9
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains as Vaani slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, she lay still, letting the quiet sink in. It was the first morning after the wedding — the day after the whirlwind of garlands, rituals, flashes of cameras, and too many congratulations to count.
She sat up, stretched gently, and moved to the bathroom.
After a warm shower, she stepped out wrapped in a towel, water still glistening on her skin.
She moved toward her suitcase and pulled out a beautiful pastel peach saree — simple silk, soft and light, paired with a sleeveless blouse of matching tone.
She carefully draped it the way her mother had always taught her — pleats pinned in place, pallu draped neatly over her shoulder.
As she stood before the mirror, brushing out her damp hair and pinning it behind her ears, her eyes caught something — the sindoor resting cleanly in the parting of her hair, and the delicate gold-and-black mangalsutra now settled just below her collarbone.
Her fingers reached up to touch it lightly.
She wasn't just Vaani anymore.
She was a married woman.
The thought hit her in a quiet, grounding way — not overwhelming, but firm. It felt like stepping into a new version of herself that she hadn't fully met yet. No pomp. No big emotional shift. Just... truth.
A small smile played on her lips as she slipped into a pair of bangles and flats, adjusted her pallu again, and left the room.
Downstairs, the resort had quieted down. The music had stopped, the fairy lights were being wrapped away, and the staff was calmly clearing the remnants of a week-long celebration. In one section of the dining area, a few families were still lingering — drinking chai, making travel plans.
She spotted Dhruv right away.
He was by the far window, speaking politely with her Mama — they were talking logistics: the next flight, when the trunks would be shipped, thanking him again for the arrangements.
And then he saw her.
He stopped midsentence. "Uncle, I'll speak with you in a bit."
He walked over to her, his kurta still crisp, slightly rumpled from the morning but effortlessly neat.
"Good morning," he said, his voice softer than she expected.
"Good morning," she replied.
There was a pause — just enough to notice. His eyes gently scanned her saree, then drifted up toward the sindoor and the mangalsutra around her neck. He didn't say anything, but she noticed it — the tiny breath he took, like it hit him too.
She could tell: he felt it.
That weird, quiet shift.
That Oh. This is real now. feeling.
Before either of them could add anything, Jaya appeared, calling them: "Beta, come, have breakfast. Everyone's eaten and gone to rest. You two haven't eaten anything!"
Sunita added from behind, "We're slowly saying bye to everyone before heading upstairs. Come have something before the rest of the day kicks in."
They nodded and followed them.
Inside the dining area, the long table was half full — mostly close family who were lingering before heading to their rooms. A few cousins were still half-asleep, leaning on elbows as plates were being cleared. The scent of fresh poha, upma, toast, and elaichi chai wafted from the side buffet.
Dhruv pulled a chair for her without a word. She sat, thanking him softly. Soon their plates were filled and the clinking of spoons on porcelain filled the silence.
Aarav came by mid-bite, leaning lazily over Dhruv's chair. "First breakfast as a married man, huh?"
Dhruv looked up, chewing. "Why does everyone keep calling it that like it's a new cuisine?"
Aarav grinned. "Because it kind of is. Ghar ka khaana hits different once you've been hitched."
Vaani laughed lightly, and Dhruv shook his head, smiling.
From the corner, Vedant and Vihaan were cracking jokes with cousins, showing off random dance moves from the night before.
Sunita sipped her chai and sighed. "You know what... it went by too fast."
Jaya nodded beside her. "And still, everything felt just right."
As the families wrapped up breakfast, slowly shifting their attention to travel bags and check-outs, Vaani glanced sideways at Dhruv — this calm, newly married man sitting next to her, drinking chai like it was just any morning.
Except it wasn't just any morning.
It was their first one — shared in silence, in presence, in the warmth of a ritual made real.
And for the first time since all the chaos began... it felt beautifully quiet.
As the last of the relatives gathered their belongings and made their way slowly toward the exit of the resort hall, Vaani's brothers, Vihaan and Vedant, busied themselves helping staff consolidate the remaining gifts into piles and carry empty serving trays out of the hall.
