66
Dhruv woke up later than usual — around 7:45 — a rarity for him.
Back at his old house for the weekend, his sleep schedule had shifted a little.
He lay there for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling, before finally dragging himself out of bed and into his workout clothes.
The small gym in the house was familiar, the same set of machines and weights he'd used countless mornings before marriage.
His hands found their rhythm as he started lifting, but his mind wasn't calm.
Every rep, every stretch, came with thoughts circling back to Vaani. Her words at the airport — "Enjoy your peace, Dhruv. You deserve it." They weren't leaving his head. He tried brushing it off, tried focusing on the weights, but it lingered like a splinter he couldn't quite pull out.
By the time he finished, sweat dripping, chest heaving, he still hadn't made sense of it. He showered, got dressed, and finally went downstairs.
The smell of chai drifted into his nose before he even reached the dining area. His mother's voice greeted him first.
"Wah," Jaya said, a teasing smile on her lips. "Staying with Vaani has made you sleep more too."
Dhruv arched an eyebrow, amused. "I always sleep enough."
Mahesh folded his newspaper and chuckled. "You used to be in the hall by 7:30 every morning. Even on Sundays. Now we see you down at 9. That's a blessing."
Dhruv gave another amused look, the kind that carried both acknowledgment and dismissal. He settled into his chair and took the steaming cup of chai that was placed in front of him. Across the table, Geeta and Ashok were seated too, already halfway through their tea and breakfast.
"Good morning, beta," Geeta said with her usual composed smile.
"Morning," Dhruv replied politely, taking his first sip.
The table conversation that followed was a mixture of small talk — Ashok speaking about a new business proposal he was evaluating, Mahesh giving his opinion on cricket scores, Geeta dropping in a story about a neighbor's daughter who got engaged.
Dhruv nodded at the right moments, contributed briefly, but his mind kept wandering.
It was 9 a.m. here in Dubai, which meant it was 9 a.m. there in Georgia too. Vaani would have landed the previous morning. She had probably slept well, woken up, maybe even had breakfast with her friends by now.
He wondered if he should call. Would it be too much? She had seemed normal in their texts yesterday, lighter even. But still...
Finally, he stood up, setting his cup aside. "I'll be back," he said casually, stepping out into the garden where the noise of the house softened into background hums. He scrolled through his phone, hit her name, and pressed the video call button.
It rang four, five times before her face appeared on screen.
"Hi," she said, breathless, as if she'd been rushing around.
"Hey," Dhruv replied. For a second, it was awkward. Neither knew exactly what to say. Then Dhruv gave a small shrug, as if brushing off the silence. "All set?"
"Almost," Vaani said, panning her camera briefly. He caught glimpses of open suitcases, clothes tossed around. "Just trying to find a dress. I think I underpacked."
Dhruv's lips twitched into an amused smirk. "Check your bag properly. You'll find something. You always do."
"Yeah, that's what I'm doing, I just—" She froze mid-sentence, her hands stopping on a folded fabric. Slowly, she pulled it out. The pastel pink dress.
Her eyes widened. "Wait... Dhruv, I... I thought I said return this."
Dhruv's expression didn't change much, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Vaani, just wear it."
She looked at him, her expressions stern, "I told you, Dhruv, to return this."
Dhruv's face stayed straight, almost causal, "Just think of it as a wedding gift from me to you."
She shook her head, almost exasperated. "Yaar, Dhruv, I told you, please—"
He cut her off, his tone firmer this time. "Vaani. I've got that for you. Use it."
There was silence for a second. She sighed, giving in. "Fine. But this is the last thing."
His smirk widened. "We'll see."
She rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest ghost of a smile tugging her lips. She was about to say something else when Dhruv interjected, "Ashok kaka has a bunch of places for you to visit."
The shift was small, but Dhruv noticed it. Her face fell for a fraction of a second, like a crack in the mask, before she quickly covered it up.
"A bunch of places? Which ones?" she asked lightly.
"I don't know," Dhruv admitted. "He sent me a list, told me to forward it to you."
"Okay," she said after a pause. "I'll consider it."
