56
The soft hum of the AC was still steady when Dhruv's eyes opened.
The clock on the side table showed a little past eight.
He lay still for a moment, gathering himself.
Beside him, Vaani was curled up, still deep in sleep, her breathing even.
A small strand of hair had found its way across her lips, and she made the faintest frown in her sleep before turning slightly to the other side.
Dhruv almost smiled. Almost.
He slid out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her. He pulled on a fresh T-shirt and joggers, then padded into the bathroom for a quick shower. The splash of water was brisk, refreshing, pulling him fully awake.
By the time he came out, it was closer to nine. The flat was unusually quiet, but Dhruv found himself almost liking the silence for once. He went into the kitchen, switched on the gas, and prepared chai. Two cups. Without thinking.
Steam curled up from the kettle, filling the kitchen with its comforting aroma. He poured the tea into mugs, left one for her on the counter, and carried his own to the living room.
By nine-thirty, Dhruv was settled with his laptop. He typed, brows furrowed, sipping his tea now and then. He heard no movement from the bedroom. Not the creak of the bed, not the shuffle of slippers. Nothing.
When the clock struck ten-thirty, finally, the sound of hurried footsteps reached him. He turned just in time to see Vaani rush out of the bedroom, hair damp from a quick shower, dressed in simple shorts and a loose top. Her face carried a mix of panic and dismay.
"What on earth!" she exclaimed, half to herself. "It's ten-thirty!"
She looked like she'd committed the greatest crime imaginable, staring wide-eyed at the clock, then at him, then back at the clock.
Dhruv leaned back in his chair, watching with quiet amusement.
"I'm so sorry, Dhruv!" she said, wringing her hands. "I don't usually sleep this long—I just... I don't know how I—"
"Relax," he cut in, his voice calm.
"I am relaxed," she shot back too quickly.
"Mhm. Sure," he said, one brow lifting in disbelief, his lips curving in the faintest smirk.
She exhaled heavily, almost dramatic, and hurried into the kitchen. When she emerged, she had the untouched mug of chai he'd left on the counter in her hand. She sat down across from him, blowing on it before sipping.
"I don't think I can go to work today," she admitted, still sounding guilty.
Dhruv glanced up from his laptop. "Why not?"
"It's so late," she said, groaning. "Half the day is already over."
"It's just ten-thirty," he pointed out.
"Exactly!" she argued. "Half the day is gone."
Dhruv looked at her for a beat, then shook his head. "So don't go. Simple."
Vaani blinked at him, caught off guard by the ease in his tone. "That's it? Just... don't go?"
He shrugged, going back to his laptop as though it were the simplest solution in the world.
She stared at him, then huffed softly into her chai. "You make it sound too easy."
"Because it is," he replied without looking up.
Vaani muttered something under her breath but let the matter drop, sipping her tea. She curled her legs under her on the couch, scrolling absently through her phone.
The calm of the morning settled around them—until Dhruv's phone buzzed with a notification. He checked it, his jaw tightening. Aarav. A meeting. Not tomorrow, but today.
Dhruv read the message again, exhaling through his nose. He closed his laptop, stood, and strode into the bedroom. Within minutes, the sound of drawers opening and closing, hangers shifting, and the wardrobe door sliding filled the air.
Vaani glanced up, puzzled, as he came out in fresh formals—crisp shirt, dark trousers, hair slightly dampened to set properly.
"What happened to 'you don't need to go to work'?" she asked, half-teasing, half-confused.
"Sudden meetings are an exception," Dhruv said shortly, buttoning his cuff.
She nodded, understanding. "Important client?"
"Potential one," he replied. His tone was clipped, focused.
"Got it," she said softly. She watched as he picked up his laptop bag, slipping his phone into his pocket.
He paused, glancing at her before he headed to the door. "I don't know when I'll be back. You take care."
"I will," she said. Then, a small smile tugging at her lips, she added, "Bye. All the best."
For a fleeting second, his eyes softened. "Thank you."
With that, Dhruv left, shutting the door behind him.
Vaani sat there a moment longer, her half-finished chai warming her hands. She replayed the exchange in her head, and without realizing, her smile widened.
Then, letting out a quiet sigh, she curled into the couch, her phone in hand, settling into the calm rhythm of her morning.
