the moment he turned and saw Yug standing there, he froze.
"Yug..." Aarav breathed, a small, hesitant smile tugging at his lips.
"I came here to meet Aarya," Yug said simply. No expression, no warmth—just a statement.
Aarav nodded lightly, and the silence between them stretched for a second.
"Shaurya, Vayu is in the car," Ravi informed.
Before anyone could react, Shaurya had already sprinted into the rain toward the car. He leaned in and smiled at the sight of his nephew's tiny sleeping face, reaching out—
"Wait—Shaurya, you're wet!" Aarav called, stopping him.
Ravi opened the door instead and carefully lifted the toddler from the backseat. All of them moved inside quickly.
Aarav and Shaurya rushed to their respective rooms to dry off and change, and when they both stepped out at the same time, Shaurya leaned down and gave Aarav a tiny peck on the head—quick, natural, warm. Aarav's lips curled up without him realizing.
They walked to the living room.
Vayu was awake now, somehow looking both sleepy and energetic at the same time—his head drooping on Ravi's shoulder one moment, his tiny legs kicking the next.
The contrast made Aarav smile; big men like Ravi and Shaurya always made kids look like little potatoes in their arms. Even Aarya looked like a small doll when Shaurya carried her.
As Shaurya approached, Vayu's entire body lit up. The drowsiness evaporated instantly.
"Big Papaaaa!" Vayu squealed and launched himself into Shaurya's arms.
Shaurya laughed, catching him with practiced ease, and tickled his tiny belly. Vayu shrieked with giggles.
"Yeh 'Big Papa' kya hota hai? Angrez ki aulaad," Aarav muttered under his breath.
Shaurya shot him a look over Vayu's shoulder, and Aarav just raised his eyebrows in innocence.
"How's my tiger doing, huh?" Shaurya asked, bouncing Vayu slightly in his arms.
"I'm okay! Mumma and Papa are so bad! They never let me meet you!" Vayu complained, his little face scrunching up. Shaurya chuckled.
"I was busy, Vayu. They're not bad. Aap bore ho jaate humare saath," Shaurya teased.
Vayu folded his arms and frowned in the cutest way possible. Shaurya pinched his cheek.
"Shaurya," Aarav tugged at the corner of Shaurya's shirt, his eyes practically begging. He had been dying to talk to his nephew, and Shaurya simply refused to stop hogging him.
"Alright, alright," Shaurya finally gave in with a laugh.
"Vayu, look—it's Aarav," Shaurya said, pointing at him.
The little boy stared at Aarav silently for a moment, head tilted, as if trying to place him.
"Ohhh! I remember him! He's from the picture!" Vayu announced suddenly. "Mumma said Big Papa loves you."
Aarav's eyes immediately flicked to Shaurya, who cleared his throat.
Before anyone could react, Vayu wriggled out of Shaurya's arms.
"Big Papa, put me down!"
Shaurya obeyed.
Vayu walked straight to Aarav... and bowed.
"Hey—hey, what are you doing?" Aarav kneeled down quickly so he was eye-level with him.
"Papa said you're the king now," Vayu said matter-of-factly.
"I'm not yet," Aarav said with a soft smile. "And even if I become one someday, you don't have to do all that. I'm your—" Aarav looked at Shaurya for a second, then back at the boy.
"I'm your Aarav chachu."
Vayu's grin widened, and Aarav couldn't help but melt at the sight.
"You're so beautiful," Aarav whispered, lifting Vayu's tiny hands and kissing them. He had Aarohi's innocence in his face... but Veer's eyes. Aarav scooped him up and held him close.
"I wanted to meet you for so long!" Aarav said in a playful, childish tone.
"Really?" Vayu's eyes sparkled.
"Mhmm."
Vayu rested his head on Aarav's shoulder.
"Mumma says she misses you."
Aarav's smile faltered for a moment, softening.
"I miss her too," he whispered.
"And Big Papa—everyone misses you two! My friends and Teacher!" Vayu added proudly.
"Teacher?" Aarav raised a brow.
