#hira from aru shah

[writergracethepanda]

Brynne and Hira go to Jambavan’s to play cribbage in this easy I will…

[ssj2hindudude]

for the Pandavas sisters (including Kara): order them from how good they can hold to their drink to them getting drunk after a good hard sip.

p.s. also tell me what happen once they get fully intoxicated

The Other Potatoes' First Time Drinking (again After they turn 21)

Pt 1

Kara gets literally the cutest drink in the bar (Like a pink starburst cocktail or something)

At first no one bats an eye because all she does is act goofier and more laid back than usual.

But then the Shah genes kick in when she drinks more and starts acting even more chaotic than Aru when she's sober.

She casually drops disturbing facts about her childhood like it's nothing and laughs about it like the most Gen Z kid in the bar.

"yOu ShOuLd'Ve SeEn My DaD's FaCe WhEn I tOlD hIm I wAnTeD tO bE a LiBrArIaN! i ThOuGhT hE wOuLd LiTeRaLlY kIlL mE! XD"

"hEy, Aiby-baby!" "Please don't call him that." "hOw AbOuT I sHoW yOu WhAt YoU mIsSeD oUt On!" *Rips her shirt off* "KARA NO-" *Reveals a shirt that says "Sleeper Spelling Bee Champ of 2005"* "YOU COULDA HAD ALL OF THIS BRAIN POWER, BABE!"

Hira doesn't really drink but she took one shot of whiskey to keep up. Unfortunately, she's a lightweight and immediately starts roasting everybody.

"yOu ThInK yOu'Re So ToUgH?!? mY gIrLfRiEnD wIlL lItErAlLy SmAcK yOu WiTh YoUr OwN sPiNe!" "Hira, stop yelling at the dartboard!" "YO MAMA LOOKS LIKE A CANDY CANE, YOU FLAT CIRCLE!"

Nikita didn't care about the cost, she was determined to get the deluxe strawberry champagne. If only she didn't get totally wasted after one glass

You'd expect her fashion critiques to be on overdrive and they were...the problem is they were towards herself because now her self-esteem sunk like an anchor

"wHaT wAs I tHiNkInG wEaRiNg ThIs ToP?!?" "Nikki, you made that blouse AND sold multiple of them for thousands of bucks." "SO I'M UGLY AND I'M RIPPING PEOPLE OFF?!?"

Ok, I lied. Sheela got an even cuter drink than Kara with all kinds of fruity decorations and tiny umbrellas. It looked more like a parfait than a drink, but it had alcohol nonetheless.

She immediately passes out to the point where everyone thinks she's dead but she's literally just jumping from one person's head to another and everyone's wondering why they're suddenly daydreaming about having tea parties with this chick.

Aru took Aiden off designated driver duty and so he starts going at the drinks so he can finally get revenge.

Unfortunately, the man's surprisingly a heavyweight and almost beats Brynne's record. When she finds out, she's not sure if she's mad or impressed.

"I hAvE a HaReM..." "Not exactly, Wifey-" "Shhshhshh, LeT mE eXpLaIn! I hAvE a HaReM, wHiCh I gOt AfTeR i DiEd. My LiFe iS aN ISEKAI!" "...Don't do this. I swear, you'll make me get you drunk more often if you keep this up." "yOu KnOw, ArU, wHeNeVeR yOu QuEsTiOn SoMeOnE, yOu ShOuLd SaY 'ARU SHAH ABOUT THAT?!?'" "BARTENDER, ANOTHER ONE OVER HERE!"

Also, his Apsara powers get out of hand and he proceeds to dominate the karaoke show and suddenly has a bunch of girls flock to him. Aru's about to figure out whether she should electrocute him or them when he screams into the mike "THAT'S MY PAST LIFE HUSBAND! HIII, ARU!" and runs into her for a hug tackle before passing out.

Then the others are on hangover cleanup. Everyone's a mess in the morning and when Aiden says "This can't possibly get any worse." Aru goes "ARU SHAH ABOUT THAT???" and shows them everything she recorded on her phone. They then puked even harder...

[anonymouscuzwhynot001]

The Potatoes at Home Depot

Nikita: Eww what is this place? There are like no ballgowns or dresses here — ooh, hi plants . . . Aiden: Shah, go sit in that big fluffy chair. I’m taking a few pictures. Actually no, go over to that other chair. Wait no go to that huge light over there. Actually wait never mind go there— Aru: THE PAINT SECTION. LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY COLORS. AIDEN CAN WE REPAINT THE HOUSE? I LIKE THIS COLOR— Brynne: Guys, I’m hungry. Do you think anyone will mind if I go use the stoves over there? Sheela: I predict that someone will end up covered in paint . . . Mini: Do you know how many germs can be here? So many people have touched these things. You could get seriously sick from a virus that might linger on one of these surfaces — *brushes leg against shelf* AHHHHH OH MY GOD RUDY WHERE’S MY HAND SANITIZER— Hira: *murmurs to self* Pots and pans, pots and pans . . . where do I find pots and pans? Brynne needs to cook . . . Rudy: Umm guys what’s this thing? *taps a paint can on the shelf above him* It looks like some sort of stool. What if I try sitting on it? *tries to pull can down* Mini: RUDY NO— Rudy: *can accidentally opens and spills all over him* . . . oops . . . Aiden: *facepalms* How am I even related to you? Sheela: My prediction has come true . . .

my first post

lmao I tried 🤣

[mxnkeydo]

enchanted ✧ chapter one

✧ ship aru x aiden

✧ what to expect princess arundhati shah lives a life of luxury, but meeting a mysterious boy opens her eyes to her neglective father's true ways, and to something a little more than that...

✧ genre romance, fluff, humor

✧ word count 1.78K

✧ warnings none

✧ link to main masterlist

✧ link to enchanted masterlist

✧ A/N i was bored. this idea hit me. here you go!

✧ ✧ ✧

There I was again tonight Forcing laughter, faking smiles Same old tired, lonely place...

Arundhati’s hand curled around the doorknob of her chambers as she stared out at the vast wave of people coming in from the arched entrances. From citizens to ministers to the maids scurrying around the tiled floor, every inch of the ballroom was occupied. The mere sight of it made her stomach lurch sickeningly.

She closed the door and gazed into the mirror for the thousandth time that night, brushing her hand against the reflection in the mirror. It was really her, her mother had told her, just the more mature version. The girl with the red lips and the perfectly pinned hair and the dark eyeliner was her.

As much as she wanted to, Aru found it hard to believe.

She quickly  pulled a strand of hair out of her perfect loose bun and let it frame her face. She swiped off some of the lipstick from her mouth, put on lip gloss instead. She even let herself indulge in some mascara, even though her mother—the queen—had explicitly told her not to.

They were small acts of rebellion, but they made her feel good nevertheless.

Finally she walked out the door, her extravagant lilac lehenga sweeping the floor behind her, heart beating in her chest like a messenger drum. Almost immediately the ballroom went silent, all eyes on her.

“Ah, and here she comes,” Queen Krithika announced. Her face shone with a dazzling smile, and she ushered her daughter closer, hugging her around the waist. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the birthday girl—Arundhati Shah, heir to the throne of Ascharyaloka!”

Aru raised her hand with a soft smile, inwardly flinching from the uproar of noise that followed her mother’s declaration. Hand in hand, she and the queen descended down the spiral stairs, her anklets clinking delightedly with every step. Her long, purple dupatta brushed against her back, and Aru barely managed to cast away the urge to scratch at it for the queen would chide her and deem it “unwomanly”. 

Stepping onto the tiled ballroom meant human interaction, which Aru hated most of the time, but she pasted a fake smile on her face and shook hands with almost everyone present at the party. Yes, she’d told her mother she wanted to throw a party for her sweet sixteen, but by that she had meant inviting a few friends; Mini, obviously, and then Brynne and her girlfriend Hira, and Rudy (who devotedly followed Mini everywhere she went). But her idea of a party and her mother’s idea of a party were completely different, apparently, because her mom had called just about every citizen in the kingdom to the palace.

