"You make me want to be someone better."

- The Proposal

~ A A R O H I ~

A week had passed since the arrival of mimi and that tiny menace of a cat had already taken a toll over entire family.

The problem with adopting a cat in the Oberoi Mansion wasn't the cat.

It was the family reaction to the cat.

Mimi had officially been declared a "temporary resident" by Dadi, which in Oberoi language meant she was one step away from getting her own nameplate on the gate.

The house had officially lost control.

Not in a dangerous way.

In a cat has taken governance way.

Mimi now had:

1.a sleeping corner in every room

2.three food bowls (apparently "variety matters")

3.and emotional authority over my husband. Worst part?

Everyone was participating.

...

The room smelled faintly like rain and vanilla.

Soft music played from Advik's laptop somewhere in the background while warm yellow fairy lights glowed around the room lazily.

And right in the middle of the bed,

Mimi was committing crimes again.

"She's eating the charger."

I looked up from where I sat cross-legged near the pillows wearing my pajama pants and an oversized tshirt.

Sure enough, the tiny demon had the corner of Advik's charger wire inside her mouth like she paid electricity bills here.

"MIMI!"

She immediately sprinted away. Of course. I lunged after her across the mattress while laughing helplessly.

"Come here, you tiny thief.."

Mimi escaped straight toward Advik.

Again. The traitor.

Advik sat leaning against the headboard wearing black sweatpants and a grey tshirt , one sleeve pushed slightly up his arm while he casually caught Mimi mid-run with one hand.

Like this happened daily now.

Which honestly...it did.

"She likes me more," he said smugly.

"She likes toxic people then."

"I am stable. Not toxic"

Yes you aren't. Not even the tiniest bit.

Meanwhile Mimi climbed into his lap proudly before rolling onto her back for attention.



And the idiot, who claimed he "didn't care much about pets" immediately started scratching her tiny stomach gently.

I narrowed my eyes. "You're obsessed with your own daughter."

"She's tolerable sometimes."

"She owns your soul."

"She bites and scratches me daily."

"And still you baby talk her."

"I do not baby talk."

Right then, his voice dropped an octave softer. As he brought mimi near his face. "Mimi's mumma is so cute, right baby ??"

Mimi meowed in response.

I gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD."

Advik looked entirely unashamed.

Mimi purred loudly. "See?" he said calmly. "She appreciates good parenting."

"You are embarrassing."

"And yet you're staring."

My face warmed instantly. Because unfortunately he was right.

I HAD been staring. Not at Mimi either.

At him. At the way his messy hair kept falling into his eyes. At the sleepy softness on his face. At the way his large hands looked ridiculously gentle holding something so tiny.

Dangerous.

His eyes lifted slowly toward mine now.

And immediately, that smug look appeared. "What are you looking at?" he asked lazily.

"Nothing."

"Hm." He absolutely did not believe me.

Then, without breaking eye contact,

he patted the empty space beside him lightly. "Wanna sit?"

My brain stopped functioning.

"What?"

"Idhar aao."

(Come here)

I stared at him suspiciously.

"You're planning something."

"I'm literally sitting."

"You are suspicious"

A laugh escaped him softly.

Then suddenly, before I could prepare myself, his hand wrapped around my waist.

I squeaked.

And the next second, he effortlessly pulled me across the bed directly onto his lap.

"ADVIK..!!!"

Mimi jumped slightly before settling happily against both of us like this was the correct family arrangement.

Meanwhile I froze completely.

Because now, I was sitting sideways on his lap. One of his arms loosely around my waist. My back partly against his chest. And the idiot looked FAR too pleased about it.

"You blush very fast," he murmured near my ear.

My entire soul combusted instantly.

"I am not blushing."

"Really?" His voice dropped lower.

"Mimi's mumma looks very pink to me."

I glared weakly while trying not to notice how close his face was. "You're imagining things."

"Haan?" He leaned even closer purposely.

I could literally feel his breath near my ear now. Dangerous man.

Then softly, with full criminal intent, he whispered, "You look like strawberry milkshake."

My face became even hotter. "Oh my God."

He actually laughed quietly. "Mhm. Exactly this color."

