She didn’t move at first.

Savi stood near the car, her fingers nervously twisting the corner of her handkerchief,

eyes scanning everything — the trees, the sky, the distant lights —

everything except him.

Anuj ji called again, this time a little more gently.

“Beta?”

She nodded quickly, like her body moved before her heart could stop it.

With hesitant steps, she made her way toward the backseat,

desperate to stay as far from him as possible.

But just as her hand reached for the rear door handle,

Kairav’s voice came — calm, clear, and firm.

“Am I Driver?.”

She froze.

Her hand dropped.

Her eyes didn’t lift.

Not even then.

Quietly, she mumbled,

“Nope…”

her voice barely louder than a breath.

But she didn’t move.

Not forward. Not back.

Just stood there — as if time had pinned her in place.

Kairav walked over, slow and composed.

He didn’t rush her.

Instead, he reached across and opened the front passenger door himself.

Holding it open, he tilted his head.

“Seat, little girl.”

There was no sarcasm.

No teasing.

Just a soft authority — the kind that didn’t need to repeat itself.

And Savi, without a word, stepped forward and sat down.

No argument.

No glance.

Just silent surrender.

Kairav adjusted the cuffs of his suit jacket, exhaled lightly, and slid into the driver’s seat beside her.

With one smooth turn of the key — the car came to life.

Kairav drove in silence.

He didn’t look at her — at least not directly.

But the rear-view mirror had been carefully adjusted,

tilted just enough to give him a clear view of her face.

And through that mirror,

he watched her.

Savi sat quietly beside him, visibly nervous.

Both hands were folded tightly on her lap, as if she was holding herself together.

Her eyes stayed glued to the window, watching the world rush by,

but her mind was clearly far away.

She didn’t say a word.

She didn’t look at him even once.

And then the radio played a soft, familiar tune —

an old song, but the words landed heavy in the air:

“Tera mera pyaar amar… phir mujhe kyun lagta hai dar…”

The lyrics hung between them like a whisper from the past,

fitting their silence too perfectly.

Kairav glanced at the mirror again —

and a small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Not because she looked back.

She didn’t.

She hadn’t lifted her gaze even once.

But he didn’t need her to.

Because in her silence…

he could feel everything she wasn’t saying.

Breaking the silence, Kairav finally spoke — his voice low, calm.

“Savi… just check the back seat once. There's something there.”

She turned slightly, surprised, but nodded.

“Hmm?”

Carefully, she leaned over the seat —

and her eyes widened as they landed on a soft, fluffy teddy bear and a beautifully wrapped box of chocolates.

A smile crept up on her face, slowly at first…

and then completely.

That unfiltered, innocent smile — the kind that reached her eyes and made her forget everything else.

It lit up her entire face like morning light pouring into a dark room.

Kairav saw it…

and couldn’t help but smile too.

She turned back with both gifts in her hands, her excitement barely hidden.

“These are so cute!” she said, holding up the teddy like a little girl.

“Whose are these?” she asked, curious and glowing.

Kairav kept his eyes on the road, lips curved slightly.

Then he asked, almost casually — but with meaning:

“Did you like them?”

Savi nodded instantly.

“Yes! The teddy is so adorable.”

He looked at her briefly, his smile softening.

“They’re for you.”

Just that.

Simple. Honest.

And it left her speechless for a second.

Her hands curled gently around the teddy,

and her eyes stayed on him — a little longer this time.





She hesitated for a second, fingers still wrapped around the teddy, before asking softly:

“Why did you bring this… for me?”

Kairav smiled, his voice as relaxed as his hands on the steering wheel.

“Yesterday… before flying back to India, I had a meeting.”

“On the way back, I saw this at a small store… and I don’t know—”

he paused, glancing at her through the mirror,

“—I just knew I had to get it.”

Savi looked down at the teddy in her lap.

Her heart, a quiet flutter.

But the question inside her hadn’t left.

So she asked again — this time, a little firmer, a little more confused:

“But… why me?”

“You could’ve brought something for Taniya or Anmol too.”

Kairav laughed — a short, warm chuckle.

“They’re not kids anymore.”

“They wouldn’t care for a teddy bear.”

Savi turned her face towards him, eyebrows lifted, lips pushed into a pout:

“And I am a kid, is that what you’re saying?”

Kairav looked at her for a moment — just one —

and the smile on his face changed.

Softer. Calmer.

Then he said:

“No.”

“You’re not a kid.”

“But you… still believe in little joys.”

“And that’s not childish, Savi. That’s beautiful.”

