Author’s POV 

“Maa,” Treyaksh said softly, already halfway toward the stairs, turning back just enough to catch her attention, “we’ll be in my room till dinner, okay? I promise I’ll come down by nine-thirty. Please send the pani gujha to my room.”

His mother smiled knowingly and nodded, the kind of nod that carried both permission and quiet affection. “Go,” she said gently. “I’ll send it.”

That was all it took.

The next second, Treyaksh was already running up the stairs, Avyaan and Aarvik right behind him, their laughter echoing , shoes thudding against marble steps .

But they barely made it halfway up when they froze.

Right there, sitting comfortably on the staircase, were Kritika and Prachi legs folded neatly, —while Manav and Harshit sat in front of them like unwilling victims, their hair tied into  little ponytails , lips strangely glossy, faces screaming silent despair.

Kritika looked up first, eyes widening dramatically.
“Trisshhhuuu bhaiyaaa!” she squealed happily. “Come here!”

Treyaksh blinked, stunned, trying to process the scene, he walked forward instinctively. Kritika immediately stretched her arms toward him, and he lifted her up without thinking, settling her comfortably against his chest. Right beside him, Avyaan, equally trapped by affection, picked up Prachi with a dramatic sigh.

“Why,” Treyaksh asked slowly, staring at the chaos in front of him, “are you two torturing your elder brothers like this?”

Kritika opened her mouth to reply, but Manav beat her to it, his voice cracking slightly.
“Bhaiyaaa,” he complained, “these two hide our phones. Completely hid them. They even switched them off before hiding them. They’re so clever only ten years old, but full with plans. And then they forced us into this.”

Harshit nodded in agreement, eyes pleading.

Treyaksh carefully placed Kritika back on the stairs and sighed, rubbing his forehead . “Okay, listen,” he said calmly. “You can play however you want. I won’t interfere. But please play in any room, not on the stairs. It’s cold here.”

The girls exchanged a look but nodded reluctantly.

Then Treyaksh turned to Avyaan, raising an eyebrow.
“So… are you planning to put Prachi down, or are you taking her with you?”

Avyaan looked at Prachi, then shrugged. “I’d take her,” he said casually, “but then Kapil chacha will definitely beat me.”

“Put her down,” Treyaksh muttered, shaking his head.

They finally made it to Treyaksh’s room, the familiar space welcoming them with quiet comfort .

Without warning, Aarvik sprinted toward the attached bathroom.

“Oi—!” Treyaksh shouted.

Too late.

Aarvik slammed the door shut and locked it from inside.

“Wow,” Treyaksh said flatly, staring at the closed door. “That was my own bathroom, and I’m locked out.”

From inside, Aarvik’s voice floated out, entirely unapologetic. “jalwaaaaa.”

Treyaksh sighed dramatically. “Fine. I’ll bathe in Mumma’s room.”

He turned to Avyaan. “And you?”

Avyaan stretched lazily on the bed. “Don’t worry about me. I have more respect in this house than you. I’ll manage somewhere.”

They reunited a while later, freshly bathed, hair still damp, wearing loose T-shirts and shorts, collapsing onto the bed .

 Avyaan lay sprawled across the mattress, phone in hand, Aarvik leaned against the headboard, scrolling through something, and Treyaksh sat cross-legged, scrolling reels while touching and playing with his mauli dhaga absentmindedly.

The room felt peaceful now , Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Before Treyaksh could respond, Aarvik jumped up and rushed to open it.

“Didi, what took you so long?” he said dramatically, grinning. “I was suffering waiting for pani gujha.”

The maid laughed softly, holding out the tray. “Sorry, bhaiya. Dadi ji gave me some work.”

Aarvik nodded with exaggerated seriousness,accepting the tray like it was a sacred offering, his eyes lighting up so brightly that Treyaksh didn’t even need to look inside to know exactly what it held. 

Three neatly filled bowls of pani gujha rested side by side, steam still faintly rising, along with a single glass of warm milk placed carefully ..

Aarvik stared at it for a second longer than necessary and then announced proudly, pulling the tray closer to his chest,
“This is all for me, by the way. You two can just… admire.”

Treyaksh scoffed, instantly offended in the most dramatic way possible, pushing himself off the bed and walking over.
“Excuse me?” he said, narrowing his eyes. “There is absolutely no compromise when it comes to pani gujha. Aarvik, teko teri future biwi ki kasam —hand over my bowl.”

