90.
The four of them were finally back in Amritnagar.
The moment Shaurya saw Aarya, he scooped her into his arms and went straight to his room without saying a word to anyone.
Aarav only asked the staff to send their dinner upstairs tonight.
Yug went to his room, and Ravi returned to the unit.
Shaurya was still hugging Aarya tightly.
"Daddy, you're too big! Leave me!" Aarya giggled, trying to wriggle free.
Aarav watched them with a soft smile.
"Shaurya, give her to me, na?" Aarav whined.
Shaurya sighed and finally let her go.
Aarya jumped straight into Aarav's arms.
"I love you so much," Aarav said, kissing the top of her head.
He sat down on Shaurya's lap as Shaurya settled on the couch, and Shaurya's arms wrapped around his waist automatically.
"I love you too, Papa!" Aarya said happily.
"Oh—and I got a haircut!" she added, proudly showing her hair.
Aarav hadn't noticed it before. Now that he looked closely, he realized how much shorter it was. He glared at Shaurya.
"She's looking beautiful, Aarav," Shaurya said softly, kissing Aarav's shoulder.
Aarya's eyes suddenly caught the ring on Aarav's finger.
"It's beautiful, Papa," she said, holding his hand carefully.
"I know," Aarav smiled. "Your Dadda gave me this."
Aarya looked up at both of them, a mischievous little smile playing on her lips.
"So... you both are going to get married?" she asked.
Shaurya chuckled.
Aarav nodded. "Yes. Very soon. Then he'll be my husband, not just your Dadda," Aarav teased.
Aarya rolled her eyes dramatically.
"You've taught her this expression really well," Shaurya said to Aarav.
"And then... are you both going on a honeymoon?" Aarya asked innocently.
Aarav and Shaurya looked at each other.
"Do you even know what that means?" Aarav asked, half shocked, half amused.
"Yes. Evie told me that after two people get married, they go on a honeymoon where they make babies, and then after a few days the baby comes to their house," Aarya explained seriously.
"I'm so killing her," Aarav muttered.
Shaurya noticed Aarya's face had fallen while she was saying all that.
"What's wrong, Aarya?" Shaurya asked gently.
"You both already have me. How can you make another baby? I don't want any baby. You're my Daddy and Papa," Aarya said, her voice trembling.
Aarav felt his throat tighten.
Shaurya kissed her forehead and then her cheeks softly.
"Don't worry, princess. There won't be any baby except you."
"Yes baby. Shaurya, no more kids. She is enough". Aarav said seriously. Shaurya chuckled.
"Papa, when will I go to school again?" Aarya asked suddenly.
Aarav remembered her vacation was almost over, which meant she would have to return to school in Udaipur.
"Hey, can we enroll her in the school you studied in? Vayu is there too," Shaurya said.
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Aarav smiled.
Then he looked at Aarya. "Baby, we'll talk about this later, okay? You'll go to school very soon. Don't worry."
Aarya nodded.
"By the way, where is Vayu? I didn't see him downstairs," Shaurya asked.
Aarya shrugged.
"Aarya, can you please call Vayu and Aarohi here? I want to talk to them," Shaurya said.
She nodded and ran out of the room.
"I'm sure Vayu is sulking right now," Aarav said softly. "You should've met him, na."
Shaurya rested his head on Aarav's shoulder while Aarav adjusted himself more comfortably on Shaurya's lap.
"When I saw Aarya, I couldn't focus on anything else. Now I feel bad," Shaurya murmured.
Aarav smiled and gently scratched Shaurya's beard.
"Hey, I told you to trim this. It's getting too long now," Aarav teased.
"I guess I'll shave it," Shaurya said casually.
Aarav glared at him.
"Not the moustache. Just the beard. It'll grow back in a week anyway," Shaurya added quickly.
"Alright," Aarav muttered, still suspicious.
"So... when should we get married then?" Shaurya asked softly.
"The same date as last time."
"October," Shaurya smiled. "Not even two months left. We'll have to plan everything fast, baby."
"Exactly, and how many people are we inviting this time? We actually have to send wedding cards too," Aarav said, already stressed, rubbing his forehead.
"Shaurya, we need to book decorators, our outfits—everything. Two months is very less time."
"Hey, don't worry," Shaurya said, pulling him closer. "I'll handle the guests and arrangements. You focus on the wedding card and the décor. But more than that—take care of yourself, okay?"
