26
The living room was scattered with neatly folded clothes, shoes lined up beside the luggage, and a small pile of travel essentials—passports, chargers, travel-size toiletries—all carefully arranged on the coffee table.
Vaani sat cross-legged on the floor, laptop propped open beside her, a travel checklist on the screen, and her phone cradled between shoulder and ear.
She was meticulously packing for what was technically a short ten-day honeymoon, yet somehow she had managed to treat it like a month-long expedition.
"Tai, are you sure you don't need that extra jacket? It gets cold in Edinburgh in the mornings!" Vedant's voice piped up over the call, lively as ever.
Vaani glanced at the neatly folded stack of jackets beside her and smiled. "Vedant, I have two jackets, a coat, and a scarf. I think I'll survive. Don't worry."
"No, I'm just saying... Also, bring me a bag of those shortbread cookies from Scotland. You know the ones—they're the ones everyone buys for gifts," Vedant said, practically listing things off like a small general manager.
Vaani jotted it down in her notepad beside her laptop: Shortbread cookies for Vedant. She made a mental note to check which shop was closest to their hotel in Edinburgh.
"And then... oh! You have to get me that Oxford University notebook. You know, the one with the college crest on it? Not just any notebook. The proper one from the gift shop," he added, his tone serious.
Vaani laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Vedant, you're going to have me doing souvenir shopping for half the UK."
"Well... you've got the travel advantage. You're there first, tai! You can get me whatever you want," he teased.
"I'll try not to get lost in Oxford, Vedant. I'll grab it for you." She scribbled the next item down: Oxford University notebook for Vedant.
Vedant wasn't done. "And Scotland! Don't forget I want the tartan scarf from the Highlands gift shop. Mom will kill me if I don't get it. And... wait, the chocolate from that one shop in Inverness—you know, the one with all the fancy packaging? Get two boxes, okay?"
Vaani smiled softly to herself. Even in his endless requests, she could see Vedant's excitement and how much he was looking forward to this trip. "Two boxes of chocolate and a tartan scarf. Got it."
There was a pause, and Vedant added thoughtfully, "Oh, and take pictures! I want you to send me pictures of the university colleges, the streets in Edinburgh, and the hills in Scotland. You know, everything! And... the castles. Don't forget the castles."
Vaani couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her. "Vedant, I think you're making me an unofficial photographer." She made a mental note: Photographs of Edinburgh streets, Scottish castles, Oxford colleges.
He groaned dramatically. "Tai! You're going to be the best photographer ever. And don't forget—if there's any souvenir store with Celtic jewelry, you have to take a look. Even a small pendant will do. Just make sure it's real silver."
Vaani jotted it down again, the pen moving quickly over her notepad: Celtic jewelry, optional but silver. She shook her head in quiet amusement, glancing at the suitcase she had half-filled with neatly folded clothes, scarves, and accessories.
"And... tai, the t-shirts from the gift shop! You know the ones with funny Oxford slogans? I want one."
She chuckled, feeling a warmth she couldn't quite explain. "Vedant, do you want me to fill the entire suitcase with souvenirs? Because right now, half of it is just for your requests."
"No complaints here!" Vedant said. "Also... oh, remember the Hogwarts shop in Edinburgh! I want at least one wand. And, um... a scarf. You know, the house scarf. Hufflepuff this time. Not Gryffindor."
Vaani's laughter came easier now. "You're really planning your Hogwarts wardrobe ahead of time, huh?"
"Absolutely! Don't worry, tai, I'm very serious. It's important," he said.
She shook her head, scribbling it down: Hogwarts wand and Hufflepuff scarf.
Then Vedant's tone softened, almost thoughtfully. "Tai... make sure you take pictures of the landscapes. Scotland is beautiful, isn't it? The hills, the lochs... Mom says it's breathtaking. Send me some."
"I will," she said, smiling faintly. Her mind drifted to the thought of the trip.
Ten days. Scotland, Oxford... the thought of exploring both places with Dhruv, just the two of them, brought a quiet flutter of excitement she hadn't allowed herself to feel in weeks.
She had been so consumed by work that these moments of planning, even with Vedant's endless lists, felt like small bursts of joy.
Vedant went on, "Oh! And if you can, check for postcards. You know, for me and Vihaan. Not too many, just a couple for memories."
