Life Ends At You

32. Lifeless Pages

Navi's POV

Adi shot up from the couch, mirroring Ansh's yell. "How can you say no?" His voice boomed, a low rumble that vibrated through the room. He lunged towards me, his hand reaching out to grab my wrist. "Ghar se bhagake le jaunga."

Ansh mirrored Adi's movement, his smaller hand wrapping around my other arm. "Touch her and you'll be missing a limb by morning," he screeched, his voice cracking slightly on the high notes.

"Easy there, Ansh," I said, tugging my hand free of his grip. The worn leather bracelet he always wore scraped against my skin. "He's just messing around."

"Messing around?" Adi feigned innocence, his brown eyes widening into an unconvincing display of puppy-dog charm. "But you're my wife, aren't you?"

"Your what?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes. A familiar warmth bloomed in my cheeks.

"My soon-to-be wife, of course!" Adi declared, a dramatic flourish in his voice. He reached for my other hand again, but Ansh swatted it away with a ferocity that surprised even me.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Ansh yelled, his small frame puffing up with indignation. He yanked my arm towards him, nearly sending me off balance.

"Oh yeah? And what exactly are you going to do about it, Chirkut Aadmi?" Adi challenged.

"I'll..." Ansh stammered, his eyes darting between me and Adi. Suddenly, a devious glint sparked in his gaze. "I'll paint your face black! And then everyone will know what a cheater you are!" 

"Bass kro yrr.." I shouted out loud and both of them left my hand. 

"Bhaiya bachao." Ansh shouted jumping off the couch hiding behind Adi and gripping on his jeans as I glared at him picking up the broom beneath the sofa.

"Yrr bacha hai chhod do nah." Adi said caressing his head. 

"Tumhare lie uthai hai ye jhaadu." I cleared my throat. 

"Maaro maaro jaldi maaro. Mai bhi lata hu ek aur jhaadu." Ansh shouted jumping in excitement. 

"Dagahbaaz." Adi mushed looking at him. Ansh came back running with another broom jumping in excitement.

"Dekh lia kis bache ko bacha rahe ho tum." I laughed.  

"Jhaadu niche Ansh." I glared at him, and Ansh dropped the broom sitting on couch with folded hands. 

With a disgruntled grumble, Ansh flung himself onto the couch, grabbing a stray throw pillow and burying his face in it. Adi chuckled, ruffling his hair with a gentle hand. "Mai kabhi tumse baat nahi karunga. Tumne iss fatichar ke lie muje daata." 

"Ansh enough now." I sighed and Adi sat beside him leaned in and whispered something in Ansh's ear, his voice too low for me to catch. Ansh mumbled a reply, then a hesitant smile crept across his face. The two of them shook hands, the picture of unlikely people getting along. I thought they hated each other.

"Just so you know," Ansh piped up, his voice muffled by the pillow, "I still hate you. Ye aaj ki daat ka compensation hai only."

Adi winked. "Whatever floats your boat, champ." He straightened up, his gaze meeting mine. A shiver danced down my spine as his eyes locked with mine, a warmth radiating from their depths.

"What did you tell him?" I whispered to Adi.

"That's our top secret." Adi high fived Ansh.

Adi gestured his guard to come forward. "Take care of this kid for few hours." He muttered and the guard's jaw dropped. Bodyguard ko babysitter bana dia.