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A look of discord flickered in his eyes. “If you still love him, why do you need to find love again?” 'Does he still love me?' she thought to himself, anguish washing over her. Involuntarily, Shanaya lifted up her phone in her hand and opened the browser window she had abandoned—not willingly—hours ago. She had been reading an article featuring Dhruv and Anjali. They had not only appeared together at high-class events but now had even shot an interview together. Upon first discovering the article, Shanaya felt a sense of betrayal. She knew then that the feeling was baseless. He had said he would wait for her. She trusted him. But now… she wasn't confident anymore. “You always know the truth,” she claimed, shifting in her seat as the air pricked with tension. “He might have moved on. He might move on someday. But me? I don’t want to find love again. Not with anyone else. But being with him is not possible.” “You won’t tell me why. Tell me the real truth. I don’t believe it’s just
Kirti had always expressed her wishes of keeping a private celebration for her daughter’s birthday, however, Shanaya was in for a shock when she parked her car in the driveway and took a look around. The Arora mansion, her family house was brimming with guests. A lot of them like her, arriving much later than the given time. It was only after she stepped inside did she realize that the cake had not been cut. Kirti had carried her family’s tradition of being late into her husband’s family. No one seemed to be in a rush, the air crackling with laughter and screams of little children running around the grand living room—which had been modified into a huge playhouse with the name ‘Ahana’ hanging from the ceiling in bright glitter-covered balloons. All around the hall, little clusters were arranged, consisting of men and women clad in shimmery outfits and elegant jewelry. Shanaya glanced at their happy faces and rolled her eyes. She felt underdressed for the occasion. Why could they not
Shanaya averted her gaze, focusing them instead on a pair of balloons that hung in front of her. She heard Suhala’s tongue click in her mouth. She’d caught her. “At least there are no cameras here tonight,” she assured her. “Sneak all the glances you can.” Rolling her eyes, Shanaya smirked. This was something strange that she’d had to deal with over the last few months. Suhala often teased her about Dhruv and she had no idea how to respond to that. She didn’t know how Suhala’s perspective had taken a sudden turn especially since she had suffered a heart attack. One thought never failed to cross her mind: had Suhala lost her mind? Maybe speaking the truth out loud had opened her eyes and she no longer blamed Dhruv. Maybe she had seen the fault in her ways, realizing that he had always wanted the best for her granddaughter. Did she finally approve of Dhruv Kapoor? Now when everything had almost been destroyed? Shanaya chuckled, feeling pain shoot through her skull at the idea.
Several moments passed in the darkness, but Dhruv did not lower her to the ground or make any haste in search of the light switch. She heard him sigh several times as though he was thinking about something, coming to a conclusion and rethinking it again. She stayed there hanging, arms secured around his neck, wondering what the situation was downstairs. Had people realized she was missing? “I can hear you thinking, Shanaya,” he complained, somehow still sounding frustrated. Shanaya blinked in the darkness, overcome by confusion. What had she done that had turned him to act like this? “Dhruv, do you want me to say sorry for that?” He sighed and then finally moved, walking with slow and careful steps until he found the bed. Gently, he lowered her to it. His breath was all over her face, making her freeze momentarily with her arms around his neck. “You can let me go now,” he repeated the words she’d said earlier to him. Hesitantly, she withdrew her hands, flattening them against t
On the way to her house, Shanaya sat in the front seat, her eyes helplessly darting again and again to Dhruv who was driving with his gaze on the road all the time— as if he was the only one in the car. He avoided her well, and she couldn’t help but wonder why he had asked her to occupy the front seat if that was what he was planning to do anyway. When they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building, she noticed him hesitate. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently, his mind racing with some thought she was curious to know. “This would be a lot easier if you hadn’t sprained your ankle,” he said finally, his voice hoarse. Then without a warning, he got out of the car and scooped her out, and walked toward the elevator. Shanaya bit her lip. “If I hadn’t sprained my ankle you’d be home by now.”“Yeah. Try not to stumble into me next time,” he mumbled, his eyes fixated on the elevator buttons. Shanaya snickered at the thought of the buttons being interestin
Shanaya left her office early that day, realising that she was a little too distracted by what had transpired between her and Dhruv the previous night. She had zoned out during an internal meeting, and the employee presenting had gawked at her nervously wondering what he had done wrong. Despite the fact that Dhruv had gone without a word that morning and she had woken up in an empty bed, the smell of his cologne persisted in the air, providing her with reassurance that everything that had occurred was real. Even though she was disappointed, she knew she couldn't dwell on it, so she forced herself out of bed and did her best to keep the tears at bay. Now as she made her way to the Little Angels Orphanage that evening, a sense of unease lingered in the air around her. The setting sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, casting a bittersweet glow on the world around her. As she stepped inside the orphanage, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something significant was abo
