Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter 72: Blushing Regrets & Giggling Revelations

The clock struck 11 PM as Inaara pulled the comforter over her neatly arranged bed, her body exhausted but her mind still restless.

Just as she was about to turn off the bedside lamp, her phone buzzed, breaking the silence of the night.

She glanced at the screen.

Vihaan.

A strange sense of unease settled in her chest as she picked up.

"Inaara..." Vihaan’s voice held an edge of urgency.

"Yes, Vihaan?" she asked, sensing something was off.

Before he could reply, she heard faint murmuring in the background—a slurred voice, incoherent yet oddly familiar.

"Can you please come to the hall now?" Vihaan asked.

The unease deepened.

Without another word, she slipped on her slippers and hurried downstairs.

As soon as she reached the hall, she saw Vihaan struggling to hold up a very drunk Atharv.

His usually sharp, composed husband was completely wasted, his head drooping slightly, lips moving in a drunken mumble.

Vihaan, looking utterly exasperated, lowered Atharv onto the couch, but the moment his hand left Atharv’s arm, Atharv flinched and jerked away.

"Hey! You—don’t touch me. I’m married!" he slurred loudly, his eyelids heavy but his voice defensive.

Vihaan let out an exhausted huff, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

"See, Inaara? He’s been repeating the same damn line for the past 50 minutes!"

Inaara’s brows furrowed in concern as she crouched before Atharv.

His usually piercing eyes were unfocused, his face flushed from alcohol, and his shirt slightly crumpled.

"Vihaan, how did he even get this drunk? He never drinks like this," she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

Vihaan shook his head.

"I have no idea. When I went to check on him, he was already in this state."

Inaara turned back to Atharv, who was now mumbling unintelligible words under his breath, his face relaxed yet troubled, as if lost in his own chaotic world.

Vihaan sighed.

"I think we should take him to the bedroom."

Just as he reached out to hold Atharv’s arm, Atharv jerked away violently, his voice slurred yet oddly determined.

"Stay away! I said...I’m married."

Inaara let out a tired sigh.

Despite his drunken state, even in this haze, he was fiercely possessive of his boundaries.

"It’s okay, Vihaan. I’ll take him to the bedroom," she said softly.

Vihaan hesitated. "Are you sure?"