Time passed, and today…
The main hall of Malhotra Mansion looked completely different.
A place that usually hosted business discussions and formal meetings was now glowing with soft golden lights. Fresh flowers were beautifully arranged along the staircase, and at the entrance, an elegant board read—
“Celebrating Author Alka Malhotra.”
At the center of the living area stood a beautifully arranged table, stacked with freshly printed copies of Alka’s novel. Seeing her name on the cover again and again, a soft disbelief flickered in her eyes—as if she was silently asking herself… is this really happening?
The staff moved around quietly, welcoming guests. From the kitchen, the faint clinking of crockery could be heard.
Today, Alka wore a silk saree—graceful and dignified. But beneath it, her nervous excitement was clearly visible. She kept adjusting her pallu, then glancing toward the door again and again.
Just then, Mahi walked up to her.
“Mom, relax.”
Alka looked at her.
“It’s your day, Mom.”
Right at that moment, the doorbell rang.
Vani entered the house, and the moment Mahi saw her, she smiled.
“You’re here? Come on, help me get ready in my room.”
“Yeah,” Vani nodded.
Both of them went to Mahi’s room. A few dresses were already laid out on the bed. Mahi stood in front of the wardrobe, picking one dress after another—checking herself in the mirror, then switching to another.
Meanwhile, Vani stood near the mirror, fixing her hair. As she adjusted her dress, her earring suddenly got stuck in the fabric.
“Mahi… come here for a second.”
Mahi walked up to her.
“What happened?”
“My earring got stuck in the dress… can you help?”
Mahi gently moved her hair aside and carefully freed the earring. It took a moment, but she managed to get it out.
Just then, Mahi’s eyes fell lower… and she noticed a bite mark on Vani’s shoulder.
She froze instantly.
“What… happened here?”
Vani quickly covered it with her dress.
“Nothing… just a scratch while bathing.”
Mahi frowned.
“It doesn’t look like a scratch. It looks like something else.”
Vani immediately cut the conversation off.
“It’s just a scratch. Why do you overthink everything? Come on, let me help you pick a dress.”
Mahi stared at her for a few seconds… then said,
“Fine…”
Vani moved toward the wardrobe and started going through the dresses. She picked one out and handed it to Mahi.
“Try this. It’ll be perfect for the party.”
Mahi looked at it.
“Sure?”
“Yeah, wear this,” Vani said confidently.
Just then, Vani’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen.
“I’ll take this call. You get ready meanwhile.”
“Okay,” Mahi nodded.
Vani stepped out of the room, walked through the hallway, and headed straight to Aryan’s room—entering without knocking.
Aryan stood in front of his wardrobe, shirtless, trying to pick something to wear.
Vani walked up to him… and casually ran her hand over his abs.
“Hello, handsome.”
Aryan looked at her, then placed his hand over hers and stepped slightly closer.
“Excuse me… don’t you have manners? Walking into someone’s room without knocking… and teasing a man like this? No shame at all?”
Vani smirked.
“Why would I be ashamed? I’m fully dressed.”
Aryan raised an eyebrow.
“Should I remove that? Then maybe you’ll feel shy.”
Vani’s smile turned mischievous.
“Or should I remove yours?”
Aryan shook his head lightly.
“Control, madam… I’m committed. And if my motu finds out, she’ll kill me.”
Vani stepped even closer.
“She won’t find out.”
“You don’t know her,” Aryan replied. “She somehow finds out everything.”
“How?”
“I tell her everything myself.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t keep anything inside.”
Both of them burst into laughter.
For a few seconds, they just looked at each other.
Then Vani turned, walked to the wardrobe, picked out a shirt, and handed it to him.
“Wear this. You’ll look even more handsome.”
Aryan took it.
“You know my taste really well, huh?”
“Of course,” she smiled.
As Aryan started putting on the shirt, Vani stood near the bed, watching him. Then she began picking up the clothes scattered around the room, neatly folding them and placing them back in the cupboard.
After that, she opened her bag, took out her makeup, and stood in front of the mirror—carefully covering the bite mark on her shoulder.
Aryan paused mid-way while buttoning his shirt.
“What happened?”
Vani looked at him through the mirror.
“Mahi saw it… she started asking questions.”
Aryan’s expression turned serious.
“And?”
“I couldn’t tell her the truth… about who did it. So I had to lie.”
He stepped closer, standing right behind her.
“What did you say?”
“I told her… it happened while bathing. And honestly… this is all because of you.”
Aryan smiled slightly.
“I only have one motu. If I don’t love her, then who will I love? And sometimes… things just happen in the moment. You don’t stop me either.”
Vani stepped closer to him.
“So now it’s my fault too?”
“Of course it is,” he replied.
“You’re getting a little too bold, aren’t you?”
“Then shut me up,” Aryan said softly, looking straight into her eyes.
Vani slapped his cheek lightly.
Aryan just smiled.
She lifted her hand and gently fixed his hair. At the same moment, Aryan wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
They stood like that for a few seconds.
“I want to hear it…” Aryan whispered.
“What?”
“That…”
Vani blushed softly.
“I love you… jaan.”
His smile deepened instantly. He took her hand and kissed it gently.
“I love you too… my baby.”
Vani kept looking at him.
Aryan pulled her closer… and kissed her cheek.
“My motu is looking very pretty today.”
Vani hugged him tightly.
Aryan smiled softly.
“My baby…”
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