Shanaya glanced at the invitation on her desk, bearing the details of Neil's art exhibition. He had done the formality of sending her an invite—almost as a taunt—even though a verbal invitation would have worked. Her cousin had worked tirelessly to prepare for this event, pouring his heart and soul into his creations. She had seen the updates he had posted on social media over the days, promoting the exhibition and posting snippets of his art-making process. But as she pondered whether or not to attend, a sense of hesitation crept over her. She had missed so many of Neil's previous exhibitions due to her demanding schedule. Every time, she promised herself that she would make it up to him next time, only to find herself caught in the whirlwind of her own commitments once again. Or in her emotions. Because attending art exhibitions meant facing a part of her life she had been trying to ignore. However, something felt different this time. She realized that she couldn't keep using her
It was odd now, the air of mystery that surrounded him vanishing in an instant. But it was odd in a good way. She glanced over the paintings that lined the wall. “I’m glad you finally got your paintings out here." She fixed her eyes on the one she had been admiring—of the solitary figure and she commented, "Quite a mesmerizing piece, isn't it?” "Yes, it truly is," Michael replied, a touch of awe in his voice. "I mean, how could it not be? You were the muse after all." Shanaya couldn't help but feel shocked. "You can't be serious!" Michael only gave her a teasing smile. "Well, you not believing my words isn't going to change the fact." Their conversation flowed effortlessly, transitioning from art to life and everything in between. Shanaya found herself laughing more freely than she had in a long time. But amidst the enjoyment of their interaction, Shanaya noticed a familiar presence lurking in the corner of the gallery. Her gaze shifted, meeting Dhruv's intense stare. Memories
Epilogue *A year later* “I need two more minutes, Shan,” Dhruv said through trembling lips. He let out a loud exhale. “Today’s an important day. I’ve never felt this way before any of my business meetings.” Shanaya placed her hand over his in a reassuring manner, passing him a genuine smile. “Hey, silly. This is a lot more difficult than any business meeting you’ll ever have.” Leaning forward, she reached out her hand to touch his cheek. “I’m glad I’m doing this with you. When we see her, everything will feel great. All this nervousness is going to fade into joy which will last a lifetime.” He nodded. “Of course, babe. I know that.” He wetted his lips before letting out another sigh. “Wow, I’m so ready to do this with you. Just give me one minute.” Shanaya agreed, nodding. She had never seen him so nervous. It was surprising and amusing at the same time. The air carried with it the scent of petrichor, greeting her senses as stepped out of her car. It was still warm despite the re
Shanaya couldn’t get any words out of her mouth as she watched Dhruv easily knock against the door to her grandmother’s room before he walked inside with a smile. How could he do that so casually? What was Shanaya missing? When she turned around to see Kirti’s face, she found amusement on it—not confusion like she had expected. “Is this really happening right now, Kirti? Please pinch me!” she said hurriedly, her voice filled with panic. Kirti laughed in response, instead urging her, “Go inside. I bet he needs you by his side.” “He’s not just about to do what he said he was going to,” Shanaya mumbled more to herself than to Kirti, gently patting her chest that stirred in anticipation. “Please, tell me.” His sister inched closer, a look of understanding crossing her eyes. “Dhruv hasn’t mentioned it to you, but he has been secretly visiting Dadi ever since she got sick. Actually, she was the one who requested him to meet her.” “But why would she do that?” “She… she felt sorry an
Ahail cleared his throat, adjusting the tie around his neck before he persuaded himself to press the doorbell. The moment was exhilarating. He felt as though he was going on an adventure—even though confronting someone did not count as one. But that night, he was determined to set things right. He had delayed far too long already. The door opened with a jerk and Noor’s face fell as she spotted him. The curious look faded away into a frown before she quickly replaced it with a difficult smile. He knew her enough to see right through it. Right then, as the moment stood silent, he debated with himself. He could walk away, ending the conversation before it started. Noor was already uncomfortable, he could see that. But the annoying voice inside his mind—that had been bothering him for days—urged him to stay put. He had to do this. He had to do it for Shanaya. And for himself. “Hey,” he managed to say, his voice coming out thick despite clearing his throat seconds before. When he he
