Nisha
Bringing my knees to my chest, I wrap my arms around them and rest my chin on top, my gaze drifting across the room to where Sidharth and Sunita Aunty are seated. Aunty’s back is propped against the headboard, irritation written all over her face as Sidharth offers another spoonful of soup. He says something that makes her huff, scrunch her nose, and grumble under her breath before finally opening her mouth to take the bite.
A soft smile tugs at my lips. Sidharth, in his own quiet way, has carved a place not just in my heart, but in Sunita Aunty’s too. And somehow, it doesn’t even surprise me. He has this rare, maddening gift of making people love him, effortlessly and completely.
I keep watching them, and with every beat of my heart, I know that this woman who’s become my family, and this man who’s become my home, are the two people my heart will never let go of. Now, I can’t wait to tell Kavya about Sidharth.
I can already imagine her eyes going wide with that bright, teasing joy she always gets whenever she discovers a secret about me. She’ll squeal, throw her arms around me in one ofthose bone-crushing hugs, and then pretend to scold me for not telling her sooner about him.
And that’s exactly why I don’t want to do it over a phone call. I want that moment with her, the whole thing. I don’t want to miss even a second of her reaction.
My gaze returns to Sidharth, who’s now chuckling softly as Aunty pretends to gag at the soup. Maybe someday soon, I’ll get the chance to tell Kavya about him. Aboutus.
“Where are you lost?”
I blink, straightening at the sound of Sunita Aunty’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
“Nowhere, Aunty.” I smile at her, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
She pats the empty side of the bed beside her. “Then come sit here, na. Don’t make this old lady suffer alone with your boyfriend. I need you to take my side.”
I roll my eyes but can’t hide the grin tugging at my lips. “You’re not old, Aunty. And I’m not taking your side. You need to finish that soup.”
“What? Two against one? Not fair,” she sighs dramatically.
“You are such a drama queen,” I say, laughing.
“That I’m,” she agrees with a proud little nod.
Still smiling, I shake my head, get up, and pad over to her side before settling beside her on the bed.
“That’s my girl,” Aunty says, patting my cheek before turning to Sidharth. “So, when do you plan to marry my little girl?”
My breath catches, and I blink, my cheeks heating instantly. “Aunty, we are not discussing this.”
“Why not?” she counters.
I groan and risk a glance at Sidharth, expecting him to look flustered or amused, but he’s neither. Instead, he stares at me with that deep intensity that makes my heartbeat stumble.
Before I can even gather my thoughts to respond, he speaks.
“If it were up to me, I’d marry her right now, Aunty.”
My eyes widen in surprise. He wouldn’t actually mean that, would he? As if reading my thoughts, he holds my gaze and replies.
“I would.”
My heart thuds at his words so loudly that I swear Aunty can hear it. But I don’t react. I can’t bring myself to agree with him. It’s not that I don’t want it. I do… with every breath and every silent prayer. But the timing, the chaos around us… it just doesn’t feel like the right time.
“I…” I shake my head, forcing myself to break eye contact with him and look at Aunty instead. “Aunty, can we just keep this on hold for now?”
She raises a perfectly arched, knowing brow. “Hold?”
I nod. “Until I tell Kavya, there’s no marriage. She has to know first, before we go around fixing dates or planning anything.”
Aunty gives a long, tired sigh. “We can call and tell her. She’ll be happy for you.”
“Not now, Aunty,” I cut in gently but firmly. “You know how she is. The second she hears about me and Sidharth, she’ll drop everything and come running here. And with everything going on…” my voice falters, then steadies, “I don’t want her anywhere near this mess.”
