The chapter was ready last night but it was already midnight that's why i didn't update yesterday

From morning enjoying Virat's fantastic batting and he scored a century, super happy

Now I'm publishing

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Anushka smiles at the family picture of the Kulkarni family posted by Shubman on his Instagram story.

“What’s going on, sister?” Jeevan asks, settling beside her at the dining table.

“Nothing much. What about you? Any updates from your law firm?” Anushka replies, glancing at him.

“Just hiring a few new interns, that’s about it.” Jeevan shrugs.

At that moment, Rajnath Rai, Anushka’s uncle and her father’s older brother, enters the dining room, greeting everyone.

“Hi, Anushka! How was your flight?” he asks, starting to serve food onto his plate.

“Too tiring, Uncle.” Anushka smiles. “But all the exhaustion disappeared the moment I got home.” She fills her plate and begins eating.

“Jeevan, aren’t you eating?” Rajnath glances at his son.

“Hmm, no, Dad. I have a dinner meeting with a client.” Jeevan responds.

“A meeting?” Rajini Rai, Rajnath’s wife and a renowned judge, suddenly appears , her voice sharp. “Who holds meetings at this hour? Are you taking on some shady case?”

“No Mom, relax. Stop being a judge at home.” Jeevan quips with a grin.

“It’s so good to see you, Anushka. I hope you’re staying for a while this time.” Rajini says as she takes her seat at the table.

“Yes, aunty. I’m here to stay.” Anushka replies with a smile.

From the TV hall, Yukta’s voice cuts through the conversation. “What else does she do, other than stay at home and dance around like a fool?”

“Yukta, focus on your soap operas, not on her.” Rajini snaps, giving her a sharp look.

Rajini then turns to Anushka. “Tell me, Anu, did you feel unsafe at the airport with all those paparazzi idiots? If you did, we can teach them a lesson.”

“No, no, aunty, they didn’t do anything. Just asking dumb questions. Virat actually made sure I was safe all the way to the car.” Anushka reassures her.

Just then, Jeevan’s younger sister, Nitya, walks inside home from her tuitions.

“Hey, Mom, Dad.” Nitya says, heading straight for the dining table.

“Janvi, go wash your hands first.” Rajini orders her younger daughter.

“Fine.” Janvi replies, heading off to the washroom. There’s a large age gap between Jeevan and Janvi; she was born much later, a miracle baby after some medical complications.

Once Janvi returns and starts eating, she looks up at Anushka. “Anushka di, when are you marrying Virat? I need to take a break from my studies and enjoy the wedding.”

“Janvi, just eat.” Rajnath says sternly.

Yukta snickers loudly but quickly tries to stifle her laughter. “Marriage? Really? That spoiled brat is never going to marry you. Anushka, trust me, you should marry my friend’s son instead.”

“Yukta, where’s your daughter, Anya? It’s already 8 p.m.” Rajini asks, raising an eyebrow.

“She’s 18 now. She can handle herself,” Yukta says dismissively.

“I’m 25, I can make my own decisions,” Anushka replies firmly. “So, please, keep your concerns to yourself, aunty.”

Janvi whispers to herself, “That’s a sixer.” impressed by Anushka’s response.

Later, Anushka heads to her room, she posts her picture from Dubai on Instagram and notices a message from Virat about the gift bag. A brilliant idea begins to form in her mind.

<Instgram>

anushka_rai: Roaming on the beautiful Dubai streets #throwback
Picture credit: of course @virat_kabirK

Liked by rahul_kK, Shubman_kKulkarni and 2M others

Limited comments

rahul_kK: I should say my brother is a good photographer
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anushka_rai: @rahul_kK , of course he is no doubt
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virat_kabirK: Thank you @anushks_rai and @rahul_kK for the appreciation, I know I'm the best.

rishabhK_singer: Nice photo bhaiya 🤪
shubman_kKulkarni: Never knew my brother is such a good photographer.
jeevan_rai: Beautiful picture captured by a beautiful person.

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Next Morning at Kulkarni House

Rahul walks into the dining hall and sits down. Chaya, the head maid, notices him.

“Rahul, you’re up early. Do you need anything to eat or drink.?” she asks.

“No need, Chaya aunty.” Rahul answers, tired. In the Kulkarni house, every worker is treated like family. Kabir and Savi, especially, treat their workers as close as friends.

“You look tired. Do you need some lemon juice or yogurt.?” Chaya asks.

Rahul opens his eyes wide. “Do I look like a drunk person, aunty? Like I just woke up from a hangover?” he asks.

Chaya nods, controlling a laugh.

Rahul sighs. “Strong coffee, less sugar.”, Chaya heads off to get it.