For a few seconds, she didn’t say anything.

Just looked at him.

Not through the mirror.

Directly.

With a look she didn’t even realize she was giving —

something between gratitude… and something she didn’t have words for yet.

she did whisper, almost too softly:

“Thank you…”

Just that.

No long speech.

No dramatic pause.

Just two quiet words… that carried everything she couldn’t express.

Then, without waiting for a response,

she shifted slightly and sat back in her seat,

teddy hugged gently to her chest,

the box of chocolates still resting on her lap.

Her gaze stayed fixed out the window —

but her mind… it was nowhere near it.

Inside her, emotions stirred like ripples in still water.

Gratitude.

Confusion.

Something soft… and something scary.

Kairav didn’t say anything either.

He just glanced at her once —

and smiled to himself.

Not because she thanked him.

But because, for the first time…

she hadn’t run away.

Kairav didn’t look at her again.

His eyes stayed on the road, focused.

He just kept driving — calm, quiet, steady.

Savi didn’t speak either.

Her fingers fidgeted with the corner of the chocolate box.

She could feel the weight of the moment, but she didn’t know what to do with it.

A few minutes later, the car slowed down in front of the Maheshwari house.

She reached out to open the door,

but before she could even touch the handle —

Kairav was already outside.

He came around and gently pulled the door open for her —

no big gesture, no words —

just the way a gentleman would.

Savi looked up at him, a little surprised.

He didn’t say anything.

Just stepped back slightly, giving her space.

She stepped out, careful, quiet.

The teddy was still in her arms.

Savi didn’t look at him.

She kept her eyes low and softly said,

“Bye.”

She turned to go.

But before she could take a step, Kairav’s calm voice followed her:

“Before sleeping, massage your feet with warm oil.”

“Otherwise, it’ll hurt more by morning.”

She froze.

Then slowly turned back to face him, confused.

“How do you know that?” she asked, surprised.

He didn’t reply right away.

Just gave a small smile, walked back to the driver’s side,

opened the door and sat in calmly.

Before closing the door, he looked at her once — not teasing, not dramatic — just a little amused.

“I just do.”

He shut the door.

And drove off.

Leaving Savi standing there — still holding the teddy,

still trying to understand how he always knew things about her…

even the ones she never said out loud.

Savi quietly walked into her room.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a second.

The room was quiet… but her thoughts weren’t.

Still holding the teddy, she walked to her bed and sat down slowly.

The box of chocolates was still in her hand.

She placed it on the side table.

For a few seconds, she just stared at the teddy.

She didn’t say anything.

But her expression said a lot —

confused, overwhelmed, a little scared…

and somewhere deep down — something she didn’t want to admit yet.

She hugged the teddy.

This time tightly.

Not like a cute gift…

but like she needed it.

Her mind went back to his words.

“Before sleeping, massage your feet with warm oil.”

And again…

“I just do.”

She whispered to herself,

“How…?”

The sudden sound pulled her out of her thoughts like a jerk.

She looked at the screen —

“Bua Calling…”

Her smile vanished.

Her face dropped instantly as she muttered under her breath,

“Why does she have to call me on my phone every time…”

Annoyed, she didn’t even bother picking it up.

Without a second thought, she put her phone on flight mode,

dropped it on the bed, and stood up.

The teddy was still on her bed, lying there quietly —

but Savi’s mood had flipped now.

She opened her cupboard, pulled out her loose T-shirt and pajama,

and went straight to change.

She walked back to her bed in her oversized T-shirt and pajama,

picked up the teddy,

and sat cross-legged with it in her lap.

She stared at it for a few seconds.

Then softly smiled.

"You’re really cute," she said,

running her fingers through its soft fur.

"I think I’ll call you... Kiki."

She looked at the teddy seriously, like waiting for approval.

“Nice name, right? You like it?”

As if the teddy had nodded, she smiled again —

a little bigger this time.

“You’re mine now. Okay? Don’t let anyone else take you.”

She hugged it tightly to her chest,

closed her eyes for a second,

and whispered,

"Only you can stay this close."

Savi cuddled the teddy close, still smiling softly.

She just lay down next to it, turned off the light,

and closed her eyes slowly.

2:00 A.M.

She was fast asleep…

until suddenly, an intense pain shot through her legs —

like someone had tightly grabbed her nerves and pulled hard.

"Mumma! Ahhhh!" — she screamed in her sleep, eyes flying open in panic.

Her legs were aching badly.

So badly, she couldn’t stop herself from crying.

Tears streamed down her face as she held her calves,

the pain sharp and unbearable.

