Here is the 2nd chapter of my book! I hope you'll love it.

Do atleast votes if you are reading it, and comments too.

Happy reading 💗

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More piya ghar aayo, Oo raam ji✨

The Sharma house was buzzing with chatter and laughter as everyone gathered around the dining table.

"Tulip tu niche aa rahii hai ya meri chappal upar ayegi!" Kavya Sharma, the self-appointed Home Minister of the house, called out to her daughter who was still hiding upstairs.

(Tulip, are you coming downstairs or should my slipper come upstairs?)

"Aa rahii hu na mumma!" Tulip called back immediately.

(Coming, Mumma!)

The moment the voices faded, Tulip looked down at the photograph resting in her hands.

A blush instantly crept onto her cheeks.

"Kab ayenge yarr aap... Mai pagal naa ho jaun wait karte karte!" she pouted, gently caressing the picture with her thumb.

(When will you come... I'm going to go insane waiting for you!)

Her gaze softened.

"Aapko pata hai? Maine to ab kaju ki katli bhi bana na Sikh liya hai! Lekin aap aa hii Nhii rahe!"

(You know? I've even learned how to make kaju katli now! But you're still not coming!)

She shifted comfortably in her chair, talking to the photograph as if the person inside could hear every word.

"Or Tension mat lijiye! Maine kitchen nahii udaya. Trishu kii help se banaya!" she added proudly with a giggle.

(And don't worry! I didn't blow up the kitchen. I made it with Trisha's help!)

A second later she paused.

"Aree haa, haa trishu ne bhii nahii udaya. Matlab mummy bhii thii sath mein!"

(Oh yes, yes. Trisha didn't blow it up either. Mom was there with us too!)

She laughed softly at her own joke before looking back at the photograph.

"Apke liye to chand bhii le aungi mai."

(I would even bring the moon for you.)

Her smile widened.

"Ye to sirf aapki favourite mithai hai!"

(This is only your favorite sweet.)

"TULIP?!" Kavya shouted again.

This time Tulip jumped from her chair.

"Ab mai jaati hu, nahii to aapki maybe-sasu maa mujhe maar degi!" she whispered dramatically to the photograph before carefully tucking it back inside one of her favorite novels.

(Now I should go, otherwise your maybe-mother-in-law will kill me!)

She quickly stood up and headed downstairs.

Her pastel kurti swayed behind her with every step, making her look almost weightless as she descended.

"Kaha reh gayii thii?" Shayan asked, lightly smacking the back of her head.

(Where were you stuck?)

"Ek thappad mein nachne lagega, hatt!" she shot back instantly, returning the smack.

(I'll slap you once and you'll start dancing. Move!)

"itni saj dhaj ke kaha Jaa rahii?" Kavya asked suspiciously.

(Where are you going all dressed up?)

"Ye makeup set try kar rahi thii."

(I was trying this new makeup set.)

The answer made both her parents chuckle.

Soon everyone settled around the dining table and began eating.

For a few peaceful minutes, only the sounds of conversation and cutlery filled the room.

Then Pranav suddenly looked around the table.

"Actually... Dhruv is coming back. This weekend."

The spoon in Tulip's hand froze.

Everything else faded.

The voices.

The food.

The room.

Everything.

Her heart skipped one beat.

Then another.

Then decided to run a marathon.

Butterflies exploded inside her stomach.

Heat rushed to her cheeks and neck.

She lowered her gaze immediately, terrified someone would notice the smile threatening to split her face in half.

Four years.

After four whole years...

He was finally coming home.

Across the table, Pranav exchanged a knowing glance with Kavya.

Kavya's lips twitched.

She knew.

Pranav knew too.

Parents always knew.

Meanwhile, Shayan looked completely confused.

"Usne MUJHE nahii bataya!" he exclaimed dramatically.

(He didn't tell ME!)

A gentle smack landed on his head.

"Tu uski biwi hai, jo wo tujhe batayega?" Kavya teased.

