Chapter 21
From her place at the table, Sabrina let herself linger for a moment, watching Aditya with Ahaan.
He sat across from her son, leaning forward with genuine interest as Ahaan animatedly described his experience of studying and playing cricket in London.
The easy warmth between them made her chest tighten in a way she hadn’t expected.
Ajay had never been like this. They had lost him when Ahaan had been four.
Even then, he had been firm and decisive with Ahaan.
Ajay had always seen things in stark shades of black and white.
If Ahaan had admitted to him that he didn’t like math, she knew without a doubt that Ajay would have scolded him, pressed him to do better, perhaps even compared him to others.
There had never been room for softness or coaxing in Ajay’s world, much like with his mother.
But Aditya… he had handled it differently.
Gently. Patiently. He'd encouraged Ahaan, explained things in a way that had helped him understand.
It was such a simple thing, yet it spoke volumes.
Her heart swelled as she watched them, happiness quietly unfurling inside her at how easily they connected.
Ahaan had always been the most important part of her life.
But now, looking at Aditya, she realized that he was too.
Somehow, without her noticing, he had filled a space in her heart she hadn’t even known was empty.
She pressed a hand to her chest, overcome by the fullness she felt there.
She busied herself with fixing a tray for her mother-in-law, arranging the plate neatly with servings of chicken curry, rice, and a side of vegetables, while the sound of happy conversation carried across from the table.
Taking it with her, she knocked softly on her mother-in-law’s door before stepping inside. The older woman sat upright, the television playing at a rather low volume. It was obvious she had been straining to catch every word spoken outside.
“Here’s your dinner, Ma,” Sabrina said evenly, setting the tray down. “It’s your favorite. I hope you like it.”
Her mother-in-law turned her head away, refusing to meet her eyes, her silence stubborn and cutting. Sabrina didn’t push. She never could with her. So, she let her be for now.
Leaving the tray, she stepped back into the hallway. The sound of her son’s laughter reached her, light and unguarded. She entered the living room to find Ahaan leaning toward Aditya, grinning at something he’d said, his eyes sparkling in a way she hadn’t seen in a long time.
And in that moment, Sabrina knew she’d made the right decision.
She’d been thinking about Aditya all day, ever since he’d walked into her office unannounced that morning, ever since she’d crumbled in his arms. Even while cooking earlier, she’d felt him like a presence at her side, her thoughts constantly circling back to him.
Seeing him at her door had been a shock. But it had also been a revelation of how incomplete she felt without him. In that moment, her heart hadn’t cared about logic or fear—it had wanted him. Wanted them.
She knew he was a good man. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. And she had decided, perhaps recklessly, to be selfish again. To take the plunge and be with him, like he wanted, like she wanted.
That meant he would be a part of her life. Of Ahaan’s life.
Steering her son toward him would be easy.
She could already see it happening right before her eyes.
But Ajay’s mother? That would be another battle.
The older woman would never accept another man in Sabrina’s life, and certainly not one as powerful as Aditya.
She would see him as a threat, as someone who might take Sabrina, and hence Ahaan, away from her.
But even if her mother in-law never accepted him, Sabrina couldn’t deny the truth any longer. She liked Aditya immensely. She cared for him deeply. And maybe—just maybe—she could lose her heart to him. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she could allow herself to fall in love.
She jolted. She’d steered clear of the L word forever.
She’d never loved Ajay, nor had he loved her.
She’d married him out of desperation and the need to have a family, to feel safe again.
But Aditya?! He’d had her attention from the first time she’d met him at Aisha’s wedding.
She’d secretly crushed on him for years.
She’d never hoped for more from him, but now, she wanted more.
She wanted everything from him; she wanted to give him her all.
Perhaps, in time, it would come to that.
For now, she let herself smile as she watched her son laugh beside him. Reaching them, she served Ahaan the curry and rice and asked Aditya to help himself. With dinner served, they all sat to eat together.
The meal passed in easy conversation. Soon, Ahaan pushed back his chair with a yawn. He turned to Aditya and said, “Thank you for the skates, Uncle. I’m gonna go to bed now.”
“You’re welcome,” Aditya said warmly. “Goodnight.”
Sabrina touched her son’s shoulder. “Go brush your teeth. I’ll be there in a moment.”
When Ahaan and the dog left, she turned back to Aditya. “Why don’t you open the wine? I’ll tuck him in and be back in a moment.”
By the time she returned, their glasses were ready on the coffee table. She sank onto the sofa beside him, close enough for their shoulders to brush.
“Is he asleep?” Aditya asked.
“Out like a light.” Taking the glass he offered, she lifted it, sipped slowly, and closed her eyes with a sigh. “I missed this.”
