7. Talks
Fractured Crowns
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Rudraksh, Daksh, Aaryansh, and Aditya were lounging in a spacious room of their family house, surrounded by warm ambient lighting and the rich aroma of aged wine.
As they sipped their wine, laughter echoed through the room, punctuated by the occasional clink of glasses.
Their best bodyguards and closest friends, Aarush and Rishi, were also present. Aarush had a reputation for his quick wit, while Rishi was the more serious one, often playing the role of the voice of reason.
Meanwhile, Vikrant Sharma, Rudraksh's best friend and the soon-to-be Chief Minister of the state, sat at the end of the table, his presence commanding yet relaxed.
âWhere's Ashwin?â Daksh asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
âWhere else? Heâs with his wife,â Vikrant replied, a smirk playing on his lips as he took a sip of his wine.
âWife?â Aaryansh looked genuinely surprised. âWhen did Ashwin Bhai marry? Aur mujhe kyun nahi bulaya?â His eyes widened in disbelief.
Aarush, Rishi, and Vikrant exchanged amused glances, chuckling softly, while Aaryansh and Aditya looked at them in confusion, their brows furrowing.
âHe means that Ashwin is on duty. Being a police officer, his duty is his first wife, na?â Rishi chuckled, his laughter infectious. Aaryansh and Aditya made an exaggerated âOâ face, realization dawning on them.
âYeah, exactly!â Aarush chimed in, unable to contain his laughter.
âBut itâs already night!â Aditya raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of concern and disbelief.
âMaybe some criminals are giving him trouble,â Rudraksh suggested, swirling his wine in the glass, his mind elsewhere.
âOr maybe,â Vikrant leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes, âhe's ignoring this brothersâ night, completely uninterested in our gossips!â
The room erupted with laughter, the warmth of friendship enveloping them. Aditya managed a small smile, while Rudraksh maintained his stoic demeanor, a slight smile teasing the corners of his lips.
âGossip, huh?â Rudraksh said, taking another sip of his wine, his voice steady. âBut weâre just sitting silently. Kya gossip hai jo hum kar rahe hain?â
âOh, I was just about to ask you all something, Rudra!â Aarush grinned, leaning forward with interest.
âAnd what is that?â Rudraksh raised an eyebrow, curious about where this was heading.
âYou all went to see your future wives, right? Tell us about it!â Aarush urged, his excitement palpable.
âYeah! I heard the marriages are confirmed! Did you four like the girls?â Rishi exclaimed, practically bouncing in his seat, eager for details.
At the mention of the girls, smiles crept onto Aaryansh and Daksh's faces as they thought about their future brides. The memory of the day they had met flooded their minds, filling them with warmth and anticipation.
In contrast, Rudraksh and Aditya shifted uncomfortably, their expressions serious as they tried to keep their thoughts in check.
âOh, itâs a big thumbs up from me!â Daksh exclaimed, his enthusiasm shining through.
"Me too! You all should have seen the girls! They looked like goddesses straight from heaven!" Aaryansh added, his excitement bubbling over. "Main toh bas dekhte reh gaya!"
Rishi, Aarush, and Vikrant chuckled, exchanging amused glances, enjoying the lively energy.
âReally?â Aarush raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his face.
âWhat about you two?â Rishi asked, his gaze turning to Rudraksh and Aditya, curiosity etched on his face.
âI donât like her,â they replied in unison, their tones flat and serious, the atmosphere shifting slightly.
âWhy not?â Aaryansh frowned, genuinely confused by their response.
âSheâs probably a gold digger,â Rudraksh and Aditya echoed again, their words hanging heavy in the air.
âWhy do you think that?â Vikrant tilted his head, intrigued, his interest piqued.
âWhy else would they agree to the marriage so soon?â Rudraksh retorted, taking another sip of his wine, his brow furrowed in thought.
âMaybe they had their reasons, just like us!â Daksh countered, leaning forward, determined to defend the girls.
âWhy are you defending them anyway, Bhaiya? We donât know anything about them,â Aditya pointed out, crossing his arms, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
âBecause I like them! Ishika Bhabhi and Ananya are really nice girls! Donât think anything bad about them!â Daksh insisted, his voice rising slightly with frustration.
