84. Truth or Dare

.・。.・゜✭・♡・✫・゜・。.

As the night went on, the laughter and excitement didn’t die down. After cake, gifts, and photos, everyone gathered in the spacious living room, lounging on the plush couches and rugs.

“I have an idea,” Ananya suddenly announced, grinning mischievously. “Let’s play Truth or Dare!”

A wave of excitement rippled through the group as everyone agreed.

But Mahira, who had been standing near the side, immediately shook her head. “I should leave,” she said, her voice firm.

The room fell silent for a second before Mahima stepped forward, linking her arm with Mahira’s.

“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere, birthday twin,” she said with a pout. “You’re staying!”

Mahira sighed. “Ma'am, it’s already late. I should go home.”

“Who said you need to go home?” Mahima replied smoothly. “You can stay here. The Raghuwanshi Palace has plenty of guest rooms.”

The others immediately backed her up.

“Yeah, Mahira! It’s just one night.” Ishika said.

“There’s no way we’re letting you leave in the middle of the fun.” Amrita said.

“Come on, what’s the harm?” Divya said standing up.

Mahira bit her lip, clearly hesitating. She hated feeling like an outsider, like she was imposing on their space. But the hopeful, eager looks on their faces made it hard to refuse.

Mahima gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “Please, Mahira? Don’t worry about anything. You’re with us.”

After a long moment of internal debate, Mahira exhaled and finally gave in. “Fine,” she muttered. “But only because you all won’t let me leave.”

A collective cheer erupted as everyone grabbed her hands, pulling her toward the staircase.

“Alright, terrace it is!” Aarush announced, leading the way.

The group made their way up, the excitement building again. As they reached the terrace, the cool night breeze greeted them, and the view of the starry sky stretched endlessly above.

Cushions and blankets were quickly arranged, and they all sat in a big circle.

Just as they were about to start, Rukmini called out from below.

“Don’t play too long, alright? And no crazy dares!”

“Yes, ma!” Daksh called back, smiling playfully.

Mahira shook her head, a small smirk tugging at her lips. She couldn’t believe she had actually agreed to stay.

But as she looked around at the excited faces, she had to admit—maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

As everyone settled into their spots, ready to start the game, Rudraksh casually leaned against the terrace railing, arms crossed.

“I’m not interested,” he said flatly, watching the city lights instead of joining the circle.

“Oh, come on, Bhai,” Aaryansh groaned. “Don’t ruin the fun!”

Others quickly chimed in, trying to convince him.

“Just one round, Rudraksh!” Rishi said.

“You don’t even have to take a dare, just pick truth!” Daksh said.

“Stop acting like an old man and sit down!” Aarush said.

Rudraksh rolled his eyes, clearly unmoved. “I said no,” he repeated, just as his phone rang.

Taking the opportunity to escape further pestering, he stepped aside to answer the call.

As soon as he was out of earshot, everyone exchanged glances, trying to figure out what to do next.

Amrita smirked, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “He’s completely whipped,” she said casually.

Everyone blinked in confusion. “What?”

Instead of answering, Amrita suddenly raised her voice dramatically, her gaze flickering toward a certain someone.

“Oh, Mayya, are you sad that Rudraksh Bhaiya isn’t playing?”

All heads turned to Ishika, who sat frozen in place, eyes wide. Before she could even react, Rudraksh—who had been deep in his conversation—suddenly snapped his head back toward them.

His call forgotten, he strode toward the group with a worried expression, kneeling right behind of Ishika.

“You’re sad?” he asked, his voice softer than usual, his full attention on her.

Ishika’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red as she struggled to find her words.

Amrita, sitting beside her, nudged her lightly. “Go on,” she whispered teasingly.

Ishika gulped, hesitating for a second before giving a small nod. “Y-Yes…”

Rudraksh exhaled, as if that one word had made all the difference. Without another second of hesitation, he sat down right beside Ishika.

“I’m playing,” he announced firmly.

