39. REALISATION
Vivan unlocked the car with a soft click, walking ahead as Aarvi quietly followed.
He opened the driver’s side door and slipped in, his movements smooth and practiced.
Aarvi hesitated for a second before opening the passenger door.
The faint leather scent of the car surrounded her the moment she sat down.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the soft hum of the engine and the rhythm of the air conditioner.
Vivan’s eyes stayed fixed on the road, his face calm but unreadable — that usual composure that made him hard to figure out.
Aarvi, on the other hand, sat with her hands folded on her lap, sneaking glances out the window, stealing tiny breaths to ease the tension.
But after a few minutes, her gaze shifted — drawn to him almost unconsciously.
His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong forearms. The silver of his watch glimmered faintly under the sunlight slipping through the windshield.
His fingers, long and firm, rested on the steering wheel — steady, sure, elegant in their own way.
There was something captivating about how effortlessly composed he looked, the faint shadow of his stubble catching the light.
Aarvi didn’t even realize she’d been staring — until the car jolted slightly over a speed breaker.
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. Her eyes widened, heart skipping. Had she really been checking him out?
A wave of warmth flushed across her cheeks. She immediately turned toward the window, pretending to look outside, trying to calm the rush of warmth in her cheeks — when her eyes suddenly lit up.
“Momos!” she blurted out, almost bouncing in her seat. “Stop, stop!”
She elbowed Vivan lightly, her voice full of excitement. Startled by her sudden burst of energy, Vivan instantly pressed the brake.
“What happened?” he asked, brows furrowed in confusion.
“Momos khaoge?” she asked, eyes gleaming.
For a second, Vivan just looked at her — this woman who could go from quiet to thrilled in a heartbeat. Then, without a word, he nodded, trying to hide the small smile that tugged at his lips.
He parked the car on the side, and they both stepped out. Aarvi’s face glowed with anticipation while Vivan’s expression stayed calm, though he couldn’t help glancing around curiously. The stall was small, smoky, crowded — the kind of place he would never be seen at normally.
“Let me place the order,” Aarvi offered quickly.
“It’s okay, I’ll go—” Vivan began, but she cut him off with a pout.
“No! Last time you ordered, it costs lakhs!”
That made him laugh softly — a rare sound. Aarvi’s eyes widened, a smile playing on her lips.
“See? You’re laughing!” she accused playfully.
“I’m not! I swear,” he said immediately, almost defensively, which made her giggle.
And turned to go to stall when she heard a hushed voice behind her.
“Hey, look at that man…” one girl whispered to another.
“Who?”
“The one in the black polo — god, he’s so handsome,” the second girl said, eyes fixed on Vivan.
Aarvi’s steps slowed. Her gaze automatically followed theirs — and there he was, Vivan, standing near the car, scrolling through his phone like he had no idea he’d just become someone’s topic of admiration.
Something strange twisted in her stomach. Not anger, not exactly jealousy… just an unfamiliar tightness.
Before she could even think twice, Aarvi walked toward the two girls and tapped one on the shoulder.
The girl turned, clearly annoyed. “What?” she snapped.
Aarvi smiled — calm, polite, but with a glint in her eyes.
“That man,” she said, pointing toward Vivan.
Both girls turned their heads in the same direction.
“Yes, him,” Aarvi said, her voice sweet but firm. “He’s my husband.”
The two girls froze for a second, realization dawning on their faces.
“Ah—we were just complimenting him—” one tried to explain.
“No need,” Aarvi interrupted smoothly, her smile widening just a little. “I can compliment him on your behalf. Thank you.”
And before they could say anything else, she turned away — walking back toward Vivan, head held high, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips.
Vivan’s eyes stayed glued to his phone, his thumb scrolling lazily, when Aarvi walked up — her steps quick and filled with some strange determination. She stopped right in front of him, crossing her arms tightly against her chest.
Sensing her presence, he looked up, confused.
“Did you place the order?” he asked.
“Why are you standing outside? Can’t you just sit in the car?” Aarvi shot back instead, completely ignoring his question.
“Kya?” Vivan frowned, taken aback. “What are you—”
“No questions!” she cut him off, pointing toward the car. “Just sit in the car. I’m placing our order. And you will not get out… samjhe?”
Vivan blinked, clearly lost. “But—”
Before he could even finish, she was already pushing him gently toward the car, muttering under her breath like a bossy little storm. “Inside. Go.”
Completely confused, Vivan just sighed and obeyed — slipping into the passenger seat like a man surrendering to fate. He could only shake his head, a tiny smile tugging at his lips at her unexpected authority.
Meanwhile, Aarvi marched back to the stall, placed the order proudly, and soon came back holding two steaming plates of momos. She handed one to Vivan, who looked both amused and impressed.
They started eating quietly.
Vivan stole a glance at Aarvi — she was blowing on the hot momos, cheeks puffed slightly, eyes focused like this was the most serious task in the world. A small smile crept onto his face. There was something oddly… peaceful about her.
