"I have loved her even when I hated her... only married couples will understand that one."

- Crazy Stupid Love

~ A D V I K ~

By the time Aarohi finally fell asleep, my entire chest still felt too tight.

She had cried herself into exhaustion eventually.

Like she had spent so long teaching herself not to become "too much" for people that even her heartbreak tried to stay polite.

That thought alone made something vicious twist inside me.

I adjusted the blanket higher around her carefully before sitting beside her for another minute.

She looked peaceful asleep. Small beneath the oversized duvet. One hand tucked beneath her cheek while soft city light spilled across her face through the curtains.

I brushed a loose strand of hair away from her forehead unconsciously.

Then immediately stood up.

Nope. Absolutely not. We were not emotionally spiraling at 1 AM.

I needed air.

Which explained why ten minutes later I found myself on the terrace with whiskey in hand and unresolved emotional damage in my blood.

Unfortunately,

Aditya was already there.

Of course he was.

The man stood near the railing staring into the city skyline .

I don't really understand what's so spectacular about the Mumbai skyline when the Nainital has it better.

I walked closer slowly before extending the second glass toward him. "Take it."

He accepted it. "Thought you stopped sharing alcohol."

"I did," I replied calmly. "But Dadi threatened me not to murder you within twenty four hours of your arrival...."

Aditya snorted .

Silence settled for a moment after that.

Then he glanced at me. "You hate me that much?"

I looked at him blankly. "You disappeared from your own wedding."

"Fair."

"I attended my own wedding looking Tanned due to Costa Rican sun " I sighed heavily "I look like shit in wedding pictures"

"Next time , I will let you know beforehand" he said with an awkward smile.

I rolled my eyes ,"There won't be next time...I am not considering second marriage"

"Why...?"

I took a deep breath.

Dumbass.

"I barely tolerate Aarohi...That tiny menace of a woman takes 80% of the bed...bad for my spine..."

But yet I don't complain.

Advik Oberoi, you have changed.

"I know right...Sneha is the same" he shares as we both take a sip simultaneously.

Two very frustrated husbands .

"You ruined my bachelor life."

I say then.

That made him pause . "...What?"

I pointed aggressively toward him

"Do you understand the kind of lifestyle I had before your nonsense?"

"Oh God," he muttered under his breath.

"No genuinely," I continued passionately. "I was thriving."

"You were immature and unstable."

"I was adventurous."

"You got banned from a casino in Monaco."

"It was a misunderstanding."

"You got a Latin tattoo at 20 "

"It was motivational"

Aditya laughed under his breath. Traitor.

Meanwhile I continued spilling my suffering. "I had freedom. Peace. Women. irresponsibility."

"You changed girlfriends every week."

"I was exploring options."

"You were conducting auditions."

"Exactly! Female species are dangerous"

Aditya shook his head slowly. "You were a complete disaster."

"No," I corrected proudly. "I was a luxurious and handsome disaster."

That idiot smirked slightly into his drink before saying casually "You're happier now though."

I narrowed my eyes immediately. "Don't start."

"You smile more."

"I was born with a smiley face" I smiled again "See , I got dimples!!" I say pointing out on my cheek

"That is a sperm deformity "

Mic drop.

I took a sip of whiskey. "You know what your issue is?" I muttered . "You returned home spiritually healed and emotionally mature. It's disturbing."

Aditya chuckled softly.

"I know I messed up."

The air shifted instantly.

Because suddenly this stopped being funny.

I leaned back against the railing quietly. "You didn't just mess up."

He nodded once slowly. "I know."

.

"No," I said sharper now. "I don't think you do."

Aditya finally looked at me properly.

And immediately all the anger I'd been joking through for months rose again.

"You humiliated her."

His jaw tightened.

"She stood there alone while society ripped her apart publicly."

"I know."

"You vanished while she carried all the shame."

"I KNOW."

I was being rude, I knew . But however,

Good. Let it hurt.

Because I wasn't done.

"She still apologizes when she cries."

That hit him instantly.

I saw it in his face. The guilt. The horror.

"She still thinks people leave because she isn't enough," I continued quieter now. "Do you understand what that does to someone?"

Aditya looked sick suddenly.

And something inside me snapped.

Before I even thought properly, my fist connected with his jaw.

Hard.

Aditya stumbled backward instantly. "What the hell, Advik?!"

"That," I informed him calmly while flexing my hand, "was for giving her trauma."

Another punch on his face.

"You psycho!" he groaned.

"You humiliated my wife."

"Oh now suddenly you're the husband of the year?"

Another punch, before slinging my arm around his neck and almost choking him

"This is because you embarrassed the entire family"

That did it.