The room, once bustling, carried a comfortable hum—soft, grateful voices exchanging final laughs and poses for farewell selfies.
Jaya looked around the hall, calm but attentive. She cleared her throat gently to get everyone's attention:
"Alright, everyone. Thank you so much for being with us. As you know, our flight is at 4 a.m. tomorrow, so we need to be packed and ready by tonight."
A hush fell over the crowd as relatives exchanged knowing smiles—everyone gathered in the wedding crease of marble and lanterns was tired, yet eager for one more meaningful goodbye.
Ramesh added softly, "We're planning to leave by 1 am., so please don't wait up just for us."
Vaani, standing near her mother, looked at the exit line beginning to form. She cleared her throat and walked towards the line and began addressing the guest gently, "Hi aunty, everything is taken care of in the room. Please don't worry. Thank you again for coming."
One of the aunties patted her hand and smiled, "You'll be staying in touch. And come visit us when you can."
Sunita gave her husband a quick look, repositioning the final tray of wedding favors, and said, "Let us handle the packing. Vaani can say her goodbyes quietly. I'll handle the backend work."
Dhruv watched and spoke softly: "I'll go say goodbye to our guests with her."
Jaya and Sunita glanced at him—with genuine appreciation—and nodded. Slowly, Dhruv reached her and she noticed him coming and standing nearby. Together, they began walking among the remaining guests.
Their first stop was at Dhruv's cousin's table. Vihaan helped carry the gift bags from behind them.
Vaani's posture was relaxed, natural—she greeted each person with warmth and sincerity. "Thank you so much for coming. I'm glad you could be here."
Dhruv quietly stood by, offering polite nods of acknowledgement.
They paused at Dhruv's aunt from Dubai—his mother's sister.
"Tayadi!" Vaani said with enthusiasm, folding her hands, touching the older woman's feet.
The aunt hugged her tight and then turned to Dhruv. "Beta, it was such a lovely event."
She leaned forward and blessed them both.
Further on, they encountered Vaani's friend Jayshree, hugging her softly.
"Thank you, for everything—from waiters to wedding chaos!"
A short sparkle of laughter passed through Vaani's eyes, showing the depth of camaraderie they'd cultivated over years.
Next was Ramesh's childhood friend, who pulled Dhruv aside. "Beta, good luck and safe travels." They patted his shoulder.
When Dhruv turned back, he saw Vaani beside his masi (mother's younger sister) who smiled lovingly and slipped a few gold coins into her hand.
"Bless you both," she whispered. "Be happy."
Vaani's cheeks reddened and she smiled graciously: "Thank you, aunty. It's all been so perfect."
When she turned back toward Dhruv, their eyes met—warm, quiet, and full of unspoken gratitude.
As the line of family dwindled, each departure felt natural—not sad, but meaningful. A child waved goodbye. Parents offered final words of blessing. The mood was reflective, like everyone knew this was the final moment before the next chapter.
Dhruv and Vaani arrived at the last guest—the family doctor who had traveled from a nearby city.
He shook hands with them both. "Rest well tonight," he said. "You have a long journey ahead."
The farewell felt ceremonial, grounded.
With the last guest gone, Vihaan and Vedant began closing the doors of the resort hall. Staff rolled up cloths and gathered leftover flowers and petals from the tables.
Vaani turned to Dhruv and said softly: "I'll check on the suitcases once more."
He nodded, giving her a glance. "I'll get back to our parents then."
For a moment, they stood alone in the emptied hall—still dressed in wedding day finery. The chairs were stacked neatly to one side. The floral arches remained soft as memory. The air felt different—peaceful, subdued after the intensity of the day.
~·~
The day had finally wound itself to a close — the kind of slow, quiet ending that follows after weeks of music, rituals, lights, and the overwhelming whirlwind of a wedding.
The rooms that once buzzed with guests were now packed up and cleared out.
The floral decor had been taken down. Only the final stage of departure remained.
It was nearing 1:30 a.m. when Vaani stepped out of her room, her hair tied loosely in a low bun, strands softly framing her still-tired yet glowing face.