~·~
The clock ticked past noon, and the flat was hushed, filled with the gentle hum of the AC.
Vaani had just finished her second cup of chai after a leisurely breakfast. She'd already called her mom in the morning, exchanged updates about her dad's health and some neighborhood gossip, and then checked in with Jaya and Mahesh to make sure they were settling back into the villa.
Now, she curled on the couch with her laptop balanced on her knees, her phone buzzing with a notification. It was from Ria: "Group call in 5 mins, don't be late Vans."
With a grin, Vaani brushed her hair back, adjusted her earbuds, and joined the video call. Instantly, three familiar faces popped up—Ria, radiant even in a messy bun; Simran, sprawled on her bed with a giant coffee mug; and Naina, perched in front of her desk, all neat and bright-eyed.
"Omg finally!" Ria squealed the moment Vaani's face appeared. "My bride-to-be gang is complete."
Simran lifted her mug like a toast. "Bride squad assemble!"
Vaani laughed. "Arre, this isn't my wedding prep, this is your wedding, Ria!"
"Exactly," Naina chimed in, eyes twinkling. "So tell us, Ria—how's the wedding prep going? Spill!"
Ria groaned dramatically, throwing her head back. "Don't even ask, ya. It's chaos. Guest lists, decor, menus—my mom is losing her mind, and I think I'm losing mine. At this point, I'll show up in jeans and a T-shirt, swear."
"Liar," Vaani teased. "You've already sent me 400 lehenga references. You're too invested to back out now."
"Okay, fine, I'm invested," Ria admitted with a sheepish grin. "But still, it's insane."
Simran leaned in closer to the camera. "Bro, what about your bachelorette though? That's what I want to know."
Vaani raised her brows. "Good question."
"Yeah," Naina said eagerly. "We've been waiting. Where are we going, Ria?"
Ria bit her lip. "I don't know, ya. I've been so busy with all this wedding madness, I haven't even thought about it. Suggestions, please."
There was a pause as they all thought. Then Naina's face lit up. "Wait, isn't there a long weekend coming up? Next weekend, right? National holiday? From Friday to Monday or Tuesday, including Saturday Sunday."
Vaani's eyes widened. "Oh yeah, you're right. It's a four-day weekend, isn't it?"
"Yes!" Naina nodded vigorously. "So why don't we take a trip then? Like, proper girls' trip. What do you guys think about Georgia?"
"Georgia?" Simran repeated, intrigued. "Like Tbilisi? That does sound nice..."
Vaani tilted her head, thinking aloud. "Actually, not a bad idea. It's only three hours from Dubai, and weather's really good there right now." She set her laptop on the coffee table and quickly pulled up flight prices.
The others leaned closer to their screens as if they could see what she was doing. "Tell us, tell us!" Ria urged.
"Okay," Vaani said after a moment, scrolling through. "Round-trip flights... wow, prices are super reasonable. Off-peak too. A four-day, three-night trip would be perfect."
Ria's eyes gleamed. "I like it already."
"What do you girls think?" Simran asked. "Because honestly, I'm down. I have no life outside work. I'm ready to pack my bags yesterday."
"Bro, you decide," Simran added, pointing at Ria. "It's your bachelorette. We're just your loyal squad."
Ria giggled. "Fine. I think I'm good. Georgia sounds great. Something chill, scenic, food, wine—yes."
Vaani nodded slowly. "It's really logical, honestly. It doesn't need extra days off from work, and weather's nice. And, come on, Georgia has the cutest cafés and mountain views."
"Sold," Simran said immediately. "I'm in."
Naina clapped her hands. "Me too! Vans, what about you?"
Vaani hesitated, biting her lip. "I should ask Dhruv first, right?"
There was a beat of silence. Then Naina groaned. "Arre, why do you need Dhruv's permission? You're not in school."
Vaani shook her head quickly. "Not like that, Naina.
It's not about permission. It's just—we're married now.
Our worlds are interlinked. I can't just disappear to another country without telling him.
What if there's something important lined up?
Or what if we've got family plans? It's not about asking if I can go, it's about making sure we're in sync. "
Ria pointed at the screen. "Exactly. Thank you. She's right, guys. It's not about needing permission from a guy. It's about walking with each other. Communication. She's not asking for approval, she's just making sure Dhruv knows and that they're aligned. That's marriage."
