3 Hearts, 1 Home

12. Way Back Home

Dev kept his promise and wrapped his work fifteen days earlier. The morning Dev returned to Mumbai for good was supposed to be a surprise—a joyful reunion where the three of them would finally be together again, after so many months of balancing love across cities. He had packed up his things, handed over the setup in Ahmedabad to their new partner, and was ready to settle back into the life he had missed so much.

But when Dev walked through the door of their apartment, excitement bubbling in his chest, what he saw stopped him cold.

Karan was sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his hands, clearly hungover, and next to him—still groggy and looking out of place—was a woman, wearing one of Karan's t-shirts. The sight of the unfamiliar woman in their shared space sent a wave of confusion and anger through Dev. His suitcase hit the floor with a loud thud.

Karan looked up at the sound, his eyes red from too much alcohol and lack of sleep. "Dev..." he began, his voice rough, but Dev was already seething.

"What the hell is going on here?" Dev snapped, his voice cutting through the quiet of the morning.

The woman, startled by Dev's sudden entrance and tone, looked between Karan and Dev, confusion and embarrassment spreading across her face. She muttered something under her breath and shifted awkwardly in her seat.

Karan's head was still pounding, and the fog of the previous night clouded his thoughts. "Dev, wait. It's not what it looks like—"

"Not what it looks like?" Dev's voice cracked, his fists clenched at his sides. "There's a woman in our apartment, in your clothes, sitting at the breakfast table, Karan. I've been gone for months, and this is what I come back to?"

Karan stood up, holding his hands out in front of him in a defensive gesture. "I swear, Dev, I don't even know what happened last night. I had a few drinks, and everything is a blur after that. I don't remember her being here. I don't even know her."

The woman looked increasingly uncomfortable, but before anyone could say more, the door opened again. Arjun walked in, briefcase in hand, clearly surprised to see Dev. "You're back!" he said with a smile, but the smile quickly vanished when he noticed the tension in the room. "What's going on?"

Dev turned to Arjun, his eyes blazing with anger and hurt. "I come home to find this," he spat, gesturing toward the woman. "Karan with some woman in our apartment, and he's saying he doesn't even know her."

Arjun's face darkened as his gaze flickered between Karan, the woman, and Dev. "Karan?"

Karan ran a hand through his hair, frustration and confusion etched across his face. "Ok listen. I really don't remember anything... anything at all. I had way too much to drink, and I blacked out. I don't even know how she got here."

The woman, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised her hand sheepishly. "Uh... I think I can explain?"

All three men turned to her, their expressions varying between confusion and anger.

"I'm really sorry," she began, her voice shaky but honest. "I'm Sonia. Karan and I met at a bar last night. I was there with some friends, and I guess he got really drunk. I helped him get home because he couldn't walk straight. I was drunk too, though. I don't remember much, but I definitely didn't sleep with him. I, uh... I'm a lesbian, actually. I swear. I have a girlfriend as well."

Karan blinked, clearly still trying to process everything, while Dev and Arjun exchanged a look of surprise.

Sonia continued, looking apologetic and awkward. "I must have passed out after I helped him get inside. I didn't mean to stay the night. I didn't even realize where I was until I woke up just now."

Dev's anger slowly ebbed, replaced by confusion and a twinge of guilt. He glanced at Karan, who looked just as bewildered. "And the clothes?" Dev asked, his voice a bit calmer now.

"He puked on me and I guess then I puked on myself. And it was gross so I washed my clothes and changed into something I found from the cupboard he opened for himself." She answered.

Arjun still looked between the two of them once. "And nothing else right?" he asked.

Sonia shook her head emphatically. "Absolutely nothing. I'm really sorry for the misunderstanding. I shouldn't have stayed, but I was too out of it to even realize."

Arjun sighed, the tension leaving his body as he processed what Sonia had said. "Okay. This makes sense now. Anyway he is too big of an idiot to cheat."

Karan, still rubbing his temples, looked between them all, his voice quiet. "I don't remember anything. I'm sorry, Dev. I would never... I mean, you know I'd never do that to you. Or to us."

Dev felt the weight of his anger dissolve, replaced by a sense of overwhelming relief. "I know," he said softly, stepping forward and placing a hand on Karan's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I've been gone so long, and I just—"

Arjun stepped in, his voice firm but kind. "We were all caught off guard. Let's not blow this out of proportion."

Karan looked visibly relieved as Arjun and Dev's anger faded. "I'm having a throbbing headache but I am so happy to see you both together. Dev I am not dreaming right?" he repeated, his voice cracking with emotion. "It's you. You are back?"

Dev leaned in, pressing his forehead against Karan's. "Let's prepare some lemon water for you."

Sonia, sensing the tension had passed, stood up awkwardly. "Um, I'll just... go. I'm really sorry for the confusion. And thank you for not... well, throwing me out earlier."

Arjun waved her off with a half-smile. "It's fine. Just be careful next time."

Sonia gave a quick, apologetic nod before slipping out the door, leaving the three of them standing in the kitchen in the wake of the misunderstanding.

As the door closed behind Sonia, silence filled the apartment once more. But this time, it was a calm, peaceful silence, a far cry from the tense confrontation just moments ago.

Karan let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was... something," he muttered.

Arjun chuckled softly, stepping forward and wrapping an arm around Karan's shoulders. "It was definitely a welcome for Dev."

Dev, who had been quiet, finally chuckled, his anger long gone. "I was about to flip bad time."

Karan looked between them, his eyes softening as he realized how lucky he was to have both of them in his life. "Fuck were you both collectively going to break up with me? I almost shit my pants."

Dev and Arjun chuckled.

Arjun kissed Karan's temple, his voice filled with affection. "Our drama king!"

Dev, stepping closer, wrapped his arms around both of them, pulling them into a tight embrace. "I'm back," he excalimed, his voice soft but full of emotion. "For good this time. And I'm never leaving again."

Karan smiled against Dev's chest, his heart swelling with love and relief. "I missed you so much."

"Plus one," Arjun added, his hand resting on Dev's back. "I feel complete already."

Dev pulled back slightly, looking between them, his heart full. He quickly placed kisses on their lips one by one.

Karan grinned, pulling both Arjun and Dev closer. "Three hearts, one home. Just like it's supposed to be."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's warmth, the weight of the past few months seemed to lift. They were together again, and that was all that mattered. The misunderstandings, the distance—it had all been worth it to come back to this.

Their love—equal, unwavering, and deeply rooted—was stronger than ever. And as they moved forward, they knew that no matter what came their way, they would face it together.

Because in the end, they weren't just three people in love.

They were three hearts, one home.