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I placed Veena aunty’s ladder back like a pro, quietly hopping over the wall like it was my part-time job.
Actually, it is my part-time job.
Huff… I exhaled, landing on my bed with a soft thud.
My spine almost cracked in.
It was almost 5 AM. Three hours. That’s all I got with Ruh tonight.
She was fast asleep now-probably stayed up late. But that smile before she drifted off? Worth every risky jump, every aching bone.
She had told me about her conversation with her dad… even shared childhood memories. She looked peaceful, genuinely happy.
And honestly? Whenever she’s happy, my entire day feels better.
It was the kind of smile that made the universe remember how to breathe.
Meanwhile, I was one ladder-climb away from booking an early appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.
Tiptoeing into my room like a stealthy ninja, I dropped onto my bed and closed my eyes.
Not even ten minutes passed-bzz bzz.
Who the hell calls at this hour?
Still half-asleep, I picked up my phone and squinted at the screen.
Ruh?
My brows instantly shot up. Sleep gone.
Her name flashed across my screen, and I smiled like a total lovesick fool and picked her call.
“Good morning, meri Ruh,” I mumbled into the phone, my voice warm and sleepy.
“VIHAAN,” she said sharply, her tone was serious. Dead serious.
I sat up straight. Okay. That tone? Not good.
Emergency mode: Activated.
“What happened?” I asked quickly.
“Come to my room. Right now,” she ordered like a boss.
Her….room? Why?
“Your… room?” I blinked, rubbing my eyes like maybe I misheard.
“Yes,” she replied, firm.
I smirked into my pillow.
“I mean, I know I am irresistibly charming, but sweetheart… are you sure this is the right time for, you know, to do that type of thing? Your dad is there… your brother is there… and your room is also not soundproof….”
There was a deadly pause.
Am I not supposed to say that?
“VIHAAN RAICHAND! Control your dirty mind and get up! Come right now,” she yelled.
I winced and yanked the phone away from my ear.
Ohkay….!!!
This is serious.
“Okay okay, I am coming,” I said, hopping up with a grin still stuck on my face.
She said it’s serious.
Which meant…..it is deadly serious.
But i know, she was definitely blushing. I would bet my favorite video game on it.
‘Stop thinking and get your lazy self there before your Ruh actually storms in and drags you out herself. It’s an emergency situation, you stupid,’ my brain screamed at me, loud and dramatic.
I blinked, sat frozen for a second, then shot up like someone pressed a panic button on my back. My blanket got tangled around my leg, and I nearly face-planted onto the floor.
I grunted, rubbing my elbow, “What a graceful emergency response, Raichand.”
Still limping slightly, i stood up and went straight to the bathroom, changed my clothes after a quick shower.
What? I can’t go to my Ruh like this.
I had a reputation too.
I grabbed my phone and ran a hand through my messed-up hair, trying to look somewhat human. Not that Ruh was going to care about my hair….unless it gave her another reason to yell.
Shit. I completely forgot… I can’t use the ladder anymore.
It was already morning-and by now, everyone in the colony was wide awake. Doors were opening, people were sweeping verandas.
I let out a long, dramatic sigh and ran a hand through my hair. This was it. As i found myself standing in front of her main gate.
I casually knocked on their door, pretending like this was my regular morning routine.
Aunty opened it, eyes scanning me from head to toe like she already knew I was up to something.
“Uh…..Atharv called me,” I said with an awkward smile.
Her brows lifted in suspicion but still nodded.
“Aao, Vihaan beta,” aunty said warmly, stepping aside to let me in.
I quietly walked in, and yep-confirmed. The whole house was already up and active.
Great. Everyone is awake and here I am…no sleep, no energy, running only on love.
“Come and have breakfast with us, Vihaan,” aunty offered kindly, like she always does.
I smiled weakly and shook my head.
“Woh…I will just go check on Atharv first?” I said, trying to make a smooth escape toward the stairs.
She raised an eyebrow.
“He just woke up. He called you this early in the morning?” her tone was slow, suspicious, like she was mentally connecting all the dots and none of them were adding up.
Before I could invent another lie, Atharv shuffled in, rubbing his eyes like a sleepy angel.
“Mamu? What are you doing here so early?” he asked, jumping into my arms.
My little tornado, you are ruining my whole cover story.
“You called me from your bua’s phone so that’s why I came to meet you,” I whispered quickly
He tilted his head, “I didn’t.”
Great.
And now Aunty and Akshat uncle were both staring at me like I had just committed a crime.
Think, Vihaan. THINK.
To hell with my brain, always went to hibernation whenever I needed my intelligence.
“I mean….you called me to ask about how to increase power in the game?” I added quickly, nudging him with my elbow.
Atharv, my little tornado screamed in happiness,”Ohhh yesss!” he nodded dramatically.
“Par woh toh kal kiya tha…” he muttered under his breath.
Seriously?
I quickly pulled him closer to me so no one else could hear.
If even one more word slipped out of his mouth, my whole cover story would shatter like glass.
Just then, Prisha di walked in, wiping sweat from her neck. Looked like Kunal bhai had taken her for a morning walk.
“Vihaan? Tu kab aaya?” she asked casually, raising a brow.
(When did you come?)
Kunal bhai came in right behind her, leaning down to help remove her shoes. He looked at me like he wanted to throw one of those shoes at my face.
I picked Atharv.
“Atharv, you will save your mamu, right?” I asked, giving him my most dramatic puppy eyes.
He nodded like a true partner in crime.
My little tornado.
“What are you doing here at this time?” he asked, his voice low but heavy.
Before he could grill me, I blurted-
“Atharv called me. Important game strategy discussion. Please excuse us. Old people like you won’t understand,” I picked up Atharv like a football and sprinted toward his room.
Behind me, Prisha di called out, “One minute! He is becoming too naughty. I am sure he forced you to come. Atharv, go brush your teeth first. And have Breakfast before game time.”
The classic mom tone-firm, no room for negotiation.
Mom’s mother DNA is finally working.
“Mummaaaa,” Atharv whined.
“No arguments,” she snapped, but then Kunal bhai swooped in, gently picking him up from my arms.
He kissed Atharv’s head, and he lazily flopped onto her shoulder.
Okay.
Main crisis….Ruh is upstairs and waiting for me.
Before I could escape, Aunty called from the kitchen again, “Vihaan beta, at least have breakfast with us!”
I turned back with a weak smile and saw Akshat uncle at the table, sipping tea like some royal judge about to pass my fate.
I sat awkwardly across from him.
He gave me a long, unreadable look.
“So… Atharv called you at 5 in the morning to ask about a game?” Akshat uncle asked, raising one eyebrow.
I nodded, trying to act natural, even though my heart was beating fast, “Yes, uncle. Kids these days….”
He didn’t say anything. Just sipped his tea. Slowly. Dramatically. Looking at me without blinking.
That sip was louder than his words. Why is he sipping like that? Why do I feel like I just committed a national-level crime?
He knows everything about us. But still, I get scared to face him.
I tried not to blink too much.
Tried not to fidget.
Tried not to look like a guy who sneaks into his daughter’s room using a ladder every other night.
Uncle cleared his throat, setting his cup down with a soft clink. His eyes stayed sharp on me.
“You have been coming here quite often these days, Vihaan,” he said, tone casual, but his gaze? That was interrogation-level serious.
I forced a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of my neck, ” Little tornado, na? He calls, I come. Mamu duty….you know how it is.”
Uncle didn’t laugh. Didn’t blink.
Just lifted one eyebrow, slowly.
That one eyebrow had more power than my entire existence.
