The smell of toasted bread, ghee-slicked parathas, and masala chai drifted through the dining room like a welcome hug. The table was already buzzing with morning activity—cups clinking, laughter bouncing lightly between walls, and the occasional scolding from Ragini as she tried to get everyone to sit down and eat properly.
Aaradhya slid into a seat beside Anushka, still adjusting to the quiet warmth of this house. It was strange, comforting even, being in a space that wasn't hers but didn't make her feel like a stranger.
"You like parathas, right?" Anushka asked, scooping a dollop of butter onto a hot one and sliding it onto Aaradhya's plate without waiting for an answer.
"They smell amazing," Aaradhya replied, a small smile pulling at her lips.
"That's all Mom," Anushka said, grinning toward Ragini who was now pouring chai into everyone's cups. Ragini shook her head but smiled with unmistakable pride. "Fresh and hot. Eat up before Aaditya finishes everything."
Aaditya, sitting across the table, lifted his head with a dry chuckle. "I haven't even started."
"That's when the danger is highest," Anushka teased.
Kamlesh Uncle sat at the head of the table, glasses low on his nose, half-reading the paper but very much tuned into the conversation. Aaditya sat beside him, already halfway into his breakfast, his phone buzzing with early morning messages he ignored for now.
Midway through the meal, Anushka turned to Aaradhya, wiping her hands on a napkin. "Wait—your admission is for MBBS, right?"
Aaradhya nodded, mouth half-full. "Yeah. First year."
"No way!" Anushka's eyes widened with excitement. "Same here! First year, same college, same course."
Aaradhya blinked in surprise, then laughed. "You're kidding."
"I'm so not," Anushka said, practically bouncing in her seat. "This is perfect! We're gonna start college together."
"I was so nervous about the first day," Aaradhya admitted shyly, "but now it actually sounds... fun."
"Fun's one word for it," Aaditya muttered under his breath, earning a playful nudge from Ragini.
Kamlesh Uncle chuckled and folded the newspaper. "See? Told you girls would get along."
Then his voice shifted, dropping just a bit in tone. "I had told your father, Aaradhya... let her stay here with us. It's a home, and you'd have company. But he was... adamant."
Ragini shot her husband a look, not wanting to upset Aaradhya, but Kamlesh just sighed and shook his head.
"He kept saying hostel life builds independence. Said it's better that way. But honestly..." He turned toward Aaradhya, his eyes softening. "You're a good girl. We can already see that. And this home—anytime you need it—it's yours."
Aaradhya's throat tightened a little at that, and she could only nod, not trusting her voice just yet.
Kamlesh Uncle cleared his throat. "Anyway. Aaditya, beta, I have meetings all evening. You'll need to pick up the girls after college."
Before Aaditya could answer, Anushka groaned dramatically. "Papa, no! We can come back on our own."
"Seriously, Uncle," Aaradhya added quickly, "we'll manage."
Aaditya finally looked up, raising a brow. "Not happening. First day in the city for her. First day of college for both of you. I'm not risking it. Just text me when your last class ends."
"You're being overdramatic," Anushka said, grinning.
"It's called being responsible," Aaditya replied, reaching for more toast. "Just humor me."
Anushka rolled her eyes. "Fine. But only because I want mom to pack snacks for the ride back."
"You drive us, you feed us," Aaradhya added, smirking.
Kamlesh laughed. "That's the rule of big brothers, I believe."
The rest of breakfast passed in that easy, chaotic rhythm—teasing, warm glances, second helpings, and the soft clink of silverware on ceramic. In that moment, surrounded by the sounds of a family that had welcomed her without hesitation, Aaradhya allowed herself to feel something close to peace.
The college campus was starting to dim under the soft hue of the setting sun. Golden light stretched over the lawns, turning shadows long and dramatic. The canteen buzzed with post-class chatter, students winding down with coffee and gossip.
Aaradhya and Anushka sat across from each other, coffee cups in hand, their laughter easy and familiar now.
Anushka glanced at her phone and smiled.
"He's here," she said, already getting up and slinging her bag over one shoulder. "Let's go before he starts honking and acting like a dad."
Aaradhya stood up, brushing crumbs from her kurti, still sipping the last of her coffee as they walked out. The college grounds were quieter now, the air cooler. As they rounded the corner toward the parking area, a group of boys crossed their path—one of them too close, too quick.
Aaradhya collided into him, nearly dropping her cup.
"Oh, I'm so—" she began, but the words froze halfway.
Her eyes met his.
And for a fraction of a second, the world tilted.
There was something in his gaze—dark, deep, painfully familiar. Her breath hitched, heart lurching in her chest like it had missed a beat.
But before she could say anything, before she could place the feeling...
"Aaradhya!" Aaditya's voice rang out from the parked car nearby, casual but loud enough to break her trance.
She blinked and tore her gaze away from the guy, who had stepped back and was already half-turned toward his friends. Her lips parted like she wanted to ask him something—but instead, she shouted back, "Coming!"
She walked quickly, her heart pounding in a rhythm that didn't belong to her anymore.
Aaditya stood leaning against the car, arms folded. As she approached, he casually pulled open the passenger door for her. Anushka was already sprawled in the back seat, fiddling with the aux cable.
"Wait, you're letting her sit in front?" Anushka complained with a grin. "I'm going to report you to the Big Brothers Association."
"She's a guest," Aaditya said, deadpan. "You're... very much not."
He glanced sideways at Aaradhya, lips twitching. "Don't believe anything she says."
"Uh-huh," Anushka said, stretching her legs across the seat. "He's just scared of being called the family chauffeur."
Aaditya made a dramatic face, rolling his eyes as he gently closed the passenger door once Aaradhya settled in.
The car slipped into motion, humming down the city roads. The windows caught the last blush of sunset, and inside, the atmosphere was peaceful—like they'd been doing this for years.
Aaradhya sat quietly for a moment, eyes fixed out the window. But her mind wasn't on the traffic or the soft music playing.
It was on the guy with the unreadable eyes.
The guy who felt like someone she should know... but didn't.
Not yet.