Strings of Us

The next morning began with an odd stillness in the Singh house.

The usual clinking of utensils in the kitchen was softer, the birds outside oddly quiet, as if the whole house was waiting for something to happen.

Shaurya was already dressed in a navy blue suit, hair perfectly styled, as he adjusted his wristwatch while glancing toward the hallway.

Mehul, on the other hand, was fumbling with the buttons of a simple kurta Shaurya had chosen for him-a soft sky-blue one that brought out the warmth in his brown eyes.

"Yeh button toh lag hi nahi raha, Mai hi pagal hu," Mehul muttered under his breath, brows furrowed.

Shaurya appeared behind him like a shadow. "Tum pagal nahi ho. Button hai. Waqt lagega thoda."

Mehul turned with a shy smile. "Aap hamesha pyaar se bolte ho..."

Shaurya smirked. "Sirf tumse."

That one line sent a blush crawling across Mehul's ears and cheeks.

But just as the air between them grew warm with unspoken things, a sudden voice echoed from the hallway.

"Shauryaa!!!"

Both men jumped.

Mehul instinctively stepped back, bumping into the couch, while Shaurya's eyes widened with slight irritation.

Before either could speak, the whirlwind known as Maasi Ji entered the living room.

Dressed in a bright pink saree, chunky gold jewelry and a matching oversized bag slung over her shoulder, she looked like drama personified.

"Shaurya, mera baccha!" she cried, engulfing him in a tight hug. "Main London se direct yahan aayi hoon. Aur tumhari shadi ki khabar mujhe third cousin se milti hai? Haye Ram!"

Shaurya's jaw clenched. "Mausi Ji..."

"And yeh kaun hai?" Her gaze landed on Mehul, eyes narrowing.

Mehul looked like a deer caught in headlights. "N-namaste..."

Shaurya stepped between them. "Yeh Mehul hai. Meri... patni."

"Patni?" Her voice raised an octave. "Yeh ladka? Tumne shaadi ki? Isse?"

Shaurya's voice dropped cold. "Yes."

Mehul took a step back, the insult not lost on him. His hands curled into fists.

But before he could even think of walking away, Shaurya caught his wrist gently.

"Maasi, agar aap disrespect karne aayi hai toh jaa sakti hain. Mehul is not to be questioned."

A sharp silence followed.

Mehul stared at Shaurya's hand holding his wrist-not tight, not forceful, but grounding.

Maasi blinked in disbelief. "Tum itna badal gaye ho, Shaurya."

"Main badla nahi hoon. Bas ab kisi aur ka bhi khayal rakhta hoon," he said, voice steady.

Hearing this, Mausi ji huffed and walked away.

Later that day, Mehul sat quietly in the car, watching Mumbai pass by through the window.

Shaurya had insisted they go out to get some fresh air after the Maasi drama.

They stopped at a quiet café, where Mehul played with the straw in his milkshake while Shaurya spoke on a call.

But Mehul's thoughts were elsewhere.

"Main aapke liye bojh toh nahi?" he asked suddenly when Shaurya ended the call.

Shaurya frowned. "Kya?"

"Woh... Mausi ji ko dekh ke laga... aapke world mein main nahi fit hota."

Shaurya leaned forward, eyes darkening. "Mujhe farak nahi padta duniya kya sochti hai. Tum fit ho mere world mein, bas tum samajhne mein thoda waqt le rahe ho."

Mehul met his eyes. "Aap hamesha itne ache kyu hote ho mere saath?"

Shaurya paused for a second.

Then, almost too softly, he said, "Kyunki tumhare hone se main thoda zyada zindagi mehsoos karta hoon."

The words hit harder than Mehul expected.

He looked away, suddenly too aware of his own heartbeat.

That evening, Mehul stood on the terrace alone, watching the skyline turn pink with sunset. The wind ruffled his kurta as he clutched his phone, reading a message Shaurya had sent while in a late meeting.

> "Mujhe umeed hai tumhe aaj ka din pasand aaya hoga. Tumhare bina ghar bohot khaali lagta hai."

Mehul re-read it thrice.

Then typed a reply.

> "Aapke saath har jagah ghar jaisa lagta hai."

And just as he hit send, a soft chuckle came from behind him.

He turned-and saw Shaurya standing there, his phone in hand, reading the message with the faintest of smiles.

Mehul's eyes widened. "Aap... kab aaye?"

Shaurya walked forward, gently taking Mehul's hand. "Tumhara message padhne ke baad. Bas... ruk nahi paya."

There was silence. Then Mehul whispered, "Main darr gaya tha aaj..."

Shaurya pulled him closer. "Main hoon na. Tum sirf pyaar mehsoos karo... dar nahi."

Mehul looked up into those warm, unwavering eyes.

"Pyaar?" he whispered.

Shaurya didn't say anything.

He simply placed Mehul's hand against his chest-where his heart thudded loud and sure.

And Mehul finally smiled... because maybe, just maybe, he was starting to believe that this cold-hearted man had a heart that beat just for him.
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To be Continued...

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