The group erupted into laughter, while Ishika’s face burned even more.

She covered her face with her hands, but Amrita simply grinned, leaning toward her. “I knew it,” she whispered, her tone smug.

Rudraksh, however, acted as if nothing unusual had happened. He simply looked at Ishika and said, “Who's the first one?”

The game had just begun, but for some, it was already far more entertaining than expected.

The group sat in a circle on the terrace, the cool night breeze brushing past them as they prepared for what was bound to be an unforgettable game.

The bottle was placed in the center, gleaming under the dim lights.

Mahima rubbed her hands together. “Alright, let’s get this started!”

Aarush smirked. “Let’s see who gets roasted first.”

Mahima spun the bottle, and everyone watched with anticipation as it slowed… and landed on Ananya.

“Truth or Dare?” Mahima asked with a grin.

Ananya thought for a moment before confidently saying, “Dare.”

Aaryansh, ever the troublemaker, grinned. “I dare you to go downstairs and bring back a glass of water without being caught by any of the elders.”

Ananya gasped. “What if I get caught?”

“You won’t,” Amrita smirked. “You’re small enough to sneak past.”

Everyone laughed as Ananya groaned but got up, tiptoeing toward the stairs.

The group watched in amusement, and a few minutes later, she returned, holding the glass of water triumphantly.

“Mission accomplished!” she declared, earning cheers.

The bottle spun again, and landed on.... Rudraksh.

“Truth or Dare?” Ananya smirked.

Rudraksh scoffed. “Dare.”

Amrita’s eyes glowed with mischief. “I dare you to compliment every person here in the most dramatic way possible.”

The group burst into laughter as Rudraksh groaned, but he had no choice.

Rudraksh sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Fine. But remember, I’m doing this under protest."

He turned to Mahira first. “Mahira, you have an aura of mystery that even Sherlock Holmes couldn’t decode. You are like a closed book in a locked vault, buried under a mountain. Mysterious, unreadable, and impossible to crack. And yet, somehow, we all keep trying."

Mahira raised an eyebrow. "I’ll take that as a compliment… I think."”

Everyone laughed as he turned to his next victim.

"Mahima, if confidence had a human form, it would be you. I swear, even the lion in the jungle takes notes from your confidence."

Mahima smirked. "Obviously."

"Aaryansh, your brain works in such mysterious ways that I’m convinced you were either a genius in your past life or a villain plotting world domination."

Aaryansh laughed. "I’ll take the genius part."

"Daksh, you have the patience of a saint. Honestly, if we were all stranded on an island, you'd be the only one who wouldn’t lose your mind."

Daksh shrugged. "I try."

"Aditya, you are like a human version of Google—silent most of the time but when you speak, you drop facts that leave everyone speechless."

Aditya simply smirked.

"Amrita, your words cut deeper than a samurai sword. If sarcasm were an Olympic sport, you'd have more gold medals than Michael Phelps."

Amrita grinned. "Thank you, thank you."

"Ananya, your energy is like a never-ending Duracell battery. I don’t know how you manage to stay this hyper all the time, but it's both inspiring and terrifying."

Ananya giggled. "I take that as a compliment."

"Divya, you have the power to turn any normal situation into a full-blown drama. If life were a TV show, you’d be the star of the highest-rated episode."

Divya giggled. "As I should be."

"Rishi, you are the calm in this storm of madness. If you ever decide to become a therapist, your waiting list would be a mile long."

Rishi chuckled. "Noted."

"Aarush, you have the confidence of a Bollywood hero, minus the background dancers. I half expect you to break into a dance sequence at any moment."

Aarush grinned. "Who says I won’t?"

Finally, Rudraksh turned back to Ishika. "And Ishika—if poetry had a face, it would be yours. In fact, Shakespeare would have rewritten Romeo and Juliet just for you."

Ishika covered her face, groaning, while everyone burst into laughter.

Rudraksh leaned back with a smirk. "There. Dare completed. Now, someone spin the bottle before I change my mind and start roasting people instead."