Vaani nodded, scribbling again. Postcards for Vedant and Vihaan. She thought of her brothers' faces and smiled. They would be thrilled to get them.
Vedant paused for a moment. "Tai... make sure you bring comfy shoes too. You'll be walking a lot, right? Edinburgh streets, Oxford colleges... don't hurt your feet."
"I know, Vedant. I've packed two pairs of walking shoes, plus sandals for indoors. I've got it covered," she said.
"Good. And... hmm... one last thing. Can you try to find a bookmark from Oxford? Something small. You know, for my library. And... maybe one for Vihaan too, just in case he asks?"
Vaani laughed softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at the thought of her younger brothers, all excited and counting on her to bring back little memories. "A bookmark for both of them. Got it," she said.
Vedant leaned back in his chair on the other end of the call, satisfied. "Okay tai, I think that's everything. Don't forget... send pictures! And have fun! And... remember, Scotland for me, Oxford for you, and bring back memories."
"Taiiiiii," Vihaan drawled, stretching her name like he was about to announce something dramatic as he came into the frame.
"What now?" Vaani said, trying not to laugh as she tucked another pair of socks into the corner of her bag. "Vedant just gave me an entire shopping mall's worth of requests. Don't tell me you're going to do the same."
Vihaan grinned, eyes lighting up. "Obviously! Do you think I'll let Vedant win? No way. If you're going to Scotland and Oxford, I want my share too."
Vaani groaned playfully, resting her chin in her palm. "God save me. Okay, let's hear it. But keep it short, ha. My notepad is already running out of space."
Vihaan leaned forward in his chair, speaking quickly as though he had rehearsed.
"First, football stuff. You know, anything—jersey, scarf, keychain—from a stadium there.
They love football in the UK, right? Just grab me something cool.
Oh, and don't forget Scotland has Celtic and Rangers, both big clubs.
I don't care which one, just something authentic. "
"Football merchandise," Vaani repeated, writing it down. "Anything else, your highness?"
"Yes!" Vihaan said, clapping his hands together. "From Oxford... a hoodie. You know, the big oversized ones. The ones that scream Oxford University. I want to flex at college."
Vaani laughed, shaking her head. "Flex at college, huh? You mean wear it every single day until it falls apart?"
"Exactly," Vihaan said proudly. "Oh, and while you're at it, get me one of those mugs too. The crested kind. Imagine me drinking chai in an Oxford mug—my life will be complete."
She scribbled it all down dutifully: Oxford hoodie, Oxford mug. "You're worse than Vedant, I swear."
"Excuse me," Vihaan said, pretending to look offended. "Vedant asked for nerd stuff like notebooks and bookmarks. I'm asking for actual useful things. Practical. Stylish."
Vaani rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Okay, what else?"
"From Scotland," he said dramatically, lowering his voice like it was a top-secret mission. "A kilt."
"A what?" Vaani blinked, looking up from her notepad.
"A kilt!" Vihaan repeated, grinning. "You know, the traditional skirt thing the Scottish wear. It would be so epic. Imagine me walking into class in a kilt. People would freak out."
"Vihaan!" Vaani burst out laughing, nearly falling back onto the floor. "Are you insane? You want me to bring you a kilt all the way from Scotland?"
"Yes," he said, nodding seriously. "Make sure it's red or green. The checkered one. Authentic, not cheap tourist version. And if you can't, fine... at least a small bagpipe. I don't care if it's expensive, tai, you have to bring it."
Vaani was still giggling, wiping at her eyes. "You're unbelievable. First a kilt, then a bagpipe? Do you even know how heavy that would be?"
"That's your problem, not mine," Vihaan said with mock seriousness.
She shook her head, jotting it down anyway: Kilt or bagpipe. "You're going to make me broke before this trip even starts."
"Not broke," Vihaan said innocently, "just generous."
Vaani gave him a mock glare. "Anything else, your highness?"
Vihaan thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up again. "Yes! From Edinburgh, there's that shop that sells Harry Potter stuff, right? You can get me a wand too. But not the same as Vedant's. Mine should be cooler."
"You two will fight no matter what I get," Vaani muttered, adding it to the growing list. "Okay, so—football jersey, Oxford hoodie, mug, kilt or bagpipe, wand. Anything more?"
