The air weighed heavy on Shanaya, burdened by unspoken words and unresolved conflicts as she walked away from the table. She watched as her cousin regained his excitement upon finding the love of his life, Kirti, in the crowd — a bright grin instantly spreading across his face. She wondered if he still needed a drink.Well, at least someone from her family was genuinely happy. The thought should have given her some peace, but instead, the sight of Kirti and Neil made her want to get drunk, pull up a scene, perhaps cause a long anticipated argument with Dhruv’s parents. If only she could do what she really wanted. But she shrugged the thought away, knowing she had a reputation to maintain. And practically, the idea of arguing with Dhruv’s parents felt like a waste of time.She picked up a glass of wine from a tray being carried around and leisurely took a sip, leaning against the edge of an ivory table decorated with carnations. It made her think of the yellow tulip bouquets Dhruv wou
Shanaya recovered her senses, realizing that she was probably being watched by Suhala despite being engaged in a conversation. Her eyes flickered over to the table, but Suhala looked unfazed, the wrinkles on her cheeks enhanced by her wide smile. A smile that was aimed at Raunak; while all she had reserved for Dhruv were bitter words. “Dhruv, don’t flirt with me tonight,” she told him, her voice serious. “Everyone has their eyes on us.” “Who said I’m flirting?” he countered, shrugging casually — causing a blush to creep up her cheeks. “I was only complimenting you.” Shanaya shook her head, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "You can't compliment me in that way," she declared, finally setting her wine glass down on the decorated table beside her. Taking a deliberate action, she gathered the loose curls of her hair and flipped them over one shoulder, leaving the other side of her neck exposed. Dhruv's gaze immediately darted to the exposed nape of her neck. "What way?" he as
Shanaya tossed her car keys to Dhruv as soon as they were in the driveway. He took off his suit jacket and shoved it onto the back seat. Hurriedly, she took a seat as her car revved to life. Dhruv did not spare a single moment to think back — not even glancing at his house as he turned the car around.She watched in disbelief as the car sped away from Dhruv's house, leaving the party and all its expectations behind. The wind tousled her hair as she gazed out of the window, watching the world outside blur into a rush of lights and shadows. The adrenaline coursing through her veins made her heart race, and she found herself captivated by Dhruv's boldness and spontaneity.“Woah,” sighed Shanaya. “I can’t believe you just abandoned your own party. That’s so… sick. That’s so fucking cool, Dhruv. When did you become so cool?”With a mischievous grin, Dhruv glanced at Shanaya, his eyes reflecting a newfound sense of liberation. "Cool? I guess I've had it in me all along, just waiting for the
Shanaya saw hesitation cross Dhruv’s eyes. His hand began slipping from her cheek and disappointment flooded her chest. She knew at once what he was thinking about — their conversation at the hospital. She placed her hand over his and brought it back to her cheek. Dhruv’s eyes closed momentarily, his shoulder tensing. When he opened them, she saw the struggle in them. The struggle to let go — and the desire to hold on. He sighed, his thumb gently grazing her cheek. “I can’t be just your friend, Shan,” he confessed, his voice soft and vulnerable. “I felt so angry when you said that to me. I was angry at myself… for fucking things up between us. You have no idea how much I regret it. I shouldn’t have left this place. I shouldn’t have left you.” Shanaya felt a weakness settle in her knees. She knew she was going to faint any moment. Dhruv continued, “I never thought I’d come back here. Kirti was the only reason. I thought I’d forgotten about you. I believed I didn’t remember the sou
Their bodies remained close, their foreheads pressed against each other, as Shanaya brought the phone to her ear. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Hello?" Kabir's voice, filled with concern, emanated from the other end of the line. "Shanaya, where are you? I've been looking for you everywhere. Is everything alright?" Shanaya struggled to find her voice, suddenly realizing what she’d done. Kabir and Noor had come to the party with her and she had abandoned them. She glanced at Dhruv, who stood beside her, his eyes filled with a mixture of worry and understanding. The weight of her choices and the consequences they carried pressed upon her, causing her to falter. "Kabir, I... I needed some time alone," she finally managed to say, her words laced with unease. "I'm sorry for leaving without telling you. I just needed to clear my head." There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, and Shanaya could almost hear the wheels turning in Kabir's mind. When he spoke again, his voic
As they finally approached the door of her apartment, Shanaya felt heat pool in the pit of her stomach. Beyond that door, nothing would keep them apart. She could finally have all she was craving. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, her feet trembling. However, when she turned around, she found Dhruv still standing outside, his hand lightly placed over the doorframe. Lowering his gaze to his bare feet, he spoke softly, his voice carrying the weight of his emotions, "If you have any doubts at all, just tell me. Even now, just tell me. I'll leave, Shanaya. I won't say a word. But if you choose to do this, there's no going back." She had never seen him as vulnerable before that night. In that moment, Shanaya knew how much he still cared about her — how much he respected her boundaries. Moved by his sincerity, Shanaya reached out and placed her hand gently on his cheek. She met his gaze with an unwavering resolve, her voice filled with certainty. "I have no doubts, Dhruv," she whi
Reluctantly, Shanaya reluctantly stepped into the inviting warmth of the shower, allowing the cascading water to envelop her body. As the liquid streamed down, she couldn't help but be transported back to the last two days spent in Dhruv's embrace. The previous morning Shanaya had prepared to leave for office, but when the quick peck had turned into something more passionate and searing, her clothes had ended being discarded, and she had been allured back to the bed. Time seemed to stand still as they indulged in each other's company, rarely leaving the confines of their bed. Meals were shared, conversations flowed effortlessly, and the outside world faded into insignificance. She even postponed important meetings, unwilling to disrupt the intimate bubble they had created. However, amidst the soothing sensation, her mind was consumed by thoughts of the monumental decision she had made two nights ago. The thick wall that had long kept her and Dhruv apart had crumbled, and now she st
As Shanaya boarded the staircase to her office, the sun's golden rays shimmered through the glass windows, filling the corridor with a warm glow. She took it as a positive sign. Today was the day they were supposed to finalize an important collaboration with a renowned company, and Shanaya couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and optimism.“I’ve got this,” she whispered to herself, like she always did before starting an important day at work. It had helped her stay focused and determined regardless of the obstacles that were strewn along her way. As she stepped into her office, a sight caught her attention—a vibrant bouquet of yellow tulips sitting gracefully on her white desk. The delicate petals stood tall, demanding her attention. The sweet aroma filled the room, momentarily distracting her from the impending business meeting. Curiosity piqued, Shanaya approached the bouquet, noticing a small note nestled among the flowers. With gentle hands, she unfolded the note, and her eyes
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