But Piyush had no such casual reaction. His body tensed, his senses snapping to full alertness.

"Jyada door nahi honge!" he declared, his voice sharp and authoritative. His stance shifted, suddenly resembling that of a seasoned police officer. "Sab idhar-udhar dekho!"

With that command, the entire household jolted into action.

Some rushed to check the windows. Others grabbed whatever they could sticks, vases, even a decorative brass diya stand to arm themselves against the supposed intruders.

Meanwhile, outside, the real shadows of the night Darsh and Divya had just realized the disaster that was unfolding.

Darsh's face paled. Divya's mouth fell open.

"Oh no..." Darsh whispered, glancing toward the hall where loud voices were growing stronger.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened someone had spotted their silhouettes near the entrance and jumped to the worst conclusion. For a second, they both stood frozen.

"Bhaagoooo!" Divya whisper-yelled, grabbing Darsh's wrist.

Wasting no time, they sprinted toward the nearest staircase, their only escape route leading up to the rooftop. Their hearts pounded as they climbed two steps at a time, praying no one spotted them.

Elsewhere in the house, inside a dimly lit room, Reyansh and Arushi had been enjoying some stolen moments of peace, away from the wedding chaos. They sat comfortably, whispering about random things, completely unaware of the storm outside until Ishika's scream tore through the night.

Arushi's spine stiffened. "Ye kya tha?!" she whispered, alarmed.

Reyansh peeked through the door, his stomach sinking as he saw people rushing around in panic.

"Kuch gadbad ho gayi hai," he muttered.

Then his eyes widened in horror. "Agar kisi ne hume yahaan dekh liya toh?!"

Arushi's breath hitched. If anyone found them together like this, they wouldn't hear the end of it.

Reyansh gulped. There was only one option.

"Idhar se bhagte hain!" he whispered urgently.

Without wasting another second, they sprang to their feet and bolted towards another staircase, separate from the one Darsh and Divya had taken. Their only goal is to reach the rooftop and stay out of sight until things calmed down.

Meanwhile, outside in the garden, under the soft glow of fairy lights, Akash and Richa sat close, lost in quiet conversation. The wedding atmosphere had been overwhelming, and this was their stolen moment of peace.

But their peace was short-lived.

A sudden wave of noise reached their ears the sound of hurried footsteps, voices shouting orders, and the general chaos of a house in panic.

Akash stiffened, his senses immediately on high alert.

"Koi aa raha hai!" he whispered, his grip on the bench tightening.

Richa's heart skipped a beat.

"Agar papa log hue toh?!" she whispered back, eyes widening in horror.

The mere thought of being found alone in the garden at this hour was enough to make her panic.

They exchanged one terrified glance.

And then,Without another word, they both jumped to their feet and ran. Taking yet another staircase that led to the rooftop, they moved as quietly as possible, hoping to disappear before anyone noticed.

At one end of the rooftop, Arav and Ritika stood near the parapet, engaged in a hushed conversation. The wedding festivities had left them little time to talk, and now, away from the crowd, they finally had a moment to breathe.

But that moment was short-lived. Ritika suddenly stiffened. Her hand instinctively reached out, gripping Arav's arm.

"Kisi ke aane ki awaaz aa rahi hai..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle rustle of the wind.

Arav's brows furrowed. He listened closely, and sure enough soft, hurried footsteps echoed from the staircase.

His stomach clenched.

"Kahin papa log toh nahi...?" he murmured, eyes darting toward the entrance.

If anyone from the family found them here at this hour. And Arav had no patience for that.

A little distance away, Siya and Shashwat had also been enjoying their secret escape from the wedding madness. The rooftop provided a peaceful retreat until it didn't.

Siya tensed as the same sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears. Her breath hitched, and she instinctively clutched Shashwat's wrist.

"Kahin koi hame yahaan dekh na le!" she whispered in alarm.

Shashwat, though startled, kept his composure. He exhaled slowly, assessing their options.

"Hame chupke chalna chahiye!" he suggested, his voice low but firm.

Siya nodded rapidly, her heartbeat thudding in her ears.

What none of them realized was that there were six different couples on the same rooftop, all trying to sneak around in pitch darkness, all unaware of each other's presence.

Darsh and Divya tiptoed cautiously, pressing themselves against the wall, convinced that someone was right behind them.

Reyansh and Arushi moved like thieves in the night, desperately trying to avoid being seen, their eyes darting around.

Akash and Richa whispered frantic plans to escape unnoticed, their steps as light as feathers.

