Monday.

Government holiday.

Peaceful.

Calm.

Aaradhya was asleep.

Important detail.

Because downstairs?

The entire friend group had entered Rajvanshi Mansion.

With files.

With laptops.

With snacks.

With chaos.

Apparently the group project meeting location had been changed.

To Rajvanshi Mansion.

WITHOUT informing Aaradhya.

Few moments later...

Kanika: “We thought it would be fun.”

Mahima: “And bigger space.”

Ryan: “And free food.”

Arhaan (already holding chips): “Correct decision.”

Avik looked at Yuvaan.

“Tu ready hai?”

Yuvaan blinked. “For what?”

“Bas.”

Suspicious energy.

Meanwhile Upstairs

Aaradhya was peacefully sleeping in Ahaan's oversized soft cotton night t-shirt that reached mid-thigh and comfy shorts. Hair messy. Sleepy face. Zero idea about world events.

Aanya knocked.

“Beta, neeche aa jao. Friends aaye hain.”

Half asleep, she mumbled,

“Haan…”

She didn’t process the words.

Friends.

Are.

Here.

She walked downstairs.

Still sleepy.

Still unaware.

And—

She entered the living room.

And froze.

Because.

EVERYONE.

Was there.

The entire friend group.

Her brothers.

Her uncles.

Her father.

And.

Yuvaan.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Aaradhya stood there in Ahaan's oversized soft cotton sleep t-shirt and shorts, messy hair, sleepy eyes.

Aaradhya’s Outfit

She blinked once.

Twice.

Her brain loaded.

Friends.

Are.

Here.

Yuvaan.

Is.

Here.

Fully awake now.

Arhaan dropped a samosa.

Avik stood up so fast his chair made a loud screech.

Aayansh froze mid-sip.

Ahaan’s eyes widened.

Aditya slowly removed his glasses.

Dad Abhay turned his head like slow-motion villain reveal.

Dadu adjusted his hearing aid.

Yuvaan?

Yuvaan forgot how to breathe.

Not in a creepy way.

Just… brain.exe stopped working.

She looked soft. Fresh out of sleep. Hair messy. No makeup. Completely natural.

He swallowed.

Arhaan finally found his voice.

“WHAT.”

Aaradhya looked down at herself.

Then back up.

Then processed everything.

And SCREAMED.

“WHY IS EVERYONE HERE?!”

Kanika waved happily.

“Surprise project meeting!”

Mahima: “Government holiday productive banate hain!”

Ryan: “Nice t-shirt.”

Avik removed his jacket immediately and threw it at her.

“UP.”

She caught it mid-air.

Aayansh pointed dramatically.

“Room.”

Ahaan nodded once.

“Change.”

Abhay cleared his throat.

“Beta…”

Dadu shook his head.

“Yeh kya fashion hai subah subah.”

She stared at them.

“I WAS SLEEPING!”

Arhaan covered his eyes with one hand but kept peeking.

“Warning dena chahiye tha!”

Yuvaan turned his face away respectfully but his ears were red.

Very red.

Aditya spoke calmly.

“Five minutes. Proper clothes.”

She glared at everyone.

“YOU PEOPLE ENTERED MY HOUSE.”

Avik: “Irrelevant.”

She stomped upstairs.

Arhaan dramatically yelled,

“Trauma ho gaya mujhe.”

Avik smacked him.

“Chup.”

Third Floor – Operation Settle Down

The whole gang shifted to the third-floor living room — the floor of the younger siblings.

Rooms lined up:

Avik
Advik
Arhaan
And at the end — Aaradhya.

Files opened.

Laptops out.

Snacks everywhere.

Arhaan already opened a second packet of chips.

“Project se pehle energy.”

Aayansh rolled his eyes.

Meanwhile—

Yuvaan kept glancing at the staircase.

Trying to look normal.

Failing slightly.

Avik noticed.

“Water chahiye?”

Yuvaan blinked.

“Haan… actually.”

There were literally water bottles on the table.

But he stood up anyway.

“I’ll just… get from kitchen.”

Advik narrowed his eyes.

“Kitchen neeche hai.”

Yuvaan smiled calmly.

“Haan.”

And walked toward the corridor.

In the opposite direction of the stairs.

Straight toward the bedrooms.

