97.
Eid had come to an end, and the house was slowly returning to its usual quiet. One by one, relatives stepped out through the main gate, luggage in hand, exchanging last hugs and promises to meet again soon.
Ravi stood near the gate, seeing them off with a polite smile, while Alizeh stood beside him, waving warmly to each departing car.
"Ravi... next time we come, it should be for your nikah," his aunt called out with a teasing grin. "Don't delay too much. The bride is already right here."
Alizeh instantly blushed, lowering her gaze. Ravi only chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.
They waved as the car finally pulled away.
"Khala should've stayed a few more days," Alizeh sighed. "It always feels so nice when she visits."
Ravi smirked. "Of course it feels nice. Tumhari taarif jo karti hai itni".
Alizeh elbowed him lightly. "Shut up."
A cool night breeze passed as she looked up. The thin crescent moon hung peacefully in the sky.
"Ravi, take a picture of me?" she said, handing him her phone.
"Sure."
She stepped a little ahead, adjusting her dupatta and posing. Ravi lifted the phone and clicked a shot.
"Wait, make sure the moon is in the frame too," she added.
Ravi shifted his position for a better angle while Alizeh raised her hands, showing off the intricate mehndi patterns on her palms.
Fatima happened to walk past just then.
"Fatima! Come here!" Alizeh called.
Soon they were posing together, laughing as Alizeh planted a quick kiss on Fatima's cheek for a playful photo.
As Ravi lowered the phone, his gaze briefly lingered on Alizeh.
"Bhai, come here!" Fatima called out. "Let's take a picture together. You actually look good today."
Ravi scoffed. "I look good every day."
Alizeh snatched the phone from his hand, their fingers brushing for a moment.
Ravi slung an arm casually over Fatima's shoulder, posing lazily.
Alizeh sighed dramatically. "Ravi, seriously? At least try to pose properly."
In response, Ravi coolly slid on his sunglasses, while Fatima flexed her biceps beside him.
The camera clicked.
"Alizeh, now you come," Fatima said, grabbing Alizeh's wrist and pulling her beside Ravi.
Alizeh glanced at Ravi and gave a small smile before slipping her hand around his bicep and turning toward the camera.
Ravi, pretending to stay cool, lifted his sunglasses and casually placed them on top of Alizeh's head instead. She laughed softly and instinctively stepped a little closer to him.
"One... two... three—"
The camera clicked.
Fatima checked the photo and instantly melted. "This is so adorable!"
A few more laughs later, the three of them squeezed together and took a final selfie.
Ravi massaged his cheeks. "Okay, my face actually hurts from smiling now. Can we stop?"
Fatima groaned. "Ugh, boys..."
Nearby, Ravi's mother was still at the gate, speaking on the phone.
"Aap aate to humein bohot acha lagta... haan, next time zaroor aaiyega."
The trio barely paid attention until she suddenly turned toward Ravi.
"Nahi nahi, Ravi yahin saamne hi hai. Baat karni hai?"
Ravi frowned slightly, confused.
A pause.
Then his mother smiled softly. "Khayaal rakhna apna, beta. Khuda hafiz."
She ended the call.
Ravi walked closer. "Who was it?"
"Yug."
"Yug?" Ravi's voice rose without him realizing.
Fatima shot him a suspicious look. "Thoda aur zor se bol dete. Aasman tak sunai deti."
Ravi cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. "Why did he call?"
"Bechare ki tabiyat kharab thi, isliye aa nahi paye. Bas wohi batana tha. Such a nice kid. Bola bhi tha tumse baat karwa du, par use abhi kuch kaam tha, toh phone rakh diya."
Ravi nodded slowly.
"Who's Yug?" Alizeh asked, curious.
"Yug Khurana," Fatima answered with a smirk. "Bhai knows him pretty well now. He and Aarav are close."
"Yug Khurana?" Alizeh repeated, recognition lighting her face.
Fatima sighed dramatically. "He's so handsome. Kaash hum unse nikah kar pate."
Ravi shot her a disgusted look.
Alizeh turned to him eagerly. "Ravi, since you know him, can you help me get in touch with him? My staff has been trying to contact him for a collaboration, but he always signs contracts with other designers first."
Ravi exhaled slowly, then nodded. "I'll see what I can do."
Alizeh studied his face for a moment.
"Ravi... sab khairiyat? You suddenly look off."
He forced a small smile. "Yeah. I'm fine."
