86
The wheels of the plane hit the tarmac with a soft thud, a ripple of motion running through the passengers as the engines roared and slowed.
The morning light seeped through the windows—soft, pale, and golden—and beyond the glass, the skyline of New York City shimmered faintly in the early haze.
Vaani blinked at the view, her heart skipping. "Oh wow," she breathed, eyes wide. "We're really here."
Beside her, Vihaan leaned forward, practically pressing his nose to the window. "Columbiaaaa, baby!" he exclaimed, punching the air with a goofy grin.
Vaani laughed. "That's so cringe, Vihaan."
"Let me be!" he shot back, still grinning. "I've been waiting for this moment my entire life."
Dhruv, sitting next to the aisle, just shook his head slightly, amused. His face, calm as ever, held a trace of something deeper—a quiet, familiar comfort. For him, stepping back into the U.S. felt strangely grounding, like a memory wrapped in air-conditioning and jet lag.
When they finally stepped out of the terminal, the humid summer air hit them full force, thick with the faint scent of coffee and concrete. The chaos of JFK buzzed around—horns, luggage wheels, the chatter of people switching between English, Spanish, Hindi, and who knew what else.
"Okay," Dhruv said, adjusting his backpack. "Cab first."
Vihaan was still twirling his boarding pass in excitement. "Oh my god, oh my god, we're here."
"Yes, thank you, you've said that five times," Vaani teased.
Dhruv flagged down a cab, his movements practiced, efficient. The yellow car pulled up with a squeak, and he opened the door for them. "Columbia University apartments," he told the driver.
The cab driver, a broad man with a thick New York accent, twisted around. "Sir, you want view A or B?"
Without missing a beat, Dhruv said, "View A."
Vaani and Vihaan glanced at each other. "What's view A?" she whispered.
Vihaan shrugged. "No clue."
Dhruv heard them but didn't comment. He just sat back, arm resting against the door, eyes tracing the streets as the cab rolled onto the freeway.
The city passed in bursts—billboards, bridges, skylines cutting through sunlight. Vihaan was glued to the window like a child, muttering, "Oh man, that's Manhattan! That's Central Park! This is insane."
Vaani smiled softly at him, but her eyes drifted to Dhruv.
He wasn't grinning or wide-eyed. He was just watching—the quiet, knowing look of someone who'd walked these roads before.
Someone who had lived pieces of his life here.
She noticed how the faintest nostalgia flickered across his face, how his fingers tapped lightly against his leg in a rhythm that seemed.
.. familiar. But she didn't say anything.
The drive took about forty minutes, the roads slowly shifting from the high energy of the city to quieter, more academic streets lined with trees and classic red-brick buildings.
When the cab stopped in front of the Columbia University Apartments, Vihaan practically jumped out. "Oh my God, look at this place!"
Vaani followed him, tilting her head up to take in the grand old fa?ade. The architecture was beautiful—ivy climbing up the walls, American flags fluttering lightly, the Columbia crest etched above the entrance.
"Wow," she whispered.
Dhruv closed the cab door after paying, tucking the receipt neatly into his wallet. "Come on," he said, grabbing one of the bags. "Reception's this way."
The lobby was bright and modern, marble floors gleaming. Students and accommodation staff moved around in a comfortable kind of rush. Dhruv walked up to the counter confidently. "Hi," he said to the receptionist. "Is Andrew around?"
The young man behind the desk looked up. "Yes, sir. One moment."
Within minutes, a middle-aged man appeared—broad shouldered, silver streaks in his hair, wearing a Columbia badge. His expression was polite at first, but the second he saw Dhruv, his face lit up.
"Oh! Oh my days! Dhruv? Is that you?"
Dhruv's mouth curved into a real smile—warm, familiar. "Hey, Andrew. Yeah, it's me."
Andrew came forward, arms wide, and clapped him on the back. "Oh, wow, it's been so long since we saw you! What, five, six years?"
