96. The Night Before

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Ananya leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms with a sigh as she glanced at the clock.

The office was finally empty, the day’s work done, yet a strange weight settled on her chest.

Tomorrow… tomorrow marked another year without them.

She quickly shook the thought away and grabbed her bag. Stepping out into the cool evening air, she let the city lights guide her.

Her feet moved on their own, leading her to a small roadside stall that was oddly comforting.

It wasn’t fancy, but it was familiar—just what she needed tonight.

Sliding into a plastic chair, she tapped her fingers on the wooden table, ordering a round of shots.

As she waited, she heard the sound of heels clicking against the pavement. Ananya looked up and found Amrita standing there, arms crossed.

"You started without me?" Amrita teased, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

"Never," Ananya grinned. "But we are going to need a lot of drinks tonight."

Amrita didn't reply, but there was something in her eyes—something only Ananya could understand.

Without another word, they ordered more shots.

The first drink burned. The second was smoother. By the fourth, they had stopped counting.

Everything around them blurred into laughter and blurry streetlights. Amrita raised her glass. "To the best drinks ever!"

"Amaaazing!" Ananya repeated, clinking her glass against Amrita’s.

Their giggles filled the air as they swayed in their seats, completely losing themselves to the warmth of alcohol.

Across the street, Raghav was driving past when his eyes caught sight of someone familiar. His brows furrowed as he slowed down, taking a closer look.

Ananya?

He pulled over quickly, stepping out of his car as he watched the scene unfold in front of him.

His usually sharp, witty Ananya was swaying in her seat, giggling uncontrollably with Amrita, both looking completely out of their senses.

Raghav sighed, rubbing his forehead. Of course. He walked towards them, hands in his pockets.

Ananya, in her completely drunken state, blinked at him for a moment before gasping dramatically.

She clutched Amrita’s arm and whispered loudly, "Ohhh wowww, these drinks are soooo amazinggg!! I can see my mama here!!"

Amrita, equally drunk, turned her head in slow motion and gasped as well. "Oooohh yeahhh, I can see tooooo!!"

Raghav stared at them, his patience already thinning. "Ananya," he said firmly, stepping closer.

But she simply gasped louder. "MAMA! YOU'RE REALLY HERE!?"

He sighed, sitting down beside her. "Yes, I’m really here."

She pouted and suddenly grabbed his arm, her voice turning sorrowful. "Mama… why does it still hurt so much?"

Raghav stilled. He had expected her to be dramatic, to throw a tantrum, maybe even pick a fight. But he hadn’t expected this.

Ananya rested her head on his shoulder, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Tomorrow… tomorrow is the day, Mama. The day they left us. The day everything changed."

Raghav’s jaw clenched as he looked at her.

"I miss them," she murmured.

"I know," he replied softly, placing a hand on her head.

Before he could say more, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Glancing at the screen, he sighed—it was Aditya.

Raghav hesitated before answering.

"Aditya," he started, "we have a situation."

Aditya's voice was immediately sharp. "What happened?"

"It’s Ananya… and Amrita."

A pause. Then, "Where are they?"

Raghav exhaled, glancing at the two drunk girls still giggling in their sorrow. "At a roadside stall, completely wasted."

Aditya’s silence spoke volumes.

A long pause. Then, Aditya simply said, "Send me the location."

Raghav hung up, looking down at Ananya, who was still resting against him. Her eyes were droopy, her smile sad.

He sighed, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

Tomorrow would be painful. But tonight, he would let her have this moment.

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The streetlights flickered as the evening deepened, casting a dark glow over the roadside stall where two very drunk women sat, giggling at absolutely nothing.

Raghav sighed, looking at Ananya, who had now taken to poking his cheek repeatedly while mumbling something about how soft his face was.

Amrita, on the other hand, was clinging to the edge of the table, her head tilting slightly as she hummed a random tune.

And then, the cavalry arrived.

A black car pulled up to the side of the road, and out stepped Aaryansh and Aditya.

The moment their eyes landed on their wives, their expressions mirrored each other—shock, disbelief, and then, pure amusement.

Aditya ran a hand down his face, muttering, "I should’ve expected this."

Aaryansh, however, smirked.

His usually composed, fierce wife was sitting there, her face flushed pink, eyes slightly hazy, and lips curved into an innocent pout.

It was a sight to behold.

"Raghav," Aditya said, his tone exasperated but grateful, "I’ll take it from here."

