through thick and thin

Chapter 17

The car hummed softly against the quiet highway as night crept in, the sky dimming to a smoky blue. Inside, the Shrivastava car felt like a little world of its own-warm, filled with laughter and sleepy comfort.

Rudra's hand stayed locked with Shrishti's as he drove with his usual calm confidence, casting quick glances at her now and then. She was still asleep, her head gently resting against the window, dark hair falling over her face like a curtain. Rudra adjusted her shawl a little with a soft smile, his grip on the steering wheel relaxed.

Meanwhile, in the backseat, the eternal window wars had cooled into a quiet truce. Aaryan sat in the middle, camera resting on his lap. He wasn't clicking photos anymore-just flipping through them. Some were blurred mid-laughter, others sharp and golden with sunset light.

Aarav, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, leaning back with a comically large cup in his hand-the same one Rudra had handed him earlier with a raised brow and a pointed, "Finish it. You forget water exists."

He let out a loud, dramatic sigh. "I'm bored."

"Just drink your water, bro," Aaryan deadpanned, eyes still fixed on his phone. By now, the music had stopped-courtesy of Shrishti's nap. "You still haven't finished a single cup."

"That's a massive cup! I could survive three days on this," Aarav replied, holding the cup like it contained holy nectar.

"That was a little too dramatic, bro," Aaira commented, not even glancing his way as she watched the scenery flash by.

Aarav clutched his chest. "Wow. Betrayed by my own twin.Aayu?"

Aaira rolled her eyes but smiled. "Drink your water and stop turning into Shakespeare mid-road trip."

"I'm just saying," Aarav continued, taking a loud, exaggerated sip through the straw, "if I overhydrate and start floating like a balloon, it's on you, Papa."

From the front, Rudra chuckled. "Good. Maybe we'll tie a string to you and fly you like a kite."

Aaryan snorted. "I'd pay to see that."

Aarav pointed an accusing finger at both his siblings. "Mock me all you want. But when I lead the hydration revolution, don't come begging for immunity."

"You'd forget to bring the water to the protest," Aaryan muttered.

"And the placards," Aaira added, casually.

"And maybe even forget why you were protesting," Rudra chimed in.

Shrishti shifted slightly in her sleep, a peaceful smile touching her lips-as if even in dreams, she was tuned into her family's chaos.

Aarav slumped back in defeat. "Wow. I'm surrounded by traitors. Water-shaming me on a family trip."

"You're hydration-deficient, not water-shamed," Aaira said dryly, opening a packet of chips and crunching one loudly.

"Stop eating," Aaryan said automatically, putting his camera aside. "You'll drop crumbs again."

"I'm eating responsibly this time," Aaira replied, holding up a chip with mock elegance.

Then promptly missed her mouth, and it landed squarely in Aaryan's lap.

He stared at it. "Unbelievable."

Before the chip war could ignite, Rudra's voice cut through the laughter with mock-seriousness, "Alright, Team Chaos-here's the plan. First dhaba we see, we stop. Before you three turn this car into a battleground."

"Finally! Some real food. I was starting to believe I'd have to survive on this massive cup of water for the rest of my life," Aarav groaned, dramatically lifting his cup.