"Sometimes jealousy doesn't come from fear of losing someone. It comes from realizing just how important they have become to your everyday life."

It was a peaceful Saturday afternoon.

Rathore Mansion was unusually quiet.

Aryaveer was attending an online business meeting.

Rudransh was reading a medical journal.

Veeransh was helping Aadhya revise mathematics.

Vihaan had just returned from basketball practice.

Advik was attempting to bake brownies in the kitchen.

Vivaan...

Well...

Vivaan was lying on the living room sofa with his head in Aadhya's lap while she absent-mindedly played with his hair.

Life was peaceful.

Until...

Aadhya's phone rang.

An unknown number flashed on the screen.

She frowned.

"Who could this be?"

She answered the call.

"Hello?"

A cheerful voice replied,

"Hi, Aadhya!"

She blinked.

"...Aarav?"

"Finally!"

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't recognize my voice."

She laughed.

"It's been years since we spoke before last week."

"Fair point."

The moment she laughed...

Vivaan slowly opened one eye.

"...Who's making Twinny laugh?"

Advik peeked out of the kitchen.

"Who's on the phone?"

Vihaan looked up from the dining table.

The brothers didn't mean to listen.

But somehow...

Every ear became unusually alert.

Meanwhile...

Aadhya walked toward the balcony for better network.

"So, tell me."

"How are you settling back in Jaipur?"

Aarav smiled on the other end.

"Pretty well."

"Actually..."

"I called because my birthday is next Saturday."

"Oh!"

"Happy Birthday in advance!"

"Thank you."

"I was wondering if you'd come to my birthday party."

Aadhya smiled.

"That's kind of you."

"I'll have to ask Papa first."

"Of course."

"And..."

"You can bring your brothers."

She laughed.

"I think that's a safer option."

Aarav chuckled.

"I was going to suggest that anyway."

Inside the living room...

Vivaan slowly sat up.

"Did he just invite us?"

Advik folded his arms.

"At least he has common sense."

Vihaan looked thoughtful.

"He knows we'd never let her go alone."

Aadhya continued talking.

"I'll let you know by tomorrow."

"Perfect."

"It'll be nice catching up again."

"It will."

"Bye, Aadhya."

"Bye, Aarav."

She ended the call.

The moment she turned around...

She almost jumped.

Six brothers were standing behind her.

In a perfectly straight line.

Watching her.

She blinked.

"...Why are you all standing like that?"

Advik smiled sweetly.

"No reason."

Vivaan nodded.

"Absolutely no reason."

Veeransh crossed his arms.

"Who was on the phone?"

Aadhya looked from one face to another.

Then burst into laughter.

"Were you all listening?"

Six innocent expressions appeared instantly.

"No."

"Not at all."

"Definitely not."

She folded her arms.

"So..."

"If I ask each of you separately..."

"I'll get the same answer?"

Aryaveer walked in just then after finishing his meeting.

He looked around.

"What happened?"

Vihaan answered immediately.

"Aarav called."

Aryaveer raised an eyebrow.

"Oh."

He looked at Aadhya.

"What did he want?"

"He invited me to his birthday party."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Then...

Vivaan spoke first.

"So..."

"You said no?"

Aadhya stared at him.

"I said I'd ask Papa."

Advik dramatically placed a hand over his heart.

"Good."

"For a second I thought you'd already agreed."

Vihaan tried to sound casual.

"Who all are going?"

"I don't know."

"He just invited me."

Vivaan frowned.

"Did he specifically ask for you?"

"Yes."

"By name?"

"Yes, Vivaan."

"Oh."

He didn't know why that bothered him.

It just did.

Rudransh noticed everyone's expressions and smiled.

"I think..."

"We have a small case of jealous brothers."

"Jealous?"

Advik immediately protested.

"We're not jealous."

Vihaan nodded.

"We're... concerned."

Vivaan agreed quickly.

"Very concerned."

Veeransh looked at them.

"No."

"We're jealous."

Everyone stared at him.

He shrugged.

"What?"

"She's been talking about him since yesterday."

Aadhya looked shocked.

"I mentioned him twice!"

"Exactly."

Veeransh replied calmly.

"Twice."

Aryaveer couldn't help smiling.

"I think we've become used to being the centre of Sunshine's attention."

Aadhya laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone.

"You all are impossible."

Just then...

Vikram entered the room carrying a cup of tea.

"Why is everyone gathered here?"

Vivaan answered dramatically,

"Papa..."

"Our sister has been invited to a birthday party."

Vikram looked at Aadhya.

"By whom?"

"Aarav Khanna."

Vikram smiled knowingly.

"Raghav's son?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

"He called to invite me."

Vikram thought for a moment.

"The Khannas are family friends."

"I don't see any problem."

"But..."

He smiled.

"You won't be going alone."

Before anyone could say another word...

Six voices echoed together.

"We're coming."

The room fell silent.

Even Vikram laughed.

"I expected that."

Aadhya looked at all of them.

"Seriously?"

Vivaan nodded confidently.

"Birthday parties are dangerous."

"They're not."

"They have balloons."

"And cake."

"And people."

Aadhya blinked.

"People?"

"Exactly."

Vivaan replied as though proving an important point.

Advik wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Munchkin..."

"Don't worry."

"We'll behave."

Vihaan coughed.

"He'll try."

Aadhya looked suspiciously at everyone.

"You all are planning something."

Aryaveer answered calmly,

"No."

Advik added,

"Not yet."

She laughed.

"I feel bad for Aarav already."

Veeransh smiled faintly.

"So do I."

That evening...

As Aadhya sat in her room finishing her homework...

She received a short message.

Aarav: Hope your family said yes. Looking forward to seeing you!

She smiled and replied.

Aadhya: Papa agreed... and my brothers are coming too.

A few seconds later, his reply appeared.

Aarav: ...All six?

She couldn't stop laughing.

Aadhya: Yes. Don't worry. They're protective, but they're nice.

Downstairs...

The six brothers were gathered in the living room.

Vivaan looked around seriously.

"So..."

"What do we wear next Saturday?"

Advik grinned.

"Whatever we wear..."

"We have one mission."

Vihaan smirked.

"Remind everyone that Aadhya Rathore comes with six overprotective brothers."

Aryaveer shook his head, trying not to laugh.

"You all are unbelievable."

Vikram smiled from his chair.

"Maybe."

"But she's smiling."

"And that's all that matters."

Upstairs...

Aadhya looked at the family photograph on her bedside table.

Then she heard loud voices downstairs arguing about who would sit next to her at the birthday party.

She laughed softly.

"Poor Aarav..."

She whispered.

"He has no idea what he's getting into."

To Be Continued...