“Aru, hey! Enjoying the party?”

Aru turned around and found herself face to face with her half-sister, Kara. To say the least, Kara was… a character. She was calm and wise in a weird way that infuriated her sometimes beyond words. Now, though, Aru simply gave her a tired smile.

“Hi, Kara,” she sighed, adjusting her large hoop earrings. “And no, not really. It’s really stuffy and this place reeks of obnoxious noblemen.”

Kara shrugged. “I can’t argue with that. Chocolate?” She broke off a piece of her white chocolate bar and Aru gladly took it from her, letting herself sink into a small moment of bliss, savoring it before she had to go back to reality. Unfortunately for her, there was a new batch of guests coming in, so she hastily bid goodbye to Kara and went to her mom’s side.

“I really don’t like this, I hope you know that,” Aru said to the queen out the side of her mouth, still smiling at all the newcomers as she adjusted her crown.

Without looking at her, Krithika replied, “Oh, believe me. I know. Now look, that was the man who donated the most to our construction of the grand library. Make sure to shake his hand and thank him again, alright?” Aru rolled her eyes but complied. 

“Any other old brown men you want me to meet?”

Krithika looked like she was trying not to smile, and a small sense of pride burst in Aru’s chest. “Very funny, and try not to be racist to anyone tonight. Now go shake that man’s hand.” Aru rolled her eyes but complied. “Oh, and Aru? Keep your eyes peeled for any handsome guys your age.”

“Mom!”

It took her an hour to meet everyone at her party. It wasn’t even time to cut the cake yet and she was already exhausted and eager to go back up to her room, her safe haven. Luckily for her, the queen struck her spoon against a wine glass and beckoned everyone to the table where a four-layered cake sat on a glass stand. The faster she could get this done, the quicker she could get out of her fitted lehenga and escape all these people. 

The cake was grand, and that was saying something because Aru had seen a lot of grand things in the short sixteen years of her lifetime. Although the cake itself was white, it was adorned with purple flowers all around, all made out of frosting and fondant. She really had to hand it to the bakers because they seemed lifelike, so real that she could almost imagine reaching out and feeling soft petals on the pads of her fingers.

Flowers were nice. But pretty flowers that you could eat? That was even better.

After Aru was serenaded with a painfully out of tune chorus of “Happy Birthday”, she finally got to cut the cake. Inside, the cake burst with different shades of purple to match the party’s theme of purple and white and black. She got the first slice, and with one bite, she knew Brynne had definitely helped to make this. Aru had always been fond of vanilla, but Bee had taken it to the next level, making the rich flavor explode on her tongue. The taste sent pleasurable shivers down her spine as Aru made a mental note to thank her later.

Eating meant that she didn’t have to talk to anyone, so Aru let herself sit at one of the round tables closest to the palace exit, where fresh air circulated through the open entryway. Night had fallen, and the stars twinkled mischievously in the sky, like a secretive wink. Vaguely Aru thought of her father, the king. He had been the one to name her, Krithika had told her. She had been born at dawn, when the sky was beginning to brighten and the only star visible was the morning star: Arundhati. According to the stories Aru had listened to, he was noble and wise and funny, everything a woman looked for in a man. 

Not anymore, apparently. Suyodhana was never there, not even for her sixteenth birthday. I have work, he’d say some days. I have important meetings to attend, he’d say on others. No matter what he always had an excuse to stay out of their lives. Ignoring her was one thing; but Krithika was his queen. He didn’t get to ignore her. The fact that he did made her angry, so angry. But there was nothing she could do about it.

Aru let the thought go with the warm winds. They brushed her face like gentle hands, tickled her neck. She wished she could go out there now.

In fact, she could. Nobody was watching. Nobody would notice she was gone, for everyone was too busy eating. One little detour couldn’t hurt, right?

When she was absolutely certain no one was looking her way, Aru lifted her heavy skirt and walked out the door.

The sky was clearer now that she was outside. The full moon dazzled against the royal blue canvas, and it seemed to smile down at her as she strolled through the gardens. Her fingers brushed against various flowers; a bush of crimson roses, hanging vines of jasmine, clusters of bright yellow daffodils. The only sounds present were her soft breathing and the padding of her footsteps through the arrangement of plants.

So, naturally, when Aru heard the crunch of a twig from behind her, she was quite alarmed.

She whirled around immediately, reaching for the knife strapped to her shin in case of emergencies like these. “Who’s there?” She yelled, but the only response was the soft echo of her own voice coming back to her. “Show yourself!” She yelled once more. “I’m the—”

“I know who you are, princess,” a smooth, husky voice interrupted her. Aru’s jaw fell slack as a slender figure revealed himself from the willow trees. He slowly came into the light, his eyes full of restrained panic. “And, uh, mind putting that knife down?”

“Who are you?” Aru answered with a question of her own, but she still let the knife clatter to the ground. The trespasser was a boy, not much older than her, with the most mesmerizing eyes she’d ever seen. They were wide and dark, but not fully brown like the common color every citizen had—they had hints of blue and purple iridescence. His glossy curls bounced as the boy stepped forward, his hands up like he was being arrested. 

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” he said, looking down at the grass. “I was on a walk and I saw the palace and I just—you know, my mother used to sing at the palace during events like the one you’re hosting tonight.” He smiled wistfully—and gods his smile was charming. But then he seemed to catch himself and wiped the grin off his face. “I—I will take your leave now.”

“Who was your mother?” Aru found herself asking, just out of general curiosity. The boy turned around and shook his head sadly.

“It’s not very important. Many people sang for the king and queen. My mother was merely one of them.” Aru would have believed him if it weren’t for his eyes, suddenly tight and cold like ice. The ice melted though, and the next time she blinked he was at ease again. And, she couldn’t help noticing, he was handsome. He wore a plain black kurta that made him blend into the night, and it made his eyes shine all the more. The sparkled, reminding her of the stars.

“Where do you live?” Aru asked, but the boy only shook his head once more and winked, leaving her flustered and blushing like an idiot. “Wait, what’s your—”

The boy darted away, off into the darkness of the garden “—name,” she finished quietly, laughing in incredulous wonder. 

For the next few minutes, Aru stood there dumbly, still trying to remember her own name, until her responsibilities as princess rushed back to her yet again.

Walls of insincerity, shifting eyes and vacancy Vanished when I saw your face All I can say is, it was enchanting to meet you...

[maitaiwiththecorpses]

Avoidance Of The First Class

Making this a separate post bc I absolutely died trying to find it again.

@queenofapeacefuldawn thanks so much for the idea and letting me use it! It was and honor!

Avoidance Of The First Class

Coming back to the museum for Thanksgiving was weird.

Her mom was determined to make a feast, celebrate with her sisters, and just be super festive this year.

Aru had a feeling Krithika Shah was feeling lonely.

In the time since the Potatoes had gone off to college, her mom had become besties with Malini across the street, and a painful dread came over Aru as her mom said, "This weekend, beti, we're going to have a big feast. Malini and I planned it! Isn't that exciting?" She asked, bustling around the kitchen.

"That's great, mom," Aru said. She slyly left the room, pulling her phone out and scrolling through her contacts till she found one at the bottom.

Aiden Acharya

She sighed and clicked on the contact, tapping out a hasty text to her ex-boyfriend.

Aru: Did you know about this dinner our moms are hosting? Aiden: Actually? Aru: Yes... You didn't tell her did you?

The palpable pause in the conversation made her heart sink They'd decided to not tell anyone they'd broken up, to keep the dynamic of the Potatoes afloat. Aru remembered that conversation, with both of them dripping in apathy. It was the worst thing to happen-

Aiden: No. Should I? Aru: I think we can get through a dinner. Aiden: Avoidance of the first class?

