Ria Singhaniya had never been the sentimental type. Her room was a curated chaos of half-read books, luxury skincare bottles, scattered hairbands, and a wall filled with polaroids and pastel dreamcatchers. But tonight, she was oddly quiet. Nestled under her lavender throw blanket, the glow from her phone screen cast soft shadows across her cheekbones.
The video playing on her screen? A man in the gym. Shirt slightly damp, arms flexing, posture rigid yet graceful. His intensity was hypnotic.
Ria smirked, her chin resting on her fist as she watched.
"Kya body hai, wah," she murmured under her breath with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
Just as she was about to replay the clip, a message popped up from her college group chat.
COLLEGE CIRCLE: "Shopping plan confirmed! Tomorrow morning 11 AM sharp. Don't be late, babes! 🛍️💄👠"
Ria's smirk grew wider. Her painted nails danced across the keyboard as she sent a mysterious message — no name, no emoji, just a text. Who it was meant for, not even she knew yet. Maybe her twin flame. Maybe her latest crush. Or maybe just no one. That was Ria — unpredictably poetic.
She got up from the bed, tying her oversized peach shirt at the waist, and wandered barefoot onto her balcony. The clock neared 8 PM. The breeze played with her hair as her eyes scanned the driveway below.
A sleek, shimmering cherry-red Mercedes-Benz came to a slow halt near the steps of the mansion. The headlights faded, the engine silenced.
"Oho… new car entry," Ria whispered to herself, her voice amused.
She squinted, then smiled. Rudra.
"Hayye, my love birds. Nazar na lage," she whispered dramatically, grabbing her phone to zoom in for a few secret snapshots.
The car door opened with elegance. Rudra stepped out, then circled to the passenger side. Anaya emerged next — her soft pastel saree fluttering slightly, her cheeks glowing in the gentle evening light.
Ria clicked multiple photos, capturing their candid laughs as they walked toward the mansion. Rudra's voice echoed faintly upward:
"So, velvet one, we are home."
Anaya laughed, gently brushing her hand against his. "Yes, we are."
They began walking slowly up the marble steps. The stars overhead blinked in time with the streetlamps below. Rudra, who usually kept his affections hidden, let a small smile curl his lips.
"You know," he said, his voice dropping to a velvety low, "this evening could've been more perfect if someone didn't avoid holding my hand in the store."
Anaya shot him a look, amused. "Excuse me? I was the one checking if anyone saw us together. You're the famous Mr. Singhaniya."
"And you're my not-so-secret wife," he murmured, brushing a finger over hers. "You keep acting like I'm your dirty little secret."
"Rudra!" she hissed, blushing, glancing over her shoulder as if anyone might hear. "Stop. We're home. Behave."
"Main toh hamesha behave karta hoon," he said innocently.
"Behave like a normal husband," she grumbled.
"Normal husband? Toh thoda pyaar karne do. Itna toh haq banta hai."
"Bas karona, someone might see," she whispered, stepping away just as the main door opened.
.______..______.💮.______.💮.______..______.
Inside, the glow from the chandeliers cast golden shadows on the cream walls. Komal, the matriarch — their strong and loving Grandmom — was sitting in the living room, her reading glasses perched on her nose, sipping warm turmeric milk.
Anaya spotted her first and immediately let go of Rudra's hand.
"Grandma," she said warmly, bowing respectfully.
Komal smiled. "Lo aa gayi tumhari dulhan. And my khadus grandson is trailing behind as usual."
Rudra gave her a tired look. "Hamesha khadus hi bolti ho, Dadi."
Komal chuckled and turned her loving gaze to Anaya. "Did he behave himself during shopping?"
Anaya grinned. "Vo itne bhi khadus nahi hain, Grandma. He even picked a dress for me."
Komal patted the seat beside her. Anaya walked over and sat close, her soft presence bringing a calm glow to the room.
The moment between them was warm — a rare bond forming. Komal studied Anaya's face, tracing the glow in her cheeks, the subtle confidence, the respect in her eyes.