Ravi snorted. "Aarav, that woman has a massive crush on Shaurya."
"Ohhh," Aarav said slowly.
"We don't even meet," Shaurya muttered defensively, rubbing Aarav's back lightly.
"Woh hum dekhenge," Aarav replied under his breath as he carried Vayu to the couch and sat down.
"Big Papa! You know there was Rakhi function at my school? Every girl tied me rakhi!" Vayu puffed his chest proudly.
"Why are you so happy about that, seriously Vayu?" Shaurya said, unimpressed.
"No—Shaurya, shush," Aarav scolded gently.
"Vayu is a good boy, isn't he? And you know what? You're my new favourite," Aarav declared dramatically.
"Yay!" Vayu squealed.
Aarav kissed the top of his head.
"Where's Yug?" Aarav asked, turning to Ravi.
"I think he stepped out to call Aarya," Ravi replied.
"When did you guys even come?" Shaurya asked.
"Oh, when you two were dancing. It still hurts my soul that my phone died and I couldn't record it," Ravi said with pure disappointment.
Aarav rolled his eyes.
"Dadda! See, I made this!" Aarya's chirpy voice echoed through the living room.
Shaurya froze.
"I'm so not used to this, Aarav," he whispered, voice softening. "She sounds like an angel."
Aarav nodded, smiling warmly.
Both Yug and Ravi, looked at each other—stunned.
Yug noticed how close Shaurya and Aarya had become. It was normal, right? She was his daughter. Of course she'd cling to him. Still, something in Yug's chest tightened, and he quietly sat beside Ravi, keeping his distance from Aarav as if avoiding eye contact might steady his heartbeat.
"Ohh Vayu!" Aarya suddenly squealed, her eyes widening as soon as she noticed the younger boy. Vayu blinked up at her, confused, clearly struggling to place her face.
Shaurya glanced at Aarav.
"She knows him?"
"They met at the school event," Aarav explained.
Aarya's little pout returned when she realized Vayu didn't remember her. In a tiny burst of frustration, she placed the drawing she had made on the glass table and turned to leave, but Shaurya caught her before she could march away.
"Hey hey— what's wrong, Miss Aarya?" Shaurya scooped her into his arms.
"He doesn't remember me," she muttered, pointing accusingly at Vayu.
Aarav chuckled softly. It wasn't Vayu's fault—he was younger than Aarya and could barely remember half the people he met for a day.
"Aarya, he's small, princess. Sometimes little kids forget. He's your little brother princess," Aarav said gently.
Shaurya nodded, rubbing Aarya's arm.
Vayu huffed.
"I'm not small! I'm big!" Vayu declared.
"Alright, my bad," Aarav said quickly, raising his hands in surrender.
"Aarya, why don't you take him to your room and play?" Shaurya suggested.
"He's not my little brother," she repeated stubbornly, arms crossed.
"Aarya. Please," Aarav said softly.
She sighed. "Fine."
Aarya turned to Vayu.
"Will you play with me?"
Vayu immediately looked at Shaurya for approval.
Shaurya smiled and nodded.
Vayu cheered, hopped off Aarav's lap, and let Aarya drag him to her room.
As Aarav watched them leave, his eyes flickered toward Yug—who still refused to look back.
"Umm... where's Roy?" Aarav finally asked Ravi. "He's supposed to be in charge of Vayu. And you weren't here for days, Ravi. I didn't even get a chance to ask Shaurya."
Ravi didn't reply. Instead, his posture stiffened. It was enough for Aarav to sense something was wrong. His gaze immediately shot to Shaurya—who sat back, his expression unreadable, fingers pressed firmly to his forehead.
"You went to Amritnagar and didn't inform me," Shaurya said calmly. "Anyway... call Roy here tomorrow. I need to talk to him."
"He can't come," Ravi said quickly. "Raghu is training him."
Shaurya's eyes lifted.
"When did you start lying to me?"
The room fell silent. Yug glanced at Ravi—really looked at him—and for the first time he noticed actual fear in Ravi's eyes. Something he didn't think was possible.
