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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
Under the dim light in the restaurant, Shanaya sat with her hands clasped beneath her chin, waiting impatiently for Dhruv who had excused himself to go to the bathroom. She had not missed the nervousness in his voice when they had met earlier outside the restaurant. Shanaya, on the other hand, was brimming with confidence. She wanted to talk. Just talk. About anything and everything. She missed the bantering between them—the casual taunts and remarks, the flirtatious atmosphere that once existed. A lot had changed over time, of course. With secret deep buried once resurfacing again, things were bound to change. But she was disappointed that she had let the circumstance change what existed between them. Dhruv emerged from the turn, walking towards her with large strides, his hand tugging at the collar of his white shirt. She recalled the last time they were here—the way she had drooled over him inside her mind. He had never ceased to be attractive. If anything, he had only become ir