Chapter - 18

AUTHOR'S POV:

The night had settled in, Arun with his boys came back to their apartment from a basketball match. After settling themselves, Arun with three other friends buzzed with laughter, conversations through calls, and video calls, talking with their family and friends. Others were in the kitchen, dinnering the dinner (😅 a new word formed by your author)—that means making the dinner. The aroma of potato curry and paratha filled the hall, with boys in different places, food on their laps, involved in different activities.

Arun, however, wasn’t really there.

His mind was elsewhere—back in the auditorium, back to that one moment when his name was called alongside hers.

Sri Sehgal with Arun Dixit.

A slow smile tugged at his lips.

I don’t know why, but this feels… different. Pairing up with Sri? Damn, I’m actually excited.

He took up a bite of food but never brought it to his mouth.

Her little tantrums, the way she complains about the smallest things, and yet, how she admires the world around her like everything is a story waiting to be told. She’s weird.

He smirked to himself.

But I like that about her.

Just then, Prem walked in, carrying a small bowl of chutney. He placed himself down next to Arun and noticed his friend’s blank expression.

"Arun," he called.

No response.

Arun was still lost, his fingers absentmindedly stirring the curry on his plate.

Prem frowned. He waved his hand in front of Arun’s face. Nothing.

With a mischievous grin, he grabbed his steel glass and poured water right onto Arun’s face.

Arun flinched, blinking rapidly. "What the hell, Prem?" he barked, wiping his face with his sleeve.

Prem leaned in, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Dude, why are your cheeks red? And why do you look like a Bollywood hero lost in some romantic song?"

Arun rolled his eyes, trying to act casual. "Shut up, man. Nothing like that."

Prem wasn’t convinced. "Ohhh, I see what’s happening." He smirked. "Who is she?"

Arun scoffed. "It’s not like that."

"Which means it totally is like that," Prem grinned, nudging him. "Come on, tell me. What’s got Arun Dixit zoning out while eating his favorite paratha?"

Arun hesitated for a second before muttering, "Sri."

Prem’s smirk widened. "Ah-ha! I knew it! Spill, what happened? Did she confess her undying love for you, or did Arjun propose to you?"

Arun shot him a glare. "Prem, just shut the f—urghh, I can't even say that word to you. You will respond to me in a dirty way."

"You’re an idiot, Prem."

Prem laughed while rolling on the bed. "Yeah, I am an idiot, that’s why I am with you." (Suddenly, Prem stopped laughing as he realized that till today, Arun had never spoken or thought about any other girl.) "But seriously, what’s up?"

Arun leaned against his bedboard. "We got paired for a project."

Prem raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"And…" Arun shrugged, looking down at his plate. "I don’t know, man. I just… I feel good about it. Like, working with her is going to be interesting. The way she talks, the way she thinks… It’s just different."

Prem stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Bro, you like her."

Arun froze. "What? No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Prem, I swear—"

Prem grinned, shoving a piece of roti into Arun’s mouth. "Shut up and eat, lover boy."

Arun chewed reluctantly, and as Prem continued to tease him, he couldn’t help but smile.

The room was dim. A large window let in the moon’s glow. Arun’s bed was on the right, closest to the window, while Prem’s bed was on the left, covered in a mess of books, clothes, and god-knows-what junk he refused to clean up.

Arun sat on his bed, legs stretched out, staring at the ceiling. A slow, unexpected smile tugged at his lips.

Thwack.

Something hard hit his arm.

"Damn it, Prem!" Arun hissed, rubbing his shoulder.

Prem was casually lying on his bed, tossing a rubber ball in the air. He smirked, rolling onto his side. "Oh, so you are alive? I was starting to think you left your soul back in the library."

Arun scowled. "Shut up. I am not in the mood to fight with you."

Prem clicked his tongue. "Ah, classic avoidance."

Arun exhaled and sat up. "What is your damn problem, Mr. Bansal? I was thinking about the project."

