Always Better Together

Chapter 3 + IMPORTANT A/N

24th May 2020- Mumbai, India
Singhanias' house

"Mama, Papa, aapki pyaari si iklauti beti ghar aayi." Aadvika exclaimed as she made her way in with a box full of doughnuts. Hardik was following closely behind her balancing ice cream on one hand and his office filed in another. "Quickly go put the food down and get ready. Aadu I picked out a dress for you, no bargains and Harry beta, ayush tere liye kuch kapde rakha so you'll be comfortable." Aadvika's mom said while running around the house to get everything right. Aadvika kept the doughnuts on the counter while Hardik kept the ice cream in the freezer. "Do you want one?" Aadvika asked. "Huh?" a very confused Hardik turned around only to see Aadvika stuffing a doughnut in her mouth and picking up another one for Hardik discretely. "Ma's gonna kill you." Hardik said while they both chuckled and made their way upstairs while hearing her mom's faint shout, "Kamala, ye khaana vahan rakh de before someone eats it."
"Please we're not even married and you're already calling her Ma? Suck up Harry."
Aadvika said as they both parted ways at the top of the staircase.

Meanwhile...
(the other) Singhanias' House

"Atleast aaj teekh taakh se baat kar and behave yourself. Badtameez kiya to I won't even see that you are 26 years old, mind you!" Anaya's mom scowled as they got ready to go to their relatives' for the evening. "Mhm" was all Anaya replied while putting her shoes on and fastening its clasp. "Mother-daughter can banter later, Kamesh said the car's ready." Anaya's father interjected to dissolve the argument. The drive to the house was quiet as her mom was talking about all the exciting things to tell her co-sister while her father pretended to not be bored of the conversation. Anaya was just using her phone in the third row while her siblings, Ayan and Ahana, were arguing about hotspot? I think? anyways soon the dreaded drive came to a halt as the car literally halted at the doorstep of the Singhanias' house. "Kamesh, take this and go buy some food. We might be a little late so just take care." Anaya's father said while getting out of the passenger seat and the rest of them got out. Just like a typical rich and reputable family, they all made their way to the door with the mom and dad walking in the front, the younger kids behind and the oldest child following suit. "Anaya, remember what i said right?" Anaya's mom said as her dad rang the doorbell.

Soon after, Aadvika's dad opened the door and heartily welcomed them. All of them got in and caught up with each other. Soon, it was time for dinner and they all made their way to the dining area. Very fanciful indeed. Much more compared to five years ago.

"So Anaya, how was Europe?" Aadvika's father asked as they all tucked in. "Fine Taya, met some interesting people, spent the 6 months in some interesting places. I even brought something for all of you guys. I will give it to y'all after dinner." Anaya replied. "Anu pass the paneer." Ayush said. "So Ayush how's your girlfriend? Will we be seeing diamonds anytime soon?" Anaya's mom asked cheekily causing all of them to chuckle and Ayush to turn a shade of red. "She's fine chachi, actually she had an emergency surgery to get in that's why she couldn't come in tonight. She sends her love." He curtly replied while passing some food around. "You still managed to dodge the second part." Ahana said while playfully nudging him. "About that I'm waiting for little miss Aadvika here to have her turn before it's mine." He replied and all the attention turned to Hardik and Aadvika. "We're more spontaneous. We like to live in the present." Hardik replied. "I missed ghar ka Khana." Anaya exclaimed while basically devouring the food. "Honestly I thought you'd be pakka whitewashed by now." Hardik laughed. "So how's shub? I've not heard from him in along time?" Aadvika asked and the smile on Anaya's face faltered. "I have no idea. We separated." She said while picking on her food with her fork. This piece of information caused Aadvika and Hardik to drop their forks and look at each other in disbelief. "I'm sorry. I didn't know" Aadvika quickly apologised and Anaya smiled in return, "it's ok".

(Time skip)

"So what've you gotten for all of us?" Ayush asked excitedly as everyone sat around the living room coffee table where Anaya laid the gifts she brought for them. She handed everyone their gifts which she had labeled and all of them opened it. There were diverse reactions but you knew all of them were happy and grateful for what they had received. after admiring the gifts for some time, they put them aside and dug into the doughnuts. Anaya excused herself after a while and went to the balcony. Aadvika noticed the glum look on her face and soon went after her. She opened the glass screen doors and was greeted by a gush of cool air causing goosebumps to arise on her skin. "So what's up?" She casually asked Anaya while joining her in leaning against the railing. "Nothing much, Europe was fun but now I have to join papa's business." Anaya shrugged, the glum look still on her face. "Look I'm sorry about shubman. I really didn't know. But can I ask you something?" "Yeah", Anaya replied turning to face Aadvika.
"I thought you and shubman were going good. You guys never fought and I mean putting that aside y'all were perfect for each other. What happened?" Aadvika asked.
"Where do I even start?" She sighed...

(Flashback)
1st June 2016- Mumbai, India
Singhanias' House

"What do you mean by that?" Anaya's mom shouted, making the whole party come to a halt. "Do you think this is a joke?" She continued before her father interjected, "calm down. Anu are you sure? Maybe you just need time to figure it out." He said.
Anaya shook her head in disbelief, "what do you mean more time to decide? A sexuality is not something you decide. And also I think 24 years is plenty of time to 'figure out'. I'm bisexual. There's nothing I can't do if you guys can't accept that, quite literally." She exclaimed back.
"I can't believe this!" Her mother said while sitting on the couch.
"Do you think it's a bad time to bring up her boyfriend?" Ayan silently whispered to Ahana but it was too late, their parents had heard it. "Boyfriend? What do you mean boyfriend?" Her dad asked glaring at Ayan. "Nothing, he is just joking." Anaya said trying to defend herself but her mom ignored her and stepped forward to Ayan and completely ignoring what Anaya had just said asked him, "what boyfriend?". Ayan broke into a sweat and he didn't know what to say to his mother who was glaring daggers at her, "nothing Ma, I swear I was joking. She doesn't have any boyfriend. Mein to sirf mazaak kar raha tha. Sorry." He said cautiously stepping back to join his twin sister, Ahana.
"You better be Mr Ayan Singhania." the mother of the trio said. "And as for you Anaya, you better cut this bullcrap. No more backpacking and all." She said and Anaya just scoffed in disbelief. "I knew it, I freaking knew it. This is exactly why I planned my backpacking and frankly no one is going to stop me now." She huffed and ran back to her room, slamming the door and sliding against it, finally letting the stinging tears prickle down her rosy cheeks.

Present day- 24th May 2020
"Holy-" Aadvika let out a string of profanities in disbelief of what she just heard. "I swear to god-"
Aadvika was cut of by Anaya, "no you're not going to talk to my parents, let them be. I've come to terms with it and they never will. Let it be please." She pleaded. "Ok,ok!" Aadvika raised her hands in surrender just to make Anaya happy. "I'll figure my way out. But you know despite all of this my love for him never died. I think that if we are meant to be we'll find our way back to each other, I'm just hoping the feelings are mutual so I don't look like an idiot." She sighed as the both of them went back into the house.

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A/n
DUN DUN DUN! Another revelation let's go! Hope y'all enjoyed it, exams season is back and I'm going to be going on a little break to focus on them, hope y'all can understand. I'll try to update in the middle but no promises, sorry! If you guys have any suggestions for the plot or character developments let me know and I'll take it in (creds will be ofc given).