35
Chapter 35
Welcome Home
A week after the Jaipur trip...
Aarav finally made a decision.
He didn't want Kabir to remain a secret from his family any longer.
Not because of family reputation.
Or because of business.
Because Kabir deserved grandparents, cousins, uncles and a home full of people who would love him.
That evening, he stood outside Anaya's apartment.
Nervous.
Something Vikram had never seen before.
"You've negotiated billion-dollar deals."
Vikram smirked.
"And you're nervous about talking to your grandmother?"
Aarav adjusted his watch.
"She's more dangerous."
Vikram laughed.
"I won't argue with that."
---
Inside the apartment, Anaya listened quietly.
"So..."
She folded her arms.
"You want us to come to your house?"
Aarav nodded.
"Only if you're comfortable."
She noticed he asked for her opinion every time now.
It wasn't something he did before.
That change hadn't gone unnoticed.
"What if they don't accept me?"
"They will."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
He looked directly at her.
"And if anyone has a problem with you..."
His voice remained calm.
"...they'll have to deal with me first."
She smiled.
"You sound very confident."
"I've met my family."
That made both of them laugh.
---
Sunday afternoon...
The Rathore mansion was unusually lively.
The entire family had gathered.
Nobody knew why Aarav had insisted everyone be present.
His grandmother looked especially curious.
When a black car stopped outside, she smiled knowingly.
"I knew it."
One of Aarav's cousins frowned.
"Knew what?"
She simply pointed toward the entrance.
Everyone turned.
The front door opened.
Aarav walked in first.
Beside him was Anaya.
Holding Kabir's hand.
The room became completely silent.
Kabir looked around with wide eyes.
The mansion felt enormous.
So many people.
So many curious faces.
He instinctively moved a little closer to Aarav.
Without thinking, Aarav gently squeezed his shoulder.
"It's okay."
The simple reassurance relaxed Kabir immediately.
---
Aarav's grandmother was the first to move.
She walked straight toward them.
Ignoring everyone else.
Ignoring the silence.
Stopping only when she stood in front of Kabir.
The little boy looked up politely.
"Hello."
The old woman smiled.
"Hello."
Kabir suddenly remembered his manners.
He bent down slightly.
"Namaste."
The grandmother's eyes softened instantly.
"Oh..."
She placed a gentle hand on his head.
"What a sweet child."
Kabir smiled shyly.
"Thank you."
She looked up at Aarav.
Then at Anaya.
Then back at Kabir.
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
"So this is my great-grandson."
Nobody corrected her.
Nobody could.
---
One by one, the rest of the family approached.
Aarav introduced everyone patiently.
"This is my younger cousin, Armaan."
"Hi!"
Kabir waved enthusiastically.
Armaan grinned.
"I already like him."
Another cousin crouched beside Kabir.
"Do you play cricket?"
Kabir thought seriously.
"I mostly chase butterflies."
The room burst into laughter.
Even the older relatives smiled.
The nervous atmosphere slowly disappeared.
---
Lunch was surprisingly chaotic.
Everyone wanted Kabir to sit beside them.
"I'll feed him."
"No, let him sit here."
"He likes sweets, doesn't he?"
Anaya watched in complete disbelief.
She had been worried they wouldn't accept him.
Instead...
They were practically arguing over who got to spoil him first.
Aarav noticed her expression.
Quietly, he leaned closer.
"I told you."
She looked at him.
"You did."
---
Halfway through lunch, Kabir climbed down from his chair and walked over to Aarav's grandmother.
"Dadi."
The elderly woman looked up.
"Yes?"
Kabir held out the last piece of his gulab jamun.
"You can have half."
She blinked.
"You love sweets."
"I know."
"Then why are you giving it to me?"
Kabir smiled.
"Because sharing makes people smile."
The words hit everyone at the table.
Especially Aarav.
He recognized them immediately.
He'd said something similar weeks ago.
Now his son was passing those values to someone else.
His grandmother hugged Kabir tightly.
"You've already stolen my heart."
---
Later that afternoon, while Kabir played football with Aarav's cousins in the garden, Anaya wandered onto the terrace.
She felt someone join her.
It was Aarav's grandmother.
The older woman stood beside her quietly.
After a few moments, she spoke.
"You've been carrying too much guilt."
Anaya looked down.
"I'm sorry."
The grandmother gently held her hand.
"No."
She smiled kindly.
"I'm sorry."
Anaya looked confused.
"What for?"
"For the years you spent believing you had to carry everything alone."
Tears welled up in Anaya's eyes.
"I was afraid."
"I know."
The older woman squeezed her hand.
"But you're family now."
The simple sentence broke whatever walls Anaya still had.
She hugged the elderly woman tightly.
For the first time in years...
She felt accepted.
Completely.
Without conditions.
---
As the sun began to set, everyone gathered in the garden.
Kabir was running around with his new cousins, laughing loudly.
Aarav stood beside Anaya, watching him.
"He looks happy."
"He is."
After a brief silence, Aarav turned toward her.
"You know..."
"Hmm?"
"This place has always been called my home."
He looked at the mansion.
Then at Kabir.
Then at Anaya.
"But today..."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"...it finally feels like one."
Anaya didn't answer.
She simply slipped her hand into his.
This time...
She was the one who reached first.
And Aarav smiled without saying a word.
Sometimes...
The quietest moments said the most.
To be continued...