Chapter 51
Morning arrived quietly.
Unlike the previous night, there were no sudden sounds, no shattered glass, no whispers hidden inside silence. Soft sunlight slowly entered through the curtains and spread across the room in pale golden lines.
For a few moments Aariv remained asleep.
Then slowly his eyes opened.
At first he simply stared upward blankly while his sleepy mind tried to understand why his body felt unusually warm and strangely heavy.
His lashes blinked once, he realized.
Something was resting on him.
Aariv lowered his eyes and immediately froze.
Veeransh was sleeping almost above him. One of his arms was wrapped firmly around Aariv's waist while his upper body rested partially over him
His face was turned slightly toward Aariv and his forehead rested near his chest. For a few seconds Aariv simply stared. Then slowly his cheeks started turning red. His eyes lowered unconsciously because suddenly his mind remembered last night.
Aariv lifted his hand and his fingers moved toward Veeransh's hair and gently , he started caressing them. His fingers slowly moved through the soft strands.
Aariv continued running his fingers softly through Veeransh's hair while quietly watching him sleep.
For a few moments everything remained peaceful.
Then unconsciously Aariv moved a little, Just a small movement.
But because Veeransh had practically wrapped himself around him,the movement shifted both of them slightly , Veeransh frowned.
Then let out a low sleepy groan and moved his face a little. Aariv froze immediately and his eyes widened.
Slowly Veeransh opened his eyes.
For a second his expression remained unfocused. Then his eyes settled on Aariv and something in his expression softened.
Because the first thing he saw in the morning was Aariv still under him.
Veeransh stared at him quietly for a few moments.
Without saying anything he leaned forward and rested his face lightly near Aariv's neck before nuzzling closer lazily.
Aariv's entire face warmed instantly.
"...Veer..."
Veeransh smiled against his shoulder.
Then in a sleepy voice quietly said..
"Good morning, love."
Aariv blinked , his ears immediately turned pink. He lowered his eyes.
"G.... good morning..."
Veeransh looked at him. Then frowned slightly.
"That's it?"
Aariv looked confused.
Veeransh smiled.
" give me a morning kiss then everything will be good..."
Aariv immediately looked away.
Veeransh laughed quietly. Then lifted his head slightly and looked at him more carefully. His eyes softened again and is hand slowly moved up and brushed Aariv's hair away from his forehead.
Veeransh stayed where he was for a few moments, his arms still loosely around Aariv while morning sunlight slowly filled the room.
He looked at Aariv quietly.
Then his gaze softened and he asked in a low voice....
"Are you fine now?"
Aariv looked at him and gave a small nod.
"Hmm..."
Veeransh looked at him for another second as if making sure. Then he gently brushed his thumb across Aariv's cheek and said....
"Okay. Let's go and get you ready."
Aariv immediately looked at him.
"M....main kar lunga..."
Veeransh raised one eyebrow.
"Achha?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Aur vo kaise?"
Veeransh looked at him and smiled lazily.
"You can barely keep your eyes open right now, baby."
Aariv's ears turned slightly warm.
"...Veer."
Veeransh smiled and slowly sat up before stretching slightly.
Then he looked back at Aariv.
"And waise bhi..."
His expression softened.
"I don't think there is any place in your body which I didn't see... Or is there any ??"
Aariv immediately looked away.
"M... main theek hoon..."
Veeransh looked at him for a second.
"Haan. Dekh raha hoon kitne theek ho."
Aariv looked embarrassed. He pulled the blanket slightly higher and avoided eye contact.
Veeransh noticed, then smiled more.
He leaned forward and gently held Aariv's chin. Aariv looked at him nervously. Veeransh looked at him quietly for a second before saying...
"Itna kyun sharma rahe ho?"
Aariv immediately looked away and Veeransh laughed softly. Then instead of teasing him further he leaned down and kissed his forehead.
Veeransh stood up from the bed first.
Then he turned and looked at Aariv.
Aariv had finally gotten up too, but the moment he stood, Veeransh suddenly stepped forward and lifted him into his arms effortlessly.
Aariv let out a small surprised sound.
"Veer....!"
Instinctively his arms wrapped around Veeransh's neck. Veeransh only smiled. He adjusted his hold under Aariv's legs and looked at him calmly. Aariv looked away immediately because now he realized.
He was only wearing Veeransh's shirt.
And because Veeransh had suddenly picked him up the oversized shirt had shifted slightly.
Aariv's eyes widened immediately...
his fingers moved and he started pulling the shirt downward awkwardly.
Veeransh noticed and his lips curved upward.
"Jaana..."
Aariv froze. Veeransh looked at him quietly.
"Don't be this shy."
Aariv immediately looked away.
His ears turned pink, His fingers still held the shirt.
"...I... am... n...not shy..."
Veeransh stared at him for two seconds.Then slowly raised one eyebrow.
"Ummhhh..."
He looked at him.
"Is that so?"
Aariv immediately looked away again.
Veeransh smiled more. Then without teasing further he shifted Aariv slightly more comfortably in his arms and took him to the washroom...
.............
