MOHABBAT-E-DIWAANGI ( Book 1)

24. Vacant Road ✨

Authors pov

As they all descended the stairs, Avantika took a cab home.

Aadish, ever the protective Romeo, sent one team with the cab to secure her safety.

Meanwhile, Aadish, accompanied by his three "chhote chhote nahne mune bachhe" (tiny little kids), left in another car.

They were halfway home when Rudra spoke up.

"Bhai, aaj party kare" (Brother, let's have a party today).

To which the other two said, "Abhi? Yaha kaha? Kaise? Pahele se batana tha na..." (Now? Here? How? You should have told us earlier...).

Aadish held his head and Rudra replied, "Vo bhai, aapki shoutan ki baat ni ho rahi jo itna tension le rahe ho... ummm... ek kaam karte hai, aaj hum ek vacant road pe party karte hai. Kitna mza aayega na" (Brother, we aren't talking about your rival that you're getting so tense about... ummm... let's do one thing, let's party on a vacant road today. It will be so much fun).

"Whattt... chup chap ghar chalo," (What... quietly go home) Aadish said in an ordering tone. "Maa pareshan hogi..." (Mother will be worried...).

"Mujhe kaam hai," (I have work) Aadish completed.

As Armaan teased, "Kya bhai, aaj bhabhi ne ha kaha aur aap party bhi nahi doge (Brother, sister-in-law say yes today and you won't even throw a party?),"

Aadish felt a surge of irritation. He had been lost in thoughts of his angel when this nonsense began.

"Ye kisne kaha tumse? Mathe par likhkar to nahi ghum rahe hum (Who told you that? It's not written on my forehead),"

Aadish retorted, his annoyance palpable.

Om, seemingly lost in his imagination, added with a grin, "Aapni shakle dekhi thi aap dono ne. Cute newborn baby ki tarah blush kar rahe the (Have you seen your faces? You were both blushing like cute newborn babies)."

"What... mai blush nahi karta (I don't blush),"

Aadish corrected, adjusting his tie with a hint of defensiveness.

"Thodi der aur rukhte to vo bhi sikh ho jate (If you had stayed a bit longer, you would have learned it too),"

Armaan quipped, eliciting laughter from everyone except Aadish, who was in a different mood today.

Instead of getting angry, he actually blushed, running a hand through his hair with a shy smile.

"Kya kaha (What did you say)..." Aadish began, but then remembered who he was. Trying to appear angry.

"Kuchh nhi, chalo na party karte hai (Nothing, let's go party)..." Rudra said in a pleading tone.

"Lekin ek shart pe (But on one condition)," Armaan said, raising one finger and stopping the car. "Guards ko ghar bhej dete hain (Let's send the guards home)," he said with a grin. "Jyada enjoy kar payenge (We'll enjoy it more)," he added while looking back at Rudra and Aadish who were sitting in the back.

"Koi zarurat nahi hai, vo sath honge nahi to ghar chalo (No need, they will stay with us or we will go home)..." Aadish said authoritatively.

"Achha, chalo (Alright, let's go)..." Armaan said, restarting the car.

"Bhai, ek baat puchhu (Brother, can I ask you something)..." Rudra asked, turning towards Aadish.

"Ji (Yes)..." Aadish replied simply.

"Aap bhabhi se sachme itna pyaar karte ho (Do you really love sister-in-law that much)?" Rudra said in a slow but excited tone.

"Behad, khud se bhi jyada aur shayad khuda se bhi jyada (Immensely, more than myself and perhaps more than God)..." Aadish said while looking at the black sky outside the car.