She thought about responding to that- it was hilarious, it was perfect, it was so utterly them.

Aru left him on read.

THAT SATURDAY, THE MUSEUM KITCHEN.

Brynne bustled around the kitchen with Krithika, stuffing the turkey and stirring the curry as Aru's mom rolled out the roti. Mini was washing rice and Rudy was working on tunes. Hira was watching the football game with Gunky and Funky as the twins set the table.

"Beta!" Malini called. Aru, who had been at the door of the kitchen on her phone looked up to see what all the commotion was about, when she saw Malini bringing Aiden to her.

What a momma's boy.

"I want you two to go back to the house and make the peas and mac and cheese. Oh, and take the turkey," she handed the tray to Aru, who scowled at the bird. "And don't come back until it's done cooking. If you two are going to sit around then I might as well get you out of the way."

Aiden nodded as Aru made her way out of the house, not wanting to deal with anyone else's bullshit. It's not her fault she arrived late!

When they got to Aiden's house, she threw the turkey in the oven without a single thought. "Woah, there Shah. You gotta baste it first!"

Aru stiffened, rolling her eyes. "Fine. You do it. I'm going to get the peas." Who was Aiden to behave like an authority to her?

She pulled the frozen peas out of the freezer and put them on a pan, turning the heat up and throwing frozen butter on it. She rummaged through a few drawers, looking for a spatula, when Aiden came up behind her, tapping her back and handing her the spatula. Aru felt the ghost of a hand around her waist, a phantom kiss on her cheek, and she practically shook at the memories of him cooking with her.

Krithika Shah wasn't the only one who was lonely.

It had been so long since she'd been around other human beings, since she'd occupied the same space as one, worked with someone. Aru had to remind herself to breathe.

We don't need Aiden anymore, Shah. She exhaled deeply, thinking back as to why they broke up in the first place.

=================================

"I'm gonna be moving around a lot, Shah."

"I can handle it."

A pause.

"I can't."

=================================

Photojournalism. His dream. His one passion.

Their downfall.

Aru snapped back into reality when the doorbell rang, frantically stirring the peas, praying that they hadn't burnt yet.

"Is Aru home?" A voice came from the door. Probably some estranged relative, looking to see 'how much she'd grown!'

"Uh, she doesn't live here," Aiden said, an edge to his voice.

Aru turned the stove off, and ran to the door to see...

Andy?

The blond boy from college who'd been on her debate team for finals?

"Hey, Andy... what're you doing here?" She asked cautiously.

"Oh! Aru! Hi," he waved, a small grin gracing his features.

"Hi?" Aru said lamely.

"Uh, I'm probably interrupting something, I can leave-" Andy's eyes ping-ponged between Aiden and her, and Aru desperately stepped out of the door, grabbing his arm.

"No, it's ok. What's up?" She looked at Andy searchingly- could this be the rebound she'd been looking for?

Andy took a deep breath, as if psyching himself up, and Aru heard Aiden shift behind them.

"I was wondering if you maybe wanna go get some coffee with me?" He asked hopefully. "Like. Now?"

Aru's heart sank a bit, despite having a cute boy actively ask her out. No, she couldn't go now, she was helping with dinner. She was spending time with her family. She was trying to get not-so-lonely.

But this was an opportunity to get not-so-lonely!

"Shah, did you turn off the stove?" Aiden asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, it's off," she said quietly.

"Aru?" Andy called softly. She hadn't answered him. Oh.

"I can't go right now, Andy. It's, like, Thanksgiving, and I'm spending time with my family-"

"Seems like an awfully small family with just your boyfriend," he mumbled.

"He's not my- Andy! Come on, you can't expect me to drop everything and be with you!" She yelled as he walked away to his car.

Rude.

She turned to Aiden, glaring at him like a surly teenager, and stormed inside.

She sat on the couch, flipping through the channels when Aiden came in, closing the door softly.

"I'm sorry he did that."

"What? Asked me out? Please," she scoffed. Aru sounded pathetic, and she knew it.

"That he doesn't understand how important family is to you," Aiden finished, leaning over to her. He put a hand on hers, and static shocked him a bit, but still Aiden would not move.

These things were always easier when she was with him. She didn't have to choose between spending Thanksgiving with family or him. They were one and the same.

He did this.

And I can't do it.

The oven beeped. The peas were loaded into a Tupperware container, and now all they had to do was make the mac and cheese.

As the macaroni boiled, Aiden and Aru bickered about what cheese to use.

"All of it." Was Aru's argument.

"Just the string cheese." Was Aiden's.

Aru won with her famous throw-all-the-shit-in-when-they-least-expect-it method.

The mac and cheese was incredible.

Aiden chopped up pieces of bacon to put in the dish before it went into the oven, and Aru made the most awkward conversation ever.

"So. What did you think of Andy?"

Aiden whipped his head to her at breakneck speeds. "He's... blond."

"He's quite nice."

"Not the most understanding one you've found," he remarked, going back to the bacon. Right. Andy had just thrown a tantrum.

Fucking hell, Andy, can't you just make my life easier?

"And you? How many girls have fallen over themselves to have you?" Aru eyed him, slowly stirring the thick mac and cheese.

"A few."

"And how many have you taken?" She asked sharply. He knew what she was asking, but he was making Aru spell it out.

He set the knife down harder than necessary, turning to glare at her. "None. You know that."

"Do I?" She said, raising her voice.

"Yes you do!" He yelled back. "I was ready to wait my whole life for you, I died for you, and I was ready to do it again!"

Right. Aru had forgotten about that part.

=================================

"I can't."

"Why not?" She was on the verge of tears.

"I can't handle being away from you. And I don't want you to waste your time waiting for me."

"Aiden."

"I'm setting you free, Shah. I'll wait and wait and wait my whole life, but the thought of you doing that..." He paused, as if picturing a horror. "You've got better things coming your way."

=================================

"You didn't need to do that," she whispered. It had been a hero-complex moment, unnecessary, unexpected, and painful for the both of them.

"Yes, I did," Aiden said, walking towards her. He reached behind her, turning the gas off, and then took her hands in his. She looked up at him, and in his eyes she knew she would find galaxies. She didn't look for them this time, though.

"Aiden," she said softly, as if that were it. That was the whole sentence, that was everything.

"I'm back, you know." This time she looked him in the eye, shocked.

"What?" She dropped his hands, moving out of being in between him and the stove.

"I did my work. I took my photos, got my money, and lived everywhere. I'm writing now. Poetry. I'll pair the photos I take with a few of them, but yeah. Basically," he shrugged. "I'm back."

"What about school?" She asked, ignoring that open-ended unsaid question. Him being back meant that she didn't have to wait any longer, and neither did he, and they could be together-

"Getting my degree in English. It'll be chill." Aru stared at him, shocked. "Shah, I came back because, sure, I'm tired of moving every month, but also..." He smiled gently. "Family, right?"

She put the mac and cheese in the oven, he sprinkled the bacon bits on top. Family.

"I don't want Andy," she said suddenly. "I don't want to choose family or dating, I don't want to wait for someone else to find me, and I don't want you to hide from me anymore." She glared at him, tears pooling in her vision.

"Oh, Shah," he said sadly, hugging her.

"Are you going to leave me again?" She asked softly.

Aiden paused thoughtfully. This wasn't hesitation, and she knew it. This was him thinking and calculating, giving her the most honest answer possible.

Because Aru would not accept lies.

"No, I don't think I could."

She slumped into him, out of relief, exhaustion, or just starved for comfort. "Good, cause I was dying of boredom these past few months."

He laughed and kissed her once, swiftly and softly, then pulled away searching her face for something telling him to stop. He grinned when he found none, Aru smiling softly, and she leaned in this time.

The oven beeped.

