Aakriti's POV

If I thought Day One was torture and Day Two was survivable because of the Korean drama marathon, then Day Three is plain cruel. I sat in the garden, glaring at the sky as if it had personally conspired with Dhruv to make my life miserable.

Kabir plopped down beside me, munching on an apple.

"So, Bhabhi, how's your last day of imprisonment?"

"Don't call it imprisonment," I muttered. "Actually, no—call it that. That's exactly what it is." Kabir smirked.

"Well, at least this prison comes with some... entertainment, right?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice dramatically. "You and Bhai. Last night. In the theater room. Mmm... spicy."

My eyes widened. "Kabir!" I hissed, glancing around in panic. "Keep your voice down!"

He laughed so hard he almost choked on his apple. "Relax, it's just us here. But, wow, Bhabhi... who knew you could make my stone-hearted brother so whipped in your love?"

"Don't talk nonsense." I said.

"You both make love look so effortless. But in reality it is so exhausting." He said.

"Who said it is effortless? Ask your brother how much effort he had put into making me stay. He knew I was skeptical about commitment and all, so he pretended to not want one. He cunningly, like a fox, set a trap for me. Dadu told me today itself that he forced me to marry Dhruv because he boldly claimed that he loves me and will cherish me forever. When I asked, your dear brother pretended as if he knew nothing. Our relationship might look effortless, but trust me, it is working because of your Bhai's constant effort."

"Didn't you feel upset? Bhai deceived you." He asked me.

"I will not lie; I would have been very angry if I knew this matter a few days ago, but now for some reason I feel happy and relieved."

"You know, Bhabhi, you glow when you talk about Bhai. Your love for Bhai is overflowing." He said with a genuine bright smile.

"Love...love...?? No...No." I shook my head.

"Still want to deny after literally eating each other at any and every given moment." He said with a mischievous smirk.

"Kabir." I yelled, feeling embarrassed hearing his words.

"Ok. Ok. Jokes apart. I am so happy for both of you. Especially for my Bhai. If not for you, he might have been single for the rest of his life. I don't know why you are even trying to deny it; the way you look when calling Bhai's name is clear enough to tell how much you love him. Don't deny I have seen that look in real life from too close." The sudden shift in his tone made me pause.

"In real life?" I repeated softly.

Kabir exhaled slowly, as if debating whether to say more. Then he chuckled, but it was hollow. "Yeah. You know I am the youngest and most protected, pampered, and loved. I met her, and for the first time, the desire to protect someone rose in me. She was like a fragile doll who would break at a slight jerk. I thought I had met the purest person to ever exist. I did the dumbest things just to make her laugh. And for a while... it felt like we were soulmates."

I stayed quiet, giving him space.

"But love isn't always enough," he continued, his voice quieter now. "She denied everything that was between us. Moments together with her felt like a wishful thought, not my actual memory. My heart couldn't accept the cruel reality."

The way his jaw tightened told me the memory still stung.

"Kabir." I said gently.

He shook his head quickly, trying to bring himself out of those memories.

"She's happy now. That's all that matters. She is getting married soon." His eyes flicked toward me, then back to the sky. He looked like he wished to cry his heart out. I placed my hand above his and tried to console him. Who would have thought that behind his cheerful, bubbly mask so much pain was hidden?

Oh, was he talking about Riddhima? Does that mean Riddhima and Kabir were in love? Kabir sounds like she broke his heart, but when I talked to Riddhima, she sounded sad. Is there a misunderstanding between them? I know to not ask more and scratch his wounds. I already did that recklessly while talking to Riddhima and hurt her badly.

Instead, I squeezed his hand gently. "You don't always have to pretend you're fine, Kabir. You can... talk if you want to."

He gave me a lopsided smile. "And ruin my reputation as the family clown? No thanks, Bhabhi. My job is to keep everyone laughing, not crying."

"You're human too," I whispered.

Maybe," he said, his gaze shifting to the horizon. "But sometimes it's easier to be the sunshine for others than admit you're standing in the rain yourself."

That quiet honesty cut deeper than his earlier teasing. For a moment, the garden didn't feel boring but rather dull. Like a place holding grief about his hidden heartbreak.

Kabir suddenly sprang up.

"Alright!" he announced dramatically, brushing off his jeans. "Enough with these emotional talks. Bhai would kill me if he saw me making you sad. Let's have fun."

