As expected, Suhala’s reply came in a sharp voice, “Why should I be the one greeting him? He could’ve come to greet us. I assure you he did fail to notice us when we entered.” Her lips pursed into a thin line. “Tell her, Harish,” she urged her son. Harish cleared his throat, his eyes unfocused. “The crowd went silent for a few seconds when we stepped in,” he stated. “What’s surprising about it?” questioned Shanaya. “Weren’t we expecting that? Look around. People will have one eye on our family and the other on the Kapoors tonight. They'll be waiting to see the slightest crack in our composure. They’ll be hoping to add fuel to any fire that us or them may ignite. We’re not giving them the opportunity.” Suhala turned her wavering gaze to Shanaya and for a moment noticed something akin to pride flickering in her eyes. Then she looked away, suddenly and said, “I saw you greeting him. That should be enough.” Shanaya felt her composure shredding with every passing moment. She knew how h

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 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

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

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