30.

Mira's POV

I am in Abhi’s room, enjoying the night while talking and laughing with him. The room feels warm and peaceful, filled with our quiet giggles. I decided to sleep here tonight so that Jiya and Dev could have some alone time together. Abhi didn’t mind in fact, he seemed happy about it.

When Dev told me that he was going to propose to Jiya, I couldn't keep my excitement in. I told him that I was also planning to propose to Abhiraj for marriage. We both made a secret plan and decided not to tell the siblings anything.

When I finally proposed to Abhiraj, his reaction was something I never expected. At first, he just stared at me in shock, his eyes wide and lips slightly parted. And then to my surprise, his eyes filled with tears and he started crying. I never thought he would cry… but he did. Seeing him so emotional made my heart swell with love.

Right now, he is lying down with his head resting on my lap. His eyes are heavy with sleep and his breathing is slow and calm. My fingers gently move through his soft hair, playing with his locks while I crease his head. He looks tired completely relaxed under my touch, almost on the verge of sleeping.

On the other side of me, Zar is lying down, his big body stretched out comfortably. Suddenly, I feel a slight tug on my hand. Confused, I look down and see Zar pressing his paw against my wrist, his big blue eyes staring at me. He nudges my hand again and then tilts his head, silently asking me to rub his head too.

A soft smile spreads on my lips at his adorable gesture. “Okay okay” I whisper, moving my hand from Abhi’s hair to Zar’s head.

My fingers gently run through his thick black and white fur and as soon as I start creasing him, he completely melts under my touch. His eyes slowly close and he rests his heavy head on my thighs, looking completely at peace.

I feel a movement beside me and turn to see Abhi watching me. His expression is unreadable for a second but then without a word, he grabs my hand and pulls it away from Zar’s head placing it back on his own.

A chuckle rises in my throat but I hold it in. I start creasing Abhi’s hair again but the moment I do, Zar lets out a small huff and grabs my hand with his paw once more. He gently moves it back to his own head pressing it down as if telling me “Keep creasing me.”

I giggle softly and run my fingers through his fur again but within seconds, Abhi pulls my hand back and puts it on his head once more. I blink in surprise, looking between the two of them. Before I can even react, Zar pulls my hand back to him again.

And then Abhi pulls it back.

And then Zar.

And then Abhi.

This little back and forth continues for a few more times and I can’t hold back my laughter anymore. I chuckle softly, shaking my head as I watch the two of them silently fighting for my attention.

Suddenly Zar lets out a low, deep roar, staring straight at Abhi with an expression that clearly says, I don’t like what you’re doing.

Abhi, completely unfazed gives him a bored look and then says in a lazy voice, “She is mine so she should crease my head first”

Zar turns his head toward me and blinks his blue eyes, his expression suddenly soft and pleading. He looks at me with the most innocent tiger-puppy eyes I have ever seen, silently begging me to side with him.

I press my lips together trying to hold back another chuckle. These two… are just impossible.

“No, baby I’m yours first, then his” I say with a soft smile and place my hand back on Zar’s fur, gently creasing it.

Zar, understanding my words, turns his head towards Abhi and gives him a victorious look, his blue eyes shining with mischief.

This cute little bickering between them… it’s something I can watch my whole life without getting bored.

Abhi lets out a dramatic sigh and mumbles, “You don’t love me…” Before I can say anything, he takes my other hand and places it on his head.

A small chuckle escapes my lips “I do love you but my son is also important” I say while glancing at Zar.

Abhi pouts like a child, his lips forming a cute little frown.

“Abhi, he is our son. How can you act like this?” I tease my voice full of amusement.

Abhi scoffs and turns his head towards Zar, narrowing his eyes. “You’ve changed a lot, I see. First, you made your Mumma take your side and now you’re not even paying attention to me” he complains.

Zar blinks at him. Then, in the most innocent way, he takes his big paw and gently pushes my hand towards Abhi’s head, silently telling me to crease his father’s hair instead of his.