Avyaan burst out laughing, falling back against the pillows. “Wow. Straight to emotional blackmail.”

Aarvik clicked his tongue and muttered something under his breath that was definitely a curse, though he said it quietly enough to pretend innocence, before finally placing the tray on the table .

Treyaksh ignored him completely, already reaching for one bowl like it belonged to him by birthright. Without hesitation, he picked up the glass of milk and slowly poured it into his pani gujha .

Avyaan wrinkled his nose. “I don’t get how you eat it like that,” he said, taking his own bowl and keeping it dry, the way he always did. “Milk ruins the taste”

“That’s because you have no taste,” Treyaksh replied calmly, not even looking at him.

Meanwhile, Aarvik was conducting his own questionable experiment. He scooped a few pani gujha out of his bowl, placed them back onto the tray, then poured milk over them anyway, mixing half-dry, half-soaked.

Treyaksh stared.
“…What are you doing?”

Aarvik took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, then nodded. “Balance.”

Avyaan lost it. “This kid is actually insane.”

“Absolute menace,” Treyaksh agreed, shaking his head, but there was a smile tugging at his lips anyway.

By the time the empty bowls ,  and the clock
“So… are you guys staying tonight?”

Avyaan froze mid-scroll, lifted his head slowly, eyes widening in fake horror.
“Oh wow,” he said, placing a dramatic hand on his chest. “Look at him. Throwing us out of the house. Such bad manners, Trishu. Truly disappointing.”

Aarvik didn’t even look up from his notebook, pen still moving as if the numbers mattered more than the conversation, before he added calmly,
“Aunty She said I’m not allowed to go back today. So I’m staying. Avyaan ka pata nahi.”

Avyaan snapped his head toward him instantly.
“Don’t act oversmart,” he warned, pointing a finger. “One slap and your attitude will reset. I’m staying too.”

Treyaksh laughed under his breath, “Fine,” he said, surrendering. “Stay. As if you’d ever leave anyway.”

The room slowly settled . Treyaksh flopped back onto the bed, phone in hand, scrolling through reels mindlessly, his thumb moving automatically .

On the other side, Avyaan sat cross-legged, focused on his phone, a mischievous grin slowly spreading across his face.
“What are you doing now?” Treyaksh asked without looking.

Avyaan snorted. “Important work.”

Treyaksh glanced at him sideways and raised an eyebrow. “Why are you smiling like that , then ?” 

Avyaan didn’t look up, his fingers still flying across the screen. “Mind your business,” he muttered, then added proudly, “I’ve set ChatGPT to talk like my girlfriend.”

Aarvik finally looked up from his maths book, unimpressed. “You’re lonely,” he said flatly, then went back to solving an equation.

Avyaan scoffed. “At least my girlfriend replies on time.”

Treyaksh laughed quietly and shook his head, letting them be, while Avyaan’s phone buzzed again .

Avyaan: hey
ChatGPT: you’re late. i was wondering if you forgot about me .

Avyaan let out a small laugh under his breath and rolled onto his side.

Avyaan: arrey nahi yaar, was busy
ChatGPT: busy… or ignoring me on purpose? be honest.

He glanced briefly at Treyaksh and Aarvik, then typed again, slower this time.

Avyaan: okay fine, i was eating pani gujha
ChatGPT: without telling me?? rude. you owe me one now.

Avyaan’s smile widened -

Avyaan: i’ll get you extra filling next time
ChatGPT: hmm… forgiven. but only because you’re cute sometimes.

“Sometimes?” Avyaan whispered out loud,, earning a confused look from Treyaksh.

Avyaan: sometimes??
ChatGPT: don’t push it. you know you talk too much.

He buried his face into the pillow for a second, then typed again.

Avyaan: at least i make you laugh
ChatGPT: true. life would be boring without your nonsense.

Avyaan: say you miss me
ChatGPT: i miss you… but don’t get overconfident.

Avyaan smirked, confidence instantly restored.

Avyaan: too late -
ChatGPT: go sleep, idiot. you have school tomorrow.

“Wow,” Avyaan muttered, shaking his head. “Even my fake girlfriend nags.”

Avyaan: wow, you sound like my mom
ChatGPT: because someone has to care when you don’t.

 Treyaksh, still scrolling, glanced at him and smirked. “Done flirting?

“Go to hell,” Avyaan murmured under his breath ..

Treyaksh , his thumb moving mindlessly until a reel suddenly caught his attention - curiosity had a habit of winning over him when he was tired.

