52. THE EARRINGS
Everyone finally reached Manali.
The cold air, the pine scent, the distant sound of wind — everything felt new, calming.
At the hotel, they checked into their rooms.
After a little while, Vivan unpacked his bag while Aarvi stood at the dressing table, quietly doing her skincare.
He pulled out a small velvet box.
The same box he had kept safely while packing…
The same one he had debated about a hundred times.
He stared at it… then at her.
Should he give it?
Should he not?
His heart said yes.
His mind said no.
And for the first time in a long time—
his instinct won.
He took a slow breath and walked toward her.
“Aarvi,” he said softly.
She turned, wiping moisturiser on her palm… then froze as her eyes fell on the velvet box in his hand.
Her brows knitted in confusion.
Vivan understood exactly what she was thinking, so he spoke before she could ask.
“It’s nothing big,” he lied smoothly.
“I bought gifts for everyone when I attended a… friend’s engagement last week. I picked something for you too. Just a small thing.”
Aarvi blinked, processing his words.
She didn’t take the box.
Just looked at it… then at him.
He noticed her hesitation immediately.
So he placed the small velvet box gently on the dressing table.
“I hope you’ll like it,” he said quietly.
His voice softer than usual.
“But if you don’t… just don’t give it away to someone else. Keep it with you.”
And before she could react, he turned and left the room.
Aarvi watched the door close behind him…
then looked back at the velvet box sitting untouched on the table.
After a long moment, she picked it up.
Her hands trembled slightly as she opened the lid.
Her breath caught.
Inside lay a pair of diamond earrings—
slender, teardrop pendants with a fine chain, each ending in a shimmering diamond that caught the room’s dim light and scattered it like frost.
Elegant.
Delicate.
Expensive.
Her eyes widened, her mouth falling open in silent shock.
She gently ran her finger over the earrings, the cool metal warming under her touch.
No smile.
Just disbelief.
She had never received something this beautiful…
this costly…
this thoughtful.
She swallowed hard.
What if I lose them?
What if I’m not careful enough?
Why would he give me something like this?
She quickly closed the box, her heart beating faster than before, and tucked it deep inside her bag—
as if hiding it would help her manage the sudden weight of the moment.
She sat there for a long second, staring at her reflection.
Still shocked.
Still unsure.
And somewhere down the hallway…
Vivan exhaled too.
Because giving her that gift had felt far more intimate than he had prepared for.
Not after the way she looked at him.
Not after the way he had said keep it with you like it meant more than a gift.
“Idiot,” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.
Why was he nervous?
He exhaled sharply and pushed off the door.
He needed to breathe.
He needed space.
He needed to stop thinking like this.
He walked toward the lobby, ignoring the beautiful mountain view outside the window. His mind was somewhere else entirely.
As he reached the end of the hallway—
“Thinking looks painful on your face.”
Vivan stopped.
Yuvan stood there, leaning against the wall with two cans of beer in his hands.
One for himself.
One he casually offered to Vivan.
Vivan frowned. “What?”
Yuvan smirked. “You look like you’re about to fight someone.”
Vivan grabbed the can anyway. “I’m not.”
“Hmm.”
Yuvan popped his can open.
“Then why does your face say otherwise?”
Vivan didn’t respond.
Yuvan started walking.
“Come on. Let’s go downstairs. There’s a small bar attached to the lobby. Vedant and Prisha are busy taking selfies for their entire life goals, and the parents are unpacking. We have ten minutes before anyone notices.”
Vivan hesitated.
He didn’t want to talk.
But he also didn’t want to go back to that room immediately…
Not with the image of Aarvi opening that velvet box stuck in his mind.
So he followed.
They reached the tiny hotel bar—dim lights, wooden interior, soft music.
It was empty at this hour.
Yuvan sat on a high stool, stretched his legs, and said casually—
“So… rough day?”
Vivan didn’t answer.
Yuvan took a sip and continued, eyes focused on the countertop.
“You know… Aarvi was looking happy today.”
A small smile tugged his lips.
“Feels good to see her laugh again.”
Those words hit Vivan harder than he expected.
Because he wanted to be happy about that.
He was happy.
But he also didn’t like the fact that someone else could make her laugh so freely… so easily.
Vivan tapped his fingers on the cold can, not meeting Yuvan’s eyes.
“Yeah,” he said finally.
“Good.”
Yuvan watched him for a second—really watched him—and a spark of understanding flickered in his eyes.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Finally Yuvan broke the silence.
“So… what did you think?”
Vivan looked up with a frown.
“About what?”
Yuvan took a small sip and answered casually,
“About Kiara.”
Vivan exhaled a long, slow breath… the kind that carried months of exhaustion.
“Nothing,” he said quietly. “Nothing now. It’s not the time to think about people who are no one to us…but about the people who actually matter.”
Yuvan raised a brow.
“And who matters?”
Vivan didn’t hesitate this time.
“Aarvi.”
He said her name softly—but with a certainty Yuvan wasn’t expecting.
Yuvan gave a small smile.
“So you forgot Kiara?”
Vivan shook his head immediately.
“I can never forget,” he admitted. His voice stayed steady but low.