Savi comes into the dining hall and is surprised to see Rahul. “Rahul, you’re up? It’s just 7 a.m.” she says.

“Mom, I have a meeting to attend.” Rahul yawns.

Chaya arrives with the coffee and hands it to Rahul. “Here you go, your strong coffee.”

Rahul drinks it, and Savi and Chaya exchange glances. Savi playfully asks, “How many bottles of alcohol did you finish last night.?”

“Mom, you too?” Rahul sighs. “We brothers talked till late last night, that’s why my face is like this, not because of a hangover.”

Savi and Chaya burst into laughter.

Rahul glares at Savi, Savi controls her laugh  “You know, you can’t mess with your sleep schedule. Why didn’t you sleep early?”

“I tried, but it’s been a long time since we brothers spent time together. I couldn’t,” Rahul says.

“From today, try to maintain your sleep schedule, or you’ll end up in the hospital like last time.” Savi advises.

“Sure.” Rahul responds, finishing his coffee.

Savi goes to speak with the chef, instructing them to make Virat’s favorite breakfast. Just then, they hear the main door opening. They all look toward it.

Anushka enters, wearing jeans and a top, holding a bag in her hand. “Hi, Savi aunty!”

“Hi, Anushka! What are you doing here so early?” Savi asks, surprised.

Anushka bends to touch Savi’s feet.

“Maybe she is missing bhai, so here to meet him,” Rahul teases.

“Half correct. Actually, his gift bag is with me, so I thought I’d give it to him and also meet you all. It’s been long,” Anushka says.

“That’s so sweet, but Virat is still sleeping.” Savi says.

“Oh!” Anushka forms an ‘O’ with her mouth.

“You can go to his floor if you want.” Savi smiles.

“I can?” Anushka’s face lights up. “Okay.” She heads toward the elevator.

“Bhai’s floor passcode…” Rahul starts, but Anushka turns and says, “It’s ******* , I know, Virat told me.” She smiles and walks off.

Savi and Rahul exchange looks. “Seems like they’re serious, right mom?” Rahul asks. Virat has never shared the passcode to his floor with anyone, so both Rahul and Savi are surprised.
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Meanwhile, Anushka sneaks into Virat’s room on his floor. She finds him still asleep, lying on his back with a peaceful expression. Smiling to herself, she tiptoes closer, gently sitting beside him on the bed.

“Virat…” she whispers, nudging him softly. “Wake up.”

Virat mumbles, eyes still closed. “Five more minutes, mom.”

Grinning mischievously, Anushka leans down and gives him a quick poke in the side. “It’s me, Anushka.”

“Hey!” Virat jerks awake, laughing as he stretches. “What was that for?”

Anushka chuckles, her fingers ready to tickle him. “Just like that.”

“Why are you here so early.?” Virat asks.

“Brought your gift bag, say thanks to me.” Anushka commands.

Before Virat can react, Anushka starts tickling his sides. Virat bursts into laughter, trying to push her hands away.

“Stop, stop!” Virat laughs, but Anushka doesn’t stop. She continues tickling him, enjoying every moment of his laughter.

“Okay, okay, you win!” Virat gasps, finally grabbing her wrist and pulling her down. She falls onto the bed, and Virat quickly changes positions, now on top of her, tickling her stomach from above her top.

“Stop, stop…” Anushka gasps, laughing uncontrollably.

They’re both out of breath, tangled in laughter, when suddenly the sound of a bathroom door opening interrupts them.

Shubman enters, raising an eyebrow at the sight of them on the bed. “Sorry to interrupt a morning romance, but I can’t stay any longer in the bathroom—it smells bad sometimes.” he jokes, looking at his brother and Anushka in an awkward position.

Anushka quickly sits up, blushing. “Hi, Shubman!” she exclaims, embarrassed.

Virat grins, eyes twinkling. “It’s not what it looks like, trust me.”

Shubman laughs, raising his hands in surrender. “I didn’t see anything, I’m a very good boy. Enjoy,” he says with a blush, before running out of the room and floor.

Anushka shakes her head, still laughing. “Shubman… he’s just a child.”

“He’s not, he’s dating someone.” Virat says.

“What if he tells someone about this.?” Anushka asks, concerned.

“We are dating, remember?” Virat raises an eyebrow, smiling.

“Fake dating,” Anushka says. “Anyways , we need to figure out how to tell our families about our dating phase. How and when we met—our answers should match, right.?”

“Yeah, let’s discuss,” Virat says, getting up from the bed. They starts discussing  the plan. As they finalized their plan, an unspoken realization lingered in the air—maybe the line between fake and real was blurrier than they thought…

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