Chapter 25
Kavya
Disoriented. That’s what I feel as my eyes flutter open to the soft light filtering through the room. The unfamiliar surroundings make my heart skip a beat, and panic begins to set in, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. Suddenly feeling numb and unable to move an inch, I close my eyes as the memories of last night come rushing back — meeting Suman, and then ending up at Reyansh’s house to meet Officer Viraj.
I sit up abruptly , clutching the blanket to my chest as my eyes roam around the luxurious room. I take in the opulent furnishings, soft lighting, plush carpets, and tasteful decor. The white walls are adorned with beautiful artwork and framed photos of Reyansh and his family. But it’s not the lavish surroundings that make my heart race and my breath hitch—it’s the realisation that I’m in Reyansh’s bedroom.
But how the hell did I end up here? The last thing I remember, I was on the couch, waiting for him to come back after seeing Officer Viraj off . Damn it—I’ve been so exhausted and distracted lately that I can’t even remember how I got here. As I mentally scold myself for being so careless, I suddenly jolt upright as a thought hits me. Oh shit. Sunita Aunty. How could I forget? She’s probably at home, worried sick, wondering where I am.
Just as I’m about to throw the blanket off and get out of bed, the door swings open. I freeze mid-motion, my heart doing flip flop as Reyansh walks in. I swallow hard as his eyes land on mine, and a tender smile plays on his lips, instantly waking up all the butterflies in my stomach. And just to make things worse for my poor, palpitating heart, he looks unbelievably handsome, dressed casually in sweatpants and a t-shirt—so at ease, yet so ridiculously attractive.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he greets me with that sexy voice of his as he comes to stand beside the bed.
I grip the blanket between my fingers, pulling it up to my chest. “How... how did I get here?” I manage to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.
He plops on the bed next to me , a smile playing on his lips . “You were tired and fell asleep on the couch, and I didn’t have the heart to wake you up. So I carried you here,” he whispers, brushing a strand of hair from my face and making me break out in goosebumps.
“Oh, thanks,” I murmur, avoiding eye contact with him. I glance around the room . “I need to get going —Aunty must be worried about me.”
“Don’t worry,” he says calmly. “I called Aunty and told her you’re here with me.” My head snaps toward him , my mind scrambling for words , not knowing what to say. Then, he adds, “ I’ll drop you home soon , but before that, we need to talk.”
A wave of anxiety hits me, my mind racing with thoughts of what he might want to discuss. God, what must he think of me? What kind of a woman I am—crashing at his house, in his bed? Before he can utter a word, I hastily blurt out, “Reyansh, I’m sorry if I made things awkward last night. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on your couch. Everything just happened so fast—” I say softly, my cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
“Kavya, relax,” he interrupts softly, cupping my face and holding my gaze, sensing my unease. “Having you in my space, in my bed, seeing you sleep peacefully, admiring you... I can’t even describe how right it feels. Even though I wish the circumstances were different, I wouldn’t change a thing about having you here. It’s the purest sense of peace I’ve ever felt.”
I bite my lips nervously. “It’s still not right for me to be here. This isn’t how people will perceive it. What if... what if they think...?”
Reyansh’s gaze softens as he leans closer. “Nothing happened between us, Kavya. It was completely innocent, and even if it did, it’s nobody’s business but ours. All that truly matters to me is you. I need you to understand that you’re safe with me, no matter what.”
“But... what about the people who matter to you? Your parents? What if they find out? What will they think of me?” I stammer, my voice trembling. I can’t ignore the harsh truth of living in a society where everything is judged in black and white, where perceptions are formed quickly, and gossip spreads like wildfire. Unfortunately, it is beyond our control to silence everyone. The mere thought of rumors spreading makes my stomach churn. I close my eyes, willing myself to steady the rising wave of anxiety.
“Kavya, look at me,” Reyansh’s grip tightens on my cheeks, and I open my eyes to meet his gaze, swallowing nervously. “My parents won’t be upset. They know I’m an adult, capable of making my own decisions. Besides, they already adore you. Trust me, their opinion of you is already formed, and it’s a positive one. And that’s never going to change.”
