The day passed with the chaos continuing in the mansion. Ishika was showered with love by Yash's mother and dadi, while Yash was left feeling like a third wheel in his own house.

Hall Room

The mansion buzzed with laughter as Dhruv chased behind Tara who snatched his milkshake

"YEH SHAKE MUJHE DEDE TARAAA"

Dhruv screamed at the top of his lungs as he chased behind her. Tara just laughed in response, her voice filled with genuine happiness.

(Tara give me this shake!)

"Nhi milega!!" She replied with a mischievous grin and ran towards the main door. She glanced back at Dhruv mid-run, but it only cost her.

She collided with a hard, solid chest. The milkshake slipped from her hands and splattered onto the polished floor.

Dhruv who witnessed everything, started laughing hard.

"Tara aasman se seedha zameen pe!"

Tara groaned, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She looked up only to find a pair of brown amber eyes staring back at her with a slight chuckle.

"Sorry woh maine dekha nhi" Tara said, her voice tinted with embarrassment.

(Sorry I didn't see)

"Its okay! No worries!" He said and extended his hand to her. Before she could hold it, Dhruv came into the picture like a protective hawk.

"Tara, tumhe chot toh nhi lgi?" He said, pulling her up from the ground carefully and checking her if she got any injuries.

(Tara you're not hurt right?)

Dhruv side eyed the guy, muttering under his breath,

"Aya bada haath dene wala"

Yash and Ishika came to the hall hearing the chaos unfolding in the hall room.

The guy saw Yash and dropped his bags, running and jumping into his arms. Yash wrapped his arms around him as he sighed knowing exactly what was coming.

"YASH BHAIYAAAAA!!!" the guy shouted as he got down and hugged him.

Dhruv, confused, asked,

"Ek second... Kabir?"

The guy turned to Dhruv, smiling, as he said "finally tujhe yaad aagya!! I'm the great Kabir Singhania!"

(Finally you remembered me!)

Dhruv ran to him and they hugged like little brothers who got separated in kumbh ka mela.

Yash pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed, while Ishika watched everything, confused.

"Kya yaar bhaiya apne shaadi karli aur mujhe bulaya bhi nhi? Not fair!" Kabir said dramatically.

(Bhaiya you got married and didn't even bothered to tell me?)

"Kabir tu kyu aaya hai yaha?" Yash asked frustrated

(Kabir why did you came here?)

"Arey yaar apni bhabhi ke saath thoda time spend karne aaya hu!" He went towards Ishika and touched her feet.

(I'm here to spend sometime with my bhabhi!)

Yash rolled his eyes as he said, "itne saare joker kam the jo tu bhi aagya?"

(Were these jokers not enough that you're here too?)

"Apni biwi ko joker bolte ho sharam nhi aati?!" Kabir said and Ishika glared at Yash.

(Don't you feel ashamed of calling your wife joker?!)

"Abe yaar" Yash made a face, crying intentionally as he knew he was officially doomed.

━━༻❁༺━━

SOMETIME LATER

Yash paced around the room, rubbing his temples as he glared at Ishika, Dhruv, and Tara. He was utterly frustrated.

Ishika sat cross-legged on the couch, munching on chips, while Tara was stifling her laughter. Dhruv smirked, watching the tension unfold like his favorite sitcom.

Yash stopped abruptly and pointed at Ishika. "we need to act like a real couple so that dadi doesn't doubts us!"

Ishika rolled her eyes, clearly uninterested. "Real couple? Hum dono? Isse pehle duniya na Khatam hojaye?"

(Real couple? We both? Won't the world end before that?)

"ughh" Yash sighed, feeling like banging his head on the wall.

Dhruv, clearly enjoying everything, said "Aur karlo internet pe shaadi!" Sarcasm evident in his voice.

Yash shot him a glare and he just shrugged his shoulders. He shifted closer to Tara as they sat together on the bed. His attempt to shield himself from Yash's glare was both subtle and obvious. Tara couldn't help but smile at Dhruv's antics, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Dhruv, oblivious to her gaze, laughed heartily, his voice echoing with genuine joy as he playfully tapped Tara's hand in excitement. She found herself looking at him, her laughter fading as an unfamiliar warmth filled her chest. For the first time, she truly noticed him-not just as the carefree, annoying Dhruv she'd always known, but as someone different.

Her eyes lingered on his side profile, the way his happiness lit up his features. The laughter brought out the dimples on his cheeks, and his tousled hair only added to his charm. Her heart gave an unexpected, unfamiliar flutter. A realization crept in slowly, making her pulse quicken.

Shaking her head slightly, Tara tore her gaze away, gulping as she tried to ignore the strange sensation building inside her. She forced herself to focus on Yash and Ishika, silently reprimanding herself for the sudden shift in her thoughts. She just hoped Dhruv hadn't noticed anything.

"Can you just act like we're in love?" Yash said, frustrated.

"Oh? Tumhare pyaar me girne se accha mai building se na gir jau?" Ishika said with a tight lip smile.