“Hmm, but Atharv’s room is downstairs…..you don’t need to go upstairs,” he said, leaning back slightly in his chair.
Wait??
When the hell little tornado’s play area shift to downstairs?
Ohh, yes prisha di was saying something related to shifting.
My throat dried up.
I looked down at the floor for one second and then back at him.
“Uhh……Wi-Fi is better upstairs?” I replied.
Yes. That’s what I said.
That’s what my genius brain came up with.
Uncle stared. Like I just told him I talk to aliens.
I gave him a weak smile, mentally slapping myself.
‘Nice, Vihaan Raichand. Maybe next time say aliens abducted you and dropped you on her balcony. Sounds more believable than Wi-Fi,’ my brain mocked me.
Then he asked….very softly, too softly, “You and Ruhii……are close? And if yes, then how much close….?”
My heart did a full somersault.
Close?
We were close in a-she sits on my lap and teases me till my brain stops working-kind of way.
Close in a-I know the shape of the mole near her lips because I kissed it more than once-way.
Shut the hell up Vihaan Raichand….!!!
I gulped. My voice cracked before I even started.
“Uh… we are not… not like that exactly… but we are kind of… you know… like…” I was stuttering. Like an idiot.
Uncle leaned forward a little, resting both hands on the dining table. The kind of lean that dads do when they are about to ruin your life calmly.
“I know you two are together…..And I know my daughter is happy. That’s the only reason I am letting you meet her,” he said.
Wait……WHAT?
He has no problem with me?
“But,” he continued, his voice cold now, “I would like you to maintain a distance of exactly one kilometre from her.”
I blinked.
A kilometre?
A kilometre???
Seriously….One Kilometre??????
“A kilometre? That’s fine, uncle…..I mean your son already wants me to maintain a distance between Earth and the Moon,” I joked awkwardly and immediately regretted it.
His expression didn’t change. He just kept looking at me.
“Sorry…..that was a bad joke,” I mumbled.
He nodded slowly, placing his cup back on the saucer like a slow-motion warning sign, “I hope you understand what I mean, Vihaan.”
“Yes, uncle. Absolutely. Understood loud and clear,” I said quickly, standing up like the obedient boy next door.
“You may go. Ten minutes only. One second more……And you will have to worry about your future” He paused, raising his brows again.
What future?
‘You fool, he means brain surgery. He will open your skull and and remove whatever tiny part of your brain thinks it’s romantic,’ my brain whispered dramatically.
Can someone wants to replace their brain with mine.
‘Aww, try thousand times…..I am.not gonna leave my stupid owner,’ my brain teased me.
“Thank you, uncle” I squeaked, already speed-walking out of there like someone escaping a crime scene.
I tiptoed into the hallway, thanking my destiny that Aunty was in the kitchen. One round of questioning was enough for today.
Just as I was about to climb the stairs, Kunal bhai stepped out of the upstairs room, arms folded like a school principal.
I froze on the third step.
Lo ji bhai, meri phuti kismat.
Aasman se gire toh khajur ke ped par atke.
“Where are you going?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
I smiled innocently and pointed upstairs, “Atharv said the network is better there. Online game, bhaiya… he needs my help.”
Kunal raised a brow, “Atharv told you?”
I nodded.
“Then why are you going to right. The room is on the left side,” he declared still glaring at me.
“Hain? No no, I was going left only!” I turned around so fast, I almost tripped over my own leg.
He smirked slightly and walked past me, “Just remember… my eyes are on you.”
I rolled my eyes, “Tch tch kunal jiju! You have a beautiful wife and you are still keeping eyes on a young man…..and on top of that I am your wife’s younger brother? Prisha di won’t like this.”
I swear, annoying him is my daily dose of entertainment.
He turned slowly with that fake calm smile people use before committing murder, “Vihaan…”
“Okay okay! I am leaving. Don’t stress your brain too much. You are getting old,” I teased, slipping into the small room.
He opened his mouth to say something but i already shut the door.
I waited inside for two whole minutes like a secret agent waiting for clearance.
Once I was sure the hallway was clear, I stepped out again, quickly tiptoeing toward Ruh’s room.
My heart was thudding, my brain was screaming, and my smile? Wide as ever.
Mission One: Survive interrogation-Complete.
Mission Two: survive Ruh’s anger.
I entered Ruh’s room like a thief on a top-secret mission and shut the door behind me as quietly as possible.
No-i actually locked it.
No risk.
Because I had exactly ten minutes before someone barges in and sends me straight to ICU.
There she was.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed like a queen on her throne, her hair twisted into that messy bun she always did when she was annoyed, but also secretly relaxed. Her hands were fidgeting with the hem of her top, her brows slightly furrowed.
She looked up, and the moment her gaze landed on me, I swear I heard the sound effect of judgment thunder.
“You are late,” she said, poking me square in the chest with one finger.
I clutched my heart dramatically, “Do you even know what I went through to get here? I had to cross two khadus bodyguards.”
She folded her arms across her chest, shifting to stand near the edge of the bed. Her deadly pout made a grand appearance-one that could melt glaciers and sanity.
“And still you are late, Vihaan Raichand,” she said her tone was angry.
What did I do now???
I tried to remember but i haven’t done anything to make my Ruh angry?
I stepped closer, closed the distance between us, and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, “Now, miss doctor……what emergency called me here like it’s a national crisis?”
She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head like a person ready to throw me into a river full of crocodiles.
“You are lucky Skully is safe. Or I would’ve turned you into a skeleton,”
She crossed her arms tightly, eyes blazing as she stepped closer, jabbing a finger into my chest like she was choosing where to stab me first.
I froze.
What?
The emergency is about that creepy skully.
“Wait. That is why you called me? We are still on about that creepy plastic monster?” I blinked in disbelief
Her eyes went wide-offended.
“Skully is NOT a monster. He is my baby. My comfort boy! And you left him all alone in a dark, cold corner like some……abandoned like he is some unwanted thing.”
Oh!
So this is my mistake.
“I didn’t throw him, I respectfully relocated him to the corner because his hollow eye sockets were staring into my soul! That thing looked like he would haunt me in my dreams,” I defended myself.
My voice cracked under the emotional damage as I dramatically pointed toward Skully-still sitting creepily upright like he was waiting to strike.
“I swear, Ruh, he blinked. I saw it!” I stepped back slightly, clutching my chest like I was recalling a traumatic horror memory.
“He is definitely not normal. That bony creep was looking at me like he would just stand up and strangle me to death,” I shuddered, eyes wide.
“Ugh, I still feel chills just standing in this room with him!”
She gasped dramatically and stomped toward me.
“His eyes are not hollow! They are soulful…and how can this poor baby look like he can stangle you….he is so innocent,” she cried, placing a hand on her chest like this bony thing is all matter to her.
First Lizard, cockroaches, creepy creatures and now this monstrous skeleton…and don’t know what else in future.
My Ruh is not from this earth.
Urghh…I hate these freaking creatures.
‘Don’t think so loud, Mr. Raichand. If she hears you… you are done for,’
My brain whispered.
I sighed internally.
Looks like no one wants me to be happy with my Ruh.
“Ruh, how would I know that? I am not dating him. And he looks like rejected Halloween decor,” I threw my hands up, pointing toward Skully.
Next thing I know-bam!
A pillow smacked me straight in the face, she grabbed the collar of my T-shirt and sat straight into my lap.
My knees almost buckled under her sudden stunt.
“He was there when I studied all night-every single viva, every never-ending pathology chapter. I ranted about wanting to sleep but still pulled all-nighters with him sitting right beside me,” she said, glaring at me like I was the villain in her and Skully’s story.