Shipping my followers—follow to get yours.

He frowned slightly, watching the entire reel , without thinking , tapped the follow button and clicked onto the account, scrolling through posts of strangers being paired together with dramatic music and exaggerated captions, shaking his head softly as if silently judging the chaos of the internet while still being completely drawn into it.

Before he could scroll any further, a loud, familiar voice echoed up the staircase from downstairs, “Trishu, Avyaan, Aarvik—kids, come down for dinner!”

The effect was immediate and almost hilarious.

Aarvik snapped his notebook shut , and Avyaan practically launched himself off the bed, both of them bolting toward the door as if they’d been released from prison after a life sentence.

Treyaksh followed behind them at a calmer pace, switching off the light, turning the fan off carefully, and pulling the door shut ( kaisae nai kreyga mummy ki daat thodin khani hai ladlae ko 👽.)

The dining area was already full when he entered, every uncle seated comfortably, leaning back slightly, eyes instinctively drifting toward the kitchen as if waiting for their wives to appear beside them, and Treyaksh paused for just a second,  before muttering under his breath .

“All these love-struck men,” he whispered to himself, lips twitching.

That was when he spotted his chachi approaching from the kitchen, carrying a plate piled high with hot, freshly made paratha’s and without hesitation—because hesitation had never really been his thing—he rushed toward her dramatically.

“Chachiiiiiii,” he exclaimed, stretching the word with exaggerated concern, “why are you troubling your soft, delicate hands like this? Your Trishu is alive and well, you know. Sit next to me, please, I’ll do all the work.”

Before his chachi could even respond properly, Kapil uncle shot up from his chair, eyes wide and mock-angry.

“Stop flirting with my wife, you menace,” he snapped, pointing a finger at Treyaksh. “Go find a wife of your own. Mine is only mine.”

The room erupted in quiet laughter, but Kapil uncle wasn’t done, turning immediately toward the head of the table where Treyaksh’s grandfather sat, calm and dignified as ever.

“Dad jii, look at him,” Kapil uncle complained dramatically. “Your grandson is harassing my poor wife.”

Treyaksh’s grandfather cleared his throat , just enough to demand attention .

Before anyone could say anything else 

Avyaan, already seated and grinning like he lived for chaos, chimed in innocently, “Chachu, treyaksh , one day he’ll actually run away with chachi.”

The room went silent for half a second.

Then—

“Good idea,” Treyaksh said thoughtfully, nodding. “Not bad at all—”

“Not happening!” Kapil uncle yelled at the same time, while kanika aunt burst out laughing, shaking her head as she placed the rotis down .

Manav and Harshit, who had been quietly observing the whole exchange, finally couldn’t hold themselves back anymore.

“Bhaiya, Papa,” Manav protested loudly , “you don’t even let us sit next to Mom properly.”

“Yes!” Harshit added dramatically, nodding so hard his hair bounced. “The moment we try, you come and stand in between like a wall.”

That was all the invitation Treyaksh needed.

“Because she’s my jaan. Obviously.”

The room went still for half a second.

“You little menace,” Kapil snapped without missing a beat, before suddenly pulling Kankika into his arms from behind, wrapping himself around her possessively as if she might disappear if he let go for even a second. He buried his face into the crook of her neck shamelessly, planting soft, kisses there while she tried to elbow him away.

“Kapil!” Kankika hissed,. “Have some shame at least. Everyone is right here watching you behave like an idiot!”

Treyaksh slapped his palm to his forehead in pure theatrical despair. “Exactly, chachu! Where is your dignity?” He peeked through his fingers, then added in an offended tone, “And baby -

Kapil placed another kiss to Kankika’s cheek like he was doing it on purpose now. “Baby, don’t listen to this nonsense,” he murmured sweetly, then turned his head slightly toward Treyaksh, eyes narrowing in mock warning. “And you—don’t you dare call her baby again. She’s mine. Only mine. Remember that.”

“Chachi, are you seeing this?” Treyaksh burst out laughing, pointing at Kapil like he had just exposed a national crime. “Look at this over-possessive, jealous husband of yours.  jalkhukda.” He shook his head. “He doesn’t even let me pyaar you properly.”

Kapil smirked, arms still locked around Kanika like iron. “And why do you need to love her, haan?” he shot back lazily. “You think I’ll let you ruin my romance? Ab toh is ghar mein apni legally wedded wife ke saath romance bhi  nahi kar sakta.”