"Stop talking."

"Why?" he murmured innocently. "You're cute."

"You are rude."

"I don't like jokes"

"I don't like you"

Lie. Lier me. Big lies.

He smirked instead of being offended.

"Yet you married me" he retorted.

"In my defence" I thought for a moment "That was purely out of damage control"

He smiled. "Good... damage control"

Mimi suddenly climbed onto my lap and stretched dramatically between us.

Traitorous little cupid.

I tried focusing on the cat instead of the fact that Advik's arm was still around my waist.

Warm.

Steady.

Comfortable.

Way too comfortable. Then the idiot casually rested his chin near my shoulder. I stopped breathing again.

Meanwhile he continued petting Mimi calmly like he wasn't actively destroying my nervous system.

"You know," he murmured softly beside my ear, "Mimi likes when her parents get along."

"She also likes chewing wires."

"She's intelligent."

"She's manipulative."

"She learned from her mumma."

I turned instantly in offense.

And BIG mistake. Because our faces were suddenly way too close now.

Close enough for me to notice the tiny scar near his jaw. Close enough to feel his quiet breath. Close enough for my heart to completely lose dignity.

His eyes flicked toward my lips for half a second.

Then back to my eyes.

And the smug idiot smiled slowly.

"Red again," he whispered.

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

"You're impossible."

"But you're still sitting here."

The way he said it, so calm.

Like he already knew I wouldn't move.

And honestly? I don't plan either.

Because , being this close to him had started feeling natural.

Like maybe...I already belonged here too.

"You fit perfectly against me" he said casually. My eyes lift up to meet his.

Annoying man with annoying vocabulary.

His grey eyes met mine , as his hold onto my waist tightend just slightly.

I was actively fighting for my life.

Because Advik Oberoi had apparently decided embarrassment was his personal hobby tonight.

Dangerous enough already.

But then there was that mole just beneath his lower lip.

And unfortunately, my eyes kept drifting there. Again. And again. And apparently,

the shameless man noticed.

His smirk appeared slowly.

"What are you staring at?" he murmured softly.

"Nothing."

"Hm." Liar detector activated immediately.

Then suddenly, his fingers tilted my chin upward gently. My breath caught.

"Do you know that theory?" he asked lazily.

"What theory?"

"That wherever we have moles..." His grey eyes stayed fixed on mine. "...our past life lover kissed us there."

My heart immediately forgot how to function. I KNEW that theory.

Of course I did.

But naturally, I pretended not to.

"Oh?" I said weakly. "Really?"

"Haan."

The idiot looked entirely too entertained already. Then slowly, his fingers brushed lightly near my temple.

"There's one here."

My pulse skipped instantly.

"And here..." His thumb moved lower.

Near my jaw. I stopped breathing.

Then his gaze shifted toward the tiny mole near my eye. Grey eyes darker now.

Quieter. Like he was studying me.

My entire face felt warm.

"Advik..."

"What?" he asked innocently.

YOU KNOW WHAT.

But the menace continued anyway.

"There's one below your nose too."

I covered my face immediately.

"Oh my God."

He laughed softly under his breath before catching my wrist gently.

"No hiding from me wifyy."

"You are insane."

"You're blushing."

"I am not."

"Mimi's mumma is becoming pink again."

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

His fingers brushed slowly near the tiny mole below my lip now.

And unfortunately, the look in his eyes made my heartbeat genuinely unstable.

"You have too many moles," he murmured quietly.

"That sounds rude."

"it is not"

I swallowed nervously. Then his gaze dropped lower. Toward my neck.

"There too," he said softly.

My breath hitched immediately.

Because now his fingers had brushed lightly against the side of my neck and-

"Oh my God," I whispered weakly.

The idiot looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"You're VERY red now."

"Whose fault is that?"

"Hm..." he pretended thinking. "Probably genetics."

I hit his shoulder instantly.

He laughed quietly before intertwining his fingers with mine suddenly.

Then paused near my ring finger. His fingers fidgeted with my engagement ring.

Grey eyes flicking toward the tiny mole there. Silence .

