His temporary wife, his permanent obsession

Chapter 68 - Drunken Confessions and chaos

The night was calm, the stars twinkling softly above the Malhotra mansion. In their bedroom, Aarav and Ira stood on the balcony, wrapped in the comfort of each other’s presence. The cold breeze made Ira shiver slightly, and in an instant, Aarav pulled her closer.

"Cold?" he murmured, his lips dangerously close to her ear.

"Not really," Ira smirked, tilting her head up at him.

Aarav raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you trembling, Mrs. Malhotra?"

Ira rolled her eyes playfully. "Maybe because my husband is standing way too close, whispering in a way that should be illegal?"

Aarav chuckled. "Illegal? You married a businessman, sweetheart, not a law-abiding citizen."

Ira gasped. "Excuse me? Are you confessing to being a criminal?"

"Only when it comes to stealing kisses," he whispered, leaning in, his eyes locked onto hers. "And right now, I'm about to commit a major crime."

Ira felt her breath hitch as his fingers traced her waist. Just as their lips were about to meet—

"HEY TUMNE KABHI KISI SE PYAR KIYA~"

The loud, off-key voice blared through the house, making them both jerk apart.

Aarav groaned. "What the hell? Who’s murdering classic Bollywood songs at this hour?!"

Ira, still dazed from the almost-kiss, sighed. "It’s coming from the living room. Let’s go check."

They rushed downstairs and were met with a horrific yet hilarious sight—

Kabir. Drunk as hell.

He stood in the middle of the living room, a Kingfisher Strong beer bottle in one hand, the other raised like a dramatic hero, singing loudly while Vihaan and Ritvik tried (and failed) to shut him up.

Nisha, clearly embarrassed, hurriedly turned off the Bluetooth speaker.

"SHH!" she whisper-yelled. "If the elders wake up, we’re all dead!"

Kabir, unfazed, turned dramatically to Aarav and Ira. "AH! Bhai! Bhabhi! You came to enjoy my singing?"

Aarav rubbed his temples. "No, we came to figure out why an idiot is having a concert at midnight!"

Vihaan sighed. "We’ve been trying to handle him for the past ten minutes. He won’t stop singing."

"Why are you even drunk?!" Ira asked.

Kabir ignored the question, singing again. "Hey, tumne kabhi kisi se pyar kiya—"

Aarav snapped. "Kabir, I swear to God—shut up!"

Kabir pouted. "Why are you guys so mean to me? I'm suffering, and no one cares!"

Ritvik clapped his hands. "Great! We all care. Now, let’s take your suffering self to bed before you wake up Mom."

The Mission: Take Drunk Kabir to His Room.

Step 1: Try to make him walk.

Aarav grabbed Kabir’s arm. "Come on, let’s go."

Kabir dramatically clutched his chest. "You’re sending me away?! After all I’ve done for you?!"

Vihaan smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for existing. Now move."

Kabir collapsed onto the couch. "NO! I won’t go!"

Step 2: Bribery.

Ira sighed. "Kabir, if you go to bed, I’ll make you your favorite paratha in the morning."

Kabir blinked. "With extra butter?"

"Yes."

"…and chai?"

"Yes."

He paused—then dramatically shook his head. "NO! I refuse! My heartbreak is bigger than butter paratha!"

Aarav sighed in frustration. "Fine, Plan B."

Step 3: Forcibly Drag Him.

Ritvik and Vihaan each grabbed one of Kabir’s arms.

"Noooo!" Kabir yelled as they pulled him toward his room. "You can’t do this to me! I have rights!"

Aarav kicked the bedroom door open, and they threw him on the bed.

Kabir, lying flat, held up one finger. "Bhai, listen—"

Aarav threw a pillow at his face. "SHUT. UP."

Step 4: The Big Confession.

Everyone gathered around as Aarav folded his arms. "Alright, Kabir, talk. Why are you drunk?"

Kabir, suddenly serious, took a deep breath.

"I…" he started dramatically.

"Yes?"

"I…broke up with my girlfriend."

Silence.

And then—

Ritvik and Vihaan BURST OUT LAUGHING.

Aarav looked disgusted. "Wait. You actually had a girlfriend?"

Kabir fake-cried. "Wow! So rude! Yes, I did! And now I’m heartbroken!"

Vihaan wheezed. "Dude, you never told us! We thought you were single and desperate!"

Kabir sniffled. "I kept it private."

Ira, confused, asked, "But why didn’t you ever tell us about her?"

Kabir, still drunk and emotional, blurted out—

"Bhabhi, I believe in keeping it private… until it’s pregnant."

Dead silence.

Aarav stared. "…Excuse me, what?"

Kabir nodded wisely. "Privacy is key, bhai. Until it’s pregnant."

Vihaan collapsed laughing. "OH MY GOD! YOU MEAN UNTIL IT’S PERMANENT!"

Kabir waved a dismissive hand. "Same thing."

Aarav sighed and shook his head. "I swear I will kill you one day."

Just then, Kabir suddenly grabbed Aarav’s face—AND KISSED HIS CHEEK.

Aarav froze in horror.

"I LOVE YOU, BHAI!" Kabir declared dramatically.

Aarav immediately wiped his face aggressively. "DISGUSTING! I WAS ABOUT TO KISS MY WIFE, AND INSTEAD, I GET THIS?!"

Vihaan wheezed. "Wow, bhai, you really do get all the attention tonight!"

Kabir blinked at Aarav. "Don’t be jealous, bhai. You’ll get your turn."

Aarav grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "I SWEAR TO GOD, GO TO SLEEP!"