"Yeah," Dhruv said, nodding. "About that long."
"What brings you back, my friend?" Andrew asked, still grinning.
Dhruv glanced behind him and gestured. "I'm here for my brother-in-law. His admission."
Vaani and Vihaan stepped forward slightly. Dhruv's tone softened when he introduced them. "This is my brother-in-law, Vihaan. He's starting his master's here."
Andrew's smile widened. "Oh, wonderful! Welcome, Vihaan. I'm Andrew, residence manager here. You'll see me around a lot."
Vihaan nodded enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you, sir! I've heard so much about the university."
"Good," Andrew said with a laugh. "I'll make sure you love it even more once you start."
Then Dhruv turned to Vaani, a faint smile tugging his lips. He stepped a little closer, slipping an arm around her shoulders casually. "And Andrew, this is my wife, Vaani."
Andrew's eyes twinkled. "Ah, the mysterious Mrs Deshmukh! Hello, dear, how are you?"
"I'm great," Vaani said, smiling warmly. "Nice to meet you, Andrew."
Andrew chuckled. "So you're the one managing this guy, huh? Dhruv was always so quiet back in the day. I used to wonder what kind of wife could handle that."
Vaani laughed softly, looking at Dhruv. "It's not that bad. He talks sometimes—when he really wants to."
Dhruv just sighed. "She talks enough for both of us," he said, deadpan.
Andrew burst out laughing. "That sounds about right. Come on then, I'll show you to your room. I'm guessing it's your family's room, Dhruv?"
Dhruv nodded, and the three followed him into the elevator.
The ride up was quiet except for Vihaan's occasional exclamation—he couldn't stop glancing at the floor numbers ticking upward.
When they reached the 10th floor, Andrew led them down a bright corridor and stopped in front of a large wooden door. He swiped his card, and the door opened with a soft click.
The studio was spacious—large windows letting in sunlight, a soft beige carpet, a double bed, a small kitchenette, and a cozy sitting area. Through the window, they could see the sprawling Columbia campus, the elegant domes and green lawns, and a slice of the Hudson River glinting at the edge.
"Wow," Vaani whispered again, stepping in. The air smelled faintly of new wood and fresh linen.
"This is beautiful," Vihaan said, setting his backpack down. "Oh my god, I can literally see Butler Library from here!"
Dhruv smiled faintly, watching his excitement. "Good. You'll probably live there anyway."
Vihaan laughed. "You're not wrong."
Andrew stood at the door, hands on his hips, looking pleased. "We just had the floors redone. You'll like it here. There's a welcome party this evening, Vihaan—nothing too formal, just a chance to meet the others."
"Sure," Vihaan said immediately. "I'd love to join."
Andrew nodded. "Perfect. Then I'll leave you guys to settle in. Dhruv—it was great seeing you again, mate."
"Same here," Dhruv said, shaking his hand. "Take care."
As Andrew left, Vaani looked at Dhruv curiously. "Did Mom Dad get the room renovated?"
He shook his head, walking toward the window. "Nope. We just own the room but have paid a fixed deposit for them to maintain it. This is all them."
"Oh I see. You remember everyone so well." she said softly, her voice somewhere between awe and affection, "Some things don't change, do they?"
He turned to her, his expression unreadable but his eyes soft. "They don't. The view's still the same. No additional buildings to block the view. Thankfully."
Vihaan was too busy opening his suitcases to notice. "Guys! I'm unpacking everything today—I can't believe this is real!"
Dhruv chuckled quietly. "Don't miss out on the events tonight, Vihaan. These are the moments you'll remember most."
Vihaan nodded, still beaming. "I won't, Jiju."
Vaani glanced out the window again, watching the city shimmer in the afternoon light. For her, it was all new—every sound, every scent, every heartbeat of this place felt alive.
And as Dhruv stood beside her, the familiar skyline reflected faintly in his eyes, she realized he wasn't just bringing Vihaan here.
He was, in a way, coming home.