The conversation with Nazir swirled inside Shanaya’s mind long after he left with Shaheer. All through the day as she sat through meetings and walked around her office, she pictured how things would’ve been had Nazir found the courage to confess his love for her grandmother, Suhala. If fate had favoured him, Shanaya would not exist. And if Suhala had indeed rejected him, it would have likely ruined their friendship. Shanaya was more baffled than sorry for the old man. Not once had she sensed even the hint of unrequited love from Nazir despite seeing her grandmother with him for several years. He did a great job hiding his feelings, and she could only imagine how heavy it weighed on him. She realised how lucky she was to get a second chance with Dhruv. Where would she be had he not stormed back into her life? Everything was better with him. And she had missed that feeling for all these years never knowing she had been craving it. She sighed, an audible cue for when she was do
As the morning sun bathed her white cabin in warm hues, Shanaya sat at her desk, engrossed in her work. She had things to take care of that day and with Priya back to work, she was glad to have someone to rely on. After the previous night had ended, Shanaya was reluctant to leave Dhruv’s side. She wanted to continue being in his arms, his touch bringing her the comfort that she craved. But then when Dhruv told her that at the end of the day, she’ll be back in his arms, she smirked at her and laughed it off. She teased him, making him look like a lovesick person. Once more, the world was abuzz with discussions about them. The rumors surrounding their relationship intensified, particularly when Anjali confidently appeared in public with her high school sweetheart and declared their engagement. Speculations arose regarding the nature of the bond between Anjali and Dhruv, yet neither of them contributed to the gossip mill. Dhruv reassured Shanaya that if she wasn't bothered by people's
Hours later Shanaya was in Kabir’s clinic, staring at the pictures hung up on the walls with other posters that gave out important information about hygiene as she recited the incident to him. Kabir’s eyes were wide as saucers. “She really asked you that?” “Yes,” Shanaya said, chewing on her bottom lip. “Future husband.” Kabir shook his head, sighing in disbelief. “Are you sure you didn’t just hallucinate that?” he emphasized, placing his elbows on the table. “Kabir, come on. She has… changed. I think she believes she doesn’t have enough time to hold grudges anymore.” “I think,” her best friend began. “She realizes that he makes you happy. And that’s what she wants for you. She has seen you struggle, Shanaya. No one else has been an active observer.” Shanaya shrugged. “So, that’s a good thing, right? It means she approves.” Kabir checked his wristwatch, his eyebrows narrowing. He stood up and took off his whit coat. He tried to sound nonchalant but Shanaya sensed the curiosity
The sun was shining outside, casting a bright and warm glow into the room through the pushed-back curtains. After a continuous spell of rain that had almost got Shanaya worried, the sky had cleared. ‘Everything is fine,’ she told herself. ‘I’m happy.’ But that was the way to jinx it—admitting that things were good. And then her brain did all it could to dampen her mood. This time, however, Raunak was there to distract her. “Alright, one more step… Ah, that’s great. You’re doing good,” Raunak claimed, helping Suhala get back to her wheelchair. “You’ve made a lot of progress, Mrs. Arora. It won’t be long before you’re sprinting up and down these stairs.” Suhala laughed it off, the sound of her croaky laughter echoing in the room. She sat down with a sigh, leaning her head back. If the venture had exhausted her, that was the sign. However, Shanaya could see nothing on her face that implied any pain. Shanaya smiled to herself, acknowledging that Raunak’s words were an exaggeration
When the next morning dawned, Shanaya was eager to leave. She had begun regretting her decision of coming to her family house. She was sure nothing would’ve changed had her uncle revealed the truth to her on the phone call. But even then, a part of her knew she would not resist being away knowing her brother had been injured in a fight. Shanaya’s puffy eyes were noticed by everyone at the table during breakfast. Ahail was of course absent, so Suhala had sent breakfast over to his room. The old woman had let her go but not before giving her an emotional lecture, pleading at the end to find Ahail a job in their family business. Shanaya had no choice but to agree despite all the questions that had rushed past her mind. Did Ahail even want to work for the company? Suhala seemed not to care. Her only concern was to see him being busy yet again but everyone knew perfectly well what happened when he had nothing to do. Shanaya drove to her office that foggy morning after making sure
When Shanaya entered through the door of her family mansion, her doubt was confirmed. Something was definitely amiss. Harish, her uncle, sat with his hand holding his head. His face was covered with a worried expression. She could breathe the discomfort in the air—something grave had happened. Suhala was sleeping in her wheelchair. Well, at least her eyes were closed as her she leaned back, her head resting against the edge of the backrest. “Uncle,” Shanaya greeted, carefully treading forward. Harish jumped in his seat, startled by her approach. He held a hand against a chest before he stood up and nodded. “Shanaya,” he said. That was all he said. “Tell me what has happened,” she demanded, her voice unwavering. Suhala was awakened by their loud conversation. Her wearing eyes looked around the room in search of someone, before they finally landed on Shanaya. “Oh, my child. You’re here finally.” “Dadi,” she mumbled, facing her momentarily before she gazed at Harish again. She