He caressed her jaw. “Only this?”
Her cheeks warmed, and she opened her eyes, looking into his warm ones, before whispering, “I missed you. I missed being us. This, right now, feels different. But it also…”
“…feels right,” he finished for her. “It’s still us. You and me, with Ahaan—we can be that, and we can be Aditya and Sabrina too. We can take it as slow as you want, beautiful. I don’t want to rush things with him.”
She looked at him. “Your understanding, your caring—it floors me every single time.”
He grinned. She leaned forward and kissed his lips. He pulled her close for a brief second before he backed away, looking at her mother-in-law’s door. “Shit, we can’t do that here. It’s reckless.”
She chuckled. “That should be my line. The problem is, I’ve already been reckless with you.”
“Still, I’d rather she not hate me on my first evening here. I have to try and bring her to my side.”
Knowing Ajay’s mother, she’d never be on his side. However, Sabrina didn’t say anything. Some battles were for later. She linked her hand with his. “So, tell me about the ring. You found it?”
“I did,” he replied, sounding excited. “I haven’t told my mother yet.
I plan to gift it to her on her birthday.
It’s in a few weeks. She usually has it at The Sehgal Plaza.
I’ll confirm the exact date of the event soon.
She sometimes likes to bring it in. I’m not sure what she’s deciding this year.
Maybe you can come to the party. It will be a good way to formally introduce you to her as my girlfriend. ”
Sabrina choked on her sip of wine. “Not sure how well that will go. She already doesn’t like me.”
He flicked her nose. “She doesn’t know you well enough. Once she does, she will adore you. Honestly, I’d love to tell her right away. But she’s in New York right now, and I don’t want to tell her on the phone.”
Sabrina nodded, looking at their joined hands. “Are we really doing this?”
God, they had too many battles ahead of them—their friends, his mom, her mother-in-law, and Ahaan. Although seeing her son with Aditya tonight gave her some confidence that they might just get along fine.
“Yes, we are. We have a few weeks before you have to return to Singapore. I want to spend all that time with Ahaan and you. I want him to know me better.”
She nodded. “I’d like that,” she said before sudden panic assailed her. “What about our friends? I’ll have to tell Aisha and Diya.”
“And I’ll have to tell their men, and Keya and Raashi. All of them,” he winked at her. “You and I are going to create quite a scandal, beautiful.”
“Oh no!” She groaned.
“Oh, yes,” he said, tugging a strand of her hair. “We are going to be bloody good together. Let’s tell them on my mother’s birthday. They’ll all be attending. That gives me some time to have you to myself before our friends get in the way.”
She sighed. “Can we not hide some more?”
“I won’t hide you from the world,” he replied. “I want everyone to know you’re mine and I’m yours. But wait… Won’t your mother-in-law tell Aisha about me coming for dinner?”
“Since you’re the first male friend of mine to ever drop in home for dinner, she’s definitely going to suspect something more is going on between us.
But she doesn’t talk much to Aisha. Their relationship, as I’m sure you know, is still very strained.
And telling her about you means giving you importance in my life.
I seriously doubt she’d do that. I’ll have to talk to her eventually about us.
She’s difficult, but I do adore her. She’s the only mother figure I’ve had in life. ”
Aditya stared at her for a moment. “About that… Don’t you think you need to talk to me about your past? Your childhood? Your own family? I mean, I’m sure there is a reason you don’t talk about that part of your life. But I’d like to know everything about you.”
At her silence, he said, “Don’t you trust me?”
Her heartbeat escalated. God, her past. When she was with him, it was so easy to forget about her past and the crime she’d committed. Her hand shook. Fuck, how had she agreed to be with him so easily?
Aditya pulled her to his chest, holding her close.
“Stop. Stop thinking whatever it is that you are. I won’t let you back out of this.
You and I are meant to be. And if even thinking about your past makes you second-guess your decision to be with me, then I don’t want to know about it.
You’re perfect for me as you are now. And that’s enough. ”
She inhaled his scent, wrapping her arms around him.
Her past mistakes were why she hadn’t wanted something permanent with him, but when he was near like this, the past suddenly didn’t matter.
Only he did. He made her feel safe, like he would stand in front of her and fight her battles for her if she let him.
However, she needed to tell him about the past. It wasn’t fair to him to not know. He mattered more than any other person. Aditya kissed her forehead. Fear assailed her. What if everything changed once she told him? Would he understand why she’d done what she had?
Her heart thudded. This right now was perfect. She’d tell him about her past, but later. Not now. Soon, though.
Right now, she wanted to revel in him and the happiness he brought into her world.