And then—

she remembered.

Kairav’s voice echoed in her head:

“Massage your feet with warm oil before sleeping... or it’ll hurt later.”

She froze.

He had warned her.

And she hadn’t listened.

A mix of guilt and helplessness flooded her eyes again.

She whispered through her sobs—

"I should’ve done it… he said it’ll hurt..."

She grabbed her Kiki, hugging it tightly,

and quietly walked into her younger brother’s room.

He was lying upside down on the bed —

peacefully asleep, totally lost in his dream world.

She sat beside him gently and nudged his arm.

"Naksh… wake up, babu… uthiyo na..."

Her voice was soft, laced with half-sleep and pain.

Naksh stirred, rubbing his eyes lazily,

"Is it morning already?" he asked, still half-dazed.

She sighed, her face scrunched in discomfort.

"No, yaar... it's still night. My legs are hurting so bad. Can you please massage them a little?"

Hearing that, he blinked hard, now a little more awake.

"Are you mad?" he whispered sharply,

"I have school tomorrow morning, and here you are — turning me into your massage boy in the middle of the night?"

Naksh sat up properly now, hair looking like a nest, and squinted at her.

Naksh: “Are you crazy? It’s 2 a.m.! Do I look like your personal massage therapist?”

Savi clutched her teddy tighter and pouted.

Savi: “Nakshhh… please na… it really hurts. I’m not joking…”

Her eyes shimmered a little.

Naksh narrowed his own, slightly worried.

Naksh: “Wait… did you actually cry?”

Savi nodded slowly.

Savi (softly): “Yeah... a little. Kairav sir told me to massage my feet with warm oil. I didn’t do it…”

Naksh stared at her for a second, then gave a dramatic sigh.

Naksh: “Wow. That guy can predict the future now? Ask him to tell me what’s coming in my next science paper too!”

Still groaning, he opened his drawer, grabbed a balm, and motioned her to stretch her legs.

Naksh: “Give me your legs. My sleep is officially sacrificed for your royal highness’s pain.”

Savi giggled quietly and gave him her legs.

As he gently started massaging the balm.

After a while, both brother and sister slowly drifted off to sleep right there on the bed.

Naksh, still half-asleep, curled up and rested his head on Savi’s stomach — using it like a pillow without even realizing.

And Savi?

She smiled gently and began stroking his hair with soft, careful fingers — massaging his scalp like she used to when they were younger.

No words. No noise. Just quiet love in the middle of the night.

______________________________________________

Raisinghania Palace

Inside his private chamber, Kairav was seated at his desk, completely immersed in work — like always.

He was a man who didn’t just love work… he lived it.

The final document slid into place. He hit save, leaned back for a moment, and moved to shut down his laptop.

But just as his finger hovered over the power button,

his eyes caught something on the screen.

There she was.

Savi.

Her photo — quietly set as his wallpaper.

No one knew. No one saw it.

Just him, and the silence of the room.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

The same smile that only appeared when she crossed his mind — or in this case, his screen.



The moment his eyes landed on her picture,

something shifted.

That workaholic, no-nonsense businessman…

suddenly turned quiet.

He didn’t even realize it — but his ears had gone slightly red.

There was a softness in his eyes now,

a hesitation in his breath…

a shyness he never showed to the world —

but she brought it out in him.

He stared at the screen for a few seconds longer,

and then, almost in a whisper — like a confession only the walls should hear — he said:

“When will that day come... the day you’re here, in this room — not as a picture on my screen, but asleep in my arms?”

He chuckled under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Look at me… talking like a schoolboy.”

But the smile didn’t leave his face.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door.

Kairav immediately snapped out of his thoughts.

He quickly shut the laptop, composed his expression, and said in a calm, deep voice:

“Come in.”

The door opened slowly.

And walking in — barefoot, in oversized pajamas and with messy hair — was none other than his little sister, Anmol.

Only fifteen, full of mischief and innocence.

The second he saw her, Kairav’s face lit up with a warm, genuine smile — the kind only she could bring out of him.

“Come here, baby,” he said softly, opening his arms a little.

She grinned sleepily and walked toward him like it was her second home — which it basically was.

As she settled beside him on the couch, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and asked:

“What are you doing up this late, hmm?”

She looked up at him with sleepy eyes and said softly,

“Bhaiya… I can’t sleep. Can I stay with you tonight?”

Kairav smiled instantly, his tone warm and protective.

“Of course, baby. Come here.”

The two of them lay down on his bed, side by side.

He pulled the blanket over her and gently began running his fingers through her hair — slow, calming strokes to help her fall asleep.