~·~
The late morning sunlight had shifted into a soft golden hue that filtered through the large window of Vihaan's new studio. The gentle hum of the city outside mixed with the faint whir of the air conditioner. Inside, there was... chaos.
Bags lay half-open, clothes spilling over the edges, cardboard boxes half-torn, and bubble wrap everywhere. Vaani stood in the middle of it all, hands on her hips, surveying the battlefield with the quiet authority of a general ready to wage war.
"Alright," she said firmly. "Enough sightseeing, both of you. Let's get this room set up."
Vihaan groaned from where he was sitting cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through his phone. "We just got here, Vaani. Let's relax for a bit na. Jet lag bhi hai."
"Relax?" Vaani turned to look at him, eyebrows raised. "You're surrounded by bags and mess! You want to wake up tomorrow morning tripping over your own suitcase?"
Dhruv, who had been sitting on the couch scrolling through his emails, bit back a smile. "She has a point," he said mildly.
Vihaan made a dramatic face. "You too, Jiju?"
Vaani clapped her hands. "Chalo, let's start. Vihaan, open that big suitcase — the one with your bedsheets and the comforter. Let's first set your bed up. You'll sleep properly tonight."
Vihaan sighed, dragging himself to his feet. "You sound like Aai, you know that?"
Vaani smirked. "Good. Then you'll listen."
Dhruv stood up slowly, stretching. "What do you want me to do, boss?" he asked in a teasing tone, one corner of his mouth lifting.
"First of all," Vaani said, pointing, "that suitcase on the chair is full of Vihaan's books. Put them in that shelf by the window. Alphabetical order, okay?"
Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "Alphabetical order? We're not setting up a library."
"Still," she said, half smiling. "Let's make it look nice."
Vihaan chuckled. "This is going to be fun."
It wasn't, really — at least not for the first hour.
Vaani went into full "older sister mode," sorting clothes into piles — formals, casuals, gym wear — while Vihaan trudged around opening and closing drawers, asking every two minutes, "Where should this go?"
"Vihaan, that's the third time you've asked me where to keep your chargers!" she said, exasperated but laughing.
"Well, I have like ten of them! For different devices!" he protested.
Dhruv, meanwhile, was quietly efficient. Without saying much, he had already unpacked all the books, arranged them neatly on the shelf, and was now setting up Vihaan's desk — laptop, lamp, stationery, even the small photo frame that had been stuffed in bubble wrap.
When Vaani turned to check on him, she paused. The setup looked... perfect. Minimal, clean, functional.
"Wow," she said, impressed. "You did that fast."
Dhruv looked up, his expression calm. "I like things organized."
Vihaan snorted. "Understatement of the century."
"Hey, you'll thank me when you don't have to dig through your stuff tomorrow," Dhruv replied, deadpan.
Vaani chuckled, then pointed at a box near the window. "Okay, Vihaan, that one's your toiletries. Bathroom's through that door. Start setting that up."
"Do I have to do it now?"
"Yes."
He groaned dramatically but did as told. Vaani smiled — she'd seen this act before. It always started with protests, but by the end of the evening, Vihaan would be proud of his neatly organized space.
While he disappeared into the bathroom, Vaani turned to Dhruv again. "Can you check the cupboard? Make sure it's clean inside before we put his clothes in."
Dhruv nodded and opened the wardrobe doors. "It's spotless," he said after a quick check. "But we'll need hangers. There are only five."
"Ah, right," Vaani said. She rummaged through one of the shopping bags they'd brought and handed him a bunch. "Here. I brought extra from home."
He gave her a small nod of approval. "Always prepared."
"Someone has to be," she said with a grin.
He chuckled softly. "Fair."
Another hour passed in companionable chaos — the kind that fills new spaces with warmth. Vihaan returned from the bathroom, looking smug. "Bathroom setup, done!"
"Good," Vaani said, not looking up from folding his shirts. "Now help me with this."
