𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧

47⚚ Her Husband

JSULTANA22567   This chapter is for you, Eid Mubarak!

Author POV:

"Bhai, I didn't get an ounce of sleep last night, so please stop nagging me," Viraj groaned, placing his head between his hands and collapsing onto the living room couch.

His entire body felt like it had been run over by exhaustion, his mind foggy from endless reading and searching for clues.

Rithvik, standing with his arms crossed, glared down at him. "Nagging? Seriously, Vi?" He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You didn't eat properly, you didn't sleep properly, and all you've been doing is working like a maniac! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"It's just been twenty-four hours since Princess left, and you already look like you've aged ten years! Do you even realize how worried we all are? No, of course not, because you're too damn busy running yourself into the ground!"

"You always do this, Viraj. You push yourself beyond limits, act like you're invincible, and then end up collapsing. And then what?"

"Do you think Amaira will be happy seeing you like this when she comes back? Huh? You're acting like a fool!"

Viraj groaned, pressing two pillows against his ears to block out Rithvik's voice. His headache was already unbearable from the sleepless night, the constant searching for answers, and the weight of everything he was trying to solve.

Ash, who had been silently watching the scene unfold, let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "Rithu, stop shouting and go make something for him to eat. He looks like he's about to pass out from that headache."

Rithvik clicked his tongue in frustration but still turned on his heel and stomped toward the kitchen, muttering complaints under his breath.

Ash sat beside Viraj and casually pulled the pillows away from his ears. "Did he stop?" Viraj mumbled, his voice muffled from exhaustion.

Ash chuckled. "Nope, but at least now he's shouting at the vegetables in the kitchen instead of at you."

Viraj sighed in relief, running a hand through his already messy hair. "I swear, one day I'm going to go deaf from his shouting, bhai."

Ash shook his head with a small smile. "He's saying it because he cares, Vi. Really, it's just been twenty-four hours, and look at you. You're falling apart."

Viraj leaned back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling with tired eyes. "Bhai, I'm really fine. It's nothing, really. I just want to finish whatever this all is and live peacefully with my baby and all of you. That's all I want."

Ash nodded, understanding the depth of Viraj's exhaustion, not just physically but emotionally. "And you will," he said firmly. "But not if you keep treating yourself like this. Now, rest before Rithvik force-feeds you like a mother hen."

Viraj just laughed, shaking his head. "You know he is the mother hen of our family."

Ash chuckled, leaning back against the couch. "Really? Then what am I?"

Viraj hummed thoughtfully before shifting his position, resting his head on Ash's lap. "You are the father hen."

Ash wrinkled his nose in mock disgust. "Wait... then that makes Rithvik my wife?"

Viraj burst out laughing while Ash made a pouty face. "Don't act like you don't like it, bhai."

Ash narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"