A R V I

There was something peaceful about this morning.

The sky was still wearing its soft blue, and the breeze outside held that faint chill I had grown to love. I sat in the front passenger seat, my arms wrapped around a sleepy Vanisha, who curled up against me like a little kitten.

Rayaan was driving. His one hand rested steadily on the wheel, the other occasionally brushing against Vanisha’s foot or adjusting the volume of the soft music playing in the background.

“She’s already half asleep,” he smiled, glancing at our daughter.

I kissed the top of her head. “She’s excited to meet everyone, she just doesn’t know it yet.”

Rayaan chuckled. “She’ll wake up the second she hears Ansh's voice.”

He was right.

As we pulled into the Oberoi Mansion’s driveway, Vanisha stirred. Her eyes blinked open and a small smile appeared on her face. “We’re here?”

“Yes, baby. Ready to congratulate your Aleesha bua?” I asked.

She nodded, suddenly wide awake.

We stepped out together. Rayaan held my hand for a moment before letting go as Vanisha bolted inside ahead of us.

The moment we walked in, the whole house came alive.

Aleesha was the first to spot us. She looked radiant glowing in a soft lilac kurta, her hand instinctively resting over her barely-there baby bump. Her face lit up when she saw us.

“Finally!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a warm hug. “I was waiting for you.”

Vanisha stuck her tongue out and ran to find Ansh, Nia's little boy. The two of them disappeared into the garden, already planning something mischievous.

Choti maa hugged me tight, followed by Arekha and Ma. Nia was already gushing over my outfit while Vivaan brought juice for everyone like the good host he always tried to be.

Everything felt so whole. So full. So... alive.

We sat, laughed, chatted for hours. Aleesha blushed every time someone mentioned baby names. Riaan kept teasing her, calling her “Mommy No.1” while everyone joined in with laughter.

Vanisha refused to leave.

“I want to stay with Ansh and bua and everyone,” she pouted, clutching onto my kurta.

Rayaan crouched in front of her, cupping her face.

“Are you sure, my princess?” he asked gently.

She nodded.

He kissed her forehead. “Be safe. No jumping on sofas.”

“I promise!” she giggled, hugging him. Then she hugged me, arms tight around my neck.

“I’ll miss you, mama,” she whispered.

“I’ll miss you more, my bacha,” I said, kissing her cheek.

We left her there, surrounded by love and warmth.

Back in the car, the silence felt different. Not heavy just quieter without her chatter.

I stared out of the window for a bit before turning to Rayaan.

“Don’t you think,” I started slowly, “we should also start thinking about a second child?”

He glanced at me, surprised. “Now?”

I gave a small nod. “Vanisha is growing up. It would be nice for her to have a sibling.”

Rayaan kept his eyes on the road. “ No Need. Let’s first focus on your degree. You have a career ahead, remember?”

His words didn’t come from a bad place. But they still stung.

I turned my face back toward the window, suddenly quiet.

Rayaan noticed. Of course, he did.

“Arvi?” he called softly.

I didn’t answer.

He sighed. “Okay… now you’re ignoring me.”

Still, I didn’t look his way.

When we reached the penthouse, I opened the door and went straight inside. I wasn’t angry. Just… disappointed.

Rayaan followed quickly. “Arvi. Stop. Look at me.”

I turned around slowly, arms crossed.

“I just said what I felt was right. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said gently. “It’s not a ‘no’ forever. It’s just a ‘not yet.’ I want to see you shine in your own space too.”

My shoulders softened.

He stepped closer. “You’ve always given this family everything. I just want you to give yourself something first.”

“But can’t I do both?” I whispered. “Can’t I love being a mother again and still chase my dreams?”

He cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. “You can. And you will. When the time feels right. I just want to be sure it’s what you want not what you think we need.”

My eyes welled up. I didn’t even realise I needed those words until he said them.

I wrapped my arms around his waist.

He kissed my forehead. “You’re everything, Arvi. We already built something beautiful. When we’re ready, we’ll build more.”

I nodded against his chest.

Then he pulled back slightly and smirked. “Now if you’re done giving me the silent treatment, can I finally kiss my beautiful wife properly?”

I rolled my eyes and leaned in, smiling. “Maybe.”

He kissed me slow, warm, and full of love.

And just like that, the day ended where it started quietly, but with something warm tucked inside.

Next Morning

I woke up to the faint glow of sunlight peeking through the curtains. The penthouse was unusually quiet no sound of little feet running around.

I reached for the other side of the bed and found it empty. Rayaan must’ve already woken up.

I sat up slowly, stretching my arms and letting out a long sigh. As much as I missed Vanisha, there was something calming about the stillness. Just for a moment, it felt like time had slowed down.

I slipped on my robe and padded out of the bedroom.

The faint smell of coffee guided me to the kitchen, where Rayaan stood, dressed in his joggers and a black T-shirt, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. A smile tugged at my lips.

“You’re up early,” I said, leaning against the doorway.

He turned, flashing that crooked smile that always made my heart flutter. “Trying to impress my wife before she gives me the silent treatment again.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

“Not anytime soon,” he grinned, walking over with a cup of coffee and pressing a kiss to my temple. “Good morning, beautiful.”