I groaned, gently rubbing my face like a man who just signed adoption papers for a haunted skeleton.
“You have to behave with Skully now. He is our son,” she declared like a proud single mom.
I side-eyed the skeleton sitting on her study chair, slightly tilted, like it had a smirk.
(SKULLY OBEROI π)
My body physically shuddered.
I am telling you this monstrous thing is cursed. What if he is haunted? Shut up Vihaan.
“I am not accepting this skeleton as my son” I muttered, burying my face into her neck.
She pulled back with narrowed eyes and threatened, “Then I have other ways….like…I’ll find someone….”
That’s it.
Possessiveness gripped me. Hard.
The kind that starts low in your chest…a slow burn….but then rises, fast and fierce, before she can even think about any other man.
I bit her neck gently and then kissed the spot softly.
“Don’t ever say that again,” I whispered, pressing my palm on the small of her back as she exhaled shakily, her fingers trailing up my jaw.
“Trust me, I won’t…”
she whispered with a sly smirk, her breath hot against my ear.
“Because clearly, possessiveness looks too good on you. Might turn me on if you keep biting like that.”
Gosh, what was with her mood swings?
I smirked, brushing my thumb along her cheek.
“Fine. I will adopt him. Raise him. Be the best father to a piece of plastic with creepy bone arms… tuck him into bed, sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle’, and give him a nice bubble bath too… what say?” I asked, as my fingers moved on their own….threading through her hair as if trained by muscle memory.
Soft. Warm. Slightly tangled-just like her.
She burst into the widest grin. That damn radiant, 1000-watt smile.
“That’s more like it,” she said, ruffling my hair.
I leaned in, wearing my signature grin, “And just so you know… if you ever get bored of this plastic skeleton, I offer premium human cuddles. Warm. Soft. Snuggle certified. Includes forehead kisses and exclusive back hugs.”
She narrowed her eyes, “Jealous of Skully, are we?”
I placed my hand over my heart.
“Excuse me-I literally just became Skully’s father and I am not jealous of him.”
She rolled her eyes, “Well, you chose me.”
“And I would choose you again,” I whispered, brushing her hair behind her ear again. “Even if it means sharing you with our monstrous son.”
“His full name is Skully Oberoi,” she said, faking a smile which screams a little bit of annoyance.
“Correction. Skully Raichand,” I winked.
She blushed. And hugged me as she sighed.
“Second day?” I asked, as my hands went inside her shirt, rubbing her abdomen gently with slow, circular strokes.
She nodded.
Knew it.
The anger. The drama. The full-blown Skully thing-all second-day mood swings.
She always became extra emotional, hyper, and dramatic on her second day.
“But I am fine,” she said trying to pretend to be strong except she was currently curled in my lap, head tucked on my shoulder like a sleepy kitten.
I shifted slightly and rubbed her lower abdomen gently, my thumb making soft circles under her T-shirt fabric. She let out a soft gasp.
But then.
“Oh no…” she whispered, pulling back just enough to frown at me.
“Wait a minute,” she said, brows narrowing. “How did you even get here?”
Oh-ho. Madam finally woke up.
I rolled my eyes playfully,
“Coming to your room felt like sneaking past two boss-level firewalls. Your dad scanned me like I was a suspicious file, one sip of chai and I swear, my system started lagging.”
“And Kunal bhai? Full antivirus mode activated. He looked at me like I was a virus trying to corrupt the system.”
She bit her lip to suppress a smile.
“And your dad,” I added, holding up three fingers dramatically, “gave me exactly ten minutes. And now… seven of those are already gone.”
She gasped, handed over her heart, then looked up at me with the most ridiculous pout.
“Aww…..you are so sweet, fiancΓ© of mine…..I mean….father of my Skully,” she paused, wiggling her eyebrow.
I groaned. Blushed. Both, actually.
Why am I blushing like a 5-year-old kid.
I gave her my best puppy eyes, complete with exaggerated lashes fluttering, “Don’t you think I deserve a reward? I literally came to meet you after putting my life at risk.”
She smirked, sly and dangerous, “And what kind of reward are we talking about, Mr. Raichand?”
I leaned closer, my voice was low and husky, just to tease her, “You. Me. And a bed…”
“Always thinking dirty things,” she scoffed, slapping my arm.
I grinned devilishly, “Why??? Don’t you think Skully and Atharv needs a sibling, right? so we need to do something……”
And without missing a beat, I leaned into her neck, sliding my hand gently under her shirt again, rubbing soothing circles on her tummy.
Her breath hitched, “Vihaan… behave…”
She shivered.
Of course.
It’s her second day. Her hormones were way more activated than mine.
The way she melted under my touch, her body curling closer-gosh, I was done for.
I kissed her cheek softly and whispered, “what about a movie date. You and me. Just like old times?”
She chuckled, pushing me playfully, but her cheeks flushed pink.
“Fine,” she said, grinning. “Anything else, Mr. Raichand?”
I leaned back smugly, “Nope. Just you.”
I cupped her face with both hands, thumbs brushing her cheeks, and kissed her forehead.
She giggled softly, cheeks still warm from the blush.
“I love you,” I whispered, “even when you act like Skully’s overprotective mom.”
“And I love you,” she said with a dramatic sigh, “even when you act like a jealous toddler fighting a skeleton.”
“VIHAAN!”
That voice.
Akshat Uncle.
Shit.
My eyes widened. Ruh stiffened in my lap as she stood up.
“Looks like my ten minutes are up!” I said quickly, kissing her forehead once more. “Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water. Have your breakfast. And I will send you lunch by your personal chef-of course it’s me.”
I grabbed Skully from where he was sitting and gently tucked him back onto the shelf.
“Happy now?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.
She gave me a smile so soft it made my knees weak.
Her fingers reached out and brushed the hem of my sleeve, “Go before Dad comes here.”
“Already gone,” I whispered, and darted out of the room like a man on a death timer.
Finally I escaped another hurdle.
And congrats to me…I became a new father.
β’β’β’β’β’
I was quietly eating lunch, but Mumma and Dad kept staring like I was some guest who overstayed his welcome.
I finally dropped my spoon and said, “Boliye….kya bolna hai aap dono ko?”
Dad cleared his throat, “When are you going back?”
I gave him a look.
“I knew it. I am adopted, right? You both don’t love me. That’s why you are kicking me out so fast.” I dramatically put a hand on my chest.
Mumma rolled her eyes, “Vihaan… answer properly.”
I gulped. I knew this was coming.
“If I was going back, would I bring two big bags? I left everything and came here. Obviously, I am staying,” I replied with a full drama.
Dad gave me a sharp look, “Didn’t you say you were working on a new game with top developers?”
I sat up straighter, acting cool.
“Yeah, I was. But I didn’t like the work environment. So, I quit,” I said.
That was a lie.
The truth?
I was tired. Tired of sitting alone, working alone, eating alone.
Tired of seeing Ruh only on a screen.
Tired of hearing my parents on video calls.
Tired of being alone.
That life looked perfect from the outside-cool job, big office, creative work, flexible hours. People said, “You are so lucky, man.”
I missed home. I missed everything, real hugs, loud family dinners, the way Ruh used to roll her eyes in person, not through a screen. But I didn’t know how to say all that. I mean, I do get tired. I do feel lonely.
Game developer life sounds exciting. And yes, I loved what I did. I loved creating stories, building characters, designing worlds people could escape into. But no one tells you how lonely it gets behind that glowing screen.
