As soon as the voice echoed, "Happy Birthday, Dadi," everyone turned toward the main door.
There, standing tall and composed, was a man whose presence could silence a crowd — Ivaan Renewat.
He walked in slowly, each step filled with power and confidence. He looked like someone who was born to control everything around him. His sharp jawline, cold charcoal eyes, and strong aura made it hard to look away.
But something changed the moment he looked at Dadi.
The coldness in his eyes melted into warmth. A softness that only his family ever got to see. The world saw him as emotionless, distant — but for his family, he was different. He had love. He had care. He just never showed it easily.
He walked up to Dadi, bent down, and gently touched her feet.
"Happy birthday once again, Dadi," he said, his voice calm but full of affection.
Dadi held his face in her hands, smiling with moist eyes.
"You really came today..." she whispered. "It's rare, you know. Do you even remember the last time you visited this house properly? Two months, Ivaan. You disappeared for two whole months."
Ivaan gave a faint smile. "But I didn't forget today, did I?"
Dadi chuckled softly and hugged him tightly, hiding how happy she was.
While everyone was busy celebrating, laughing, and enjoying the moment, Aathya quietly stepped away from the room.
She walked slowly to her own space, her heart full. She knelt down before the small temple in her room, folding her hands, whispering a prayer.
"God, please... keep this family happy always," she said softly. "I never had a family of my own, but they gave me their love. They made me feel like I belong. I don't want anything else—just let them stay together, like this. Always."
Just then, her phone buzzed.
Shruti.
As soon as Aathya picked up, Shruti's panicked voice burst through the speaker, "Where are you, Aathya? Today's the competition! How can you forget? You know I'm nervous! Come quickly!"
Aathya's eyes widened. She had completely forgotten.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry, Shruti," she replied quickly. "I'm coming right now. Don't panic, okay? I'm always here. Just give me five minutes!"
She ended the call, rushed to her wardrobe, and changed into her college clothes.
As she came back to the dining room where everyone was having breakfast, she spoke softly, "Dadi-jaan, I'm going to college now. I don't have time to eat today."
Before she could leave, Priya aunty—her second mother—appeared, holding a small tiffin.
"I knew you'd forget again," Priya smiled. "So I packed your lunch. Don't skip your meal, okay?"
Aathya smiled gratefully, "Thank you, aunty," and took the tiffin.
As she turned to leave, her eyes met Ivaan's for a brief second. He was eating silently, looking up at her just then. Their eyes locked.
But Aathya quickly looked away... and walked out, quietly.
( Aathya's Internal Monologue)
"Ugh... Aathya, are you stupid? Idiot girl! How could you even look into his eyes like that? Just one eye contact... and my heart feels like it's going to burst out of my chest.
What's wrong with you?
How do you walk away so casually after that?
He's dangerous, cold, distant... but somewhere, deep inside, I know—he's not all that. He has a good heart. He just never shows it to anyone.
But how do I know that?
Don't ask me... I just do. I feel it. Like a secret only my heart understands.
Please... please be quiet, my heart. Don't say his name again. Just stop this madness."
"I can't even say his name...
It's forbidden. Off-limits.
He's like family—like a brother, they say.
And I've tried—God knows, I've tried to believe it.
But my heart... it whispers something else.
It aches in silence, holding a love that was never allowed.
It hurts, but still... it hopes."
As Aathya walked quietly through the mansion, talking to herself in her mind, she was suddenly pulled back to reality by a familiar voice.
"Aathya!" Dadi called from the other side of the hall.
"You're going to college, right? Ivan is also going that way. Just go with him—it'll save you time."
Her heart skipped a beat.
aathya in her mind -"Please Dadi, no... don't say that. How can I go with him? It's hard to even breathe when he's around. I mess up everything. Please Dadi, don't make me go with him."
Coming out of her stormy thoughts, she spoke quickly:
"No, Dadi. It's okay. I can go by myself. I'll take a cab. Don't worry."
But Dadi wasn't ready to let go.
"No, no, why? Ivan, you'll drop her, right?"
That moment.
He looked at her.
Her heart stopped. Her thoughts screamed.
"Please say no. Please, please no..."
And then, in his calm and cold voice, he said:
"Yeah, I'll drop her."
And just like that, she was trapped.
"I'm going with him. I'm actually going with him. Oh my God... how am I going to survive this ride?"
And it was the first time in 15 years that aathya would be going anywhere with Ivaan.
From the time she came into this house—just a quiet, lost 5-year-old girl—until now, when she was 20 and grown, there had never been more than a few words exchanged between them.
Just short greetings.
"Good morning."
"How's the weather?"
That's all.
No real conversation.
No shared smiles.
No real moment.
She saw him almost every day. Watched him from a distance. Felt everything.
He, on the other hand—never noticed. Never stopped to ask more.
And now...
Now she was going with him.
Sitting next to him. Breathing the same silence, but this time, inside a car, not a mansion hallway.
For aathya, this moment was more than just a ride—it was a memory being made.
thank you for reading 📚
by eethya:)
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