They brought the food to the museum, barely four hours later. No one knew that they had ever broken up, her sisters making jokes about them, her mom smiling sweetly at them, as if to say, "look at the happy couple," but Malini, she looked at Aru and winked.

"When you marry my son, Arundhati, you will mention me in your toasts at the wedding," she said, a hint of menace in the apsara's voice.

Family.

Things were easy with her family. Rarely simple, but easy, yes. She did not have to compromise on her values, she could eat happily, watch movies.

And in the middle of it all, Aiden would be there.

Because family, right?

[book-girl4evaaa]

I got over 20 notes on a previous post (thanks @hijabi-desi-bookworm :D) so here's the Aru Shah one-shot for new years!

(it's also on my wattpad book so you can read it there if you want.)

So, *clears throat dramatically * here we go!

~12~

Aru layed back on the school roof, looking at the sky. Next to her was an incredibly reluctant Mini.

"This is a good idea because?" Mini asked, hugging her knees.  She was right in the middle, and sat on a blanket she bought up.

"Because the view is incredible. Just look!" Aru turned around to Mini, who was hugging her knees very tightly to her chest.

"I guess," she began, "and the roof is flat so that minimises the chance we'll fall..."

"Exactly!" Aru agreed. Mini skooted forward to sit next to Aru properly.

"The earth is so cool," Mini muttered. Aru agreed. Ever since saving the world, she had a much bigger appreciation of it. It was crazy and hectic as ever,  but still managed to be beautiful.

The fireworks went off, sending sparks all over the sky.

"Happy New Year, sis." Mini told Aru, holding up her elbow for a bump.

"Happy New Year." Aru elbow bumped her back

~13~

"You guys ready?"

Brynne bolted down the stairs holding multiple bags of chips. "Yup! Who's got the Oreos?"

"Me, naturally," Boo said, holding the packet in his talons.

"Ok everyone," Mini called, waiting at front. "Please mind your arms and legs while entering the elephant."

"This is epic." Aiden said, looking down at his camera. "Do you think they'll have fireworks?"

"Probably," Aru replied, "but like, extra-magiky."

"Is that a word?"

"Probably not."

They entered the Night Bazaar to see the both sides of the sky-roof dotted in bright, colourful stars. They flickered and moved like fireworks and were even more beautiful. Aiden snapped a quick picture.

"Told you it would be extra-magiky." Aru smirked and tossed a chip into her mouth.

"You were right, Shah," Aiden agreed, "super magiky."

Aru smiled.

"Come on everyone, group photo!" Boo announced, pushing everyone into shot. "Say happy new year!"

"Happy New Year!" The potatoes chorused, grinning for the photo.

~14~

"...And that is New Year's in the human world" Aru finished. "It's an annual tradition."

Rudy thought for a moment. "So humans throw rockets in the air, set them on fire and blow them up because they look pretty? All to celebrate another year of existence? That's wild."

"Did you know that the word annual comes from the word annualis, which is Latin for year?" Kara added.

"Nope but that's cool?"

It was the first year that Hira, Nikita, Sheela, Rudy and Kara could all be there to celebrate, so Aru had decided to give them the rundown before they watched it in the human world. And that started with watching Australia's fireworks in the theatre, which were set off 16 hours earlier than the USA's.

They all filed in, holding hot cocoa and sat in a 2 rows: Niki, Sheela, Rudy and Mini at the front; Brynne, Hira, Aru, Kara and Aiden in the back.

When the live feed began, Rudy practically leaped out his seat.

"It's so loud! Who made it that loud!" He said over and over. Mini tried to comfort him while her sisters cackled.

Kara watched quietly, before turning to Aru.

"Happy New Year." She said, beaming.

"Happy New Year right back." Aru replied, but Kara had already turned to Aiden to say the same.

Aru looked back at the screen, stirring the cocoa slowly as the lights covered the digital sky.

~15~

"Why didn't we just go back to your school's roof?" Mini complained.

"Because Home Depot's roof is bigger!" Aru answered, grinning.

"Hold up," Aiden said, "you've done this before!?"

"Yup!" Aru reached up kissed him on the cheek. He blushed bright red and held up his camera to try and cover his face.

They laid out all of the blankets, put Rudy in the middle so he wouldn't fall off the roof when he freaked out over the noise, and brought up all the snacks they could carry.

"This is great! Look at the views!" Brynne commented, as she grabbed a handful of her homemade cookies.

All of them got settled. Aru rested her head on Aiden's shoulder as colour exploded over the sky.

"I guess fireworks are another good reason to save the world." She whispered.

"I guess so, Shah. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year wifey."

And under the New year's sky, she drifted off to sleep.

[casuallydyinginthecorner]

I made the Potats as picrews!

link to the picrew: https://toon-me-picrew.carrd.co

Aru: (the bird is Boo this is the closest thing the picrew had to a phoenix)

[Image ID: Aru Shah from the Pandava Quintet. She is sitting with her knees up in a park with a blue sky in a purple T-shirt, gray shorts and yellow sneakers. There is a gray watch on her left hand. A yellow bird sits on her knee and she holds up a peace sign. A light blue frame surrounds the picture. /.End ID]

Mini:

[Image ID: a picrew of Mini from the Pandava Quintet. She is sitting with her knees up in a yellow room with potted plants. She is wearing a fuchsia dress, black strapy sandals, gold hoop earrings, and a flower in her hair. There is a book to her left. /.End ID]

Brynne:

[Image ID: a picrew of Brynne from the Pandava Quintet. She is sitting with her knees up in a park at nighttime, with blue sparkles behind her and is winking at the viewer and is doing a “rock on” sign with her right hand. She is wearing a strapy black crop top, a necklace with a blue charm, dark blue jean shorts, black ankle Converse, gray stud earrings, and an orange and yellow flower crown. There is a slice of cake with a spoon to her left. /.End ID]

Nikita:

[Image ID: a picrew of Nikita from the Pandava Quintet. She is sitting with her knees up on a beach at sunrise, holding her left hand as though she’s about to snap. She is wearing a light blue ruffled top with white dots, a long white skirt, brown strappy sandals, silver heart earrings, and has silver heart glasses on her forehead. There is a pink drink to her left. /.End ID]

Sheela:

[Image ID: a picrew of Sheela from the Pandava Quintet. She is sitting with her knees up in blue, purple and pink ombré clouds with blue flowers behind her and is winking at the viewer. She is wearing a blue and pink zebra-striped shirt, light blue overalls, purple sandals, light pink fingerless gloves, and has silver star glasses on her forehead. There is a bottle of juice to her left. /.End ID]

Aiden:

[Image ID: a picrew of Aiden from the Pandava Quintet. He is sitting in a park in the daytime with his knees up, with white sparkles behind him and looking to his left. He is wearing a dark green button up shirt, black shorts, gray ankle converse, a black wristwatch on his left hand, and square silver sunglasses on his forehead. There is a bag of opened cookies to his left. /.End ID]

Rudy:

[Image ID: a picrew of Rudy from the Pandava Quintet. He is sitting with his knees up in a yellow room with potted plants, doing a peace sign with his right hand. He is wearing a blue button up shirt with pink flowers, gray shorts, light pink and white slides, a straw hat and round pink sunglasses on his forehead. He has a pink beverage to his left. /.End ID]

Hira: (picrew based off of @burntchickennugget2468 ‘s prom au drawing since k couldn’t find one on the wiki)

[Image ID: a picrew of Hira from the Pandava Quintet. She is in a park at nighttime with yellow sparkles behind her, sitting with her knees up and looking to her bottom left and doing a “rock on” sign with her right hand. She is wearing a light blue jumpsuit with dark blue stripes, white socks with light blue ankle Converse, silver bracelets, silver hoop earrings, and a yellow flower in her hair. There is a slice of cake with a spoon to her left. /.End ID]

[thx-sunsxts-addrxss]

100% first two chapters

1st chap: the final report - 1

"...and we shall go to the assembly after lunch break. I hope you are proud of your report, and to those who aren't, I'm sure you will do better next time. Class dismissed" Ms. Sherly finished and left the class. Aiden looked disgustedly at his report paper, lying ugly on his desk, shamefully hated on.