He flopped down beside her, folding clothes badly on purpose until she swatted him with a t-shirt.
"Hey!" he laughed. "I'm helping!"
"You're crumpling more than you're folding!"
Dhruv watched them for a moment, his usual calm expression softening. There was something about this — the sibling banter, the faint music playing from Vihaan's phone, the sunlight spilling into the room — that felt peaceful.
"Okay," Vaani said after a while, dusting off her hands. "Clothes, done. Bathroom, done. Desk, done. Books, done. What's left?"
"Kitchen area," Dhruv said. "Snacks and stuff."
"Oh right!" she said, walking over. "Vihaan, help Jiju with that."
Vihaan obediently followed Dhruv to the kitchenette, opening cabinets and placing items neatly.
"Cereal, coffee, noodles, some Indian spices," Vihaan listed aloud, grinning. "Mom really went all out."
Dhruv smiled faintly, opening a drawer. "She just wants to make sure you're eating something real once in a while."
Vihaan laughed. "You make it sound like I live on air."
"You will, after your first midterms," Dhruv said dryly.
Vaani, still arranging small decor pieces on the table, turned and smiled. "He's right, Vihaan. Trust me. You'll end up living on instant noodles and coffee for a while."
Vihaan groaned. "Don't jinx me!"
She laughed. "It's not a jinx, it's a prophecy."
By the time they finished sorting through the food, the sun had shifted again, and the room glowed in shades of amber.
The suitcases were now empty, folded neatly under the bed.
The clothes hung in the wardrobe, shoes arranged in a perfect row, books stacked neatly, the little kitchenette looking clean and cozy.
Vaani sat down on the edge of the bed, sighing in satisfaction. "Finally," she said. "Done."
"Three hours," Dhruv noted, checking his watch. "Not bad."
Vihaan fell dramatically onto his bed, arms spread wide. "It's perfect! I love it!"
"You better," Vaani said, laughing. "You'll be living here for the next two years."
Dhruv leaned against the wall, looking around. "You've got a great place, Vihaan. Bright, open, close to campus. You'll like it."
Vihaan nodded, still lying down. "It feels... good, you know? Like the start of something new."
Vaani smiled softly. "It is."
For a moment, there was silence — comfortable and full. The hum of the city came faintly through the window, and the soft golden light bathed the room in warmth.
Dhruv broke the quiet with his usual calm tone. "You should nap for a while, Vihaan. There's that welcome party tonight."
"Right," Vihaan said, yawning. "I'll just... lie here for a bit."
Vaani looked at him fondly. "Go ahead. You've earned it."
As Vihaan's breathing slowly evened out, Dhruv walked quietly to the window, looking out over the cityscape. Vaani joined him, standing beside him.
"He's really grown up, hasn't he?" she said softly.
Dhruv nodded. "He has. But he's still got that same energy."
"Hmm." She smiled faintly. "He's going to be fine here."
"I know he will," Dhruv said quietly. Then after a moment, he added, "You did well setting this up, Vaani."
She chuckled. "Of course I did. Someone had to take charge."
He glanced at her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You like being in charge, don't you?"
"Only when no one else knows what they're doing," she said, smirking.
He laughed under his breath — that low, rare sound that always made her heart flutter unexpectedly.
"Come on," he said finally. "Let's go grab some coffee. He'll sleep better if it's quiet here."
She nodded, glancing one last time at Vihaan — peacefully asleep, surrounded by neatly arranged boxes and folded clothes.
And as they stepped out into the quiet hallway, Vaani couldn't help but smile. The room finally looked like home.
~·~
The sun hung lazily over the Manhattan skyline, spilling soft gold across the pavement as Dhruv and Vaani strolled out of Columbia's campus area.
The streets around them buzzed with life — students with tote bags, tourists snapping photos, locals sipping iced coffee from paper cups.
The city had that unmistakable hum, that rhythm that made everything feel alive.
