Hruta's POV
"Guys, did you know? Yesterday, I was reading Haunting Adeline," I said excitedly, recalling the events of last night and the captivating book I couldn’t put down.
At that moment, we were strolling along the street, laughter bubbling up between us as we talked about anything and everything.
Earlier, when I arrived at one of our favourite cafe where my two monkeys—Vishakha and Dhanshree—were waiting for me, I was met with a good dose of scolding. It took me over ten minutes to face their wrath. But, as always, it’s impossible for them to stay mad at me for more than a few moments.
They are my cuties.
We have been together since childhood—same school, same college, always by each other’s side. Actually, we are a group of four, but one of us was missing today. He was caught up with work, so we declared this is a girls' outing.
After their scolding session, we dove into a hearty breakfast at the cafe, joking and teasing each other as usual. And now, here we are—three best friends enjoying a beautiful afternoon and making the most of our weekend holiday.
Our laughter and chatter echoed down the street, filling the air with pure joy, reminding me just how much these moments mean to me.
"Don’t tell me you’ve got a new book boyfriend now?" Dhanshree asked, rolling her eyes dramatically.
This girl—she always knows everything about me!
"Ha toh kya hua? You have no idea how handsome he is!" I said, defending my latest obsession with a dreamy sigh.
"Oh, God! Ruu, stop living in your delusions and come back to reality," she said, smacking my head lightly.
Dhanshree—always the one to bring me crashing down to earth. She loves giving me reality checks, constantly reminding me that everything I read is fictional, that nothing’s going to happen in real life, blah blah blah.
"You won’t understand all this. Just imagine if I actually met my Fictional Men!" I said, clutching my hands dramatically, my voice filled with dreamy excitement.
"Just keep dreaming, bro," she shot back, smirking.
"At least let me enjoy my delusions in peace!" I huffed, folding my arms. "Reality is so boring. Fiction is where the magic happens!"
Vishakha, who had been scrolling through her phone, finally chimed in, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Ruu, I think you need therapy. Fictional men are not real, and even if they were, they’d run the other way seeing your craziness."
Here’s another one who really loves to drag me back to reality.
These two monkeys seem to find the greatest joy in serving me reality checks.
Both of them burst out laughing, their giggles so infectious that I couldn’t help but join in, despite my best attempt at keeping a straight face.
As our laughter subsided, Dhanshree nudged me with her elbow.
"On a serious note, Ruu, don’t you ever think about meeting someone real? Like, for once, step out of your books and look around. Maybe your soulmate is closer than you think."
I paused for a moment, letting her words settle in my mind.
Someone real… I had always imagined my soulmate in the pages of a book, someone who would understand the world I lived in. But Dhanshree had a point—maybe it was time to start looking around.
With a playful smirk, I teased, "What if he’s already watching me?" I wiggled my eyebrows, enjoying the dramatic effect.
Vishakha groaned. "Oh no, here we go again—Ruu and her mysterious shadow man theory."
Only these two knew about the ‘shadow’—my persistent, invisible observer.
They didn’t dismiss it—they believed me. But their concern ran deeper, cautioning me that it wasn’t safe, that it could be dangerous, and that I should tell my family.
"It’s not a theory," I argued, crossing my arms. "I’m telling you, I feel like someone’s watching me. And it’s not creepy—it’s comforting. Like, I don’t know, he’s protecting me or something."
There it was again, that odd, almost inexplicable feeling. Like someone was always there, just out of reach, but never too far. It wasn’t fear I felt—it was more like an unseen presence that wrapped around me like a blanket.
But I didn’t voice any of this. No need to make it sound weirder than it already is.
Dhanshree exchanged a glance with Vishakha, both of them wearing the same doubtful expression.
"Protecting you? Or stalking you?" Dhanuu asked, raising an eyebrow.
They were always quick to say he was stalking me, but deep down, I never felt that way.
"Stalking is such a harsh word," I shrugged, trying to dismiss their concerns. "Let’s call it… observing from a distance."
Vishakha couldn’t hold back her laughter. "You’re unbelievable, Ruu."
As I finished speaking, a sudden chill washed over me.