I frowned, half-exasperated, half-relieved. "And what exactly do you suggest, Mr. Sunshine?"

His eyes lit up with mischief. "Let's go to a club."

"You forgot I am a prisoner and your brother is the jailer. If we try to sneak out, he will really put you in a prison."

"Yes. Bhai is scary."

"I have a better idea." I came with a devilish plan. Oh my God, this is going to be fun.

"Let's go." I dragged Kabir towards my room.

I pulled a dupatta from my closet and handed it to him, and he looked at me with confusion.

"Let's Dance. Come on. Item song. Let's see if you can keep up with me. You are the lovely heroine, and I am the handsome hero." I said, making him look at me with wide eyes. He placed the dupatta in my hands and tried to run away.

I grabbed his wrist. "Oh no, mister. You're not running away."

He blinked. "Eh? No, I don't know how to dance."

"Dance," I said firmly. I draped the duppata on his head.

His eyes widened. "Wait—what? No, Bhabhi, this is a bad idea."

"Too late." I snatched his phone, found the most outrageous item song, and blasted it on full volume.

"Bhabhi!" he groaned, trying to cover his face. "This is social suicide!"

"Not if no one's recording," I teased, pulling him to the center of the room. "Now, do the heroine steps!"

Kabir's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"You are targeting me because I am an easy victim. I am pretty sure I am the first to endure this torture." He said with a pout.

"You are fifth. And trust me when I say this, you are the luckiest one because I am not recording you. Since you are my favorite." I said. I had forced all four of my friends before, and it was fun. I still have their videos; I will show them to their kids. Hahaha.

"Stop smiling. You are looking sinister." Kabir said.

"You heard me. You're the heroine. I'll be the hero."

The song started playing, and I mimicked Hero's dramatic entry.

Kabir laughed nervously. "No way. No, no—"

"No way!" I clapped my hands. "Start with the hip sway. Come on, Kabir. Be a good sport."

Reluctantly, he tried a half-hearted sway, looking utterly ridiculous. I whistled and shouted, "More drama! Pretend you're Katrina Kaif."

"Oh god..." He buried his face in his hands but still wiggled his hips, doing a twirl.

We both lost in our dance. I did all the hero's steps dramatically, and Kabir opened up after a few steps and danced excellently.

Kabir burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Bhabhi, you're killing me!"

"That's the point!" I laughed, grabbing his hand and twirling him like he was my damsel-in-distress.

He squealed, "Bhabhi, stop! People will think—"

"Let them!" I shouted over the music, dipping him like a hero would dip the heroine. He nearly fell but caught himself, or else we both would have been on the floor. We started laughing so hard his eyes watered.

We turned our heads and saw Karan and Dhruv standing at the door and watching us with wide eyes.

Karan's jaw nearly hit the ground. "What in the—"

But Dhruv... oh god. Dhruv just stood there, his eyes wide in shock. For a split second, he looked like his brain was trying to reboot after witnessing such a... unique sight. Then, to my horror, I saw his lips twitch. This devil will never let us forget this movement.

No. No, no, no.

He pressed his hand against his mouth, shoulders shaking ever so slightly.

Kabir whispered, "I am dead. So dead."

"Kabirrr..." he said, voice strangled as he tried not to laugh. "What... exactly... are you doing?"

Kabir scrambled upright, pushing me away as if I'd been forcing him at knifepoint. "Bhai! It's not what it looks like!"

"Oh, really?" Dhruv arched an eyebrow, failing miserably to keep a straight face. His lips curved, betraying him. "Because it looks like my wife just cast you in a heroine role."

Karan finally burst out laughing. "Oh my god! Kabir, you were doing the hip sway! I can't unsee this!"

Kabir turned crimson. "Shut up, both of you! Bhabhi forced me! I'm the victim here!"

I folded my arms, smug. "Victim? Excuse me, you were enjoying yourself. Don't deny it, Kabir."

"Enjoying—?!" He looked scandalized. "I was suffering for your entertainment, Bhabhi! I deserve an award for bravery!"

Dhruv finally let out a laugh, low and genuine, the kind that made me feel warm. "Well, Kabir," he said between chuckles, "if your dream career in tech ever fails, then I think Bollywood just found its next heroine."

Kabir groaned, covering his face. "I hate you all." I couldn't stop giggling.

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