Her voice was calm, but something about her eyes bothered him.
Then she tilted her head. "Are you not at your house?"
"I am at my house," he said.
"No, I meant the other house."
Dhruv leaned back slightly. "No, Vaani. I'm not at our house. I'm with Mom and Dad." He hesitated a beat before adding, "Ashok kaka and Geeta aatya are here too."
He didn't miss it this time. The tiniest shift in her expression. Not panic, not anger — but something that looked like a guard being raised. And then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"Oh, that's good," she said, smiling. "A full house."
"Yeah," Dhruv murmured, studying her face.
There was a beat of silence. Then he asked, "Vaani."
"Hm?"
"Did something happen at the lunch a few days back?"
Her eyes flickered, almost like she'd been caught off guard. For a second, she looked straight at him, searching his face. And then, with a careful smile, she said, "No. Nothing."
Dhruv didn't buy it for a second. She was lying. He could see it in the stiffness of her shoulders, the way she'd answered too quickly. But before he could push further, her room door opened and Naina's voice came flooding in.
"Vans, let's go! You aren't even ready yet, come on, cab will come in 10 minutes!"
"Oh—haan, haan, yes, I'll get ready," Vaani replied, scrambling. She turned to her phone. "Oh, hi Dhruv jiju!" Naina waved. "Hello! Sorry, we need to steal your wife."
Dhruv chuckled, masking his irritation at being interrupted. "Sure. Have fun."
"Bye," Vaani said quickly, and cut the call.
Dhruv lowered his phone, staring at the garden hedge in front of him. The silence pressed down heavier than before.
She had lied. He was certain of it now.
Whatever had happened at that family lunch, it had changed something in her. And while Jaya was safe in his mind, and his father too, he couldn't shake the firm suspicion that the answer lay with Geeta.
~·~
Vaani stood in front of the villa's tall mirror, her fingers brushing down the length of the pastel pink dress. It hugged her gently in all the right places, falling just above her knees, with sleeves that stopped just shy of her elbows. Not flashy, not over the top—just a dress that felt like her.
She tilted her head slightly, letting her loose curls frame her face.
A quick flick of eyeliner, a sweep of blush across her cheeks, and a soft lip tint—nothing elaborate, but enough to make her feel fresh and confident.
When she finally stepped back, she had to admit, she liked what she saw.
She smiled faintly to herself. Maybe he was right.
Maybe I should just wear it without overthinking so much.
By the time she stepped out into the villa's living room, her friends were waiting, scrolling through their phones and sipping on iced coffees.
"Finally!" Simran said dramatically, her eyes widening when she took in Vaani's outfit. "Oh my God, Vans, that dress—"
"Bro," Naina cut in, "you look amazing. Like straight-up Pinterest inspo."
Ria clasped her hands together. "We are definitely taking pictures of you today. No excuses."
Vaani laughed, shaking her head. "I knew you three were going to gang up on me."
"Of course," Simran grinned. "That's what besties are for."
They piled into a cab and soon the city roads gave way to winding hills and open landscapes.
The Georgian countryside stretched endlessly around them—lush green hills rolling against the horizon, dotted with clusters of wildflowers.
The early afternoon light made everything look soft, almost dreamlike.
When they finally got down at one of the viewpoints, the air hit Vaani like a refreshing wave. Cool, crisp, with the faint smell of earth and grass. She closed her eyes for a second, breathing it in.
"Okay, Vans, camera out," Ria ordered, pulling her towards the wooden railing that overlooked the hills.
"No, no, you guys first," Vaani protested.
"Not happening," Simran said, already adjusting the camera. "You're glowing in this dress. You're going first."
Vaani chuckled, giving in. She leaned against the railing, her hair blowing softly in the wind.
"Turn a little," Naina guided. "Yes, that's it—perfect."
Click. Click. Click.
They made her pose in half a dozen ways—sitting on the railing, standing with her back to the view, laughing candidly as they made silly jokes.
When Ria showed her the pictures, Vaani's eyes widened. "These actually turned out good."
