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…

The morning sunlight streamed through Riaan's curtains, pulling him reluctantly from a dream he couldn't quite remember. He groaned, rolling over, his hand patting the empty space beside him out of habit, a habit he'd developed years ago, reaching for someone who was never there.

He sat up slowly, his hair a disaster, his white shirt unbuttoned at the top two buttons, revealing a sliver of his chest. The sleep still clung to his eyes, making him look softer than usual. More vulnerable.

He stumbled out of his room, still half-asleep, his voice a lazy drawl.

"Mumma, Coffeeeeeee!"

He padded down the stairs, rubbing his eyes, completely unaware of the scene waiting for him in the main hall. His feet carried him toward the kitchen, toward the smell of freshly brewed coffee, toward—

He froze.

His feet stopped working. His brain stopped working. Everything stopped.

Because there, sitting on their antique velvet couch, laughing at something his Nani had said, was Ruhi.

Riaan blinked. Then blinked again.

What?

She was wearing a deep pink anarkali kurti that flowed elegantly around her, the fabric catching the morning light and making her look like she'd stepped out of a painting. Heavy gold jhumkas swung from her ears, catching the light with every small movement of her head. Her hair was styled in soft waves, and her face? her face was radiant. A goddess. That was the only word that came to mind.

She was smiling. Actually smiling. The kind of genuine, unguarded smile he hadn't seen from her yet. And for a moment, Riaan forgot how to breathe.

And then she turned.

Their eyes met.

She froze too, her smile faltering, her coffee cup hovering halfway to her lips. Her gaze traveled over him, the messy hair, the unbuttoned shirt, the sleepy expression and something flickered in her eyes. Amusement? Surprise? He couldn't tell.

"Arre, Riaan!" His mother's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Come, come. So she's Ruhi Misra."

Riaan walked toward them slowly, his legs feeling like they belonged to someone else. He was completely unaware of how he looked, the tangled hair, the open shirt, the bare chest peeking through. His brain was still trying to process why Ruhi was in his house.

She took a sip of her coffee, her eyes never leaving him. A small smile tugged at her lips, and she quickly looked away, pressing her lips together like she was trying desperately not to laugh.

Riaan sat beside his Nani, and instantly, her wrinkled hands were on him.

"What is this mess!" His Nani clicked her tongue, her fingers immediately moving to fix his hair, smoothing down the wild strands. Then she reached for his shirt, doing up the top two buttons with practised efficiency. "Beta, how can you walk around like this in front of a guest?"

Riaan looked down at himself.

Oh, shit.

His face flushed crimson. He'd walked downstairs looking like... like that. In front of her. The girl who had already called him a creep yesterday. The girl who had made his heart race and his mind spin.

He glanced at Ruhi.

She was still pressing her lips together, her shoulders shaking slightly. She took another sip of coffee, hiding her smile behind the cup, but her eyes were dancing with laughter.

Riaan wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

His Nani patted his cheek, completely unaware of the internal chaos she'd just caused. "Ruhi beta, you can look around our house once. Tell us if you like it."

Ruhi nodded, her composure back in place. "Of course, Naniji. I'd love to."

Riaan frowned. "Wh-why?"

Rukmini looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "Arre, Riaan, did you forget? Nani wanted to find and build an orphanage for years, and Ruhi is the owner of Indrani Ashram. But the building is too old, so she wanted to renovate it. She'll look around our house, and if she likes the style, Nani will make it this style. So go. Show her our house."

Riaan's eyes widened.

He blinked. Turned to Ruhi. She was already standing, waiting for him.

He scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over the coffee table. "Come," he managed, his voice cracking slightly. "I'll show you."

They walked through the mansion together, Ruhi examining every corner with a professional eye. She ran her fingers over the woodwork, studied the arches, noted the lighting. Riaan watched her, still trying to process the fact that she was in his home, in his space, looking impossibly beautiful.

She turned to him suddenly, her eyes sweeping over him one more time.

"You look hot, by the way."

Riaan's entire body went rigid. His heart slammed against his ribs so hard he was certain she could hear it. For a moment, he was convinced he'd heard wrong.

"Wh-What?" he stammered.

"I said you look hot." She gestured vaguely at his hair. "I mean, the messy hair..." Her gaze traveled down his shirt, then back up to his face. "Hmm. Suits you."