His words slowly ease the knot of worry inside me, and I take a deep breath. “I just... I didn’t expect this. It’s so overwhelming.”
Reyansh nods. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but remember when we talked about giving us a real chance? This is part of it—us being together, trusting each other, and facing things head-on.”
I nod slowly. “I get that. I am just... not used to this.”
“You’ll get there,” he reassures me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close as he kisses my forehead. “And tonight, I’ve planned something special that’s a step forward in our relationship. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about before you got caught up in feeling embarrassed about being here.”
I pull back slightly, my nervousness resurfacing as I look at him, wondering what he has planned. “What is it?”
“Dinner at my parents’ house,” he says, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I want you to meet them officially as my girlfriend. They’ve been longing to meet you, and I think it’s time.”
My eyes widen at the thought of meeting Reyansh’s parents, and even more so, as his girlfriend. My initial nervousness is now replaced with a different kind of panic.
“Girlfriend?” I ask, completely mortified.
He shrugs. “Well, I would love to introduce you as more than my girlfriend, but for now, I have to settle for that.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know if I can do this. What if they don’t like me?”
Reyansh chuckles. “Didn’t you hear the part where I told you they already adore you, Kavya?”
“Reyansh I can’t—” I start to protest, searching for an excuse, any excuse, to back out of this, but Reyansh cuts me off.
“Kavya, don’t shut me out,” he pleads.
His words shatter my last resolve, and I take a deep breath before nodding. A smile spreads across his face as I rest my head against his chest and feel his arms wrap around me, pulling me closer.
Feeling his heartbeat beneath my ear fills me with a sense of confidence, and in that moment, a sense of calm washes over me. With Reyansh by my side, I’m ready to face whatever comes our way, starting with meeting his family.
???
“It’s so wonderful to see you, dear,” Reyansh’s mom exclaims, pulling me into a tight, warm hug as soon as I step into the house.
My heart races, not just from the embrace but also from the whirlwind of emotions bubbling within me . Meeting Reyansh’s parents was something I knew would happen sooner or later. It was inevitable. While part of me feels it might be too soon, deep down, I know it’s the right time. It wouldn’t be fair to keep pushing Reyansh away, even if it’s nerve-wracking for me.
Also, when I told Sunita Aunty that I would be meeting Reyansh’s parents officially, she was on cloud nine. She was thrilled that Reyansh was encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone, and her happiness for me was palpable.
“Hello, Aunty,” I greet Reyansh’s mom with a shy smile, feeling a bit like it’s our first meeting all over again, even though I know it’s not . But now, being seen as Reyansh’s girlfriend adds a whole new layer of nerves .
“You look absolutely beautiful,” she says, gently cupping my face, her eyes softening as she gazes at me.
Blushing, I lower my gaze, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind my ear . “Thank you, Aunty,” I murmur.
“Mom, if you’re done showering your love on Kavya, I’m also here, waiting for you to notice me,” Reyansh chimes in, smiling warmly at his mom.
“Stop complaining, son. You know I have enough love for both of you,” Reyansh’s mom chuckles before pulling Reyansh into a hug. “You’re both special to me,” she adds, patting his cheeks, her eyes twinkling with affection as she glances between us.
Reyansh’s face softens as he nods before gently kissing his mom’s cheek. “I know, Mom.”
We all settle comfortably on the couch. I’m seated next to Reyansh’s mom while Reyansh settles on the couch across from us. Just then, the house help arrives with drinks and appetizers. As I sip my juice, I can’t help but admire the exquisite interiors surrounding me . It’s a beautifully decorated space that exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere, clearly reflecting Reyansh’s mom’s love and attention to detail throughout the house.
“Do you like chicken? I’ve prepared chicken spinach curry with ghee rice,” Reyansh’s mom asks me.
“I love chicken, and your chicken spinach curry sounds delicious,” I reply with a smile.
“I thought you hated greens?” Reyansh remarks, raising his eyebrows at me, more of a statement than a question.
I turn to him with a smile. “But if it’s made by Mom, then I know I’ll love it, even if it’s green.”
“That’s my baby,” Reyansh’s mom says with a grin, pulling my attention back to her.