The dining hall looked brighter that morning.
Sunlight entered from the tall windows and spread across the long breakfast table, making the entire space look warmer than it had in days. The staff moved quietly around the room arranging dishes while the family slowly gathered one by one.
For the first time after everything that had happened after the strange incidents, the fear, the broken lights, the unexplained marks and restless nights.... people were trying to behave normally.
Shanti sat near the center of the table speaking softly with Rajnath while making sure everyone's plates were prepared properly. Rajnath looked calmer today though his eyes still carried visible tiredness.
Rudra sat leaning lazily in his chair with his phone in his hand but he was not actually using it.
His eyes occasionally drifted around the room.
Yug was already there too. He sat quietly with a cup placed in front of him.
His expression looked normal.
Relaxed.
Maybe even happier than yesterday and because of that Rudra relaxed slightly too.
Maybe he really was overthinking.
Maybe nothing was wrong. Then footsteps echoed from upstairs everyone looked and immediately Shanti smiled. Veeransh was coming downstairs but unlike usual he was not walking alone.
Aariv was beside him or more accurately Veeransh was practically escorting him downstairs. One hand remained lightly around Aariv's waist while his other hand stayed close enough that if Aariv even slipped slightly, he would catch him instantly.
Aariv looked embarrassed.
His cheeks became slightly warm noticing everyone watching.He looked at Veeransh and whispered...
"...Veer."
Veeransh looked down.
"Hm?"
Aariv lowered his voice further.
"Main khud chal sakta hoon..."
Veeransh looked at him calmly.
"Haan."
Then he added further....
"Par mujhe risk nahi lena."
Aariv immediately looked away.
Rudra watched and frowned.
"Bas karo bhai. Subah subah hi itna pyaar?"
Veeransh looked at him once but didn't say anything...
Ridha flicked on his forehead
"Jealous?"
Rudra looked offended.
"Disgusted."
Shanti immediately laughed. Even Rajnath smiled slightly. Aariv looked like he wanted the floor to open and swallow him. They reached the table.
Before Aariv could sit Veeransh pulled the chair for him.
Veeransh looked back.
"What?"
Aariv immediately sat quietly.
Shanti smiled softly seeing them.
Then she started serving breakfast.
Everyone slowly began eating.
For a few minutes there was normal conversation. Rajnath discussed something with Ridha.
Shanti kept offering food to everyone and for the first time it almost felt like before. Then Veeransh looked at Aariv's plate. His expression changed.
Then calmly took more food and added it to Aariv's plate.
Aariv looked at him.
"...Veer."
Veeransh didn't even look up.
"Eat."
Aariv looked offended.
"Itna nahi khaunga."
Veeransh calmly continued drinking water.
"please... You need to eat..."
Aariv sighed.
"...bhookh nahi hai."
Veeransh finally looked at him. Then said quietly...
"To mere liye."
Aariv immediately looked down.
His ears became slightly pink.
He quietly started eating. A few minutes later Aariv reached for water. Before his hand even touched the glass Veeransh had already picked it up and handed it to him.
Aariv looked at him.
Veeransh looked confused.
"Kya?"
Aariv immediately took the glass.
"...thank you."
Veeransh looked at him for a second.
Then reached over and lightly fixed his messy hair. Aariv immediately looked down.
Rudra looked disgusted again.
"Oh my god."
Ridha: shut up Rudra... Go get a wife...
Rudra looked at yug and then said...
"I have a beautiful one... There is no need to find..."
Yug looked at him but didn't say anything which is so unusual for him...
Ridha: oh c'mon man stop lying I mean... No ..
Rudra: shut up and go to your husband....
Ridha: haha... Very funny he will be here very soon...
And just like that the conversation continuing.....
Aariv looked at yug and smiled.
"Yuggie."
Yug lifted his eyes and Aariv smiled lightly.
"Tu theek hai?"
Yug looked at him for a second.
Then smiled.
"Haan."
Aariv slowly walked around the table.
Nobody thought much of it.
Rudra looked once, then ignored it.
Yug looked up quietly and Aariv stopped beside him.
"Kal se tu bohot chup hai."
Yug looked at him. Aariv smiled a little more and naturally without thinking he reached forward and placed his hand softly on Yug's shoulder.
Nothing happened at least that's what everyone thought.
Yug's entire body became completely motionless. His expression remained exactly where it had been.
Aariv blinked and his smile faded slightly.
"...Yug?"
Aariv laughed awkwardly.
"Oye?"
Yug's fingers moved and his hand lifted and wrapped around Aariv's wrist too hard. Aariv immediately looked down and his brows pulled together.
"Yuggie?"
The grip tightened and Now everyone noticed.
But Yug didn't move his head remained lowered. His fingers tightened further. Then his other hand moved and grabbed his own wrist. Everyone froze because it didn't look like he was holding Aariv.
It looked like he was trying to stop himself.
Rudra slowly stood.
"Yug?"
Yug's breathing changed. His shoulders became rigid and his fingers around Aariv trembled.
Like his own body couldn't decide.
Then very slowly he lifted his head.
And the room became silent.
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