"Bro …" Pranay hurried to Ajit.Shrey also turned, startled.
"Where is he?" Ajit asked as he stepped in.
"He's gone out somewhere.""Where?""It's not like he ever tells us first," Shrey shrugged, deliberately casual.
Diamond, spooked by the stranger's presence, pressed himself against Shrey.Shrey scooped him up. "Don't be scared, Hira‑Chandi. This is my big brother—your big brother too, OK? Shake hands."He offered Diamond's tiny paw toward Ajit. Diamond squeaked and tried to pull it back.
"Leave him," Ajit smiled. "He isn't comfortable."
"Forget the dog," Pranay cut in. "Prakhar made potato parathas today!"
"Not hungry," Ajit said, heading straight for Prakhar's room.
"Bro! It's bad manners to barge into someone's room. Privacy, you know?" Shrey blocked the doorway.
"Manners? Do you even have any?" Ajit said drily.
"Bhai!" Shrey bristled.
"Move."
They entered. An odd hush filled the plain room: bare walls, scattered books, a wardrobe, a few clothes—no photos, no posters.
"Is he even human? No hobbies, no memories… weird guy," Ajit muttered, pacing.
A moment later Shrey slipped in as well. Ajit shot him a look—Mr. Privacy speech, yet here you are.
"What's this?" Shrey peeked in the wardrobe and pulled out a heavy velvet outfit—deep‑colored, embroidered in gold, totally royal.
"Wow… what a costume," Shrey's eyes shone. "Looks like it belongs to some prince." He held it against himself.
Ajit stepped closer, studying the crest on the fabric.
"Awesome, right?" Shrey began slipping it on. "Don't I look like a prince?"
"Privacy means nothing to you now?" Ajit mocked.
Shrey shrugged and laughed. "So what? He's mine!"
The words echoed. Ajit and Pranay fell silent. Then Pranay asked quietly,"You admit you like him?"
Shrey flustered. "No! I mean—yes, I like guys—but my type would be a charming prince, not—"He stopped. Prakhar was standing in the doorway.
No smile, no anger—just an icy, direct stare.
"Hey… you're back?" Ajit ventured.
"No, I'm still on the way," Prakhar ground out.
"Very funny," Pranay tried an awkward grin.
"We were just… tidying your room," Ajit stammered.
"Oh, really?" Prakhar raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
He drew a long breath. "How thoughtful… you people care so much about me…"The tone was syrupy; the chill made everyone's hair stand on end.
"Well, yes—" Pranay nodded like a schoolboy.
"Guess you'd better finish, then."Prakhar yanked Shrey by the hoodie, stopping his escape.
"Listen—what I said—don't mind—"
"You came to clean; finish cleaning," Prakhar said through clenched teeth.
"These two can handle it," Shrey pointed weakly at Ajit and Pranay.
Prakhar glared. Shrey's grin froze; his throat went dry, chin dropping.
"Dust the bookshelf, scrub the mud off the garden path, fold the clothes," Prakhar said coolly and walked out.
The three were left staring like students at an exam paper they hadn't studied for.
"We're doomed—he'll work us a whole month's worth tonight," Pranay groaned.
"Bro, couldn't you invent a better excuse?" he hissed at Ajit.
Ajit sighed and began issuing orders. "Pranay, garden. I'll do the bookshelf. Shrey, clothes—"
"No way, I'm not doing anything!" Shrey huffed and tried to leave.
"Root of all trouble!" they chorused, catching his arm.
"If you keep whining we'll dump every chore on you—garden, shelves, laundry, even the sink!"
"Fine!" Shrey sulked.
A minute later Shrey came out with an armful of clothes. Prakhar was heading out again with Diamond in tow.
"Where are you going?" Shrey pouted.
"Shopping," Prakhar said simply.
"He dumps chores on me and goes shopping…" Shrey muttered.
"Coming along?" Prakhar asked.
"No, I'm the maid today," Shrey pouted harder. Prakhar almost laughed; when Shrey glared, he looked away quickly.
Prakhar beckoned Diamond; the pup pranced after him. Shrey's temper rose and he stomped back inside.