On the other side, Aarvi felt his gaze but didn’t look up. Her heart did a tiny somersault.
She glanced at him once — sleeves rolled up, hair perfectly falling on his forehead, eyes calm. He didn’t even question her silly behavior. He just… listened. Always did.
For a second, a thought slipped in — Kiara is lucky to have him.
And then it hit her.
She froze mid-bite, realizing what she’d just thought. Her heart skipped, and she quickly looked down, pretending to focus on the plate again. Again eating in silence.
After finishing Aarvi stepped out of the car to throw away the plates when a familiar voice called out,
“Aarvi?”
She turned around instantly. “T–Tanvi?”
Tanvi’s eyes widened the moment she recognized her. “You… in this car?” she asked, taking cautious steps closer to the sleek Mercedes. Her tone carried half curiosity, half disbelief.
“Y–yeah…” Aarvi replied hesitantly, her voice unsure.
But Tanvi didn’t stop there. She slowly began walking around the car, inspecting it from every angle like she was checking if it was real. “You own this? Or you… came in it?” she asked, her brows knitting together.
Aarvi opened her mouth to answer, but before she could — Tanvi leaned slightly and peeked through the open window.
Her eyes widened. Her mouth fell open.
Vivan Singhania. Sitting inside. Looking right back at her.
The moment their eyes met, Tanvi’s expression turned pale. Her lips parted as if her soul had just escaped her body. “M-Mr. Singhania?”
Aarvi’s heart skipped a beat. Oh no.
Vivan looked up, brows furrowed. “Aarvi… who—?”
“She works in Singhania Enterprises,” Aarvi blurted out nervously, almost too fast.
“What?” Vivan’s voice came out sharper than intended. “She does?”
Tanvi composed herself and gathered her courage before speaking. “I’m so sorry, sir, but—uh—a personal question… did you and Kiara ma’am—like—break up or something?”
The moment the name Kiara dropped, Aarvi felt a sharp pang in her chest. Vivan froze, clearly not expecting that.
He turned slightly toward Aarvi, his eyes silently asking for help.
“Tanvi,” Aarvi said quickly, her tone firm but polite, “just get inside, please.”
Tanvi’s eyes widened as if Aarvi had just asked her to sit on a throne. “Inside? You mean… in his car?” she whispered in disbelief.
Aarvi sighed, already guessing her thoughts. “Yes, just sit. I’ll handle everything.”
Tanvi hesitated but, after a second, carefully slid into the backseat—still in shock.
Vivan exhaled deeply, leaning back in his seat once Tanvi couldn’t hear. “You told me not to say anything,” Aarvi whispered, “so what do we do now?”
Vivan glanced outside, his jaw tightening slightly. “Now it doesn’t matter,” he said under his breath. “She’s already seen too much.”
Aarvi understood and then explained her everything.
Tanvi just sat there, completely stunned, staring at Aarvi as if her brain had stopped working. Her mouth hung open, eyes wide, trying to form words but failing miserably. “Y-you mean… you and sir… married?” she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
When Aarvi gave a small, hesitant nod, Tanvi blinked several times, still processing. “Oh my god,” she breathed out, leaning back against the seat. “And k..kiara mam also knows everything !” She looked genuinely betrayed by reality itself, her expression a mix of shock, disbelief, and awe.
Just then, a notification popped on dashboard. He glanced at the screen, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“I’m coming in a few minutes,” he said before stepping out of the car.
As the door shut, silence wrapped the car again. Tanvi turned toward Aarvi, her curiosity finally spilling over.
“Can I ask you something?” she began hesitantly.
Aarvi nodded.
“You and sir…” Tanvi paused, choosing her words carefully. “You don’t love each other, right? I mean… he’s still with Kiara. And yet, you’re here. With him.”
Aarvi’s gaze dropped to her hands resting on her lap. “Yes,” she said quietly. “We don’t love each other.”
Tanvi frowned. “Then why did you come? Why do you still stay with him like this — as if you care?”
Aarvi didn’t answer right away. Her eyes drifted toward the windshield, where she could see Vivan standing near the food stall.
“It’s strange,” she said finally, her tone softer. “Sometimes I tell myself I don’t care. That I’m just doing what’s right… what’s expected. But when I see him, when he listens to me — even for small things — I feel…” She trailed off, struggling to find the word.
Tanvi leaned forward slightly, her expression gentle now. “Safe?”
Aarvi blinked, caught off guard. “Maybe. Or maybe I just… forget how much he can hurt me.”
Tanvi tilted her head. “That’s not hate, Aarvi. That’s something else.”
Aarvi turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”
Tanvi gave a small smile, the knowing kind. “ I think You like him.”
Aarvi stared at her, almost laughing. “What? No. That’s— that’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” Tanvi said softly. “You look at him the way people look at someone they’re trying not to fall for.”