Riaan tried and failed not to smile. "Thanks," he managed, his voice embarrassingly breathless.

They walked in silence for a moment, Riaan desperately trying to regain his composure. Then he cleared his throat.

"Hope I don't look like a creep, at least."

She turned to him, her expression unreadable. "That was—"

"I get it." He cut her off, shrugging. "Anyone would've said that, though. You were right to be cautious."

She looked away, something flickering in her eyes. Regret? Guilt? He couldn't figure it out.

They walked into a guest room, and Riaan gestured vaguely. "This is how a bedroom looks like."

"Hmm..." She walked around, studying the furniture, the curtains, the colour scheme. "Can I take a photo? For reference?"

He nodded. She pulled out her phone and clicked a few pictures.

"So you like it?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

They walked out to the backyard, and Ruhi's breath caught. The garden was sprawling, full of lush green grass, flowering plants, and towering trees. The morning sun painted everything in gold, and for a moment, she just stood there, taking it all in.

She exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing. "I'd like to have this garden too," she murmured. "And some play area for the kids. Swings, slides, maybe a small sandpit."

Riaan watched her, his chest tight. She looked different now, softer, more open, like the weight of the world had momentarily lifted from her shoulders.

"That's a good idea," he said quietly. "The kids would love it."

She smiled at him. A real smile. And for a moment, Riaan forgot how to move.

She walked back inside, and Ruhi addressed his mother. "Your house is really great, Auntyji. I want to make the same style. It's warm and inviting, perfect for the everyone."

Rukmini beamed. "Good, beta. I'll let you know about the remaining details, and we'll begin the work soon."

Ruhi nodded, said her goodbyes, and walked toward the door. Riaan watched her leave, his eyes following her every step.

She glanced back once, her eyes meeting his.

And then she was gone.

Riaan stood there, alone in the hallway, his heart pounding.

What the hell just happened?

⁞⁞⁞⁞

The moment the front door clicked shut behind Ruhi, Riaan spun around and marched straight to his mother.

"Mumma!" His voice was sharper than intended. "How did you get to know about her?"

Rukmini looked up from arranging the coffee cups, her expression innocent. "Nani called the orphanage's number. She answered." She paused, a thoughtful frown crossing her face. "But you know, Riaan, she's managing the entire orphanage alone. All by herself. And sadly, her sister passed away it seems."

"I know," Riaan said before he could stop himself.

Rukmini's eyebrows shot up. "What? You know?"

Riaan's jaw tightened. "Yes, Mumma. Her sister was in our hospital. Under Dr. Kapoor's treatment. She..." He swallowed hard. "She died two days ago."

Rukmini's hand flew to her mouth. "Ohhh... Beta, that's terrible. Poor girl. And she's handling everything alone? The orphanage, the renovation, her sister's—"

Before she could finish, the front door burst open and Gaurav stormed in like a tornado, his mother Reema and father Anand Grover trailing behind him.

"BADI MAUSI!" Gaurav's voice echoed through the hall. "THIS IS SO UNFAIR!!"

Rukmini blinked. "Gaurav, what!?"

"I didn't know Ruhi Misra came to our house!" Gaurav threw his hands up dramatically. "Oh god! Why am I missing everything! Yesterday Bhai went to Ronnie's concert and Ruhi gave him the VIP ticket for it!"

The room went dead silent.

All heads turned to Riaan.

Reema Grover, Riaan's mausi, stepped forward, her eyes wide. "Riaan?? You went to a concert?"

Anand Grover, his mausa, crossed his arms. "This is—"

"Okay, listen!" Riaan held up his hands defensively. "I didn't go there wantedly! It's just, I got a ticket for free! I didn't want to waste it!"

Gaurav pounced on the opening like a predator. "Then why didn't you give it to someone else??" He raised an eyebrow. "I mean, you're not fond of music anyway."

Riaan opened his mouth. Closed it. Nothing came out.

Gaurav's grin widened. He turned to his Nani, who was watching the entire scene with amused eyes. "Nani, listen! Something is very suspicious. Yesterday he was asking me all about Ruhi Misra! And she herself gave a 30,000 rupees VIP ticket for free to him!"

The temperature in the room dropped.

Rukmini's eyes narrowed. Reema's lips curved into a smile. Anand stroked his chin thoughtfully. And Nani? Nani just sat there, a tiny smirk on her face, looking like she'd already solved the puzzle.

