74.
"Shaurya, hume humara resort le chalenge?" Aarav asked softly as Shaurya drove.
Shaurya glanced at him and nodded. "Okay. Do you have some work there?"
"No," Aarav said, shaking his head. "I just want to see it once. Aur hum chahte hai ki aap bhi dekhein."
Shaurya smiled at that and turned the wheel.
They reached the resort soon. It wasn't officially open yet, but Aarav had already appointed a small maintenance staff. They were about to leave when they noticed Aarav stepping out of the car.
"Ghani khamma, Kunwar Sa," a few of them greeted warmly, smiling wide.
"Khamma Ghani," Aarav replied, joining his hands slightly. Shaurya stood just behind him, calm and observant. The staff bowed respectfully.
"Kunwar Sa, mhane kai aagya hai?" an elderly woman asked hesitantly.
"Bilkul nahi," Aarav replied gently, a reassuring smile on his face. "Aap log shayad abhi ja rahe the. Reach home safely."
The woman smiled and touched Aarav's head affectionately. Aarav bent slightly to receive her blessings. One by one, the staff departed, leaving only the security guards at the gate.
Aarav immediately held Shaurya's arm and tugged him inside.
Shaurya stopped in his tracks.
He looked around slowly—taking in the intricate arches, the delicate carvings, the soft European accents blended seamlessly with Rajasthani royalty. It didn't look like a resort. It looked like a palace.
Something Aarav had created with his own vision.
"So?" Aarav asked quietly, watching Shaurya's face, waiting.
Shaurya ran a hand through his beard. "You know I'm not very good with words, Aarav."
Aarav pouted instantly. "Waise toh aapka muh aajkal kaafi chalta rehta hai," he muttered. "But ab bolne ke liye kuch hai hi nahi? Wow."
With a huff, he walked away, pretending to inspect the curtains.
Shaurya chuckled. "Aarav, yahan aayein," he said, curling his fingers invitingly.
"No," Aarav replied stubbornly. "Pagal," he murmured under his breath.
Shaurya walked up to him anyway, gently turned him around, and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"It's beautiful," Shaurya said quietly. "And there's no doubt—you've always been good at making things beautiful. The way you changed my life... but this place—this is something I never imagined I'd witness."
Aarav smiled, his eyes glistening just a little.
"You've invested a lot here," Shaurya added.
Aarav nodded. "Yeah. There's still one part left. And I'll make sure that place is even more beautiful."
Shaurya tilted his head. "Why that part specifically?"
"That's a secret," Aarav said, flashing a mischievous grin. "You'll have to wait."
Shaurya smiled. "You've really thought this through. But what about affordability? Not everyone can afford a place like this."
"That's what Yug said too," Aarav replied. "So we decided to create different plans—based on people and their budgets. I'll only charge for maintenance and service."
Shaurya raised an eyebrow. "So... no real profit?"
Aarav shook his head. "Love isn't about profit. People book resorts to get married. That's the biggest day of their lives. I don't want to earn from that. This is my one-time investment—done purely from my heart. I just want this place to be memorable for everyone."
Shaurya looked at him—proud, and deeply in love.
He took Aarav's hands gently and kissed them.
"I have this beautiful person in my life—what else could I possibly need? Humare Rajkumar Bade ho gaye" Shaurya said softly.
"Of course," Aarav smiled. "I have a daughter now."
He laced his fingers with Shaurya's again and wandered through the resort with him. Night had fully settled in, the moon glowing bright above them, its silver light falling gently across Aarav's face.
"Kitni jaldi bade ho gaye hain na hum," Aarav murmured. "It feels like yesterday—we were running around my palace like children. And now... suddenly, we have a daughter." He sighed, half in wonder, half in disbelief.
"Let's sit for a bit," Aarav added, slowing down. "Why the hell are you walking so fast?"
They sat on the cool marble steps. Rajasthan nights carried a soft breeze—gentle, almost comforting, a stark contrast to the brutal daytime heat. Aarav climbed onto Shaurya's lap, hugging him like a koala. Shaurya wrapped his arms around him instinctively, holding him close.
"Baby," Shaurya said quietly, caressing Aarav's cheek, "you said we'd talk about what's been on your mind."
Aarav nodded, his arms tightening around Shaurya's shoulders.
"Umm... Shaurya," he began hesitantly, "I want to go home."
"I'll take you," Shaurya replied immediately. "Of course."
"No," Aarav shook his head slightly. "I mean... do you think Dadi would be angry with me? I disappointed her. Maybe I should've stayed."
"No one is disappointed in you, Aarav," Shaurya said gently. "You needed a break. Everyone does."
"And you?" Aarav asked softly. "You don't?"
Shaurya gave a small smile. "After you left, I was practically on a break anyway. I didn't do much these past few years."
"I'm not talking about work, Baba," Aarav said, his voice tightening. "Aap itni mushkil se theek huye ho, Shaurya. And then you got injured again."
Shaurya raised an eyebrow.