"'Actually?'" Ria scoffed. "Vans, you have to post these. People need to see."
Vaani bit her lip, smiling softly. "We'll see."
The rest of the day melted into laughter and chatter. They wandered through cobblestone streets, stopped at roadside cafes, tasted wine at a local vineyard. Simran insisted they try the traditional khachapuri, and Vaani's delighted hum after the first bite had her friends laughing.
"This is so good," she said, her eyes sparkling.
"Georgia trip officially approved by Vans," Naina announced, making them all burst into giggles.
Back in Dubai, Dhruv sat on the living room sofa with his laptop open, though he wasn't truly working. His eyes flickered occasionally to the family gathered around.
Geeta was telling Jaya about a puja she attended last week, her tone light, her face animated. Ashok nodded every now and then, adding details, while Mahesh sipped on his tea. To anyone else, it looked like a normal conversation.
But Dhruv wasn't listening to the words. He was watching her.
The tilt of her chin when she spoke. The way she glanced at Jaya, then at him, almost measuring reactions. It was subtle, but there was something calculated about it.
It has to be her, he thought. Something she said at that lunch... it got into Vaani's head.
But what? What could have been said that made Vaani pull back, made her go quiet around him?
Dhruv's fingers drummed lightly on his knee. His instincts screamed at him that it was connected, but he couldn't outright ask Geeta. If he did, she'd deny it, maybe twist it into something else.
He needed to be sure. He needed Vaani to confirm.
His jaw tightened slightly, though outwardly he looked relaxed, almost detached as he scrolled on his phone. His eyes caught a notification.
Vaani had posted another story.
He tapped it open. It was a scenic view, with a selfie of her and her friends against a backdrop of green hills, hair caught in the breeze, their smiles lighting up in a way that made his chest tighten for reasons he couldn't quite explain. She looked free, radiant.
And she hadn't posted it just for fun. He could almost sense her friends behind the camera, coaxing her to post the selfie.
Without realizing it, a faint smile tugged at his lips. But just as quickly, his mind circled back. That smile, that light—why did she dim it around him?
"Dhruv beta, do you want more tea?" Jaya's voice broke his thoughts.
He looked up, blinking. "No, Ma, I'm fine."
Geeta turned towards him with a polite smile. "You must be missing Vaani. She's young, after all. These trips, this time away—she needs it."
Dhruv studied her face for a moment, the way she said it. There was no malice in her tone now, but something about the emphasis on young made him narrow his eyes. What did she mean by time away?
"Of course," he said evenly, giving nothing away.
Inside, though, the suspicion cemented further. Geeta had said something. Something that had cut deeper into Vaani than she was willing to admit.
And Dhruv wasn't going to rest until he uncovered it.
Meanwhile in Georgia, the girls were still exploring, laughter echoing across the hills as they clicked pictures, tried local sweets, and soaked in the cool evening breeze.
At one point, as the sun started to dip lower, casting a golden glow across the valley, Simran nudged Vaani. "Hey, send one of these to Dhruv. He should see what he's missing."
Vaani chuckled softly, shaking her head. "He'll see them anyway."
But later, as she scrolled through her gallery, she hesitated over one of her own solo shots—her leaning on the railing, smiling genuinely. After a moment, she set it as her story.
Back in Dubai, Dhruv saw it instantly. And even though the weight of his questions pressed heavier than ever, for a brief second, he just let himself admire the way she looked—happy, alive, and entirely herself.
~·~
Dinner was served at eight sharp. Jaya had gone out of her way to prepare everyone's favorites: palak paneer, dal tadka, aloo gobhi, and a stack of hot phulkas.
The dining table felt fuller than it had in a long time—Jaya at one end, Mahesh at the other, Ashok and Geeta on either side, with Dhruv in between.
The hum of conversation rose easily at first. Ashok recounted a funny story from his office days, Mahesh threw in a witty remark, and Jaya kept fussing over everyone's plates, spooning more food before anyone could refuse.
But Dhruv wasn't fully there. His eyes flickered discreetly across the table. He watched Geeta as she delicately tore her roti, dipping it in dal. She was laughing at something Ashok said, but it seemed measured, careful.