Then softly, he murmured,

"I wonder how many moles you'll have in your next birth now."

I blinked. "What?"

A slow smirk appeared on his face.

Then the shameless man pointed lightly toward himself.

"Because in this birth..." he whispered near my ear deliberately, "...I'm in charge of those moles."

My soul LEFT my body. "ADVIK!"

He actually grinned. Completely unashamed.

Meanwhile I could physically feel my face burning now. "Why are you like this?"

"You started staring first."

"I was NOT staring."

"You were looking at my lips for five minutes."

I froze. The idiot's smirk widened immediately. "Caught."

"I hate you."

"No you don't." His voice had gone quieter now.

Then suddenly, the bedroom door swung open dramatically.

"BHAI-" Adheera stopped mid-sentence.

Silence. Absolute silence.

Because unfortunately, the situation looked TERRIBLE.

Me sitting on Advik's lap. His arm around my waist. Our fingers intertwined.

My face completely red.

And the criminal himself still leaning way too close to me.

Adheera's eyes widened slowly.

Then.."Ohhhhhhhhh my GOD."

I immediately tried getting up.

Big mistake.

Because Advik casually tightened his arm around my waist and pulled me back again without even looking away from his sister.

"Relax," he muttered lazily.

RELAX?

ADHEERA LOOKED READY TO FILE A REPORT.

Meanwhile that menace physically dropped onto the bed laughing.

"Bhai!" she gasped dramatically. "You are FLIRTING."

"No," I answered immediately.

"Yes," Advik replied calmly.

I stared at him in horror. The traitor shrugged. "She was blushing first."

"YOU CAUSED IT."

"Haan but still."

Adheera pointed directly at my face.

"Aarohi bhabhi literally looks pink."

"he compared me to strawberry milkshake," I accused immediately.

Adheera looked at her brother slowly.

"You're disgusting."

"Thank you."

"BHAI!" Adheera screamed laughing. "THAT IS INSANE."

Meanwhile Advik looked completely relaxed while petting sleepy Mimi with one hand. "She liked it."

"I DID NOT."

His grey eyes slid toward me lazily.

"You're still sitting here." His gaze dropped to our intertwined hands "and claiming you didn't like my flirting??"

I genuinely considered jumping off the balcony.

"Mimi's siblings are going to arrive sooner then expected " Adheera smirked while casually, very casually petting mimi.

(Amen Adheera!!)

I went red. Advik looked at me with wide eyes. Then finally I glared at Adheera .

"Your brother is annoying."

Adheera nodded immediately.

"Extremely."

Then I whispered to him ,"your sibling has very wrong timing"

Advik spoke casually. "Technically Your sibling now"

I blinked. "She is YOUR sibling."

"No," he corrected smoothly. "After marriage she became your sibling too."

"That makes no sense."

"Read terms and conditions properly Mrs Advik"

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"You genuinely speak like a corporate lawyer."

"And yet you married me."

"That was accidental."

"Now permanent."

The idiot said it so casually too.

Meanwhile Adheera looked one second away from emotional collapse.

Then suddenly she gasped.

"OH RIGHT. IMPORTANT MEETING."

"What meeting?" I asked suspiciously.

"Girls-only emergency meeting in Sneha bhabhi's room."

Immediate fear entered my body.

"...why?"

"Confidential female business."

"That sounds suspicious."

"It should."

I finally escaped Advik's lap successfully this time. Barely. And unfortunately, the moment I stood up, his hand brushed lightly against my waist once more before letting go.

Warm.

Lingering.

Then softly, just to make things worse

he murmured near my ear,

"Careful, strawberry milkshake."

My face burned AGAIN.

Adheera physically folded laughing while dragging me toward the door.

And as I looked back once, I found him already watching me.

Grey eyes amused.

Mole beneath his lips visible under the warm light.

Mimi asleep lazily against his chest.

And that stupid soft smirk still resting on his face, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

.

.

.

.

.

The girls' night started because Adheera got bored of troubling her brothers. And mostly because she and Adesh had nearly started World War Three over Formula 1 versus Hiphop music.