"This," Aarav said quietly, pressing his fingers against Shaurya's bicep, "it's bandaged. I can feel it."
"It's just a scratch," Shaurya replied. "Ozge's son is a psycho, that's all."
"It might be small for you," Aarav said, rubbing his forehead, struggling to keep his voice steady, "but do you know how I feel when anything happens to you?"
"Baby—"
"Shut up," Aarav muttered, exhaling shakily. "I really thought you'd be fine. I hoped you would be—because everyone was there. But they didn't take care of you. Not properly."
His voice cracked at the end, the fear he'd been holding back finally slipping through.
"It's not their fault," Shaurya said quietly. "I was never really present in my own house anyway."
Aarav let out a shaky breath.
"But we still have elders above us, Shaurya.
When we broke apart, they could have tried—at least tried—to fix things.
I know it was our responsibility, and yes, I was fucking immature," he admitted bitterly.
"But you were an idiot too. You never opened your mouth. Not once."
He ran his hands through his hair, frustration spilling over.
"But still... they could have stepped in. Just tell me one thing—your dad loves you, right? Couldn't he see how much pain you were in?"
Shaurya stayed silent, watching him. He was always struck by this—how Aarav worried about him before ever thinking of himself.
"I sound horrible right now," Aarav muttered, exhaling. "I'm sorry. Hum aapke aur aapke dad ke beech mein nahi aana chahte. I respect him. You know that. But you also know why I don't like him."
Shaurya smiled faintly.
"Sometimes, I don't like him either," he said honestly. "But I think he's tired now. He's getting old, after all. And what you said... I've thought about it too. Many times. But it's the past. We can't change it."
Aarav didn't reply. He simply rested his head on Shaurya's shoulder. Shaurya's hand moved instinctively, gently massaging Aarav's back.
"I want to stay with you," Aarav whispered. "Every day. Every moment."
"But you're scared of change," Shaurya said softly. "You've lived here for so many years."
Aarav nodded against him.
"I do have work here. I can't just leave everything unattended."
"We'll figure it out," Shaurya said firmly. "I can't stay without you. When you're here, I'll be here too."
"But you get busy as well."
"Never too busy for you," Shaurya replied without hesitation. "That was my mistake before. I should have prioritised you. That's how marriage works. I won't risk losing us again."
Aarav smiled, eyes misting.
"And... can I accompany you too?"
Shaurya chuckled softly.
"Of course. But as my husband. After all, everything is yours anyway. And I need you beside me—for every decision. I don't have a heart as big as yours, and I've paid for that."
"I need you too," Aarav said, cupping Shaurya's cheeks gently.
Then he sighed.
"But whatever I said today... forget it, okay? It sounded like I was complaining. I don't want anything bad between you and your dad."
"I know," Shaurya said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "No wonder you're getting grey hair so early. You think too much."
Aarav huffed softly, burying his face into Shaurya's chest—safe, held, and finally understood.
Later that night, they returned to Aarav's apartment. Both of them assumed Aarya would be asleep already. Aarav still checked—out of habit, out of love—and found her curled up peacefully in her bed, breathing softly.
They changed into comfortable clothes. Aarav was exhausted; he rolled his neck slowly, trying to ease the tension. There was still work waiting for him, unfinished thoughts tugging at the back of his mind—but that could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, he just wanted to be home.
When Aarav stepped out of the bathroom, damp hair clinging to his forehead, Shaurya lifted him without warning, sat him gently on the bed, and began drying his hair with the towel.
"Papa! Daddy!" Aarya's small voice called out.
"Aarya?" Aarav looked up instantly. "What happened, princess? Come here."
Aarya ran straight into his arms. Aarav picked her up, holding her close.
"What's wrong? Bad dream?" he asked softly.
She shook her head.
"I want to sleep with you and Daddy."
Both Aarav and Shaurya smiled.
"Well, of course, my lady," Shaurya said, taking Aarya from Aarav's arms. "Come here."
"Sorry we're a little late," Shaurya murmured as he snuggled her closer, already tickling her stomach. Aarya burst into giggles.
Aarav watched them with a fond smile as Shaurya kissed Aarya's cheeks repeatedly, then tucked her in, pulling the blanket over them both.
"Come join us, Papa!" Aarya said, reaching out with grabby little hands.
"Coming," Aarav replied, slipping under the blanket.
Aarya lay between them, looking at both her fathers with sleepy eyes. Aarav and Shaurya wrapped her up from both sides, holding her like a warm little burrito. The three of them settled into each other's warmth.
Aarya loved this—this feeling. Safe. Whole.
Somehow, both Shaurya and Aarav fell asleep before her.
She giggled softly, leaned over, kissed Aarav's cheek gently, then kissed Shaurya's, and curled back into the space between them.
"I love you both," she whispered, before drifting off.
A few minutes later—
"Shaurya... aap so rahe hain?" Aarav murmured.
"Na."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Go to sleep," Aarav said softly. "Bandar kahike." and raised slightly to place one gentle peck on Shaurya's lips and caressed his face.
"Mere bhole se bandar".