After dinner, Pranay woke Shrey up and brought him to the dining table.He was still half asleep, swaying slightly as he ate.
"What are you doing... eat properly," Pranay scolded him.
Shrey nodded and continued eating in the same sleepy way.
"This boy..."Pranay facepalmed.
After dinner, Prakhar placed some Sandesh (a Bengali sweet) in front of him, and all his sleep vanished. He lit up instantly."Sandesh!"
"I tried it for the first time… probably not great," Prakhar said as he put one on his plate.
Shrey took the first bite, closed his eyes to savor it, and said, "Yummy... just like Dad used to make..."
Prakhar smiled, and even Pranay found himself staring at him. He felt a little guilty for yelling at Prakhar earlier—after all, all he wanted was Shrey's happiness, nothing more.
"You try it too," Prakhar said, placing a piece on Pranay's plate.
"Wow... you should be a chef," Pranay said while eating.
"Hmm... I actually wanted to be a chef..."
"Then why did you become a bodyguard?" Pranay asked.
Prakhar smiled bitterly, then said in a quiet voice, "I didn't become one... I was made into one..."
Pranay and Shrey stared at him.Seeing their eyes fixed on him, Prakhar cleared his throat awkwardly—
"Ahem... if you guys don't have any plans tonight, should we watch a movie together?"
"Yes, definitely!" Shrey chirped again, "But the movie has to be of my choice..."
"Hmm, you pick the movie, I'll clean the kitchen."
"And don't forget to order popcorn... and Coke too," Shrey said, finishing his Sandesh, and Prakhar nodded.
After dinner, Shrey was settled on the couch, and Pranay handed him the TV remote. Prakhar placed all of Shrey's demands in the food delivery app, and then both of them started cleaning up in the kitchen.
Diamond was sitting on the floor near the couch. Shrey picked him up and placed him beside him on the sofa, gently running his fingers through his fur.Diamond was annoyed, but seeing Shrey's battered condition, he sat silently out of pity.
Soon, everyone gathered in the hall. The food order had arrived, and Shrey was the first to grab a bite.
Shrey put both his feet in Pranay's lap and rested his head on Prakhar's shoulder, completely immersed in the movie.
Being the youngest, he had always been treated like royalty — and now, it had become his natural right. He didn't find this strange at all... in fact, he had grown used to it.
For the next few days, Shrey stayed at home, resting. All his demands were fulfilled by his Majnu (Prakhar) and his brother.Pranay would sometimes get irritated with him, but Prakhar always fulfilled his wishes with love—if something went wrong, he would gently explain, but never scold.
A week later –
Prakhar was standing at the college gate, staring at Shrey, who was refusing to go in.
"You're absolutely fine now, so no more excuses... just go quietly," Prakhar said firmly but calmly.
"But I really don't feel like it today... I'll start from tomorrow, I promise," Shrey said with a cute pout, and Pranay yanked his collar saying,"This Majnu has spoiled you too much... just go quietly. I'll handle him."
At this moment, Shrey looked like a stubborn child, Prakhar his guardian, and Pranay a teacher completely fed up with the drama.
Prakhar then went straight to the bakery.Adwait wasn't at the counter today, so he was saved from being teased. Without stopping, he went directly upstairs. The bakery staff all recognized him, so no one stopped him.
Adwait's apartment wasn't very big—just a hall, a small bedroom, and a simple kitchen. Besides books and some essentials, there wasn't much there.Prakhar sat on the sofa and began working while waiting for Adwait.
This was a place where no one could track him. So whenever he needed to stay out of Kunwar's radar, he'd choose such safe spots. Here, he had peace—and, even if just for a while, freedom.
"Hello, General..."Adwait's cheery voice came with the sound of the door opening. Prakhar looked up.
"Good morning... what brings you here today?" Adwait said as he placed his bags in the kitchen.
"I need your help..." Prakhar said seriously.
"Tell me what you need..."
"I want to resign."
"Are you mad...? You know you can't do that... You come from the royal guard family — it's impossible."
"But it's necessary... if I want to stay with Shrey."
"Why? You can take him to Udaipur. As far as I know, Shrey wants to become an architect. He's studying for that. Where else would he find more magnificent architecture than in the Udaipur palace?"
"And you think Kunwar will let us live in Udaipur that easily?"
"Right, you went to explain things to that narcissist the other day... did he agree?"
"What do you think?"
"He could never agree..."
"Then why ask?"
"I believe in miracles..."
"Since when?" Prakhar mocked.
Adwait didn't reply and went to make coffee. After a while, he brought two mugs and handed one to Prakhar.
"So what's your plan?"
"I'll go to the King and convince him to accept my resignation..."
"What rubbish... why would he agree? I don't think he can afford to lose a capable and loyal guard like you — especially now when his life is under threat from an unknown assassin..."
"I'm going to offer him a deal..." Prakhar said, and silence filled the room.
A few seconds later, Adwait burst out laughing.
"I think Shrey's love has gone to your head. Go take a cold shower first... you're going to strike a deal with the King? Seriously?"
"I'm serious, Adwait..." Prakhar said gravely.Suddenly, Adwait leaned forward, grabbed his hair, and lifted his face.
"Why do you forget—you're a guard. And he's a King. He may love you like a son, but he'll never be your father. No matter what, Abhayvat was his son and will always be. He can sacrifice anyone for him—even you. Why don't you understand this?"
"You're getting emotional, Adwait..." Prakhar looked into his eyes.
Adwait stepped back.
"Feelings... my foot. All my feelings died the day my father refused to accept me. Called me illegitimate in front of the whole world."
"He's a king, Adwait. He has constraints..."
"Constraints...? Really? Where were those constraints when he seduced my mother? If you have the courage to love, at least have the courage to give it a name in public... What kind of love is that, which dies within four walls of a room?"
Adwait slammed his fist on the table in anger.
"Calm down, Adwait..."Prakhar stepped forward and hugged him.Adwait rested his head on his shoulder and shut his eyes tightly.
A little later
Adwait was lying on the sofa, playing with a Rubik's cube. Prakhar was on his laptop.
"Your plan's good... I didn't think love could make people smarter too..."
Prakhar glared at him, and Adwait rolled his eyes.
"But before that, we need to find this unknown attacker... and you'll have to do that, so I can handle the rest."
"Hmm... what do I get in return?"
"What do you want?"
"Umm... my salary's all gone..."
Prakhar stared at him.
"You know how much you earn... and you live alone — where do you spend it all?"
"Forget it, I get it now. You've got a boyfriend, that's why you're not giving me money anymore..."
Prakhar glared for a second, then transferred money from his phone to Adwait's account.As soon as Adwait got the notification, he jumped with joy—
"I knew I'm still your favorite!"
"Stop it... just get the job done."
"Hmm... I'll do it..." Adwait said with a yawn.
Prakhar watched him for a moment, then went downstairs to the bakery — today, he had to make cookies for Shrey.