You are stuck in your room, wearing the same clothes for days, solving bugs at 2 AM, skipping meals because your code finally works and you don’t want to stop. You finish building a whole universe…..and then realize you haven’t spoken to a real person in two days. The deadlines pile up, and so does the silence.
My apartment was quiet-but not the peaceful kind. It was loud. Loud with emptiness. And the only thing that made it a little better was her voice.
Ruh’s voice notes-her laughter, her care. We didn’t even have time to call each other anymore.
But she had still send a small voice note when I said I was tired. She used to sing song. Just her voice is enough to drain out all tiredness from my body. And I would play it on loop like a fool. I saved all of them. Every single one.
And Mumma… she’d call just to ask, “Khaana khaya?” That simple question meant more than any award. I missed having lunch with them. Missed hearing Dad complain about the news, Mumma’s scolding, the clinking of plates.
And then there was my little tornado….Atharv. Watching him learn to walk through a camera, seeing his tiny face light up when he called me “Mamu” for the first time. My friends would visit home, my family would all be together……and I would be there-just a laptop screen. A guest in my own life.
I used to stare at my screen at night and wonder, Is this it?
I didn’t want to quit. I just wanted to breathe. And when I couldn’t find peace there…..I packed my bags and I came home. Not because I gave up.
But because I remembered something: success means nothing if you’re too alone to enjoy it. If you feel empty inside even when surrounded by people.
So this time, I chose differently.
I chose to come back to the people who love me-I chose warmth over cold perfection.
I can create my own small world here-with Ruh, with my family, with my little tornado running around. I can still make games. I can still build stories. But now, I will do it with laughter in the background, with real hugs between edits, and love poured into every line of code.
This time, I will create not just a virtual world-but a life worth living.
“Vihaan” dad called me.
And I came out of my thoughts.
Mumma looked at me, not fully convinced, “Really?”
I gave a small smile, “Also…..I missed you both. A lot. I thought, maybe I could work from here. I mean, why not? Right, Dad?”
Dad finally replied. “If you are serious about working, then join our office. You can help with Prisha’s work. I told her to take a break, but she’s still glued to it.”
I frowned. “Dad, your company works on… all that tech stuff. Systems, software, machines, all boring backend things. I build games. I do stories, characters, and designs. It’s completely opposite.”
He smiled slightly, “You may not realize it, but a lot of what we build can help with what you build. We do the base, you do the experience. There’s a connection.”
Mumma added, “You can do both, Vihaan. Help out here for a while, and side by side, start your game idea. You will have space, and people to support you.”
Dad nodded, “If it works, we will give you a proper team. Later, you can even run your own unit under the company.”
I blinked.
Wait… that actually sounds good.
I slowly nodded, “Hmm….that’s not a bad idea.”
“But,” Dad said, holding up a finger, “you will be on probation.”
I stared, “What? Probation? I am your son!”
Dad shrugged, “Exactly. No special treatment. Even Prisha went through it. And she passed.”
I let out a long sigh and looked down at my plate.
Of course. This was bound to happen. Dad’s never been the type to hand things over easily. He earned everything, and he expects the same from us.
I looked at the corner of the table. There was still that tiny scratch from when Di and I used to play with spoons and flick peas during lunch. Dad started this company from that old room near the balcony. Mumma used to teach while he worked day and night.
And now, it was something real. Something built with both their efforts.
“I am proud of you both, you know,” I said softly without even realizing it.
Dad gave a small smile, “Then show it.”
I nodded, “Okay. I will do it.”
“Good,” Dad said, standing up.
“You can start tomorrow.”
My jaw dropped, “Tomorrow?! But I just got here! Let me at least unpack my bags!”
Mumma laughed as she got up with her plate, “All the best, Vihu”
I stood up, mumbling to myself,
“I have to work hard now… Dad is here, and he’s very serious about work.”
β’β’β’β’β’
I got dressed-shirt, jeans, a spritz of perfume. Obviously……it was Ruh’s perfume.
I smelled it and it smelled like her. I can feel her presence.
Ruh was still at work, so i decided to go and meet my do Anmol Ratan. Because they finally graced me with their presence.
Just as I started the car, my phone buzzed just as I was adjusting my sleeves in front of the mirror.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Don’t forget my engagement this weekend,” Varun said casually.
“I remember, senior, ” I replied.
“I thought you forgot…..and you didn’t even come meet me!” Varun’s voice came through, half whiny, half dramatic.
I smirked instantly, “I thought you flew abroad already?”
He scoffed, “I could’ve met you before leaving… ahnn but i understand Ruhanika is more important.”
I laughed under my breath, shaking my head, “Of course! She is my top priority…..beside your flight was just two hours after I landed even if i tried i wouldn’t have met you”
Varun chuckled too, his voice lighter, “Okay okay, i understand lover boy…
Accha Vihaan……I have a meeting. I’ll call you later.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see it, “Go ace your presentation, Mr. Groom-to-be.”
He chuckled and i cut the call, but my smile lingered.
I drive, thinking about the two of them…..Ashika and Varun.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected it to happen this fast.
Aashika’s family was….. literally hell…
Traditional to the bone. Her mother well, Bua ji-was always strict, and her Dadi practically controlled every step of her life. Somehow, she got a bit of freedom for studies, but I still remember…..her grandmother had already fixed her wedding after her graduation. No space to choose.
Honestly, there was a time when everyone thought they wouldn’t make it. That they’d be one of those love stories that started strong but never made it to the end.
But that’s when Varun showed all of us what being a real man-and a real partner-looks like.
That’s when my senior proved he truly was my senior.
He stood beside her like a wall. No matter how much pressure came from her family, he didn’t move.
He always said, “I will fight for her even if I have to stand alone.”
And he did.
Meeting after meeting. Rejection after rejection. He still showed up. He spoke to her family with full respect….even when they looked down on him, insulted him. Even when they doubted his intentions.
Ruh’s family supported him.
And Ashika… finally stood up for herself. She had someone. She’s like a sister to me. Close to Ruh. I remember how Ruh would always stay beside her, holding her hand, calming her down.
Ashika finally didn’t have to fight alone. She had someone who stood shoulder to shoulder with her.
That’s the kind of love I respect. Not just someone who says “I love you” when things are easy-but someone who stays, even when it hurts.
Someone who doesn’t run away the minute things get hard.
They aren’t just getting engaged today. They’re standing in a moment they fought hard for. A moment that almost never happened.
I sighed, slipped my phone into my pocket, and looked out the window for a second.
You know, some people take years to understand what it really means to love someone every single day-not just when it’s beautiful, but even when it’s inconvenient, messy, or tough.
But Varun? He got it early.
And damn…..he made it look like love is worth the bruises too.
Because love-real love-is not just about holding hands when the music is playing. It’s about holding on even when there’s no music left.
I didn’t even realize I had reached. I had been driving without thinking, lost in my own thoughts.
The car stopped, and that’s when it hit me-I was already there. I parked, turned off the engine, and got out without thinking much. Walked straight to the apartment building, pressed the lift button, and waited.
When the lift opened, I stepped in, reached his floor, and rang the bell.
The door opened, and without wasting a second, I gave Yash a light punch on his jaw, “Saale, kamine insaan! At least inform me you are back!”
He held his cheek dramatically.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Vihaan?” Yash yelped and gave me a light punch back.
“Lag gayi yaar,” I muttered and walked straight in like I owned the place.
Dropped myself on the couch with a loud sigh.
As expected, within minutes we were back to our usual chaos. First, it was cushion fights. Then came the remote, paper balls, an empty bottle, whatever we could throw without breaking anything.