The group was still laughing as Mahima reached out and spun the bottle, eager to see who would be next.

Mahira

“Truth or Dare?” Rudraksh asked, still recovering from his dramatic act.

Mahira hesitated before saying, “Truth.”

Aaryansh smirked. “Who was your first crush?”

Mahira choked on air. “What kind of question is that?!”

“Truth means truth, Mahira,” Mahima teased.

Mahira sighed. “Fine. It was a boy in my high-school when I was fifteen. He had dimples.”

Aarush raised an eyebrow. “Hmm… dimples, huh?”

Mahira shot him a look, and the group laughed.

Aarush leaned forward, arms crossed, and a frown forming on his face. “So… do you still like this dimple guy?”

Mahira blinked, caught off guard by his sudden seriousness. “What? No, of course not. That was years ago.”

Aarush didn’t look convinced. “But you just admitted you liked him. And we all know first crushes are special.”

Mahira rolled her eyes. “Aarush sir, I was fifteen. It was just a silly schoolgirl crush.”

Aarush narrowed his eyes. “Still, dimples, huh?”

Mahima smirked, catching on to his irritation. “Someone’s jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” Aarush huffed, but his tone said otherwise.

Amrita grinned. “So if this dimple guy walked in right now and confessed his love, you wouldn’t care?”

Aarush’s jaw tightened. “Of course not. Why would I?”

Mahira raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Then why are you acting like I just insulted your entire existence sir?”

Everyone snickered as Aarush huffed again. He turned to Mahira, eyes narrowing. “Okay, one last question—if you met him again, would you still like him?”

Mahira smirked, leaning back. “I would.”

Aarush’s face went blank for a second, and Mahima almost choked on her laughter. The others stared in shock, waiting for his reaction.

“What?” Aarush finally said, voice unusually stiff.

Mahira bit back her grin. “Yeah. I would like him. I mean, what’s not to like? He was cute, funny, had a nice smile—”

“That’s enough,” Aarush interrupted, his glare deepening.

“Oh, so now you care?” Amrita teased.

Aarush ignored her, turning fully to Mahira. “Tell me his name.”

Mahira shrugged. “Why?”

“Just tell me.”

She smiled. “Why sir? You gonna go find him and fight him?”

Aarush crossed his arms, mumbling, “Maybe.”

The entire group lost it, laughing hysterically.

Mahira, shook her head. “Relax, Aarush sir. That was ages ago. And you have dimples too, so I guess I just have a type.”

Aarush blinked at her words before a slow smirk formed on his lips. “Oh? So you admit you like me?”

Mahira’s eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. “Wait—no! That’s not what I meant—”

Aarush leaned closer, grinning. “Too late. You said it.”

Mahira groaned, covering her face as everyone laughed and cheered.

Rudraksh smirked, spinning the bottle. “Alright, enough romance. Let’s see who’s next.”

The bottle spun and landed on Aaryansh.

"Truth or Dare?" Daksh smirked.

Aaryansh rolled his eyes. "Dare."

Amrita and Ananya exchanged a mischievous look before whispering to each other.

Then Ananya grinned. "Alright, bhaiya, I dare you to—" she paused for effect, "flirt with Aditya for a full minute."

The entire group erupted in laughter while Aditya, who had been casually sipping his drink, nearly choked. "Excuse me?!"

Aaryansh's smirk faltered. "What?!"

"You heard her," Divya said, biting back a laugh. "Full-on flirting. The way you do with Amrita."

Aditya scoffed. "He barely flirts with his own wife. What makes you think he can do it with me?"

Aaryansh groaned, running a hand down his face. "This is ridiculous—"

"No backing out, Bhai," Daksh reminded him smugly.

The group leaned in, waiting. Aaryansh sighed, then turned to Aditya with the most serious expression ever.

"Aditya…" he began in a deep, husky voice. "The moon looks dull compared to the light in your eyes."