Simran rolled her eyes, though fondly. "Okay, okay, fine. Responsible adults. Noted."
"I'll understand when I'm married," Naina muttered, and everyone chuckled.
Ria leaned closer again. "Anyway, Vans, tell us when you ask him. We need confirmation so I can mentally start outfit-planning."
"I'll text him now," Vaani promised.
"Oh, speaking of outfits," Simran cut in, her eyes mischievous, "your reception is this weekend, Vans. How are you feeling?"
Vaani pursed her lips. "Honestly? I'm good. A little nervous maybe. But everything is sorted—venue, catering, guest list. Dress shopping was done with Maa yesterday."
"Pictures or we don't believe you," Naina demanded, "You only sent us a few, what about the other ones?"
"You'll see on the day," Vaani said firmly, though a smile played on her lips. "I can't ruin the suspense."
"Tease," Ria muttered, but she looked amused.
They drifted back to the Georgia trip, tossing ideas around about hotels, sightseeing, and food. Vaani took notes on her laptop, practical as always, comparing prices for Airbnbs versus hotels.
Finally, she leaned back with a small smile. "Okay, so it's decided—we're leaning toward Georgia. I'll text Dhruv right now, see what he says, and we can continue planning once he's aware."
Her friends nodded eagerly. "Do it," Ria said.
"Yup, do it now," Simran echoed.
"I'm waiting for the update," Naina added, wagging a finger.
Vaani laughed. "Okay, okay! Let me text him. I'll update you all on the group. For now, bye!"
She waved at their laughing faces and ended the call.
The flat went quiet again. She stared at her phone, chewing her lip for a moment. Then she opened her messages and began typing to Dhruv.
Vaani sat cross-legged on the couch, her laptop open but forgotten in front of her. Her phone sat warm in her hands, the WhatsApp chat with Dhruv blinking at her like a challenge. She had typed and erased the same sentence three times already.
Finally, she settled on something simple: "Are you free?"
She hit send and stared at the screen, gnawing lightly on her lower lip. It had only been five minutes when the notification popped up.
Dhruv: What happened?
She exhaled. Okay, that was quick. She started typing back, her fingers flying over the screen: "Nothing serious, I just wanted to call you when you're free—"
Before she could even finish typing, her phone lit up with his name. Incoming call.
Vaani blinked at the screen, a smile tugging at her lips. "This man," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she swiped to answer.
"Hello?" Dhruv's voice was direct, low.
"Dhruv... hi," she said, still smiling.
"What happened? Everything okay?" His tone was sharper now, laced with concern.
She rolled her eyes softly. "Arre, relax. Nothing happened. I just wanted to talk about something, and I thought I'll call you when you're free."
There was a pause, then his voice came back, calmer but still focused. "Well, I'm here now."
Vaani hesitated. "It's okay, you get home and we'll talk. You seem busy."
On the other end, she heard a sigh. Then muffled footsteps. Then the click of a door shutting, background chatter fading. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, closer. "Now tell."
Her brows shot up. "Wait... did you just walk out of your meeting?"
"Vaani," he said evenly, "are you telling me, or should I come home right now?"
She stifled a laugh. "No, no, no! I'll tell, I'll tell."
"Hm," he murmured, waiting.
"So..." She twisted a strand of her hair between her fingers, suddenly feeling like a teenager caught sneaking out. "We were planning Ria's bachelorette party. And we were hoping to go to Georgia."
There was a pause. His voice came back smooth, faintly amused. "Interesting."
"Yes, interesting," she echoed quickly. "Next weekend. So... is it possible?"
For a second, the line went quiet, just his steady breathing in her ear. She almost pulled the phone away to check if the call had dropped when he spoke again.
"Okay, so... do I need to come too?"
Her laugh burst out before she could stop it. "Dhruv, it's an all-girls trip. What will you do there? Hold our purses?"
"Then why," he asked dryly, "are you asking me if it's possible?"
She blinked. "Because! I want to make sure you know I'm going. And that we don't have anything planned next weekend."
A long exhale came from his side. She pictured him pinching the bridge of his nose, as he often did when she said something obvious yet delivered it like a revelation.