She had changed into a comfortable pale peach salwar suit — simple and elegant, perfect for travel.
A light dupatta rested on her shoulders, and a small tote bag hung from her wrist. Her bangles were replaced with just one gold kada on each arm, and her mangalsutra glinted against the soft fabric of her kurta.
Dhruv, standing a few steps down the hallway with Vihaan and Vedant, looked up as she approached. His expression softened, and he gave her a small nod. "Ready?" he asked quietly.
She nodded with a faint smile. "Yeah. I'm just hoping I sleep the whole flight."
"Same," Vedant added, stretching his arms over his head. "I'm not even carrying a book. It's lights out as soon as I find my seat."
The drive to the airport was quiet — the kind of quiet where everyone was too drained to talk, but too full of emotion to sleep just yet.
Their parents sat up front, murmuring final checks for passports, luggage, and boarding passes.
In the backseat, Vaani sat between her brothers again, both of them leaning slightly into her, their energy slowly dimming.
By the time they reached the airport and checked in, everything felt surreal — the fluorescent glow of the terminal, the final hugs with uncles and cousins who weren't traveling further, the procession of luggage trolleys moving past glass doors like little ships in the night.
The boarding gate was calm. Vaani walked ahead with her brothers while Dhruv handled her bag and walked just behind them, watching the easy rhythm the three of them had — that quiet understanding siblings develop when they've grown up glued together.
Soon, they were inside the aircraft — a large Boeing flight bound for Dubai. The seats were in a 3-4-3 configuration, and after a few moments of settling in, Vaani ended up seated between Vihaan and Vedant. Dhruv was in the same row, next to Vedant.
The aircraft lights dimmed after takeoff, and the low hum of the engine created a soothing backdrop.
Vaani leaned back into her seat, sighing as she adjusted her neck pillow.
Both her brothers looked half-asleep already.
Vedant leaned toward her right side, resting his head lightly against her shoulder, and Vihaan did the same on her left.
Almost instinctively, without complaint or movement, Vaani placed a soft hand on each of their heads — cradling them gently as their breathing slowed.
From his seat, Dhruv noticed.
There was no grandeur in the moment. Nothing dramatic or overly sentimental.
Just the quiet intimacy of a sister and her two younger brothers — all dozing off in sync, their heads resting against her like they had hundreds of times before. She didn't fidget. She didn't push them away. She held them like she always had, like nothing had changed.
And yet, everything had.
Dhruv leaned back, head against the seat, arms folded. He looked at her for a second longer. In that moment, she wasn't just Vaani, the new bride. She was the anchor. The center of gravity. The thread that stitched their family together.
He closed his eyes eventually, letting the lull of the flight take over — but that image stayed with him.
Not a wedding photo.
Not a stage moment.
Just her, quietly holding her brothers as they slept, in the middle of the night, thirty-five thousand feet in the air.
~·~
The flight had landed smoothly at dawn, just as the sun began to rise beyond the horizon, spilling soft light over the city.
After nearly three hours of clearing immigration, collecting their bags, and navigating the sleepy buzz of Dubai International Airport, the Deshmukhs and Joshis made their way out to waiting cars.
Vaani sat quietly beside Vedant, her head resting back, her hands folded in her lap as she stared out at the changing skyline through the available window.
Despite the exhaustion from the wedding, travel, and everything in between, there was a quiet sort of anticipation building within her — a feeling that she was stepping into something unknown, something permanent.
And soon enough, they reached the Deshmukh Villa.
Nestled in a quiet neighbourhood, the house stood with a quiet grandeur — elegant and familiar, with a cream-and-sandstone fa?ade, long windows, and a wide main doorway adorned with fresh marigold garlands strung across the entrance. The nameplate "Deshmukh Residence" gleamed under the morning sun.
As the car doors opened, the staff came rushing to take the luggage in, but before Vaani and Dhruv could step toward the main door, Jaya lifted her hand.
"Ruko zara," she said gently, her voice warm but ceremonial now. "Let me bring the thali."