The group exploded into laughter, but Aditya just raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "That's it?"

Aaryansh gritted his teeth and leaned in dramatically. "Every time you walk into a room, my heart beats faster."

Aditya blinked. "Seek medical help."

Aaryansh clenched his fists while everyone cheered him on. "Your hair… reminds me of the smoothness of silk, and your jawline could cut through my cold, emotionless heart."

Aditya sighed and stood up. "I'm leaving."

"No, no, you have to stay!" Ananya giggled. "Let him finish!"

Aaryansh groaned. "Fine. Aditya, will you be the sunshine to my storm?"

Aditya deadpanned. "I would rather die."

The group lost it. Mahima wiped tears from her eyes. "This is the best thing I’ve ever witnessed."

Aaryansh dramatically threw himself back. "I'm never picking dare again."

"That’s what you always say," Amrita smirked.

The bottle spun again, and the chaos continued.

Now the bottle pointed at Ishika, and she picked truth.

Amrita smirked. “Alright, Mayya… what’s the most romantic thing Rudraksh bhaiya has ever done for you?”

Ishika’s breath hitched. Her fingers instinctively curled into the fabric of her dress as her mind raced back to that night.

She hesitated. “I… I don’t know.”

Aaryansh scoffed. “Liar bhabhi. We know Bhai has a soft side when it comes to you.”

Rudraksh raised an eyebrow, amused. “Yeah, Dil. What’s the most romantic thing I’ve done?”

Ishika swallowed, feeling way too many eyes on her. Her heartbeat sped up. “It’s… it’s nothing big.”

Amrita leaned forward. “That means it’s very big. Spill.”

Ishika closed her eyes for a second, then exhaled. “Fine… it was the week after that incident.”

The room went quiet.

Rudraksh’s smirk faded, his eyes darkening with recognition.

Ishika kept her gaze down, her voice softer now. “I was burning in pain, too weak to even move properly. I don’t even remember how I survived that day, but the entire week, Rudraksh ji was there. He didn’t leave even for a second.”

She stole a glance at Rudraksh, who was watching her with unreadable eyes.

“He made sure I took my medicine, changed the cold compress every time it got warm, and when I couldn’t even sit up to drink water, he…” Ishika hesitated, her cheeks heating up. “He held me and made me drink it himself.”

The group stared, some with wide eyes, some with teasing smirks.

Ananya gasped dramatically. “HE WHAT?!”

Ishika groaned. “Stop it!”

Divya nudged Rudraksh. “Damn, bhai. That’s next-level intimate.”

Amrita smirked. “Mayya, if I didn’t know better, I’d say that sounds like something a husband would do.”

Ishika buried her face in her hands. “I knew this was a mistake.”

Rudraksh, meanwhile, simply crossed his arms, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “She forgot to mention how she wouldn’t let go of me the whole night.”

Ishika beat him softly. “Shut. Up.”

The group burst into laughter, teasing Ishika mercilessly while Rudraksh just enjoyed watching her squirm.

“Alright, alright! Next turn, please!” Ishika quickly spun the bottle, desperate to shift the attention away from herself.

But her flushed face and Rudraksh’s smug expression told everyone that this wasn’t the end of the teasing anytime soon.

Aditya, the ever-quiet one, finally got his turn.

“Dare,” he said without hesitation.

Daksh grinned. “I dare you to whisper something spicy to Ananya.”

The group “ooh-ed” as Ananya blinked in shock.

Aditya leaned in close to her ear and murmured something so low that only she could hear.

Her eyes widened, and for the first time that night, Ananya was the one blushing.

Everyone demanded to know what he said, but she simply crossed her arms. “None of your business.”

The bottle spun and landed on Rishi.

“Truth or dare?” Daksh asked with a mischievous grin.

Rishi, never one to back down, smirked. “Dare.”

Daksh’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “I dare you… to let Mahima and Ishika do a full bridal makeup look on you. You cannot say no.”

Rishi’s confidence wavered. “Wait, what?”