Meanwhile, Arav and Ritika, as well as Siya and Shashwat, had frozen in place, convinced that the sounds they heard were of someone coming to catch them.

The rooftop was cloaked in darkness, with only the sound of soft footsteps breaking the silence. Each pair moved cautiously, stepping backward, desperately trying to avoid any unwanted encounters.

In the next instant, every single couple collided back to back!

For a split second, there was utter silence.

"AAAHHHH!" Siya shrieked, flailing her arms wildly in terror.

"BHOOTTTTT!" Arushi screamed at the top of her lungs, convinced they had run into something supernatural.

In pure panic, Reyansh and Shashwat grabbed each other, clutching tightly as their minds jumped to the worst possible conclusion.

"MUMMY!!!" Divya yelled, stumbling backward.

Ritika, still in fight mode, didn't waste a second her hand swung out SMACK straight onto someone's shoulder.

"KAUN HAI?!" she demanded aggressively.

"TUM KAUN HO?!" Akash shouted back, equally freaked out.

What followed was pure chaos.

A mess of tangled bodies, wild screams, people bumping into each other, stepping on toes, grabbing whoever was closest all in a state of absolute panic. The once-peaceful rooftop now resembled a battlefield of confused, terrified individuals.

And then

Someone found the light switch.

The dim rooftop light flickered on, casting a weak glow over the disheveled group.

Everyone Froze. Wide eyes. Open mouths. Shocked faces.

One by one, each couple looked around, slowly registering the other couples in the exact same predicament.

"Tum sab yahaan kya kar rahe ho?!"

All of them yelled at the exact same time, their voices overlapping in perfect synchronization.

But before anyone could explain, a new sound sent chills down their spines.

Heavy, approaching footsteps echoed from the stairway.

All color drained from their faces.

Their eyes darted toward each other in sheer horror.

Someone was coming. And if they got caught they were doomed.

Naman stepped onto the rooftop, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. his expression, serious. "Kahin yahan toh nahi hai?" he muttered under his breath, determined to catch the thief.

Unbeknownst to him, an entire line of people Siya, Shashwat, Akash, Richa, Darsh, Divya, Arushi, Reyansh, Arav, and Ritika was following him in perfect synchronization, each making sure to stay hidden behind him. They moved like a well-rehearsed parade, their expressions a mix of nervousness, and fear.

Naman took a slow step forward. The entire group followed.

He paused suddenly, and the line behind him froze, holding their breath. Siya, who was right behind him, barely stopped herself from bumping into him, gripping Shashwat's hand tightly.

Then, Naman turned left. Instantly, the whole group shifted left in one smooth motion, their eyes fixed on his every move.

He turned right. Like puppets on a string, they all moved right, carefully maintaining their positions.

Naman scratched his head and glanced around, his suspicion growing. He mumbled to himself, "Yeh chor kahin chhup gaya hai... Pata nahi kahan bhaag gaya!"

Behind him, Akash barely managed to suppress a laugh. Richa pinched his arm, whispering, "Chup!"

Naman suddenly stopped again. The group behind him immediately froze like statues, some balancing on one foot mid-step. Siya, losing her balance, gripped Shashwat's arm tighter, her eyes wide with panic. He quickly steadied her, his face trying to remain serious despite the absurdity of the situation.

Naman bent slightly, peering behind a pillar. The group instinctively bent forward too, perfectly mimicking his movement.

Then, Naman straightened up and quickly spun around, trying to catch any suspicious movement.

The entire group dropped to the floor in a split second, pressing themselves against the ground in sheer panic.

Naman narrowed his eyes, staring at the empty space where he thought he had sensed movement. After a few seconds, he shrugged, convinced he must have imagined it, and turned back.

The synchronized hiding act continued, with the group trailing behind Naman like shadows, their movements perfectly timed, hoping praying that he wouldn't suddenly turn again and catch them in the act!

Just as Naman was about to move further, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs.

Kanak and Vihaan came running upstairs, slightly out of breath. "Uncle, neeche hall aur rooms check kar liye, waha koi nahi hai!" Vihaan informed, still panting.

Naman turned to them with a sharp gaze. "Pakka? Kahin koi chhupa toh nahi hai?"

"Nahi, koi nahi hai," Kanak replied, shaking her head. But as she turned her head slightly, her eyes widened. She had finally noticed the entire group standing in a perfect line behind Naman, their expressions frozen like they had been caught red-handed.

"AAAAA!!" Kanak and Vihaan screamed in unison.

The entire group flinched, eyes widening in panic. Siya gripped Shashwat's arm tightly, while Arav muttered under his breath, "Gaye kaam se!"