"Shaurya aur Aarav bhi nahi aaye. Is Yug with them?" Ravi's mother asked.
"Nope. He's in Udaipur. Likes living alone," Ravi replied absentmindedly, eyes still fixed somewhere far beyond the gate.
"Alone?" She turned to him sharply. "Ravi, tumne use saath aane ko bhi nahi kaha? Are you an idiot?"
Alizeh let out a small snort, trying to hide her laugh.
Ravi frowned. "Why should I?"
His mother's expression softened, but her voice carried disappointment. "He recently lost his mother, Ravi. You shouldn't have left him alone at a time like this."
Ravi looked away, guilt flickering across his face. "I thought... giving space is also a thing."
A brief silence followed.
Then Alizeh spoke gently, "Why don't you bring him here?"
Ravi looked at her.
Fatima immediately nodded, excitement written all over her face. "Yes! Call him. It'll be fun."
Ravi stared at all three of them in disbelief. "I seriously don't understand why you people like him so much. You don't even know him."
Alizeh shrugged lightly. "He's charming."
His mother added casually, "He's handsome."
Fatima grinned wickedly. "And he has abs... and piercings."
Ravi visibly cringed.
They laughed.
He shoved his hands into his pockets, tone quieter now. "I'll think about it... but I don't think he'd come."
But then suddenly he started smiling looking at his car.
---------------------
Yug stared at the glowing laptop screen, a half-empty bottle of alcohol hanging loosely from his hand.
"I still have to check the finance department numbers... Aarav will kill me if he sees this pending," he muttered to himself.
It was almost midnight. The house felt unusually silent. Only Bozo, sprawled lazily near his feet, kept him company.
For the past four days, Yug had barely stepped out or met anyone. Aarav and Shaurya kept calling to check on him, but he avoided visitors. Silence felt easier.
He exhaled heavily and took another long sip from the bottle.
Then—the doorbell rang.
Yug frowned and glanced at the clock. Who the hell comes at this hour?
He slowly got up from the floor, brushed the creases from his pants, and walked to the door. Peering through the peephole, he saw no one.
He frowned again and glanced through the side glass panel. The security guard was still at his post outside.
The bell rang again.
Annoyed now, Yug unlocked the door and pulled it open.
A tall figure stood there in a beige kurta, a shawl thrown casually over his shoulder.
Ravi.
For a moment, Yug's heart dropped straight into his stomach. He hadn't expected—hadn't even imagined—seeing him again so soon.
Before Yug could process anything, Ravi suddenly sneezed loudly, jerking him back to reality.
"Oh God," Ravi muttered, shaking his head. "What is that smell?"
Yug blinked, still stunned. Ravi sniffed dramatically again.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Ravi asked.
Confused, Yug sniffed his own shoulder. His cologne.
"Matlab kya zeher hai," Ravi continued, scrunching his nose. "Mere naak ke saare baal jala diye ".
Yug just stared at him like he'd seen a ghost.
Ravi raised an eyebrow. "What? You're going to keep staring or let me in?"
Finally finding his voice, Yug asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Came here to murder you," Ravi replied casually—and walked in before Yug could react.
The door shut behind him.
Bozo immediately ran toward Ravi, tail wagging wildly. Ravi crouched slightly, scratching the dog's head while glancing around the house.
"This place looks different. You moved the furniture?" Ravi asked, glancing around the living room.
Yug nodded. "Yeah."
"Why though? It was good before too."
"I was bored," Yug replied, rubbing his palm against his wrist unconsciously.
Ravi looked at him, unimpressed. "If you're bored, you go out. Or work. Aren't your meetings enough to kill boredom?"
Yug avoided his gaze. "I haven't gone out... or attended any meetings."
Ravi blinked, genuinely shocked. "You're kidding."
Yug said nothing.
Ravi exhaled sharply. "Why are you doing this drama? I'm supposed to be the one sulking. But you're here acting like some sad princess instead."
Yug sighed and walked toward the switches, turning on a few more lights. The room brightened, revealing a strangely spotless house.
Ravi followed his gaze around.
"So you literally did nothing but rot here," he muttered.
"I did things," Yug defended. "Cleaned the whole house. Look at the windows."
Ravi glanced at the perfectly polished glass and understood immediately. Yug didn't sit with emotions; he scrubbed them away. Cleaning was how he coped. Yug was definitely a defected piece.
