•| TWENTY FOUR |•
After some time, the sound of firm footsteps echoed through the staircase, followed by the faint rustle of a formal suit.
Krish appeared in the living hall, already dressed for work—crisp white shirt, charcoal trousers, tie slightly loose around his neck, hair still damp from the shower.
He looked every bit the intimidating businessman he was known to be…
composed, rushed, and emotionally unreadable.
Without wasting a second, he walked straight toward the fruit bowl placed on the dining table and grabbed an apple, taking a large bite out of it casually.
“Good morning, Mom,” he said between bites before leaning sideways to hug her from the side.
Mrs. Mehra smiled warmly, patting his cheek lovingly. “Good morning, Krish… you look in a hurry today.”
He chewed quickly before nodding. “Oh yes, Mom. I have an important meeting today and I don’t want to be late.” His words came out slightly muffled as he kept shoving pieces of apple into his mouth like a man racing against time.
Before she could respond, a small voice interrupted.
“Dad… Kiaan wants to go to school in your car today,” Kiaan said, puffing his cheeks and folding his tiny arms, trying his best to look angry.
But instead of being intimidated, Krish burst into a soft laugh, crouching slightly to match his height.
“Is that so? My son is angry with me?” he teased, poking Kiaan’s cheek gently.
Kiaan tried to maintain his pout but failed miserably, his lips twitching.
“Fine,” Krish surrendered dramatically. “I’ll drop you today.”
Just then, you walked out of the kitchen carefully, holding a silver plate in your hands. The sweet aroma of freshly made dessert filled the air before your presence even did.
Your steps were slow—hesitant but hopeful.
“It’s… my first day here,” you said softly, your voice carrying both nervousness and excitement. “So I wanted to make something for everyone… I made this sweet. Try it, Mom.”
Mrs. Mehra’s eyes lit up instantly, her face glowing with affection.
“Oh, you made this yourself?” she asked, genuinely touched.
You nodded shyly, lowering your gaze slightly as you began serving her.
While you were busy placing the sweet on her plate, completely focused on not dropping anything… you didn’t notice the pair of eyes fixed on you.
Krish.
He had stopped mid-bite.
His gaze lingered on you longer than he intended—watching the way you carefully served his mother, the way your bangles clinked softly, the way your veil slipped slightly from your shoulder as you leaned forward.
For a brief moment… he forgot he was in a hurry.
But the moment you turned toward him, his expression hardened instantly, as if he had been caught doing something illegal.
“ I-I should serve you too…” you said awkwardly, lifting the plate slightly toward him.
He immediately looked away.
“No need. I’m getting late,” he replied curtly, avoiding your eyes altogether.
Before the silence could grow heavier, he picked up Kiaan in his arms effortlessly.
“Kiaan, come. I’ll get you ready for school,” he said, already walking away toward the staircase without sparing you another glance.
You stood there for a second… plate still in your hands… unsure what to feel.
Mrs. Mehra noticed the flicker in your expression immediately.
She gently gestured for you to sit beside her.
“Come here, dear.”
You obeyed quietly, sitting near her like a scolded child.
She placed her hand over yours reassuringly.
“Don’t mind his words,” she said softly. “He’s just like a coconut.”
You blinked in confusion. “H-huh?”
She chuckled lightly at your expression.
“I mean… he’s hard from outside and soft from inside,” she explained, tapping your hand lovingly. “He doesn’t show it… but he feels deeply.”
Your lips curved into a small, understanding smile—though your heart still felt uncertain.
“Now come on,” she said warmly, pushing the plate toward you. “Eat your breakfast. You made it with so much love… you should taste it too.”
You nodded gently.
Sitting beside your mother-in-law, eating the sweet you made in your new home… you realized—
This house still felt unfamiliar.
But maybe… slowly… it wouldn’t stay that way.
After some time, the sound of tiny hurried footsteps echoed down the stairs before Krish appeared in the living room again—this time with Kiaan beside him, already dressed in his neat little school uniform, backpack hanging from his shoulders and water bottle bouncing against his side.
“Mom, we’re leaving,” Krish announced while checking his watch, clearly running late.
“Wait—”
Your voice came from behind, slightly breathless as you hurried toward them, clutching the edge of your dupatta so you wouldn’t trip.
Both of them turned.
Krish’s brows furrowed faintly, confused at your sudden rush.
“I-I have my university too… c-can you please drop me?” you asked hesitantly, your fingers nervously twisting the fabric of your dupatta.
He was just about to refuse—the word no practically sitting on the tip of his tongue—when Mrs. Mehra intervened smoothly, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Of course he will,” she said sweetly but firmly. Then she turned to her son with a knowing smile. “Right, Krish?”
Krish closed his eyes briefly and sighed in defeat.
“Yeah… fine,” he muttered.
Without waiting for further conversation, he turned and walked out toward the car, his long strides carrying both impatience and resignation.