“No backing out,” Mahira chimed in.

With dramatic groans, Rishi sat still while Mahima and Ishika attacked him with foundation, bright red lipstick, and heavy eyeliner.

Within minutes, he looked like a bride straight out of a horror movie.

As the group burst into laughter, Rudraksh snapped a picture. “This is so going in the family album.”

Rishi looked at his reflection on Mahima’s phone and groaned. “I hate you all.”

The bottle spun again and landed on Mahima.

“Truth or dare?” Daksh asked.

Mahima smirked. “Dare.”

Aditya grinned. “I dare you to look in the mirror, look yourself in the eye, and confess your deepest, cheesiest love for yourself—out loud—for a full minute.”

Mahima’s eyes widened. “What?! That’s so embarrassing!”

Amrita smirked. “Back out if you want.”

Mahima huffed. “Never.”

She took a mirror in her hand, and took a deep breath.

“Oh, Mahima,” she began dramatically, flipping her hair. “You are the most breathtaking woman in the world. Your eyes? Like shimmering stars. Your smile? Brighter than the sun itself. If I could marry anyone, I’d marry me!”

The group burst into laughter as she kept going.

“Men fall at your feet, but they are not worthy of you. You are a goddess, a queen, a masterpiece—”

By now, Aaryansh and Aarush were on the floor laughing, and Ananya had tears in her eyes from laughing too hard.

Mahima finally turned back, her face burning. “Happy now?”

Aarush smirked. “Very.”

Rudraksh chuckled. “Honestly? That was iconic.”

The group cheered, and Mahima groaned, covering her face. “I’ll never live this down.”

The bottle landed on Aarush.

“Truth or dare?” Rishi asked.

Aarush smirked. “Dare.”

Mahima leaned forward, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “I dare you… to let me draw anything I want on your face.”

The group burst into laughter as Aarush’s smirk vanished. “No way.”

Amrita shrugged. “Then admit defeat.”

Aarush gritted his teeth. “Fine.”

Mahima clapped her hands in excitement and grabbed a permanent marker.

“Wait—PERMANENT?!” Aarush’s eyes widened.

Mahima ignored him and made him sit still saying, "Revenge time!"

The entire group watched with glee as she began her masterpiece.

First, she drew thick black whiskers on his cheeks.

Then, she added a big clownish mustache above his lips.

Aaryansh was laughing so hard he fell off his chair. “Oh, this is GOLD.”

“Almost done,” Mahima said sweetly, before drawing a tiny heart on his forehead.

She stepped back and admired her work. “Perfect.”

Aarush grabbed a mirror, took one look at his face, and groaned loudly. “You’re SO dead.”

Mahima giggled and dodged as Aarush tried to grab her. “Catch me if you can, Kitty Boy!”

The group howled with laughter as Aarush chased her around the terrace, his ridiculous face making everyone laugh even harder.

The both finally sat down, with Mahima laughing breathlessly and Aarush trying to scrub off the doodles.

The bottle pointed at Daksh.

“Truth or dare?” Ananya smirked.

Daksh rolled his shoulders. “Dare.”

Rudraksh grinned. “I dare you… to send Divya a flirty voice note, in the cringiest Bollywood hero style possible.”

Daksh, usually composed, froze. “Excuse me?”

“No excuses,” Amrita said. “Go full Shah Rukh Khan mode.”

Divya crossed her arms. “Come on, Daksh ji, show me what you got.”

Taking a deep breath, Daksh grabbed his phone and recorded himself in the most exaggerated romantic voice,

"Meri jaan, meri sherni, ek baar tum mujhe haan keh do, main chand taare tod launga!"

Everyone lost it, while Divya laughed so hard she almost fell back.

Daksh groaned. “I regret this entire game.”

The bottle landed on Amrita.

“Truth or dare?” Daksh smirked.

Amrita rolled her eyes. “Dare, obviously.”

Aaryansh leaned forward, his smirk widening. “I dare you… to whisper something romantic to me, but only I should hear it.”

