Aarthi slowly opened the door.

The moment she stepped out, she found her twin sons standing in the hallway, rubbing their sleepy eyes.

The two little boys immediately ran toward her and wrapped their arms around her waist.

“What were you doing, Mama?” one of them asked sleepily.

Aarthi froze for a second.

“Nothing, nanna,” she said, forcing a casual smile. “Mama was just… busy cleaning the room.”

She quickly changed the subject.

“Come on. I’ll give you both some milk.”

She took them to the kitchen and poured milk into their glasses.

Just then, Arjun walked out of the room, looking far too pleased with himself.

He stretched lazily and called out,

“Bujjamma… where is my milk? I’m also hungry after all that work…”

He paused deliberately.

“…workout.”

Aarthi slowly turned around and gave him a sharp glare.

“Wait.”

Arjun immediately understood the warning in her eyes.

Before he could say anything else, Ansh looked up at his father curiously.

“Nanna, when did you do a workout?”

Arjun opened his mouth.

But before he could answer, Aarthi hurriedly stepped in.

“Won’t you get late for school? Come on, finish your milk quickly. You both still have to get ready.”

She quickly handed Arjun his coffee.

He took the cup, looking at her innocently.

“But I asked for protein, bujjamma.”

Aarthi's eyes narrowed.

“See how hard I work out.”

She glared at him again and subtly shook her head.

Don't.

Arjun pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.

Aarthi turned away and went back into the kitchen, glancing anxiously at the clock.

“Oh god…”

She looked toward Arjun.

“Make them ready. And if they miss the bus again today, I swear, Arjun, I’ll kill you.”

Arjun laughed.

“Okay, okay. Come on, champs. Let's get you ready.”

---

A little while later, the entire house was finally ready.

The twins were dressed in their school uniforms, their bags were packed, and everyone had finished breakfast.

But despite all their efforts…

The school bus arrived.

And left.

Aarthi stood at the doorway, watching the bus disappear down the road.

She slowly turned toward Arjun.

Arjun already knew that look.

“Aarthi—”

“ACP sir,” she interrupted, folding her arms.

Arjun raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, madam?”

“You take the honor of dropping your sons to school today.”

The twins immediately looked at their father.

Arjun sighed dramatically.

“Okay, champs. Looks like we're going on a little road trip.”

The younger twin looked at Aarthi with a disappointed expression.

“Amma… won't you drop us today?”

Aarthi shook her head.

“No. This time your father is at fault.”

She pointed toward Arjun.

“So he will drop you.”

Arjun silently accepted his fate.

There was no point arguing with her when she had that expression.

Aarthi knelt down and kissed both boys on their foreheads.

“Be good, okay?”

“Okay, Amma!”

They ran toward the car with Arjun following behind them.

Before getting inside, Arjun looked back at Aarthi.

She waved at the boys.

“Bye, nanna!”

The twins waved excitedly through the window.

Arjun started the car.

Then, just as he was about to leave, he lowered the window and leaned his head out.

“And mine?”

Aarthi stared at him.

“What?”

“My kiss.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Arjun!”

He smiled shamelessly.

“Everyone got one. Even the boys. What about me?”

She walked toward the car, leaned down, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Now drive safely.”

Before he could say anything, she gently pushed his head back inside and closed the window.

Arjun looked at her through the glass, pretending to be offended.

“Not fair, bujjamma!”

Aarthi burst out laughing.

“Just drive!”

Arjun shook his head with a smile and drove away with the boys.

Aarthi watched their car disappear before turning toward her own car.

She smiled to herself.

It was chaotic.

It was noisy.

It was exhausting.

But somehow…

This was the life they had chosen.