(Are you his wife that he'll tell you?)

Tulip immediately burst out laughing.

Pranav chuckled.

Shayan looked offended.

Kavya shook her head.

The dinner continued normally.

At least for everyone else.

For Tulip?

Nothing felt normal anymore.

The second she reached her room after dinner, she closed the door and immediately started dancing around.

"More piya ghar aayo, Oo raam jiii~"

She twirled around the room, singing loudly while her hair flew everywhere.

A giggle escaped her lips.

Then another.

And another.

She looked completely insane.

But she didn't care.

He was coming back.

HE WAS COMING BACK.

Rushing toward her bookshelf, she pulled out the novel and took his photograph out once again.

"YOU'RE COMING BACK?!"

She hugged the photograph tightly against her chest.

"I CAN'T BELIEVEEEEE!! AHHHHHH?!!!"

She shouted into her pillow before her family could decide she needed professional help.

Pulling the photograph away, she pointed a finger at it dramatically.

"Is baar to confess kar hii dungi, nahii to pagla hii jaungi aapke bina!"

(This time I WILL confess or I'll actually go insane without you!)

Then she narrowed her eyes.

"Or Mai kuch 'naa' yaa fir 'i will think' nahii sunna chahti, i want a PROPER 'yes' understood?"

(And I don't want any 'no' or 'I will think'. I want a proper 'yes', understood?)

The photograph, unfortunately, refused to answer.

"Hayeee! Ye weekend kab ayega!"

(When will this weekend come!)

Still smiling like an idiot, Tulip finally flopped onto her bed and hugged the photograph to her chest.

For the first time in years...

The wait finally had an end.

Across the city, the Khanna house was buzzing with an entirely different kind of excitement.

"Jab bhaiya ayenge to Mai apni nayii wali kurti pehnungi!!" Trisha announced excitedly while sitting cross-legged on the sofa.

(When Bhaiya comes back, I'm going to wear my new kurti!)

"Tujhe dekhne nahii aa raha wo, Apne Ghar aaram karne aa raha hai mera raja beta," Sanvi replied from the kitchen while stirring something in a bowl.

(He's not coming to see you. He's coming home to rest, my dear son!)

"Haa haa, ab bhaiya aa rahe hai to mai to paraya ho gaya," Shaurya's dramatic voice echoed from the dining area, making everyone laugh.

(Yeah, yeah. Now that Bhaiya is coming back, I've become the adopted child.)

"Tu to pehle se hii paraya hai, ek din shadi kar ke apne sasural chala jayega," Trisha said while pulling his cheek.

(You've always been the adopted one. One day you'll get married and leave for your in-laws' house anyway.)

"Hein?"

Shaurya stared at his sister in complete confusion, trying to understand how exactly she had managed to make him someone's daughter-in-law.

"Aapne to already kaju katli banana shuru kar diya, devii jii," Ranjeet remarked while peeking over Sanvi's shoulder at the kitchen counter.

(You've already started making his favorite sweet, Your Highness.)

"Haa to? Mera beta itne saalon baad aa raha hai!" Sanvi replied proudly.

(So what? My son is coming home after so many years!)

"Lekin wo to weekend mein aa rahe hai na mummy? Abhi to 3 din hai usme," Shaurya pointed out.

(But he's coming on the weekend, right? There are still three days left.)

"Tu nahii samjhega maa kii mamta ko," Sanvi said gently before tapping him on the head.

(You won't understand a mother's love.)

"Aree kya yarr! Mai chota hu to sab mujhe 'Tu nahii samjhega' wala taunt dete ho!" Shaurya complained dramatically.

(What is this! Just because I'm the youngest doesn't mean I don't understand anything!)

The entire family burst into laughter.

Even Ranjeet struggled to hide his smile.

Meanwhile, Shaurya sat there looking deeply betrayed by everyone he loved.

---

A while later, Trisha was sitting inside her bedroom.

The cheerful noise of the house had faded into the background.

Her attention remained fixed on one thing.