Prem gasped dramatically. "Oh, a project? Of course! How silly of me to think otherwise. You were obviously lost in the thrill of hard work."

Arun glared. "I swear, Prem—"

Prem suddenly sat up, eyes gleaming. "It’s her, isn’t it?"

Arun froze.

Prem leaned in, whispering as if he had just uncovered a top-secret government conspiracy—

"Sri."

Arun grabbed his pillow and threw it at Prem’s face. Prem caught it effortlessly, grinning.

"Your reaction says everything, my friend."

Arun ran a hand through his hair. "I don’t know, okay?"

Prem pointed a finger at him. "First stage of realization: denial." He flicked his eyebrows. "Mark my words, next you’ll say—‘She is your crush.’"

Arun opened his mouth.

Then shut it.

Prem lifted his legs in the air with laughter. "I KNEW IT!"

Arun groaned, grabbing Prem’s pillow. "You don’t need a pillow tonight. Just go to sleep."

Prem sighed dramatically, leaning back on his bed. "Tsk tsk. Look at you, falling for your enemy’s sister."

Arun’s muscles tensed.

The room fell quiet.

Then Prem’s tone shifted—in a tone where he was neither serious nor funny. "You do remember who her brother is, right?"

Arun’s jaw clenched. "I know."

Silence.

Then, in a classic Prem way, he grinned. "Well, if you get caught, I’ll personally attend your funeral. I’ll even cry for extra drama."

Arun groaned, turning away. "I said I am not in the mood to fight. Just sleep. I’m going out." He left for the balcony.

Prem smirked, pulling his blanket over himself. "Good night. Have sweet dreams with the mosquitoes outside, lover boy."

The night Arun started thinking about his situation, Prem’s words echoed in his mind.

"I know, Prem… I love her. I always have."

He sighed, his heart heavy.

"There’s something different about her, something that always draws me in. But I can’t tell you how I feel—not now."

His mind swirled with the weight of their complicated bond.

"My relationship with Sri… it’s not simple. There are too many complications."

He clenched his fists.

"When the time is right, you’ll know."

But then—Arjun. The thought of him struck like a bolt of lightning, bringing back memories of their fights. Arun took a deep breath, then exhaled sharply, spitting out Arjun’s name through gritted teeth.

"He is my enemy."

Flashback…

"Arun, listen to me! I didn’t do anything to Naina. Trust me, it was just an accident!"

Another memory surfaced.

I know you dont want to see me happy,you envy me right???arun??

Voices from the past whispered cruel truths.

"Arun and Arjun will never be friends again!"

"See? See? Arjun wanted you to lose the basketball match! That’s why he locked you up! Hahaha!"

"Nooooo!"

Arun jolted awake sat near the rail of balcony,his body drenched in sweat, his breath ragged. His mind screamed for silence, to erase everything at once. But before he could drown in the chaos, one thought anchored him—

"He was my best friend."

His chest tightened.

"Sri is my enemy’s sister. How can I love her? Even if I do… Arjun will never accept us."

But then, another thought intruded.

"Sri is also my sister’s best friend…"

He groaned, running a hand through his hair.

"Why is this mess disturbing me so much?"

His heart whispered what he already knew.

Arun stared the sky stars remembering the morning scene in the library. Sri, sneaking a glance at him while they are reading the book.Thinking he was lost in the book.

But the truth was—he had noticed.

A slow exhale left his lips.

I do notice you, Sri.

And for some reason, that realization refused to let him sleep.

The night was still, a cool breeze rustling the leaves.

Sri turned to see Naina sleeping peacefully, while her own mind was restless. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Arun—the shared book, the quiet glances, the way her heart fluttered.

She sighed. If Naina knew, she’d be happy… but Arjun?

Her brother would never accept it. And if he found out, I can’t even imagine what will happen...just relax sri time will change people and opinions.

She stared at the stars, wondering if Arun was looking at them too.

For now, she let herself fall a little deeper into the feeling she couldn’t ignore.