"What did you get?" Aiden turned to the voice, even though he didn't have to turn to know who it was.

"Miss Shah! To what do I do the honor?" Aiden exclaimed, sarcastically.

"Shut up, no good loser. What did you get?" Aru Shah crossed her arms.

Crap. He thought by teasing her, she would retort and would forget. This time he really messed up, because he got 98% and was 99% sure that she got higher.

"Go away"

"Lemme guess. You're too embarrassed about it?" She smirked. 

"They're at it again" Mini sighed to their friend, Brynne.

"Shh. I wanna see this shit go down" Brynne replied.

"98%" he muttered. A big grin appeared on her face and his heart dropped. She slapped down her report on his desk. 

"99%. Better luck next time, sucker" She smirked, snatched her paper away and walked away with Mini who was rolling her eyes. 

It was lunch break in their junior college, the only time where people from different departments could meet one another.

The English Story Championship 2023 was approaching quickly, where only one person from their department would get selected to represent the school and fight against many. For the past years, both of them had been preparing. Last year, he got selected, as Aru was not in Junior College at that time. But this year, he wasn't so sure.

It wasn't like a group to group thing. Only one person would get selected. That was his main worry.

"Cheer up dude. It shouldn't be about who's gonna be getting the medal! Our school should win. Period" Brynne snapped him out of his thoughts. Their group consisted of Brynne, her girlfriend Hira, Mini and his cousin Rudy. As well as Aru.

The entire school was super interested in the beef, so both of them were popular. And yeah, it used to be super awkward for the rest of the group at first, but eventually they all got used to it.

"I guess you're right."

"But you still wanna win."

"I still wanna win."

Brynne sighed. "Whatever. Let's join the others"

As they approached the table, Aru was laughing melodically at something Rudy said. Mini was pointing out something he got wrong, from what he could tell.

Yeah okay. Not laughing melodically, he meant snickering.

"Where are you from, Pluto? A microwave isn't a small wave, you small brained-" 

"Wait, wait. What did he say? What did I miss out on?" Brynne rushed to sit next to Aru. 

"He was talking about how he saw a microwave when he went to the beach last summer, and how excited he was to see megawaves this summer" She cackled. Brynne joined the cackling while pointing at Rudy.

'How on Earth do they get along? How can anyone get along with Shah?' He thought.

Mini frowned. "Guys, that's not that nice. He's one of the best musicians in our department"

"Okay, and? He needs a brain as well" Brynne said.

Rudy turned beet red. "I'm good at loads of things! If you could just see them"

Aru's face suddenly turned understanding and then she looked guilty. "Yeah. I'm sure. Just study hard okay? It's bound to be embarrassing if you tell this to a 10 year old and they laugh at you"

Aiden knew why her face turned understanding. A throwback to their 5th and 6th grade.

"Yeah, I guess so. I need someone to explain a lot to me" Rudy looked down. Aru smirked and nudged Mini suggestively.

"Y'know, I'm in a different department so it might be hard to arrange that. Mini, on the other hand, certainly can and will help you"

"I-um-yeah. I could do that" Mini stammered. Aru checked the time.

"Let's get to the assembly" She said, and rushed to the assembly hall.

Everyone filed in their respective home classes. Aru was in his home class, and the list being in alphabetical order, she was right in front of him.

"It's gonna start~" Aru sang. Everyone knew what 'it' was, and Aiden was dreading it. And sure enough it started.

"Good afternoon, everyone attending Augustus Day Junior College. This is your principal,          Mrs. Sharia. I'm sure everyone has gotten their final report by now, and as per tradition, I shall call out the ones who have scored the highest this year to receive the High Achiever reward"

"Ms. Arielle Reddy" She called out. Arielle walked up proudly from the front of Aru, sticking out her tongue at her. "Has scored 3rd place, with a score of 95%"

Everyone clapped, rather half-heartedly.

"Mr. Aiden Acharya" She called. Aiden walked up, all forced smiles and waved to the crowd. He spotted Aru smirking and almost slumped. "Has scored 2nd place, a score of 98%"

As everyone clapped, Mrs. Sharia gave him the certificate and the medal and let him stand to the side of Arielle who shifted closer to him and smiled.

"And now, our highest achiever, the pride of the school this year, please welcome Ms. Aru Shah!" Mrs. Sharia even clapped this time, Aiden grit his teeth and Arielle's jaw dropped. "Scoring 1st place, with a result of 99%!!"

Aru walked up proudly, took her certificate and medal and stood to the right of Arielle. She subtly stuck out her tongue.

"Ah, Ms. Shah, please stand in the middle"

Aru grimaced of having to be in close proximity of him and stood next to him. As the pictures were taken, they all went back to the class line.

"And now, at last. I will reveal who shall compete in the English Story Championship 2023" Mrs. Sharia smiled. "This is a huge surprise for all of us, but I am proud to announce that"

Mrs. Sharia took out an entry form from behind her. But it was not one it was...two?

"Ms. Aru Shah and Mr. Aiden Acharya both shall compete in The English Story Championship this year!"

2nd chap: 8:30 sharp! You snooze you lose, - 2

"Ms. Aru Shah and Mr. Aiden Acharya shall both compete in the English Story Championship this year!"

The entirety of their school, both departments, were shocked to silence. You could hear the whirring of the air conditioning and a single bee inside the assembly hall. You could hear somebody drop something plastic and everyone gasping.

Up there, on the stage, Aiden, Aru and Arielle's jaws dropped.

"This is serious injustice. I worked hard for this!" Aru whispered ferociously. In a way, hate her or not, Aiden could understand what she was feeling. Battling with your rival to get to the top only to have both of you get selected would be really bad. It would mean everything you did was for nothing.

You see, after Aiden found out Aru got higher, he called his mom to tell her that he'd come home that weekend. His mom was so excited, she'd be devastated now.

And then he felt the reality wash over him a bit too late. He was selected for the English Story Championship for the second time in a row! He was gonna represent the school.

With Aru Shah.

She's super crazy smart. Not to mention, she's a nice person too. Maybe she could fill in his place as well as her's.

'Yeah, right. She'd be happy to, but she won't do it because you're asking her' His brain sneered at him. 'She would've done it happily 4 years ago, especially because she-'

Shut up, brain.

'You did too'

Shut up brain!

"Everyone, an Augustus Clap please!" Mrs. Sharia boomed over the loud speakers to gain everyone's attention. People stopped whispering with each other and started the Augustus Clap.

They stomped their right foot and clapped twice. They continued the pattern, and Aiden felt Aru shiver pleasantly next to him. He knew that feeling. The entire school looking at you and clapping for your hard work.

Everyone filed back to their classes and Aiden walked up to Aru's desk, as she was chatting with her friend. Her name was Bethany or something, but he wasn't here for her, so he didn't care.

"Shah."

Aru turned to him with a smile that soon dropped after seeing who it was.

"Oh. It's you. Don't be smug about getting selected, this is completely unfair and you should know that"

"Aiden, darling. Remember me?" Bethany interrupted her. Aru got visibly annoyed.

One thing you should know about Shah is that she doesn't like getting interrupted.

"Uh yeah, Bethany, right?" Aiden replied awkwardly.

He could hear Aru snicker silently and see Bethany's smile dropping.

"Um no. It's Brutta" 

Now it was Aiden's turn to snicker, inside his head. Brutta meant ugly in Italian. He coughed and then turned to Shah.

"I don't wanna participate" he continued.

"Whatever" Aru turned back to Bethany. Then her eyes bulged and she turned back to him. "Wait. You what?!" 