Vaani fished her phone out of her sling bag as they walked. "I'll text Vihaan," she murmured, typing quickly:
'We've gone to get coffee. We'll come back before your party.'
She hit send, slipped her phone back into her bag, and smiled to herself.
"Did he reply?" Dhruv asked without looking at her, his gaze flicking across the street where a street artist was sketching caricatures.
"Not yet," she said, glancing at her screen. "But I'm guessing he's fast asleep. You told him to nap, remember?"
Dhruv nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "For once, he actually listened."
They turned a corner, the warm breeze carrying faint music from a nearby café. Vaani looked around, eyes wide with wonder. The brick buildings, the tree-lined sidewalks, the way sunlight bounced off the windows — everything looked pulled straight from a movie.
"This is beautiful," she said softly, almost to herself.
Dhruv's gaze followed hers, calm and steady. "It really is," he agreed.
She turned to him suddenly, eyes bright. "How far is Brooklyn Bridge from here?"
He raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "Maybe thirty minutes by walk. Why?"
Vaani grinned mischievously. "Because New York is the home of Kal Ho Naa Ho," she declared, "and I'm not leaving until I see the Brooklyn Bridge and live out my mini Bollywood fantasy."
Dhruv chuckled, shaking his head. "That's... very cringe."
"I don't care," she said cheerfully. "It's my cringe."
He just smiled — that quiet, rare smile that always came with her dramatics. "Fine," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Brooklyn Bridge it is."
They started walking again, weaving through the crowd.
Vaani kept pausing to take pictures — of murals, of street signs, of random brownstones she found "aesthetic.
" Dhruv, meanwhile, moved through the city like he'd walked these streets a hundred times before.
His steps were unhurried, his expression relaxed, but there was something in the way he glanced at corners and crossings that told her — he knew exactly where he was going.
At one point, she turned down a right lane lined with fire escapes and blooming flower boxes. "Let's go this way," she said.
"Nope," Dhruv said casually, without even glancing that way. "Dead alley."
She blinked, looked ahead — and sure enough, after a few meters, the lane ended abruptly behind a metal fence.
She turned back to him, incredulous. "But how? This right looked so genuine!"
He smirked slightly. "Welcome to New York."
Vaani sighed dramatically. "I swear, this city is out to trick tourists."
"Exactly why I'm leading," Dhruv said simply.
She gave him a mock glare. "Fine, Mr. New Yorker, what do we do now?"
He glanced sideways at her. "Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know this place, Dhruv," she said, half laughing.
He paused, nodded once, and said dryly, "Touché."
Then, without another word, he held out his hand. "Come on."
She blinked at his sudden gesture, then chuckled and slipped her hand into his. "You know, you could've just said 'follow me.'"
"I like this better," he said simply.
Her heart did a quiet little flip at that, but she didn't reply — just squeezed his hand a little and let him lead the way.
They walked for a while, the afternoon heat giving way to a soft breeze. They passed bookshops, cafés, tiny delis that smelled of bagels and coffee, street musicians playing soft jazz. Vaani's phone buzzed then — a message from Vihaan.
She opened it quickly. 'Tai I'm going for the party!'
She smiled and immediately hit call.
"Vihaan!" she said as soon as he answered. "Will you be fine?"
"Yes, Tai," came his slightly sleepy but cheerful voice. "Don't worry. I met this guy — my neighbor. We're going together."
"Oh, that's great," she said, relief coloring her tone. "Do you want us to come back before you leave?"
Vihaan thought for a second. "Up to you, Tai."
Dhruv reached out and gently took the phone from her hand. "Hey, bud," he said, his tone calm and steady.
"Hey, Jiju!" Vihaan replied enthusiastically.
"We're about thirty, forty minutes away from you," Dhruv said. "Our bag's already in our hotel, so we don't need to come if you're heading out."
"Okay, yeah," Vihaan said. "You guys come tomorrow morning then, we'll go see the campus properly."