Morning at the Sehgal House

The Dixit family had just arrived and was enjoying tea with the Sehgals, their conversation filled with warmth and laughter.

In the kitchen, Sri and Naina were busy spreading jam on slices of bread, carefully preparing breakfast for their fathers. Meanwhile, Arjun descended the stairs, his eyes lighting up as he spotted Veer and Meena sitting with the others. Without a second thought, he rushed down and pulled Veer into a tight hug, his excitement evident.

The family settled comfortably in the hall, sipping tea and chatting. Just then, the distinct roar of a bike engine echoed from outside, grabbing everyone's attention.

Arun got off the bike and walked towards the Sehgals, greeting them with a warm smile before settling beside Sumi.

As soon as Arjun's eyes met Arun’s, an unspoken tension filled the air. Both of them held back their anger, their gazes sharp and challenging. Meanwhile, Sri and Naina exchanged a polite smile with Arun, unfazed by the silent rivalry brewing between the two.

Raghu stretched his arms and said, “Let’s go, we have so much work to do.”

Arjun immediately stepped forward. “It’s okay, Papa. I’m here. You and Bade Papa shouldn’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”Before Raghu could respond, Arun chimed in, stepping closer. “No worries, Bade Papa. Naina, Sri, and I will take care of everything. You all should relax.”

Naina nodded with a reassuring smile. “Yes, you four enjoy yourselves. We’ve got this.”

Sri clapped her hands lightly. “Exactly! Chalo, let’s get to work.”

Meena, Veer, Sumi, and Raghu exchanged happy glances, their hearts swelling with pride. Their children had grown up—responsible, mature, and ready to take charge.

Arjun crossed his arms, shooting a sharp glance at Arun. “I’ll help too. Not for someone,” he muttered, side-eyeing Arun, “but for Meena Ma and Bade Papa.”

With that, the four of them headed inside.

Arjun and Arun continued their silent battle of glares, their expressions locked in a competition of who could look angrier.

It felt like an intense showdown, as if whoever held onto their fury the longest would win.

Meanwhile naina and sri left upstairs Naina scanned the scattered boxes and sighed. "We need to move these to the upper cupboard. But we need someone tall for that."Sri nodded. "I'll call Bhaiya or Arun."

She made her way downstairs, looking around for either of them. Just as she spotted Arjun, she called out, "Bhaiya, Naina needs your help upstairs." Arjun went near the steps to go up

Then arun's  eyes flickered toward Arjun, then to Sri. Before Arjun could take a step, Arun suddenly reached for Sri’s wrist and pulled her toward him. “Sri, come with me to the kitchen.” Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her along.

Arjun froze, his fists clenching as he watched Arun take his sister. His jaw tightened. "What the hell? How could he just take her like that?" He thought

For a moment, he was ready to storm after them, but then it hit him—this was his chance.

His gaze flickered toward the staircase, where Naina was waiting. If Arun was busy with Sri, it meant he finally had a moment alone with her.

A slow smirk formed on Arjun’s face." Fine. Let’s make this work in my favor."

Arjun's POV:

"Go upstairs," Sri said before walking into the kitchen with Arun. I didn’t understand why he took my sister away from me, but at this moment, I didn’t care. Because now, I could finally go to Naina.

Without wasting a second, I made my way to her room. Pushing the door open, I found her sitting on the floor, peeking into a box.

"Did you call me?" I asked, making my presence known.

She jumped in surprise, her eyes wide with shock. "God, Arjun! Why did you scare me like that?" she scolded, standing up.

I smirked. "I didn’t mean to. Sri said you called for me. Need any help?" I added, winking at her.

She hesitated for a moment before replying, "I didn’t call you. She just said she would bring someone to help."

"And that someone is me," I said with a grin, feeling rather pleased with myself.

She sighed. "Alright, if you’re here to help, take that carton up to the attic and bring this one down," she instructed, pointing at the boxes.