Just then, Vikrant intervened, sensing the rising tension. âBoys, chill! Itâs too early to judge anyone. Har ek ki kahani hoti hai. Letâs get to know them better before jumping to conclusions. Koi bhi rishta bina samjhe nahi banta!â
âBilkul sahi kaha, Vikrant!â Aarush added, nodding in agreement. âLetâs not spoil the fun of this brothers' night."
âWhatever,â the four brothers replied in unison, their voices mingling in playful harmony.
The atmosphere in the room lightened as they resumed their banter, sharing stories and laughing at old memories. With each shared joke and reminiscence, the weight of their earlier conversation about marriage faded away, replaced by the comforting bonds of brotherhood.
They were, after all, more than just brothers; they were friends, confidants, and each otherâs strongest support.
As the night wore on, the laughter gradually subsided, and one by one, their guests began to take their leave. Aarush and Rishi exchanged farewells, with Vikrant promising to meet up soon to discuss more about his upcoming political campaigns.
Finally, the brothers watched as their friends drove away into the night, leaving them to the quiet of their home.
Once inside, the brothers headed back to their respective rooms, the familiar surroundings welcoming them.
Each room reflected their personalities; the walls adorned with trophies and photographs, hints of their individual journeys.
In his room, Rudraksh sank into his bed, the soft sheets enveloping him. He adjusted his pillow, trying to find the right position.
âI definitely think sheâs a spoiled brat,â he muttered to himself, a frown creasing his forehead as he recalled the brief encounter with his future bride. He felt an inexplicable frustration welling up inside.
His eyelids grew heavy, and he succumbed to sleep. Yet, as soon as he closed his eyes, restlessness took over.
He began shifting in his sleep, tossing and turning as shadows of unfulfilled dreams clouded his mind. This had been his problem for the past few yearsâa mysterious affliction that left him tossing and turning, haunted by thoughts he could not articulate.
He had tried everything: herbal teas, meditation, even counting sheep, but nothing seemed to work. The reason for his sleeplessness was unknown..
Across the hall, in Daksh's room, peace reigned. He lay cocooned in his blankets, a serene smile on his lips.
Divyaâs face filled his dreams, a radiant vision that brought warmth to his heart even in slumber. He pictured her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke.
The thought of her made a soft blush bloom on his cheeks, even as he slept, encapsulating him in a cocoon of blissful ignorance.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Aditya leaned back against the headboard of his bed, a scowl etched on his face.
He contemplated his future bride with skepticism. âSheâs a gold digger. Thatâs it,â he asserted to himself, dismissing any thoughts of her potential.
âItâs clear she must have had a lot of boyfriends, looking at her personality.â The suspicion gnawed at him as he shifted under the covers, finally surrendering to sleep, yet his mind remained clouded with doubts.
In another part of the house, Aaryansh was wide awake.
His room was a stark contrast to the others; it was filled with books and his laptop, the blue light illuminating his face as he scrolled through the screen.
He was consumed by curiosity about Amrita, the woman he was to marry. The anticipation mixed with a touch of anxiety as he typed her name into the search engine.
As the page loaded, he was met with a plethora of images and articles featuring her. A sense of pride swelled within him as he read about her accomplishments.
She was managing Dreamlight, one of the biggest designer companies in India.
âMy wife is so talented!â he exclaimed softly, unable to suppress a smile as he gazed at her photos. Each image showcased her creativity and passion, radiating confidence that made Aaryansh's heart swell with admiration.
He clicked on an article detailing a recent fashion show where Amritaâs designs had been featured, her name and the three girls names highlighted as a rising star in the fashion industry.
The words danced before his eyes as he read about her innovative ideas and how she had transformed the companyâs image.
âSheâs incredible,â he mused, his fingers lingering over her pictures. Each click revealed another layer of her talent, and he found himself captivated by the artistry and flair she exuded.
As the minutes turned into hours, Aaryanshâs excitement grew. He was no longer just thinking about marrying Amrita; he was beginning to envision their future together.
Could he be the supportive husband she deserved? Would he fit into her world of creativity and success? The possibilities thrilled him, and he felt a warmth in his chest, a stark contrast to the doubt that clouded his brothers' minds.
Eventually, he closed his laptop, feeling a renewed sense of hope and determination. With one last glance at Amritaâs pictures, he turned off the light and settled into bed, a smile lingering on his lips as he drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the woman who might just change his life forever.
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