I took the coffee from him and smiled. “Morning.”

We sat together at the breakfast table. He placed a plate of pancakes in front of me, neatly topped with strawberries  my favorite.

For a while, we just ate quietly. But it wasn’t awkward. It was that comfortable kind of silence.

Just then, his phone buzzed. A video call from Vanisha.

He quickly picked up. My princess!”

Her little face popped up on the screen, grinning ear to ear. “Mama! Dadda! I had pancakes here too!”

Rayaan turned the screen so I could see her. “Did bua make them for you?”

“No! Vivaan chachu did! But he burnt one,” she giggled.

We both laughed.

“I miss you, baby,” I said.

“I miss you more. But I’m having fun. Ansh and I made a fort!”

We talked for a while longer before she promised to be back by tomorrow.

After the call ended, I leaned into Rayaan’s side.

“Let’s never stop building this life,” I whispered.

“We won’t,” he promised, wrapping his arm around me. “One peaceful morning, one pancake, one tiny dream at a time.”

We both smiled.

Later that morning

I was still sipping my second cup of coffee, feeling unusually peaceful, when Rayaan stood up and stretched with a secretive smile tugging at his lips.

“Go get ready,” he said casually.

I raised an eyebrow. “Why? Where are we going?”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Surprise.”

“Rayaan…”

“Nope,” he grinned. “No questions. Just wear something beautiful”

I squinted at him suspiciously. “What are you planning?”

“You’ll find out,” he said, walking off before I could press him more.

I sighed dramatically but got up, already smiling. Blue saree it was.

About an hour later, I stepped into the living room, dressed in the soft chiffon saree, hair loosely curled, light makeup done, and a tiny bindi to complete the look. The way Rayaan’s eyes trailed over me made my stomach flutter.

“You look…” he exhaled, then walked up, adjusting the end of my pallu carefully, “like poetry.”

I blushed, rolling my eyes. “Flirting won’t get you out of giving me answers.”

He chuckled. “Just wait.”

The drive was quiet, filled with soft music and the occasional touch his hand brushing mine, my fingers playing with his wristwatch strap.

But when we turned into that familiar street… my breath hitched.

“Rayaan…” I whispered.

He didn’t answer, just parked the car and stepped out to open my door.

I stepped out slowly, heart thudding. I hadn’t come to this place in years.

The same restaurant.

The same polished exterior.

The place where everything had begun.

Where I had once stood in a clumsy uniform, balancing trays with shaky hands. The place where I had spilled drink on a stranger in a suit only to find out days later that he was Rayaan Oberoi.

The man I would one day marry.

We walked inside, hand in hand.

The lighting was still warm, the scent still the same spices, wood polish, and something faintly sweet in the air.

But the moment that caught me completely off guard

The manager.

Same man. Same sharp posture. Same mustache. But this time, he didn’t bark orders or look at me like I was less.

This time, he bowed.

Literally bowed.

“Welcome, ma’am. Sir,” he said, respectfully.

I blinked, unsure what to say.

Rayaan just smiled, his hand tightening slightly around mine.

The manager stepped aside, and a staff member guided us to the same corner table. The exact same one where that fateful accident had occurred.

I sat down slowly, my fingers trembling just a little.

“Rayaan,” I said quietly. “Why… here?”

He leaned forward, eyes soft, expression unreadable. “Because this is where we began, Arvi. And sometimes… it’s beautiful to come full circle.”

My throat tightened.

“I was humiliated here,” I whispered.

“And now look at you,” he said gently. “You’re my wife. The daughter-in-law of the Oberoi family. A woman with resilience, strength, and dreams that scare even fate.”

Tears pooled in my eyes.

Rayaan signaled the waiter, who placed two simple drinks in front of us.

“For old times’ sake?” he teased.

I gave a watery laugh, wiping under my eyes. “You really planned all this?”

“I wanted to remind you who you are,” he said. “And how far you’ve come. I saw you that night and I didn’t realize it then, but something in me shifted. You stumbled into my world, and now I can’t imagine it without you.”

A tear slipped down my cheek. “Rayaan…”

He reached across the table, gently taking my hand in both of his. “No one gets to define your worth, Arvi. Not a job. Not a mistake. Not a title. You define it.”

I nodded slowly, heart aching in the most beautiful way.

“And I’m proud of every part of your journey,” he added.

I stood up, unable to stay seated with that emotion bubbling inside me.

Rayaan came around to me, and I just threw my arms around him.

He held me close, right there in the middle of the restaurant. No one looked. Or maybe they did I didn’t care.

This place had once made me feel so small.

But today… standing here in Rayaan’s arms, dressed in confidence, wrapped in love…

I had never felt bigger.

Never felt more seen.

And as we stood in that quiet embrace, I knew one thing, that some hearts don’t need fixing, just a safe place to be felt fully.

“And maybe that’s what healing truly is not forgetting where you fell, but returning with grace, and choosing to rise in the same place where you once broke.”

                             The end ♡

A/N

Last chapter of this story, Omg!! The tears in my eyes.

Read the next chapter, The end note. For further details.

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