"There's nothing next weekend," he said finally. "You go ahead."
Vaani straightened on the couch, grinning. "Really? Okay, greatttt! We're booking tickets right now."
He could almost hear the excitement in his voice as he tried to speak between her high-pitched excitement, "Use my card—it's kept in the study draw—"
But she was already glancing at her phone, seeing the girls' incoming group call notification. "Okie, my girls are calling again. I'll see you, Dhruv, byeeee!"
And just like that, she hung up.
Dhruv stared at the phone in his hand, the call screen blinking away to the home screen. For a moment, he just sat there in silence. Then, slowly, a quiet chuckle escaped him.
"Hurricane," he muttered to himself, sliding the phone back into his pocket. And with a shake of his head, he walked back into the conference room, composure returning like a second skin.
But Vaani, meanwhile, was already clicking back into her world of excitement. She answered the group call, her face bright. "Girls, Georgia trip confirmed!"
Ria screamed. Naina clapped. Simran rolled her eyes fondly but grinned. And Vaani, still glowing from the way Dhruv had sighed, teased, and finally agreed, felt that familiar warmth spread in her chest.
Her worlds—the calm, steady one Dhruv lived in, and the whirlwind of her friends—were colliding more and more these days. And somehow, in the overlap, she felt oddly... complete.
The group call connected again, this time with four faces on the screen, each in their own corner of the world but buzzing with equal energy.
Ria, propped up against pillows in her pastel-colored bedroom, looked like a bride-to-be glowing already.
Simran had her hair in a messy bun, sipping iced coffee, her blunt sarcasm always ready.
Naina, perched by her desk, eyes gleaming, was already Googling flights on her second monitor.
And Vaani—curled comfortably on the couch in shorts and an oversized tee—was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Okay, so," Naina started, eyes darting across her screen, "I checked.
The long weekend falls on the 28th of March.
If we take a flight early on Friday, we can be in Georgia by noon.
That gives us the whole afternoon plus Saturday and Sunday.
We fly back Monday afternoon. Four days, three nights. Perfect."
"Oh my god, that's amazing," Ria clapped, her bracelets jingling. "Like... perfect timing. Not too close to the wedding, not too far either. And four days is just right. Enough to party but not enough for my mom to panic."
Simran snorted. "Your mom's going to panic if you step outside the house without a jacket. This isn't about the trip."
"Shut up, Sim," Ria laughed, tossing a cushion out of frame. "She'll deal. Anyway, I deserve this."
"You do," Vaani chimed in, tucking her legs under herself. "A bride deserves her escape."
"Escape," Simran echoed dramatically. "What are we escaping from? The men? The aunties? Or the shaadi budget spreadsheets?"
"All of the above," Naina said, not even looking up as she clicked away on her keyboard. "But listen—there's a package. Tbilisi plus a day trip to the mountains. Wine tasting, sulfur baths, local tours. And it's dirt cheap. Should I send the link?"
"Yes, send!" three voices chorused.
Vaani leaned forward, eyes widening. "Wine tasting? Omg. Do you know how Instagrammable that's going to be? Ria, you're going to look like a literal goddess in a vineyard."
"Only if you lot don't get me drunk and make me climb the barrels," Ria teased.
"No promises," Simran smirked.
The chat dissolved into laughter, the sound echoing through all their phones.
"Okay," Naina brought it back, "so itinerary: Day one, we land, settle, maybe a city walk and dinner. Day two—mountains. Day three—wine tour. Day four, chill, shop, fly back. Thoughts?"
"I like it," Ria nodded.
"Love it," Vaani added instantly.
Simran leaned closer to her screen. "I'll love it more when I hear the important part—what's the dress code?"
Vaani gasped. "Yes! Dress codes! We can't just show up looking like four random tourists. We have to look like a squad."
"You're the only one who cares about matching outfits," Simran rolled her eyes, but her grin betrayed her interest.
"Excuse me," Vaani raised a finger, mock serious, "matching outfits are the foundation of girl trips. Period."
Ria laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone. "She's right though. I want an aesthetic. Bride squad vibes."
"Ugh, fine," Simran groaned, pretending to give in. "But nothing glittery. I refuse to wear sequins at 10 a.m."