Dhruv looked on knowingly and stopped, glancing toward Vaani who stood beside him, adjusting her dupatta. She gave him a small smile — a tired one, but real.
Jaya returned within moments, holding a beautiful silver aarti thali — decorated with a small diya, kumkum, rice grains, and a bowl of sweetened dahi. She looked every bit the graceful matriarch now — proud, glowing, and slightly emotional.
At the doorstep, just in front of the carved teakwood double doors, a white cloth had been spread across the floor. A silver kalash filled with rice stood perfectly centered, a coconut placed gently atop it. On the cloth was a shallow pool of alta — the red dye used in traditional rituals.
The air smelled of incense and fresh flowers.
Jaya looked at Vaani with affectionate eyes. "Welcome home, beta," she said, voice soft, full of meaning.
Then she slowly did the aarti — the small diya flame circling Dhruv and Vaani's face three times, blessing her as she entered the house for the first time as a bride.
Vaani bowed her head slightly, her eyes lowered with shyness and a touch of reverence.
Jaya then applied a small tikka of kumkum to her forehead.
Dhruv stood just beside, arms folded, watching it all unfold.
"Now," Jaya said, stepping aside slightly, "kick the kalash gently and step in."
Vaani looked at the kalash and took a slow breath, the weight of the moment settling in. She gave the kalash a soft nudge with her right foot — not too hard, just enough for the rice to spill slowly across the threshold, a symbolic gesture of prosperity and abundance entering the home.
Then, she stepped into the alta, her pale peach salwar suit brushing the edge of the white cloth. The red dye touched the soles of her feet.
One step. Then another.
Her first steps into the Deshmukh home as a married woman.
The bright red footprints she left behind on the white cloth trailed her, like a silent reminder of the shift her life had taken. From Vaani Joshi to Vaani Deshmukh. From a guest to a daughter-in-law. From a sister to a wife.
Everyone watched quietly. Her own parents, standing nearby, had gentle smiles on their faces. Aarav had his hands in his pockets but looked visibly proud. Vihaan and Vedant stood further back with sleepy eyes but couldn't hide their grin.
Dhruv finally stepped in after her, walking behind as she crossed the threshold. Jaya offered the sweetened dahi to both of them, feeding them a spoonful each.
"Now the house is full," she said warmly, "and we're complete."
Vaani looked around the house — her new home. It still felt unfamiliar, like stepping into a new book mid-chapter, but it didn't feel wrong. Her hand brushed the edge of a table as she walked in, and she glanced around — the paintings, the hallway, the smell of sandalwood and lemon polish.
After the grihapravesh was done and Vaani's red alta footprints had dried on the marble, the family had gathered in the drawing room, still glowing from the long wedding week. The staff had placed fresh mithai and water, and the mood was light but a little tired from travel.
Jaya returned, holding a silver tray with a wide brass bowl filled with milk and strewn with flower petals. She smiled at the couple and announced, "We'll do the ring ritual now — chhoti si rasam, par bohot mazedaar."
Vaani sat beside her mother-in-law, quietly adjusting her dupatta, still in the travel salwar suit. Her kohl had faded slightly, but the sindoor in her parting and the mangalsutra around her neck were reminders that life had changed. She looked up for a moment, and her eyes flickered toward Dhruv.
He was seated on the other side of the divan, in a simple kurta now, having changed from his travel clothes. Hearing his mother, he got up and stood beside the bowl.
"You both sit across each other," Jaya said, gesturing to the floor cushions placed on either side of the brass bowl.
Vaani quietly got up, walking around to take her seat, her eyes briefly meeting Dhruv's. They both sat, not speaking.
"The ring is inside. Whoever finds it first wins — and that person is said to have the upper hand in the marriage," Sunita added, smiling.
Aarav muttered from behind, "Come on, bro. Represent."
The room chuckled.
A white dupatta was held over the bowl by Vihaan, blocking everyone's view. Dhruv and Vaani, wordless, dipped their hands into the bowl at Jaya's signal.