"Done, champ," Dhruv said with a small smile. "If you need anything, Andrew's always around. Don't hesitate to ask him, okay?"
"Got it, Jiju. Thanks!"
"Good. Have fun tonight," Dhruv said, and they hung up.
He slipped the phone back into her hand. "He's fine."
Vaani nodded, exhaling softly. "Good. That makes me feel better."
Dhruv looked ahead at the street before them, the light glinting in his eyes. "We're on our own for the rest of the day."
Vaani stretched her arms and groaned lightly. "I don't know about you, but I'm really tired."
"Same," he said immediately, without missing a beat. "Let's head back."
She smiled, amused at how matter-of-fact he sounded. "You're not even going to ask if I want to walk more?"
He shot her a sidelong glance, his voice carrying quiet humor. "You just said you're tired, Vaani."
"Well, I am," she admitted, chuckling. "Okay fine, hotel it is."
They turned toward the subway line that would take them back downtown, their steps falling into rhythm again. Around them, the city continued its vibrant hum — taxis honking, laughter spilling out of open cafés, the smell of fresh pretzels wafting from a cart nearby.
As they crossed a small park, Vaani glanced at him. "You really do know these streets, huh?"
Dhruv nodded slightly, his gaze distant. "I spent a few years here. All my undergrad. So everything is at the back of my mind. It's... familiar."
There was a softness in his tone that made her curious, but she didn't press. She just smiled and said, "Well, now I get my own New York chapter — thanks to you."
He looked at her then, really looked — eyes steady, warm, faintly amused. "You're welcome."
And as they continued down the quiet avenue toward their hotel, their hands brushed lightly — once, twice — before finally, naturally, settling together.
The city stretched endlessly around them — alive, electric, impossibly cinematic — but in that small moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them walking side by side through the soft, golden dusk of New York.
~·~
The hotel room hummed softly with the sound of the heater as the chill of a New York evening lingered outside.
The city's glow spilled faintly through the half-drawn curtains — a golden haze mixed with the pulse of headlights below.
Inside, Vaani stretched across the bed, her hair spilling over the white sheets as she exhaled a satisfied sigh.
"Wowww," she said dramatically, holding her arms out like she was embracing the air itself. "The cold air is so much better than Dubai's heat right now."
Dhruv, lying beside her, chuckled — that quiet, chest-deep laugh she loved. He was already half-reclined against the pillows, one arm behind his head, the other holding his phone. The faint blue light reflected in his glasses as he scrolled lazily through something — emails, maybe, or the news.
Vaani turned to look at him. "You're not even listening to me, are you?"
"I am," he said, eyes still on the phone. "You said Dubai is hot, which it always is. Very new information."
"Dhruv!" she said in mock offense, swatting his arm.
He chuckled again but didn't look up.
She leaned closer, pouting dramatically. "Okay, enough screen time."
"Just two minutes," he murmured.
"No," she said firmly, grabbing the phone from his hand.
"What happened?" he asked, half-amused, half-confused, reaching for it.
"Talk to me," she said simply, hiding the phone behind her.
He blinked, then sighed — the kind of resigned sigh that came when he knew there was no escaping her. He sat up properly, crossed his legs on the bed, and faced her. "Fine," he said with exaggerated seriousness. "Boliye, ma'am."
She bit back a grin. "Don't make fun."
"Not making fun," he said, suppressing a smile. "Conversation mode: on. What's up?"
She studied him for a second — his calm expression, the faint tiredness in his eyes, the way he'd been quietly taking everything in since they'd landed. Then she said softly, "You're happy, na?"
He tilted his head slightly. "I am. Why?"
She smiled, her voice gentle. "You just look happy. Happier than usual."
Dhruv's lips curved into a small smile — one of those quiet, genuine ones that rarely appeared. "Maybe I am," he said simply.
Vaani watched him for another moment before murmuring, "It looks like you've come home, Dhruv."