How do I draw her out? Dhruv thought, chewing slowly. He needed to push just enough to see her guard slip.
He took a sip of water and spoke casually. "By the way, Aatya, did you enjoy the lunch the other day? The one at our place."
Geeta looked up, blinking. "Of course. It was lovely. Jaya always makes such wonderful food. Plus we missed the wedding and the reception - we needed to see Vaani too."
"Hmm." Dhruv nodded, as if satisfied. Then, almost too casually, he added, "Vaani was very quiet after that lunch. I wondered if she was tired or something."
Geeta's spoon froze for a fraction of a second before she smiled again. "Oh, these young girls nowadays get drained so easily. Socializing, work, house... it's a lot for them."
Her tone was sympathetic on the surface, but Dhruv caught the faintest edge beneath it. Something dismissive. Young girls nowadays.
He leaned back slightly in his chair. "True. she's usually lively. She wasn't even laughing at my dad's bad jokes. That's saying something."
Mahesh looked up indignantly. "Excuse me, my jokes are excellent."
Everyone laughed, including Geeta. The moment shifted, but Dhruv noticed it. That pause. That flicker in her eyes when he mentioned Vaani being quiet.
There. That's it. She knows.
Jaya, oblivious, spoke up. "Vaani has been managing so much lately, Dhruv. Work deadlines, her friends' trips, packing. Maybe she's just stretched thin."
"Maybe," Dhruv said, but his tone was distant.
Geeta dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "Still, I suppose it's natural. Vaani is adjusting. Every woman does. Some take it in stride, others..." She trailed off with a little shrug, as though she hadn't meant to say anything heavy.
But Dhruv's jaw tightened. He recognized that kind of language. It was the same patronizing sympathy people used when they actually wanted to criticize.
He decided to push, carefully. "Adjusting to what, Aatya?" he asked, voice light.
She looked at him, her eyes wide in practiced innocence. "Oh, just... adjusting to married life, family life. You know, she comes from a different home, a different environment. These things take time."
Ashok nodded in agreement. "Your Aatya is right. Every new bride goes through that."
Jaya added, "Yes, but Vaani is managing beautifully. She fits right in."
Geeta smiled faintly. "Yes, yes, of course. She's a sweet girl."
But Dhruv caught it again—the tone. The unspoken but.
He didn't press further. Not yet. Instead, he leaned back, his expression unreadable as the conversation moved on to travel plans, the monsoon rains, and a neighbor's son who was apparently getting engaged.
Inside, though, his mind was racing.
She said something. Something at that lunch that cut Vaani deep. She hasn't said it here, but I know it's there. That pause, that tone—it's too deliberate.
Later, after dinner, Jaya insisted everyone sit in the living room for chai. Dhruv excused himself under the pretense of checking a work email and stepped onto the balcony with his phone. The night air was heavy with the smell of rain-soaked earth.
He unlocked his phone and, almost instinctively, opened Instagram. Vaani had posted another story—this time a group picture of her and the girls standing against a backdrop of grapevines, glasses of wine raised high in the air.
Her smile was radiant. No trace of the heaviness he had seen in the days after that lunch.
He stared at it for a long time.
So she's fine there. Happy, laughing, carefree. Which means it wasn't me she's upset with. It's this house. Something—or someone—here.
His chest tightened. He had a name now. Geeta. And yet, without proof, without hearing it from Vaani's mouth, he couldn't confront anyone. He wouldn't.
Because this wasn't just about ego. This was about protecting her.
Back inside, the others were still chatting. Geeta was telling a story from her college days, animated and dramatic, and everyone laughed along. Dhruv sank into a chair quietly, his face calm.
But as he sipped his chai, his mind sharpened into focus.
Three more days till she's back. Three more days till I can hear it from her. But until then... I'll watch. I'll listen. And I'll be ready.
Across from him, Geeta caught his eye briefly. She smiled, polite and warm.
Dhruv smiled back, equally polite. But behind his eyes was something steadier, firmer—resolve.