Aditya broke free and lunged toward me immediately ,suddenly we were fully shoving each other around the terrace like idiots.

"You punched me!"

"You destroyed my peaceful life!"

"You were a manwhore"

Ahh that accusation hit the spot.

"I was enjoying my Youth"

"That's not the point!"

Aditya shoved me against the outdoor couch. I pushed him right back.

Honestly? Years of brotherhood had already prepared us for violence.

"You were impossible before marriage!" Aditya snapped.

"And whose fault is that?!"

"You dumped your girlfriend on valentine's day!"

"I forgot the date " I said in my defence.

"YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE"

"and you despite being so responsible left a girl at the altar. Very mature Mr.Aditya Oberoi"

Aditya physically looked wounded despite himself. I looked offended

Then suddenly

"EXCUSE ME?!"

Both of us froze.

Adesh stood near the terrace entrance holding a bowl of chips looking deeply betrayed..

He stared between us dramatically. "...You guys started a group fight without inviting me?"

Aditya still had my collar half-grabbed. I was threatening him with a cushion.

Adesh looked heartbroken. "Wow."

"It's past your bedtime!!!" Aditya Accused weakly.

"I am 26!!! I DONT HAVE A BEDTIME " then he walked towards us , clapping dramatically like we had won Oscar "You didn't invite me!!"

"This isn't a scheduled event."

"IT SHOULD'VE BEEN."

I started laughing. Aditya groaned into his hands.

Adesh marched toward us furiously before throwing the chip bowl onto the table. "Move."

I blinked. "What?"

"If we're fighting as brothers, I participate!!"

"This isn't WWE."

"Too late."

Then the idiot grabbed a cushion and smacked both of us aggressively.

Aditya looked stunned. I looked betrayed.

Adesh pointed dramatically. "One brother abandons his wedding. The other acts like emotionally constipated Giraffe Twenty four seven. Frankly both of you deserve violence."

"That's fair," Aditya admitted tiredly.

"Very fair," I sighed..

Then for the next five minutes...

the three Oberoi brothers physically fought each other using expensive cushions while the entire mansion slept peacefully downstairs.

Honestly?

Childish. Humiliating. Therapeutic.

And somewhere in the middle of Adesh screaming "THIS IS FOR TRAUMATIZING DADI" while attacking both of us.

I laughed for real.

First time since coming home.

After 20 mins, we finally had a truce.

'CATCHING UP ON LIFE' Adesh declared as we settled on the terrace couch.

Spreading our arms like we were having a podcast.

I made the drinks, Expensive whiskey and Ice cubes in the crystal glasses. Our old ritual. Resumed after months.

While Aditya held an ice pack near his jaw. He had a split lip and a bruise on his jaw.

I felt proud of myself.

Adesh adjusted the blanket over his body.

Then, footsteps.

"Yes ba-" Adheera's words slurred mid call as she processed us three already being present on the terrace.

She quicky disconnects the call.

Late.

Adesh had already lunged towards her. Trying to grab her phone .

"Who was it...?" Aditya asked instinctively.

"Who the hell are you talking at 1 am...?" I questioned.

"Bestie!!" She said quickly while Adesh was able to get her phone.

Her face went pale. Eyes wide as she tried to grab her phone back .

Too late .

"Ohh it says...'Darling ❤️❤️❤️' with three red hearts" Adesh grinned showing us . "This is so cringe ... I am unsubscribing from this drama" he made an judgemental face.

Adheera quickly jumps in to grab her phone.

"Explain!!!" I growled.

10 mins later, Adheera sat in between us. Sipping her own whisky.

"We have been dating for 6 months.." she added "and mom knows "

I had heard the 'mom knows ' part for 6th time since the start of the conversation.

"Adheera Oberoi has discovered men...cheers" Adesh clinked his glass while I and Aditya gave him a side eye.

"You are getting distracted" I said.

"Breakup" Aditya added .

"Waah bhai...aap kare toh rasleela, main karun toh character dheela" She clapped once , then looking at the sky

"Hayee bhagwan... hypocrisy ki bhi seema hoti hai!!"

(Wow brothers...if you guys do affair, it's romantic. If I do it, I am characterless..?

Ohh God. Hypocrisy must have some limits)

Adesh laughed vigorously while I tried to stay focused. Like a mature elder brother should be. Instead, I could not hold my laugh.

(Tu kya gunda banega re Advik)

"You are too young!!" Aditya stayed attached to his ground.

"You had your first girlfriend at 13. So sit down" she narrowed her eyes at him.

He rolled his eyes before placing down the glass.