“Not her. Not her betrayal. Not how she used me.”
His gaze dropped to the table, fingers tapping lightly.
“But I forgot the love I had for her,” he continued. “I’m moving on or atleast trying. Not just from Kiara… but from everything happening in my life. From all the mess she left behind.”
Yuvan listened, quiet and attentive.
After a moment, he asked,
“Then no revenge?”
Vivan leaned back, eyes calmer than before.
“No. Because if I do that… there’ll be no difference between me and her. And I’m not like her.” His jaw tightened with pride, not anger.
“My company will be number one again—but not through betrayal.”
Yuvan smiled sadly. He could finally see it—the spark returning in his friend. The real Vivan Sighania coming back.
But he wasn’t done.
“Soo…” Yuvan drawled hesitantly. “You said you’re trying to move on.”
Vivan nodded.
“With Aarvi?” Yuvan asked finally.
Vivan froze.
For one second.
Then he gave a small, breathy laugh and shook his head.
“Moving on doesn’t mean I’ll find someone else,” he said gently. “It means I want to forget her. Kiara. I feel weak whenever I remember how easily she fooled me.”
Yuvan chuckled, shaking his head at Vivan’s innocence.
“And now,” Vivan said, picking up his glass with a wide, relieved smile, “I don’t want to talk about her.”
Their glasses clinked softly.
Yuvan smiled back—but inside, he knew the truth.
Vivan wasn’t just suffering because of Kiara.
He was suffering because of the chaos she created in his heart.
But tonight…
Tonight felt like the first step Vivan was finally taking on his own.
Yuvan leaned back, studying him for a moment before asking,
“Did you tell Aarvi about your breakup?”
Vivan shook his head lightly.
“No. But I will. Soon.”
He swirled the drink in his glass, voice soft but sure.
“After she gets out of this chaos… I’m going to tell her everything.”
Yuvan nodded, understanding the weight behind those words.
And because he didn’t want Vivan sinking back into that heaviness again, he cracked a stupid joke— "thank God I got the original Vivan Singhania back, not the puppet of Kiara.
Vivan let out a small laugh, almost, and the moment lightened instantly.
They kept talking—small things, random things—till neither of them remembered the last time they talked this freely.
Vivan walked down the quiet hotel corridor, the cool Manali breeze slipping in through a half-open window.
His mind felt clearer than it had in weeks.
When he unlocked the room and stepped inside, the lights were dim.
Aarvi was already asleep, curled on her side, her hair falling over her face, her breathing soft and steady.
His eyes moved to the dressing table.
The velvet box was gone.
He froze for a second.
And then… a small, uncontrollable smile tugged at his lips.
She checked it.
Something warm bloomed in his chest—unexpected, but welcome.
He didn’t know why the thought of her even touching that gift made him feel… happy.
But it did.
Quietly, he walked to the another side of bed, slipping under the blanket.
Before closing his eyes, he let himself look at her once more—peaceful, soft, untouched by the storms he carried.
For the first time in a long time…
He slept with a smile.
Vivan woke up early—as he always did.
For a moment, he simply lay there, watching the sight next to him.
Aarvi, curled up under the blanket, breathing softly…
snoring the faintest little snore that made him smile without even realizing it.
His first view in the morning.
He slipped out of the bed quietly, not wanting to wake her, and went through his morning routine in the bathroom.
When he stepped out, towel around his neck, she was already awake—sitting on the bed, blinking away sleep.
Their eyes met.
He smiled.
She returned it, soft and small.
“Get ready fast,” he said lightly, grabbing his watch.
“Today’s going to be fun.”
She nodded, picking up her clothes before disappearing into the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Vivan stepped out to join his family in the lounge.
Aarvi stepped out of the bathroom a few minutes later, wrapped in the quiet morning chill of Manali.
She wore a cozy yet pretty outfit—
a cream-white, ribbed turtleneck sweater that hugged her softly,
paired with a rust-brown corduroy skirt that fell just above her knees,
warm black stockings,
and a long beige overcoat draped effortlessly over her shoulders.
Her hair was left open, loose waves softening her face, and a faint blush warmed her cheeks from the cold of the water.
She looked like a quiet winter morning—soft, warm, understatedly beautiful.
She searched around the table for her lip gloss—her last step before stepping out.
Not there.
She checked her pouch.
Still not there.
Finally, she dug her hand into her bag—
And her fingers brushed against velvet.
The box.
The one he had given her last night.
She froze for a second, then slowly pulled it out.
Opening it felt different in daylight.
The diamonds seemed brighter, the design even more delicate.
She lifted one earring gently, holding it up near her earlobe as she looked into the mirror.
It matched.
Perfectly.
A tiny smile tugged at her lips—one she didn’t try to hide this time.
Should she wear them?
Would it look… like something?
Her heart whispered yes before her thoughts could interrupt.
So she slipped the earrings on, one by one.
They settled against her skin like they belonged there.
___
Aarvi stepped out of the room and walked toward the lounge, her boots clicking softly on the wooden floor.
Everyone was gathered there—laughing, discussing plans, sipping their morning chai.
Vivan was sitting on the small couch near the window, arms crossed, pretending to listen to Vedant’s dramatic weather complaints.