A warm feeling spreads in my heart at this small, sweet gesture. “My baby is really a cutie” I say, leaning down to place a soft kiss on Zar’s furry head.

Abhi watches this silently, then, without saying a word lifts his finger and points towards his own forehead. His eyes silently demand the same affection.

I shake my head with a smile before leaning down and placing my lips on his forehead, letting them linger there for a few seconds. His skin feels warm under my touch and I can feel his breathing slow down a little.

Pulling back, I chuckle. “You both....father and son.....don’t look like mafias and dangerous at all”

Hearing this, both of them turn their heads towards each other and exchange a smirk, making me frown in confusion.

Before I can ask anything, Abhi suddenly speaks “When do you want to get married?”

His sudden question makes me blink. I shift my gaze to him, a little surprised.

“I proposed to you. Now, you’re the one who should decide when we will get married” I say, watching his reaction.

The moment I say this, his entire face lights up with excitement. He suddenly sits up straight and looks at me like a little boy who just received his favorite candy.

“If that’s the case then let’s get married tomorrow!” he says eagerly his eyes sparkling.

A laugh escapes my lips at his excitement. “We’ll decide this tomorrow. But for now, you should sleep because you have a meeting in the morning” I remind him.

He sighs but nods, laying back down beside me. Zar is lying in between us, his body stretched out comfortably.

Unlike Abhi sleep is far from my eyes. I turn to Zar, my fingers reaching out to touch his face. I softly trace my fingertips along his nose, then move to his ears. I play with them lightly, then shift to his fluffy tail, stroking it gently.

Throughout all of this, my baby doesn’t complain, doesn’t make a single noise. He just watches me with calm Blue eyes, his body still and relaxed.

A small smile tugs at my lips. This moment....this peace.....I want to cherish it forever.

I turn my head towards Abhiraj, who is already fast asleep. His breathing is slow and steady, his face relaxed.

A mischievous idea pops into my mind and I glance at Zar, whispering “Let’s trouble your Dadda”

Zar’s ears instantly perk up at the idea. His blue eyes shine with excitement and he quickly nods his head, sitting up straight beside me. I bite my lip to hold back a giggle and look at Abhi again.

To be honest, he looks too cute right now. His lips are slightly pouted, probably because of the way his face is pressed against the pillow. The sight makes my heart melt… but that doesn’t mean I’ll let him sleep in peace.

I look at Zar, who is already waiting for my signal. “Are you ready?” I whisper.

He nods, his tail swishing slightly.

Suppressing a grin, I reach out and shake Abhiraj’s shoulder. “Abhi! Abhi, wake up!” I call out shaking him again.

Abhi jolts awake with a sharp breath, his body tensing as he quickly sits up, looking around the room in confusion. “Kya hua? (What happened?)” he asks, his eyes scanning my face as if checking if I’m okay.

A warm feeling spreads in my chest at his concern but I push it aside and put on a shy act. I lower my gaze, playing with my fingers and say in a soft voice “Aap se pyaar hua hai…” (I have fallen in love with you...)

The moment I say it, I hear a small huff beside me.....Zar is laughing.

But before I can react, Abhiraj suddenly grabs my shoulders and pushes me onto the bed, hovering over me in a swift motion. My body freezes. My heart pounds.

I stare at him with wide eyes, completely caught off guard. He smirks at my reaction, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Show me then” he murmurs, his voice deep and teasing.

I gulp, my throat suddenly dry. He leans in closer, his warm breath fanning against my skin. My own breath catches in my throat.

“Babe… don’t tease the beast inside me or else you’ll face the consequences” he whispers, his nose brushing against my collarbone in a slow, torturous motion.

I squeeze my eyes shut. Our closeness… his touch… it’s overwhelming.

