Chapter One Hundred Eighteen: The Teasing Wars
The morning after the Great Orange Juice Incident, the mansion was buzzing.
Everyone had heard. Everyone remembered. And everyone was absolutely insufferable about it.
Jay walked into the kitchen, ready to face the music.
Percy was the first to strike. "WELL, WELL, WELL. LOOK WHO FINALLY DECIDED TO JOIN US!"
Jay grabbed coffee. "Percy, if you value your life, you'll stop right there."
"I VALUE MY LIFE! BUT I ALSO VALUE DRAMA!"
Honey pulled him back. "Babe, let her have coffee first."
"SHE CAN HAVE COFFEE AND DRAMA AT THE SAME TIME!"
---
Jay sat at the table.
Everyone was watching.
Smirking.
She sighed. "Just get it over with."
Akshi leaned forward. "So. The orange juice."
"The orange juice."
"Led to... other things."
"Apparently."
C.N. made a note. "Post-argument activity duration: Approximately 45 minutes. Volume level: 8 out of 10."
Rakii nodded. "I'd say 8.5."
"Noted."
---
Jay pointed at them. "You two are the worst."
"We're documentarians!"
"You're MENACES!"
---
Then Mithun walked in.
Calm as always.
Coffee in hand.
He sat across from Jay.
Looked at her.
And smiled.
Not his usual calm smile.
A teasing smile.
---
Jay's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Nothing."
"That smile is NOT nothing."
"I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
"About how loud some people were last night."
The table ERUPTED.
Percy fell off his chair. Akshi screamed with laughter. Chethan choked on his food. Even C.N. cracked a smile.
Jay's face went crimson.
"Mithun."
"Yes?"
"Did you just—"
"I'm just making an observation."
"YOUR OBSERVATION IS NOTED AND REJECTED!"
---
Shreya was dying. "MIT HUN! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD IT IN YOU!"
Mithun shrugged. "I have layers."
Jay pointed at him. "You're dead."
"I'm just stating facts."
"FACTS CAN HURT PEOPLE!"
"Then maybe don't be so loud."
---
The table lost it.
Percy was on the floor. "HE SAID IT! HE ACTUALLY SAID IT!"
Honey was crying with laughter. "Mithun! Oh my god!"
Akshi grabbed Chethan's arm. "I love him! I love Mithun!"
Chethan nodded. "He's a legend."
C.N. made a note. "Mithun: First recorded instance of public teasing. Effectiveness: Maximum."
Rakii photographed his calm smile. "For the album. 'Mithun's Revenge.'"
---
Jay stared at him.
He stared back.
Calm. Unbothered. Smiling slightly.
Something shifted in her eyes.
"Mithun."
"Yes?"
"You think you're funny?"
"I think I'm observant."
"You think you can tease me?"
"I think I just did."
"And you think," Jay said slowly, "that I won't tease you back?"
---
Mithun's smile faltered. Just slightly.
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Oh, I think you know."
Shreya looked between them. "What's happening?"
Jay turned to her. "Shreya. Dear Shreya. Tell me something."
Shreya blinked. "What?"
"How many times did Mithun check on you last night? After we all went to bed?"
Shreya's face went pink. "I—that's—"
"Three times?" Jay continued. "Four? Did he bring you water? Adjust your blanket? Kiss your forehead when he thought you were asleep?"
---
The table went silent.
Mithun's ears turned red.
Shreya buried her face in her hands.
Percy gasped. "HE KISSED HER FOREHEAD?"
Jay nodded solemnly. "I saw it. From the hallway. Very romantic."
Akshi grabbed Shreya's arm. "SHREYA! TELL US EVERYTHING!"
Shreya's voice was muffled. "I'm not saying anything!"
"She doesn't have to," Jay said sweetly. "I have photos."
---
Mithun's eyes widened. "Photos?"
"On my phone. From the crack in the door."
"You TOOK PHOTOS?"
"For blackmail purposes. Obviously."
C.N. pulled out his notebook. "New evidence. This changes everything."
Rakii raised her camera. "I need copies."
Percy was bouncing. "THIS IS BETTER THAN THE ORANGE JUICE!"
---
Mithun's calm facade was completely gone now.
His ears were bright red.
His jaw was tight.
"Jay."
"Yes, Mithun?"
"Those photos—"
"Are going straight to the family group chat."
"JAY."
"Unless—" She paused dramatically. "Unless you apologize for teasing me."
"I wasn't teasing. I was observing."
"Semantics."
---
Shreya peeked through her fingers. "Jay, please don't—"
"Don't worry, Shreya. I'll only post the cute ones."
"THERE ARE CUTE ONES?"
"Many."
Mithun stared at Jay.
Jay stared back.
The room held its breath.
---
Then Mithun sighed.
"I apologize."
"For what?"
"For teasing you."
"And?"
"And for implying you were loud."
"You DID imply that."
"I'm sorry."
Jay smiled. "Accepted."
She pulled out her phone.
Showed the photos.
They were, indeed, cute.
Mithun kissing Shreya's forehead.
Adjusting her blanket.
Looking at her with pure love.
---
Shreya grabbed the phone. "These are—these are—"
"Romantic?" Jay offered.
"EMBARRASSING!"
"But also romantic."
Shreya looked at Mithun.
He looked at her.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too."
"Even when you get caught on camera?"
"Especially then."
---
The table erupted again.
Percy was crying. "THEY'RE SO CUTE! SO SO CUTE!"
Honey patted his back. "Babe, calm down."
"I CAN'T! ROMANCE IS EVERYWHERE!"
Akshi grabbed Chethan. "We need to be more romantic!"
Chethan sighed. "We're plenty romantic."
"NOT ENOUGH!"
C.N. made a note. "Romantic competition initiated. Probability of escalation: High."
Rakii photographed everything. "For the album. 'The Teasing Wars.'"
---
Jay leaned back in her chair.
Satisfied.
Keifer appeared beside her. "You're enjoying this."
"Immensely."
"You're evil."
"Your evil."
He kissed her cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too. Even when you drink the last orange juice."
"Especially then?"
"No. Still mad about that."
He laughed.
---
The teasing continued all morning.
Every time Mithun looked at Shreya, someone made a comment.
Percy: "OH! HE'S LOOKING AT HER! WITH LOVE!"
Akshi: "THE FOREHEAD KISSES! I CAN'T!"
C.N.: "Eye contact duration: 4.2 seconds. Romantic significance: High."
Mithun's ears remained red.
Shreya hid her face.
But she was smiling.
---
By afternoon, Jay called a truce.
"Okay, okay. I think he's suffered enough."
Mithun looked at her. "You think?"
"I know." She smiled. "We're even."
"We're even."
"Until next time."
"Next time?"
"You think I'm done teasing you? Never."
He sighed. "Of course not."
---
Shreya hugged Jay. "You're terrible."
"Your terrible."
"I love you."
"I love you too. Even when you're cute with your boyfriend."
"HE'S NOT—"
"He is. Accept it."
Shreya sighed. "Fine. He is."
---
That night, they gathered for dinner.
The teasing had settled.
But the warmth remained.
Percy raised his glass. "TO TEASING! TO ROMANCE! TO ORANGE JUICE!"
Honey sighed. "Percy, the orange juice thing is over."
"ORANGE JUICE IS FOREVER!"
"TO ORANGE JUICE!" everyone echoed.
Jay leaned against Keifer.
"I love our family."
"I love you."
"Even when they're insane?"
"Especially when they're insane."
She kissed his cheek.
The chaos continued.
But for one moment—
Everything was perfect.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Eighteen