Chapter 20 #2
“You said he’s Aisha and Rithwik’s friend.” The older woman’s sharp eyes were fixed on him as she addressed Sabrina. “Are we expecting them to come tonight too? Is there a party happening in the house that I didn’t know of?”
Sabrina winced almost imperceptibly at her tone.
Aditya’s chest tightened as he waited, his every muscle on edge.
He knew her next words would decide everything—whether he remained an outsider or finally took his place in her life.
Coming here unannounced had been a risk.
He’d very blatantly forced this situation on Sabrina.
Hence, whatever she said now would show him where she truly stood with respect to him.
“He’s here because he’s my friend too,” Sabrina said calmly. “And no, Aisha and Rithwik are not joining us tonight. Aditya will, however, be staying for dinner.”
Relief flooded him. Delight too. She’d made her intentions clear, not just to her mother-in-law, but to him too. She wanted this. She was accepting him.
He turned his gaze back to the older woman, catching the flicker of surprise that crossed her face before it hardened into disbelief.
“In that case,” she said tightly, “you can have dinner with your friend. Ahaan and I will have our dinner in my room.”
Sabrina’s eyes softened, but her tone was resolute as she replied, “I’ll be happy to serve you dinner in your room, but Ahaan will be eating with Aditya and me.”
The other woman’s lips pressed into a thin line. A flush of anger crept over her face before she returned in the direction she had come from. A door closed behind her with a loud snap.
Sabrina exhaled a heavy breath. Aditya caught her hand in his. “Thank you for choosing me.”
She caressed his jaw. “You make it impossible not to. This last week has been so hard without you.”
“I’m glad you’re finally accepting it.”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you came to my office. I wondered what you would do next. What would I do when it boiled down to it? And then suddenly, here you were. I saw you and, in that moment, I knew I wanted this. I wanted you. So, here we are.”
He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Here we are.”
She had chosen him, openly, in her own home. And that meant a lot. Now, he knew with utter certainty that they could have a future together.
Aditya looked in the direction her mother-in-law had gone. “Rithwik always said she was difficult to please. Now I understand his frustration.”
Sabrina shot him a look that was half reproach, half amusement. “She’s old, and quite set in her ways.”
“And you’re always too kind to her.”
At the surprise on her face, he said, “Not my words. Aisha’s.”
“Rithwik and Aisha talk too much,” Sabrina muttered.
“They confide in me,” Aditya explained with a smile.
“Please take a seat at the dining table,” Sabrina said. “We can have the wine later, once Ahaan’s asleep. For now, it’s his dinner time.”
Aditya nodded and lowered himself into a chair, his gaze checking out the kitchen.
It was open to the living space, separated only by a narrow counter.
Through the wide windows, the evening breeze flowed in, carrying the faint sounds of traffic.
Pots simmered on the stove, steam curling upward, filling the air with warmth and spice.
“Ahaan!” she called.
The boy came rolling in on his new roller blades, beaming, his dog following him. “Mom, I can’t wait to wear these to my skating class.”
Sabrina’s lips curved into a smile as he twirled around her. “Take them off for now, and wash your hands. Dinner’s ready.”
“Okay!” Ahaan said cheerfully, clattering toward his room, once again the puppy tailing behind him.
“Maya follows him everywhere,” Aditya said.
“Yes, they are inseparable.”
Soon, Ahaan slid into the chair opposite him, while Maya sat at the boy’s feet.
For a moment, there was an awkward silence as the boy gazed up at him. Then Aditya leaned forward with a smile. “Your mom and I became very good friends when we were in Singapore together. I hope you don’t mind me joining you for dinner. Your mom is a great cook.”
“She is.” Ahaan looked at his mother, then at him. “Do you visit Singapore often?”
“I do. I work there several weeks a year.”
“I’d like to visit one day,” Ahaan said. “I just went to Dubai and London with Aish and Uncle Rithwik’s family, and I had so much fun. I loved it. I want to travel the whole world one day.”
Sabrina neared them. She ruffled her son’s hair. “One day you will, darling.”
Ahaan looked up at her, his expression full of warmth and trust. The quiet exchange between them made something stir in Aditya’s chest. The urge to get this little boy to like him and accept him beat harder inside him.
“So, Ahaan, what’s your favorite sport?”
“Cricket!” the boy answered without hesitation, his eyes lighting up.
“Mine too,” Aditya chuckled. “Dhoni, Kohli, or Bumrah? Who’s your favorite?”
“Kohli all the way!” Ahaan sang. “Who’s yours?”
“Dhoni.”
“I like him too. But I like Kohli more. I wish they would make a film on Kohli like they made for Dhoni. I’d love to watch it.”
Aditya laughed. “Perhaps someday they will.”
“Ahaan’s a good player,” Sabrina said proudly as she placed a bowl of rice on the table. Ahaan leapt off his chair to go help his mother. Aditya trailed behind him, lifting the pot of curry.
Sabrina gave him a warm smile as he carried it outside and set it on the table. This was exactly like their times in Singapore when she used to cook for him. He’d help her set the table, clear it later and then load the dishes into the dishwasher.
“I’m a part of a cricket club,” Ahaan began as he set the plates and cutlery on the place mats. “We have classes thrice a week, and I’m in the junior team. We have tournaments every few months where we play against other clubs.”
“That sounds like fun,” Aditya said.
“It is,” Ahaan placed the water jug on the table. “Mom comes for all my matches. Aish and Uncle Rithwik come too, when they can.”
“Maybe next time I can come too, if your mom and you don’t mind.”
Sabrina smiled at him. “You’re welcome to join us next time. It’s in a few months, though.”
Ahaan alternated his gaze between his mom and him, and Aditya could see the tiny wheels in his brain turning.
It was too early for such a little boy to join the dots, but it seemed Sabrina’s son was way too intelligent and mature for his age.
“What about school?” Aditya asked, distracting him. “What’s your favorite subject?”
“Science,” Ahaan said quickly. “I like doing experiments. But I don’t like math.” He made a face.
“He’s so good at all his subjects…” Sabrina took a seat at the table,
“but when it comes to math, he just gives up. I hate that he doesn’t even want to try.”
“Mom!” Ahaan groaned, his cheeks turning pink. He shot Aditya an embarrassed glance.
Aditya chuckled, leaning in slightly. “Hey, don’t worry, I used to hate math too. But let me tell you a secret. It’s one of the most important things you’ll ever learn. Especially if you want to do big things one day, like start your own business.”
Ahaan’s frown softened, his curiosity piquing. “Really? My own business. Like Mom’s?”
“Yes, like your mom’s,” Aditya said with a smile.
“I can have my own business someday?” He looked so innocent asking that, his eyes wide and full of dreams. Aditya felt another unexpected tug in his chest.
“You can do whatever you set your mind to,” Aditya replied. “But math is your foundation. It helps you understand money, strategy, and even the way the world works. Think of it as… the rules of the game. You can’t win without knowing them.”
Ahaan watched him for a moment before a huge smile lit his face. “Thank you. I guess I’ll try harder at math then.”
From across the table, Sabrina mouthed a thank you to him.
When he looked back at Ahaan, he found the little boy’s eyes on him, not just looking at him, but looking up to him.
The boy’s openness, his innocence, his quiet willingness to listen were stirring something deep in him.
It made Aditya want to be worthy of that gaze, to earn that trust. To become someone who truly mattered in this boy’s life. Perhaps, someday, he would.