The milk was cold. Their fingers moved carefully through petals and the smooth bottom of the brass. There was occasional brushing — awkward, quick retreats of contact. Neither of them spoke, but their focus was sharp. Dhruv, with a slight crease in his brow. Vaani, calm but determined.
Her bangles clinked softly under the cloth as she moved her hand slowly in circles. Once or twice, the family thought someone found it.
"Did she get it?" Vedant asked excitedly.
"No," Vihaan whispered. "Still searching."
A few moments passed — silent, save for the giggles of cousins and the occasional whisper of cloth.
Then suddenly, Vaani's hand stopped. Her fingers curled. A flicker of movement. And then—
"I got it," she said, softly but surely.
She lifted her hand and the ring came up, glinting with a thin layer of milk on her palm.
Cheers erupted from the family.
"Aree wah!" Jaya clapped. "She's going to rule the household, Dhruv beta!"
Vaani sat back, drying her hand with the towel someone handed her. Dhruv gave a small, polite nod — not disappointed, not thrilled — just composed, as always.
As the room settled from the cheering, Jaya looked down at the bowl and smiled, "We do it three times — not just once. It's tradition."
Vaani paused, unsure if she had to go again immediately. Dhruv simply returned to the cushion without a word, and she followed suit, taking her seat across from him once more.
Aarav, half-lounging on the sofa, said, "Okay, so it's one–zero. Let's see if Dhruv makes a comeback."
Someone passed the ring back to Jaya, who dropped it discreetly into the bowl again, swirling the milk and petals with a spoon to conceal it.
"Ready?" Jaya asked.
They both nodded.
The dupatta was held up again to block the view.
"Go."
Both their hands dipped in together, less hesitant than the first time. The chill of the milk had grown familiar. Their fingers moved with more confidence — no longer brushing by accident, but still careful not to linger or search too close to each other.
A minute passed.
And then — with a subtle shift in expression — Dhruv's brow lifted just slightly.
"I have it," he said calmly.
He pulled his hand up with the ring between his fingers.
Cheers again. Laughter.
"Jijaji is back in the game!" Vihaan announced.
Vaani gave a slight, polite smile and wiped her hand again. Their eyes met briefly, just for a second — no words.
"Last one!" Jaya grinned, handing the ring over for one final round.
"No cheating!" Sunita warned playfully.
Jaya looked between the two and said, "This one will decide it all."
The ring dropped into the milk. The cloth was held up again. Vaani pushed her sleeves up an inch more.
Dhruv watched her out of the corner of his eye, then dipped his hand in along with hers.
This time, they both searched slower.
The petals floated, getting pushed aside. Their hands moved across the bottom surface — searching. Light movements. Careful passes. Dhruv felt something near his wrist — a metal curve. He touched it. Paused.
He heard her hand moving still.
He shifted the ring slightly toward her side with his fingertips.
A second later—
"I got it," Vaani said.
Her voice was surprised — even she didn't think she'd found it so quickly.
As she lifted the ring out again, the family broke into more applause.
"Three games — and the bride wins two!" Sunita beamed.
"Or maybe jijaji let her win," Vedant teased quietly.
Dhruv just gave a light smile, subtle and unreadable.
Vaani returned to her seat, drying her hands.
He followed.
By now, they both looked more at ease — not close, not familiar, but no longer strangers fumbling through rituals.
He wiped his own hands and stood. Vaani did the same, and they both returned to their places while the family still buzzed.
"Accha, that's done," Jaya said, beaming. "Now you both can go and rest for a bit before dinner. Some of us still need to unpack!"
~·~
The house was unusually quiet for the first time in days.
In the main living room, all the parents sat together with cups of hot chai — Jaya and Mahesh, Vaani's parents, and the extended family, finally resting. The energy had settled into a peaceful hum: post-wedding chatter, softened laughter, conversations about rituals, guests, and food.
Vaani sat on the carpeted floor near her mother and Jaya, legs folded, her expression calm — observant, still soaking everything in. She'd just served everyone a fresh round of chai and quietly taken her place.