Naman frowned at the sudden outburst. "Kya hua? Kyun chilla rahe ho?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

Kanak quickly regained her composure, forcing a smile. "W...wo kuch nahi, uncle... bas... bas neeche koi nahi mila, isliye," she said, trying to sound casual.

Naman eyed her for a moment, then gave a short nod. "Hmm. Theek hai."

Kanak exhaled in relief before subtly glancing at the group. She widened her eyes slightly and jerked her chin toward the large water tank on the terrace, silently instructing them to hide.

The group frowned in confusion. Kanak sighed and discreetly pointed again at the water tank, her expression screaming Samajh jao yaar!

Understanding finally dawned, and one by one, they began sneaking away from the line, moving toward the tanki.

Carefully, they all crouched behind the water tank, pressing themselves against it.

Just then, the sound of multiple footsteps approaching the terrace made Kanak freeze.

"Ek ek jagah check kar li, waha koi nahi hai," Gaurav announced as he and the rest of the elders stepped onto the rooftop.

Kanak stiffened. She shot a glance toward the water tank. Everyone was hidden... almost.

Her eyes narrowed when she noticed Shashwat's feet sticking out from the side. Her heart leaped in panic. "Yeh pagal hai kya... abhi pakda jayega!"

"Ishika, tumhe poora yakin hai na ki koi tha?" Naman questioned his sister, turning to her with an expectant look.

"Haan bhaiya, maine apni aankhon se dekha tha!" Ishika insisted, crossing her arms.

Kanak swallowed nervously. She quickly checked if the elders were busy talking and, taking the opportunity, she sneaked toward the tank. Without a second thought, she stomped hard on Shashwat's foot.

"Ahh!" Shashwat let out a small hiss, trying his best to muffle his pain.

Kanak bent down slightly, whispering furiously, "Tumhare pair dikh rahe the, bewakoof!"

Before he could reply, a voice interrupted.

"Tum kis se baat kar rahi ho?"

Kanak's heart nearly stopped. She turned to see Kirti staring at her with a puzzled expression.

Thinking fast, Kanak straightened up and placed her hand on the wall near the water tank, running her fingers along it. "Arey, iska paint kitna accha hai na? Chhor hi nahi raha!" she said, pretending to be fascinated by the wall's texture.

There was a moment of silence. Everyone, including Naman and the elders, stared at her with confused expressions.

Vihaan slapped his forehead.

Aruna raised an eyebrow. "Yahan chor ghus aaya aur tumne wall paint ki padi hai?" she said, clearly not convinced.

Kanak nodded vigorously, patting the wall. "Haan haan! Bohot accha paint hai! Bilkul fresh lag raha hai!" she added, mentally praying that the topic would drop.

Everyone exchanged weird looks but, thankfully, didn't question her further.

Meanwhile, behind the water tank, Shashwat was still rubbing his foot in pain. Siya elbowed him. "Shh!"

The group stayed put, silently hoping that their hiding act wouldn't come crashing down.

As Kanak continued her awkward act of admiring the paint, Naman's sharp eyes caught something unusual. His gaze flickered toward the water tank, and before anyone could react, he took a quick step forward and peered behind it.

"Acha... toh yeh ho raha hai yahan!" he said, folding his arms across his chest.

The entire group froze.

One by one, everyone slowly turned their heads, only to find Naman,Kirti, Piyush,Ishika, and the rest of the elders standing there, staring at them with knowing expressions.

Siya gulped. "Khatm tata by by !" she whispered.

Ritika chuckled nervously, scratching her head. "Aap... aap sab yahan?"

Naman raised an eyebrow. "Yeh toh humein tumse poochhna chahiye. Tum sab yahan kya kar rahe ho?"

Akash, ever the quick thinker, cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Woh... woh hum... ek movie plan kar rahe the! Haan, bas movie dekhne ka plan ban raha tha!" he said with an innocent smile.

Naman narrowed his eyes. "Agar sirf movie plan kar rahe the toh chipak-chipak ke tanki ke peeche kyun baithe the?"

A brief silence followed. Everyone glanced at each other, mentally scrambling for an answer.

Richa quickly stepped in. "Woh... woh isliye kyunki agar aap log dekh lete toh daant padti!" she blurted out, giving her best innocent baby look.

Kirti placed her hands on her hips. "Aur sach batao!"

Vihaan tried to back them up. "Sach mein Aunty, bas movie ki planning thi. Hum soch rahe the sab milkar night show dekhne chalein."

Ishika scoffed. "Kal shaadi hai, aur tum logon ko movie dekhne ki padi hai?"