Nodding, I grabbed the first carton and placed it in the attic. But when I lifted the second one, I nearly lost my balance.

"What on earth is in this?" I asked, setting it down with effort.

"All my jewelry, bangles, watches, and some makeup stuff," she said nonchalantly, looking at me.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. "I bet you have a lot of those. This thing is ridiculously heavy!" I wiped my imaginary sweat for effect.

"Of course! After all, I am a girl," she said, resting her chin on her hands with a playful smile.

I shook my head. "I’ll never understand this. You girls have so much stuff. Even Sri’s closet is overflowing with things she doesn’t even wear!" I muttered, watching as Naina opened the carton.

"You won’t understand," she said, rolling her eyes. "Guys barely have anything to get ready with. We, on the other hand, need a lot of things."

She started pulling out small boxes, filled with an overwhelming amount of jewelry. Necklaces, bangles, watches—she had them all.

She loves jewelry. Point noted.

I helped her arrange everything on the dressing table, but then my eyes caught something—a familiar bracelet lying inside one of the boxes.

Curious, I picked it up. The moment I held it in my hands, memories came rushing back.

This was the bracelet—the one I had gifted her when she got hurt. An apology wrapped in silver.

She had kept it safe all these years. Not a single scratch.

As I stared at it, she noticed. Her eyes met mine as I asked, "You still have this?"

She took the bracelet from my hand, gently running her fingers over it. "Of course, Arjun. Why wouldn’t I? My best friend gave it to me," she said with a soft smile.

My heart skipped a beat.

"You still remember that day?" I asked, searching her eyes.

She nodded. "Yes, Arjun. I remember everything—how guilty you were, what you said... I remember it all."

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to make my chest tighten.

She remembers.

For a fleeting moment, emotions passed between us—unspoken yet understood. But then, as if realizing what she was doing, she quickly looked away.

"I think Sri is calling. I should go," she said, standing up. She turned to leave, but before she could take another step, I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"Naina," I said, my voice steady. "If you don’t like me… then why do you still have the bracelet?"

She froze for a moment before replying, "I already told you, Arjun. My best friend gifted it to me. Why would I lose it?"

Her response was immediate. Too immediate. And yet, she refused to look me in the eyes.

I tightened my grip slightly. "If that’s true, then why can’t you say it while looking at me?"

She swallowed hard. "Arjun, I—"

"Naina, come down!" Arun’s voice echoed from downstairs.

She panicked. "Arjun, let me go. If Bhai sees, it will be bad," she pleaded, struggling to free her wrist.

"I don’t care, Naina. I need my answer," I insisted.

"Why don’t you understand?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Bhai will see—"

"Arjun, please," she begged, finally looking into my eyes. Her gaze was desperate, almost tearful.

And in that moment, I got my answer.

I released her wrist, and without another word, she rushed downstairs.

But I knew the truth now.

You like me, Naina.

You love me.

You’re just not ready to accept it yet.

When I went downstairs, I saw Mom, Dad, Meena Ma, and Bade Papa sitting on the couch. Beside them, Sri and Naina were seated, while Arun stood nearby. They were deep in discussion.

"So, what have you all decided?" Arun asked.

I walked over and perched on the handrest near Meena Ma. She placed a comforting hand on my back and asked, "Where were you, beta?"

"I was upstairs, Ma," I replied.

"You were with Naina? Then why didn’t you both come down together?" she questioned, glancing at Naina.

Naina looked shocked, her eyes darting toward me, while Arun shot glares in her direction. Sensing the tension, I quickly lied, "No, Ma, I was in another room. I was on a call."

"Oh," she said, nodding. To shift the attention, I asked, "What were you all talking about?"

"Actually, Arjun, you know Abhi, right?" Dad asked.

"Yes, Varma Uncle—your friend," I replied.

"Well, it's Ritu’s engagement tomorrow, and we completely forgot. Both Veer and I were invited, and now we’re confused about what to do," Dad explained.