"Yeah, yeah, tease me all you wa-"

"Are you crazy? How could you miss an opportunity like this? I thought you really wanted this" Aru scolded him (ish) with genuine concern in her eyes. Something passed through them that reminded him a lot about when they were still friends. When they were able to understand each other. 

When they were able to hold conversation without fighting.

"I need to go see my mom. You can do this"

And then realization and understanding in her eyes. "Oh. How is she, by the way?"

Aiden chuckled. "Well. She's good. She never really liked you, you know"

She snorted "As if you did. It's okay if someone doesn't like me. I could care less"

Aiden coughed for a second, considering the first part of her sentence was untrue. "How's yours?"

"She's good. Actually, she's recently started-"

"Is this happening? Are you two actually having a conversation without fighting?" Ugly screeched.

Aru winced, looked annoyed and slowly enunciated the words. "Bethany. Don't interrupt me"

"I'm not Bethany for goodness sake! I'm Brutta!" She screamed.

Aiden could tell that Bethany was only talking to Aru for the popularity and Aru to Brutta because her friends were probably busy at the moment.

"Yeah. Okay. Anyway, what do you want me to do about this?" Aru asked, ignoring Brutta annoyingly flirting with him. 

"Fill in my place!" He yelled. The class got quiet. All eyes were on them.

"What? No!" Aru replied, alarmed.

"Please. I'm begging you!"

"You'd let Mrs. Sharia down! You know how she feels about this"

"Aru. Please" he replied, using her first name for the first time in a long time.

"No!" 

The class started whispering:

"Who are they?"

"That's Aiden Acharya and Aru Shah. They're ultimate rivals and the faces of the school"

"They seem close"

"Yeah they used to be close, but grew apart. Rumor has it that they used to have a thing for each other"

"Really? I could definitely see it"

He felt his ears boiling up and then continued trying to get his point across.

"Just shut up and agree!"

"Why should I? You're the one who's being childish right now"

"Me? Seriously? Who's the one who spilt their leaking pen ink all over my locker!"

"I said I'm sorry! I even cleaned it up for you, so I think it's stupid of what you're asking me to do"

"Do you want me to tell everyone your entire 5th grade?"

The other opened her mouth and then sighed in exasperation. "I can't stand you"

"Then sit down" he replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he walked away. "I'll see you at 8:30"

"Fuck you!"

"8:30 sharp!" He replied, moving out the class. He could hear her audibly groan as he turned around the corner.

[maitaiwiththecorpses]

@queenofapeacefuldawn thanks so much for the idea!

Avoidance Of The First Class

Coming back to the museum for Thanksgiving was weird.

Her mom was determined to make a feast, celebrate with her sisters, and just be super festive this year.

Aru had a feeling Krithika Shah was feeling lonely.

In the time since the Potatoes had gone off to college, her mom had become besties with Malini across the street, and a painful dread came over Aru as her mom said, "This weekend, beti, we're going to have a big feast. Malini and I planned it! Isn't that exciting?" She asked, bustling around the kitchen.

"That's great, mom," Aru said. She slyly left the room, pulling her phone out and scrolling through her contacts till she found one at the bottom.

Aiden Acharya

She sighed and clicked on the contact, tapping out a hasty text to her ex-boyfriend.

Aru: Did you know about this dinner our moms are hosting? Aiden: Actually? Aru: Yes... You didn't tell her did you?

The palpable pause in the conversation made her heart sink They'd decided to not tell anyone they'd broken up, to keep the dynamic of the Potatoes afloat. Aru remembered that conversation, with both of them dripping in apathy. It was the worst thing to happen-

Aiden: No. Should I? Aru: I think we can get through a dinner. Aiden: Avoidance of the first class?

She thought about responding to that- it was hilarious, it was perfect, it was so utterly them.

Aru left him on read.

THAT SATURDAY, THE MUSEUM KITCHEN.

Brynne bustled around the kitchen with Krithika, stuffing the turkey and stirring the curry as Aru's mom rolled out the roti. Mini was washing rice and Rudy was working on tunes. Hira was watching the football game with Gunky and Funky as the twins set the table.

"Beta!" Malini called. Aru, who had been at the door of the kitchen on her phone looked up to see what all the commotion was about, when she saw Malini bringing Aiden to her.

What a momma's boy.

"I want you two to go back to the house and make the peas and mac and cheese. Oh, and take the turkey," she handed the tray to Aru, who scowled at the bird. "And don't come back until it's done cooking. If you two are going to sit around then I might as well get you out of the way."

Aiden nodded as Aru made her way out of the house, not wanting to deal with anyone else's bullshit. It's not her fault she arrived late!

When they got to Aiden's house, she threw the turkey in the oven without a single thought. "Woah, there Shah. You gotta baste it first!"

Aru stiffened, rolling her eyes. "Fine. You do it. I'm going to get the peas." Who was Aiden to behave like an authority to her?

She pulled the frozen peas out of the freezer and put them on a pan, turning the heat up and throwing frozen butter on it. She rummaged through a few drawers, looking for a spatula, when Aiden came up behind her, tapping her back and handing her the spatula. Aru felt the ghost of a hand around her waist, a phantom kiss on her cheek, and she practically shook at the memories of him cooking with her.

Krithika Shah wasn't the only one who was lonely.

It had been so long since she'd been around other human beings, since she'd occupied the same space as one, worked with someone. Aru had to remind herself to breathe.

We don't need Aiden anymore, Shah. She exhaled deeply, thinking back as to why they broke up in the first place.

=================================

"I'm gonna be moving around a lot, Shah."

"I can handle it."

A pause.

"I can't."

=================================

Photojournalism. His dream. His one passion.

Their downfall.

Aru snapped back into reality when the doorbell rang, frantically stirring the peas, praying that they hadn't burnt yet.

"Is Aru home?" A voice came from the door. Probably some estranged relative, looking to see 'how much she'd grown!'

"Uh, she doesn't live here," Aiden said, an edge to his voice.

Aru turned the stove off, and ran to the door to see...

Andy?

The blond boy from college who'd been on her debate team for finals?

"Hey, Andy... what're you doing here?" She asked cautiously.

"Oh! Aru! Hi," he waved, a small grin gracing his features.

"Hi?" Aru said lamely.

"Uh, I'm probably interrupting something, I can leave-" Andy's eyes ping-ponged between Aiden and her, and Aru desperately stepped out of the door, grabbing his arm.

"No, it's ok. What's up?" She looked at Andy searchingly- could this be the rebound she'd been looking for?

Andy took a deep breath, as if psyching himself up, and Aru heard Aiden shift behind them.

"I was wondering if you maybe wanna go get some coffee with me?" He asked hopefully. "Like. Now?"

Aru's heart sank a bit, despite having a cute boy actively ask her out. No, she couldn't go now, she was helping with dinner. She was spending time with her family. She was trying to get not-so-lonely.

But this was an opportunity to get not-so-lonely!

"Shah, did you turn off the stove?" Aiden asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, it's off," she said quietly.

"Aru?" Andy called softly. She hadn't answered him. Oh.

"I can't go right now, Andy. It's, like, Thanksgiving, and I'm spending time with my family-"

"Seems like an awfully small family with just your boyfriend," he mumbled.

"He's not my- Andy! Come on, you can't expect me to drop everything and be with you!" She yelled as he walked away to his car.

Rude.

She turned to Aiden, glaring at him like a surly teenager, and stormed inside.

She sat on the couch, flipping through the channels when Aiden came in, closing the door softly.

"I'm sorry he did that."

"What? Asked me out? Please," she scoffed. Aru sounded pathetic, and she knew it.

"That he doesn't understand how important family is to you," Aiden finished, leaning over to her. He put a hand on hers, and static shocked him a bit, but still Aiden would not move.