Treyaksh gasped, deeply offended. “Romance?” He looked around the table dramatically. “In front of Dada ji, Dadi ji, everyone? Chachu, honestly, no wonder you already have three kids.”

Kapil’s chest puffed up with pride at that. “If it were up to me, ,” he said smugly, “I’d form an entire cricket team with her.” He leaned closer to Kankika’s ear, whispering loudly on purpose, “Imagine eleven little Kiddo’s running around the Haveli. Fun, right?”

The smack Kankika delivered to his chest .

“Kapil!” she scolded, face flushed, trying not to laugh. “Stop embarrassing me. Cricket team, my foot. Handle the three you already have first.”

Treyaksh gagged dramatically, clutching his chest as if physically wounded. “Chiiii, chachu! I did not need to hear this.” He covered his ears. “This is trauma for life. Is ghar kae saraea mard  tharki hi hai meri pyaari pyaari jaan’o kao pareshan krtae rehtae , i’m leaving. I’ll go sit at my place before I need therapy.”

Kapil tightened his arms around her just a little more and leaned down to whisper softly into her ear, his voice suddenly calmer, warmer.
“See? No matter how much he talks, at the end of the day…”

He smiled to himself.

“You’re still mine.”

After a while , The dining hall had slowly transformed —men teasing their wives while secretly feeding them, hands brushing, laughter spilling without effort; darlings Treyaksh ki mummy , chachi , tayiji pretending to be annoyed yet smiling anyway. 

Little children running around with plates half-full, fingers messy, laughing as they tried to steal from each other’s bowls.

And then there was the Gen Z corner.

Treyaksh, Avyaan, Aarvik, and Rohan sat together , plates mostly untouched now, eyes wandering around the room, watching the couples with a mix of amusement .

Treyaksh leaned back in his chair, chewing slowly, eyes following his grandparents for a moment before he smirked and said , “Dadu, look at you. Bal safaed hogaye par tab bhi badae rangin ho ,  Dadi kae pallu sae bandhae ho purae kae purae.”

The room paused for half a second.

His grandfather slowly turned his head, fixing Treyaksh with a sharp, “You should get tied too,” he said. “I didn’t stop you . At your age. We were already married back then.” He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. “Go on, get married, stay tied to someone’s pallu too. Though honestly, who would even give their daughter to you?”

Avyaan exploded into laughter, nearly choking. “YAAEYYY—savage Dadu!”

Treyaksh froze, genuinely offended now, hand flying to his chest. “Pura parivaar tharki hai mera ” he muttered dramatically, shaking his head .

Around them, no one paid much attention anymore everyone was too busy in their own little worlds. 

And maybe that’s why Treyaksh picked up his phone again, thumb scrolling lazily through reels, letting the noise fade into background comfort.

Then suddenly—

A notification popped up.

“Umm… hi. I wanted to tell you something.”

He stared at the screen for a second longer than necessary. It was her. The girl from that shipping account. 

He slid into the DMs, fingers hesitating for a brief moment before typing,
“Sure.”

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

“You’ve been liking my reels repeatedly,” her message finally read. “It’s affecting my reach. Could you stop doing that?”

For a second, Treyaksh just blinked.

Before he could even process how to reply 

Out of absolutely nowhere, Avyaan changed the song in speaker and blasted, at full volume—

“SAARI UMAR MAIN JOKER —”

Everyone looked at  Avyaan . Especially him.

Treyaksh snapped his head toward Avyaan, eyes wide with horror. Muh food dunga is akal kae andhae ka mai , he thought violently.

( I totally support you avyaan bhai👽)

Avyaan, said , “Sorry… wrong timing.”

He quickly switched the song, lowering the volume, soft music replacing the disaster—
“Khaali khaali dil…”

Aarvik glanced up from his plate, eyebrow raised. “One day,” he said calmly, “you’re going to get beaten up.”

Avyaan grinned. “Worth it.”

Treyaksh looked back down at his phone, the DM still open, the room buzzing again like nothing had happened .

He typed slowly, fingers hovering for a second longer than necessary, as if choosing each word carefully even though it was such a simple reply.

“Oh. I didn’t realize that. I’ll stop. Sorry.”

The message sent , her reply came back—too fast .

“It’s okay. Just make sure you don’t do it again.”

 He typed back  .

“Hmm… sure.”

He was about to close the chat when another notification popped up, name flashing again .

“Wanna join a random GC? Gonna make it today.”

He typed back simply .

“Okay. Add me.”