Arhaan gasped dramatically.

“Movement detected.”

Advik stood up.

“Main dekhta hoon—”

Arhaan grabbed him.

“Relax. Bathroom bhi udhar hai.”

Aaradhya’s Room

She had just changed into her comfy jeans and white t-shirt.

Aaradhya’s Outfit

Hair brushed. Still slightly messy.

She was muttering to herself.

“Unbelievable. Without telling me…”

Knock.

Soft knock.

She froze.

“…Kaun?”

“Main.”

Her heart skipped.

She opened the door slightly.

Yuvaan stood there.

Trying to look normal.

Failing slightly.

She crossed her arms.

“Water kitchen mein hota hai.”

He smiled.

“Pata hai.”

“Phir?”

“Bas dekhna tha… tum okay ho?”

Her cheeks turned pink instantly.

“I WAS SLEEPING.”

“I noticed.”

She glared.

“Don’t.”

He stepped a little closer.

Not touching.

Just close enough that she could feel the warmth.

“You look cute when you’re angry.”

Her brain malfunctioned.

“Go back.”

“Arhaan mujhe scan kar raha tha.”

She laughed softly.

“He scans everyone.”

There was a small pause.

Just eye contact.

Quiet.

Soft.

He leaned slightly closer, voice lower.

“Waise… morning look bhi nice tha.”

Her face went completely red.

“SHUT UP.”

He chuckled.

Before she could react, he gently tapped her forehead with his fingers.

“Relax.”

Then softly — very softly — kissed her forehead.

Quick.

Sweet.

Respectful.

She froze.

Completely.

Footsteps.

Loud footsteps.

Arhaan’s voice from far:

“WATER MILA?!”

They both jumped apart.

Yuvaan whispered urgently,

“Main gaya.”

He walked out calmly.

Aaradhya stood there holding her forehead like it had been blessed.

Back in the Living Room

Yuvaan returned with…

An empty glass.

Arhaan narrowed his eyes.

“Water?”

“Mil gaya.”

“Glass khaali kyun hai?”

“Pee liya.”

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Aaradhya entered 30 seconds later.

All brothers turned.

Simultaneously.

Scanning outfit.

Approved.

Reluctantly.

She avoided eye contact with Yuvaan.

Which made it worse.

Because every time their eyes accidentally met—

She turned red.

Arhaan noticed immediately.

“Why is she red?”

Advik leaned forward.

“AC on hai.”

Arhaan: “Temperature normal.”

Advik: “Suspicious.”

She snapped,

“PROJECT KARO.”

Five minutes into working—

Arhaan: “Mujhe bhook lagi hai.”

“You JUST ate.”

“Brain kaam kar raha hai.”

Kanika threw a pen at him.

Mahima: “Focus!”

Arhaan dramatically lay down on the carpet.

“Main sacrifice ho raha hoon.”

Advik: “Uth.”

Meanwhile—

Yuvaan and Aaradhya accidentally reached for the same notebook.

Hands brushed.

She pulled back instantly.

Arhaan from across the room:

“HAATH.”

Everyone turned.

“WHAT?”

“Bas bola.”

Ryan rubbed his forehead.

“We need therapy.”

Advik whispered to Arhaan,

“Garden conversation part 2 hua kya?”

Arhaan gasped.

“I KNEW IT.”

Aaradhya stood up.

“MAIN GOING TO GET WATER.”

Arhaan and Advik said together:

“WE’LL COME.”

She screamed.

“NO!”

Yuvaan tried not to laugh.

By evening—

Project half done.

Snacks finished.

Arhaan asleep on the couch holding a chips packet.

Advik arguing with Ryan.

Kanika laughing.

And in the middle—

Aaradhya and Yuvaan sitting opposite each other.

Eye contact.

Small smile.

Nothing dramatic.

Just soft.

Arhaan suddenly woke up.

Pointed dramatically.

“Phir se eye contact!”

She threw a cushion at him.

Entire room burst into laughter.

And that’s how the Government Holiday turned into: near heart attacks, failed surveillance, suspicious water trips, and one very red Aaradhya.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hi Lovlies 🤍

I hope you guys enjoyed this chaotic chapter.

Let me know your thoughts and your favourite moments I would love to read your comments.

— Author