"It’s better if you and Veer Bhaiya go, Raghu. Meena and I will stay back—we have the kids here too," Mom suggested.

"But, Sumi, they invited all of us. It wouldn’t look nice if we don’t attend as couples," Dad reasoned.

"And we can’t leave the house like this—half-cluttered," Meena Ma added, glancing around at the mess.

It was a real problem.

That’s when Sri jumped in, confidently saying, "Everyone, listen to me. I think all the elders should attend the engagement since the Varma family is close to us. Leave the house to us kids—we’ll take care of everything."

"Yes, Dad, it’s a good idea," Naina added eagerly.

"But will you all really be able to manage everything?" Meena Ma asked, a little worried.

"No problem, Ma. We’ll handle it," I reassured her, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. Meanwhile, I noticed Arun wasn’t too pleased with this decision.

It was so satisfying to irritate him.

"But you boys don’t know anything. It’ll be too much burden on the girls," Mom pointed out, glancing at me and Arun.

"Choti Ma, you’re underestimating me. I know how to do house chores," Arun said, sitting beside his mom.

Why was he sitting next to my mom?

"Wow, beta! Arjun, learn something from him," Mom said, cupping Arun’s cheek.

I saw the smug smirk on his face, and my blood boiled.

Sri and Naina, meanwhile, were laughing so hard at our silent rivalry.

"Then it’s decided. The kids will handle the house while we attend the function," Dad announced.

With that, all four elders quickly packed their bags, planning to return by tomorrow evening. I carried their luggage to the car, and after a long list of instructions and reminders, they finally left.

We had a quick lunch to fuel ourselves before getting to work.

---

AUTHOR'S POV:

"Let’s start," Naina said, placing the last dish in the kitchen.

"Mom said she’ll handle the kitchen when she returns, so we don’t need to touch the kitchen," she added.

"We can clean our rooms later. For now, let’s set up the home theater, living room, and guest room," Arun suggested.

"Then let’s split the work. Naina and I will decorate the living room, and you two handle the electronics in the home theater," Sri directed, standing in the middle.

Arun and Arjun exchanged glances before turning their heads in opposite directions.

Sri sighed. "Guys, you need to work together. Please don’t mess things up."

Without arguing, they nodded and walked toward the home theater.

"What should we do first?" Arjun asked.

"Are you really going to help?" Arun asked skeptically.

Arjun scoffed. "What did you think? That I’d dance around to entertain you?"

"I’d rather not watch you dance," Arun muttered, lifting a heavy carton. He lost balance and was about to fall when Arjun quickly caught both him and the box.

They exchanged glances before Arjun helped him place the carton down.

Silently, they started arranging the speakers and connecting the wires. Everything was going smoothly—too smoothly.

Meanwhile, Sri and Naina finished their work and came to check on them. To their surprise, both boys were working together without arguing.

Both of them smiled, happy to see their brothers getting along after so long.

But peace never lasts.

"Arun, I don’t think this wire should go there," Arjun pointed out.

"No, it belongs here," Arun insisted.

"Arun, listen. I’ve done this at home before—"

"It’s not the same, Arjun. Just let me handle it," Arun interrupted.

"You never listen to me! This habit of yours is so annoying," Arjun snapped, standing up.

"Oh, really? You’re the one who never listens to anyone," Arun shot back, also standing up.

Sri and Naina rushed between them before things escalated.

"You’ve always been rude and arrogant—not just to me, but to everyone," Arjun accused.

"And you think you were a saint? You used to flirt with every girl—not just in our class but in other classes too," Arun retorted.

Arjun gasped. "Look who’s talking! The guy who used to flirt with teachers!"

Sri and Naina burst out laughing so hard they fell to the floor, clutching their stomachs.

Arun and Arjun stood there, embarrassed.

"Alright, stop fighting and help move the couch," Naina said, composing herself.

They all went to the main room. The girls attempted to lift the couch but struggled.

