[ complete ] 𝐌𝐀𝐅𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐅𝐄 || 𝐉.𝐉𝐊 𝐅𝐅

78. Beds & Sleep.

Y/n POV

I stood there quietly in the soft glow of the moonlight leaking through the window, watching them—my two little worlds wrapped in mismatched blankets and even more mismatched personalities.

Their tiny beds were divided like two kingdoms in a cold war, the invisible line between them fiercely protected during the day with rules like:
“No touching,”
“No stealing each other’s pillows,”
“No crossing over without permission,”
and my personal favorite from Advait,
“Diplomatic unicorns must declare allegiance before entry.”

I had asked him once, “What happens if Aarohi steps over without permission?”

He’d said with a deadpan expression, “Then she faces the law of pillow attack. But only if she’s awake.”

Yet here she was now, completely draped over his bed like a sleepy koala.

I slowly sat down on the small pouffe beside their dresser. My back was sore. My legs were tired. My eyes wanted rest. But my heart—it was wide awake, overflowing.

I watched Aarohi’s little fingers twitch as she clutched her unicorn plushie tighter in her sleep. She looked so soft, so peaceful, and yet this was the same tiny queen who’d spent the entire afternoon bossing Advait around, ordering pasta like royalty and correcting my “unicorn language pronunciation.”

I turned to Advait—my little cold-hearted don—currently curled like a cinnamon roll, his face buried halfway into his star-shaped pillow, mumbling something about “security breach” in his dreams.

I sighed with a smile. “My little mafia and my little magician.”

Just then, Aarohi stirred.

Her lashes fluttered and she mumbled, “Mumma…?”

I leaned in. “Hmm?”

“I had a dream… the stars were falling but Advait caught them.”

“Oh, did he?”

She nodded sleepily, eyes still closed. “And he said… only unicorns know which ones are safe.”

I blinked, stunned. “That sounds like something he’d actually say.”

She smiled. “He’s my superhero. But don’t tell him. His head gets big.”

I chuckled under my breath and kissed her temple gently. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

As I turned to tuck the blue blanket back around Advait, I felt a tiny tug on my sleeve.

He wasn’t asleep.

His voice was groggy but clear. “I heard that.”

I smiled. “Heard what?”

He blinked up at me. “She said I caught stars.”

“Well… did you?”

He yawned and buried his face back into the pillow. “Of course. I’m her big brother. I have to catch everything.”

I cupped his cheek softly. “Even falling stars?”

“And bad dreams,” he mumbled.

I swallowed, the weight of those words pressing warm and heavy against my chest.

“I’m proud of you, you know?” I whispered, brushing his hair back.

“Even when I punch people?”

I chuckled. “Even then. But maybe we can punch less tomorrow?”

He gave a sleepy nod. “Only if no one messes with Aarohi.”