Her phone.

More specifically...

A certain phone number.

Her fingers hovered uncertainly above Shayan's contact.

She wanted to call him.

For no reason.

For every reason.

Maybe just to tell him Dhruv was coming back.

Maybe to hear his voice.

Maybe because she missed him.

She sighed dramatically.

Her gaze shifted toward a small box resting on her bedside table.

Slowly, she opened it.

Inside lay a pair of earrings.

The same earrings Shayan had bought for her years ago.

She had never worn them.

Not once.

She was terrified something might happen to them.

Instead, she kept them safely hidden inside her special box and occasionally stared at them like a lovesick idiot.

"Call Karu ya nahii aapko?" Trisha whispered to the earrings.

(Should I call you or not?)

She bit her lip.

"Kar hii deti hu, koi to topic mil hii jayega."

(I'll just call. I'll find some topic to talk about.)

Taking a deep breath, she moved her thumb toward the call button.

Before she could press it-

Her phone suddenly started vibrating.

Trisha nearly dropped it.

Her eyes widened.

The screen lit up.

Shayan baby😘

(A/N: Nibbi Trisha 😭🎀)

For a solid three seconds, Trisha forgot how breathing worked.

Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.

Her hands trembled.

The phone slipped from her grip and landed on the bed.

She stared at it.

Then stared some more.

As if it were a bomb that might explode any second.

Taking a deep breath, she quickly fixed her hair, smoothed her dress, and picked up the phone.

Then she accepted the call.

Slowly placing it against her ear.

"Hello-"

"YE DHRUV GHAR AA RAHA HAI?! MUJHE KON BATAYEGA?! Tumne nahii bataya, usne nahii bataya. Tum dono ne mujhe karaya kar diya hai! Samajh gaya hu mai!"

(DHRUV IS COMING HOME?! WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ME?! You didn't tell me, he didn't tell me! Both of you have officially abandoned me! I understand everything now!)

For a second, Trisha had to pull the phone away from her ear.

Just to make sure her eardrums were still alive.

At that moment, she genuinely wanted to forget the fact that she had loved this man for eight years and simply throw a slipper at him.

"Pagal hai kya? Mere kan!" she hissed.

(Are you insane? My ears!)

"Sorry sorry, very sorry devi jii. I was just very shocked after knowing that Dhruv's coming back!" he apologized immediately.

"Yeah-"

"Are you sure you're okay? I know I shouted too loudly, your ears? Can you hear properly?"

"It's ok-"

"See i know you're angry but please forgive me."

"But-"

"Why aren't you saying anything? Trishu, i know i was wrong but that doesn't mean you'll ignore me and-"

"ARE BOLNE DOGE TAB NA?!"

(Are you going to let me talk or not?!)

Silence.

"S-sorrry yarr...why are you getting angry-"

"GUSSA NAA HOUN TO KYA AARTI UTARUN?! Bolne ka mauka mat do or fir pucho 'Tum bol kyu Nhii rahi' are mauka diya bolne ka? Bole jaa rahe ho pagal jaise!"

(IF I DON'T GET ANGRY THEN WHAT SHOULD I DO, PERFORM YOUR AARTI?! First you don't let me speak, then you ask why I'm not talking! Did you even give me a chance to say anything? You just keep talking like a madman!)

On the other side of the call, Shayan pouted dramatically.

"Okay okay sorry!"

Trisha closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then another.

Then one more.

Just to remind herself that she loved him far too much to murder him.

For now.

And finally-

The two of them managed to have a normal conversation.

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Dhruv was sitting on his bunk, carefully folding his uniforms and placing them inside his duffel bag.

Everything was arranged perfectly.

As expected.

His clothes were folded.

Documents sorted.

Boots cleaned.

Life under control.

Then his phone rang.

The screen lit up.

✨ Biwi No.1 ✨

Dhruv stared at the contact name.

Then sighed.

Then accepted the call.

"Hello."

"EXCUSE ME?!"