"Do you two seriously think you can lift this?" Arun asked.

"Haww! Arun, how could you say that?" Sri argued.

"Because it’s too heavy. Arjun and I will handle it," Arun said confidently.

They glanced at each other before silently agreeing. Together, they lifted the couch and placed it in the home theater.

Next, they started hanging paintings. Arjun was hammering a nail while Naina directed him. As she placed the painting, Arun interrupted.

"Naina, don’t put it there. It’ll look better on the other wall—it’s bigger."

"But Bhai, that’s where we planned to put our family photos," Naina countered.

"Naina, the photos will go upstairs," Arun said firmly.

"No, Bhai! I told you before, I want them here," Naina pouted again.

Arun sighed. "Naina, when I say they go upstairs, they go upstairs."

That tone set Arjun off.

"Why are you being rude to her?" Arjun stepped forward.

"Arjun, stay out of this. It’s none of your business," Arun shot back.

"I’ll make it my business when you talk to her like that."

"And what right do you have to interfere?" Arun challenged, stepping closer.

"Because I—"

Before Arjun could finish, Naina jumped in, trying to defuse the tension.

"Bhai, let it go. Why argue over this?" she pleaded.

"Tell that to him! He’s the one butting into our conversation," Arun grumbled.

"Don’t you dare speak to her like that!" Arjun warned.

Just then, Sri’s voice boomed through the room.

"ENOUGH! STOP IT!"

They froze.

"You guys are creating a circus at home!" Sri exclaimed, looking at them in frustration.

Arun opened his mouth to speak, "Why are—" but before he could finish, she cut him off.

"Don't say anything. Shut your mouths. Put a finger on your lips!" she ordered firmly.

Both of them looked confused for a second, hesitating. Sri’s eyes narrowed. "I told you to do something!" she demanded. Without another word, they immediately obeyed, pressing their fingers to their lips.

Naina let out a sigh of relief, finally seeing some peace.

Sri shook her head. "What are you guys even doing? This is the second time you're fighting in an hour! Even kindergarten kids behave better than this. And you two? Grown men acting worse than children!" she scolded.

Both boys lowered their heads in embarrassment.

"And now, I don’t want another fight." She crossed her arms, fixing them with a stern gaze. "Since you didn’t listen to me, your punishment is to bring dinner for all of us—together. And if you fight again, I won’t spare you."

Her daring glare made them gulp.

Both Arjun and Arun raised their hands in defeat to Sri and agreed to bring dinner.

Naina walked toward Sri and hugged her.

"Will they ever be friends again?" she asked sadly.

"They will, Naina. Don’t lose hope," Sri assured her.

They got back to work, and time passed quickly.

By 7:30 PM, both girls were exhausted. They collapsed onto the sofa.

"Bhai, I’m starving! Go fast and bring dinner," Sri said to Arjun.

"Yes, me too," Naina added, resting her head on Sri’s shoulder.

The boys decided to go and get the food.

Since Arun’s bike was at the service center and their car wasn’t available, they decided to walk to the nearby restaurant.

On their way, an awkward silence lingered between them. Both noticed it, but neither took the first step to talk. Finally, Arjun broke the silence.

"How are your classes going?" he asked, turning his head slightly.

"Good. What about yours?" Arun replied.

"Fine. A little hectic, but as usual, we need to manage," Arjun said, kicking a small rock on the road.

"That’s true. By the way, do you have any projects this semester?" Arun asked, taking the initiative.

"Yes, and it's so boring," Arjun groaned, laughing.

"Really? Ours is actually interesting," Arun replied with a chuckle.

From there, the conversation flowed naturally, like old times. The two former friends, who had been at odds, suddenly felt like brothers again. It might not last forever, but for now, it was worth it.

Lost in their conversation, they didn’t realize they had taken a wrong turn and walked in the opposite direction.

"Haha, that’s true! And do you know there are even more rumors about him?" Arun said, referring to one of their professors.

