"I don't want to sound foolish, but remember love is what brought you here. And if you've trusted love this far, don't panic now. Trust it all the way."
-If Beale Street Could Talk
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~A D V I K ~
The game drags on longer than expected.
One by one, they win.
Adheera is the first to win, dramatically throwing her cards away smirking "good luck and Naive cousins."
Raj follows, then Prachi after a heated argument about whether a move was "legal" or not.
Soon enough, I start losing interest.
Riya stretches, yawning. "I'm out. Tum log khelo."
(You guys play)
"Same," Adesh mutters, already lying back on the mattress.
Mayank stays the longest,just to annoy me.
But even he folds eventually. Playing his winning move, giving me a block card.
"Bas bhai," he groans, dropping his cards. "Aap dono ka Chalu rakho. Main interfere nahi karta."
(Huh.. you both keep playing now. I won't interfere)
A few whistles. A few teasing "ooohs."
Dhruv is recording us, then pulling back.
Then silence.
Not complete silence.
Just... softer.
Adheera and Prachi along with Riya are making some reels .
Mayank and Adesh watch us play, with thier constant commentary.
Mayank takes sides with Aarohi, cheering her on.
Adesh, stays loyal to me.
Raj and Dhruv are playing Free fire and screaming 'Booyah' like a mad man.
Now it's just
Me.
And her.
I glance at the pile.
Then at her.
Aarohi is still sitting straight, cards clutched in her hand like this is a matter of national importance.
Her brows are slightly furrowed. Lips pressed together.
Focused.
Cute.
I shouldn't be noticing that.
"You're taking this very seriously," I say.
She doesn't look up. "I don't like losing."
"Hmm."
I place a card down. Slow.
Deliberate.
Her eyes flick up for a second.
Then back to the pile.
She plays immediately.
Fast.
Defensive.
Interesting.
We go back and forth.
No distractions now.
No noise.
Just cards hitting the floor between us.
Each move is sharper than the last.
She's good.
Better than I expected.
But she's also predictable when she's focused.
She taps her thumb against the edge of her cards when she's thinking.
Switches them around when she's unsure.
And right now
she's doing both.
"UNO," I say calmly, placing my second last card down.
Her head snaps up.
"What ........how?"
Too late.
Her eyes narrow slightly.
"Oh, you're cheating."
I raise a brow. "Accusing me already?"
"You were looking at my cards earlier."
"I tried," I correct. "You didn't let me."
She huffs, sitting up straighter. "You're not winning this."
There it is.
That fire.
She plays a +2.
Of course.
I don't react. Just pick up the cards.
Let her think she has control.
Her shoulders relax slightly.
Small mistake.
I watch her.
Really watch her this time.
The way her fingers tighten around her cards.
The way her gaze flickers, not just to the pile, but to me.
Quick.
Unintentional.
She looks away almost immediately.
But I saw it.
"Your turn," she says.
A little too quickly.
A little too aware..
I place my card down.
Not the winning one.
Not yet.
Let it stretch.
Let it build.
"UNO," she says suddenly, dropping her second last card.
Now it's my turn to look up.
She meets my gaze this time.
Holds it.
There's something different there now.
Not just competition.
Not just teasing.
Something... quieter.
Heavier.
One card each.
The pile between us.
The fairy lights flicker slightly above, casting shifting shadows across her face.
For a second, neither of us moves.
"Scared?" she asks.
Soft.
But challenging.
I let out a quiet huff of amusement.
"Of you?".
She doesn't smile.
"Of losing."
I tilt my head slightly.
Then lean forward.
Just a little.
Close enough to lower my voice.
"Or maybe," I say, eyes not leaving hers,
"you're the one who doesn't like what happens if you win."
Her breath catches.
Just slightly.
But I notice.
She breaks eye contact first.
Looks down.
"Play your card, Advik."
Back to formal.
Back to safe.
I sit back.
Let the moment stretch for half a second longer.
Then
I place the card down.
"Done. UNO" I say, the block card stays on top of hers, then I again play, placing the last card down.
A blue +2
Silence.
She stares at the pile.
Then at me.
Processing.
"You....!!"
A pause.
"You let me think I was winning."
I shrug lightly. "You were playing well."
"That's not an answer."
"That's the only one you're getting."
She exhales sharply, dropping her last card beside her.
Not played.
Just... given up.
"I was close," she mutters.
"Very."
Another pause. Quieter now.
The game is over.
But neither of us moves.
"Next time," she says, finally looking at me again,
"I'll win."
There's determination there.
But something softer underneath.
Something that lingers.
I hold her gaze.
For a second too long.
"Next time," I repeat, slower,
"we won't be playing games "
The boys are sprawled across the mattress. Sleeping.
The cold air hits them . As Raj slings his arms over Mayank and his legs over Adesh.
Mouth wide open.
Adheera, Prachi and Riya left us alone . And went downstairs earlier. Talking about watching a new movie.
Dhruv is wrapped like a burrito. Snoring soundly.
T
he cards stay where they are.
Scattered between us.
Pointless now.
Still neither of us gets up.
The terrace feels different.
Same lights. Same night.
But quieter.
Too quiet.
She starts gathering the cards, one by one.
Slow.
Avoiding my eyes.
