Dhruv hadn’t seen that coming. But he should have expected it. After all, what would he and Shanaya do alone in a dark room where he has her pressed against a wall? For a moment his whole body tensed the moment her lips touched his — as if it was a new sensation all together. Like they hadn’t been doing that for the last few days. Recovering soon enough, he kissed her back, throwing out all concern of what would happen if anyone opened the door he had just slammed shut. Her touch on his body was deliberate. She knew just how to turn him on.But something was different about the way Shanaya was kissing him. Almost as if she was angry at him. Her nails dug into his back as she deepened the kiss, pulling him close enough to cover all the distance between them. A moan left his lips when she grabbed his arm, and turned him around. Dhruv realized that now he was the one against the wall. When he opened his eyes, he could barely see anything but he sensed Shanaya glaring at him. “Were yo
Shanaya silently stepped out of the guest room and slowly closed the door behind her so as to not alert anyone who might be closeby. When she turned, a gasp left her mouth as her eyes landed on the man who had been sobbing. Ahail sat leaning against the wall, his head buried in his folded knees as he cried. In the middle of the corridor. In the Kapoor’s villa. Immediately she was by her brother’s side on her knees. “Oh, Ahail,” she began, her hand gently touching his arm. “What happened?” Her voice was shaky, barely audible to her own ears. Seeing Ahail in that state struck a chord in her heart. She knew she was going to start crying any moment. Shanaya heard him inhale heavily, almost as if it hurt him to even breathe. When he slowly raised his head to meet her face, she found herself looking into bloodshot eyes. Snot ran down his nose. The sleeves of his kurta were soaked with his tears and he was visibly shaking. ‘How long has he been here?’ She wondered, quietly wrapping h
Headline: Dhruv Kapoor Spotted with Bollywood Debutante Anjali Bhatt at Lavish Engagement Ceremony, Fueling Speculation of a New Romance In a surprising turn of events, tech billionaire Dhruv Kapoor, who recently found himself at the center of rumors involving Arora Industries' CEO Shanaya Arora, has been spotted in the company of a budding actress. The latest sighting has sparked fresh speculation about Kapoor's romantic life, as he was seen arm in arm with the glamorous Anjali Bhatt at his sister's extravagant engagement ceremony. The stunning actress turned heads in a sea green saree adorned with dazzling diamonds, adding an extra touch of opulence to the lavish affair. Anjali Bhatt, who recently finished filming her debut movie in Bollywood, accompanied Kapoor to the engagement ceremony of his sister, adding a touch of glamor and intrigue to the high-profile event. The duo arrived together, making a grand entrance that immediately set tongues wagging and cameras flashing. The en
Throughout the day, Shanaya and Dhruv engaged in casual conversation, sharing mundane details of their lives. However, amidst their discussions, the topic of Dhruv's birthday remained untouched. Shanaya intentionally avoided any mention of it, wanting to keep the element of surprise intact. She couldn't help but wonder if Dhruv had noticed her silence and if it had caused him to feel a tinge of sadness, thinking she had forgotten his special day. As the hours ticked by, Shanaya's anticipation grew. She meticulously planned every aspect of the surprise, from the decorations to the menu, wanting to create an unforgettable experience for Dhruv. Although a pang of disappointment washed over her when Dhruv revealed an urgent matter that demanded his immediate attention, forcing him to be occupied for the evening, she quickly reminded herself to view it as an opportunity rather than a setback. This unexpected turn of events allowed her more time to perfect her surprise and execute her gra
Shanaya felt a knot of dread tighten in her stomach as she observed Dhruv taking a deliberate bite of the cake slice he had just cut. Time seemed to slow down as he savored the morsel, maintaining an inscrutable expression on his face. The anticipation weighed heavily on Shanaya, who anxiously awaited his verdict. With bated breath, she finally mustered the courage to ask, "Well? How was it?" Dhruv's initial response was unexpected—an abrupt cough that caught Shanaya off guard. Concern immediately washed over her, and she hurriedly moved closer to him, gently patting his back in an attempt to provide some relief. But to her surprise, his cough transformed into a hearty belly laugh that reverberated through the room. "You were right," Dhruv managed to say between fits of laughter. "You should never bake again." “What the fuck, Dhruv!” Shanaya's eyes widened, a mixture of mock offense and genuine amusement playing on her face. She couldn't help but join in the laughter, her tense sho
For a moment all Shanaya could hear and feel was a strange buzzing in her ears and the palpable beating of her heart. She was almost sure she was about to faint. Dhruv's eyes fluttered to her from where he kneeled on the floor. She felt her throat tighten with every passing moment.What was he trying to do?“You have to say yes, Shan,” he repeated, looking at her with hopeful eyes. She shook her head adamantly. “Dhruv? No!”Was he about to pull out a ring and propose to her? All of a sudden? There was no way she knew how to react to something like that. She liked him. She might even love him back. But the proposal was too much and too soon.His hands reached out and held hers and he replied, his voice soft and true, “I want to travel the world with you. Let me take you somewhere.”Shanaya exhaled, her thoughts a mix of disappointment and surprise. She allowed him to continue. His voice reflected vulnerability, and she sensed a little pleading in it. “I just fixed a huge fucking bus
Dhruv relished the sensation of the cool sand beneath his feet as he strolled along the beach with Shanaya. The dark sky spread above them, adorned with a multitude of sparkling stars. Time seemed inconsequential in that moment, as he focused solely on the company of the woman he held dear. He didn't need to glance at his watch to know the hour; it simply didn't matter. If Shanaya wished to wander along the shoreline all night, he would gladly join her, embracing every precious moment by her side, with only the rhythmic crashing of the waves accompanying their footsteps. Shanaya wore a stunning red dress adorned with delicate white daisies, and he couldn't help but admire the way it flowed behind her, gently swaying in the wind. Every so often, he observed her graceful form bend down to collect a seashell, entrusting them to his care. With a tender smile, Dhruv tucked each treasure into the pockets of his jeans, cherishing the small mementos of their evening. Out of the blue, she pos
[DHRUV] “Why did you leave? Tell me, Dhruv!” Dhruv did not understand how the night had taken this sudden turn. He soon realized that Shanaya had been suppressing her emotions. They had never truly confronted each other about what had happened all those years ago. Maybe now was the perfect time. He saw the pain in her eyes. He wanted to wrap his arms around her so she would not cry but when he leaned forward, she smacked his chest. “No. Don’t do that, Dhruv,” Shanaya warned him through trembling lips. “I cried myself to sleep every night. There was so much going on. And I wanted you to be there. You weren’t.” Dhruv felt a pang in his chest as memories flashed through his mind. He remembered calling her a hundred times. But she had not received any of his calls. He recalled how he had stood outside her house, but she had declined to meet him. He had not turned his back, not until he believed she wanted nothing from him. She sobbed and when she finally continued, her voice was str
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