Raghav nodded, standing up. "Good luck," he muttered before turning to leave.

But just as he took a step away, a loud, dramatic voice called out.

"BYEEEEEEE MAMAAAAAAA!!!"

Both Amrita and Ananya shouted in unison, waving at Raghav like two little kids being dropped off at school.

Raghav paused, turned around, and blinked. "What?"

"BYEEEE MAMAAA!" Ananya repeated, waving with both hands now.

Amrita, not one to be left behind, joined her enthusiastically, "Byeeeeeeeee Mamaaaaa!"

Raghav closed his eyes and exhaled. He refused to dignify this with a response.

Without another glance, he walked away, shaking his head.

Aaryansh was chuckling beside him, absolutely enjoying the sight of his fierce, intimidating wife acting like a giddy child. He walked over to her and crouched down.

"Having fun, lioness?" he asked, amusement dripping from his tone.

Amrita gasped and turned to him, blinking slowly. Then, she dramatically grabbed his face with both hands. "Aaryan, did you also drink?"

Aaryansh raised an eyebrow. "No, Buttercup, I’m sober."

Her face scrunched up in confusion. "Then why are you so blurry?"

Aaryansh smirked, brushing his thumb over her warm, pink cheeks. "Because you’re drunk, jaan."

Meanwhile, Aditya was having a completely different experience.

He turned to Ananya, crossing his arms. "So, this is what you do when I’m not around?"

Ananya squinted at him, tilting her head. "Adi?"

"Yes."

She reached out, patting his chest. "Why are you sooooo tall?"

Aditya let out a slow breath. "I’ve always been this tall, Kitten."

She ignored his words, instead pressing her index finger against his lips. "Shhhhh. I need to tell you something very serious."

Aditya narrowed his eyes. "What?"

She leaned closer, eyes wide and innocent. "I think I’m drunk."

Aditya gave her the most unimpressed look ever. "You don’t say."

Ananya, completely unaware of his sarcasm, nodded eagerly. "Yesss! The drinks were amaaaazing!"

Aditya sighed. "Of course, they were."

She suddenly pulled away, eyes widening again as she clutched his sleeve. "Adi!" she whisper-shouted.

"What?"

She pointed at Amrita and Aaryansh. "They’re flirting!!"

Aditya stared at her blankly. "They’re married, Kitten."

"But… but… but…" She trailed off, pouting. Then, suddenly, she gasped and clutched her own cheeks. "Oh my god, my face is soooo warm!"

"That’s because you’re drunk, Kitty Cat."

Ananya gasped again, dramatically pointing at him. "You called me Kitty Cat! You never call me that anymore!"

Aditya smirked. "That’s because you’re usually too busy annoying me."

She pouted harder, crossing her arms. "I do not annoy you. You love me."

Aditya raised an eyebrow. "Do I?"

Ananya gasped, fake crying. "You don’t?!"

Aditya sighed, rubbing his temples. "God give me strength."

Aaryansh, who was watching the entire exchange, burst into laughter.

He slung an arm around Amrita, who had now decided that his shoulder was the most comfortable pillow in the world.

"Looks like we’re in for a fun night," he teased.

Aditya just groaned. "Fun for you maybe. I have to deal with this one."

Ananya, still dramatically pouting, turned to Amrita. "Amul babyyy, tell him he loves me!"

Amrita, who was barely holding onto reality at this point, blinked at Aditya, then at Ananya, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, she nodded sagely. "Yesssss."

Ananya turned to Aditya triumphantly. "Seeeee! My best friend agreeeees!"

Aditya just shook his head, finally deciding to pick her up before she caused more chaos. "Come on, Kitten, we’re going home."

"YAYYYY!" Ananya cheered, throwing her arms around his neck. Then, she gasped again. "Omg. Aditya. I just realised something!"

Aditya braced himself. "What now?"

She leaned in dramatically and whispered, "I love you too."

Aditya paused.

Then, with a soft chuckle, he tightened his grip on her and kissed her forehead. "I know, idiot. Now shut up before I drop you."

Meanwhile, Aaryansh was having a much calmer time. He picked up Amrita bridal-style, and she automatically curled into him, sighing contently.

"You’re comfy," she mumbled sleepily.

Aaryansh smirked. "Only for you, Buttercup."

Just when the brothers started walking toward the car, Ananya suddenly perked up. "WAIT!"

Aditya halted, sighing. "What now, Kitten?"

She wiggled in his arms, her voice filled with determination. "I WANT ANOTHER DRINK!"