"And your coronation too... we have to plan that as well."
Aarav sighed.
"It'll be fine," Shaurya said, kissing his cheek. "We'll manage everything together."
Aarav smiled and gave him a quick peck.
"Waise, last time you literally slept on our wedding night," Aarav said, narrowing his eyes. "Iss baar agar aisa hua na—"
Shaurya laughed. "I'll make sure you don't get sleep for a few days in a row."
Aarav flushed and lightly hit his chest. Shaurya just grinned. "Well don't forget to get your ass ready for my dick. I hope you remember what we talked about". Aarav teased.
Shaurya stopped smirking. Aarav snorted and patted Shaurya's back.
"Anyway, I thought Aarya would cry when she saw us after so many days," Shaurya murmured.
"It was only three days," Aarav rolled his eyes. "But she really never cried much, even as a baby."
"Oh?"
"Yeah... when she was born, she didn't cry at all.
I got so scared, I thought something was wrong.
Doctors said everything was normal, but she was so tiny, Shaurya.
"
Aarav smiled at the memory. "She only made these little squeaky sounds.
Proper crying was rare. I even thought..
. okay this sounds horrible, but I thought maybe our daughter was broken. "
Shaurya laughed softly.
"I guess she gets that from you," Aarav continued. "You never cried much either, remember? Your mom used to say you were super stubborn about food too—even as a baby. Only liked certain flavors."
Shaurya smiled, eyes warm.
"Shaurya... how was your mum like?" Aarav asked softly.
"You knew her," Shaurya said, a little confused.
"Yeah, but I was very young when she left us. I don't remember much," Aarav replied.
"Oh..." Shaurya paused, thinking. "I don't really know how to explain. I mostly remember her smile... and the way she used to look at me. She never raised her voice at me. Not even once."
"Aap bachpan se shaant hi toh the," Aarav said lightly. "Mujhe toh kitni maar padi thi. Aur batao."
"She used to speak very softly," Shaurya continued. "Her voice... like a nightingale. She would tell me how much Dad cherished her. And honestly, I saw that myself.
She was someone who really understood me. She even bought me my first guitar."
Aarav smiled at that.
"Samar Chachu and Riya Chachi were her best friends here.
And then... one day we heard they were killed.
Veer was just three, Abhi maybe five or six.
Mom took care of them like her own.
Veer was obviously the most loved one...
but he also gave everyone the most tension," Shaurya said, shaking his head with a faint smile.
Aarav chuckled. "Some things never change."
"This mansion used to feel so full back then," Shaurya went on. "Surya Uncle used to visit every day... with you. I think Veer shaped a lot of who we are today."
Ab inhe kaise bataun ki Veer ko maine hi bigaada tha, Aarav thought guiltily.
"Shaurya... do you think your mother would've liked me?" Aarav asked quietly.
Shaurya looked at him in disbelief. "She adored you, Aarav. She used to arrange your bed herself whenever you stayed here. She even once talked about adopting you."
He smirked. "Thank God that never happened."
Aarav snorted.
"If she's watching us right now," Shaurya said softly, "she knows how much I love you. How happy I am with you.
I really wish she were here... I would tell her myself—
'Mum, I love Aarav. He's the one I chose. And he loves me the way Dad loved you.'"
Aarav cupped Shaurya's face, eyes shining.
"Losing her was... the beginning of the Shekhawats falling apart," Shaurya continued, voice lower now.
"My grandparents cut ties with Dad.
I don't think I'll ever meet them again.
Back then, I thought Dad was weak..
. that he couldn't protect her, that he ruined everything.
I forgot how much he was suffering himself. "
He swallowed.
"But he handled it all alone. No one was really there for him except your family.
That's why I get so protective about you, Aarav... to the point where I become stupid... and end up hurting you too."
He looked down.
"I'm sorry."
"That was our past, Shaurya," Aarav said softly. "Hume kuch nahi hoga. Itna stress mat liya karo aap, okay baba."
Before Shaurya could reply—
"Agar aap dono ka moment khatam ho gaya ho, toh hum andar aa jaayein?" Aarohi said, grinning wickedly.
Aarav almost jumped up, instantly sliding off Shaurya's lap.
"I think you should seriously learn how to knock," Aarav muttered, flustered.
Aarohi rolled her eyes. "Haan haan, next time red carpet bichha ke entry lungi."
Shaurya, meanwhile, just sat there trying very hard not to smile at the siblings bickering.