These things were always easier when she was with him. She didn't have to choose between spending Thanksgiving with family or him. They were one and the same.

He did this.

And I can't do it.

The oven beeped. The peas were loaded into a Tupperware container, and now all they had to do was make the mac and cheese.

As the macaroni boiled, Aiden and Aru bickered about what cheese to use.

"All of it." Was Aru's argument.

"Just the string cheese." Was Aiden's.

Aru won with her famous throw-all-the-shit-in-when-they-least-expect-it method.

The mac and cheese was incredible.

Aiden chopped up pieces of bacon to put in the dish before it went into the oven, and Aru made the most awkward conversation ever.

"So. What did you think of Andy?"

Aiden whipped his head to her at breakneck speeds. "He's... blond."

"He's quite nice."

"Not the most understanding one you've found," he remarked, going back to the bacon. Right. Andy had just thrown a tantrum.

Fucking hell, Andy, can't you just make my life easier?

"And you? How many girls have fallen over themselves to have you?" Aru eyed him, slowly stirring the thick mac and cheese.

"A few."

"And how many have you taken?" She asked sharply. He knew what she was asking, but he was making Aru spell it out.

He set the knife down harder than necessary, turning to glare at her. "None. You know that."

"Do I?" She said, raising her voice.

"Yes you do!" He yelled back. "I was ready to wait my whole life for you, I died for you, and I was ready to do it again!"

Right. Aru had forgotten about that part.

=================================

"I can't."

"Why not?" She was on the verge of tears.

"I can't handle being away from you. And I don't want you to waste your time waiting for me."

"Aiden."

"I'm setting you free, Shah. I'll wait and wait and wait my whole life, but the thought of you doing that..." He paused, as if picturing a horror. "You've got better things coming your way."

=================================

"You didn't need to do that," she whispered. It had been a hero-complex moment, unnecessary, unexpected, and painful for the both of them.

"Yes, I did," Aiden said, walking towards her. He reached behind her, turning the gas off, and then took her hands in his. She looked up at him, and in his eyes she knew she would find galaxies. She didn't look for them this time, though.

"Aiden," she said softly, as if that were it. That was the whole sentence, that was everything.

"I'm back, you know." This time she looked him in the eye, shocked.

"What?" She dropped his hands, moving out of being in between him and the stove.

"I did my work. I took my photos, got my money, and lived everywhere. I'm writing now. Poetry. I'll pair the photos I take with a few of them, but yeah. Basically," he shrugged. "I'm back."

"What about school?" She asked, ignoring that open-ended unsaid question. Him being back meant that she didn't have to wait any longer, and neither did he, and they could be together-

"Getting my degree in English. It'll be chill." Aru stared at him, shocked. "Shah, I came back because, sure, I'm tired of moving every month, but also..." He smiled gently. "Family, right?"

She put the mac and cheese in the oven, he sprinkled the bacon bits on top. Family.

"I don't want Andy," she said suddenly. "I don't want to choose family or dating, I don't want to wait for someone else to find me, and I don't want you to hide from me anymore." She glared at him, tears pooling in her vision.

"Oh, Shah," he said sadly, hugging her.

"Are you going to leave me again?" She asked softly.

Aiden paused thoughtfully. This wasn't hesitation, and she knew it. This was him thinking and calculating, giving her the most honest answer possible.

Because Aru would not accept lies.

"No, I don't think I could."

She slumped into him, out of relief, exhaustion, or just starved for comfort. "Good, cause I was dying of boredom these past few months."

He laughed and kissed her once, swiftly and softly, then pulled away searching her face for something telling him to stop. He grinned when he found none, Aru smiling softly, and she leaned in this time.

The oven beeped.

They brought the food to the museum, barely four hours later. No one knew that they had ever broken up, her sisters making jokes about them, her mom smiling sweetly at them, as if to say, "look at the happy couple," but Malini, she looked at Aru and winked.

"When you marry my son, Arundhati, you will mention me in your toasts at the wedding," she said, a hint of menace in the apsara's voice.

Family.

Things were easy with her family. Rarely simple, but easy, yes. She did not have to compromise on her values, she could eat happily, watch movies.

And in the middle of it all, Aiden would be there.

Because family, right?

Something Has Changed This Time

Everyone guess the new aru shah plot I have in mind and I'll reveal the real thing on Thursday. It has everything to do with the title

[arundhati-shah4]

Mini: Don't go to the living room.

Hira: Why?

Mini: I saw a spider.

Hira: Why didn't you kill it?

Mini: It has eight arms, and I only have two. It's not fair.

[silverstarssart]

Aru Shah Headcanons

——————

Aru and Aiden headcanons:

——————

—They don’t do public displays of affection. The most you could get is a gentle little touch, brushing hair out of face, shoulder touch, etc. 

So it’s hard for someone to tell their dating, but after they start talking in fandom you can tell.

“You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars,”

“We are not Levana and Evret idiot, stop it.”

“Why the heck do you think that Merida is secretly a time traveling Bob the builder working for Megamind in the Spider-verse?!”

“Why do YOU think that Frodo likes chocolate ice cream, he’s totally a strawberry-banana person!”

“No he gives chocolate sprinkle vibes!”

“NO!”

Yup, they’re pretty loving

—————————

Rudy falls in love with The land of stories series and vibes with Red

Hira loves Brynne's baking and helps her by cracking eggs, decorating, and eating the icing (though Aru also does that part) 

Aru would be best friends with Leo (PJO), they would go explode things together and have competitions over how much they know about a certain movie

Rudy would try to help Brynne in the kitchen (against her will) and ends up adding salt, parsley, and donuts to a chocolate fondue

Mini likes to listen to podcasts

Rudy has a fascination with Taylor Swift and asks if she is a goddess to Aiden. He opens his mouth, and then closes it. "Maybe?"

Sheela is a poet, and she likes to make up limericks (especially about her friends)

"Aru was taped to a wall by Brynne,

Mini and Aiden screamed that it is a sin, 

Aru abruptly fell down, 

Emerged with a frown, 

And said 'If I can breathe underwater, can I pretend to drown? " 

Indra, Vayu, Yama, and the Ashvins are always watching down on their Pandavas, and laughing at their shenanigans. They all ship Aruden. Yama thinks Rudy has to man up before he is worthy of his daughter.

Hanuman has in-depth discussions with Brynne about combat and The Great British Bake Off

Those Yalis from Tree of Wishes are now accountants and love their job so much

Aru dyed Rudy's hair green with orange stripes for a week. He loved it. Mini didn't. Brynne took photos. Nikita was raving about how horrible it looked. Sheela was fascinated with a butterfly. And Aiden was slowly dying inside and losing his last brain cell.

[writergracethepanda]

Brynne: So, what's for dinner?  Hira, staring at the food she burnt: Regret.

[ssj2hindudude]

Can you have Brynne criticize the other Potatoes cooking? P.S. whether Hira can or cannot cook, I wonder if Brynne gonna lie or be brutally honest

Gor-Brynne Rao-msey

Brynne: SHAH, WHAT THE F*** IS THIS?!?

Aru: What?

Brynne: I TOLD YOU TO PUT FISH IN THE SWEDISH MEATBALLS

Aru: I did!

Brynne: I DIDN'T MEAN SWEDISH FISH YOU SUGAR-CRAZED DUMBA**!!!

*******************************************************

Mini: Here I have an egg-free, meat-free, gluten-free, fat-free, sugar-free, dairy-free-

Brynne: IT'S ALSO FLAVOR-FREE, YOU MILLENNIAL HIPPIE

Mini: ...I'm Gen Z

Brynne: AS IN ZERO COOKING ABILITY

*******************************************************

Brynne, pointing: You, You, and You!

The twins and BB, after opening the oven and causing the cake to fall: ...

Brynne: F*** OFF!!!

