CHAPTER 61! CLOSE #3
Aadhira instantly choked on her food. Coughing softly, she shot an embarrassed look at Ayaan, then at Dadi, opening her mouth to explain. "Dadi actually..."
Before she could, Dadi smiled warmly and cut in. "Aadhira, you are married to him, baccha. It is your right-why are you explaining yourself?"
The younger ones in the room, however, had entirely different plans.
Tara clutched her heart, looking deeply betrayed. "Aadhira, you hurt me! I thought you would choose me as your safe haven!"
Reyansh snorted. "Honestly, I thought she would jump off a mountain before voluntarily going into Bhai's room."
Arush, Arjun, and Myra instantly joined in with amused jeers and teasing comments.
Overwhelmed by the sudden crossfire, Aadhira looked across the table at Aryav, who was calmly spreading butter on his toast, looking completely unbothered.
She fixed him with a sharp glare that silently demanded: Stop them right now.
Aryav didn't even lift his eyes, but his voice cut through the noise effortlessly. "Reyansh. Eat your breakfast."
It was just four words, delivered with flat, unquestionable authority. The table fell into an instant, obedient silence before Tara finally broke it with a dramatic clearing of her throat.
"Anyway! There's the birthday soon!" Tara called out, setting down her glass of juice.
Ayaan grinned, soaking in the sudden pivot of collective family attention.
Aadhira took her seat, shifting carefully to avoid stirring the mild ache in her lower back.
Across the table, Aryav's gaze dropped briefly to her guarded movement before returning to his plate. He said nothing, but the silent acknowledgment was almost heavier than a question.
"Wait a second," Arush said, setting his spoon down with a clink.
"Ayaan's birthday is in a week."
Ayaan's eyes lit up instantly. "Party!"
The table erupted into laughter.
"Of course we're having a party," Tara said, leaning forward. "Why don't we host it here this year? We always rent a venue, but the lawn is big enough."
Arush looked directly toward Aryav. "Bhai You'd allow the entire Singhania house to be turned upside down?"
Aryav continued eating, utterly unbothered.
"That's not an answer," Arjun remarked.
Aryav finally looked up, his expression unreadable. "As long as no one touches my study."
A wave of amused groans and laughter went around the table.
"Deal!" Tara declared. "Full decorations, family, friends, classmates-the works."
For the next ten minutes, the table dissolved into a chaotic crossfire of overlapping ideas about themes, caterers, and the size of the cake.
Aadhira sat back, watching her son's excitement. The warmth of the room was comforting.
Eventually, Arjun leaned back, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Alright, we can finalize the party details later. What's the plan for today?"
"Pool day," Reyansh offered immediately.
"I'm in," Tara said.
"Count me in too," Arush agreed.
As the enthusiasm spread, Aadhira spoke up quickly. "You guys go ahead. I'm going to stay inside and rest today."
"No chance," Reyansh countered instantly. "You're not skipping out on us."
"I'm not skipping out, Reyansh. I'm just tired."
"Then you can rest on a lounge chair by the pool," Arjun chimed in. "You don't even have to get in the water. Just come hang out."
"Come on, Aadhira," Tara pushed gently. "It'll be nice outside."
Aadhira opened her mouth to refuse again, but as the group kept pressing, her eyes found Aryav's almost against her will.
He was already watching her. There was no anger in his face-just that infuriating, quiet certainty she had begun to recognize so well.
Don't, his silent gaze commanded.
Go upstairs and Rest.
Aadhira looked away from him, reaching for her glass of water.
"Fine," she said to the room. "I'll join you."
Ayaan cheer went up around the table.
"Yes! Pool day!"
"Hold your horses," Myra interrupted, pointing a spoon at Ayaan. "You still have school today, young man."
Ayaan let out a dramatic sigh, but conceded with a quiet, "Fine."
They went back to arguing over music speakers and floats.
Aadhira felt the weight of Aryav's gaze before she looked up. He was watching her, his dark eyes fixed on the hand still pressed against her ribs.
"You don't want to go," Aryav said softly. His voice barely carried over the noise of Tara and Reyansh debating playlists.
"They're excited," she murmured. "I don't feel like saying no to them."
Aryav said nothing.
Around them, Arjun yelled something about charcoal for the grill.
Aadhira lowered her head slightly. "I'll sit outside. I don't have to swim."
"You're tired."
"Yes."
"Then stay."
"I don't want to ruin their morning," she said.
Aryav looked at her for a long, silent second. He picked up his mug, taking a quiet sip before setting it back down.
"Learn to say no sometimes."
Aadhira opened her mouth to argue, then closed it.
Across the table, Tara slammed her hands on the wood. "We need the big yellow floaties!"
Aadhira looked back at Aryav. "I'll sit out for half an hour. That's all."
His jaw worked slightly, but he didn't press. "If you're tired, you come back up."
"I will."
"Don't make me carry you inside in front of them."
She gave him a sharp look. "You wouldn't dare."
His mouth barely moved.
"You've underestimated me before."
Beneath the table, out of sight from the rest of the room, a large, warm hand reached across the small gap between their chairs.
His fingers found hers.
He squeezed once. Then he let go.
Aryav reached for his coffee again, his attention shifting smoothly back to Arjun's debate about the grill.
Aadhira sat quietly, her hand resting on her lap where his heat still lingered.
Outside, the morning sun beat down on the pool, bright and loud. She stayed right where she was.
For one brief second, Aadhira remembered the night before.
Don't bring this up tomorrow.
He hadn't. Not once. He hadn't mentioned her tears, the way she'd held him, or the quiet desperation in her voice when she'd asked him to hold her.
He had simply gotten her son ready for school and sat beside her at breakfast as though her vulnerability had never been something he could use against her.
Something inside her loosened.
He had kept his promise.