"Are you both serious??" Adesh asked "and you hid this from me... betrayal . I am the most trustworthy brother"

"He promised to take me to the next Armaan Malhotra concert " she happily said.

"Sister..." I looked at her fully "All men do is lie"

"Ohh exactly " she said calmly "includes you three"

"You are not getting it Adheera" Aditya lowered his glass .

"Ohh don't" She sighed " One brother disappears on his wedding" she points at Aditya.

"One brother used to change girlfriends every week in the name of socialising " She points at me.

I am physically wounded by the reminder of my own past.

"And the last one" she points at Adesh "poor baby ....no girl gives him bhaavvv"

(No girl gives him attention)

"Objection " Adesh raised his glass " I have many girls lines up for one chance ....but I am one woman man"

"Lier" Me , Aditya and Adheera sighed in unison.

"Basically all Oberoi sons are Red flags" Adheera declared.

Traitor. But accurate.

"You should support us" Aditya offered weakly .

"I pray for mental peace of my bhabhis" she blinked twice "Feminism "

I rolled my eyes. My sister was impossible.

Later on, as the conversations shifted...

Adheera took a sip of drink before coughing violently.

"Why do men like something like this!!" She complained ."this tastes like shit"

"Regrets. Emotional repression. Depression" Adesh pouted. "men have it hard"

I sighed softly. True.

"Guys you know about Madams Wattpad era..." Adesh announced mischievously looking at me and Aditya .

"Wait -" She choked "you were supposed to take that to grave!!!!" She smacked him on his shoulder.

Adesh grinned wickedly rubbing his arm

"She wrote some crazy stuff!!"

"You did what..!???" Aditya asked in disbelief.

"I told you to delete it!!" I said next.

"Hehehe" she Snickers "no regrets!!"

"Her username was -" Adheera literally launched herself on Adesh "dare you"

"DarkPrincess_Realism" Adesh chokes out.

Dead. Adesh was gone now.

"What did you write.. poetry..?" Aditya looked utterly confused.

"Mafia romance" I revealed "some hot Italian mafia with blue eyes who is ruthless and cold to everyone softens only to his secretary with family loans . Cliché"

Adheera looked mortified at that, facepalming herself . "Teenagers loved it" she sighed "I had a fanbase"

"200 followers" Adesh adds .

"It had 10k reads...." Adheera tried to argue "That was huge!!!"

"Yah yah yah" Adesh laughed " 'His Only Princess' something, dark romance shit"

"Ahh cringe" I looked disgusted

"Toxic" Aditya added.

"I am going to throw 4 of us from the terrace" Adheera warned.

"Nahh" Aditya argued "I am going to become a father. Not dying yet "

"Yah. This idiot is having kids" I mocked.

"I am going to tell that kid every embarrassing thing you have ever done" Adesh adds.

"Ohh yes!!" Adheera agrees "The one time he was caught making out in the supply closet"

"IT WAS CONFIDENTIAL!!!!" Aditya barked "who told you....?"

Everyone pointed at Adesh , the idiot just smirked "Also the time when dad found out about his 'tutoring sessions' "

"Yess yess that!!" I added, "And when he played Radha in school play!!"

"I WAS 10!!!" Aditya argued back.

"You looked beautiful... princess!!" Adheera batted her eyelashes.

"Ohh...we are exposing each other now" he smirked , then turned towards me.

Abort mission. Too late.

"This man" Aditya pointed at me "Dated three girls at the same time !!"

"I was 16!!"

"And very horny" Adesh sighs "Red flag "

"And He drank protein shakes for a week straight for muscles!!" Adheera reminds me of that painful phase.

"His social media bio said 'love is easy , but the king is busy' " Aditya added.

I was two seconds away from strangling everyone.

"He was caught sneaking inside the house at 4am" Adesh adds "partying!!"

"He was only 17!!" Adheera joins in.

"I was experimenting!!"

"Dad beat the shit out of him" Adheera laughs.

"My bones still hurt"

"The Ronaldo haircut." Adesh adds then.

The terrace fell silent.

I looked toward the sky immediately.

God help me.

Pick me up.

Aditya pointed at me . "OH MY GOD."

Adheera was laughing now. "He used hair gel like cement!!"

"It was 2014!" I barked defensively. "Everyone did it!"

"You wore chains," Adesh whispered horrified.

"Metal chains," Aditya repeated.

"With V-necks and skinny jeans" Adheera added.

"I WAS EXPRESSING MYSELF."

"You looked like a rejected MTV Roadies contestant."

"YOU PEOPLE ARE JEALOUS OF MY BEAUTY."