So naturally, she barged into Sneha bhabhi's room along with me under the pretense of "girls night" carrying three tubs of ice cream, one face mask packet, and absolutely no shame.

"I've been exiled," she announced dramatically. "Move aside."

Sneha looked up from the bed instantly laughing. "What did you do now?"

"I spoke facts. Men are emotionally weak."

"YOU threw popcorn at Adesh!!!"

"He threw first."

"Because you called Virat Kohli overrated."

"He needs to grow up"

I couldn't stop laughing from the couch.

Adheera immediately pointed toward me triumphantly.

"See? Aarohi bhabhi supports women's rights."

"I support peace actually."

"Wrong family for that."

Valid. The room itself felt strangely comforting tonight.

Soft yellow lamps glowed warmly against cream walls while rain tapped lightly against the balcony windows outside.

Sneha sat cross-legged on the bed wearing oversized pajamas now, looking far softer than the polished version of her everyone usually saw downstairs.

Pregnancy had changed the atmosphere around her completely.

She looked cuter, her skin glowed.

And maybe for the first time since arriving in this house...being alone with her didn't feel awkward .

At least not painfully awkward.

Adheera climbed onto the bed dramatically beside Sneha before shoving a bowl toward me.

"Emergency sugar intake."

"Why emergency?" I asked.

"Because this family is trauma inducing."

Sneha snorted into her juice instantly.

Then suddenly Adheera gasped.

"Oh my God wait." She looked between us suspiciously. "You both are being civil now."

Sneha blinked innocently.

"We were always civil."

"Nahi." Adheera narrowed her eyes. "There was tension."

"There wasn't."

"There absolutely was." She pointed dramatically between us. "Like Star Plus serial energy."

My face heated immediately.

Sneha looked equally embarrassed now.

"Adheera..."

"What?!" she defended herself instantly. "I notice things. I am intelligent."

"You blackmail Adesh for everything."

" negotiation skills."

Honestly impossible girl.

But somehow...the laughter came easier .

And slowly, something inside me loosened too.

Sneha adjusted her pillow slightly against the headboard now before looking toward me quietly.

"You know..." she started softly, "I think both of us tried too hard initially."

The honesty surprised me slightly.

She smiled faintly.

"We were both uncomfortable."

I stayed quiet. Because she wasn't wrong.

Maybe somewhere underneath everything...we had both carried guilt that never fully belonged to either of us.

Sneha looked down at her hands briefly.

"For what it's worth..." she spoke carefully now, "I never wanted you to feel unwanted because of me."

That hit somewhere unexpectedly deep.

"I know," I admitted softly.

I did know now.

Because after living inside this family long enough, I had finally realized something important. Nothing about the situation had been simple for any of us.

Not me. Not Sneha. Not even Aditya.

Life had simply exploded in everyone's hands simultaneously.

Adheera immediately looked bored now.

"Oh God. Mature communication. Disgusting."

Sneha threw a pillow at her.

She caught it dramatically.

"Violence against younger sister. Witnessed."

I laughed properly this time.

And somehow that seemed to make Sneha relax too.

"I can't believe everyone around me is becoming emotionally stable. Horrifying environment." Adheera said .

"You are literally the least stable person in this mansion," Sneha informed her.

"Proudly." Then her eyes lit up suddenly.

"Oh wait."

"No." Sneha sighed instantly.

"We should prank the boys."

I immediately laughed.

"Nope." Sneha announced.

We talked for sometime more , then Sneha shared smiling "Aditya thinks it's a girl" while slowly touching her stomach.

I cooed. Cute.

"Yah we need more girls in this house" Adheera added. "I will name her"

"We already have a name " Sneha revealed further.

"What!??" I asked

"Spill!!" Adheera added

"Secret " Sneha smirked triumphantly.

"Traitors "

Adheera immediately scooted closer to Sneha with pure betrayal on her face.

"This is discrimination. I am the bua. I deserve constitutional rights."

"You deserve silence," Sneha replied calmly.

"Absolutely not." She pointed accusingly at the baby bump. "Tiny human, blink twice if you want cool names."

I laughed while Sneha shook her head fondly. "You will know eventually."

After few more talks about this and that and finally taking off the skincare masks,

"I want pani puri."