It was madness, but the kind that felt like home.
Sid walked in just then, holding his coffee like some tired landlord who had given up on life.
“I just cleaned this place,” he warned, eyes narrowed. “If you guys mess it up, I swear, you are mopping the whole floor.”
I raised an eyebrow and gave him a dramatic smile, “Wow, I come here with so much love, and all you care about is your sofa?”
“I prefer cleanliness,” he replied, dead serious.
“Ugh, whatever you say, doctor. I am so done with doctors these days,” I said, flopping back on the couch.
Yash laughed at me to which i muttered most incoherent words.
Yash started inspecting the place like he was going to rent it. “So… you are really living here permanently?”
Sid sighed, adjusting his glasses. “Yeah. At least here, I will get peace. These four walls. No drama.”
Yash and I looked at each other, nodded, and said in sync, “Don’t worry, we are here. You don’t have to go back there.”
Sid gave a small nod and pulled out a sanitizer bottle like a reflex, “Now leave my hand and sanitize both of you.”
Huff!!!
I groaned, “These sanitizer freaks, man.”
Yash laughed, “One more neat freak added to the gang.”
Sid sat down beside us and smiled faintly.
I asked him softly, “And your family?”
He paused for a second as if his mind went to a memory lane, but then straightened up, as he said, “You guys are my family now. That’s enough.”
His smile looked okay…..but not really. It was the kind of smile people give when they are holding back too much.
So Yash and I hugged him. Nothing too dramatic-just that soft kind of hug.
“Enough of this emotional old stuff,” Sid muttered, clearing his throat. “Tell me something new. Drama. Give me something.”
We all leaned in like kids in a playground. Laughter filled the room, and for a second, the weight lifted. It felt like old times. Like we were whole again.
But then Yash’s phone buzzed. He looked at it…..and sighed.
I frowned, “Kya hua tujhe?”
Another sigh. Deeper.
I looked at Sid asking and he shrugged his shoulders.
Finally, Yash spoke, voice low, “Tanya’s been in Delhi for one and a half months… and she didn’t even tell me. I messaged her, and she just replied ‘busy’.”
“It’s okay maybe she is busy…..” I tried to say but he cut me off.
“That’s how it’s been for seven years. She suddenly left, didn’t tell anyone. Not even Kaki knew where she went. Then i heard her father passed away. I tried being there, but she shut the door on my face. It felt like she didn’t want me around.”
Sid sat down, serious now, “Then talk to her. If you stay silent, nothing’s going to change.”
Yash rubbed his face, “don’t you think i tried…i tried everything…I changed my college to stay close to her. I have done everything I could. And now, I don’t even know if I’m talking to Tanya or a robot. Her replies are dry. She doesn’t answer calls. She sees my messages and leaves them. Sometimes, I don’t even know if she’s still my best friend or just someone whom i knew once.”
I still remember-Yash had cracked admission into one of the top tech colleges in the country, with a full scholarship. His dad was over the moon. Everyone thought he would made it.
But Tanya? She took a completely different path. She chose Forensic Science and moved to another city.
And Yash…..well, he didn’t say anything to anyone. Quietly, without drama, he let go of that dream college and joined an aerospace engineering program in the same city she went to. Just to be close with her. Silently. His dad was angry with him.
Because he wasn’t even sure about his career path. He was doing it because his father asked him.
At first, it looked like he did it just to stay close to her. And maybe he did.
After all, he always paid attention to what she liked. She had this spark in her eyes whenever she talked about how things work-machines, tools, the logic behind everything.
I think somewhere, her curiosity rubbed off on him.
He didn’t understand much about aerospace in the beginning-but slowly, he started getting into it. The engines, the design, the science behind flight… it all began to make sense. And then it became his. What started because of her turned into something he truly loved. His emotions pushed him into that college, but his interest kept him going.
Now he’s working at an aerospace startup-building drone systems and lightweight aircraft designs. He may have joined the course because of Tanya, but in the end, she gave him something even more important: direction. Purpose. A path that was his own.
And maybe that’s what friendship and silent love does sometimes-it doesn’t always stay, but it leads you somewhere better.
Sid tried to reason, “She is with the CBI now, right? Maybe she is genuinely busy.”
Yash hesitated, his voice low-almost unsure whether he wanted to say it out loud.
“The moment I got to know she was moving… I left everything and came here. I didn’t even think twice.”
He paused, staring at the floor like it held all his answers.
“I don’t know why, but I have had this bad feeling lately. A gut thing, you know? The last time I called her… she accidentally picked up. And I heard her…..laughing. Giggling, even. With some guy. She sounded so comfortable, like they talked every day. Like he knew all the versions of her I used to know.”
He looked up, eyes clouded but steady, “It broke something in me. I don’t even know what exactly, but… something cracked.”
I looked at him carefully. “Do you have feelings for her?”
He quickly replied, “No…..I just care for her because she’s my best friend. Nothing more……Yeah, nothing more….“
“Are you trying to convince yourself or us?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“No…it’s just…..But I hate the idea of another guy being near her,” he admitted
Sid squinted, “Bro, if you are ‘just best friends’, then sort out your problems and you shouldn’t care who she talks to, right?”
“Right?” I added.
Yash gulped but said nothing.
“Look,” Sid said, his voice softer now, less teasing. “You need to figure this out, Yash. Don’t let her slip away completely just because you are confused about what you’re feeling. Forget everything else for a moment. At least save your friendship. That much, you owe her. And yourself.”
Yash stared at the floor, “Did I mess something up?”
Sid rolled his eyes,”You? Definitely.”
Yash glared at him.
“But that’s okay. You have known her since childhood. If you can’t fix this, who can?” I said.
Hoping my best friend’s dead brain cells become alive.
Yash nodded, lost in thought.
I leaned closer to Sid and whispered, “Do you think he will realize what he’s really feeling?”
Sid whispered back, “He should. Or he will live with regret when he gets to know that Tanya….”
I pinched him, “dimag hai ya bhoosa? soch smjh kr bol? Abhi ye waqt nhi hai.”
He realised what he was about the utter but Yash was so lost that he can barely hear us.
“Why don’t we just tell him?” Sid asked, his voice is lower now.
I looked at him, half irritated, half exhausted.
I muttered, trying to keep it light but failing, “He has to realise it himself, Sid. If we say it out loud, his brain will just start spinning….he will begin questioning if he actually feels it, or if we just planted the idea in his head. His heart needs to understand the feeling”
“We can’t force people to love someone,” I continued quietly. “Because It’s a feeling that has to come from the heart. Otherwise… it just gets messy.”
Sid didn’t reply right away. He just kept staring ahead-his eyes slowly drifting toward the wall. The one with that old sketch of eyes.
He looked at that sketch with something between confusion. Like a puzzle piece almost falling into place.
“What?” I asked, curious.
“But what if we realize it’s too late?” He asked.
His eyes stuck on the sketches hanging on the wall. I didn’t ask what he was thinking.
Am i missing something?
But I shook my head and leaned back on the sofa. “Then maybe,” I said quietly, “that’s what destiny wanted to say.”
Just then, something shiny caught my eye.
Sid’s laptop was open.
I squinted, “Sid… whose profile is this? Are you stalking someone?”
Yash leaned over too, “Show us!”
This guy was busy in deep thoughts and now looks at his excitement.
Sid panicked, “Privacy naam ki cheez hoti hai, okay? Don’t you two have manners?”
He hugged the laptop to his chest like a newborn baby.
Too late. Yash and I leaped forward.