Upstairs, Dhruv sat at the edge of the bed, finishing up a brief work call. His Bluetooth was still in one ear as he closed his laptop, ran a hand over his face, and finally stood up to step out for a breather.
As he walked down the corridor toward the staircase, he spotted Vedant in the hallway, pacing with a phone in hand and a bag slung over his shoulder. The boy was clearly searching for something.
Dhruv paused. "What's wrong, Vedant?"
Vedant startled slightly, then turned, a little sheepish. "Oh... jijaji... voh..."
Dhruv raised an eyebrow with a small smile. "You can just tell me. Don't be shy. This is your house too now, remember?"
Vedant smiled nervously. "I need a charging port. My phone's dying and I have a college essay to submit in like two hours. And the WiFi's strong upstairs but I couldn't find a plug point."
Dhruv blinked, impressed. "You're submitting an essay right after a wedding weekend?"
Vedant laughed lightly. "Deadlines don't care about weddings."
Dhruv chuckled. "Fair enough. Come with me."
Vedant followed as Dhruv led him down the hall to the study — a quiet, air-conditioned room lined with bookshelves, a clean desk, and a wide monitor at the center.
Dhruv opened a drawer, pulled out a charging cable, and handed it to Vedant.
"You can work in here. It's quiet. No one will disturb you."
Vedant looked around, eyes wide. "This is perfect... thank you dada—"
He paused mid-sentence and then instantly froze. "Sorry! I meant... jijaji. Sorry, it just came out..."
Dhruv looked at him, a moment of surprise flickering across his face — and then something softer. Something that wasn't just amusement, but a quiet kind of warmth.
"No need to say sorry," Dhruv said simply. "Call me 'dada.' I like it more."
Vedant smiled, his face lighting up with something like pride.
"Okay... Dada."
Dhruv gave a small nod. "Good. Finish your essay."
Dhruv leaned against the edge of the desk, watching the screen for a moment. Curiosity got the better of him.
"What's the essay on?"
Vedant turned slightly, visibly more comfortable now than he'd been earlier. "It's on regional power shifts post-Brexit — the UK's evolving role in global politics."
Dhruv blinked, a bit impressed. "Wow. That's heavy."
Vedant laughed. "You asked."
"I did." Dhruv nodded, then tilted his head. "So what are you planning to study? Politics?"
"Politics and International Relations," Vedant said, straightening up slightly, his eyes lighting up as he spoke about it. "I've always been into it. More the theory than the actual... political drama, if that makes sense."
Dhruv smiled. "It does. International frameworks and all that?"
"Exactly. The way countries behave, alliances shift, soft power, hard power — all of it. It fascinates me."
Dhruv nodded thoughtfully, genuinely interested. "Good choice. You'll do well in that field, you have the calm temperament for it. Have you already applied to unis?"
"Yeah, most of the ones in the UK," Vedant said, sipping the water and closing his laptop for a quick break. "It's kind of the ideal region for the course I want."
Dhruv folded his arms casually. "Where all?"
"King's, LSE, Durham, UCL, Birmingham, Edinburgh..." Vedant ticked them off on his fingers. "Also applied to Cambridge and Oxford. Just in case," he added quickly, like he didn't want to sound presumptuous.
Dhruv smiled. "UCL and Oxford, huh? Following your sister's footsteps."
Vedant gave a shy grin. "I mean... I figured if Tai could do it... she's very smart: Bachelor's from UCL. Then she did her master's at Oxford."
Dhruv knew, but still was impressed. "She doesn't talk about it much."
"She never does," Vedant agreed. "I think she doesn't want people to think she's showing off."
"Doesn't surprise me," Dhruv thought with a small smile. "She's... quiet about herself, but clearly sharp."
Vedant continued. "She was the one who helped me write my personal statements. And even now, if I have doubts about a topic, she'll break it down in a way that makes it sound simple."
"She must be proud," Dhruv said thoughtfully.
Vedant looked up. "Of what?"
"Of you," Dhruv replied, meeting his gaze. "You're clearly on the right track. Most people don't even know what they want to do at your age."