Before anyone could respond, Gaurav's gaze hardened as he looked at Richa, Ritika, Siya and Divya. "Aur tum sab? Tum teeno toh abhi thodi der pehle hi hotel se aaye ho na?"

The three girls stiffened. Richa tried to smile. "Haan woh..."

"Aur distance aur time bhi pata hoga right?" Kirti interrupted, her sharp eyes scanning them.

Ritika hesitated before mumbling, "Haan wo..."

Piyush face darkened. "Tum teeno wahan se raat ke 12 baje nikal ke idhar aayi ho?!"

Richa looked down, biting her lip.

Ishika scolded. "2 km door hotel se itni raat ko chal ke yahan aane ki kya zarurat thi?"

Divya quickly defended, "Hum akele nahi aaye, Reyansh bhaiya le aaye." She lied.

Piyush shook his head in disbelief. "Matlab tum sabko zara bhi akal nahi hai?"

Siya nudged Shashwat. "Bejati ho gya!" she whispered.

Shashwat whispered back, "Chup!"

Ishika turned to the entire group and scolded, "Shaadi ghar mein hai, itni responsibilities hai, par tum logon ko toh picture dekhne se fursat nahi!"

Gaurav joined in, "Aur tum logon ko time mila bhi toh raat ke barah baje ghoomne ka?"

Reyansh scratched the back of his head. "Bas mood bana..."

"Bas karo!" Naman's voice boomed, silencing everyone. He turned to the boys and ordered, "Reyansh abhi sabke sath vapas jao."

The boys exchanged looks before reluctantly nodding. "Theek hai." Reyansh muttered.

The girls sighed in defeat as the elders left , shaking their heads in disappointment.

The moment they were gone, a heavy silence fell over the group.

All eyes turned toward Divya and Darsh the only two who had been suspiciously quiet throughout the entire fiasco. The stares were long Calculated and Unforgiving.

One by one, arms were crossed, gazes sharpened, and expressions turned thoroughly unimpressed.

Divya instantly felt like a criminal on trial.

"Tu yahan akele aayi? Kya karne?" Siya finally broke the silence, her face completely deadpan.

Divya gulped. Her eyes darted around, frantically searching for an excuse. Any excuse.

"Woh... woh... main bas..." she fumbled, the pressure of all the eyes on her making her brain short-circuit.

Ritika narrowed her gaze at both Divya and Darsh.

"Hamara toh samajh aata hai," she said, arms crossed as she scrutinized them, "par tum kyun aayi? Upar se dono saath mein?"

Divya and Darsh stiffened. Both of them looked at each other, their brains scrambling for a response.

"Wo... wo... main... haan!" Divya suddenly exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as if she had just cracked the code to the perfect excuse.

Everyone leaned in slightly, waiting.

"Main apni chappal lene aayi thi!" she blurted out.

There was a long, awkward, dead silence.

Kanak blinked. "Hein?" she said, looking at Divya weirdly.

The others frowned in confusion.

"Dimag theekane pe hai?" Richa asked, her arms tightening around her chest. "Teri chappal yahan kaise aayi?"

Divya stuttered, her eyes bouncing from one person to another. She could feel the noose tightening around her neck. She had to think of something fast.

And then her gaze landed on Darsh.

Without thinking, she pointed at him and threw him under the bus. "Isne chura li thi!"

A heavy silence followed. The entire group turned in unison to look at Darsh.

Darsh's mouth fell open.

"Kya??" he exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief. His eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets.

Shashwat raised an eyebrow at him. "Tu pagal hai kya, Darsh? Chappal chori karega ab tu?"

Darsh blinked. His mind reeled. "Iss tadka ko yahi bahana mila tha? Chappal chori ka ilzaam? Saara aura ne phaansi laga li."

Darsh opened his mouth to argue but quickly realized there was no way out of this. The damage had been done.

His only option, Play along and salvage what little dignity he had left.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Bhaiya... main... woh..." he started, trying to come up with a semi-decent justification.

Arav snapped his fingers in front of Darsh's face. "Bol?"

Darsh sighed in defeat. "Haan... woh ye mujhe pareshan kar rahi thi, toh maine rakh li."

Ritika scoffed. "Aur tu itni raat ko sirf chappal lene aayi thi? Subah aa jati!"

Divya, now drowning in her own lies, tried to keep her head above water.

"Woh... didi... mujhe chahiye tha na..." she hesitated, struggling to make it sound convincing. Then, with a sudden burst of inspiration, she added, "matlab... important kaam hota toh?"

Arushi gave her the flattest look in