You blinked once… then twice… before quickly turning to Mrs. Mehra.
“Bye, Mom,” you said softly.
“Bye, dear. Take care,” she replied warmly, waving at you and Kiaan as you both hurried outside.
---
Inside the car, you slid into the backseat beside Kiaan while Krish took the driver’s seat.
The moment the car started moving, the silence felt… heavy.
But not for long.
Because Kiaan was there.
“Mummy, look at my new pencil box!” he said excitedly, opening his bag and showing you like it was treasure.
Your face lit up instantly.
“Wowww, this is so cute!” you exaggerated, gasping dramatically. “And look at these stickers… my Kiaan is so stylish!”
He giggled proudly, puffing his chest.
“And mummy, teacher said I draw best sun in class!”
“Really? Then you have to draw one for me too,” you said, poking his nose playfully.
Krish, meanwhile, gripped the steering wheel tighter.
Your nonstop chatter with Kiaan filled the car—laughter, teasing, tiny stories, dramatic reactions.
It was… loud.
Very loud.
“Mummy, dad snores at night,” Kiaan whispered loudly, trying to “secretly” complain.
You gasped theatrically. “Really? That loud?”
Kiaan nodded vigorously.
Krish inhaled slowly.
“I can hear both of you,” he said flatly from the front seat.
You and Kiaan looked at each other… then burst into muffled laughter.
Krish shook his head, trying to stay annoyed—but the corner of his lips almost betrayed him.
Almost.
---
Not long after, the car slowed down and stopped in front of Kiaan’s school.
Children were running around, parents dropping them off, the morning buzz alive in the air.
Krish stepped out first, opening Kiaan’s door.
“Come on, champ.”
Kiaan climbed down but immediately turned back toward you.
“Mummy, bye!” he said, opening his arms.
Your heart melted instantly.
You stepped out of the car too and bent down, hugging him tightly before kissing his cheek.
“Bye, my baby. Study well, okay?”
He nodded seriously… then ran toward the school gate before turning back to wave again.
You waved back until he disappeared inside.
For a brief moment… both you and Krish stood there silently.
Then he cleared his throat.
“Get in. You’ll get late for your uni,” he said, already walking back to the driver’s seat.
You followed quietly this time.
The backseat felt different now—quieter without Kiaan.
And somehow… you could feel the tension again.
The car started moving toward your university…
Neither of you speaking yet—
But both very aware of the other’s presence.
Soon the car slowed down in front of your university gates, the large campus already bustling with students walking in groups, laughing, gossiping, and rushing toward their classes. The guard opened the gate wider as Krish’s car rolled to a smooth stop near the entrance.
You adjusted your dupatta nervously before opening the door and stepping out of the car.
For a brief second, you just stood there—hesitating.
You turned around, leaning slightly toward the window, expecting at least a small acknowledgment… maybe a nod… or a simple “bye.”
But before you could even speak—
The window slid up.
And in the very next second, the car sped away… leaving behind a trail of dust and your utterly offended expression.
Your mouth fell open.
“Huh— Mr. Arrogant!” you muttered loudly, stomping your foot on the ground like an annoyed child. “Does saying bye cost money or what?”
You huffed, crossing your arms before walking inside the university campus, still grumbling under your breath.
“Old uncle thinks he’s some CEO of Attitude Industries… tch.”
And with that, you walked deeper inside the campus.
---
Meanwhile…
Krish drove away from the university, his face still carrying that usual stoic expression.
But as he stopped at a signal, his eyes unconsciously flicked toward the rear-view mirror.
And there you were.
Still visible from a distance… walking inside the campus gates, your dupatta swaying with your steps.
He slowed the car slightly without realizing it.
His gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary.
Then—
A faint smile crept onto his lips.
Soft. Unnoticed. Almost foreign to his own face.
“Bye…” he whispered quietly to himself, as if answering the goodbye you never got to say.
The reminder of your chatter with Kiaan… your annoyed face… your hesitant request for a drop… all replayed briefly in his mind.
He shook his head lightly, trying to dismiss the unfamiliar warmth creeping into his chest.
“Focus, Krish.”
Pressing the accelerator, he drove toward his office.
---
Not so soon, his car entered the company premises.
He parked smoothly in his designated spot before stepping out, adjusting his watch and coat—his entire demeanor shifting back into the cold, composed businessman everyone knew.
Employees greeted him respectfully as he walked through the lobby.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Morning.”
His voice was curt. Professional.
No trace of the soft smile from earlier remained.
He stepped into the elevator, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed ahead.
But just as the elevator doors began to close—
For a fleeting second…
Your annoyed face flashed in his mind again.
He exhaled quietly through his nose.
“…Dumb kid,” he murmured under his breath—though this time, there was no irritation in it.
Only the faintest hint of affection he himself hadn’t accepted yet.
And with that, the elevator doors shut, carrying him up toward his cabin… while your presence lingered stubbornly in his thoughts.