Before Ravi could say anything, Yug's stomach growled loudly in the quiet room.
Ravi slowly turned back to him. "You did everything except eat. Don't tell me you've been starving yourself for four days."
Yug frowned. "No. I ate. Just didn't feel like having dinner today."
Ravi shook his head. "Are you even Punjabi? You barely eat."
"That's a stereotype," Yug replied, folding his arms. "Not everyone likes eating too much."
Ravi stared at him for a second, then sighed. "Do you want to eat something now?"
"I'm fine."
A pause settled between them.
Yug finally asked, quieter this time, "Why are you here?"
Ravi's expression softened just a little. "I just... wanted to see you."
He stepped forward and instinctively extended his hand, maybe to touch Yug's shoulder, maybe just to close the distance.
But Yug immediately stepped back.
And Ravi froze.
In Ravi's mind, Yug's words echoed from their last conversation—
I can't trade my life to a hell.
The memory hung between them, heavy and unresolved.
"Okay... I should leave then," Ravi muttered and turned toward the door.
Before he could take a step, Yug caught his arm.
"Mat jao."
His voice was low, almost breaking.
Ravi turned back. Yug's eyes were red, and a tear slipped down his cheek before he could hide it.
"You're leaving me too," Yug said quietly. "You said you wouldn't."
Ravi swallowed, unsure what to say.
"You're the one who said you didn't want to see my face."
Yug frowned, frustration mixing with hurt.
"Main jo bhi bolunga tum woh sab maan loge?" he snapped softly. "Are you an idiot? Dimaag nahi hai tumhara?"
Ravi sighed internally. It's impossible to understand him.
Before he could reply, Yug stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.
Ravi froze.
"I don't like living alone," Yug murmured against his shoulder. "Stay... with me, Ravi."
For a moment, Ravi just stood there, surprised. Yug had never been the one to close the distance first. Slowly, he lifted his hand and gently stroked Yug's hair.
Then Yug pulled back slightly, adding quickly, almost defensively,
"Don't get the wrong idea. I don't like you."
A small laugh escaped Ravi.
"You don't need to."
His hands moved to Yug's back, steady and reassuring.
Yug suddenly seemed awkward again, clearing his throat.
"Umm... sit down, I guess."
Ravi settled onto the sofa. Silence lingered until his phone rang.
Alizeh.
He picked up.
"Ravi, where are you?" she asked.
"I'm outside. Everything okay?"
"Yeah. I came to your room, but you weren't there. I wanted to talk about something. When are you coming back?"
"I'll be back tomorrow morning. What is it about?"
"Come back first. We'll talk then."
"Alright. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Ravi ended the call and placed the phone on the table.
Yug spoke after a pause.
"You shouldn't have come here this late. Your mum must be worried."
Ravi shook his head casually.
"That wasn't my mum. That was my ex."
Yug stared at him, completely caught off guard.
"What?" he blinked. "Your ex?"
"Yeah. She's going to stay at my place for a few days," Ravi said.
Yug cleared his throat, looking away. "Good for you, I guess."
"Nothing good about it," Ravi replied. "My mom and grandma are trying to set up my marriage with her."
"Well... you should be happy," Yug muttered.
Ravi rolled his eyes. "I'm not marrying anyone who isn't you. And tomorrow, you're coming with me to meet my mother."
Yug nearly choked. "What the hell? Why?" Panic slipped into his voice.
"Relax. I'm not going to give her a heart attack by suddenly saying I want to marry a guy. She's the one who suggested bringing you home anyway. She's worried about you."
Yug looked at him sharply. "So you didn't come here on your own?"
Ravi only smirked.
"What are you smiling at?" Yug asked, dropping onto the sofa beside him.
"Nothing."
Yug glanced at him from the corner of his eye, then said quietly, "You look good today."
Ravi blinked. "Are my ears working right? Did you just compliment me?"
Yug rolled his eyes.
Ravi slipped an arm around Yug's shoulder and pulled him closer. Their faces ended up far too close for comfort.
"I told you not to touch me," Yug muttered, though he didn't move away.
Ravi leaned in slightly, voice low. "Hume laga... shayad humein aapki har baat maanni nahi chahiye."
Yug frowned, trying not to react,as their faces almost touched. "Your nose is too sharp," he muttered, avoiding his eyes. "Go away."
But neither of them actually moved.
"So you'll end up not getting married somehow". Yug said.
"Why?"
"Because I won't marry you".