"Uh... yeah," he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Some Scottish whiskey. Not for me! For Baba. You know he'll be so happy if you bring it. One bottle, sealed properly."
Vaani paused mid-writing, eyebrows raised. "You're suddenly thinking of Baba?"
"Yes," Vihaan said with a grin. "Because if Baba gets whiskey, he'll forget if you missed any of my gifts."
Vaani burst out laughing again, shaking her head. "You're shameless, Vihaan. Absolutely shameless."
Vihaan leaned closer to the camera, grinning cheekily. "Tai, that's why you love me."
She shook her head, smiling despite herself. "You're impossible."
He pointed a finger at her. "But admit it—you'll still bring me all this stuff."
Vaani sighed dramatically, looking at the mess of notes she had written. "Looks like I'll need an extra suitcase just for you and Vedant."
"Perfect!" Vihaan said proudly, leaning back in his chair. "See? You're the best tai ever."
Vaani stared at him for a moment, then softened. Beneath all his antics and ridiculous requests, there was something tender in his expression. He was genuinely excited. This wasn't just about gifts—it was his way of being part of her journey, of connecting to her while she was away.
"Fine," she said softly, smiling. "I'll try."
"Not try. Do," Vihaan corrected cheekily.
Vaani rolled her eyes. "Okay, mister. Now let me finish packing, or you'll have to explain to jiju why his wife shows up at the airport with ten extra bags."
Vihaan laughed, waving. "Bye, tai! Don't forget the kilt!"
The call ended, leaving Vaani in the quiet of her apartment, surrounded by clothes, bags, and lists. She picked up her notepad and stared at the pages—Vedant's neat requests, Vihaan's chaotic ones. A small chuckle escaped her as she shook her head.
Her brothers could be exhausting, but in that moment, she realized how much they still clung to her, how much they wanted to feel connected to her adventures, even from far away. And maybe... just maybe... she was glad they had given her such silly, impossible lists.
She glanced toward the packed suitcase and whispered, smiling softly, "Kilt and all... I'll try."
Vaani sat cross-legged on the bedroom floor, surrounded by piles of clothes, travel-sized toiletries, and various bits of miscellanea she had collected over the past week.
The checklists she had scribbled in her notebook were sprawled around her like a battlefield map—Vedant's list on the left, Vihaan's on the right, and her own mental notes somewhere in the middle.
She had been meticulously ticking off items, trying to make sure she didn't forget anything important, but the sheer volume of things to carry was starting to make her head spin.
Just then, the bedroom door opened, and Dhruv stepped in casually, freshly showered, hair still slightly damp. He leaned against the frame, observing her for a moment with an amused expression. "What's all this?" he asked, gesturing at the organized chaos.
Vaani looked up from her pile of clothes and gave him a small, sheepish smile. "It's Vedant and Vihaan's checklist," she said, holding up the notebook. "I wanted to make sure I got everything they asked for."
Dhruv chuckled lightly, walking closer and crouching down to glance at the lists. "Damn," he said, shaking his head with mock disbelief. "That's... a lot. Are you sure you're going to get all of this?"
Vaani let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't think I can, honestly.
Some of it's just... impossible to get all in one go.
" She glanced at the page where Vedant had requested multiple souvenir items, a specific type of Scottish scarf, and even some local snacks from Oxford, while Vihaan's list was equally extensive, including memorabilia, gadgets, and a small collection of books.
Dhruv smirked, brushing a hand through his damp hair. "We'll see about that," he said casually, his tone suggesting more confidence than the situation warranted.
Before she could respond, he went over to his own suitcase sitting neatly by the corner of the room.
Within moments, he had opened it, neatly rolling his clothes with military precision, and began packing efficiently.
Vaani watched in astonishment, her fingers frozen on the sweater she had been debating over.
"Wait—how are you packing so fast?" she asked, her voice a mix of awe and disbelief.
Dhruv glanced at her without looking up from his task. "I used to travel a lot," he said simply. "When you're on the move constantly, you figure out how to pack efficiently. Rolling clothes, stacking vertically, compartmentalizing toiletries—it's all about the system."
Vaani shook her head in amazement, still staring at the chaotic piles she was sitting among. "I... I think I'll be packing forever," she muttered, glancing back at Vedant and Vihaan's checklists with a worried frown.