Amrita, who had been quiet for a full ten seconds, suddenly kicked her legs in Aaryansh’s arms. "ME TOO!!"

Aditya groaned, adjusting his grip on his wife. "Not happening."

Aaryansh chuckled. "Buttercup, you’ve had enough."

Ananya pouted, glaring at Aditya. "You’re so mean! You never let me have fun!"

"Trust me, Kitten, your definition of fun is my definition of a headache."

She gasped. "You don’t love me!"

Aditya smirked. "That’s it. You’re definitely not getting another drink."

Ananya dramatically sighed. "Fine. But just so you know, you’re going to regret this when I become a millionaire and leave you behind!"

Aditya let out a laugh. "I’d like to see that happen."

Aaryansh shook his head, watching his brother struggle with his overly dramatic wife. "Come on, let’s get them home before they start a revolution."

And with that, the two brothers carried their completely drunk, completely chaotic wives away, knowing that it was still going to be very interesting.

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As Aaryansh and Aditya carried their drunk wives back to the car, the chaos was far from over.

Ananya, who had been peacefully resting in Aditya’s arms for approximately thirty seconds, suddenly gasped. "Adi! Stop!"

Aditya, already tired, didn’t even break his stride. "No."

"But I want more drinks!" she whined, kicking her legs like a stubborn child.

Aditya let out a slow breath. "You’ve had enough, Kitten."

"But they were sooooo good!" she dragged out the words dramatically. "One more! Just one more!"

Aditya sighed, adjusting his grip on her. "You said that five drinks ago."

Ananya gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "Are you calling me a liar?"

Aditya gave her a blank look. "Yes."

Meanwhile, Amrita, who had been quietly nestled in Aaryansh’s arms, suddenly lifted her head.

"Aaryaaa," she mumbled, blinking up at him.

"Yes, Buttercup?" he asked, amused.

She pouted. "I want more drinks toooo."

Aaryansh chuckled. "No chance, lioness."

"But I wasn’t done," she grumbled, folding her arms. "I need to finish properlyyy!"

Aaryansh smirked. "You’re already finished, Buttercup. Completely gone."

Amrita narrowed her eyes at him—or at least, she tried to. It mostly looked like a slow, confused blink.

"You’re mean," she muttered.

"And you’re drunk," he shot back playfully.

Ananya, overhearing their conversation, gasped and pointed at Aditya. "See?! Aaryan bhaiya is being sweet to Amul babyyy. Why can’t you be like thaaat?"

Aditya scoffed. "Because you’re not Amrita."

Ananya gasped again, dramatically clutching his collar. "How dare youuu?"

Aditya rolled his eyes. "Oh my god, just get in the car."

"But—!"

He placed her in the seat and buckled her in before she could protest. "No buts. No more drinks. No more drama. Sleep."

Ananya blinked at him, processing his words. Then, with the most adorable pout, she crossed her arms and turned her head away.

"Fine," she huffed. "But I’m not talking to you."

Aditya smirked, shutting the door. "Promise?"

Meanwhile, Aaryansh set Amrita down in the seat beside her and knelt in front of her, brushing a few strands of hair from her face.

"You okay, Buttercup?" he asked softly.

Amrita hummed, eyes half-lidded. "Only if you let me drink more."

Aaryansh chuckled, tapping her nose. "Nice try."

She let out a tired sigh, leaning back in her seat. "You're lucky you're cute."

Aaryansh smirked, fastening her seatbelt. "And you, Buttercup, are lucky you’re drunk. Otherwise, I’d make you pay for almost making us both fall back then."

Amrita let out a sleepy giggle. "It was funny."

"Yeah, yeah." He shut the door and got into the passenger’s seat.

As the car pulled away, silence finally settled in—until Ananya suddenly gasped dramatically again.

"Adiiii!"

Aditya groaned. "What now?"

She leaned forward. "Can we get ice cream?"

Aditya shot her a look through the rearview mirror. "Go to sleep, Kitten."

"But ice cream—"

"Sleep."

She huffed again, mumbling under her breath, "Meanie."

From the passenger seat, Amrita snickered. "See, Aaryaaa? That’s how you scold properly."

Aaryansh laughed, shaking his head. "I’ll take notes, Buttercup."

And with that, the two helpless husbands drove off, preparing themselves for an even bigger headache.

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The car ride was far from peaceful.