"I bet they’re true! He’s hated by so many students," Arjun replied.

Just then, his eyes landed on a gola (flavored ice) stall across the street.

"Hey, Arun! Look—gola! Remember anything?" he asked excitedly, pointing at it.

"Oh god, nostalgia! We used to run after the gola guy as kids," Arun said, recalling their childhood memories.

"And our gola would melt before we could even eat it," Arjun added, laughing, as he slung his arm around Arun’s shoulder.

"Yeah, and you used to drink most of it!" Arun teased, wrapping his arm around Arjun.

"Let’s go eat one!"

"Wait, Arun! Are we just going to walk there?" Arjun asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Then what?" Arun asked, confused.

"Let’s race there—just like old times!" Arjun challenged, grinning.

"Alright! I’m ready!" Arun said, taking his position.

"On your mark…"

"Get set…"

"Go!"

Both sprinted toward the stall, laughing. Arun took the lead, but Arjun quickly overtook him. They kept switching positions, racing neck and neck until they finally reached the stall at the same time.

"We… both… came together," Arun said between breaths.

"Yesss…" Arjun panted.

They looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Grabbing their gola, they sat on the footpath, enjoying the icy treat while recollecting  their  childhood. Arjun’s gola dripped onto his shirt, making Arun laugh even harder.

That night became a cherished memory for them—one where they forgot their fights and simply enjoyed each other’s company again.

At Dixit’s House

"Yaar, Sri, I’m going to die of hunger!" Naina groaned, holding her head.

"Where are they? Why aren’t they picking up the phone?" Sri huffed, dialing Arun’s number.

"I swear, Sri, I’ll kill them! Arjun left his phone at home, and Bhai isn’t answering! Where are they?!" Naina said, irritated.

"This is too much. It’s already 9 PM! They left at 7:30!" Sri muttered, sitting on the couch.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Both girls turned toward it, only to see Arjun and Arun walking in—laughing.

Their eyes immediately narrowed.

Arjun and Arun froze as they met Sri and Naina’s folded arms and death glares.

"What happened, guys?" Arjun asked, trying to act innocent.

"Where the hell were you both?" Sri demanded.

"We were—" Arun started, but then it hit them.

They had completely forgotten about the food.

Arjun and Arun exchanged wide-eyed glances, realizing their blunder.

"What we?" Naina stepped forward.

"Actually… we forgot to bring the food," Arun admitted, trying to hide his face.

"WHAT?!" both girls screamed, making the boys cover their ears.

"Then what were you doing all this time?!" Sri asked, exasperated.

"We… ate gola," Arjun said hesitantly.

"Are you serious, Arjun?! Bhai, you too?!" Naina scolded.

The boys quickly explained how they got carried away in their conversation, rekindling their friendship.

Sri and Naina exchanged surprised glances. The sudden shift in their brothers’ dynamic was unexpected—but if they pointed it out, they might start fighting again. So, they stayed quiet and let it go.

However, their own hunger was now raging inside them.

"Now what should we do?" Sri groaned.

"Should I order food?" Arun asked, pulling out his phone.

"No! It’ll take too long! We’re on the verge of dying!" Sri protested.

"Sri, do you have anything at your house we can make quickly?" Naina asked.

"I think we have Maggi," Sri recalled.

"Perfect! Let’s go there. I’ll make it, and we can finally eat!" Naina said, grabbing the Seghals’ house keys.

Without wasting a second, the four of them rushed to the Seghals’ house.

Naina quickly prepared Maggi while they all chatted and laughed.

Soon, they were sitting together, finally satisfying their hunger and enjoying each other’s company.

After finishing their dinner, the four friends—Arjun, Naina, Sri, and Arun—sat back, feeling satisfied. The plates were empty, and the night gave cold chilled air around the city.

"That’s it, all done!" Naina sighed in satisfaction, stretching her arms.

Sri smiled. "Yes, everything is perfect. Now, we have to go."

Arun frowned. "Go? Go where?"

