21.

NAINA

I hug him close to myself, like he is the reason I am alive, and I would die if I leave him. Since the day he entered my life, everything became beautiful.

He leaves a soft kiss on the top of my head. I pull back slightly, still seated in his lap, and he gives me a huge smile, the smallest dimple popping out on his cheek.

I kiss the dimple before meeting my gaze with his. "By the way, did I tell you how pretty you are looking today?" His voice is soft as he wraps a hand around my waist, pulling me closer.

In return, I wrap my hand around his neck. "You say that every day, Reyansh," I answer him with a smile, and he kisses my forehead, making my stomach do a flip.

"Because you look beautiful every day," he says in a slow and soft voice. Just then, a knock on the door disturbs us. I move aside, taking a seat on the sofa. "Come in."

Mihir enters. "Bhabi, Bhai, they are calling for us. We should go home," he says, to which Reyansh answers, "Tell Mumma we will be there in 15 minutes." Mihir nods, passing us a smile before moving out.

We arrive at our house, and as we step inside, I'm greeted with the fresh aroma of food. A smile forms on my lips seeing Mumma, Papa, Kainaat, Bua, and Aakriti.

Mumma comes forward, engulfing me in a hug. "Buddhi ho rahi hai meri bachchi aap," Mumma says in the hug, and I let out a chuckle.

"29 buddhi nahi hota, Mumma," I tell her, to which Kainaat replies, "Ji haan, aapko toh jawani shuru ho gayi hai inki," making everyone let out a chuckle.

"Can we give her the gifts now?" Aakriti, the impatient one, asks. "Haan haan, chalo," Reyansh's Bua says.

"First Dadu and Dadi, then everyone else," Aarav says, to which everyone nods. Dadu and Dadi come forward with a box in Dadu's hands and an envelope in Dadi's hands.

"Here, dear, open it later," Dadu says, handing it to me. I bend down to take their blessings. Next, Papa comes towards me. He hands me a box, and I open it to reveal a pendant.

Tears pool up in my eyes. It's the same pendant I lost years ago, the one that was really precious to me, gifted by Adhriti.

"How did you find it?" I ask, meeting my gaze with his. "I just found it," he shrugs his shoulders with a proud smile. "Thank you, Papa," my voice comes out soft and slow.

Reyansh wraps an arm around my shoulder, squeezing it in assurance. I can never be thankful enough to God for giving me such a beautiful family.

"Mumma?" I ask her. "I'll come last," she says, and I nod at her. Next, Maa and Papa come forward. "Not sure if you already have this or not, but here," Papa says, handing me car keys. Maybach keys, to be precise.

"And I know you love rubies, so here," Maa says, passing me a jewelry box. "Thank you, Maa and Papa," I answer them with a genuine and bright smile.

Then come Chachu and Chachi. "This one is for both of you," Chachi says, handing me an envelope. I open it to find two plane tickets.

"Aap tak honeymoon pe nahi gayi ho tum log. Ye toh nalayak hai, toh maine hi tickets book kar diye," Chachi says. "Chachi!" Reyansh says, offended, making all of us laugh.

"Kya Chachi, sahi toh bol rahi hai woh," Chachu says, to which Reyansh passes them a betrayed look.

"Enjoy karna," Chachi says, moving away and passing me a wink.

"And hum bechare chote se bachcho ki taraf se aap ka gift bahar hai," Kainaat says, leading us to the backyard.

My eyes widen at the sight in front of me, with beautiful fairy lights hanging around and a garden filled with all my favorite flowers.

"Ham ne khud se kiya hai ye," Aarav says with a
proud smile. "This is so beautiful," I say, still admiring the place, my eyes capturing each and every detail.

"Naina," I hear Mumma's voice, breaking my trance of thoughts. I look back at her. "Ji, Mumma?" Her hand is holding a file.

She comes forward to me with a soft smile on her face, handing me the file and caressing my cheek. I look at her with confusion.

"What's this?" I ask, holding up the file. No, it can't be what I am thinking, right? There is no way... I am not ready for this. Are these the papers to Mal--

"They are the papers of Malhotra Industries. I announce you as the chairwoman of Malhotra Industries along with all the subunits," Mumma says, my body freezing on the spot.

My mind goes blank, not knowing what to do, my lips slightly parting in disbelief. "But Mumma--" Mumma shushes me up.

"Naina, you deserve this. And don't you think you should give your buddhi maa rest now?"

The words hit me like a wave, crashing over me with overwhelming emotion. My hands tremble as I hold the file, the significance of her words sinking in. I glance around the room, seeing the proud faces of my family, each one beaming with love and support.

Tears well up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I look at Mumma. "Mumma, I... I don't know what to say," I manage to stammer, my voice thick with emotion.

Mumma steps closer, pulling me into a tight hug. "You don't need to say anything, beta. You've earned this with your hard work and dedication. We're all so proud of you."

Reyansh gently takes the file from my hands, setting it aside before wrapping me in his warm embrace. "You deserve every bit of this, Naina. You've always put your heart and soul into everything you do."

I bury my face in his chest, feeling the warmth and safety of his presence. The weight of the moment, the love and pride of my family, and the realization of what this means for my future all come crashing down at once.

Mumma steps back, giving me a moment to compose myself. I take a deep breath, looking at each of my family members, my heart swelling with gratitude and love. "Thank you, all of you. I couldn't have done any of this without your support and love."

Kainaat steps forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Okay, now that the serious part is over, can we please get back to celebrating? We've got a party to enjoy!"

Everyone laughs, the tension breaking as the room fills with joy and chatter. Reyansh squeezes my hand, his eyes shining with pride. "Let's celebrate this moment, Naina. You've earned it."

As the evening unfolds, surrounded by my loved ones, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment and happiness. This is more than just a promotion; it's a testament to the journey I've been on and the incredible people who have been by my side every step of the way.