In the backseat, Ananya and Amrita had completely forgotten about their husbands and were now dramatically hugging each other, their bodies swaying slightly from the alcohol.

"They’re so meaaaaan!" Ananya whined, burying her face in Amrita’s shoulder.

"So mean!" Amrita repeated, pouting as she stroked Ananya’s head like a mother consoling a heartbroken child.

"They didn’t let us drink mooooorreee!"

"Noooo mooooore!"

"We wanted moreeeee!!!"

"Just one moreeeee!!"

Their exaggerated cries echoed through the car, making Aditya rub his temples while Aaryansh bit back a smirk.

"Kitten, go to sleep," Aditya ordered, his voice firm but exhausted.

She gasped, lifting her head dramatically. "Nooo!"

Amrita joined in, shaking her head. "We can’t sleep!"

"Yes, you can." Aaryansh glanced at Amrita through the rearview mirror. "In fact, you should."

Amrita crossed her arms and huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "Nope!"

Ananya squinted at him, looking deeply offended. "You’re so heartless, Amul baby’s husband."

Aaryansh raised an eyebrow. "Amul baby’s husband?"

Amrita giggled, poking Ananya’s cheek. "You mean Aaryansh?"

Ananya’s face lit up. "YES! Him!"

Aaryansh chuckled. "So, I don’t deserve my name now?"

"You don’t deserve anything," Amrita muttered, snuggling back into Ananya. "Meanie."

Aditya rolled his eyes. "God, help me."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, and it seemed like they were finally calming down.

But then—

"Anuuuuu," Amrita slurred, her fingers lazily playing with Ananya’s hair.

"Amul babyyyyy?" Ananya slurred back, holding Amrita’s hands dramatically.

"Tomorrow… I wanna go awaaay."

Aaryansh froze and Aditya’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"Wheeere?" Ananya asked, her tone suddenly a mix of curiosity and sadness.

"Farrrr… farrrr away," Amrita whispered.

Ananya gasped, shaking her head rapidly. "Then take me tooooo!"

"YESSS! We should run away together!"

"YESSSS!"

Their loud agreement echoed in the car, making Aditya clench his jaw. He didn’t like the sound of that.

Aaryansh’s hands gripped the wheel a little tighter. "Buttercup, what do you mean by that?"

But Amrita, completely unaware of the storm brewing in her husband’s mind, simply pouted. "Just… awaaay… from everyoneee. Just me and Anu. Nooo one else."

Ananya nodded rapidly, sniffling dramatically. "Because everyone is mean to usss!"

"Meanie husbands!" Amrita agreed, turning to glare at Aaryansh, though her eyes barely focused.

Ananya pouted at Aditya, pointing a shaky finger. "And you… You’re the meanest!"

Aditya exhaled, controlling his emotions. "Why do you want to leave?"

Ananya blinked, her drunk mind processing his words at a turtle’s pace.

"Because…" she sniffed, leaning against Amrita. "Because tomorrow is… tomorrow is…"

Amrita’s fingers curled into Ananya’s sleeves. "Tomorrow is…"

Both their voices softened into a sad whisper.

"The day our parents left us."

A heavy silence filled the car.

Aditya and Aaryansh exchanged a look, their chests tightening.

No matter how chaotic these two were, no matter how much they acted like overgrown kids when drunk—this pain was real. And it hurt to hear.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the ride. The wives had gone back to their playful chatter, but the husbands sat in silence, their minds weighed down by their words.

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By the time they reached the Raghuwanshi Palace, the two men were exhausted.

They stepped out of the car, only to hear loud, chaotic giggles from the backseat.

Aaryansh groaned. "Here we go again."

Aditya ran a hand down his face. "I don’t even want to deal with this anymore."

The back door suddenly swung open, and out jumped Ananya—except she miscalculated her footing and almost face-planted onto the ground.

"Whoa!" Aditya caught her at the last second, pulling her against his chest.

Ananya blinked up at him, her cheeks flushed. "Adiiiii! You saved meee!"

"You were about to kiss the floor, idiot," Aditya muttered.

She gasped. "OMG! Floor, I’m sooo sorry!" She bent down and patted the ground. "Are you okay?!"

Aditya face-palmed. "Unbelievable."

Meanwhile, Aaryansh was helping Amrita out of the car, but she had decided that standing was too much work. She clung to him like a koala, refusing to let go.

"Aaryaaaaa," she drawled. "I don’t wanna walk."

"Then what do you want?" he asked, amused.

She pouted. "Flyyyy me inside."