Arjun raised an eyebrow. "What’s going on?"

Naina grinned mischievously. "We’re heading up to the terrace. We’re sleeping there tonight."

Arun's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why? It’s cold outside! We can’t just go and sleep."

Naina shook her head firmly. "No, no, no. We’ve already decided. Sri and I planned this earlier, so we’re going. The mattress and blankets are already arranged. "

Sri bought pillows in the meantime.

Arjun turned to Sri, "Seriously, Sri? You know how cold it is,We just came back from outside! And on a full moon night? Please,  Let’s just sleep in the hall."

Sri crossed her arms. "No way. You both deserve a punishment."

Arjun and Arun exchanged confused glances. "Punishment? For what?"

"For leaving us waiting and forgetting about dinner!" sri said, mockingly.

Arjun scratched his head. "Oh come on, that wasn’t on purpose—"

Naina cut him off. "Okay, tell me this. If there was no Maggi in the house, what would we do?"

Arun blinked. "Uh… we don’t know?"

Sri and Naina exchanged knowing looks before declaring in unison, "No comment. You’re coming with us!"

Arjun and Arun sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine! Let’s go."

The terrace was bathed in soft moonlight, the full moon glowing above like a silent guardian. Stars twinkled like scattered diamonds across the sky, and a cool breeze rustled through the night.

Arjun, Arun, Sri, and Naina lay on their beds in a square formation—Arjun and Arun with their heads to the north on left side, Sri and Naina with theirs to the south on right side,naina opp to arjun,arun opp to sri. The stillness of the night was soothing, none of them were ready to sleep.

Naina gazed at the sky, her voice soft. "Isn't it strange? The same moon watches over all of us, yet it feels so personal."

Sri smiled, her eyes fixed on the glowing orb. "Maybe because we attach our own stories to it. Every time I look at the moon, I feel like it knows all my secrets."

Arjun turned his head toward her, grinning. "Oh? What kind of secrets, Sri?"

Sri laughed. "Nice try, but I’m not telling!"

Arun, lost in thought, stared at the sky. "You know, ancient sailors used the stars to find their way. Imagine trusting tiny dots of light to lead you home."

Naina’s voice was barely above a whisper. "Maybe we all have stars guiding us too, just in ways we don’t always notice."

Arjun exhaled, thinking for a moment. "That’s deep, Naina. But what if we don’t recognize our guiding star?"

Sri turned slightly, her voice calm. "Then maybe, just maybe, we need to stop searching and just feel. The universe has a way of showing us the right path when we’re ready."

Arun nodded. "In a way, aren’t we all like those sailors? Drifting through life, searching for direction, hoping that somewhere out there, our guiding star is leading us where we’re meant to be. But the thing is… sometimes the stars don’t shine as brightly. Sometimes, the sky is clouded, and we feel lost."

"Like how we ended up here tonight. No plan, no reason—just us, the sky, and the moment."

arjun smiled, hugging his  blanket closer.

"And that’s what makes it perfect."He sighed, tilting his head slightly. "maybe, just like the sailors, we have to trust that even when we can’t see them, the stars are still there… waiting to show us the way when the time is right."when the night seems too dark to navigate, they are still there__Waiting for the right moment to shine through and guide us home."

Naina and Sri exchanged a glance, their eyes glistening with unshed tears. A silent understanding passed between them—a shared moment of realization. Just a few hours ago, Arjun and Arun had been lost in their own world, laughing, racing, and reliving their childhood. And now, under this endless sky, they were connecting their thoughts.

Naina smiled softly, while Sri nodded, the moment they waited from many years.sri and naina didn’t bother about tomorrow coz at this moment they all are happy. Some moments just happen without our knowing__that is the game played by universe.

Naina sri saw arjun and arun who already went in to their dreamland.

Naina locked her fingers on arun's hair other side sri hands went on Arjun’s hair.

All went into their dreamlands.....

(You can imagine them in below picture.)

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