“Did that ID belong to a girl?” we yelled.
We both dive for Sid’s laptop-he panicked, slipped, and all three of us crashed to the floor in a messy pile. Legs tangled, elbows flying, and Sid yelling, “Get off me, you laptop-thirsty idiots!” still clutching the laptop like his life depended on it.
And that’s how we three tangled in both awwkward position.
“Ugh, you both are so heavy!” Sid shouted.
“My leg got stuck, idiot!” I groaned.
And then…
CREAK.
The main door slowly opened.
We froze.
Standing there was an older woman in a neat saree, holding a cloth bag. She looked at us like she’d walked in on a crime scene.
“Neelam Aunty!” Sid jumped up so fast he almost flipped the table. “You came early!”
“I thought you boys might be hungry,” she said slowly. Her eyes scanned the room-Sid clutching his laptop, Yash fixing his hair, and me stuck under a cushion with my hands up.
“Ahh…These are my friends!” Sid tried to say proudly. “Vihaan and Yash….And meet her, neelam aunty, she is a cook…she really cooks so well”
We both smiled awkwardly and greeted her.
She narrowed her eyes and entered the house, “Tum teeno hamesha aise chipke chipke rehte ho kya?”
Yash cleared his throat, “Ji Aunty, hum teeno bachpan se hi-“
“Bachpan se hi…?” she repeated dramatically, holding her heart.
“Ji” i whispered.
I mean why is so shocked.
“Do ladko ka samajh aata hai…..par teen?” she said, her expression turning to full-on horror.
What did she just say?
“Arey teen mein toh aur maza aata hai….” Sid said without thinking.
Neelam Aunty looked like she’d seen a ghost, “Chii! Chii chii chii!”
I tried to make conversation more light…”Aunty, it’s not that bad. Even you must have had close friends…aap bhi kabhi saath me waqt bitaiye-“
“Main? Aise upar, neeche, couch pe chipak kar? Nhii nhii…..Lagta hai BP badh gaya mera, dawai khani padegi!” she gasped, walking to the kitchen, still muttering.
We three sat in dead silence.
And then…..looked at each other.
Finally, our brain cells connected the dots.
Wait….did neelam aunty just assume we three were…..together?
The silence was deadly.
We stared at each other.
Then at the couch.
Then back at each other.
And in perfect sync, all three of us jumped apart.
“CHIIIII!” I shouted, horrified.
“Eww, no bro!” Yash yelped, literally hopping to the other end.
“I need bleach for my brain cells for even processing that thought!” Sid muttered, clutching his head like he had seen a ghost.
Embarrassment crawled up our necks.
We couldn’t even look at each other straight.
For a solid three seconds, we just blinked at one another.
And then?
We burst out laughing like maniacs.
The trio was back.
β’β’β’β’β’
A WEEK LATER-
I had started working at my dad’s company….remember, I am still on probation. And damn, the girl who works with me?
I swear, she gets on my nerves. She doesn’t ask me to do things….she orders me around like I’m her assistant. And her voice? Ugh, it’s so sharp it could slice through steel. Like, seriously, can’t she speak like a normal human?
I mean, we could’ve actually made a good team if she wasn’t so bossy. But alas, here I am, stuck bearing with her.
And i sighed.
I don’t know what’s going on with Ruh. It’s like she’s here, but not really. Lost somewhere in her head. I have been noticing the way she looks lately, tired, zoned out, like something’s weighing on her.
I know something’s bothering her… but she hasn’t told me. And I am waiting. I want her to talk to me when she is ready.
I haven’t seen her since last night. She took two days off for Ashika’s engagement….makes sense, she is been working non-stop for three days straight before that.
I just hope she’s okay. I don’t want her bottling things up or getting too stressed.
I really hope…she talks to me. Before it starts hurting her more.
Right now i am getting ready for Varun’s engagement, which was being held at a hotel. I stood in front of the mirror, trying to fix the tie and smooth down my hair.
But I have to admit, I looked pretty damn sharp-of course handsome.
Not that it mattered…..main thing matters I hadn’t even seen my Ruh since morning.
Why?
Because Mr. Grumpy-Robot-was hovering around her like a CCTV camera.
I pulled out my phone and quickly messaged her: “Did you get ready?”
Her reply came almost immediately.
Ruh: “Want to have a look?”
Wait. What? What does that even mean?
And then, she sent the picture.
A single photo. Just her waist wrapped in black silk saree, the fabric clinging like a second skin. Her fingers rested gently on her side, as if she didn’t even know how much power that one pose held.
My throat went dry.
My grip on the phone turned to a fist.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
And damn…..I was already undone.
I threw the phone on the bed.
Calm down, Vihaan.
Just breathe.
But obviously, like a weak man with zero willpower, I picked up the phone again.
She messaged me again.
Ruh: “Am I not looking good, Mr. Raichand?”
I swear, my soul left my body. I was speechless.
She looked…..terribly gorgeous. Like, straight out of a fantasy. My eyes were stuck on the photo. She never sends pictures like these. Ever.
Her skin….glowing like molten gold under the dim light….drew my eyes like a magnet, like she knew exactly what she was doing. And maybe she did.
My fingers fumbled as I unbuttoned the top of my shirt, feeling heat rush through me. No, not because of the weather.
Take a deep breath.
Ruh was out here testing my sanity.
Just then, a familiar voice purred near my ear.
“Feeling hot, Mr. Raichand?”
I blinked. Once. Twice.
She was standing there. In person.
My body froze. My brain short-circuited.
“W-What are you doing here?” I stuttered.
Yes. I stuttered. The confident Vihaan Raichand, reduced to a tomato-faced teenager.
She walked closer, her eyes locked on mine. Her saree swayed like it had its own rhythm. My hands, as if pulled by gravity, found her waist.
“Because I was missing you,” she whispered, her breath tickling my ear.
My grip tightened. I could feel her shiver even through the layers of that delicate saree.
And then… she casually sat on my lap.
“Also,” she continued with a smirk, “you are my driver today.”
“Do you have fever?” I asked, half-serious.
As she was behaving strangely.
She rolled her eyes,”Oh ho. Adhya ma’am and Yuvraj uncle are going with Mumma and Papa. Prisha di is with Kunal bhai, Atharv, and….Bua ji. So I am going with you…..and Ashi… and…”
I raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“Vani and Tanya,” she grinned.
I blinked. “Wait, Vani’s here?! Since when?”
“She came last night. I didn’t even know until she called me this morning,” She wrapped her arms around me again.
“But why can’t it just be you and me?” I whispered, leaning toward her neck.
Before I could even breathe her in, she pinched me hard.
“Ouch! What?!”
“Not now. You’ll start and I will end up with a mark. We’re going to a function,” she said.
“But we can have a quick one, right?” I smirked, pulling her waist closer.
“Behave, Mr. Raichand,” she said firmly.
She stood up and turned around.
Holy hell.
She was wearing a backless blouse….held together by just a single, fragile hook.
Just A Single Small Hook.
My jaw? Dropped. On the floor.
She moved to the cupboard like she owned gravity. Sprayed her perfume with a slow, deliberate grace. And adjusted her pallu in the mirror-not shyly, not nervously-but like she owned the entire damn room.
And honestly? She did own everything including me too.
I spread my legs, elbows resting on my knees, completely still…..watching her intensely.
My breathing grew heavy.
Every curve of hers pulled at something deep inside me…..something I was barely keeping under control. The sway of her waist. The smooth lines of her back. The flick of her hair.
She turned around, that wicked smirk on her lips, like she knew exactly what her presence was doing to me.