“I haven’t even done anything yet and look at you—breathless already” he murmurs in my ear, his voice filled with amusement “Just imagine, Jaan when I actually do those things to you… what will happen then?”

Before I can even process his words, I feel a soft nip on my earlobe. A sharp jolt runs down my spine and my toes curl at the sensation.

He slowly pulls back, his face hovering just inches from mine. His dark eyes bore into mine, filled with something intense. For a moment, neither of us speaks.

My eyes lower to his lips. They look… soft. Tempting. I don’t even realize what I’m doing until I unconsciously wet my own lips, my body responding on its own.

Abhiraj notices. A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. He leans in closer, his lips almost brushing against mine… but at the last second he shifts and presses a kiss just beside my lips instead. A soft, lingering kiss.

Then, he pulls back, his smirk widening.

“This is how I feel when you tease me, babe” he murmurs his voice husky and thick with amusement.

Before I can react, a sudden noise breaks the moment....

Sneeze.

Both of us turn our heads at the same time.

Zar is sitting there, looking at us, his expression screaming, I’m sorry, I ruined your moment.

For a second, there is complete silence. Then my face heats up in embarrassment.

I quickly push Abhiraj away and sit up straight, my cheeks burning. Avoiding his gaze, I turn to Zar and mumble “Let’s sleep, baby”

Zar, understanding my need to escape the situation, immediately lies down beside me. I hug him burying my face in his soft fur.

But before I can fully calm down, I feel a strong arm wrap around my waist. Abhiraj moves closer, hugging me from behind, his hand resting gently on my stomach.

I feel his breath near my ear. “Goodnight, Jaan” he whispers.

A shy smile creeps onto my face. I lean back into his warmth, my heart feeling full.

With my Abhi on one side, my Zar on the other… this moment feels perfect.

A complete family. And trust me, it feels so good.

Jiya’s POV

“I thought you didn’t love me” I mumble, my voice barely above a whisper.

I am lying in Dev’s arms, hugging him tightly while he slowly runs his fingers up and down my back in a soothing motion. His warmth surrounds me, making me feel safe, at home.

His lips curve into a small smile. “How can I not love a person like you?” he says in a playful tone.

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that spreads on my face. “Showing off your flirting skills now, huh?”

He smirks. “Always”

I let out a soft chuckle before my expression turns serious. “Then why did you behave like a jerk in the beginning?” I ask, resting my chin on his chest and looking up at him.

His fingers stop for a second before he sighs. “Because at that time… I was a jerk.”

We both chuckle at his honesty.

“I really thought you hated me” I admit, my voice softer now “I even tried to move on from you but destiny had other plans. When I found out that Bhai loves Mira, I knew I’d have to face you a lot more… so I told myself I’d ignore you at any cost. But instead…” I pause, my fingers playing with the ring on my hand, the one he made me wear. “…I just kept falling for you more”

Dev watches me carefully, his eyes full of emotions. He lifts a hand and gently tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I’m really sorry for making you feel that way, love” he whispers.

My cheeks instantly heat up. Why is he making me blush so much today?!

Before I can say anything, he suddenly tilts his head and looks at me with a teasing glint in his eyes. “By the way, aren’t you forgetting something?”

I blink at him, confused “What?”

His lips twitch into a smirk “You said you’d give me that when we were alone.”

It takes me a second to realize what he’s talking about. My eyes widen slightly. The kiss.

But instead of giving in I decide to play dumb “Huh? What are you talking about? I don’t remember saying anything like that”

His brows furrow “Remember? You said not in front of Mira and Abhi” His voice is filled with desperation as he tries to make me remember.

I shrug “Nope still not getting it. Say it clearly”

His lips part in disbelief before he pouts slightly. “Nothing” he mumbles, looking away.

I bite my lip to stop my laughter. He looks so adorable right now.

Slowly, I lean in, watching his face carefully. Then I press my lips against his cheek.

The moment I do, I feel his entire body tense. His grip on my waist tightens slightly and I swear… his hand is shivering.