"Noted," Vaani said, already hopping up from the couch. "Wait wait wait, I just got the perfect idea. One sec."
The other three watched as she shared her screen, muttering as she did. A tab closed. A tab opened. A triumphant "Found it!" rang out.
"What is that?" Ria squinted.
"These!" Vaani showed them the pictures of the tops. "Look. One is white—it says 'Bride to Be'. That's you, Ria."
Ria's face lit up instantly.
"And then," Vaani continued dramatically, zooming in on the others, "three are light pink. They say... 'Bride's Besties'."
"Oh my god," Naina squealed, clapping her hands. "Stop. That's adorable."
"Vans!" Simran groaned but couldn't hide her grin. "You really went there."
"Yes, I did," Vaani said proudly. "I'm ordering these. We are wearing this to the airport. I don't care. Matching tees, jeans, sneakers. We'll walk in like the baddest crew alive."
Ria was already nodding furiously. "Done. Absolutely done. I'm so wearing mine with shades. Imagine the photos!"
"Ugh, you guys are going to make me," Simran muttered, but she was already picturing it, her smirk giving her away. "Fine. Done. Airport tees. But I'm not taking TikToks. That's where I draw the line."
"We'll make you," Naina said.
Vaani pointed at the screen, eyes shining. "See? Consensus. It's official."
The group chat erupted again, overlapping voices, half-serious debates about which shoes to pair with the tees, whether ripped jeans were allowed, if they needed matching hats too.
"Okay, wait," Ria raised her hands. "Airport day—done. What about the vineyard day? We need dresses. Sundresses. White for me, obviously."
"Of course," Vaani agreed. "We'll wear pastels. Flowery prints. Something breezy. With hats. Definitely hats."
"Yes, aesthetic vibes," Naina typed furiously into her notes app, already color-coding.
"Then mountains," Simran cut in. "Practical clothes, please. Sneakers. Hoodies. Nothing where I freeze my butt off trying to look cute."
"Agreed," Ria laughed. "Mountains are for photos and survival, not glam."
"Noted," Vaani said, pretending to write. "Survival chic."
They went on like that for another half hour—planning outfits for each day, imagining scenarios, sending Pinterest references in their group chat while still on call.
Ria was laughing so hard at one point that she had tears streaming down her face, while Simran threatened to mute them all if they didn't calm down.
By the end of it, their itinerary was full of not just tours and meals but also carefully planned outfit themes, inside jokes scribbled between notes, and a promise to take "at least a thousand photos."
Vaani leaned back on the couch, exhausted but glowing. "This is going to be epic. Best trip ever."
"Best trip ever," the other three echoed.
For a second, the four of them just sat there, smiling at their screens. Distance melted, replaced with the warmth of years of friendship and the thrill of an adventure waiting just around the corner.
And though she didn't say it out loud, Vaani's heart did a little flip. She couldn't wait to tell Dhruv about the matching tees—not because he'd care about the aesthetics, but because she already knew what he'd do: roll his eyes, smirk, and mutter something under his breath.
The thought alone made her chuckle, already looking forward to his reaction.
~·~
The door clicked open around seven in the evening, and the sound of keys on the console table followed. Vaani, who was curled up on the couch with her laptop perched precariously on her knees, typing away furiously, lifted her head the second she heard the familiar footsteps.
"Dhruvvv!" she exclaimed, stretching the last syllable like a child. "You're back!"
Her grin was wide, eyes lighting up instantly. She looked almost like she'd been waiting for this moment all day.
Dhruv closed the door behind him and stepped in, loosening the cuff of his shirt with one hand, the other carrying a paper bag. He looked at her, his lips tugging into something between a smirk and an indulgent smile.
"I see the excitement hasn't died down," he said dryly, raising an eyebrow.
"Obviously not," she shot back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've been buzzing since morning. I'm already planning outfits for the trip." She caught sight of the bag in his hand and tilted her head curiously. "But... what's that? What are you holding?"
Dhruv glanced at the bag as if he'd almost forgotten. Then, without another word, he reached inside and carefully pulled something out, holding it by the edges.
It was a photo frame—simple, sleek, with a matte black border that matched his taste perfectly. But what stole her breath was the picture inside.
Her eyes widened. "This...?" she whispered, her voice almost reverent.