Ira shook her head, laughing while watching the chaos.

"I was about to have the best kiss of my life, and instead, I got this!" Aarav complained dramatically, pointing at his cheek.

Kabir, still swaying, blinked at him. "You don't know what you're missing, bhai. My kisses are— hic— legendary."

Aarav smacked the back of his head lightly. "Shut up and go to sleep, idiot."

But Kabir wasn’t done. He dramatically grabbed Aarav’s collar. "Bhai, tell me… tell meee… is love even real?" His voice cracked at the end, making the whole scene even more ridiculous.

Aarav sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Vihaan, Ritvik, help me get this emotional fool to bed before he starts writing poetry."

Vihaan and Ritvik grabbed Kabir by his arms and dragged him toward his bed. Meanwhile, Ira and Nisha followed, shaking their heads at the drama unfolding before them.

"No! I don’t want to sleep! I want answers!" he declared, pointing a wobbly finger at Aarav. "Bhai, did you ever cry for bhabhi? Did you ever lose your appetite for her? Haan? Did your world ever turn black and white when she ignored your texts?"

Aarav kept quiet, he didn't say a word

Ira stifled a laugh while Aarav rolled his eyes. "Idiot, real love isn’t about unnecessary suffering. It's about—"

Kabir cut him off, waving a finger. "No. Real love is tragic. Like mine. My girlfriend left me for a guy with a six-pack."

Vihaan burst into laughter. "Bro, that's on you. Why are you drinking beer instead of hitting the gym?"

Kabir pouted. "It hurts, yaar! She used to say she loved my chubby cheeks, and now she’s with some protein shake guy!"

Aarav and Ritvik exchanged glances before Ritvik sighed. "Okay, let’s get you to bed before you start singing sad songs."

Just as they were tucking him in, Kabir sat up abruptly, eyes wide.

"You know what? I don’t even care about her! I have my family!" He clutched Ritvik’s arm. "Bhai, you love me, right?"

Ritvik nodded, playing along. "Of course, I do."

Kabir turned to Vihaan. "And you?"

Vihaan smirked. "Nah, not really."

Kabir gasped dramatically. "Bhabhi!" he called out to Ira. "Tell them I’m lovable!"

Ira chuckled. "You’re definitely something."

Satisfied, Kabir smiled like a child. "I knew it. Now sing me a lullaby."

Aarav glared at him. "Go to sleep before I throw you off the bed."

Kabir sighed and finally lay down. But just as everyone thought the chaos was over, he whispered in a sleepy voice, "Bhai, I know why you’re so grumpy… you need a baby. Have one soon."

Aarav choked on air.

Ira turned red.

Vihaan and Ritvik howled with laughter.

"You idiot!" Aarav smacked Kabir’s forehead, making him whine before he finally passed out.

With a final sigh, Aarav turned to Ira. "Let's go before he says anything else to scar me for life.

Once everyone finally manages to put Kabir to sleep—after dealing with his nonstop heartbreak songs, dramatic fake crying, and unnecessary cuddles—Aarav and Ira sigh in relief.

Vihaan stretches. "Finally! This idiot is down."

Aarav glares at him. "Next time, if he drinks, let’s leave him in the garden."

Ira smacks his arm. "Aarav!"

Ritvik laughs. "Honestly, I second that."

With that, everyone starts heading back to their rooms. Aarav and Ira, exhausted but still in their teasing mood, walk toward their room when Ira suddenly tugs his hand.

Ira: "Wait, I need water."

Aarav smirks. "Why don’t you drink from my lips instead?"

Ira rolls her eyes but blushes. "Shut up!"

They head toward the kitchen, but as soon as they reach the entrance, they freeze.

Right there, sitting on the kitchen counter, is little Natasha—covered in chocolate. She has an entire cake plate in front of her, a spoon in one hand, and an innocent look on her face.

Aarav folds his arms. "Well, well, well... What do we have here?"

Natasha blinks, trying to think fast. "Uh... midnight pooja?"

Ira bursts into laughter while Aarav shakes his head in disbelief.

Aarav: "Midnight pooja with cake?"

Natasha nods, licking her spoon. "Maa says sweets make the gods happy. So, I thought why not share some love with Lord Ganesh?"

Ira: "Awww, smart baby!"

Aarav gives her a don’t encourage this look. He turns back to Natasha. "And does Lord Ganesh need you to eat the entire cake?"

Natasha, thinking quickly: "Sharing is caring, Chachu. Want some?" She holds out a chocolate-covered spoon toward Aarav.

Aarav groans. "I swear, we are raising a criminal mastermind!"

Ira, still laughing, takes the spoon from Natasha and feeds Aarav. "See? Now you’re part of the pooja too."

Aarav sighs, wiping his mouth. "This is why I should’ve married a woman with a strict personality."

Natasha gasps. "Are you saying chachi isn’t strict?"

Aarav: "She looks sweet, but trust me, she’s the boss in this marriage."

Ira smirks. "Glad you know that."

Natasha giggles and claps her hands. "Okay, now that we’re all done with the pooja, let’s go to sleep!"

Aarav, shaking his head, picks Natasha up. "No more midnight adventures, okay?"

Natasha: "No promises."

Ira: "I’ll put her to sleep, you clean the kitchen, Mr. CEO."

Aarav groans. "You’re punishing me for her crimes?"

Natasha, dramatically: "Because she’s the boss, Chachu!"

As Ira walks away with Natasha, Aarav sighs, staring at the messy kitchen. "Great. First a drunk idiot, now a sugar-addicted criminal. What’s next?"