"What?"

"Like—" She threw her arms up. "Wheeeeeee!"

Aaryansh burst into laughter. "You want me to throw you?"

"Nooo! Carry meeee!"

Aditya sighed, dragging Ananya towards the entrance. "Hurry up, Aaryansh. I want to dump this one in bed before she finds another excuse to create havoc."

"I heard that!" Ananya whined, squirming in his hold. "You’re so mean, Adiiii!"

As soon as they stepped inside, two figures were already waiting for them—Ishika and Divya.

The moment they saw Ananya and Amrita’s state, they exchanged knowing looks.

"Again?" Ishika sighed.

Divya folded her arms. "Would this ever stop?"

Aditya groaned. "You knew this would happen?"

"Of course!" Ishika rolled her eyes. "They always do this the night before."

Divya smirked. "And they always create havoc when they come home drunk."

As if on cue, Ananya suddenly broke free from Aditya’s grip and ran into the middle of the hall, throwing her arms up.

"PARTYYYYYY!!"

Amrita gasped. "Omg, yes!! LET’S DANCEEEE!"

Before anyone could stop them, the two drunk wives grabbed each other’s hands and started spinning in circles, their giggles echoing through the grand hall.

Aditya groaned. "Not again."

Aaryansh just smirked, leaning against the wall. "This is getting interesting."

Ishika and Divya, who had been waiting for this exact moment, exchanged knowing glances.

"Should we stop them?" Divya asked, amused.

Ishika shrugged. "Let them suffer a bit first."

But their moment of entertainment was short-lived because their commotion had woken up the entire house.

First to arrive was Geeta, her brows furrowed as she hurried out her room. "What in the world is happening here at this hour?"

Right behind her came Rukmini, rubbing her temples. "Did someone invite an orchestra home?"

Ishwar stepped into the hall, his usual calm demeanor now replaced with confusion as he took in the sight before him. "What is all this noise?"

Finally, Shravan walked in, his face a mix of sleepiness and annoyance. "It’s midnight! Are we under attack?"

Their eyes landed on the scene unfolding before them.

Amrita and Ananya were now dramatically swaying from side to side, their arms over each other’s shoulders, singing an off-tune version of some random Bollywood song they had just made up.

"Husbands are meannn…" Ananya sang.

"They never let us drink mooooorreee…" Amrita added.

"But we don’t careeee…"

"Because we are queeeenss…"

"And we shall driiinnkk againnn…"

Geeta gasped. "Are they DRUNK?!"

Rukmini blinked rapidly. "What…?"

Ishwar narrowed his eyes. "Aditya. Aaryansh. Explanation. Now."

Aditya sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It’s a long story."

Aaryansh smirked, crossing his arms. "And not one I feel like telling at the moment."

Shravan, meanwhile, was staring at his sisters-in-law in absolute disbelief. "Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight. These two got drunk? Them?"

"Clearly," Ishika muttered.

Divya smirked. "Again."

Geeta let out an exasperated breath, her hands on her hips. "Unbelievable! Just who let them drink?!"

"THEY DIDN’T LET US DRINK ENOUGH!" Amrita shouted, pointing at her husband accusingly.

"Yes!" Ananya stomped her foot, glaring at Aditya. "They’re the villains!"

Rukmini gasped. "What kind of men don’t let their wives drink?!"

Aditya and Aaryansh stared at her, unimpressed.

"Not helping, maa," Aditya deadpanned.

Before anyone could say another word, Amrita suddenly gasped dramatically and clutched her stomach. "Ananya, I’m starving!"

Ananya’s eyes widened. "ME TOO!"

"FOOD!!" they both yelled, suddenly sprinting towards the kitchen.

"Shit," Aditya muttered, rushing after them.

Aaryansh followed, shaking his head. "And here we go again."

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By the time the rest of the family caught up, the kitchen was already under siege.

Ananya had climbed onto the kitchen counter, digging through cabinets with the precision of a raccoon searching for treasure. "WHERE IS THE CAKE?!"

Amrita, meanwhile, had her head inside the fridge. "I FOUND ICE CREAM!"

"OH MY GOD!" Ananya shrieked, jumping off the counter and nearly crashing into Aditya. "Gimme!"

"NOOO! It's mine!" Amrita shielded the tub of ice cream with her entire body.

"You traitor! I thought we were in this together!"

"That was before I found this!"

Ananya gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "You betrayed me for food?"

Amrita held the tub closer. "Yessss."