That made him pause. He sat back a little, exhaled, his eyes softening as memories flickered somewhere behind them. "It feels that way," he admitted quietly. "I spent three years of my undergrad here... walking these streets, living in this madness. Feels... amazing to be back."
Vaani smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Tell me more about it."
He raised an eyebrow. "It's just college life, Vaani."
"So? Tell me."
"Or," he said teasingly, "you could go to sleep, and I could—"
"Nope!" she cut in, folding her arms. "I'm not sleeping until you tell me something fun about your New York days."
He gave her that resigned look again — the same one he'd given when she'd forced him to take selfies at the airport. "Fine," he said eventually. "You really want to hear one?"
She nodded eagerly. "Of course."
He leaned back a bit, thinking. "Okay," he began slowly.
"There was this one time, during my final semester.
My roommate, Amit, had this crazy idea — he wanted to celebrate after our last exam by going to this pub in the Lower East Side called 'The Velvet Tap.
' It was a tiny place, nothing fancy. But everyone went there — students, locals, random tourists. "
Vaani's eyes sparkled. "Go on."
"So, we all went," Dhruv continued, his tone softening with nostalgia.
"There were five of us — Amit, Claire, Nate, Sara, and me.
The place was packed. We barely found a table.
Amit decided he'd impress the bartender by ordering something called a 'Midnight Manhattan,' except he didn't realize it had three different kinds of whiskey. "
"Oh no," Vaani laughed. "Please tell me he didn't drink it all."
"He did," Dhruv said dryly. "And then he decided he could sing."
Vaani clapped a hand over her mouth, giggling. "You're joking!"
"I wish I was," Dhruv said, shaking his head. "He got up on this small platform near the jukebox and started singing — terribly, mind you — 'Wonderwall.' The entire pub joined in, though. People were clapping, cheering. It turned into this random, chaotic karaoke night."
She was laughing so hard now she had to hold her stomach. "Oh my god! I can't imagine you there — what were you doing?"
"I was sitting in a corner," he said, a hint of amusement flickering in his voice, "with my one pint, regretting every friendship choice I'd made."
"Liar," she said between laughs. "You were enjoying it, weren't you?"
He gave a small shrug. "Maybe a little."
"Just a little?"
He chuckled. "Fine. A lot. It was... good fun. One of those nights that stick with you, you know? The kind that only make sense when you're young and have no idea where life's taking you."
Vaani smiled, her laughter fading into something softer. "That's... actually really sweet."
Dhruv looked at her, a faint glimmer in his eyes. "Yeah. It was a good time."
She rested her chin on her hand, watching him for a beat. "Can we go there tomorrow?"
He blinked. "To the pub?"
"Yes!" she said excitedly. "The Velvet Tap. I want to see where you had your 'college chaos moment.'"
He chuckled. "You want to see a random pub from five years ago?"
"Yup."
He shook his head, amused. "Let's see. If Vihaan's all settled, maybe we'll go."
"Promise?" she said, her voice playful but hopeful.
"Promise," he said, smiling faintly.
Vaani grinned and sank back into the bed, clearly satisfied. "Okay, deal."
Dhruv watched her for a second — the way her smile lingered even as she closed her eyes, the way her energy filled every room, even when she was half-asleep. Then he leaned closer and said softly, "Chalo, go sleep now."
"Mmhmm," she murmured, eyes still closed. "Only if you will."
"I will," he said quietly, turning off the lamp beside him.
The room slipped into darkness, save for the faint light from the city outside.
Vaani turned slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You really do love this city, don't you?"
Dhruv smiled into the darkness. "I do," he said simply. "But maybe... I like it a little more now."
She smiled softly, though he couldn't see it. "Goodnight, Dhruv."
"Goodnight, Vaani."
And as the hum of New York drifted faintly through the window — taxis, distant sirens, laughter from the street below — they both drifted into sleep, each carrying their own quiet warmth: hers from the excitement of the day, and his from the simple, unspoken joy of coming home, with her beside him.
??