Dhruv immediately pulled the phone away from his ear.

"YOU'RE COMING HOME?!"

"Yes."

"YES?!"

"Yes."

"Bas yes?!"

(Just yes?!)

Dhruv closed his eyes.

Here we go.

"Shayan."

"Nahi! Bilkul nahi! Mujhe jawab chahiye!"

(No! Absolutely not! I want answers!)

Dhruv pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Kis baat ka?"

(Answers about what?)

"Kis baat ka?!"

Shayan sounded personally betrayed.

"CHAAR SAAL BAAD GHAR AA RAHA HAI TU!"

(You're coming home after FOUR YEARS!)

"Hm."

"Aur mujhe kisi aur se pata chala?!" Shayan exclaimed like an betrayed wife.

(And I found out from someone else?!)

"Hm." Dhruv said with a nonchalant expression.

"Aur tu 'hm' kar raha hai?!" Shayan pouted.

(And you're saying 'hm'?!)

Dhruv calmly continued packing.

Across the city, Shayan was pacing around his room like an angry wife whose husband had forgotten an anniversary.

"Mujhe laga hum dost hai."

(I thought we were friends.)

"We are."

"Nahi." Shayan said quickly.

"Okay." Dhruv said, trying not to laugh.

"Nahi matlab nahi!"

(No means no!)

Dhruv's lips twitched.

"You sound dramatic."

"Dramatic?"

Shayan gasped.

"Dramatic?! Kavya mummy ne aaj mujhe gale lagaya aur bola, 'Beta, Dhruv aa raha hai.'"

(Kavya Mom hugged me today and said, 'Son, Dhruv is coming home.')

Dhruv smiled.

"Kya?"

(What?)

"Meri mummy."

(My mother.)

"Hamari mummy."

(Our mother.)

The smile on Dhruv's face widened.

"Shayan-"

"Nahi! Sanvi mummy meri bhi mummy hai."

(No! Kavya Mom is my mom too.)

"Fine."

"Thank you."

Finally satisfied, Shayan sat down.

Then-

"Acha sun."

(Okay listen.)

"Hm."

"Mere liye kya la raha hai?"

(What are you bringing for me?)

"Nothing."

The silence that followed was deadly.

"Dhruv." Shayan whined again.

"Hm."

"Maine teri behen ko bachpan mein cycle chalana sikhaya tha."

(I taught your sister how to ride a bicycle.)

"Hm."

"Maine tere ghar ki wiring theek karwayi thi."

(I got your house wiring fixed.)

"Hm."

"Maine teri mummy ke liye market se 17 baar samaan uthaya hai."

(I've carried groceries for your mother seventeen times.)

"Hm."

"Maine tere liye college mein ladai ki thi."

(I got into a fight for you in college.)

"Hm."

"Maine tere naam ka vrat rakha tha." He finally said with a shy smile.

(I fasted in your name.)

Dhruv finally laughed.

A real laugh.

"Jhooth." Dhruv said, the smile never fading.

(Liar.)

"Proof hai mere paas."

(I have proof.)

"Shut up."

"Tu shut up."

The two fell silent.

Comfortable silence.

The kind that only existed between people who had known each other for years.

Then Shayan suddenly spoke again.

"Waise..."

(By the way...)

"Hm?"

"I missed you, idiot."

For the first time, Dhruv stopped folding clothes.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"Me too."

There was silence.

Then-

"AWWWWWW."

Shayan screamed dramatically.

"Ye record kar leta hu!"

(I should record this!)

"Goodbye."

Dhruv immediately cut the call.

And somewhere across the city-

Shayan stared at his phone.

Then grinned.

Like an absolute idiot.

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End of chapter 2.

How was it?

Any scene you liked?

And, did you liked the bromance?🌚

Or Trisha to nibbi nikli😭

Also, Do read my other book named "MAI TERA [The Art of Eye-contact]" it's an highschool lovestory + Multicouple.

Do press the star ⭐ button to vote.

~anniexdeewani💅🏻