I smile against his skin. I love his reaction.

Not stopping there, I press another kiss on the same spot… and then another. Soft, lingering kisses.

When I finally pull away, I take a good look at his face.... His entire face is red.

A laugh bubbles in my throat. “Why is your whole face red, Mr. Malhotra?” I tease.

He quickly shakes his head, looking down, avoiding my eyes.

That’s it. I burst into laughter. “Oh my God! You’re blushing!” I exclaim reaching out to pinch his warm cheeks.

He groans but doesn’t stop me. Instead he buries his face in the crook of my neck, hiding from me completely.

I smile, running my fingers through his hair.

“Dev, you are really something” I say shaking my head with a smile.

He grins widely, looking way too pleased with himself.

“When will we get married?” I ask curiously, playing with his fingers.

His grin widens even more “Let’s get married tomorrow.”

I gasp and immediately hit his chest. “Not that soon!”

He scoffs dramatically. “I’m turning 30 soon! How long do I have to wait? If we don’t get married fast, people will say you married an old man” He gives me a fake sad look, clearly trying to manipulate me.

I smirk. “So what? They’ll just be telling the truth. You are 30 and I’m 23. It’s obvious you’re older than me”

His jaw drops slightly. “You never let me forget that you’re Abhiraj’s sister do you?” he says, chuckling.

I cross my arms proudly. “Because I am his sister”

Before he can argue, his phone starts ringing. He picks it up from the nightstand and glances at the screen. Unknown number.

He frowns but answers it anyway, putting the phone to his ear.

“Dev, why did you block me?” A woman’s voice comes from the other side. My ears immediately stand straight.

Dev’s expression turns ice cold. “Who?” His voice is sharp and emotionless, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Dev, it’s me, Sanjana”

Sanjana?

Oh. That Sanjana. The famous actress.

I watch Dev’s face closely but his expression doesn’t change. If anything, he looks annoyed.

“Don’t call me again” he says flatly, wasting no time. He moves to cut the call... But suddenly, the woman starts crying.

“I love you, Dev! Why can’t you understand this?!” she sobs desperately.

And that’s it.

Without thinking, I snatch the phone from Dev’s hand and press it against my ear.

“Miss, stay away from him” I say, my voice sharp with anger “Because Dev Malhotra is mine And if you ever call him again, I’ll make sure you won’t be able to make another call for the rest of your life”

There’s silence on the other end.

“Who… who are you and what are you doing with him?” she asks, her voice filled with shock.

I smirk. “What do you think a girl and a boy would be doing at this time of night?” I ask teasingly.

I hear her gasp loudly before the line goes dead. I lower the phone, my smirk still in place and turn to look at Dev.

He’s already watching me, smirking in amusement.

Before I can say anything, he suddenly pins me down on the bed, his hands caging me on either side.

“Let’s do what a boy and a girl do at this time” he whispers, his face dangerously close to mine.

My breath hitches.

His dark eyes hold a teasing glint but they also burn with something deeper, something that makes my heart race.

He’s looking so hot right now. But....control yourself, Jiya! I quickly push him to the side and shift, sitting on top of his stomach.

“If she calls you again” I say, crossing my arms, “I’ll kill her and put the blame on you”

Dev chuckles shaking his head in amusement. He grips my waist, his fingers lightly pressing into my skin.

“I think you love this position” he says, his voice full of mischief. My breath hitches again.

Heat rushes to my face and I quickly climb off him, lying down beside him instead.

My entire face is burning.

“Hahaha… my baby” he says pulling me into his arms from behind.

His warmth surrounds me as he presses a soft kiss to the back of my head.

“Good night” he whispers.

“Good night” I reply in a small voice.

We both fall asleep in each other’s arms, feeling the warmth and comfort of being together.

Unaware that tomorrow, someone is about to enter all of our lives… and change everything.

😈😌