Amrita froze, her eyes narrowing at him. “That’s dumb.”

Aaryansh tilted his head, feigning innocence. “Back out, then.”

Amrita huffed, leaning in toward him. The group watched in anticipation, but they couldn’t hear anything—only Aaryansh’s expression changed.

His usual arrogant smirk faltered, his eyes darkening slightly, and his cheeks heating up.

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath.

The group immediately erupted into curiosity.

“What did she say?!” Ananya gasped.

Aaryansh cleared his throat, his voice oddly lower. “Nothing.”

Mahira smirked. “Oh, it’s definitely something.”

Amrita simply leaned back, arms crossed, a victorious smirk on her lips.

“Next turn,” she said smoothly, ignoring Aaryansh’s lingering gaze on her.

The bottle spun and pointed at Aditya.

Ananya smirked. “Truth or dare?”

Aditya, the calmest one, said, “Dare.”

Rishi grinned. “I dare you… to let Ananya sit on your lap until the game ends.”

The room went dead silent.

Ananya choked. “Excuse me?!”

Aditya looked unimpressed. “No way.”

“No backing out,” Daksh teased.

Aditya sighed. “Fine.”

Ananya, still blushing furiously, hesitantly sat on his lap.

Aditya, as usual, remained calm.

But Ananya?

She was on the verge of combusting.

The group whistled and teased as she covered her face.

Aditya smirked. “Comfortable, Kitten?”

“Shut. Up.”

The bottle spun again, landing on Ananya.

“Truth or dare?” Divya smirked.

Ananya, still blushing from the previous round, mumbled, “Truth.”

Amrita’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Would you rather hug Aditya or kiss him right now?”

Ananya choked on air. “What kind of question is that?!”

Aditya, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to know too.”

Ananya's cheeks burned as everyone leaned in, waiting for her response.

She glanced at Aditya—the way he was watching her with quiet amusement only made it worse.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she mumbled under her breath—so soft it was almost inaudible.

“K-Kiss…”

Silence.

Then—

“WHAT?!” Mahira shrieked, eyes wide.

Aditya’s smirk deepened as he leaned forward, leaning forward to her. “Say that again?”

Ananya glared at him, absolutely mortified. “I said NOTHING. Spin the bottle.”

“Oh no,” Amrita grinned. “You said kiss. And now, we want details.”

Ananya groaned, covering her face. “I hate this game.”

Aditya, clearly enjoying himself, whispered in Ananya's ear. “Good to know, Kitten.” and Ananya heated up.

The teasing didn’t stop for the next five minutes, but Ananya refused to look Aditya in the eye—because if she did, she knew she’d see that infuriating smirk of his.

The bottle spun again, this time landing on Mahira.

“Truth or dare?” Aaryansh asked, his tone casual.

Mahira hesitated, glancing at the expectant faces around her. “Truth.”

Aditya leaned forward. “What do you want the most in life?”

The question caught her off guard. She expected something silly or embarrassing, but this… this was deep.

She swallowed, her fingers tugging at the hem of her sleeves. “I…” She hesitated. “I know it sounds strange and lame, but… I’ve always wanted to have older siblings.”

The room fell silent.

“I used to see my friends with their older brothers and sisters,” she continued, her voice quieter now. “How they’d scold them but also protect them, how they’d fight but always be there for each other. I was… jealous.”

Mahira let out a small chuckle, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I mean, I have an older sister, or at least—my mom told me I had one. She’s missing. And she had been missing my entire existence.” Her voice broke slightly, but she masked it with a deep breath. “And my mom… she’s gone too.”

A lump formed in her throat, and she immediately shook her head, forcing a smile. “Forget it. It’s stupid.”

“It’s not.”

The voice was soft but firm.

She looked up to see Mahima staring at her with an unreadable expression.

“From now on,” Mahima said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, “you have an older sister. Deal with it.”

