Aadhya's POV
"Riya must be out of her mind," Avi muttered, leaning toward Bhavik.
Bhavik just nodded like a wise old man who had already accepted our tragic fate.
"What's Vivaan plotting?" Maddy asked, squinting at him like he was some criminal mastermind.
All eyes shifted to him.
"Tch."
…
Wow.
What an answer. So detailed. So helpful. Truly inspiring.
I rolled my eyes. What she wants us to do is already a headache. There's Battle of Bands, singing, dance, and now pageant too? Wow. Just wow. We are going to get defeated in HD quality.
"Adiii, help here," Krish called from behind the counter.
"Coming!" I replied, immediately moving toward him.
He had already finished cooking. My job now—serve these hungry animals.
They were already lined up… fighting.
"I came first!"
"No, I did!"
"Move idiot!"
Stupids.
"Hey! Did you all pay for supplies?" I snapped.
We had split the budget equally, but of course… some freeloaders were standing proudly in line like royalty.
"So thick-skinned," I muttered.
"Some of you didn't even pay. Eat first, I'll charge double later," I threatened.
They just laughed.
LAUGHED.
No fear. No shame. No dignity.
I started serving rice into their plates while Krish handled the dal.
My eyes drifted to Vivaan.
He was sitting alone at the table. No plate.
Oh.
Right.
I took a plate from the counter, served rice and dal… then paused.
Hmm.
I grabbed a cheesecake slice too. His food costs more anyway—balance maintained.
I walked over and placed it in front of him dramatically.
"Here's your fooooddd, your royally highnesss," I said, bowing like some servant in a historical drama.
He gave me that same sharp look.
Others burst out laughing.
I flashed him a dramatic smile and walked back to my place.
Then—
My eyes landed on Devit.
Sitting far away.
Not eating.
Not talking.
Just… staring into nothing.
Weird.
I picked up another plate, served rice and dal, and walked to him.
"For you," I said, placing it in front of him and nudging it slightly.
He looked at me.
There was something off.
"No… thank you. I'm not feeling hungry," he said quietly.
I frowned.
Since when does anyone here refuse food?
I sat beside him. I already knew something was off.
"Hey… are you not feeling well?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"Do you have a problem?"
"Need money?"
"Are you heartbroken?"
And then—
"Are you PREGNANT?"
I fired all of them in one go.
He flinched at the last one.
Got you.
I smirked internally and casually placed my arm around his shoulder.
"You know you can tell me. I'll help you. I'm like your elder brother," I said proudly.
He chuckled. Of course—he's second youngest after Avi. Someone has to take responsibility.
"I'll tell you," he said, leaning near my ear.
Suspense build-up.
"I admit… I'm pregnant."
…
I choked.
COUGH. COUGH. COUGH.
Everyone turned to look at us.
"Are you serious?" I asked, scanning him head to toe like I might actually find a baby somewhere.
He burst out laughing, hitting the table like this was the funniest thing in the world.
Oh.
OH.
This idiot.
"HEY YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE!" I snapped, smacking his back.
"Aghh—seriously, you're so stupid, Adi," he said, still laughing.
"YOU ARE STUPID, JERK—"
"Shut up and go outside and fight," Vivaan snapped from across.
We both went silent.
But the glare battle? Still ongoing.
"You two won't stop," Vivaan added, threatening.
I stood up instantly, grabbed the plate—
Devit caught my wrist. "Wasn't this for me?"
Wow.
Now you're hungry?
"No. I thought you weren't," I said sarcastically and walked off.
I went and sat beside DJ and Avi. Of course we started teasing each other again.
Normal chaos restored.
For a moment… I just looked around.
All of us eating together. Fighting. Laughing. Being idiots.
It felt… nice.
Then my eyes landed on Mahi.
Sitting alone.
Again.
Near the kitchen. Eating quietly.
Something twisted in my chest.
I got up after finishing and walked to him, extending a chocolate.
He looked at it… then at me.
"Do you want it?" I asked with a smile.
He shook his head.
I sat beside him anyway.
"Mahi… what happened to you? Why don't you talk to me anymore?"
No response.
"Did I scold you?"
"Did I take your chocolate?"
"Did I hurt you?"
Still nothing.
Then I asked softly—
"What did Reyansh do to you?"
He looked at me.
His eyes—
Full of fury.
He leaned closer.
"A lot," he said.
And walked away.
I just sat there.
Staring.
Why is everyone angry at him?
What did he even do…?
My eyes shifted—
Vivaan.
He was already looking at me.
Like he was trying to read my thoughts.
Weird.
I stood up and walked to Krish. He handed me some dishes to wash.
Fine. Work mode.
I picked them up and headed to the back—
Then I heard it.
Crying.
A girl.
I peeked—
Devit.
And a girl… I couldn't see her face clearly.
"LEAVE ALREADY!" he snapped at her.
She cried harder.
Then… she held her stomach.
…
Oh.
OH.
Wait—
DON'T TELL ME—
It clicked instantly.
I stepped in. "Hey!"
Devit flinched.
He definitely didn't expect me.
The girl turned and glared at me.
"Fuck off. Don't you dare interrupt us," she snapped.
Wow.
Attitude level: unnecessary.
If she wasn't pregnant, I swear—
Instead, I smacked Devit.
"Aah—Adi what—"
She looked between us. "Is she the reason you don't want to take responsibility?"
WHAT?!
No.
No no no.
I have enough drama in my life already.
"Of course not. I don't even know what you're talking about. I just came to talk to him," I said quickly.
Then I turned to him, raising my fist.
"Do you really talk like that to a woman? And for all you know, she's carrying your baby, idiot!"
I was about to hit him again—
He backed away instantly.
"Go. GO AWAY," I snapped.
And he ran.
Coward.
She looked at me, tears still falling.
"You really like to interfere, right? Then tell him to take responsibility," she said.
"Don't order me around," I snapped back—
And she cried harder.
…
Oh no.
She's pregnant.
Crying.
And I just shouted at her.
Great job, Aadhya.
I immediately softened, wiping her tears awkwardly.
"Hey hey… I'm sorry… okay? Don't cry…"
God, I don't even know her name.
"Gracy," she said softly.
"Okay, Gracy… don't cry. I'll talk to him. But you take care of yourself first, okay? Stress isn't good for the baby."
She nodded slowly.
I held her hand and walked her back to her building.
When I returned—
Avi immediately jumped in. "Hey, why were you with Riya's henchman?"
"Nothing," I said.
But my mind was elsewhere.
How do I deal with Devit?
Who can handle this properly?
Avi?
I looked at him.
…
He was picking his nose.
Absolutely not.
Amar bhaiyya?
He'll kill Devit before the baby is even born.
Vivaan?
He'll punch first, think never.
Then who…
My eyes slowly shifted—
DJ. Sleeping there. Found it. Perfect person.