Sneha said softly.

But it was 12:47 am now.

And the second those words left her mouth, Adheera sat upright like someone had activated emergency alarms inside her soul.

I started laughing instantly. "Now?"

Sneha looked personally offended.

"You think pregnancy cravings follow timing?"

"Fair enough."

Adheera grabbed her phone dramatically. "Operation Golgappa begins immediately."

Sneha looked emotional already.

"This is why you're my favorite Oberoi'"

"I KNOW."

Five minutes later, the three of us were sneaking downstairs like untrained criminals. In pajamas .

Which would've worked better if Adheera wasn't whispering at full volume every three seconds.

"Walk slowly!"

"I AM."

"Why are these stairs so loud?"

Sneha was laughing behind us while carefully holding the railing.

The mansion downstairs was quiet now.

Dark hallways. Soft golden night lamps.

Rain tapping gently outside the glass windows.Honestly...it felt peaceful.

Just girls sneaking around for pani puri at one in the morning.

Adheera pushed open the kitchen door dramatically.

"Ladies. We ride or die."

"Shh!! Everybody is sleeping!!"

"Sorry sorry."

I rolled my eyes smiling before opening the freezer.

Frozen puris. Ice cubes. Mint chutney.

Half-cut lemons.Sneha looked like she might cry from happiness.

Then suddenly...

"Kya ho raha hai yahan?"

All three of us froze. I turned instantly.

(What is happening here???)

Advik stood at the kitchen entrance wearing black track pants and a plain grey t-shirt, hair messy from sleep, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Behind him stood Adityd holding a water bottle lazily.And beside him..Adesh.

Half asleep. Entirely confused.

Silence. Then Adheera pointed at Sneha immediately.

"Pregnant woman . Priority"

Sneha gasped. "Excuse me?!"

Aditya crossed his arms.

"Raat ke ek baje tum log kitchen mein kya kar rahe ho?"

(What are you doing in kitchen at 1 am in morning??)

Sneha lifted her chin proudly.

"Mujhe pani puri khani thi."

(I wanted to eat panipuri)

Then Aditya sighed heavily.

"Mujhe laga robbery ho rahi hai."

(I thought their was a robbery going on)

Adesh squinted toward the counter.

"...Frozen pani puri?"

"Budget restrictions," Adheera informed him sadly.

"Pajama Gang" Adesh said.

Advik's eyes moved toward me now.

"Tum bhi involved ho?"

(You are also involved??)

I defended myself immediately.

"I was manipulated."

"Jhooth," Adheera whispered dramatically.

(Lie)

Sneha pointed toward the counter.

"Anyway. Ab help karo."

(Anyway. Now help)

Aditya blinked. "Main?"

(Me??)

"Haan husband ho."

(Yes . You are husband)

"Ye konsa law hai?"

(Which law is it???)

"Pregnancy constitution."

Adesh burst out laughing instantly while Advik quietly shook his head smiling.

And somehow...

Ten minutes later all six of us stood crowded inside the kitchen making pani puri together at one in the morning.

Complete chaos.

Adheera handled flavored water while singing old Bollywood songs loudly and incorrectly.

Adesh kept stealing puris every thirty seconds.

"BAND KAR CHORI!" Adheera barked hitting on his arm.

(Stop the theft)

"Quality testing kar raha hoon!" Adesh whinced.

(I am quality testing)

"Tu bandar hai." Adheera retorted.

(You are a monkey)

Meanwhile Aditya stood seriously preparing potato filling like a Michelin chef. Sneha watched him fondly from the counter.

"Awww."

He looked up suspiciously. "Kya?"

(What)

"Tum kitne sincere ho."

(You are so sincere)

"Humara bachcha mujhe aadhi raat ko majdoor bana raha hai."

(Our child is making me a labourer at 1 in the morning)

"Language."

Adesh laughed harder.

"Shaadi truly humbles men."

(Marriage truly humbles men)

"Especially Oberoi men," Adheera added wisely.

"Tujhe bahut bolne ki bimari hai." Advik snapped.

(You speak too much)

"Proudly."