But a small part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that I was right.
Wasn’t it possible? Could someone, somewhere, actually be watching me? The thought was unsettling and comforting at the same time. But I quickly pushed it away, focusing on the moment.
"So, what’s next on your list of delusions?" Dhanshree asked, her smirk teasing but genuine.
"Not delusions. Manifestations," I corrected, lifting my chin dramatically.
"And what are you manifesting now?" Vishuu asked, her tone half-joking, half-curious.
I grinned, placing a hand over my heart like the heroine in a romance novel.
"A life filled with love, adventure, and a mysterious, handsome man who would move the seas for me."
"Or, you know, you could just focus on not being late for our plans," Vishakha teased, sticking out her tongue.
"Low blow, Vish," I muttered, narrowing my eyes at her. "Anyway, enough of this—chalo, kuch khate hai!" I said, clapping my hands together.
[“Let’s eat something”]
"Abhi toh khaya tha na?" Dhanu asked, giving me a confused look.
[“but we just ate, didn’t we?”]
"Phir se bhook lagi," I said dramatically, clutching my stomach. "Let’s eat samosas!"
[“I’m hungry again”]
What can I say? I’m obsessed with samosas. If anyone’s a bigger samosa fan than Motu, it’s me. Hehehe.
(Motu from Motu Patlu Cartoon)
"Okay, let’s go," Vishu said with a smile, clearly amused by my antics.
The samosa stall uncle’s shop was across the road, so we needed to cross the street. As always, we intertwined our hands tightly, a little tradition we had to stay safe while crossing. Together, we stepped onto the road.
Samosa Samosa…. Kaha ja rahe ho!
Suddenly, a car came speeding toward us. My heart jumped into my throat as panic gripped me. I froze, covering my ears and squeezing my eyes shut. The screech of brakes echoed in my ears, and the air seemed to stand still.
After a few seconds, I cautiously opened my eyes to see a sleek Black Mercedes-Benz stop just inches away from me. My chest tightened as the driver’s door swung open, and a man stepped out.
He was tall, impeccably dressed, and exuded an air of authority that made my knees weak.
Before I could process what was happening, he walked straight toward me and stopped just inches away. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto mine, and his lips curled into a small, teasing smile.
"Hi, my love," he said softly, his voice smooth and familiar.
A lump formed in my throat. My mind went blank. A wave of emotions crashed over me, overwhelming me completely.
I ran to him without thinking, throwing my arms around him and burying my face in his chest. His arms wrapped around me instantly, holding me tight.
He lifted me effortlessly and spun me around. It felt like time had slowed down, like nothing else in the world existed except for this moment.
When he finally set me down, he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"It seems like someone has forgotten me," a familiar voice broke through the moment, bringing me back to reality.
I turned, and my breath hitched again.
Another man stood there, his smile warm and full of mischief. He held a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates, watching me with fond amusement.
He stepped closer, then dropped down on one knee, holding the bouquet out with exaggerated drama.
"Beautiful flowers for my beautiful sweetheart," he said dramatically.
I couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears that had been threatening to spill finally started streaming down my cheeks.
Seeing me cry, he quickly stood up, cupping my face gently in his hands.
"What happened? I thought these were your favourite flowers. Don’t cry, I’ll get you another one," he said with a mischievous smile, trying to lighten the mood.
But his teasing only made me cry harder-like a baby this time.
Both of them immediately came to my side, wrapping me in their arms.
"I hate you both," I muttered between sobs, my voice muffled against their chests.
They chuckled, their laughter warm and comforting.
"We both love you more," they said in unison.
When we finally broke the hug, the first one brushed my hair back gently.
"You’re going to flood the whole street at this rate, my love."
I sniffled, smacking his chest weakly. "Gupp bsss! I just—I can’t believe you both are actually here."
[“shut up!”]
"Asli cheez hain. Aisa thodi na duplicate milega," the other one teased
[“It’s real; you won’t find duplicates”]
I let out a choked laugh, between my sobs.
They’re here.
Both of them.
They’re really here.
I turned to see Dhanshree and Vishakha, who had been watching the entire scene in stunned silence, finally finding their voices.
