When Prakhar reached home, a frown appeared on his forehead.Shrey and Diamond had turned the house into a battlefield.Empty biscuit packets were scattered on the floor, stuffing from pillows was flying all over due to a full-blown pillow fight, and everything was out of place.And amidst all this chaos, the two great warriors were sprawled lazily on the couch, as if resting after a victorious war.
Prakhar shouted,"What the hell is going on here?!"
Shrey quickly sat up, but upon seeing Prakhar, shamelessly lay back down —"Can't you see? We're relaxing..."
Diamond also jumped down from the sofa and ran up to him.Prakhar glared at him and said —"You two are taking me way too lightly..."
Shrey shrugged,"So? Are you a dinosaur or something? Gonna eat us?"Then he brushed it off like Prakhar was just a minor nuisance.
Diamond, emboldened by Shrey's shamelessness, jumped right back onto the couch and sprawled again.
Prakhar's eyes narrowed.
He immediately grabbed Shrey by the collar and pulled him up —"Clean up the mess you've made. Or else..."
Shrey, still nonchalant, raised his brows and asked,"Or else what?"
Prakhar said firmly,"Or I'll throw you out of the house."
Shrey rolled his eyes and made a face,"Oh, so this is how you treat me now...?Wanna try?"
Prakhar's tone was serious now — and Shrey immediately went quiet.
He stammered,"Okay, okay… I'm doing it…"
Diamond was just about to escape from the room when Shrey grabbed him —"What's this, royal prince? You were full-on involved during the chaos, and now you want to run?"
Diamond tried hard to get away, but Shrey gave him a look.Diamond looked at Prakhar pleadingly.
Prakhar turned his face away and walked toward the room.
Shrey watched him go and teased —"Oh ho… the royal pet got ignored by the king today…"
Then he said to Diamond,"Come on, get to work or no more Gem biscuits for you."
He began picking up pillows one by one,because he knew —if he didn't help, Prakhar would actually throw him out.And then where would the poor delicate soul go...?He was just an innocent baby, after all...
Prakhar came back after changing clothes and silently joined in to help.Within a short while, the three of them had cleaned the hall.A little later, Pranay arrived and helped out a bit too.
Once the cleaning was done, Shrey spun around dramatically and collapsed on the sofa —"Ahh! You guys made me do so much work… Now you both will handle the kitchen!"
The royal tantrums... seriously.
Pranay and Prakhar both glared at him.They had done most of the work anyway.Shrey had mostly just fooled around and picked up a few things out of pity.Now he was acting like he'd just dug out gold from a mine with a shovel.
The two exchanged a look and headed to the kitchen.
As soon as they went in, Shrey quickly turned on the TV and got immersed in his favorite show.The volume was so high it echoed into the kitchen.
Pranay yelled from the kitchen,"Shrey! We don't live in a jungle... The neighbors will come and beat you up!"
But Shrey ignored everyone like he was the king of the world,sinking into the cushions and losing himself in the show.
Prakhar looked at him for a few seconds and said to Pranay,"He's not like this outside... I mean, I've seen him being quite rude and strict."
Pranay raised an eyebrow,"Do you stalk him or something?"
Prakhar grew awkward and lied quickly —"Shut up... I don't do things like that. Just saw him once or twice. Coincidence."
Pranay smiled,"Oh... well, he's rude to everyone. He doesn't get comfortable easily.But once he does — he acts like a complete kid around them."
While putting vegetables in the pan, Prakhar quietly said, "Hmm..."
Pranay, while chopping, added,"By the way, his favorite sweet is Sandesh."
Prakhar looked surprised,"Sandesh...? You mean a letter?"
"No no, the Bengali sweet." Pranay smiled."It's like Rasgulla, but lighter and softer. Made of milk, very delicate…"
"But you guys are from Shillong, right?" Prakhar asked.
"No, Dad was transferred to Shillong. Our actual home is in Kolkata.Also... there's something you should probably know..."He suddenly grew serious.
Just then, Shrey's loud voice echoed from behind,"Hey guys! Will food ever get cooked or are you planning to starve a poor child to death? I have elephants jumping in my stomach!"
Pranay shouted back from the kitchen,"Sitting there like a prince, throwing orders around...!"
"Yeah well, starve an innocent child, why don't you?" Shrey grumbled in reply.
Prakhar placed the plates and said —"Food's ready. Now you two set the table."
Shrey pouted —"Made me do so much already… my hands hurt, can't set the table."
Prakhar gave him a death stare.
This boy's tantrums... sigh 🥶
From behind, Pranay added —"He's yours to deal with now. Still time to reconsider..."
Prakhar glared at him.
"By the way, I'm coming to your room tonight, so keep the door open..." Pranay said, winking.
"Why...?" Prakhar asked with raised brows.
"Don't worry, I won't touch your modesty." Pranay said teasingly,"But I have to admit, you are hot... and those six-pack abs of yours... whew, anyone would fall for you!"
"Shut up, Pranay!" Prakhar was turning red with embarrassment, face slightly lowered.
"Don't blush, baby... I'm your future brother-in-law after all!" Pranay teased and burst into laughter.
After a moment, he grew serious and said —"There are some things that need to be clear from the beginning,"and he started placing rotis on the pan.
Prakhar didn't respond. He quietly continued his work.
A while later, they were all sitting at the dining table.Shrey was happily eating and showering Prakhar and Pranay with praise.
"Okay, that's enough buttering… don't put me on a pedestal," Pranay said, annoyed by the excessive compliments.
"What a time we live in... now people get annoyed even when you praise them," Shrey replied without missing a beat.
Pranay rolled his eyes and went to grab the utensils without saying anything.Prakhar began clearing the table and tidying up the kitchen.And Shrey? He didn't care at all.He was still lying on the sofa, fully immersed in his movie.
After finishing up, the other two, exhausted, came and sat down beside him.Soon, Shrey dozed off.Pranay gently nudged him and told him to go to his room.Shrey, half-asleep, stumbled off toward his room.Diamond was already asleep by then.
Pranay looked at Prakhar and softly said,"Let's go..."
Prakhar stood up silently, and both of them headed toward his room.