Mahira’s eyes widened. “What—”

“And an older brother,” Aaryansh added smoothly. “Though, I’m cooler than Mahima.”

Mahima glared at him. “Shut up.”

“And another brother,” Daksh joined in.

“And another,” Rudraksh nodded.

“Oh, don’t forget the best sister,” Amrita smirked.

Ananya smiled. “And another.”

"Me too!" Divya smiled.

"And me!" Ishika winked.

Mahira blinked, her chest tightening. “You guys—”

“Don’t even try to deny it,” Mahima nudged her. “You’re stuck with us now.”

Mahira let out a shaky breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. She had never expected this—never expected to be welcomed so easily.

She cleared her throat, trying to lighten the mood. “Wow, a whole bunch of siblings in one night. Lucky me.”

“Damn right,” Rishi grinned.

For the first time in a long time, Mahira didn’t feel alone.

The bottle spun and landed on Daksh.

“Truth or dare?” Aaryansh asked.

Daksh smirked. “Dare, obviously.”

Amrita's eyes gleamed with mischief. “I dare you to write a love letter to Divya… and read it out loud.”

The group burst into cheers.

Daksh’s smirk faltered. “What? No way.”

“Oh, come on!” Rudraksh nudged him. “It’s just a love letter. You’re married.”

“Yeah, but—” Daksh ran a hand through his hair, glancing at Divya, who was already blushing.

“No backing out,” Rishi grinned. “Start writing, lover boy.”

With a deep sigh, Daksh grabbed a notepad and pen. Everyone fell silent as he scribbled, his fingers tightening around the pen.

After a few moments, he cleared his throat, his voice softer than usual.

“Divya,

From the moment you walked into my life, everything changed. I didn’t know love could be this easy, this natural. You fit into my world like you were always meant to be here. The way you talk, the way you laugh, the way your eyes light up when you talk about things you love— it makes me want to stop time just to watch you a little longer.

You drive me insane with your stubbornness, test my patience with your clumsiness, but even then… I wouldn’t change a thing about you. You are my calm in chaos, my warmth in the cold, my reason to smile on the hardest days.

If I could, I would promise you forever in a thousand ways, but for now, just know this— my heart has never belonged to anyone the way it belongs to you. And it always will.”

A deep silence followed before the entire group exploded in cheers and whistles.

Divya, face burning, bit her lip as her eyes softened. “Daksh ji…”

Daksh smirked, leaning closer. “Fell for me again, didn’t you?”

Divya rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. “Maybe.”

The group laughed, cheering them on as the game continued.

The bottle spun again, landing on Amrita.

"Truth or dare?" Daksh smirked.

Amrita crossed her arms. "Dare."

Divya grinned mischievously. "I dare you to make a heart shape with your hands."

The group erupted in cheers, but Amrita instantly scowled. "No."

Ananya gasped dramatically. "No? Are you refusing a dare?"

"I’m not refusing," Amrita snapped. "I just don’t do... that."

Aaryansh leaned back, amused. "You mean to tell me you’ve never made a heart shape before?"

"Of course not! What am I, a schoolgirl drawing on the last page of my notebook?"

Laughter filled the air, but Aaryansh only shook his head before reaching for her hands.

"Come here, Mrs. Raghuwanshi."

She frowned. "What are you—"

"Shh," he murmured, guiding her fingers.

His hands covered hers, warm and firm, as he positioned her fingers into a heart shape.

Amrita swallowed, feeling her heartbeat spike as his fingers intertwined with hers. His touch was light, but it sent shivers up her spine.

"See? Not that hard," Aaryansh murmured, his voice deep and smooth.

Amrita tried to look unimpressed, but her face betrayed her.

The group watched in silent amusement until Rudraksh finally coughed. "Well, that got intimate real fast."

Amrita snatched her hands back, scowling. "Shut up bhaiya."

Aaryansh smirked. "At least now you know how to do it."

She turned away, mumbling, "Not like I’ll ever use it."

But the way her fingers still tingled said otherwise.