This girl has something divine about her, Komal thought. She's soft, but not weak. Positive, but not naive. She's going to bring light to this family.
Upstairs, Rudra had paused halfway, speaking to the house staff.
"Pick up the shopping bags from the car. Place them in Madam's wardrobe carefully."
The staff nodded immediately.
Just then, Ria's footsteps echoed as she descended from the stairs, her phone in one hand and peach slippers flapping against the marble.
"Anayaaa!" she called, her tone teasing.
Komal looked up, amused. "Lo aa gayi tumhari bestie."
Ria jumped onto the couch and hugged Anaya tightly. "Grandma, you know I can fight for this woman's smile!"
Anaya giggled, hugging her back. "You're being dramatic."
"I am dramatic," Ria said proudly, flicking her curls. "So? How was the day with your brand new Laal Pari?"
Anaya blushed. "It was... good. Different."
Ria gave her a knowing smirk. "Different, hmm? Rudra Bhaiya behaving or melting again?"
"He tried to act all serious, but we both know he's soft from inside," Anaya whispered.
Ria grinned and leaned back. She looked around. "Where's Aarav? Oh, right, being his usual brooding twin self."
Komal chuckled. "He came earlier. He's probably upstairs."
And then her eyes flicked toward the hallway. "And if I'm not wrong… Ria's distraction is here too."
Ria choked on her laughter. "Grandma! Stop it!"
Komal winked. "I have eyes, beta. I know who you pretend to hate."
Ria crossed her arms, pretending to be offended. But her cheeks gave her away.
Anaya smiled at the scene — warm lights, soft laughs, and a feeling she never imagined having in someone else's home. Belonging.
This was her family now.
And as Rudra finally came back down, quietly sliding onto the arm of the sofa next to her, his hand brushing hers in secret, she leaned in and whispered:
"Velvet, hmm?"
He smirked, his voice low. "You liked that, didn't you?"
Her reply was silent — just a glance and a smile.
But Rudra understood.
The night stretched on. Laughter rang in corners, staff moved about silently, and somewhere between lovebirds, peach obsessions, and grandma's watchful eyes — the Singhaniya mansion continued to be what it always had been: dramatic, chaotic, and deeply, dangerously full of love.
.______..______.💮.______.💕.______..______.
The living room of the Singhaniya Mansion basked in a mellow evening glow, its grandeur wrapped in the soft clinking of tea cups and whispers dipped in mischief. Golden light from the vintage chandelier spilled like honey, bathing the antique wood, silk curtains, and polished marble in a timeless charm—like a scene freshly pulled from a classic Bollywood saga.
Ria Singhaniya sat sprawled on the royal blue velvet sofa like a queen on her throne, one leg tucked beneath her, chin resting on her palm. Her laughter rang out, bright and mischievous, as she exchanged a not-so-innocent joke with Anaya. Anaya's eyes twinkled, her fingers covering her mouth, trying (and failing) to stifle her giggle. Ria, of course, laughed a little louder than necessary. After all, it had to be heard.
Right on cue, the double doors creaked open.
Enter Aarav and Ravi—shoulders brushing, faces lit with amusement, giggles bouncing between them like schoolboys sharing a naughty secret. Their footsteps echoed lightly against the marble, their mood unbothered and unusually light. It was a rare, precious glimpse of brotherhood unfiltered by business or burdens.
From her regal perch on the nearby armchair, Komal Singhaniya glanced up from the book she wasn't really reading. The matriarch, still sharp as a hawk and twice as clever, folded her hands with a dramatic sigh, a knowing smile curling her lips.
"Arre arre... mere Rajkumar log, kya baat ho rahi hai? Kuch toh batao daadi ko bhi," she teased, tilting her head ever-so-slightly, a playful glint in her eyes.
Aarav didn't miss a beat. His lips curled into a cheeky grin, his gaze landing right on Ria and Anaya. "Girlfriend, Grandma," he announced innocently, like it was the most casual word in the dictionary.
Ria blinked. Hard.
