3. Morning Comforts

                                    

                                          
One morning, with the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains, casting golden hues across the apartment. On the living room floor, tangled in soft blankets and cushions, Arjun, Karan, and Dev slept in a pile of warm bodies, their limbs intertwined after an evening filled with laughter, intimacy, and love.
Dev stirred first, blinking against the morning light. He shifted slightly, careful not to wake Karan, who had fallen asleep with his head resting on Dev's chest. Dev smiled softly to himself, his fingers absently running through Karan's dark hair. The quiet artist always seemed so full of energy and light, but here, in these private moments, Karan was vulnerable, peaceful. Dev loved seeing him this way—calm, undemanding, his guard down.
Beside them, Arjun was still sound asleep, his body draped protectively over Karan's back, one arm stretched out to lightly rest on Dev's waist. Arjun's natural instinct to protect, to care for those he loved, was always present, even in sleep. Dev felt a rush of affection for him, for the way Arjun carried the weight of his responsibilities without complaint, and how he made them both feel safe.
Slipping carefully out of their embrace, Dev stood and padded quietly into the kitchen. He liked these quiet moments before his partners woke—moments where he could prepare something for them, show his love in the small ways that mattered most to him. He started the process of brewing tea, the familiar scent of cardamom and ginger filling the air.
A few minutes later, Karan appeared, bleary-eyed and wearing nothing but a loose pair of pajama bottoms, his hair a wild mess. "I knew I smelled Dev's chai," he mumbled, stretching his arms overhead and stifling a yawn before wrapping them around Dev's waist from behind.
"Morning," Dev said softly, leaning back into Karan's embrace, a smile tugging at his lips. There was something comforting about Karan's warmth, the way he so easily folded himself into these moments of quiet affection.
"You always spoil us with this," Karan murmured, pressing a lazy kiss to the back of Dev's neck.
Dev chuckled, turning to face Karan, cupping his face gently. "It's how I show I love you. You know that."
Karan's sleepy eyes softened. He loved how Dev, despite being the quieter one, always had this way of making his love felt so deeply. Karan reached up and kissed Dev softly, slow and tender, their lips lingering as the warmth of the tea filled the space around them.
Just then, Arjun's voice floated in from the living room. "Are you two going to start without me?" he called out, his tone teasing.
Karan broke the kiss, grinning mischievously as he called back, "Well, we tried to wake you, Mr. Lawyer, but you seemed very content to keep sleeping."
Arjun appeared in the doorway, still shirtless and with that half-smile that never failed to make Karan's heart flutter. His hair was tousled from sleep, and he looked utterly relaxed, a rare sight given his usually composed demeanor. "You know I never miss out on Dev's chai," he said, walking toward them and slipping an arm around Dev's waist, pulling him in for a kiss on the cheek.
Dev smiled softly, leaning into Arjun's touch. This was their normal—these quiet, intimate moments in the mornings, where no words were necessary to communicate the depth of their connection.
As they sat down at the kitchen table, the three of them huddled together, sipping their tea, the city began to stir back to life outside. There was a sense of comfort in this routine, in the way they naturally gravitated toward one another, as though they were the pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together.
Karan leaned back in his chair, his foot brushing against Arjun's under the table. "So, what's the plan today?" he asked, glancing between the two of them.
"Well, I was thinking about heading into the restaurant for a bit," Dev said quietly. "We've got a new menu coming out, and I want to make sure everything's perfect. Rajesh is after me to balance this branch soon."
Arjun shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "You and your need for perfection. It's just like me with work."
"Maybe," Dev replied, giving him a shy smile. "But I like things a certain way."
"And that's why you're the best chef in the city," Karan added with a wink, raising his mug in a mock toast.
Arjun chuckled. "What about you, Mr.? Big plans in the world of fashion today?"
Karan shrugged, leaning back lazily. "I've got a meeting later about a new collection. They want something 'modern and traditional.' You know how that goes. But honestly, I'm more interested in spending time with you two."
Arjun raised an eyebrow. "Trying to get out of work, are we?"
Karan grinned. "Maybe. But can you blame me?"
The warmth of their conversation carried them through breakfast, the ease with which they fell into each other's rhythms a testament to how well they understood one another. This was their life—a life built on small moments of love, laughter, and the quiet certainty that they were stronger together than apart.