The bottle spun and again landed on Rudraksh.

“Truth or dare?” Amrita smirked.

Rudraksh leaned back, cracking his knuckles. “Dare.”

Aaryansh's lips curled into a smirk. "I dare you to say 'I love you' to bhabhi, but in the most heartfelt way possible—no sarcasm, no teasing, just raw honesty."

The group erupted in cheers and whistles.

Ishika’s eyes widened. “That’s—That’s not fair.”

Rudraksh rubbed the back of his neck, his usual confidence faltering for a split second.

Rudraksh exhaled sharply, then turned to Ishika.

The teasing smirk was gone. Instead, his eyes softened, his gaze steady.

“Dil… I love you.” His voice was deep, sincere.

"Not just as my wife, not just because we’re bound together by marriage… but because you are the only person who makes me feel like I belong. Because you see me—the real me—and still choose to stay."

The group fell silent.

Ishika’s breath hitched.

Rudraksh took her hand gently. "I love the way you get nervous when you think too much. I love the way you look at me like I’m something worth holding on to. I love the way you make everything feel a little less chaotic… and a little more like home."

A hush settled over them. Even Ananya, the usual troublemaker, didn't interrupt.

Ishika swallowed, eyes glossy. She didn’t say anything—she didn’t have to.

Instead, she squeezed his hand, a small, trembling smile on her lips.

Aaryansh let out a low whistle. "Damn, Bhai. Didn’t know you had it in you."

The group burst into cheers, but Rudraksh and Ishika stayed in their own world for a moment longer.

Then, the bottle spun again, only for Aaryansh to swiftly grab it mid-spin.

"Alright, I think that’s enough for tonight," he announced, smirking at the collective groans of protest.

"No!" Mahima whined.

Aaryansh raised a brow. "It’s nearly 3 AM. Unless you all want to wake up to Maa dragging you to bed by your ears, I suggest we call it a night."

That did the trick.

One by one, everyone stretched, yawning as the exhaustion from all the laughter, dares, and emotions finally caught up to them.

Mahira, still seated, glanced around at the group—at the easy smiles, the lighthearted teasing, the unspoken bond between them.

A warmth spread through her chest, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Mahima noticed and nudged her. "You okay?"

Mahira blinked, then gave a small, genuine smile. "Yeah… I am."

With that, everyone got up, making their way inside, their footsteps slow and their laughter lingering in the air.

And as Mahira followed, she couldn’t help but think—maybe, just maybe, she had found a place where she truly belonged.

Mahira took her bag. “I should get going—”

“Oh no, you’re staying here,” Mahima interrupted firmly.

Mahira hesitated. “I don’t want to be a bother—”

“Bother?” Mahima scoffed. “You’re my birthday twinie, and I’m not letting you leave at midnight alone.”

The others agreed, and before Mahira could protest further, Mahima grabbed her wrist. “Come on, you’re sleeping in the guest room with me.”

Mahira blinked. “Wait, with you?”

Mahima smirked. “Unless you want to sleep alone?”

After a pause, Mahira sighed and nodded. “Fine.”

They walked together to the guest room, and Mahima handed her some comfortable clothes. “You can borrow these.”

Mahira changed and settled into bed beside Mahima. There was a strange comfort in sharing a space with someone.

It reminded her of her mother, of what she had lost, and what she had always longed for—someone to look out for her.

Mahima noticed her silence and nudged her lightly. “Can’t sleep?”

Mahira hesitated before whispering, “I never had an older sibling. Always wondered what it would feel like.”

Mahima’s expression softened. “Well, now you do.”

Mahira turned to her, surprised. Mahima just smiled.

“Goodnight, little sis,” she whispered.

For the first time in years, Mahira felt warmth settle in her chest. She smiled softly.

“Goodnight, ma'am.”

And with that, they finally drifted off to sleep.

.・。.・゜✭・♡・✫・゜・。.

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Under the stars, they forgot the world and just lived.✨