Shravan choked on his laughter. "I can’t believe this is happening right now."

Ishwar sighed, rubbing his temples. "Enough. Take them to their rooms before they destroy the entire house."

Aditya tried to grab Ananya’s wrist, but she swerved, giggling. "Catch me if you caaaan!"

"Kitty Cat!!!"

She bolted.

Aaryansh lunged for Amrita, but she ducked under his arms and sprinted to the other side of the island. "Not today, husband!"

"Buttercup." His voice was low and warning.

"Aarya." She mimicked his tone with a teasing smirk.

He narrowed his eyes, moving left. She moved right.

He moved right. She moved left.

Then, suddenly—

Amrita jumped onto the kitchen counter.

Everyone froze.

"Buttercup," Aaryansh warned. "Get down."

"NOPE!" she giggled. "You’ll have to catch me first!"

Aaryansh sighed, walking up to the counter. "Fine. If you don’t come down, I’ll—"

Before he could finish, she slipped.

"Shit!"

Aaryansh lunged and caught her just in time, pulling her into his arms before she could crash onto the floor.

She blinked up at him, dazed. "Wow… Are you my knight in shining armor?"

"More like your babysitter," he muttered, adjusting his grip before marching out of the kitchen.

"NOOOO!" Amrita whined, kicking her feet. "I’m not ready to sleep!"

Meanwhile, Aditya had finally cornered Ananya.

"Come here," he said, voice stern.

She stuck her tongue out. "Make meeee."

He sighed. "Alright."

Without another word, he hoisted her up over his shoulder like a sack of rice.

"AAAHH! ADI, NOOOO!" she shrieked, pounding on his back.

He sighed, ignoring her protests as he carried her towards the stairs.

Divya smirked. "Well, that was entertaining."

Ishika grinned. "Let’s see what chaos they cause for their husbands when try to make them sleep."

Rukmini sighed, watching the scene unfold. "This house… never has a dull moment, does it?"

Geeta shook her head. "Not as long as those two are in it."

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As Aditya carried a struggling Ananya up the stairs and Aaryansh marched off with a pouting Amrita in his arms, the chaos finally started settling.

The kitchen was a mess, the house was still ringing with their drunken laughter, and the elders were left shaking their heads in disbelief.

But as the last echoes of their giggles faded into the hallways, Ishika stood still, her expression unreadable.

Her usual amused smirk was nowhere to be seen. Instead, her eyes followed the retreating figures of Ananya and Amrita, the laughter in her gaze dimming.

She knew. They both knew.

Tonight had been madness, but tomorrow… tomorrow was going to be worse.

For all four of them.

Divya, standing beside her, noticed the shift in Ishika’s mood.

Without a word, she stepped closer and wrapped an arm around Ishika’s shoulders, pulling her into a side hug.

"They’ll be fine," Divya murmured, but even she didn’t sound convinced.

Ishika let out a quiet sigh, her fingers gripping the edge of the kitchen counter. "They act like nothing’s wrong when they’re drunk," she whispered.

"But once they wake up, reality will hit them harder than any hangover."

Divya didn’t reply immediately. She just held Ishika a little tighter, as if anchoring her.

Because she knew it too.

Tomorrow wasn’t just going to be painful for Ananya and Amrita.

It was going to be just as hard for Ishika and Divya.

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Aaryansh pushed open the door to his room, stepping inside with Amrita still cradled in his arms.

She had her arms lazily wrapped around his neck, her head resting against his chest.

But the moment he placed her on the bed, the drama began.

Amrita gasped, sitting up immediately, her lower lip quivering. “You—You’re throwing me away!” she fake-cried, covering her face with both hands like a child.

Aaryansh raised an amused brow, leaning against the headboard with his arms crossed. “Throwing you away? I carried you all the way up here like a royal princess, Buttercup.”

She peeked through her fingers and sniffled dramatically. “Lies! You just dumped me here!”

Aaryansh bit back a chuckle. “Of course, how cruel of me. Should I pick you up again?”

Amrita gasped, nodding vigorously. “Yes! Lift me and apologize properly!”

Aaryansh smirked and, instead of picking her up, he gently pushed her back onto the bed. “Fine, fine. I’m sorry, my drunk little lioness.”

Amrita pouted, her face flushed pink from the alcohol. Aaryansh had never seen her like this.

She was always so strong, so controlled, but right now, she was a soft, adorable mess.