Riaan felt the walls closing in.

"I-i don't know why she gave it!" he blurted out, backing away toward the staircase. "I don't know anything! I-I need to go."

He turned and practically ran up the stairs, escaping the barrage of questions that were surely coming.

Behind him, he heard Gaurav's triumphant laughter.

And his mother's voice, soft but clear: "Interesting."

Riaan slammed his bedroom door shut and pressed his back against it, his heart pounding.

Interesting was an understatement.

⁞⁞⁞⁞

The hospital was its usual chaos when Riaan arrived for his shift.

Patients streamed through the corridors, nurses rushed past with clipboards, and the constant hum of activity filled every corner. Riaan threw himself into the work, reviewing reports, checking vitals, consulting with colleagues anything to keep his mind from wandering back to pink anarkalis and heavy jhumkas.

But it didn't work.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. The way she'd smiled at his Nani. The way she'd said "You look hot" with that teasing glint in her eyes. The way she'd laughed at his expense.

He shook his head, trying to focus on the patient file in front of him.

His phone buzzed.

Riaan glanced at the screen, expecting a message from Gaurav or his mother. Instead, he froze.

The Truecaller display showed a name he definitely wasn't expecting: Ruhi Misra

His heart stopped. Then started again at double speed.

He stared at the screen for three full seconds, his thumb hovering over the answer button. Why was she calling him?

He answered before he could overthink it.

"Hello?" His voice came out steadier than he felt.

"Riaan?"

The sound of his name on her lips sent a jolt through him. He went still, clutching the phone tighter. Her voice was different on the phone, softer, slightly hesitant, like she wasn't quite sure she should be calling.

"Y-yes," he managed. "Riaan speaking."

"U-uh..." She paused, and he could hear her take a breath. "I'm Ruhi. Remember I came to your house this morning?"

Riaan almost laughed. As if he could forget. "Ah, yes. I do."

"So I spoke to your Nani, and she said she'd take care of the funding and money, and you'd take care of the plan and be with me for the registration and renovation."

Riaan's jaw tightened. Of course. Of course his Nani had volunteered him without asking. He could practically hear her voice in his head: "Beta, just this one work."

He sulked internally, but his voice remained calm. "Ohh... I will. Definitely."

"Fine then." She sounded relieved. "Can we meet tonight? For dinner? We can discuss the things."

Riaan's pulse quickened. "Sure."

"Great. I'll send you the location." And then she hung up.

Riaan stood there, phone pressed to his ear, a small smile spreading across his face despite himself.

God, he thought. I'm going on a dinner with her.

The location she sent was a small, intimate restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. Riaan had never heard of it, but as he walked through the doors, he understood why.

It was beautiful.

Soft candlelight flickered on every table, casting warm golden shadows across the room. Fairy lights twinkled from the ceiling, and the gentle hum of live jazz music floated through the air. It was the kind of place couples came to; romantic, peaceful, private.

And there she was.

Ruhi sat at a corner table, her back to the wall, her phone in hand. She was wearing a thin strapped top in a soft cream colour, paired with a mini skirt that showed off her legs. Her hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders in waves, and her lips were painted a subtle shade of pink.

Riaan walked toward her, suddenly hyperaware of his own simple black shirt and jeans. She looked up as he approached, and a small smile curved her lips.

"Oh, hi!" She gestured to the seat across from her. "Come on, order the food. I already gave mine."

Riaan sat down, trying to ignore the way his heart was hammering. He picked up the menu, scanning it quickly, and ordered the healthiest thing he could find, grilled fish with steamed vegetables.

Ruhi watched him with a look of barely concealed amusement. "Of course," she muttered. "Doctor."

"What?" Riaan asked, genuinely confused.

"Nothing." She shook her head, a tiny smile playing on her lips. "So... I have this plan for the orphanage. I want to split the house into different themes. The ground floor is for the elders, they need easier access, less stairs. The upper one is for kids, with bright colours and play areas. I've spoken to some..."

She kept talking, her hands gesturing animatedly, her eyes bright with excitement. She was clearly passionate about this project, and it showed in every word she spoke. Riaan found himself watching the way her lips moved, the way her eyes sparkled, the way her fingers danced in the air as she explained her vision.

He nodded along, but he wasn't really listening.

He was memorizing her.