Because no matter how long it took, he would find out exactly what Geeta had said to Vaani.
And then he would decide what to do about it.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Vaani and her friends were still laughing under fairy lights strung across a small outdoor café. A live band played softly in the background, and the girls clinked glasses again, capturing another round of pictures.
"Okay, okay," Simran said, scrolling through her phone. "Tomorrow we're going up to that old fortress. Vans, you're wearing this dress again."
"No way," Vaani laughed. "One Instagram post is enough."
"Not when you look that good," Naina teased.
Vaani just shook her head, smiling. For the first time in weeks, she felt light. The air here was fresh, her friends were loud, and for a little while, she could push away the sting of that lunch, the memory of words she couldn't forget.
But even as she laughed, somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew the silence waiting for her back home.
And the thought of facing Dhruv's calm, questioning eyes again made her heart squeeze.
Because sooner or later, he was going to ask. And this time, she wouldn't be able to lie.
~·~
Vaani's room was bathed in the glow of the evening lights strung along the villa balcony.
The girls had gone down to explore a small night market nearby, leaving Vaani to herself for a few quiet moments.
She perched on the edge of her bed, her outfit to sleep ready resting on the bed.
Pulling out her phone, she decided to post one of the photos she had taken with her friends earlier—her laughter caught mid-moment, the soft Georgian hills behind her, the sunlight spilling over the green slopes.
Her fingers hovered over the screen as she selected the image, checking it once more.
The dress fit her perfectly, the color highlighting her smile, and she felt a swell of pride.
She had picked it herself this time, no interference, no compromises.
With a small, happy sigh, she hit "post," her smile widening as the upload finished.
Almost immediately, the usual flurry of notifications began. Fifteen minutes later, her phone buzzed insistently. She picked it up, curious, and saw it:
Her smile grew, faintly, but sincerely. Alongside Dhruv's like were several comments from her brothers, teasing and playful, all of which made her giggle quietly.
Meanwhile, back at the old family house, Dhruv's phone buzzed in his hand.
He was seated on the sofa with the late night cup of chai, Mahesh dozing slightly on the other side, Jaya fussing with a blanket over her knees, and Geeta and Ashok sitting across from him.
Dhruv's thumb moved almost instinctively, tapping on the notification.
The photo opened, and his eyes immediately focused on the dress.
Finally, he thought. She chose herself.
There was a small, contented curve to his lips, a soft smile that lingered as he admired her confidence. But his relaxation was short-lived. Almost as if on cue, another notification appeared: Vaani is video calling.
Dhruv picked up immediately. "Hi Vaani," he said, trying to keep his voice light.
On the other end, Vaani's face appeared, bright and cheerful, framed by her soft curls. "Dhruv hi! Look at this dress—it looks so good, right? I thought I'll show you before I changed!" she said, spinning slightly so he could see the outfit in full.
"Yes, I saw your post," he replied, smiling. He noticed the natural way she carried herself, the relaxed tone, the happiness she was exuding. It was a relief to see her normal, to hear her chatter without the undercurrent of tension that had haunted the days before she left.
She continued talking animatedly, narrating snippets from the day, her excitement spilling over as she described the hilltop photoshoot with her friends. "And then Naina made me pose again with the wine glasses, can you imagine? I felt like a total diva!"
Dhruv chuckled softly. "Sounds like fun," he said. He leaned back in his chair, listening, watching her expressions flicker across the screen.
And then, unexpectedly, Jaya and Mahesh appeared behind her in the frame. "Vaani beta, how are you?" Jaya's cheerful voice echoed, and Mahesh waved enthusiastically.
Vaani smiled at them, her tone warm and casual. "I'm good! Just enjoying Georgia, everything's amazing!"
Dhruv's gaze sharpened slightly. He noticed Vaani's eyes flicker toward the side of the screen, a subtle shift that only someone paying close attention would catch.
Then, almost naturally, Jaya said, "Arre, even Geeta vaihini and Ashok dada are here!"
