only HIS

CHAPTER - 3 Friendship & Family

Abhishek's POV

As Abhishek navigated the darkened streets, the roar of his bugati's engine was a comforting hum against the backdrop of the night. The confrontation with Sofia lingered in his mind, her fiery spirit and sharp reflexes making a lasting impression. He wasn't used to women standing up to him like that, and it had thrown him off balance. Just as he was about to lose himself in thoughts of her, his phone buzzed.

"Yesha," he muttered to himself, answering the call. "Yesh, what's up?"

"Abhishek, you didn't forget Vaishnavi's 28th birthday, did you?" Yesha's voice came through the speaker, playful but with a hint of concern.

Abhishek smirked. "Of course not. We're having a surprise party at my house. Everything's under control."

Yesha laughed. "You? Planning a party? That's new."

"Hey, I can handle it," Abhishek replied with mock indignation. "Besides, Sumedh is on it. You know how efficient he is."

"Yes, I do," she said warmly. "Just wanted to make sure. I'll see you soon, abhi."

"Yeah, see you," Abhishek said, hanging up and chuckling to himself. Yesha and Vaishnavi were like family to him, though they often treated him more like an overprotective brother than the feared mafia boss he was, well he doesn't saw himself as their brother but he didn't knew about them.

Arriving home, Abhishek parked his car and entered the sprawling mansion. The house was quiet, the only sound being the muffled noise of the city outside. He headed to the kitchen, drawn by the faint rustle of movement.

"Siddharth?" he called out, spotting his brother with something suspiciously hidden behind his back.

Sid turned, his face a mix of guilt and mischief. "Uh, hey, Bhai. Didn't expect you back so soon."

"What are you hiding?" Abhishek demanded, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Sid replied, backing away.

Abhishek raised an eyebrow. "Hand it over."

Reluctantly, Sid revealed a stash of snacks. "I was just... getting some midnight munchies."

Abhishek shook his head, laughing. "You and your snacks. We have a surprise party to plan, remember? You can't spoil your appetite."

"Yeah, yeah," Sid said, rolling his eyes. "Like you ever turn down food."

They both laughed, the tension of the evening dissipating in the easy camaraderie of their banter. It was moments like these that reminded Abhishek why he fought so hard to protect his family.

"So, what's the plan for Vaishnavi's birthday?" Sid asked, munching on a chip.

"Sumedh's handling the details," Abhishek replied. "We'll have a small gathering here. She loves the garden, so we'll set up there."

Sid nodded, then gave his brother a sly look. "You know, Yesha was pretty insistent on making sure you remembered. She sounded almost... worried."

Abhishek's smile faded slightly. "She's just being Yesha. Always looking out for everyone."

"Sure," Sid said, not buying it. "But come on, Bhai. We all know you like her and Vaishnavi more than platonically. Now tell me who will you choose"

Abhishek's expression hardened, though not entirely convincingly. "That's not true. They're family, nothing more."

"Right," Sid drawled, clearly enjoying the teasing. "And when you do find someone, you'll tell me first, right?"

Abhishek scoffed. "If I find someone, you'll be the last to know." he said sarcastically.