𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧

81⚚ Their Kingdom

"Baby, I don't have the heart to do this. Please, let's do it in the morning," Viraj whined, his voice low but firm. 

Amaira gave her husband a done look, while all the brothers standing nearby wore the same expression, like they'd had enough of his stubbornness.

"Hubby, we have to do it now. Don't be stubborn," Amaira insisted.

"But look, baby," Viraj gestured dramatically toward the door, "my star is sleeping so peacefully. Why do you all want to disturb her precious sleep?"

Amaira sighed and turned to Gaurav. "Bhaiyya, hold this hulk of a man."

Viraj's eyes widened in sheer disbelief, and betrayal. "What?! How can you?"

Now, if you're wondering what's happening, it's exactly 12:30 AM. It's little Sharvi's second birthday. 

The family had decorated the glasshouse with small, delicate touches for a private midnight celebration, because the next day, the entire kingdom was already decked up in grand style for their princess.

But the moment the clock struck twelve and everyone slowly opened Sharvi's room door, Viraj had taken one look at his peacefully sleeping daughter and promptly pushed everyone back out. 

For the past half an hour, he stood guard like a soldier on duty, arms crossed, declaring to anyone who dared, "No one can disturb my star's sleep."

As Gaurav took a cautious step forward, Viraj's voice cut through the air, low but edged with warning. "Bhai... don't."

Gaurav froze mid-step, hands up in mock surrender, while Amaira muttered something that sounded very much like unbelievable stubborn man under her breath. 

She shot Gaurav a look, silently asking him to stop, and then turned back to her husband.

Viraj stood tall, arms crossed like a fortress, his whole body radiating one message—stay away from my sleeping star.

Amaira softened her face, moving closer until she was right in front of him. She gently cupped his face in her hands, making him look at her. "Hubby, won't you listen to your baby?" she asked in that lilting, playful tone that always melted him.

Viraj's lips twitched, clearly torn between standing his ground and caving in. 

"Baby... you know I'll always listen to you, but look at her," he whispered dramatically, tilting his head toward the door. "She's dreaming with angels right now, and you want me to ruin it with balloons and candles?"

Amaira rolled her eyes, though her smile gave her away. "Oh my overprotective king, we're not going to ruin anything. We just want to wish her a happy birthday. She's two now, hubby! Two!"

Viraj sighed heavily, as if carrying the weight of the universe. "She'll still be two in the morning, won't she?"

Amaira chuckled, pressing her forehead against his. "And in the morning, the whole kingdom will celebrate it. Right now, she's just ours. Just this family. Don't you want to be the first one she hears happy birthday from?"

His eyes softened, that stubborn glint fading. "You always know how to win, don't you?" he whispered.

"Of course," she teased, brushing her thumb along his cheek. "Because you're my hulk, and hulks always melt for their queens."

Behind them, the brothers bit back smiles, exchanging looks that said this couple is hopelessly adorable.

Finally, with a defeated groan, Viraj muttered, "Fine. But if my star wakes up cranky, all of you—especially you, baby—are taking responsibility."