He tapped her nose playfully. “You know… you’re really cute when you’re like this.”

Amrita’s eyes widened. “Cute?! I—I’m the Venom, Aarya! I am not cute!”

Aaryansh chuckled, pulling her into him, resting his forehead against hers.

“Mmm. Venom? Maybe. But right now? You’re my tiny, adorable, drunk Buttercup with a pink face.”

Amrita groaned, burying her face into his chest. “Sooo embarrassing…”

Aaryansh smirked, running his fingers through her hair. “Come on, let’s sleep.”

He tried to lay her down, pulling the blanket over her, but the moment he pulled away, she clutched his shirt tightly.

“Aaryaaa,” she whispered.

Her voice had changed. The playful, dramatic tone was gone.

Aaryansh immediately stilled. “Hmm?”

Amrita’s fingers trembled against his chest. “That night…”

Aaryansh’s heart clenched. He didn’t have to ask which night. He knew.

She took a deep breath, staring at the ceiling. “The night of the accident… I had a major head injury.”

Aaryansh held his breath, waiting for her to continue.

“I lost… so many memories.” Her voice was small, fragile. “I lost memories of my father. My childhood. Everything feels… broken, like pieces of a puzzle I can’t fit together.”

Aaryansh slowly pulled her into his arms. “Buttercup…”

Amrita hugged him tightly, her nails digging into his shirt. “I don’t even remember my mother’s face,” she confessed, her voice cracking.

“Papa showed me a picture once, but now… even that is gone. I—I don’t know what she looked like anymore.”

Aaryansh’s jaw tightened. He felt helpless, something he rarely ever felt. Amrita had spent so many years carrying this pain alone.

She let out a small, broken laugh. “It’s funny, right? I don’t even remember the woman who gave birth to me.”

Aaryansh tightened his hold, kissing the top of her head. “That’s not funny, Buttercup. That’s heartbreaking.”

Amrita sighed against his chest, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. “Tomorrow’s going to be bad…”

Aaryansh stroked her back soothingly. “No, it won’t.”

She tilted her head up, confused. “Huh?”

Aaryansh kissed her forehead. “I won’t let it be a sad day for you.”

She blinked at him sleepily. “How?”

He smirked, pressing his lips against her temple. “That’s for me to know, and for you to find out tomorrow.”

Amrita pouted but yawned, her body slowly giving in to sleep.

Aaryansh held her until her breathing evened out, his mind already working.

Tomorrow…

Tomorrow was not going to be a sad day for his lioness.

He would make damn sure of it.

‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧

Aditya kicked the door shut behind him, carrying a very drunk, very chaotic Ananya in his arms.

She had her arms wrapped around his neck, swaying slightly like she was on a boat instead of in his grip.

“Adiiiiii, I can walk, put me downnn!” she whined, wiggling like a restless child.

Aditya sighed, ignoring her struggles. “Yeah, sure. And the moment I put you down, you’ll fall flat on your face.”

“No, I won’t!” she protested, dramatically clutching his face. “I am perfectly fine!”

Aditya raised a brow. “Kitten, you called me a lamp post five minutes ago.”

She gasped, offended. “Did I?!”

“Yes.”

Ananya dramatically placed a hand on her forehead. “Wow. I’m such a poet even when I’m drunk. Lamp post… so poetic, so deep—”

Aditya groaned, throwing her onto the bed, making her bounce slightly.

“Ahhhh!” Ananya flopped onto her back, arms sprawled out. “How dare you throw your beloved wife like this! You’re so mean, Adi! So heartless! So—”

Aditya shut her up by grabbing a pillow and placing it over her face.

“MMMMF!!!”

He smirked. “Much better.”

Ananya shoved the pillow away, her hair an absolute mess, glaring at him. “You—you ruthless, unromantic, cold-hearted man! I want a divorce!”

Aditya crossed his arms. “Sure. But sign the papers when you’re sober.”

Ananya gasped. “You—you don’t even love me?!”

Aditya smirked. “I do. I just love you more when you’re not a tiny tornado of destruction.”

Ananya dramatically rolled onto her stomach, burying her face into the mattress. “You’re so meannnnn.”

Aditya sighed, pulling the blanket over her. “Go to sleep, Kitten.”

But of course, she wouldn’t make his life easy.

She suddenly popped up, her eyes wide. “Wait!”

Aditya groaned, already regretting not knocking her out with sleep medicine. “What now?”

She grabbed his hand, her voice turning small. “Tomorrow… I want to go faaar awaaay.”