I moved toward the kitchen island quietly arranging puris onto plates while trying not to laugh at the ongoing argument. Then suddenly another bowl appeared beside mine.

Advik.

He placed chilled pani beside me casually before starting to mix it again.

For a few seconds we worked quietly beside each other while chaos exploded around us.

"Tumne actually help karne ka decision kaise liya?" I asked softly.

(How did you actually decide to help us?)

He glanced sideways.

"Mujhe laga tum log kitchen ko tehes nehes kar doge."

(I thought you will destroy the kitchen)

"Rude."

"Sachhi."

(Really)

I tried glaring at him but failed because he was already smirking slightly.

The sleeves of his sweatshirt were pushed up now while he worked, revealing strong forearms dusted lightly with water droplets from the ice.

Annoyingly attractive man.

"You've become judgmental recently," I muttered.

"You've become dramatic recently."

"I am peaceful."

Behind us Adheera yelled "LIAR."

I pointed toward her.

"Ignore background noise."

A quiet laugh escaped him. Then he suddenly held out a spoon toward me.

"Taste."

I blinked.

"What?"

"Pani. Sneha said extra spicy."

I leaned slightly closer automatically before tasting from the spoon.

Instant regret. My eyes widened.

"Oh my God."

"Hmm?" He looked suspiciously calm.

"It's spicy!"

"Tumhari tolerance weak hai."

(You have weak spice tolerance)

"My tolerance is fine."

"Then eat another."

Before I could react, he casually held another pani puri toward me.

Like this was normal. Like my heart wasn't suddenly malfunctioning.

I stared at him.

"You enjoy embarrassing me?"

"A little."

And obviously, Adheera noticed instantly.

"OH MY GOD AGAIN?" she shrieked dramatically.

I nearly died.

"Can you stop screaming?!"

"No because this is free entertainment."

Adesh immediately joined her.

"Kitchen romance at one AM. Wah."

"It's literally pani puri!"

"Exactly," he nodded seriously. "True love."

I wanted the floor to open. Meanwhile Advik looked entirely unbothered.

The idiot looked amused.

I grabbed the pani puri from his hand aggressively.

"Happy?"

"Very."

Then karma attacked instantly.

The spicy water burst the second I bit into it, splashing onto my hand and top.

Adheera collapsed laughing immediately.

"Elegant queen."

"Oh shut up."

Still muttering, I hurried toward the sink while everyone laughed behind me.

But before I could properly wash my hands, Another hand reached forward quietly beside mine.

Advik adjusted the tap because the water pressure was too high before handing me a kitchen towel.

Simple gesture.

But somehow...

My chest tightened unexpectedly. Because moments with him were never loud.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

I nodded.

"Yeah."

Then.."Advik bhai." Adesh's voice broke through dramatically.

"Haan?"

"You're staring."

I almost combusted.

Advik finally looked away calmly.

"Tu apna kaam kar."

(Mind your own buisness)

Adesh looked delighted with himself.

Meanwhile Sneha leaned toward Adheera whispering loudly...

"Chemistry dekh rahe ho?"

(Are you seeing the chemistry??)

"Clearly."

"I CAN STILL HEAR BOTH OF YOU!" I yelled.

"No privacy in joint family," Adheera informed me wisely.

The next hour dissolved into complete nonsense after that.

Extra spicy pani.

Arguments over sweet chutney ratios.

Sneha demanding another plate.

Aditya refusing because "doctor ne oily mana kiya hai."

Sneha threatening divorce.

Adesh stealing again.

Adheera recording blackmail videos.

And somewhere between all the chaos...

I looked around quietly. At this ridiculous family.

At Sneha glowing with happiness.

At Aditya pretending annoyance while making her another plate anyway.

At Adesh and Adheera fighting over sev packets.

At Advik beside me occasionally smiling whenever our eyes met.

One in the morning. Frozen pani puri.

Absolute madness.

_____

____

Advik baby hesitate a little.

The mole

theory which you explained was far better than the one I was taught in chemistry 😅

Also Is Mimi the new Cupid of our Aaru-Adu couple???

Vote and comment because Mimi dearest is on a mission to unite her parents.