She exchanged a sharp, loaded look with Anaya—one that screamed yeh kya bol diya isne?! Anaya bit her lip, trying not to burst out laughing.
Ravi, poor Ravi, went stiff like a guilty schoolboy caught cheating on a math test.
"Nahi nahi!" he shot up, hands flailing in the air. "Grandma, we were discussing the next business trip. Serious baatein ho rahi thi!" His voice cracked ever so slightly, his eyes darting toward Ria, who now stared at him with a laser gaze sharp enough to slice steel.
Ria's glare said everything without saying a word. Her brow raised. Her eyes narrowed.
Jealous?Ravi gulped.
That one look from her had more power than a whole boardroom of executives. His heart did a weird somersault. Was I jealous? The question kept echoing in his head, messing with his carefully crafted nonchalance.
But Ria didn't stop there. Nope. She cocked her head with a smirk and fired her own bullet.
"Main toh tum dono ki girlfriend ban bhi nahi sakti," she teased, sipping her chai like she'd just dropped the mic.
Aarav barked out a laugh. "Meri toh ban bhi jaayegi, lekin Ravi ka toh pata nahi," he said, turning to Ravi with a wink before mock-inspecting him top to toe like a suspicious item on Amazon.
Ravi scoffed, puffing out his chest. "Please! Main tumse bada hoon, age mein," he declared with exaggerated seniority, flicking his imaginary collar.
"Wahi toh dikkat hai," Aarav shot back, winking at Ria and nudging her, "isi liye zyada chinta hoti hai."
Ria snorted, covering her mouth as if this circus wasn't clearly her favorite entertainment channel.
And just then—as if on cue—a quiet presence filled the room.
Rudra Singhaniya.
Leaning against the doorway with one hand in his pocket, suit jacket slightly rumpled from the long day, dark eyes calmly taking it all in. The chaos. The camaraderie. Her.
His eyes didn't miss a beat before they landed on Ria. He smirked, the kind of smirk that made secrets look sexy.
"Haan, wahi toh hai," he said lazily, his gaze locking with Ria's like two swords meeting mid-air. His tone was slow, low, and laced with mischief. A silent dare wrapped in velvet.
Ria arched a brow, her look sharp as a knife. Don't push it, Rudra. Tujhe toh sab pata hai, na?
Rudra didn't flinch. He pointed at her with a subtle nod. "Yeh sign tod," he said with a wink, mocking her death stare.
The whole room chuckled.
Except one.
Anaya, still seated beside Komal, smiled quietly. Her eyes followed Rudra's every move, the corners of her lips betraying her warmth. The tension in the room no longer felt like tension—it was a slow-burning, golden haze of emotions under control. Or at least pretending to be.
Rudra turned to her, and without speaking a word, his eyes asked:"Chalein?"
Anaya's brows lifted in silent protest. Not now. Everyone's watching.
Rudra blinked once. Slowly."Please," his eyes whispered.
Anaya shook her head ever so slightly.
He pouted. Yes. The great Rudra Singhaniya actually pouted with his eyes.
Everyone caught it. Aarav laughed behind his palm. Komal raised a teasing brow.
And Komal, always ten steps ahead, declared, "Sab log fresh ho jao ab. Dinner ke liye time ho gaya hai. Aur haan—ek saath baithenge."
Rudra clapped his hands dramatically. "Perfect. Toh chalo, fresh ho jaate hain," he said, then looked down at Anaya. "Anaya, chalo."
Without waiting for her reply, he began walking off like he already knew she'd follow. And like the magnet he was, she stood up, quietly, face warm, steps light as she trailed behind him.
The living room echoed with soft laughter again. But beneath it—like a melody only a few could hear—ran emotions unspoken: a teasing game between brothers, the spark of something forbidden, the ache of jealousy, and the stirrings of love.
And Ria?
She sat back again, her eyes narrowing slightly as they flicked from Ravi to the retreating figure of Anaya. She sipped her tea with a smirk.
Ravi Singhaniya… You think I don't know? Let's see how long you keep it to yourself.