Before I could respond, a deep voice echoes from the other side of the room. “Son, I need your help with the grill.”
“Coming, Dad!” Reyansh yells back before rising to his feet. He looks down at his mom with a smile. “Be good to my girl; no unleashing the ‘mother-in-law’ claws anytime soon,” he teases, causing my cheeks to redden.
Reyansh’s mom chuckles, “Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behaviour.”
Reyansh grins back, “I trust you, Mom. Just don’t scare her off!” He then turns to me and winks, “Call me if you need me or want me to whisk you away,” he says, leaving me wide-eyed and at a loss for words.
“Will you go now before your dad loses his patience? We’ll have a lovely time,” Reyansh’s mom says, shooing him away .
“See you, ladies,” he gives us both a smile before joining his dad.
“Try this? I baked it for you in my signature style, with extra walnuts,” Reyansh’s mom says, holding a piece of cake to my mouth.
My eyes glisten, and I have to blink back my tears as I open my mouth to take a bite. “This is yummy,” I say between bites as the sweet flavour bursts in my mouth.
“I am glad you like it,” she says warmly before picking up a plate of chocolate cookies. “Now, how about these?”
I smile, feeling a gentle warmth spread through me. It’s moments like these that make me reflect on my own mother and the void her absence has left. I can’t help but wonder how similar or different she would have been to Reyansh’s mom. Memories of her bring a bittersweet mix of happiness and longing, as she was the one to always bring laughter and light into our home. But now, she is no longer with me.
“So, when have you two decided to get married?” Aunty’s question interrupts my thoughts, catching me off guard. I freeze, mid-bite, and almost choke on my cookie.
“I... we...” I stammer, unsure of what to say.
“You do like my son, right?” she asks gently, sounding a bit confused.
“I do,” I reply, my cheeks heating up . “We just… haven’t really spoken about marriage yet. We’re still giving our relationship a try,” I add quietly, looking back at her.
“His mind is made up, dear. You just need to catch up! Very soon, you will be a part of our family,” she states with such confidence that a tiny shiver runs down my spine .
“We’re back,” Reyansh announces before I can fully compose myself. I glance up to see Reyansh and his dad heading in our direction.
“Hello, dear. I can see my wife has already got you all emotional,” Reyansh’s dad says as he kisses my forehead and takes a seat on my other side while Reyansh reclaims his previous seat.
I smile warmly at Reyansh’s dad. “She’s just being kind and welcoming.”
“Well, blame me all you want, but we’re just having our mother-daughter fun talk,” Reyansh’s mom quips.
“Alright, alright, wife,” Reyansh’s dad smirks. “You’ve had your turn hogging her time. Now, it’s my turn to spend some quality time with my daughter.”
Reyansh’s mom narrows her eyes at him in mock annoyance . “ Excuse me, I am not done yet! ”
My eyes well up at their endearing banter as they playfully vie for my attention. Sensing Reyansh’s gaze on me, I lift my head to meet his eyes. He silently mouths, asking if I am okay. I smile and nod in response.
The rest of the evening flows effortlessly, filled with laughter, easy conversations, and delicious food. Time seems to fly by , and before I know it, it’s nearly ten o’clock . Although I didn’t want our time together to end, I had to get home. Half-heartedly, I bid Reyansh’s parents goodbye with a promise of meeting again soon before slipping into Reyansh’s car.
A smile lingers on my face as he drives me home, cherishing the memories of a wonderful evening with his parents.
“Did you have a good time?” Reyansh asks, glancing at me briefly before returning his attention to the road as he drives .
“I did. I absolutely love your parents,” I tell him with a smile. And it’s not a lie. I genuinely adore them; they are my definition of a perfect family.
“ I’m really happy you enjoyed yourself, and I am even happier that you like them ,” Reyansh replies, placing his hand on mine in my lap and giving it a gentle squeeze. “And they love you just as much as they love me, you know,” he adds, making me smile even more.
“I know they do,” I whisper, leaning back against the headrest and closing my eyes. A feeling of warmth fills my heart. I never imagined that anyone could ever come close to filling the void left by my mom and dad until I met Reyansh’s parents. It’s a blessing I never thought I would experience again.