CHAPTER 34! JUST SIBLINGS THINGS #3
Everyone at the table could practically hear the trainwreck approaching at high speed. "Kahin ghoomne chale?"
Aadhira immediately shot back,
"Paise nahi hain mere paas."
"Arey uss kamine pati se le lena."
Every sound in the dining hall seemed to disappear at once.
Even the servants stopped moving. Even Ayaan looked up, tilting his head.
"Papa kamine hain?"
The entire dining hall froze.
Aryav lowered his coffee cup, his movements smooth and deliberate.
"No."
Ayaan blinked, completely pacified by the absolute authority in the tone. "Okay."
Aadhira rubbed her aching forehead. "Main phone kaat rahi hoon, bhai."
"Ruko," Shaurya said, his tone suddenly shifting. "Waise... paise mat lena."
Aadhira blinked. "Hain?"
For the first time all morning, the tension melted off Aadhira's face. A real smile broke through-small, warm, and entirely unfiltered.
"Pagal ho aap," she murmured. The insult left Aadhira's mouth automatically, carrying more genuine affection than half the love confessions Aryav had ever heard.
Aryav looked up.
Her smile lingered. She had smiled more in the last thirty seconds than she had in the previous week with him.
Aryav disliked the observation.
Before Aadhira could even formulate a response to Shaurya, Reyansh spoke up loudly, aiming directly for the phone.
"Congratulations. You just adopted seven Rai Shinghanias."
The line went dead silent on Shaurya's end. The table, however, instantly erupted.
Arjun immediately pointed at the phone. "Yes. Count us in."
"Me too," Tara added, grinning wickedly. "I already packed my bags mentally."
"Same," Aarush said, nodding solemnly. "We consider ourselves officially invited."
Myra calmly pulled out her own device. "I'll book the flight tickets."
Ayaan raised his hand. "Mamma mujhe bhi chlna hai."
Reyansh looked around the table dramatically, his gaze eventually landing on Ruhi. "You too."
Ruhi blinked, caught completely off guard. "What?"
"Vacation," Reyansh shrugged.
When Ruhi simply stared, Reyansh frowned. "Why are you looking surprised?"
Tara rolled her eyes.
"Because she's stupid."
"Fair," Aarush agreed. "Very fair."
Ruhi looked around at them.
Nobody was laughing at her expense. Nobody looked uncomfortable.
Nobody treated her differently.
For the first time since entering the Rai Shinghania house, the invitation sounded natural. Like she belonged there.
Roshni's fingers tightened around her teacup. She watched Ruhi smile-a small, uncertain, hopeful expression. Suddenly, Roshni couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her daughter look truly happy without pretending.
Aadhira blinked rapidly, looking around the table in disbelief. "When did my family vacation become a Rai Shinghania group project?"
On the other end of the line, Shaurya finally spoke. His voice was slow, incredibly careful, like a man realizing he had just casually strolled into a high-security minefield.
"Aadhira..."
"Haan?"
"...yeh sab sun rahe the kya?"
The twins collapsed into silent laughter again. Aadhira nodded.
"Main toh kab se yahi batane ki koshish kar rahi thi, bhai mera speaker kharab ho gaya hai."
There was a long pause.
Very long.
Dangerously long.
Then, Shaurya finally asked the single question the entire room had been waiting for.
The entire table fixed their eyes on Aryav.
Aadhira looked over as well, a sweet, thoroughly mischievous smile suddenly gracing her lips.
Dead silence stretched for three full seconds.
Then, Aryav finally looked up. His dark, impenetrable eyes locked directly onto the phone lying on the table.
"Shaurya."
The single word landed like a clinical death sentence.
"Continue."
The call disconnected instantly.
The younger Rai Shinghanias absolutely exploded into laughter at the sudden hang-up.
Even Rajendra Vikram coughed suspiciously into his fist, turning his head to hide what looked dangerously close to an actual laugh.
Mrinalini placed her teacup down with perfect grace. "Aadhira."
"Ji, Dadi..." Aadhira looked down, preparing for the reprimand.
"Our daughters-in-law generally avoid calling each other 'kamina'." The corners of Mrinalini's lips threatened to betray her composure.
"...Try maintaining the family standard."
Aadhira offered a small, sheepish nod. "Sorry, Dadi. Ab nahi bolungi."
Aryav didn't look up. His voice cut through the lingering chatter smoothly.
"Replace her phone."
Three separate people reached for their devices simultaneously to execute the command.
Aadhira stared. I asked for a mechanic. Of course this family deployed an operation.
Then, the corner of Aryav's mouth shifted. Barely.
Aadhira blinked. Wait. ...Did he just- No. Absolutely not. Sunlight reflecting.
Tune khuli aankhon se sapna dekhna hoga.
Reyansh stopped laughing first.
Aarush followed. Then Tara. Within seconds, a heavy hush fell over the younger cousins.
Every younger Rai Shinghania recognized that smile.
It never lasted.
Neither did the peace that followed it.
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