(I'd rather jump off a building than be in love with you)

He turned to her, smiling sarcastically as he said "Tumhare saath rehne se accha mai jungle Jaake janwaro ke saath na reh lu?"

(I'd rather stay with the animals in the jungle than to live with you)

"Tumhe toh janwar bhi accept na kare! Waise bhi BILLU ko kaun accept krega?" Ishika said with a duh voice.

(Even animals will not accept you. Who's going to accept a BILLU anyways?)

Yash's jaw clenched as he pointed a finger at her. "You're mad. YOU'RE MAD. Totally mad. Yeh ladki puri ki puri pagal hai!"

(This girl is totally mad!)

Ishika gasped dramatically, standing up to face him. "Main pagal? Tum pagal! Tumhara bhai pagal! Tumhara dost pagal! Tumhara khandaan pagal! Sab ke sab pagal!"

(I'm mad? YOU'RE MAD! Your brother is mad! Your friend is mad! You're whole bloodline is mad! Everyone is mad!)

Dhruv clutched his stomach, unable to hold back his laughter. "I love this! Ishika, you're killing it."

Tara joined in, imitating Yash's frustrated gestures. "You're mad! Totally mad!"

"Damn Tara you're good at this" he said and Tara looked at him then winked, flipping her hairs dramatically.

"SHUT UP!" Yash shouted, glaring at both Dhruv and Tara while they both high fived.

Ignoring the chaos around him, Yash turned back to Ishika, pointing his finger at her. "Do not call me that!"

Ishika stood up from her seat and walked towers him, now standing infront of him. "Kya? BILLU?"

(What? Billu?)

"YAHH!" Yash replied, annoyed.

Ishika folded her arms, a triumphant smirk lighting up her face. "Mai bolungi! Das baar bolungi! BILLU BILLU BILLU BILLU BILLU!" she chanted, each word dripping with mockery and relish.

(I'll say it a hundred times!)

Yash's jaw tightened as he narrowed his eyes at her. "Mai Billu? Tum CHUHIYA!" he shot back, his tone laced with irritation.

(If I'm billu then you're chuhiya!)

Ishika's expression shifted instantly, her smirk replaced by an incredulous glare. "Mujhe chuhiya bola?" she asked, her voice brimming with rage.

(Did you just called me chuhiya?!)

"Haan bola, toh kya kar logi-" Yash's words were abruptly cut off as Ishika grabbed the glass of water from the nearby table and splashed its contents straight onto his face.

(Yes I did! What will you do---)

Dhruv and Tara, who had been silently watching the argument unfold, gasped loudly, their hands flying to their mouths to stifle their reactions.

Yash stood frozen for a moment, droplets of water trickling down his face, before his expression darkened with fury.

"HOW DARE YOU!" he roared, glaring at her like a thunderstorm about to strike.

Before Ishika could react, Yash marched toward her, scooped her up in his arms, and held her tightly in a bridal-style grip. Ishika thrashed against his hold, shouting,

"leave me! Yash, I'm warning you I swear!"

Ignoring her protests, Yash strode out of the room, his strides purposeful and quick. Dhruv and Tara trailed behind them, trying to keep their laughter in check but also eager to see what would happen next. The group made their way to the poolside, a luxurious yet serene space now about to witness chaos.

Without a word, Yash stepped to the edge of the pool and, with an almost dramatic flair, threw Ishika into the water.

The splash was loud, and for a brief moment, everything stilled. Ishika surfaced quickly, sputtering, the cold water shocking her senses.

For a fleeting second, memories of her past flickered in her mind, threatening to consume her, but she shoved them aside, her anger blazing brighter than her fear.

Her eyes burned with fury as she glared up at Yash, who was now standing at the pool's edge with his arms crossed, a smug grin plastered across his face.

"That'll teach you not to mess with me" he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

Without warning, Ishika lunged forward, grabbing hold of his wrist and yanking him into the pool with all her strength. Yash, caught off guard, tumbled into the water with a loud splash, the smugness wiped clean off his face.

From the sidelines, Dhruv and Tara burst into simultaneous exclamations. "Damn!" they said in unison, their eyes wide as they watched the chaos unfold before them.

Yash surfaced quickly, coughing and spluttering, his hair plastered to his forehead. He glared at Ishika, who stood in the shallow end of the pool, water dripping from her clothes as she returned his glare with equal intensity.

"Chuhiya!" Yash hissed through gritted teeth.

"Billu!" Ishika shot back, refusing to back down.

"Chuhiya!!!" he repeated, his voice rising.

"Billu!!!" she retorted, louder this time.

Their argument was interrupted by a dramatic voice.

"AWWWW!" Kabir's exaggerated yell echoed as he walked into the pool area, placing a hand theatrically over his heart.

"Idhar pool romance chal raha hai, haan?"

(Pool romance is going on here?)

He said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Dhruv leaned closer to Tara, mumbling under his breath

"Romance ka toh nhi pta, lekin agar inka bas chale toh ek dusre ko yahin paani mein duba ke maar de."