*Sheela tries to stop Nikita from throwing BB at her*

Brynne: HEY LICORICE-HEAD, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!?

*******************************************************

Brynne: WHAT ARE YOU?!?

Rudy, with Brynne holding his face with pastry dough: an idiot samosa with extra idiot

*******************************************************

Brynne: AMMAMMA, WTF?!?

Aiden, tired: What now, Brynne?

Brynne: WHAT NOW?!? B****, THIS HALWA IS SO DRY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS PUT THROUGH YOU AND SHAH'S SLOW BURN!!!

*******************************************************

Brynne, crunching Hira's burnt cupcakes full of eggshells and uncooked flour: Delicious. Finally, some good f***in food!

[weepingfireflies]

You remember the favourites post of yours? Well, that for Aru Shah

The blorbo, scrunkly, scrimblo bimblo, glup shitto, poor little meow meow, horse plinko, eeby deeby post? You talking about the blorbo, scrunkly, scrimblo bimblo, glup shitto, poor little meow meow, horse plinko, eeby deeby post? That post? Okay.

Blorbo - Mini - Me too, bestie.

Scrunkly - also Mini. She could crush me up into a little ball, but I will also stomp anyone who looks at her funny.

Scrimblo Bimblo - Fire Guy and the Ocean from City of Gold

Glup Shitto - Brynne's uncles. Also Hira, but I think we all like Hira.

Poor Little Meow Meow - Rudy. IDK why. He's not the most problematic, but I wanna crush him up and eat him. But also Opal.

Horse Plinko - Indra*

Eeby Deeby - Hanuman*

[thefangirlinduo]

Ariden/Shacharya Angst with a side of 2nd Gen adventure

So imagine this:

Aru and Aiden get married.

They get married. 

And nobody, not even the rest of the potatoes know why their divorcing. 

Especially their daughter, Krithika Shah-Acharya

She’s eavesdropping on her mother and father talking and this is how it goes. 

“So this is really happening?” Krithika’s mother sat down on her and her husband’s bed. Or what used to be the Shah-Acharya bed. 

Everything used to be different. Arundathi and Aiden Shah-Acharya were the happiest couple the world knew. They had always loved each other. They got married when they were just 22, and had their first at 26. They were literally the picture of love in the other world. 

But everything changed a couple of months ago. 

They started avoiding each other and they wouldn’t talk. 

Krithika would never confess it, but sometimes she could hear her mother crying in the other room. Sometimes she felt like that too. 

When Krithika asked Aunt Brynne what was going on, she had only looked down at her with sad eyes and said, “Life is going on sweetheart. I hate it too, but I promise it just gets better.” 

Aunt Mini had the same answer. So did Aunt Hira, Sheela, and Niki. Well not the exact same, but something along those lines. It seemed that even Uncle Rudy didn’t know what was going on, and he was Dad’s best friend.

“Yes.” Krithika got snapped back to reality by her father’s answer. 

He let out a sad sigh, as her mother leaned against the headboard. “It’s for the best. The gods would kill us otherwise.” 

Wait, what?! Krithika was in shock. What were the gods going to do to her? Moreover what were they trying to do in her life? She stood closer to the door. 

A strangled sob escaped her mother’s throat. And then another. And another. She watched as her mother leaned into her father’s outstretched arms, crying. 

“Why do we have to do this?” she cried. “Why? WHY?!” 

Aiden rubbed up and down his wife’s back. 

“You know why. Krithika deserves more then what they would give her.” He looked into the distance, and then back at Aru, a single tear in his eye too. 

“When we found out you were pregnant with Krithika we promised ourselves we would raise her normally. Not the way we had to grow up.” 

Krithika disagreed. Her parents seemed to have a pretty cool upbringing. They literally raised EACH OTHER. But now she realized that she and her aunties and uncles had scars from their upbringing. Bad scars.

“This is anything, but normal.” she said, glaring at her husband. 

“She will be safer this way-”

“She will be safer at the training facility! She can learn the skills she learnt, she will be ready for her quest-”

“She will go on the quest when she was old enough!”

“Aiden, when is old enough? You forget that we were her age, 13, when we went on our first quest. When we had to grow up. Us divorcing because the gods say it’s the sacrifice we have to make is only going to make it harder for Krithika! And you know it!” 

As her parents continued arguing, Krithika’s heart began to pound. She knew what she had to do. She packed a bag, picked up her phone, and felt for an invisible string. 

She had a mission to do.

Part 2 anyone?

Tags:

@multifandom242

[maitaiwiththecorpses]

Sooooo I read @k3bookwormalert’s Forgettable and I was like holy shit can I…. Should I write a parallel of sorts?

Well I did.

Thanks to @k3bookwormalert once again, your writing is impeccable! I hope to live up to your standards!

Ahora, te presento a…..

Unforgettable

“You’re named after the brightest star, and for good reason, there’s no need for you to even try and live up that name.

It’ll all come naturally-“

—————————————-

Backalleys were her top choice location to have a panic attack in. Squeeze yourself between two rough walls, maybe scraping your forearms in the process- the pain adding on to the one building in your chest.

Breathe.

She was just having ice cream, with her family, the family that had always kept her safe and yet.

And yet she felt so unseen. So dismissed by this family.

It was Aru’s incessant humour, she knew that dug her into this, along with the childish recklessness that she possessed. It made her an invalid candidate for…

Well, for everything.

Babysitting Brynne and Hira’s kid, washing dishes, cooking dinner, taping up Mini’s boxes.

Just not enough.

Not good enough.

“Shah,” Aiden panted, jogging into the alley. “Dude. What’s going on?” He frowned at her, noticing the nails digging into her shaking palms and the sweat that beaded her forehead.

Aru shook her head, inhaling sharply. “I’m fine,” she said, sounding strangled.

Aiden ignored her blatant lie, sitting down in front of her. Aru, with her legs already feeling like jelly, slid in between the two walls, watching Aiden wince as her skin broke and bled against the walls until she met the ground.

Aiden did not speak. He studied her, like he would something that he was about to photograph. Like she held the answers to everything.

“I can do things,” Aru said lamely.

Aiden, startled, nodded in confusion. “Yes you can, Shah.”

“You don’t Need to doubt me. Or worry about me.” She took a shuddering breath, leaning her head back on the cold wall.

“Doubt you? Never. Worry? Always.”

Aru glared at him and he sputtered in defense, “Shah. Look at where we are right now. I think it’s safe to say I’m worried.” Tears silently rolled down her cheeks, and Aiden softened slightly. “Where is this coming from, amor? Aru jolted, not only at Aiden bringing out his impeccable Spanish skills but at…

Amor.

They’d been dating for a while now, yes, but Aru had been unconsciously preparing for him to just. Leave. And she knew that she wouldn’t even question it because it made sense.

It made sense that he would forget her.

But he loved her, a nagging part of her reminded Aru. He loved her and he wouldn’t hesitate to say it again. She could ask him anything and he would-

“Please don’t forget me. No matter what happens, promise me you won’t forget who I am.”

Aiden stared at her for a moment. In embarrassment? Hesitation? Pity? Just before Aru was about to leave he laughed.

A breathy, tired laugh, the kind that came up in their three am discussions. The kind that was raspy and tired but genuine and kind.

“Forget you? Shah, how could I ever forget you?” He pulled her closer to him, leaning his head against her’s, with his arms around her waist. “When your parents named you Arundhati, they meant it, you know. The brightest star in the sky. The only one for me,” he said, cupping her check to look her straight in the eyes. “You’re unforgettable, Aru Shah, and don’t you ever forget that.”

How did it take nineteen years for someone to tell her that? In every effort to remember everyone else’s stories, no one had bothered with her’s.

Until now.

Unforgettable.

The word rolled around in her mind and settled like a cat in a corner, hissing at the old ghost Forgettable as it moved around.

Aru Shah was unforgettable.

Let it be known.