Vaani's face, for a fraction of a second, fell. It was subtle—too subtle for anyone but Dhruv to notice—but it was there. She quickly masked it with a smile, adjusting her hair as if she hadn't just registered the news. "Yes... I know, Dhruv told me," she said, voice steady.
Jaya, oblivious to the micro-expression, clapped her hands. "Ek minta ghoshti karotey. (I'll make you two talk)" she said playfully.
And then Geeta and Ashok appeared on the screen. Ashok waved casually. "Hi Vaani, hope you're having fun. I've sent Dhruv a list of things from my trip! See if you and your friends can go there too — it was a very good experience!"
"Hi Kaka, yes... I received it," Vaani said politely, her tone clipped but polite, "I'll surely try to add it."
Geeta's eyes glinted faintly as she smiled, tilting her head. "Yes, have fun, just don't forget—you have a life here too," she said, her voice light, almost teasing. But Dhruv noticed the slight edge behind it, a subtle jab that was carefully masked as a joke.
Everyone laughed it out. Everyone except Dhruv. He could feel Geeta's eyes on Vaani, even through the shield of the screen, the stare was piercing, almost attacking.
Dhruv felt his jaw tighten slightly.
Vaani's guard went up instantly. Her posture stiffened, her hand gripping her phone a little too tightly. She masked it with a small laugh. "Haha... yes, Aatya. I'm having fun," she replied, but the faint hesitation didn't escape Dhruv's attention.
Jaya, Mahesh, and Ashok, completely unaware, laughed along. The group continued their playful chatter, oblivious to the tension under the surface, but Dhruv's mind was already running, connecting the dots.
He cleared his throat gently, breaking the fragile balance of conversation. "Anyway, Vaani... you have to go for dinner, right? You carry on, or Naina will blame me for keeping you again."
Jaya chimed in, "Yes, yes, go ahead, beta."
The other adults began to leave the frame, saying their goodbyes. Vaani let out a soft exhale as their images disappeared from the screen, giving her a moment to relax her shoulders.
She looked at Dhruv, confused. What dinner?
"I don't have any dinner to go to, Dhruv," she said softly, almost to herself.
"I know," he replied calmly. "But you needed saving." He looked at her for a second before adding on, "even if you won't say it."
She looked at him, her eyes softening. There was a brief silence, a quiet understanding passing between them, unspoken yet powerful. She smiled faintly, and for the first time, her expression was completely unguarded with him.
They looked at each other for a long moment, the kind of moment that held a thousand words. Dhruv's jaw clenched slightly, not from anger at her, but from the realization of the bigger picture—the full weight of what had been done to her.
"Umm... well, I'll sleep now," Vaani finally said, her voice small but warm.
"Yep. Goodnight," Dhruv replied, his voice steady, though his mind was anything but calm.
She smiled once more, and then cut the call. The screen went black.
Dhruv remained seated, his chai forgotten on the table beside him. His mind raced, piecing together the subtle clues: the micro-expression when Geeta and Ashok appeared, Vaani's instant guard, the faint jab disguised as a joke, the controlled smile she gave him afterward.
It all fit. Every little detail. Geeta had said something at that lunch—something pointed, something personal—and it had shaken Vaani more than anyone else realized. And now, seeing her defend herself subtly, even while laughing along with everyone else, confirmed it in Dhruv's mind.
Anger surged through him—not at Vaani, not at anyone else—but at Geeta. For underestimating how sharp and sensitive Vaani was, for trying to manipulate or tease, for interfering in something so personal. He could feel his fingers clench into fists on the arms of the chair.
She's crossed a line. I don't know why.
I'll have to deal with it.
But not now. Dhruv took a deep breath, forcing himself to sit back, trying to calm the heat in his chest. Not now.
Let Vaani enjoy her trip. I'll handle this when she's back . After she says it.
But Dhruv won't forget. Not ever.
Dhruv finished his chai in silence, his mind still racing, replaying every moment of the video call, every micro-expression, every word.
He was angry, yes—but protective, resolute, and absolutely certain of one thing: when Vaani came back, he would confront the situation.
And this time, no one would be able to hide behind smiles or jokes.
??