I gulped.
Hard.
I felt heat crawl up my neck as I rubbed the back of it and unbuttoned another button on my shirt.
She looked at me through the mirror.
My eyes darted to hers.
And then she stepped closer. My eyes-traitors they were-dropped lower toward her chest, only for a second, before I shut them tight and forced them back up.
Behave Vihaan.
Her fingers brushed the side of my neck….soft and electric.
Then she leaned in.
Her lips met my skin.
One soft kiss. Then another.
She kissed my neck slowly…..then dragged her lips down to my collarbone-her breath warm, her touch feather-light. I leaned back slightly, losing control for a second.
“You should take care of it, Vihaan,” she whispered, her voice low and sultry, then winked.
And just like that…..she turned back to go outside the room.
The door clicked behind her, leaving the air heavy and the silence loud.
I stood there frozen, then glanced at my reflection in the mirror.
There it was.
A faint red lipstick mark on my collarbone.
But what did she mean? I stared at myself.
Realization hit me like fire to dry wood. My skin flushed. My pulse roared.
“Damn it, Ruh…” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
I collapsed onto the bed face-first with a frustrated groan.
I was supposed to get ready for an engagement.
But now?
Now I needed a cold shower more than oxygen.
I grabbed my towel and stormed into the bathroom.
Because my woman just turned the temperature up in my veins.
And I ended up with her name on my lips.
β’β’β’β’β’
Downstairs, I spotted Ruh chatting with Tanya and Aashi. Our family had already left.
“What were you doing? Kitna late kar diya, idiot. Itna kya saj-dhaj raha tha?” Tanya rolled her eyes, arms crossed.
I cleared my throat and shrugged casually.
If only you knew, it was all because of your best friend.
“I was just getting ready, okay? Why only girls are allowed to take time to look good?” I raised an eyebrow. “Men can take time too, Tanya. Equal rights, remember?”
She shook her head at me.
Ruh saw me, smirked, and cleared her throat.
“You look deliciously handsome….I hope you had a nice time” she teased, as a mischievous smile plastered over her face.
I felt heat crawl up my neck as embarrassment shot straight down my spine.
Tanya crossed her arms, “Please! Don’t start your romance here. I am already tired of Aashi and Varun. Engagement hone waali hai, still they can’t keep their hands off each other.”
“Please, you guys do your romance away from us single people,” Tanya said, shaking her head as Aashi blushed while reading messages.
“She is my fiancΓ©e. I can do whatever I want,” I said, pulling Ruh closer.
She giggled, her cheeks turning into pink.
“Cringe couples,” i heard a voice rang from the door.
I turned back to look Vani standing there leaning against the door.
As she walked in.
Ruh left my side and went to her. Tanya also joined.
Great. They were forming their girl gang.
And me? I was suddenly invisible.
Not that it bothered me.
Okay…..maybe just a little.
Now Ruh will spend time with them.
I sighed.
Ashi came to my side, grinning, “So… how are you, Vihaan jiju?”
Jiju.
Damn. That sounded nice. I blushed hard.
“Congratulations on your big day,” I said, giving her a side hug.
Vani called her.
She went to Vani and hugged her, and just like that, the four girls forgot I even existed.
“Mai bhi idhar hi hoon,” I said, walking up to them.
“Ohhoo, zara is jalkukde ko toh dekho…..I forgot you also exist,” Vani smirked and slapped my shoulder.
Day-837663777 of asking what she ate.
Her hands….damn, it literally feel like bricks wrapped in skin?
“Oh, I need to have a ‘nice talk’ with you,” she added, raising her eyebrow.
That tone. That eyebrow. Nothing about this ‘nice talk’ sounded nice.
Would she slap me? Punch me? Throw me out the window? Feed me karela?
“Ruh,” I whispered, sliding closer.
She giggled, “Relax, she’s just messing with you.”
“Mr. Driver, let’s go!” Tanya shouted.
I squinted at her and turned to Ruh.
“Chalein?”
“Chaliye,” she said softly, holding my hand.
We all left together, with me being the constant target of their teasing.
Ashi and Varun were too busy texting each other like it was their wedding night already.
Damn these cringe couples.
‘you are also one of them,’ my brain again joined the conversation.
Stupid.
We entered the venue and guess who greeted me first?
Bua ji.
“Arey Vihaan! Hmmm… you have grown up! And looking handsome too,” she said.
Of course, I am.
I have my most fake smile as she blessed me. I still didn’t like her, not after how she treated my Ruh. But she is Ashika’s mom, and Ruh had told me not to be grumpy today.
I have to go.
Yes Vihaan turn back and go.
But before i could turn-
“Accha beta, ye saare gifts andar rakh do,” she ordered.
Not again.
I spotted Yash and Sid nearby. I smirked.
Why should I suffer alone?
I called them.
They muttered every colourful curse they knew under their breath.
“Language, boys. Aunties around,” I teased.
After dumping the gifts, i came inside the hall.
The function was in a grand hotel, glittering lights hanging from the ceiling, soft instrumental music playing in the background.
Across the hall, while Vani and Ruh went to help Ashika with a touch-up,
Tanya sat beside us. A waiter came over and handed her a glass of juice, which she took silently.
But her eyes weren’t on the drink-they were stuck on Yash and Varun laughing with someone in the distance.
I leaned closer, “Since when did you start living like this, quietly watching and staying silent?”
She didn’t even look at me, “Why don’t you go ask your best friend?”
“Yash did try to meet you, Tanya. You were the one avoiding him,” I said.
She let out a small bitter laugh, “Why would he even do that?”
I rested my arms on the table. Before I could say more, Sid jumped in, “Tanya….. I know it hurts. But talk to him once, na? Say what’s in your heart.”
She looked at him with sharp eyes, “And then what? He doesn’t even know his own feelings. Why should I keep hoping? I am tired of being the side character in my own story…..”
I frowned, “You are not a side character. And Yash…..he’s just dumb. He really cares about you. He’s just too blind to see it.”
“Then maybe someone should buy him glasses,” she muttered, finally taking a sip of her juice.
Sid chuckled slightly as a soft smile formed on her face.
“Look Tanya, you both are my friends. I don’t want either of you hurt. But if you don’t tell him what’s in your heart, you will just keep carrying the weight. And Yash will keep being his usual clueless self,” Sid added.
She didn’t say anything for a second. Just kept tracing small circles on the glass with her finger.
“It’s easier to be angry than to admit I am heartbroken, Siddharth,” she said softly.
I leaned a bit closer, “I get it. But sometimes, love doesn’t strike like thunder. Sometimes it grows slowly….quiet, but still there. Maybe he’s just realising it now.”
She gave a tiny sad smile, “Or maybe he already realised… just not about me…….and besides, I have moved on now….you already know about….”
I looked at Sid. We both didn’t know what to say for a second.
We both leaned in and gave her a small side hug.
She smiled, soft but grateful.
And then.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Tanya suddenly snapped.
We looked up. Yash had casually taken her glass of juice.
“It has vodka mixed in it. You know you can’t handle it. Why were you drinking it?” he asked, frowning.
“I can handle it very well, thank you,” Tanya said stubbornly, grabbing the glass back and sipping from the same spot.
Sid and I looked at each other like-what the hell is happening?
“Yeah, yeah. Just like at your fresher’s party where you cried and made a whole scene,” he said casually.
Tanya turned to him fast, “How do you even know about that?”
He gulped and scratched his ear before saying, “I am your childhood best friend. I know everything about you…..even the stuff you think I have forgotten.”