Aarvi’s breath hitched. The words hit deeper than she wanted to admit. Her gaze unconsciously drifted back to Vivan — the way he brushed his hair back, the faint crease near his brow when he was focused. For the first time, she realized how her heartbeat always seemed to find his rhythm.
Tanvi chuckled quietly. “You don’t have to say it. Just… think about it. Sometimes our hearts start before our minds even notice.”
Aarvi went silent thinking about what she said.
Meanwhile, Vivan checked his phone. Finally — the message he’d been waiting for all day had arrived.
A small, relieved smile curved on his lips as he unlocked the screen and tapped on the number—named—kiki.
“Happy Birthday, love.”
A genuine smile flickered — soft, almost nostalgic. His eyes moved to the next line.
“Sorry I’m late because of work. But when I’m free, I’ll text you. We’ll meet at our place, okay?”
His smile lingered for a moment, then slowly began to fade.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy — it was just that the message didn’t feel the way it used to.
The words were the same, yet they didn’t hold the warmth he had been waiting for.
The excitement he expected never arrived; instead, there was only… silence inside him.
He exhaled quietly and typed a simple reply —
“Ok.”
Then he locked the screen, slipped the phone into his pocket, and stepped out.
When he settled back into the driver’s seat, Aarvi and Tanvi were already sitting in silence. Aarvi’s eyes quickly darted away from his, her expression unreadable — but something in her had changed.
He started the engine, about to drive when Tanvi suddenly spoke,
“Sir, my house is nearby. I’ll go from here.”
Vivan turned slightly, “It’s alright, I can drop you.”
But Tanvi shook her head with a polite smile, “No, really, sir. It’s fine.”
Before he could insist further, she stepped out of the car. Aarvi watched her go, their earlier conversation still echoing faintly in her mind — “ I think You like him.”
The door clicked shut, leaving just the two of them again. The hum of the engine filled the silence, but it wasn’t the same silence anymore.
The ride was silent, Aarvi couldn't help but to watch how, on the way his hand gripped the steering, on the faint stubble that framed his jaw, and on his soft locks that fell effortlessly against his forehead.
The morning flashed in her mind — how she brushed her fingers through those very locks while he was asleep. Now, sitting beside him again, her fingers itched with the same quiet urge — to feel that softness once more, to see the way his hair fell over his eyes, making him look unfairly perfect.
Just then, the car stopped outside the house. Vivan stepped out first, opened her door, and walked ahead casually. Aarvi followed, her thoughts tangled.
Should I? Or not?
Her heart thudded as she finally whispered to herself, “Abhi nahi toh kabhi nahi.”
“Vivan!” she called out.
He turned, brows knitting slightly. “What?”
“Ah… there’s something in your hair,” she lied, voice a little shaky.
He frowned and ran his hand through his hair. “Got it off?”
Aarvi shook her head quickly. “Wait— let me do it.”
He didn’t argue — just waited, eyes curious. She took a small step closer. He instinctively leaned down so she could reach.
Her fingertips brushed his hair — soft, warm, perfectly tousled. She pretended to focus, but inside she was melting. For a second, everything around her disappeared.
Vivan, meanwhile, looked straight at her — at the tiny crease between her brows, the faint flush on her cheeks, the way she was completely lost in that simple touch.
“Done?”
His voice came out low, husky — almost brushing against her skin.
Aarvi froze. The sound of his voice this close sent a strange flutter through her stomach. Her fingers stilled in his hair, and that’s when she realised — the distance between them had vanished. Her breath tangled somewhere between them.
She blinked, panic and warmth colliding in her chest. Stepping back too quickly, her heel caught the edge of the step. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as the ground tilted.
Before she could fall, his hand shot out — firm, steady — circling her waist.
The sudden pull made her collide softly against him. Her palms pressed against his chest for balance, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under her fingers. His scent — clean, musky, undeniably him — wrapped around her senses.
For a moment neither spoke.
Her eyes flickered up to meet his — deep, unreadable, but holding something that made her forget how to breathe.
The world outside blurred. Only her soft breathing 0+and his faint breath against her temple filled the silence. His fingers, still resting on her waist, flexed slightly as if his mind hadn’t yet caught up with his body.
Aarvi’s lips parted to say something, but words refused to come. The warmth between them felt too fragile to disturb.
Then reality broke through.
They both blinked, almost at the same time. He immediately let go; she stepped back, her heartbeat stumbling in her chest.
“Careful,” he muttered, voice rougher than usual.
She nodded, eyes dropping to the floor, her cheeks blazing. He turned first, running a hand through his hair, walking toward the house without another word.
Aarvi followed a moment later, still feeling the ghost of his touch on her waist. Her heart refused to settle, and a shy smile tugged at her lips before she quickly hid it.
Both walked inside — silent, flustered, yet carrying the same unspoken question: what just happened between us?