I watch her for a moment.
Then,
"Leave it." She pauses.
Looks up.
"What?"
"I'll do it later."
A small frown forms between her brows. "You don't have to-"
"I know." A beat. "Still."
She lets go of the cards.
Lets them fall back into the pile.
Silence again.
Not uncomfortable.
Just... full.
A soft breeze passes through, brushing a few loose strands of her hair across her face.
Instinctively, she reaches up to tuck them behind her ear.
Her fingers linger there for a second longer than needed.
Nervous habit.
I couldn't help but stare when she does that. It's so natural and tender.
I wish I could do that.
"You were serious," I say.
She stiffens slightly.
"About what?"
I don't answer immediately.
Just look at her.
Let her connect it.
Her gaze drops.
Of course it does.
"With your mother," I add, quieter now.
"I heard."
That does it.
Her fingers tighten in her lap.
For a second, I think she'll deflect.
Say something casual.
Brush it off.
She doesn't.
"I didn't know you were there," she says.
"I wasn't supposed to be."
A faint exhale leaves her.
Not relief. Not quite.
"And?" I ask.
Simple.Direct. Dangerous.
Her head lifts. Slowly. Eyes meeting mine. There's hesitation there. But not fear.
"I meant it."
No stutter. No joke. No escape.
Something in my chest shifts again.
Worse this time.
"You shouldn't say things like that so easily," I say.
My tone is calm.
Too calm.
A flicker of something crosses her face.
Hurt?
No.
Not exactly.
"I didn't say it easily," she replies.
Soft. But firm. I hold her gaze.
She doesn't look away this time.
"You think I don't understand what I'm saying?" she continues.
"I do."
A pause.
"Maybe more than you think."
That lands.
I lean back slightly, studying her.
Trying to figure out when she stopped being just...manageable. Just a responsibility.
"You're sure?" I ask.
It comes out lower than I intended.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Again.
There's something dangerous about certainty.
About someone looking at you like they've already decided.
"You don't even know me properly," I say.
A defense. A weak one. I know it.
A small, almost amused breath escapes her.
"I live with you."
"That's not the same."
"Then tell me what is."
That,
I don't have an answer for.
For a moment, neither of us speaks.
The distance between us suddenly feels... noticeable.
Too noticeable.
She shifts slightly.
Closer.
Not much.
Just enough.
"Why does it bother you?" she asks.
Quiet.
Careful.
"It doesn't."
Too quick.
She raises a brow.
Doesn't call it out.
But she knows.
"You're overthinking," she says.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then,
"Or maybe you're just not used to someone choosing you without a condition."
That hits harder than it should.
My jaw tightens.
"Everyone has conditions."
"Not everything is a deal, Advik."
I let out a quiet, humorless huff.
"That's where you're wrong."
"And that's where you hide," she counters.
I look at her properly now.
Not casually.
Not teasingly.
Really look.
She doesn't back down.
"You don't let things matter," she adds, softer now. "Because if they matter... they can hurt."
Something shifts.
Too close.
Too accurate.
I lean forward before I can stop myself.
Close enough now that the distance is,
noticeable.
"And you?" I ask quietly.
"You're not afraid of that?"
Her breath falters.
Just slightly.
"I am," she admits.
Honest.
Too honest.
"Then why....?"
"Because some things are worth it."
That
doesn't leave room to argue.
"I don't do these things....the whole commitments and all".
"I know" she smiles," but you are doing a great job taking care of me"
"I am still learning"
"You are already good at it"
"I am not Aditya" I confess, feeling slightly nervous. Maybe it's my anxiety that is taking a toll over me.
"He was perfect. Someone you chose. "
"Advik" her hands cup my face.
Warm. Soft.
Stroking my cheek lightly with her thumb. I feel my throat go dry from the mere touch.
I gulp down Big.
"There are many Aditya's in the world" she says, still stroking my cheek . Her scent is driving me mad.
I look in those dark eyes of hers.
"But ....there is only one Advik"
My heart does something weird. The urge to just shut her down right now is so dominant over me.
I wish I could silence her before she says something overly cheesy which might make me lose all the control I have over me.
The air feels heavier now.
Thicker.
Neither of us moves.
But neither of us pulls away either.
My gaze drops.
Just for a second.
To her lips.
A mistake.
Because when I look back up
she's already noticed.
And now
she's not looking away.
A single second stretches.
Then another.
A voice cuts through.
"Arey! Tum dono yahin ho?" Adheera.
(Argh...you both are still here..?)
Of course.
We pull back almost instantly.
The moment, gone.
Just like that.
Aarohi clears her throat, shifting away.
"Ha... bas... game khatam ho gaya."
(Yah...just now the game ended)
"Game?" Adheera smirks, looking between us. "Sure."
I stand up. Composed.
Like nothing happened.
Picking up a shawl from the side table and with
out warning I wrap the warm wool around her.
"Go sleep," I say, brushing past her.
Too conflicted
Adheera walks behind me .
"Papa is calling you.. something about the French deal "
I nod, thankful for the sudden interruption.
I don't look back at her, at my wife.
I just quickly rushed downstairs.
But as I walk away
that word follows again.
Persistent.
Unwanted.
Happy.
With me.
And for the first time
I'm not sure that's a problem.
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