(I don't know about romance but they might just drown and kill each other)

Kabir grinned widely, enjoying the show, while Yash and Ishika shot him identical looks of annoyance. Without another word, the two of them stomped out of the pool, dripping wet and fuming as they headed to their respective rooms to change, their backs radiating indignation.

Kabir turned to Dhruv and Tara, his grin widening. "You know, I think this might just be the most entertaining couple I've ever seen."

Dhruv and Tara snapped their head and glanced at each other together, smirking, silently agreeing how entertaining they are.

━━༻❁༺━━

Later that night, after dinner, Yash, Kabir, Ishika, Dhruv and Tara sat together in the room.

Yash sat on the edge of the bed, his arms crossed, glaring at the floor as if it had personally offended him. Ishika leaned against the wall, looking equally exasperated. Kabir, sprawled on the carpet, watched them both with a mix of amusement and disbelief, while Dhruv and Tara perched on the couch, exchanging curious glances.

"So!" Kabir said dramatically, breaking the silence, "let me get this straight. Tum dono ki shaadi ek natak hai?"

(So, your entire marriage is fake?)

Yash groaned, rubbing his temple. "Haa mere baap!"

(Yes!)

Kabir clutched his chest with a theatrical gasp. "Mujhe laga tha mere buddhe bhai ko koi takkar ki mil gayi, ek perfect match! Par yeh sab jhooth tha? Mera dil tod diya tum dono ne!"

(I thought my oldie brother got someone who's like him but it was all an act! You guys broke my heart.)

He fell back on the carpet dramatically, looking up at the ceiling like a heartbroken hero.

Ishika rolled her eyes. "Oh please!"

Dhruv rolled his eyes as well as he said "Abe o saste Shahrukh Khan, naatak band kar!"

(Stop your drama you poor version of Shahrukh Khan!)

B

efore Kabir could retort, Tara, sitting beside Dhruv, piped up with a mischievous smile.

"Sach mein, Kabir. Tum toh aise react kar rahe ho jaise yeh koi romantic film ho aur tumhare bhai hero ho."

(Seriously, Kabir. You're reacting like this is some romantic film and your brother is the hero.)

Dhruv smirked and leaned closer to Tara, whispering just loud enough for everyone to hear

"Yash aur romance? Impossible. Yeh toh poolside se shuru hota hai aur danda leke bhagane pe khatam karta hai."

(Yash and romance? Impossible. He starts at the poolside and ends with chasing people with a stick.)

Yash shot him a death glare. "SHUT UP DHRUV!"

Ishika, ignoring the chaos, sighed.
"The point is, what now? Dadi and Maa are taking this act very seriously."

Yash turned to her, clearly irritated. "That's what I'm trying to say! Chilla chilla kar gala phat gya mera phir bhi inke dimag me tab se baat nhi ghusi!"

(My throat exploded by shouting and you guys didn't even got the point!)

Ishika scoffed. "Whatever."

Before their bickering could spiral, Tara raised her hand like a student in class. "Wait. Agar tum dono yeh natak continue karna chahte ho, toh kuch ground rules toh honi chahiye. Right, Kaankhajura?"

(If you guys wanna continue this act then there should be some ground rules)

Dhruv nodded seriously. "Bilkul. Rule number one: No more fighting in front of family. Rule number two: Yash, tujhe thoda sweet banna padega. Aur Ishika, tumhe thodi lovely si wife."

(Exactly. Rule number one: No more fighting in front of the family. Rule number two: Yash bhai, you'll have to act a little sweet. And Ishika, you'll have to be a bit more lovely wife.)

"lovely si wife?" Ishika raised an eyebrow.

Kabir moved towards Tara and whispered in her ears,

"Yeh dono na ek dusre ko paani mein dubayenge."

(These two will drown each other one day.)

Just as the argument reached its peak, Kabir raised a hand, silencing them all. "Bas bas! I thought aap dono ki chemistry asli thi, lekin yeh toh full on WWE chal rahi hai!"

(Enough, enough! I thought your chemistry was real, but this feels more like a WWE match!)

Yash sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Saare ke saare mujhe pagal karke chhodenge."

(All of you are going to drive me insane.)

"Sabse bade pagal toh tum hi ho!" Ishika said, glaring at him.

(You're the most insane person here!)

"Tumse hi seekha hai!"

(I've learned it from you!)

What they didn't realize was that Dadi had been standing just outside the door, quietly listening to every word. A sly smile spread across her face as she walked away, thinking to herself.

"Yeh dono takkar ke hai. Ishq wahi pura ho skta hai jisme ishq karne wale takkar ke ho. Aur in dono ko pyaar me giraane ki zimmedari meri."

(These two are perfect for each other. Love is successful only when both of them constantly challenge each other. Now making them fall in love with each other is my responsibility.)

A/N: Dadi is the cupid!! <3

Was it boring? I'm sorry if it was.
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ID: namjesus_blessing