"...and then I thought we could add a small library corner because the kids love reading, and—" She paused, tilting her head. "Are you even listening?"

"Absolutely," Riaan said, not missing a beat. "Library corner. Great idea."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Hmm."

The food arrived, and they started eating. Riaan watched her from across the table, noting the way she ate, small, neat bites, her eyes closing in appreciation when the food was particularly good. She was adorable. Completely, utterly adorable.

He looked away quickly, focusing on his own plate.

The waiter approached to refill their juice, but his hand slipped. The glass tilted, and cold juice splashed across Ruhi's top.

"Sssshh!! Hhh!!" She hissed, jumping back.

The waiter's face went white. "S-sorry, ma'am! I'm so sorry!"

Riaan was on his feet instantly, grabbing a napkin. "Are you okay??"

"It's just juice," she said, dabbing at the stain with the napkin. "But my dress is ruined."

"It's okay," she told the waiter, her voice calm despite everything. "It's fine. Accidents happen."

The waiter practically bowed, apologizing profusely. Ruhi waved him off and disappeared toward the washroom.

Riaan watched her go, his jaw tight.

When she returned, the stain was still visible, a dark patch spreading across her cream top. She looked uncomfortable, tugging at the fabric self-consciously.

Riaan stood up immediately and shrugged off his jacket. "Here," he said, holding it out to her. "Take it."

She looked at him, then at the jacket, and then back at him. Something flickered in her eyes surprise, maybe, or gratitude. She took it without a word, slipping it over her shoulders. It was too big for her, hanging past her thighs, and she looked impossibly small and soft in it.

"Thanks," she murmured.

They walked out together, Riaan paying the bill despite her protests. Outside, the night air was cool and refreshing.

"The interior designer is off to Mumbai," she said as they walked toward his car. "I'm thinking to visit him and make the deal. He has his employees here to handle the work, but I want to see his portfolio in person."

Riaan opened her door and nodded. "We'll go then."

She stopped mid-step, turning to look at him. "We?"

"Hmm." He shrugged casually. "I need to see the plan, right? And make sure the renovation goes smoothly. Nani's funding it, so I should be involved."

She stared at him for a long moment. Then, almost imperceptibly, she shook her head. But her lips curved into a small smile that she couldn't quite hide.

Riaan smiled too, closing her door and walking around to the driver's side.

The drive to her apartment was quiet, but comfortable. Riaan glanced at her occasionally, watching the way the streetlights flickered across her face.

Then her phone rang.

She answered it, her voice soft. "Haan, bhaiya?" A pause. "Hmm... I'm in his car." Another pause, longer this time. "Okay."

Riaan's curiosity burned, but he didn't ask. He kept his eyes on the road, pretending he hadn't heard anything.

They pulled up to her apartment building, and Ruhi got out. She waved at him, a small smile on her face, and started walking toward the entrance.

And then Riaan saw him.

Ronnie Chatterjee was standing in front of the building, wearing a hoodie pulled low over his face. He was unmistakable even in the dim light, even with the disguise, his presence was magnetic.

Ruhi walked toward him, and Ronnie turned to glance at Riaan.

He stepped away from Ruhi and walked over to Riaan's car, leaning against the window. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.

"Hmm..." Ronnie studied him for a moment. "Thanks for driving her safe."

Riaan nodded. "No problem."

Ronnie continued to stare at him, and Riaan felt like he was being dissected. "I heard you've been a creep," he said slowly. "But seems like you're not. After what she said, I don't behave like this with my fans, but you were sitting in the front row, VIP seat. Not vibing. I could tell you knew none of my songs." He tilted his head. "But she gave a ticket to you. And you truly used it to stare at her. That's... interesting."

Riaan's grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"So," Ronnie continued, his voice dropping. "This is my first and last warning. Keep your distance from her."

Riaan went still.

"Bhaiya?" Ruhi's voice floated over from the entrance. "What are you talking about?"

Ronnie's expression shifted instantly, his cold intensity replaced by warmth. He turned to her and called out, "Nothing, kitten. Just telling him about the shortcut route."

He gave Riaan one final, pointed look, then walked away.

Riaan sat in his car, his heart pounding, his mind reeling.

He didn't understand. Was Ronnie just a protective brother? Or did he genuinely hate Riaan?

…

Guys. Don't mistake Ronnie for just some supportive lead. He has a lot more to do in this book.