Chapter 3

Shanaya hesitated at the doorstep. 

She pictured how the night would end and if she would come to regret her decision of meeting him. But something kept her going, a silent force that wanted to know, satisfied with any answers she could get for his absence.

Dhruv considered her with a look. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come in.”

While on the outside she admired the mansion’s grand beauty, on the inside Shanaya couldn't stop thinking of how his return wasn't a quick decision. It was very well planned out if he had purchased a house for himself. The grandeur of the mansion did not surprise her. Dhruv was a billionaire now. He could buy fifty such houses without batting any eyelash.

The front door opened and the lights turned on, one by one.

As if reading her mind, Dhruv said, "I moved in a week ago. I told Mom about my plans a month ago and as you can guess she wasn't happy about it. Neither was Kirti."

"About you returning or living separately?" Shanaya laughed and took long strides into the house, her heart thumping with every step.

"As you get older, you tend to like being alone," he said in his defense, his voice small enough to go almost unheard.

"Oh, Grandpa. Tell me are all your teeth still intact?" She turned to look at him and as their eyes met, he chortled. But from the look on his face, it seemed like he didn't enjoy the joke.

"Where's my gift?" Shanaya asked with a raised brow and when a smirk appeared on his tanned face, she dramatically sighed. "Oh, I knew it! You were lying. And now I've walked right into a trap. My family is rich enough but they won't pay you any ransom. They don't love me. That much." She tilted her head.

He gazed at her for a while in silence and she smiled to herself, impressed at how easily words flowed between them despite the years apart. The ache in her chest began, becoming unbearable with each second. She took steps towards him, small but steady and one at a time. He watched her silently walk until she was standing right in front of him.

"Ready to see your gift?" he asked, his voice distant and oddly quiet.

"If you make me wait any longer, I'll be convinced you're a liar."

"Don't you get hungry with constantly trying but failing to be funny?" he mocked and she knew he was all right. Taking quick strides, he reached the end of the hallway before opening a wide door.

There were things Shanaya expected but a candle-lit dinner wasn't one of them. She was disappointed and pleased at the same time. The sight and aroma caused her stomach to rumble and she instantly placed a hand on her stomach to somehow conceal it.

Dhruv snickered at her reaction. He seemed to find a lot about her awfully funny. She rolled her eyes and entered the dining area before he spared any word. Only after a while did she notice that the only light in the room was the one emanating from scented candles placed around the room.

Shanaya made sure he noticed her wavering gaze over the table and the contents placed over them. She said, "A candle-lit dinner. How..."

"... romantic?" Dhruv said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. He ran a hand through his hair, messing the perfectly slicked back dark brown-almost black strands.

"I wanted to say boring," Shanaya mused, her lips tilted into a smirk. Nevertheless, she made her way to one of the chairs and Dhruv pulled it back to let her sit comfortably. It seemed as though he was waiting for a thank you but realizing soon enough he wasn't going to get one, sat on the opposite chair.

"You've always been hard to impress."

"And you've never given up," Shanaya answered solemnly, lowering her gaze.

In the candlelight, his eyes glistened like warm melted chocolate. Her throat started to tighten, but she couldn't tell if it was because of the past memories that flooded her mind or the sight of food in front of her eyes.

"Chinese food?" She raised her gaze and met his, despite wanting to avoid the very thing.

"Your favorite," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone then his brows furrowed. "Oh, Shanaya. Don't tell me you've changed your food preference as well. From what I see, I think you have," His eyes ran from her head to toe and he tilted his head waiting for a response.

"I do like Chinese food still but I would've preferred something lighter."

He relaxed on the chair, loosening his shoulders but a frown graced his lips. "I spend two hours cooking the food myself. No help from any else. And this is what I hear?"

"You didn't make this. You're bluffing," Shanaya said, her lips forming a tiny sardonic smile.

Dhruv pointed at the kitchen sink at a distance. "I might lie. But what about those dishes?"

Her eyes followed his and landed on the dishes piled up in the sink. Placing both her elbows on the table, Shanaya cupped her face. "All this for me. I can't help but feel suspicious. What are you up to, Mr. Kapoor?" She leaned forward, holding his gaze and he did the same.

If she could lean any further, she would've done it. But the length of the table and the contents over it didn't allow her. Yet, from the distance over the scent of candles, she smelled his cologne.

"Is that synonymous to 'Why did I return, Miss Arora?' Because then I'll consider my mission successful," he said calmly, his gaze unwavering.

"We're still on that? But, well to answer your question, no. You'll have to try harder." When she leaned back, a small sigh left her lips. "What I want to know is why you took the effort to cook dinner all by yourself. Surely, not just to showcase your new skill?"

"The answer is simple and obvious. I did it for you. A special dinner for someone special. I never thought the flowers would work but my Mom told me the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach," he confessed in a single breath.

Shanaya lowered her gaze to the food again. "That's true. The food looks good, I must admit, but looks can be deceiving."

He picked up a fork and replied, "What are you waiting for then? Once you've eaten, I'll know if I have made it to your heart."

Shanaya shook her head gently but all she could say was, "You talk too much."

Half an hour later, she couldn't help but feel jealous of Dhruv. Thanks to his mad culinary skills, her diet was abolished and she ended up eating way more than she initially intended, earning several smirks from him.

Not soon after they finished eating, Dhruv walked to her and slipped his hand into hers, taking her by surprise.

"Hey? Thanks for dinner. But I should leave-"

"Shhhh," he said in a low, barely audible whisper, covering her mouth with his finger and quieting her. "Dance with me."