Chapter 41 - The Answer Hidden in My Heart #2
Arjun remained thoughtful.
Dev's voice grew gentler.
"Sometimes the perfect moment isn't found."
"It's created."
"And sometimes..."
"If you wait too long..."
"You don't get another chance."
Those words lingered in the air.
Arjun knew Dev wasn't trying to pressure him.
He was simply reminding him that life rarely followed perfect plans.
After a long silence, Arjun smiled helplessly.
"You make it sound so easy."
Dev laughed.
"I never said it would be easy."
"I said it would be worth it."
Arjun chuckled.
"I'll confess."
Dev's eyes brightened.
"But..."
"Not today."
Dev sighed dramatically.
"Here we go."
Arjun laughed.
"Listen."
"I've barely managed to spend ten uninterrupted minutes alone with my own wife."
"This honeymoon..."
He spread his hands helplessly.
"...has somehow turned into a group trip."
Dev burst into laughter.
"I can't even deny that."
Arjun continued counting on his fingers.
"We wake up together."
"We have breakfast together."
"We go sightseeing together."
"We shop together."
"We come back together."
"And every single time I think I finally have a moment alone with Aadhira..."
He paused dramatically.
"Someone appears."
Dev already knew where this was going.
"Oh?"
"Who?"
Arjun answered without hesitation.
"Kabir."
"The man has a supernatural talent for showing up at the worst possible moment."
"He steals her away for photos."
"He drags her to food stalls."
"He finds another wall to take pictures."
"And somehow..."
"He's always between us."
Dev laughed so loudly that a few guests glanced in their direction.
"You sound jealous again."
"I am jealous."
Arjun admitted shamelessly.
"I've accepted it."
"I just need him to stay away from my wife for at least fifteen minutes."
Almost as if fate had been listening...
A familiar cheerful voice echoed across the lounge.
"Who's staying away from whose wife?"
Both men turned.
Kabir walked into the lounge with a wide grin, followed by Rohan, Siddharth, Shanaya, Naina and, a few steps behind them...
Aadhira.
Kabir looked between Arjun and Dev suspiciously.
"Were you two plotting against me?"
Arjun looked at Dev before letting out a defeated sigh.
He pointed toward Kabir.
"There..."
"My biggest obstacle has arrived."
Kabir stopped in his tracks.
He dramatically placed a hand over his heart.
"Obstacle?"
He gasped in mock disbelief.
"Excuse me?"
"I am the life of this honeymoon."
Kabir dramatically placed a hand over his heart.
"Obstacle?"
He looked around as if searching for the person Arjun was talking about.
"Where?"
"I don't see anyone."
Then he pointed at himself.
"...Wait."
"You're talking about me?"
Arjun didn't even try to deny it.
"Yes."
Kabir looked genuinely offended.
"I've been nothing but supportive since this honeymoon began."
Dev coughed to hide his laughter.
"Supportive?"
Kabir nodded confidently.
"Of course."
"I've helped everyone enjoy London."
"I've found the best photo spots."
"The best food stalls."
"The best shopping streets."
"And most importantly..."
He pointed proudly at himself.
"I've brought life to this group."
Rohan nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll give him that."
"He has."
Naina folded her arms.
"He has also exhausted this group."
"That's called enthusiasm."
"It's called not letting people rest."
Everyone laughed.
Kabir looked back at Arjun.
"So tell me."
"What crime have I committed now?"
Arjun leaned back in his chair.
"You keep kidnapping my wife."
The words slipped out before he realized what he'd said.
Silence.
For exactly three seconds.
Then-
Dev burst into laughter.
Rohan almost dropped the juice he was holding.
Siddharth turned away, trying not to laugh.
Even Shanaya covered her mouth.
Kabir blinked twice.
Then a slow, mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Your wife?"
Arjun immediately realized his mistake.
"I mean..."
Kabir didn't let him finish.
"No, no."
"Continue."
"I like this possessive version of you."
Aadhira, who had been quietly listening until now, glanced at Arjun.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Arjun rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I only meant..."
"You keep taking her away every time we're talking."
Kabir gasped dramatically.
"So that's the issue!"
"I thought you disliked my personality."
"I was worried for a second."
Dev shook his head.
"You should be worried."
Kabir ignored him.
He walked over to Aadhira and folded his hands dramatically.
"Aadhi."
"I owe you an apology."
She raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"For unknowingly becoming the greatest obstacle in your husband's love life."
The moment those words left his mouth...
Arjun nearly choked on his coffee.
"Kabir!"
"What?"
"I'm apologizing."
Rohan laughed so hard that tears formed in his eyes.
"This is better than television."
Naina sighed.
"You encourage him too much."
"I can't help it."
"He's entertaining."
Kabir placed another dramatic hand over his heart.
"Thank you."
"I finally feel appreciated."
Shanaya shook her head.
"Don't."
"We're already dealing with one overconfident person."
Siddharth looked at her.
"One?"
She smiled sweetly.
"I was talking about you."
"I knew that."
"You definitely didn't."
The two immediately began bickering again.
Watching them, Dev smiled.
"They're never going to stop arguing."
"They'll probably argue even on their wedding day."
"They'll argue about who says 'I do' first," Rohan added.
Everyone laughed again.
Aadhira quietly moved toward one of the empty chairs and sat beside Arjun.
Without thinking, Arjun shifted slightly to make more space for her.
The movement was so natural...
He didn't even notice he'd done it.
Dev did.
So did Kabir.
The two exchanged a knowing glance.
Kabir's grin widened.
"Oh..."
"So that's how it is."
Arjun frowned.
"How is what?"
Kabir leaned closer with a teasing smile.
"Nothing."
"I've simply observed that someone has become very protective."
"I have always been protective."
"Not like this."
Dev nodded in agreement.
"I have to agree with Kabir."
Arjun looked betrayed.
"You're taking his side?"
"I'm taking the truth's side."
Kabir folded his arms triumphantly.
"See?"
"Even Dev agrees."
Arjun sighed dramatically.
"I should've stayed in my room."
"No," Kabir replied.
"Then who would've entertained us?"
Everyone burst into laughter once more.
The cheerful atmosphere filled the lounge, drawing amused glances from a few nearby guests.
After a while, Rohan clapped his hands together.
"Since everyone's finally awake..."
"What's today's plan?"
Kabir's hand shot into the air immediately.
"I vote for adventure."
Shanaya groaned.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It usually is," Siddharth agreed.
Kabir ignored them.
"We're in London."
"We should do something unforgettable."
Dev looked around the group.
"What do you all think?"
One by one, everyone agreed.
Only Aadhira remained quiet, thoughtfully looking at the itinerary on her phone.
Arjun noticed.
"What happened?"
She looked up.
"I found an interesting place."
Everyone turned toward her.
"What is it?" Naina asked.
Aadhira smiled gently.
"I think all of us will enjoy it."
Kabir rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"Perfect."
"Then let's go."
None of them noticed...
As Arjun looked at Aadhira, a small smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
This time...
He didn't question it.
He didn't try to hide it.
Because now he finally understood what his heart had been trying to tell him all along.
And somewhere deep inside...
He also knew what he had to do next.
He just had to find the courage to say the words.
To Be Continued...