"Ruu… who are these insanely good-looking men, and why do they look at you like you're their entire world?" Dhanshree blurted out.
Beaming, I wiped my tears and turned to them. "Let me introduce you to the most important people in my life. My brothers—Arjun Dada," I said, holding the first one's arm, "and Aayush Dada," I announced, grabbing the second one's hand.
[Dada = brother]
Vishakha and Dhanshree’s jaws practically dropped.
"What? dada?" Vishakha blinked rapidly, trying to process my words.
Dhanshree nearly shrieked, her eyes darting between me and them. "These Greek gods are your brothers?"
I rolled my eyes at her over-the-top reaction.
She is so dramatic.
Arjun dada chuckled, shaking his head. "Greek gods, huh? I like the sound of that."
"And a great sense of observation. Of course we look like Greek gods." Aayush dada said a smirk on his lips.
I groaned, smacking Aayush’s dada arm. "Oh, shut up! Your ego doesn’t need any more boosting."
Vishakha, still recovering from the shock, muttered,
"Wait, wait… If I’m not wrong, then he is the CEO of Malhotra Industries, Mr. Arjun Malhotra, and the famous doctor, Dr. Aayush Malhotra, right?"
I nodded, and their eyes widened further.
Dhanshree clutched Vishakha’s arm. "Oh my god, Vishu, do you realize what this means?"
Vishakha nodded, still in shock. "Ruu is literally related to two of the most successful and eligible men in the country."
Dhanshree gasped dramatically. "And you never thought to set us up?"
I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Come on! You guys are acting like I kept some deep dark secret. And you already knew I had brothers!"
These two were always over-the-top.
It wasn’t like I had intentionally hidden my brothers from them—they just never knew their identities.
But what could I even say about my brothers?
They were my everything.
My safe place.
The people I could always count on.
Yet, as much as I loved them.
They had left me—not completely alone, but still. They had been out of India for work, leaving me behind for an entire year.
A whole freaking year.
I had spent so many nights wishing they would come back, missing their constant bickering, their protective nature, and their annoying yet endearing habits. And now, they were standing right beside me, as if they had never left.
But a part of me still felt a little hurt.
I knew they had no choice, their reasons were valid—but that didn’t erase the loneliness I had felt in their absence.
Now, here they were, surprising me like this.
It’s not like I wasn’t happy… but I was still mad at them for leaving me.
Shaking off the emotions, I turned to them with a playful smile
"Dada, meet my best friends, Dhanshree and Vishakha," I said, gesturing toward Dhanu and Vishu.
My brothers knew everything about my friends—they had heard countless stories, endless rants, and all the gossip. But they had never actually met them in person.
Vishakha smiled politely, her eyes flickering with curiosity. "We’ve heard so much about you two from Ruu, but we never got a chance to meet."
"Kaha se dekhoge? Kitne busy hote hai ye log, pata hai tumhe?" I grumbled, rolling my eyes.
[“How will you see how busy these people are? Do you even know?”]
"Arre, sorry na baccha, kyun itna gussa?" Arjun Dada said, ruffling my hair affectionately.
[“why are you getting so angry?”]
He always called me baccha—his little baby. No matter how much I protested, he insisted I’d always be his small baby, pampering me like one every chance he got.
"So, what should I do? You both left me here alone" I huffed, crossing my arms and dramatically turning away.
"Aisi baat nahi hai! Yeh bhaiya hi busy the, main nahi," Aayush Dada quipped, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
[“It’s not like that. Bhaiya was the one who was busy, not me.”]
Arjun Dada’s frown deepened at his words, his sharp gaze snapping toward him, who, as always, seemed unfazed.
Aayush Dada was the embodiment of mischief—cheerful, bubbly, and always armed with a joke to keep those around him smiling. But if there was one thing he loved more than anything, it was annoying Arjun Dada. He practically considered it his life’s mission.
And for his efforts, he received his "salary"—a generous payment in the form of Arjun Dada’s occasional dhulai.