Dhruv finished placing his neatly folded shirts into his suitcase, zipped it up in under fifteen minutes, and leaned back with his hands behind his head.
"Done," he announced, giving her a small, victorious smirk.
Vaani opened her mouth to speak, to tell him it'll be cold, but before words could come out, Dhruv's voice continued, almost knowingly, "And yes, it'll be cold there. "
Vaani's eyes followed his hand gesture toward the corner of the bedroom, and she noticed a heavy-looking jacket neatly hung behind the bedroom door. "Oh... nice," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You've got that covered."
Dhruv's smirk widened slightly. "Of course I do. But where is your jacket?" He stood up, brushing off his hands, and walked over to her, crouching next to the pile of clothes she was still trying to organize.
"I... I have it here," she admitted, picking up a simple jacket and holding them up as if that explained everything.
Dhruv raised an eyebrow, "That is not going to help in Scotland cold, Vaani."
"It will. I'll be fine." She quickly added, almost certain.
"Okay then." Dhruv chuckled as he looked at the mess around her.
Vaani noticed, and almost embarrassed, she looked back down and whispered, "I don't know where to start."
Dhruv reached over and gently took the socks from near her. "Start with the easy stuff," he said. "Clothes, jackets, and things you know you'll definitely need. Then tackle the extras."
Vaani blinked at him, unsure if he was teasing or genuinely trying to calm her down. She gave a small laugh, a little lighter than she had felt all day. "You make it sound so easy," she murmured.
Dhruv shrugged casually. "That's because it is easy. People make it complicated. Rolling, folding, checking off lists—efficiency is all about being methodical. And having a co-pilot," he added, glancing at her with a teasing glint in his eye.
Vaani felt her cheeks warm and looked down at the pile of clothes she was holding. "Well, I guess having you as my co-pilot isn't the worst thing," she admitted quietly.
He grinned at her comment, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Not the worst, huh? I'll take that as a compliment," he said, reaching out to straighten a top that had fallen from her pile.
His fingers brushed hers briefly, and both of them paused for a second, their gazes locking with a sudden, unspoken intensity.
Vaani quickly looked away, cheeks burning slightly, and tried to regain her focus. "I... I should get started again. There's so much to do," she said, picking up her notepad and trying to organize the chaos.
Dhruv didn't move. He simply watched her for a moment, feeling a quiet mix of admiration and something else he couldn't quite name. "All the best, and don't stress."
She looked at him, a little overwhelmed but comforted by his calm efficiency. "Thanks," she said softly.
He smirked again. "Don't thank me yet. We're not done. You still have a ton to pack."
She groaned, but there was a lightness in her expression now, a slight smile tugging at her lips as she went back to the checklists, separating items into piles: essentials, Vedant's requests, Vihaan's requests, and extras.
Dhruv, meanwhile, had pulled out a small bag of toiletries and was packing them into a separate travel pouch, muttering about efficiency and space optimization as he did.
"Seriously," Vaani said, shaking her head, "how do you make it look so easy?"
Dhruv glanced up from his neatly organized bag. "Experience," he said simply. "And maybe a little bit of natural talent."
Vaani rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. "Natural talent, huh? Well, I guess I'll have to rely on that talent then when packing the boys' stuff," she said, gesturing to the remaining piles.
He gave her a quick, warm glance. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."
She looked up at him, her anxiety momentarily eased by his confidence. "Yeah..." she echoed, a soft smile spreading across her face.
Dhruv gave her a final, approving nod. "Exactly. Now... let's tackle the boys' lists next," he said, picking up Vedant's meticulously written requests and wiggling an eyebrow.
Vaani laughed softly, shaking her head. "I don't even know where to start."
"You start with me," he said, grinning. "I'm ready to help...."
She looked at him, feeling a warmth in her chest she couldn't quite name. "Alright," she whispered, picking up her notepad again, feeling a little more confident now that Dhruv had her back.
And so, the room buzzed with activity once more—Vaani meticulously ticking off items, Dhruv efficiently packing his own things, and both of them occasionally exchanging looks that made the mundane task of packing feel.
.. less mundane. Somehow, with him there, the chaos of checklists and suitcases didn't feel so overwhelming anymore.
??