Nobody supported me. Fake love.

At this point I physically slid off the couch laughing.

"Ohh Dear Adesh" I pointed at him then .

"Who was Saniya again...?"

He groaned in frustration.

"Which chapter...?" Aditya asked confused.

"The girl rejected him 5 times" Adheera reveals.

"I was a loverboy" He argued.

"You had no self respect" I pointed out.

Meanwhile Adesh looked at me aggressively. "At least I wasn't dating three women simultaneously!"

"it's a rumour " I corrected immediately.

"ONE OF THEM SLAPPED YOU." Aditya blurts.

Silence. As I touched my cheek.

"She was toxic."

I tried to defend myself.

"You called her with someone else's name" Adesh pointed out again.

Then Adheera suddenly snapped her fingers. "Oh my God."

Bad sign.

She looked directly at me. "Aarohi bhabhi hasn't seen your old Facebook pictures yet."

The blood left my body.

"No."

Aditya looked interested "What pictures?"

"NO."

"The fedora era."

Dead silence.

Adesh whispered softly, "...There was a fedora?"

Adheera nodded slowly. "With leather jacket selfies."

Aditya physically slid off the couch laughing.

"DROP THE TOPIC," I barked.

"And one earring!" Adheera added violently.

"IT WAS FASHION."

"You looked like a backup dancer from an early Honey Singh music video."

Adesh was crying actual tears now. Aditya couldn't breathe. Even I started laughing despite myself because honestly? Yeah. I looked ridiculous back then.

"Chapri" Aditya whizzed.

"At least I grew taller than everyone" I took the last sip "And evolved into a very handsome man"

"Genetics," Adheera said dramatically, pointing at my face like I was a scientific case study.

Correct. Everybody said I looked exactly like my maternal grandfather.

Grey eyes. Sharp jaw. Annoyingly good hair.

A rare Oberoi mutation apparently.

"He has British heritage!" Aditya added immediately .

I sighed deeply. "My great-grandfather from Mom's side married an Irish woman."

"Unfair," Adheera complained instantly.

Honestly? She had a point.

Despite being my actual biological sister, she inherited everything from the Oberoi side of the family.

Dark eyes. Dark hair. Classic Indian features.

Meanwhile I looked like some Victorian man who accidentally entered corporate business.

Crazy how genetics worked.

Adesh pointed toward me accusingly. "This explains the superiority complex."

"I don't have a superiority complex."

"You admire yourself in the mirror."

"That is self-love." I say.

"That is narcissism."

"Thin line."

Aditya meanwhile was still staring at me thoughtfully. "You know what's worse?"

"What?"

"You genuinely used your eye color for flirting."

The terrace exploded again.

Adheera folded forward laughing. "OH MY GOD YES."

I looked offended. "Natural beauty is not manipulation."

Adheera wiped tears from her eyes dramatically. "This man survived purely on pretty privilege."

"Excuse me?" I placed hand over chest. "I also have a personality."

All three stared at me . Rude.

"Your personality is emotional constipation and expensive watches,"

Aditya informed calmly.

"Plus commitment issues," Adesh added.

"Plus gym addiction," Adheera contributed .

Fake siblings. Absolutely fake siblings.

I narrowed my eyes toward Adheera next. "At least I didn't write mafia stories where the male lead kidnaps girls ."

"That was FICTION."

"That man killed six people and owned pet panthers named 'leo' and 'bagheera' ."

"Women supported women back then."

"That man's name was Alessandro Dark Knight Valentino."

Aditya slowly lowered his whiskey glass. "...Dark Knight?"

Adesh collapsed sideways laughing.

"It was a different time!" Adheera yelled defensively.

"You made him say 'you belong to me, principessa.'"

"That line had 2k votes."

I stood up. "No. Jail...???"

"You are not understanding the female gaze."

"The female gaze needs therapy."

Meanwhile Adesh looked deeply disturbed. "You wrote eighty-seven chapters?"

"I was committed to storytelling."

"You failed m

ath twice during that phase."

"Art required sacrifice."

And somehow... somewhere between alcohol, old memories, and years of accumulated blackmail...

the four of us started laughing so hard none of us could breathe properly anymore.

The city lights blurred beyond the terrace.

Whiskey glasses sat abandoned on the table.

And for the first time in months...

The Oberoi siblings felt whole again.

Even if we were all disasters individually.

____

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WHICH ERA OF ADVIK OBEROI WAS THE FUNNIEST???

DID YOU ACTUALLY LAUGH AT ANY OF THE STUPID JOKES???

VOTE AND COMMENT DEAREST GENTLE READER!!!!!!!!?!

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