Arjun Dada, on the other hand, was his complete opposite—disciplined, workaholic, and mostly silent, carrying himself with an air of authority that naturally commanded respect. Yet, no matter how serious he was, Aayush Dada always found a way to push his buttons.
"Aayu ke bacche, tuze toh main baad mein dekhunga," Arjun Dada muttered, narrowing his eyes at him.
["Aayu, you little brat! I'll deal with you later."]
I bit my lip to suppress a giggle, but the amusement danced in my eyes.
Arjun Dada’s expression softened as he turned to me.
"Baccha, we didn’t want to leave you. It was important. Please maaf kar de," he said, his voice laced with sincerity.
"Haan yaar, Choti, please forgive us," Aayush Dada added gently.
I tried to hold onto my anger, but their genuine plea made my resolve melt instantly.
My lips twitched before I let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Accha, thike thike. Tum bhi kya yaad rakhoge. Jao, maaf kiya," I said with a dramatic sigh, acting as if I were doing them a huge favor.
[“Alright. Fine. Go on, you’re forgiven.”]
A triumphant smile spread across their faces.
"Okay, let’s go. Everyone’s waiting for you at home," Arjun Dada said, patting my shoulder.
"Mummy?" I asked hesitantly, looking up at them.
"Don’t worry, I already called Mumma and Papa. They’ll be home soon. We also have to meet them," Ayush Dada reassured me, holding my hand gently and guiding me toward the car door.
I said goodbye to my friends, and the three of us settled in the car and drove off.
Laughter and playful banter filled the space, wrapping us in the warmth of familiarity.
Aayush Dada and I were back to our usual antics, teasing each other relentlessly, just like we used to.
"By the way, baccha, first we need to go somewhere else," Arjun Dada said casually, his eyes fixed on the road.
"Where?" I asked, curiosity flickering in my voice.
"Singhania Mansion," he replied, his tone calm yet firm.
I blinked. The name was unfamiliar.
"Why, Dada?" I pressed, shifting in my seat.
"We have to meet someone," he said with a cryptic tone, leaving no room for further questions.
"Okay, chalo," I said, shrugging, and went back to munching on my chocolate.
After a while, we reached our destination. The moment I stepped out of the car, my breath hitched.
A massive mansion standing proudly on an immaculately maintained estate. The facade was grand, with a sprawling big lush garden and a stunning fountain adding to its beauty.
Everything about the mansion screamed wealth, elegance, and authority.
A sudden sense of unease stirred in my chest.
Who exactly were we here to meet?
We stood by the fountain waiting for the person we were here to meet. Just then, Arjun Dada received a phone call and stepped aside to answer it.
I should have known what was coming.
Aayush Dada’s gaze flickered toward my chocolate, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
I instinctively clutched it to my chest, narrowing my eyes.
"Nahi! Last time, apne puri kha li thi, bhukkad!" I accused, my voice dripping with betrayal.
[“No, last time you ate it all, you glutton”]
Aayush Dada gasped, placing a dramatic hand on his chest. "Choti, don’t be so heartless!"
"Heartless?" I scoffed, stepping backward cautiously. "This is called self-preservation!"
Before he could react, I spun on my heel and bolted.
"Pakad sakte ho toh pakad lo" I called out teasingly.
[“catch me if you can”]
"Aree, but—Choti! Ruk!" he yelled, immediately chasing after me.
The wind whipping through my hair as I dashed across the garden, laughter bubbling from my lips. But I was too focused on escaping my ever-hungry brother to pay attention to my surroundings.
And then—bam!
I crashed. Hard.
My sprint came to an abrupt halt as I slammed into what felt like a solid wall—or at least, I thought it was a wall.
But no.
It was someone.
"Ohh, I’m sor...."
My words died in my throat.
My breath caught.
My chocolate bar slipped from my grip, forgotten.
My hands were pressed against a firm chest, the warmth seeping through the fabric of an expensive black suit.
I forced myself to look up.
Broad shoulders. A sculpted jawline. And then—
Dark.
Intense.
Unreadable.
A pair of piercings, oceanic blue eyes locked onto mine, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
My breath hitched.
My mind blanked.
My heart pounded violently as realization dawned.
It was him.
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