Vedant smiled a little, that admiration for Dhruv beginning to shift into ease. "Thanks... dada."
Dhruv grinned slightly. "That still feels new."
Vedant laughed. "You'll get used to it."
"So... only the UK?" Dhruv asked after a few moments, glancing at Vedant with a curious tilt of his head. "Didn't apply to the US at all?"
Vedant paused, looked up, then shook his head. "Nope. Not really interested in the States."
"Why not?" Dhruv asked, not judging — genuinely curious. "Everyone seems to treat the US like it's the golden ticket."
Vedant smiled. "Yeah, that's exactly why.
It's become the default. I don't really see myself fitting there — the political culture, the social stuff.
.. it doesn't appeal to me. UK universities are older, the IR programs are better structured, and well.
.. Tai studied there too. Maybe it rubbed off on me. "
Dhruv gave a nod, thoughtful. "Fair point. Makes sense for what you're trying to study. And I guess you already have some idea of life there through Vaani."
Vedant nodded. "Yeah. And I really like the academic tone there — more grounded, less hustle-y than the US. I want depth, not just brand value."
Dhruv raised his brows slightly, a hint of a smile forming. "You've got clarity. That's rare."
Vedant just smiled faintly, a little unsure how to respond to that.
Dhruv let a beat pass, then asked, "Vihaan's still in university, right?"
Vedant perked up a little. "Yeah. Final year. He's doing Computer Science ."
"Nice. What's next for him?"
"He wants to study more," Vedant replied, shifting in his seat, warming into the conversation. "Master's probably. But he also wants to work for a year before that. Get some industry experience."
Dhruv nodded. "Smart. A year in the real world helps a lot before jumping into grad school."
"Exactly," Vedant said, appreciative of the agreement. "He's already applying for internships and entry-level jobs. Has a few interviews lined up after the wedding madness ends. But he's also applied to Universities in US, if he gets in a good university then he'll go there."
Dhruv smiled faintly. "Tell him to keep me posted. Might know a few folks in Computer Science depending on what he's into."
Vedant looked at him, surprised. "Seriously?"
"Yeah," Dhruv said with a shrug. "Can't promise anything, but I know people who know people."
Vedant grinned. "He'll be really happy to hear that. Thanks, Dada."
There it was again — "Dada." Still new, still settling into Dhruv's ears, but strangely natural coming from this quiet, thoughtful kid.
As Vedant worked on his draft and leaned back in the chair, he looked up at Dhruv with a quick question that had just struck him.
"Dada... what did you study?"
Dhruv glanced over, smiled a little. "Industrial Engineering and Operations Research."
Vedant blinked. "Oh. That sounds... intense."
Dhruv chuckled. "It was. Numbers, systems, logistics. Basically figuring out how to make everything work faster, better, cheaper."
"Where'd you do it?" Vedant asked, genuinely curious now.
"Columbia," Dhruv replied, taking a casual sip of water.
Vedant's eyes widened. "New York Columbia?"
Dhruv nodded. "Yeah. Four years of cold winters and overpriced coffee."
Vedant laughed, impressed. "That's insane. That's like... one of the best places."
"It was good," Dhruv said with a small smile. "Learned a lot — both inside and outside class."
Vedant looked up again, curiosity still written all over his face. "Did you do a master's too, Dada?"
Dhruv nodded. "Yeah, I did. After working for a year."
Vedant tilted his head. "Where?"
Dhruv smiled. "Did my MBA from Berkeley. California."
Vedant blinked. "Oh wow. That's... serious."
Dhruv chuckled. "Yeah, it was a different world. Long classes, way too many group projects, and people pretending to love networking events."
Vedant laughed. "Sounds... American."
"It was very American," Dhruv said. "But I learned a lot. Not just business, but people, pace, perspective. It was a good chapter."
Vedant grinned and turned back to his screen, a little more inspired than before.
Dhruv smiled a little and pushed himself off the desk.
"Okay champ, you work. Finish up and come join us." And with that, Dhruv stepped out of the room, a quiet fondness following him.
??