She closed her eyes, trying… but after a few minutes, she sat up again.

“Bhaiya,” she whispered, shifting closer,

“I still can’t sleep. What if… we watch a movie together?”

Kairav chuckled, still lying down.

“Baby, it’s really late. You should try to sleep now.”

But she pouted dramatically, hands folded.

“Please, bhaiya? It’s not like we get to spend time together like this every day.”

Then softly, with those puppy eyes:

“I know you don’t like movies much… but do it for me?”

Kairav sighed in defeat — because there was no saying no to her when she pulled that face.

He sat up with a smile.

“Okay, fine. Just one movie.”

She grinned like she’d just won a war.

The moment he gave in, Anmol jumped off the bed with excitement.

“Yay! I’ll set it up!” she chirped, rushing toward the table.

Before Kairav could react, she had already grabbed his laptop and flipped it open.

“Anmol—wait—!” he started, suddenly remembering—

but it was too late.

Her eyes had already landed on the home screen.

And there it was…

Savi’s picture.

Soft lighting.

Hair falling to one side.

That sweet, shy smile.

Kairav froze.

Anmol’s eyes widened.

She slowly turned her head toward him… lips curled into a devilish grin.

“Bhaiyaaa…” she dragged the word playfully,

“Is that who I think it is?”

Kairav rubbed the back of his neck, clearly caught.

“It’s just... it was already there. I didn’t change it back.”

She gasped, placing a hand on her chest like she’d uncovered the biggest scandal.

“Oh. My. God. You have her as your wallpaper!”

Kairav let out a helpless sigh,

“Anmol… don’t start.”

But the teasing had already begun.

Anmol looked at the screen again and gasped—louder this time.

“Wait—WAIT! It’s not even a random candid!”

She pointed dramatically.

“It’s one of those soft, pretty ones… the kind you stare at before going to sleep, isn’t it?”

Kairav buried his face in his hands.

“Anmol, stop embarrassing yourself.”

She ignored him completely and hopped back onto the bed, laptop in hand.

Settled beside him like it was movie night — except now the movie was his secret love life.

“Let’s see what else you’ve been hiding.”

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard with the mischievous power of a hacker.

She clicked open a folder named “Random” — of course, it had subfolders.

One was titled “Docs.”

One was titled “Finance.”

And one... was named “Saiyaara.”

She turned to look at him slowly.

Smiling.

Dead silent.

“Saiyaara?” she whispered with a devilish grin.

“Is that what you call her?”

Kairav grabbed the laptop with one hand and shut it, deadpan.

“Go. To. Sleep.”

She was laughing so hard now, rolling onto the bed.

“OH MY GOD I CAN’T BELIEVE IT.

You’re in love with Savi di . Like full filmy dilwale dulhaniya le jaayenge level love!”

Kairav just threw a pillow at her.

“You’ll tell mom, won’t you?”

She gasped.

“Not unless you bribe me with ice cream tomorrow.”

He groaned but smiled anyway.

“Deal. Now shut up and pick a movie, you menace.”

Anmol grinned, victorious, as she opened the OTT app.

“I’m choosing the movie,” she declared like a queen.

“And no boring action, okay? Only romance.”

Kairav narrowed his eyes.

“You seriously want me to sit through a love story at 2:30 A.M.?”

She smirked, scrolling through the list.

“Why not? Might inspire you to confess to ‘Saiyaara’.”

He grabbed a cushion and lightly hit her arm.

“Don’t push your luck.”

She dodged it like a pro and clicked play on Dil Dhadakne Do.

As the intro music started, she glanced sideways at him.

“The hero reminds me of someone…” she said in a sing-song voice.

Kairav gave her a warning look.

She added,

“Rich. Reserved. Brooding. Secretly romantic.”

He sighed.

“Don’t say it.”

She grinned wide, resting her chin on her palm.

“Totally you, bhaiya.”

He looked straight ahead, lips twitching.

“I’m regr

etting letting you stay already.”

---

Halfway into the movie, she started dozing off — her head slowly sliding onto his shoulder.

He looked down at her with soft eyes, adjusted the blanket over her properly, and whispered,

“Crazy little devil…”

But he was smiling.

Because no matter how much she teased him — she was still his baby sister.

Dear Reader,

Every story I write carries a piece of my heart, and when you read it, it feels like that piece has found a home.

If something in these words stayed with you, moved you, or even made you pause — I would love to hear from you.

Your feedback means everything. It inspires me, grounds me, and keeps this journey alive. 💌