Then, as if on cue, he swapped her juice for plain orange juice like it was the most normal thing ever.
“I think I hear someone calling me. Let me go attend that,” he said, casually sipping from her glass.
As soon as he left, Tanya turned to glare at us,”You two….you both know something, didn’t you?”
Sid adjusted his glasses nervously, “We don’t know anything, Tanya. Not a thing.”
“Exactly. We are innocent,” I added quickly.
She narrowed her eyes, “If I find out you told him anything or you both are involved-I will crush you both in a mixer.”
She flipped her hair dramatically and walked off, right after smacking me with her bag.
Right in the face. Again.
Why are these girls getting more violent every day?
I looked at Sid, “If she finds out what he did, we were involved then we will be the ones who will be chopped.”
Sid looked at me glared, “Thoda toh positive bola kar.”
Just then, Yash came and flopped next to us.
“Bach gaya aaj,” he said, sighing dramatically.
Sid rolled his eyes and scrolled his phone while muttering, “Yeah yeah. If she finds out you dropped your scholarship just to be in the same city as her, she won’t crush you. She will launch you to Mars. With a rocket.”
Yash grinned.
He peeked at Sid’s phone.
“Paintings? Since when are you into painting?”
Sid locked his phone quickly, “It’s good to know stuff about art, okay?”
“Really?” I asked about raising my eyebrows.
H shrugged his shoulders.
“Vani also came, right? Didn’t see her around?” Sid asked, scanning the hall.
Just then, Ruh and Vani came back with Aashika. As Tanya also joined them.
Yash raised an eyebrow, “didn’t know? You were missing Vani.”
Sid cleared his throat, “No. I was just saying… she didn’t come earlier. That’s all.”
“Yeah, yeah. We totally believe you,” I said, grinning.
Ruh walked past and I couldn’t help but stare….she looked absolutely beautiful.
Sid was caught staring too….focused on a specific lady.
“Cashmere ka number badhwa lo, doctor sahab. Acche se dikhegi woh,” I teased.
“Aap kahein toh hum unhe yaha bula lenge…phir jii bhar kr nihar lena,” Yash teased Sid as we hi-fied each other.
He quickly looked away, “Shut up. I was looking at the layout and decoration of the main hall.”
“Yeah yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night,” I rolled my eyes at him.
We all stood near the stage as Varun placed the ring on Ashika’s finger. Her eyes sparkled, his hands trembled slightly, but their smiles said it all.
I moved closer to Ruh, trying to sneak in beside her, but she instantly threw me that glare. The kind that warned me not to even think about being romantic in front of so many eyes.
Ugh. All I wanted was to hold her hand, maybe wrap an arm around her waist like some overprotective guy. Let the world know she was mine.
That pallu-every time she turned, it slipped just enough to reveal the soft curve of her back. Her hair, waist-length and glossy, danced over her skin, only making things worse. One tilt of her body and a glimpse of skin… yeah, I feel like I again need a cold shower.
“Come out of your dream zone, Majnu,” Yash snapped his fingers in front of my face.
“What?” I blinked.
“At least don’t think weird things….behave yourself,” Sid said, shooting me a pointed look.
“And control your hormones,” he added with a deadpan tone. “This is a family function, not your personal bedroom.”
“Oh please,” I scoffed. “At least I have hormones that get activated. Yours probably dried up from being single for too long.”
“Excuse me? I feel things too…and my hormones are fully functional,” Sid muttered, his ears turning a shade of tomato red.
Yash raised an eyebrow, lips curving into a wicked grin, “Oh? Then why don’t you show us how your hormones work, Sid?”
Sid’s eyes widened, “WHAT THE HECK?”
I nearly choked on my drink, laughing.
“Don’t be shy, Sid. We are just being good friends….doing a little quality check of your hormones before your wedding night,” i leaned back smirking.
“Just shut up, both of you…. male witches,” Sid muttered.
We burst into laughter, shaking our heads.
I quickly glanced around, hoping no one overheard our conversation
“Aren’t they adorable?” Vani said, watching Varun and Aashika.
“I know, right? But remember that one time when Vihaan made Ruh cry over a stupid misunderstanding-just because he thought she and Varun were together?” Tanya said, laughing.
“Okay. Enough. Let’s leave the past in the past,” I said, trying not to melt from the embarrassment.
“She cried so much. Literal tsunami,” Vani rolled her eyes.
Unable to hold back any longer, I pulled Ruh gently to my side. Let them watch. I didn’t care.
“I promised I would never let her cry again-But honestly, I think she is storing water tank in her eyes,” I whispered, grinning.
She smacked my arm with an annoyed smile, “Shut up. I will be back in five. Behave.”
The engagement ceremony reached its climax. Rings exchanged, claps filled the room, and photos were being clicked.
Varun’s mom proudly introduced Ashika to guests, and soon both families lined up to congratulate them.
It’s already been 15 minutes…Ruh didn’t return.
I looked around. Tanya and Vani were sitting. No sign of her.
Where the hell is she?
“Vihaan!” came a voice that could only belong to one person: Bua ji.
“Are you free?” she asked, sugary sweet.
Someone, save me.
“Actually-“
“Good! Come, I need your help,” she said, already dragging me by the sleeve.
She didn’t even wait for a reply.
“My Aashika could have gotten any rich, classy boy. But no, she picked him. That boy is not even close to our status,” she huffed while walking.
“Poor girl. Could’ve married a bank balance, but instead she went for loyalty, respect, and an actual spine. Kids these days….clearly didn’t learn priorities from their elders…like from you…Right bua ji?” I muttered clearly irritated by her words
How dare she disrespect Varun?
Her smile faltered as she looked down clearly embarrassed.
We reached a room at the far end of the corridor. She pulled out a set of keys and started unlocking it.
“Are you single, beta?” she asked casually changing the topic.
I rubbed the back of my neck, a small smile tugging at my lips.
“No… I am already engaged,” I said, trying to sound casual.
She paused, “Engaged? To who?”
“Of course, meri hone waali biwi se….Ab naam kaise le sakta hoon? Meri hone wali biwi itni sundar hai kahi nazar lag gyi usko toh….” I shrugged, a goofy grin spreading across my face.
“Aur especially Aapki”, i muttered under my breath.
She glared at me, “did you say something?”
I shook my head in No.
I laughed seeing her reaction.
“There are baskets inside. Gifts for the groom’s side. Help me carry them.”
She finally unlocked the door.
I nodded and followed her in.
The room was dimly lit. Smelled faintly of roses and perfume.
As the door creaked open wider, my eyes adjusted-and what I saw made my entire body freeze.
And then I saw her-Ruh-with someone.
A guy standing way too close. Her hands were on his arms. His face leaned dangerously near hers.
My chest tightened, a strange hollowness punched through my chestm
And then, she noticed me.
She quickly stepped back from him, eyes wide.
“Oh, Samar! You are here already?” Bua ji said casually, not even sensing the tension thick enough to choke someone.
Samar.
Who the hell is Samar?
“Offo! I know you guys are getting married soon, but at least have some patience,” Bua ji chuckled.
Wait.
Marriage?
My body went cold. My hand balled into fist.
Ruh opened her mouth, probably to explain, but I didn’t hear it.
My mind was spinning. Confusion? Jealousy? Rage?
All mixed together inside my chest, like a storm I couldn’t name.
And then the worst thought hit me-Was I the only one who didn’t know?
I took a shaky step back, suddenly needing air.
————————————
Finally Chapter 64…!!!
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And congratulations to Vihaan….he finally becomes a fatherπππ€π»
Varun and Yashπππ
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