9:00 AM…
Anamika quietly slipped into Saaniya’s room.
Saaniya, having taken a half-day off because she was exhausted, was sleeping soundly. Her breathing was calm, her face peaceful—and the sight made Anamika smile without even realising it.
Anamika herself was already dressed for work, and Aditya was downstairs, waiting to pick her up. She thought of telling Saaniya she was leaving, but… she didn’t have the heart to wake her.
Instead, she walked over to the drawer beside Saaniya’s bed. Inside was a diary, a pen, and… a brown envelope.
Ignoring the envelope, Anamika tore a page from the diary and scribbled a note: I’m leaving for the office. I’ve made breakfast for you.
She folded the paper neatly, placed it on the drawer, set a paperweight on top, and was just about to leave when she suddenly remembered that brown envelope.
She turned back, opened the drawer again. The envelope was already unsealed. She pulled out the papers inside, about to read them, when—
“Ah… na… mi… ka! Bhai… is calling you!”
Eira, still half-asleep, wandered in, mumbling. Her eyes were barely open, her face looking so innocent and cute that Anamika smiled, slipped the papers back inside the envelope, closed the drawer, and took Eira’s hand.
She led her out, gently closing the door so Saaniya’s sleep wouldn’t be disturbed.
At the entrance, Aditya was standing, and upon seeing Anamika arrive with Eira, he smiled and said a little awkwardly, “Sorry… for troubling you so early. Thing is… I’ve got a lot of work today, so I won’t be able to pick up Eira later. And, well… leaving this troublemaker here for too long isn’t exactly risk-free.”
Aditya expected Eira to throw a sarcastic jab like she always did, but instead, she was leaning on Anamika’s shoulder, half-dozing.
Anamika smiled. “Oh, it’s fine! Honestly, if you hadn’t come, I’d have had to go to the office alone today. Saaniya came home late last night, so I didn’t want to bother her.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Carrying Eira lightly in his arms, Aditya grinned, “So basically, we helped each other out today! By the way… this wild cat of mine didn’t trouble you too much, did she?”
Walking beside him, Anamika chuckled. “No, she’s not that naughty.”
“You’re the first person to say that,” Aditya replied. “Usually she drives everyone crazy.”
At that very moment Ira murmured in sleep, “ Bhai… give some respect to Ira! Ira is a sweet little girl …!”
Aaditya and Anamika laugh at Ira's cuteness!
Still talking and smiling, the two got into the car. On the way, Aditya dropped Eira off at Aniket’s place, then headed toward the office.
Meanwhile
She looked irritated, while Rudra’s face carried his usual playful smile. Ruhi was about to walk away when she heard him say, “Come on, smile a little… There’s no tax on smiling yet.”
She turned back, forcing a smile. “Happy now?”
Rudra pouted. “Hey… I already said sorry, didn’t I? Why so much anger on this poor, innocent child?”
Taking a deep breath, Ruhi replied, “First of all, you’re neither innocent nor a child. Second… I’m not angry.”
“Then why does your face look like it’s stuck at ‘unamused’ mode?” Rudra teased.
Ruhi shot back, “Mr. Malhotra… my mood shouldn’t be any of your concern. My car broke down—that’s no reason for you to apologise. And about last night’s security problem—that was my issue. You didn’t have to stay awake the whole night because of it.”
Rudra laughed in disbelief. “So you’re mad because I’m too nice and actually care about you? For the record, I care about everyone—it’s been my hero-complex since childhood. Even if it was a hundred-year-old grandma in your place, I’d still have done the same. Got it?”
Ruhi stepped closer. “You might enjoy giving out favours for free, but I don’t like accepting them for free. I told you last night and I’m telling you again—whatever you did for me, I’ll pay you for it.”
Sighing, Rudra muttered, “So stubborn…” Then after a moment, “Fine. If you’re not going to take my help for free, there’s one thing you can do for me instead.”
Ruhi’s eyes brightened. “Tell me.”
“There are some little kids in my hospital who are still undergoing treatment,” Rudra explained. “On your days off, come and tell them stories. And… teach them anything you know.”
Ruhi blinked in surprise. “That’s all? You really don’t want any money in return?”
Rudra shrugged. “Look, maybe it’ll sound like I’m showing off, but… I have enough money and property to live comfortably without working, for at least two generations. I don’t need money.”
Ruhi thought for a moment, then smiled. “Alright. I’ll do it.”
And with that, she walked away. Rudra remained seated in his car for a moment, thinking about the smile she’d given him before leaving.
“Her smile is beautiful… but getting her to smile like that for real is going to be a challenge” he thought, “ I don’t know who wants to hurt such a sweet girl, but I won’t let it happen.”
Starting the car, he smirked to himself. “Best of luck, Mr. Rudra Malhotra.”
As Rudra drove off toward the hospital, Aniket’s car pulled up at Anamika’s house.
He rang the doorbell. No answer.
He rang again. Still nothing.
He was about to leave when the door finally creaked open. There stood Saaniya—in the same clothes as last night. Aniket instantly guessed she had come home so tired that she’d gone straight to bed.
Saaniya squinted at him. “Why are you here?”
“Uh-oh… what do I even say?” Aniket thought. “ I came without even thinking… just to check if she’s alright.”