"Ravi, is everything okay back there?" Aarav asked, worry tightening his voice. "Is Veer and Aarohi alright?"
Ravi swallowed. He looked like he wished he could vanish.
"Veer sir is injured," he finally said.
Aarav's brows knitted.
"What do you mean? What happened?"
Ravi's eyes darted to Shaurya again before he spoke.
"It's Ozge's son. No one expected him to strike so suddenly."
"Wait—what? How did he even get there?" Aarav asked, completely stunned.
"Veer signed the papers," Ravi explained. "All of Ozge's properties are under the Shekhawats now. And Veer insisted that her sons stay close to them. I didn't know that. Aarohi told me later."
Aarav stared in disbelief.
"Is the security really that shit Ravi? Aren't you handling that?"
"No," Ravi shook his head quickly. "Veer was out alone with Vayu. Roy was with them. Thankfully, nothing happened to Vayu. But Veer... he's hurt badly. He's healing, but Roy— I don't think he'll survive."
Yug's eyes widened. He had never seen Ravi speak like this. Never thought it would be this serious.
Aarav looked toward Shaurya again. Shaurya stayed still, silent—too silent—but the vein in his forehead pulsed sharply.
"I just don't understand," Aarav whispered. "Shaurya already said he wouldn't take charge of their money. Then why did Veer sign those papers?"
"Because apparently I'm not stable enough to make decisions," Shaurya finally said, lifting his eyes to Ravi.
His voice was calm. Too calm.
"Ravi," he said quietly, every word controlled, "you may be in charge of that mafia now... but I still make the rules."
Aarav blinked, stunned.
"What do you mean? Why is he in charge?"
Shaurya exhaled, rubbing his temple.
"I don't go to the Unit anymore," he said softly.
Aarav froze at that.
Because in that one sentence—he realized something.
Shaurya had completely cut himself off from the mafia.
Not partially.
Not temporarily.
Completely.
"Ozge's son tried to step inside my place, Ravi. And you've come here after two weeks just to inform me that my brother is healing?" Shaurya said with a cold smirk that made even Yug's stomach twist.
"And Vayu was involved in that too," Shaurya continued, voice disturbingly calm. "And you're here, sitting like nothing happened. Acting nothing but useless."
Ravi swallowed hard.
"Well, since you people already make your own rules, then solve it yourselves—both you and Veer."
Shaurya leaned back, expression blank. "I'll ask Aarohi to leave that place."
Ravi's head snapped up. "Shaurya—"
"If anything happens to my family," Shaurya interrupted, voice dropping to a quiet, lethal register, "either you'll live or my brother will. And you'll do that sin with your own hands. Remember that."
A chill ran through the room. Yug felt goosebumps crawl up his arms.
Aarav immediately grabbed Shaurya's forearm.
"Shaurya," he whispered, almost pleading. He knew what Shaurya meant by that. Shaurya was talking about Ravi and Veer killing each other if anything goes wrong. And never in his life he though Shaurya would talk like that.
Ravi's voice slowed slightly. "I can never do that to Veer..."
Shaurya didn't even blink.
"You don't get to decide that, Ravi."
A thin smile tugged at his lips—cold, merciless.
"Get out."
Ravi didn't argue. Didn't explain. Didn't breathe.
He simply stood up and walked out, closing the door behind him.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Shaurya exhaled once—sharp, frustrated—and walked straight into the hallway.
Aarav and Yug exchanged a glance.
Yug's expression wasn't jealousy anymore... it was fear.
He rubbed his face and muttered, "Calm him down."
And without another word, Yug turned and walked outside, hands shoved deep in his pockets.
Aarav watched him leave, guilt twisting in his chest. Everything was falling apart—Veer injured, Roy dying, Ozge's son attacking, Shaurya spiraling back toward the man he once was.
And now Yug was distancing himself.
Aarav closed his eyes for half a second, steadying his breath.
Shaurya's tone, the darkness in it... it wasn't normal. Not anymore.
He had to reach him. Now.
Aarav rushed into the hallway after Shaurya, heart pounding.