Aditya froze, his heart skipping a beat. “What?”

Ananya pouted, staring at him. “Far away. Somewhere where noooo one can find me.”

Aditya clenched his jaw. “And why would you do that?”

She blinked at him, as if it was obvious. “Because I’m tired.”

Aditya’s stomach twisted. “Tired of what, Kitten?”

She shrugged, her voice slurring slightly. “Of everything. Of all the expectations. Of all the pressure. Just… tired.”

Aditya stared at her, his chest tightening. This wasn’t just the alcohol talking.

There was something real, something painful underneath her words.

Before he could say anything, Ananya suddenly grabbed his shirt, pulling him down, her voice barely above a whisper.

“But if I go… you have to come with me.”

Aditya’s heart clenched. This idiot. This absolute idiot.

He brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, forcing a smirk. “Of course, idiot. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

Ananya smiled sleepily, snuggling into his side. “Okay… gooood.”

Aditya sighed, wrapping his arm around her.

Tomorrow… tomorrow was going to be a long day.

But he would make sure of one thing—no matter what happened, Ananya wasn’t going anywhere without him.

Aditya sat on the edge of the bed, watching Ananya with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

She was lying on her stomach, hugging a pillow, her hair an absolute mess, her eyes droopy but still stubbornly awake.

She suddenly turned her head towards him, blinking slowly. Then, without any warning, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his torso.

Aditya froze.

His whole body stiffened as Ananya buried her face into his chest, sighing dramatically.

"Adiiii…" she whined against his shirt, her words slurring slightly.

Aditya gulped, unsure what to do with his arms. "Yeah?"

She snuggled closer, tightening her grip around his waist like a koala. "I loveeeeee youuuu."

His brain short-circuited.

"…What?"

She lifted her face, her big, glossy eyes staring up at him. "I said I loveeeeee youuuu," she dragged out the words, emphasizing each syllable like a child learning to talk.

Aditya opened his mouth but no words came out. He felt like someone had just punched him in the gut, but instead of pain, there was this strange warmth spreading inside him.

Ananya pouted when he didn't respond. "Why aren’t you saying anything?! Do you not love me?! H-h-how dare youuuu!"

And then, to his complete horror, she fake sobbed, pressing her face back into his chest.

Aditya panicked. "Oye! Stop crying!"

"Neverrrrr!" she wailed dramatically, clutching him like he was her last lifeline. "You don’t love meeee! You’re so meannnn! I knew it!"

Aditya sighed, running a hand through his hair, before finally giving up.

"Alright, alright. Come here, drama queen."

Before she could protest, he scooped her up in his arms, lifting her effortlessly.

Ananya gasped, her arms flying around his neck again. "Woahhhhh! I’m flyinggg!"

Aditya smirked, spinning her slightly. "Yeah? How does it feel?"

Ananya giggled, kicking her legs. "It feels amaaaaaazingggg! You should carry me like this every dayyyy!"

Aditya rolled his eyes, but his grip on her didn’t loosen. Instead, he adjusted her more securely in his lap, rocking her gently like a child.

"You’re sooooo soft," Ananya mumbled, tracing circles on his chest lazily.

Aditya chuckled. "Are you talking about me or yourself?"

"Youuuuuu," she said, poking his cheek. "You’re my soft, tall lamp post."

Aditya sighed. "Still with the lamp post thing?"

"Yessss. But you’re my lamp post." She snuggled closer, completely comfortable in his hold. "And I loooove you. Neeveerrrr leave meeee."

Aditya stiffened again, his fingers slightly tightening on her waist.

For a moment, he just stared at her.

Her face was still flushed pink, her hair messy, and her lips slightly parted.

She looked so vulnerable, so unguarded, so different from the usual loud, chaotic, troublemaker Ananya.

And yet, she was still her.

He sighed, pressing his chin against the top of her head. "You idiot… where would I even go without you?"

Ananya smiled sleepily, mumbling something incoherent, still half-conscious.

Aditya rocked her gently, his grip protective, firm, unyielding.

"I’m here, Kitten," he whispered, brushing a soft kiss against her hair. "I’m not going anywhere."

And with that, he continued to hold her, even as her breathing evened out, even as her fingers loosely gripped his shirt, as if even in sleep, she didn’t want to let go.

Tomorrow was going to be hell.

But tonight, she was safe in his arms.

‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧

Their love was fire and chaos, burning through the night.💙🩵✨