But the moment she entered—
His eyes lifted.
Just once.
And that was enough.
His gaze traveled from her winter outfit…
to the soft waves of her hair…
and then—
He saw them.
The earrings.
His earrings.
The ones he had given her last night, half convinced she would never even open the box.
For a second, his expression didn’t change.
But his ears did.
They turned red.
Bright red.
Instantly, obviously, embarrassingly.
He lowered his gaze so fast it looked comical—
because if he kept staring even a second longer, he would definitely turn into a full tomato.
But happiness?
That he couldn’t hide.
Not even if he tried.
Because she wore them.
She actually wore them.
Just then—
“Bhai!” Prisha’s voice cut through the room. “Why are your ears so red?”
Aarvi’s head snapped up.
Everyone looked at him.
Vivan closed his eyes for a brief, suffering moment.
Of course.
Of course Prisha would notice.
And ask loudly.
“Ah—it’s… it’s too cold here,” he muttered, clearing his throat, trying to sound casual.
Prisha nodded dramatically as if she had solved a mystery.
“Hmm. Cold.”
He risked another glance toward Aarvi—
But Vedant was standing in front of her now, talking nonstop, blocking her completely.
Vivan tilted his head slightly to peek.
Vedant moved exactly in the opposite direction.
He leaned a little more.
Vedant leaned too.
It felt personal.
Vivan’s jaw tightened.
He cursed under his breath, imagining thirteen different ways to strangle his irritating younger brother.
Finally, Vedant left to grab a muffin.
And Vivan instantly—almost desperately—looked up like he had been waiting for hours just to see her face again.
But this time…
her hair had fallen in front, covering her ears.
Covering the earrings.
Covering the one thing that had turned him into an overheated radiator.
Still, his cheeks grew even redder.
He knew everyone had noticed by now.
Someone was definitely smiling behind him.
Someone was definitely whispering.
So he stood up abruptly.
“Uh—phone call,” he said to no one in particular and walked out, escaping the room with more dignity in his mind than in reality.
Outside, he exhaled sharply, touched his ears, and groaned.
He really needed to control this…
whatever this was.
But he didn’t want to.
Not today.
___
When Vivan returned again to the lounge, everyone was already outside, bundled in their jackets, excitement buzzing in the chilly Manali air. The horses stood lined up, stamping their hooves softly on the snow-dusted ground while the men discussed the route with the horse owners.
As soon as the deal was done, the men walked back toward the girls.
“Girls first,” Vinod said cheerfully.
Aarvi tucked her hair behind her ear and stepped forward.
And in the very same moment—
Yuvan moved toward her.
Immediately.
Naturally.
Almost as if it was obvious he would be the one to help her.
Vivan saw it from a distance.
He didn’t react.
Didn’t frown.
Didn’t speak.
He simply stopped walking.
Just… paused.
His fingers curled once at his sides.
Just once.
Then the next second—
“Yuvan!”
Yuvan halted mid-step and turned around.
“Huh? What?”
“Maa is calling you,” Vivan said, straight-faced.
A harmless lie.
Delivered too calmly.
Yuvan blinked, glanced around, then nodded and walked toward Pragya.
The moment Yuvan turned away—
Vivan closed the distance between him and Aarvi in steady, unhurried steps.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
But with intent.
He stopped beside her, his voice softer than the wind brushing past their coats.
“Have you ever ridden a horse before?”
She shook her head quickly, a little nervous.
He nodded once—quiet, thoughtful—like he was taking mental notes to make sure she didn’t get hurt.
“Alright,” he said gently. “I’ll help you up.”
She stepped closer to the horse.
Placed one foot on the stirrup.
One hand on the saddle.
And the other—
On his hand.
She didn’t even look at him before gripping him tightly, fingers curling around his hand as if it was the only safe thing she knew at that moment.
Vivan’s breath hitched—just slightly.
Her hand was small.
Cold.
Trembling a little.
Without a word, his other hand moved to her arm, holding her firmly above the elbow, guiding her with quiet strength.
“Slow… I’ve got you,” he murmured.
Aarvi nodded, not trusting her balance, and leaned more weight into him as she lifted herself.
Her fingers tightened around his.
His grip instinctively tightened back.
His hand was warm, shielding, steady and when she wobbled for half a second, she felt his hold on her arm grow firmer, grounding her completely.
“You’re okay,” he said softly, eyes not leaving her even for a heartbeat.
And she believed him.
Their breaths mingled in the cold air.
Her hair brushed against his arm.
He stood close—closer than he needed to.
Close enough for her to feel his warmth in the mountain chill.
When she finally settled onto the horse, she exhaled a shaky little breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.
Vivan stepped back, but only by an inch.
Just enough to give her space—
not enough to break the moment.
Her eyes met his for a single second.
It wasn’t a long stare.
Not dramatic.
Not intense.
Just a soft acknowledgement.
A small, unspoken thank you.
His lips lifted—not a smile, not fully—
Something gentler.
Something involuntary.
Something he didn’t realize he was doing.
And in that tiny heartbeat,
without either of them saying anything…
Something shifted again.
~?~