It was the photo Aria had taken in Inverness.
A simple yet beautiful one—Dhruv's hand resting lightly but protectively on her waist, Vaani radiant smile with her head turned slightly toward him, eyes still on the camera, the Scottish hills rolling in the background like a painted canvas.
The colors were rich, natural, almost cinematic.
Dhruv looked at the frame, then back at her. "Well," he said with a casual shrug, though his voice was a shade softer than usual, "there wasn't one picture of us in our house. So... I figured I'd take Aria's offer up."
Vaani blinked at him, then down at the photo again, her heart giving an odd little flip. "It's... beautiful," she said, running her fingers gently across the glass as though it were something fragile. "I love it."
He didn't answer immediately, only watched her reaction with a quiet intensity, as though her approval meant more to him than he'd admit.
Then she glanced up, eyes sparkling. "So... where are we putting it?"
Dhruv exhaled, tilting his head slightly. "I don't know. You decide."
"Nooo," she whined playfully. "You tell na. Please."
He looked around, as though scanning the living room for the perfect spot. His gaze lingered on the blank wall just above the console table near the entrance. It was a wide wall, empty, begging for something to anchor it. Finally, he lifted his hand and pointed.
"There," he said decisively. "It'll fit there."
Vaani followed his gaze, then nodded quickly. "Yes. Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
The next few minutes were a flurry of low domestic chaos. Dhruv went to grab the tool kit he kept tucked away in the storage cabinet, while Vaani scurried around trying to find nails.
"Not these," Dhruv said when she brought a small packet of flimsy ones.
"They're nails!" she protested.
"They'll bend before they even go in," he countered, already digging through the kit until he found the sturdier ones.
"Fine, Mr. Engineer," she muttered, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her grin.
He chuckled under his breath and carried the hammer and nails over to the wall. Vaani, meanwhile, stood right beneath the spot he had pointed out earlier, holding the frame against the wall with both hands.
"Like this?" she asked, raising it slightly.
"A little higher," Dhruv instructed, stepping back to gauge the alignment. "No—lower. Wait. Tilt it left a bit."
She huffed. "Do you want to do it yourself?"
"No," he said calmly, crossing his arms. "You hold, I'll hammer. Just—straighten it. A little more. Perfect. Don't move."
"Don't move, he says," Vaani muttered, arms already straining as she held the frame against the wall. "As if I'm a robot."
"Hold it steady," he warned, holding the nail up. "If it slips, you'll blame me forever."
"Of course I will!" she said cheekily, biting back a laugh.
He glanced at her then, the corner of his mouth twitching upward despite his attempt to stay serious. And then—tap, tap, tap—the sound of the hammer filled the room. The nail went in clean, his movements precise, practiced.
"There," he said finally, stepping back. "Hang it now."
She hooked the frame carefully onto the nail, then let go, stepping back beside him. Together, they stared at it—Inverness, frozen in time, their smiles captured forever.
Vaani's lips curved into a soft smile. "It's perfect."
Dhruv's eyes stayed on the photo for a moment longer, then slid to her. She was still gazing at it like it was a window to something magical. And without realizing, he felt a quiet sense of rightness settle into him.
"Hmm," he murmured. "Not bad."
"Not bad?" she turned to him, mock offended. "It's more than not bad! It's—us!"
He smirked faintly. "That's why I said 'not bad.'"
She smacked his arm lightly. "Typical Dhruv. Always underselling."
But then, softer, she added, "Thank you."
He blinked at her, as though the word had caught him off guard. "For what?"
"For this," she gestured to the frame, her eyes warm. "For... making this part of this house. Not just walls and furniture."
For a second, he didn't say anything. He just looked at her, the weight of her words hanging between them. Then he cleared his throat and muttered, "Don't get sentimental. It's just a photo."
But the small, unshakable smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.
Vaani only grinned wider, leaning back to admire the frame again. "Well, it's the most beautiful 'just a photo' I've ever seen."
The rest of the evening moved around the frame like it had always belonged there. Every time Vaani passed by, she'd glance at it, and Dhruv—though he'd never admit it—found his eyes drawn to it too. Something about seeing them together on that wall made the house feel fuller, warmer.
For the first time, it didn't just look like a house—it felt like their home.
??