23.

REYANSH

I was sitting in my office, my eyes glued to the computer screen, when I heard a soft knock on the door. I permitted the person on the other side to enter.

To my surprise, it was Naina's mother, Nandini Maa, stepping inside. She greeted me with a warm smile. I quickly rose from my chair, seeking her blessings before we both took a seat on the couch.

Nandini Maa is the epitome of inspiration for Naina, and I wholeheartedly agree. Her journey from starting the Malhotra Group from scratch to leading it to become the top company in the world, alongside her daughters, is nothing short of remarkable. They have even surpassed the Singhania Group, but do I complain about that? Definitely not. If Naina can win hearts, this achievement is just a bonus.

My thoughts were interrupted when Nandini Maa softly called out, "Reyansh dear." I passed her a reassuring smile and replied, "Ji, Mumma, kahiye."

"How is Naina's health? Does she still have nightmares?" she asked, her concern evident in her eyes and voice.

"No, Mumma, she hasn't had any nightmares for a while," I assured her. She nodded, but I could tell she wasn't completely at ease.

"Mumma, I understand your concern as her mother, and I want you to know that I'm always here for you all. I will make sure Naina never has to face those fears again. I'll protect her from everything, Mumma," I said, trying to give her some peace of mind with a confident smile.

Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded. "Thank you, Reyansh, for being her pillar of strength and support," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Always, Mumma," I responded.

"And here, this is for you both," she said, handing me a box of food. "It's Naina's favorite cupcakes. She told me she was missing them."

"I'll make sure to give them to her, Mumma," I promised. She smiled at me, and after giving me a warm hug, she made her way out of the office.

As I watched her leave, I felt a profound sense of responsibility and gratitude. Naina and her family had become an integral part of my life, and their trust in me was something I cherished deeply.

The rest of the day flew by in the blink of an eye. I made my way back home, greeted warmly by the smiles of my family. Yet, I searched for that one particular pair of eyes which were nowhere to be found.

Chachi walked by with a teasing smile, "The one you're looking for isn't here yet." Shaking my head, I made my way towards the bedroom, the absence of her presence weighing on my mind.

After freshening up, I headed towards the dining room for dinner. It was my first time eating alone since the wedding, a strange loneliness settling in. Shrugging off the thought, I took a seat at the table.

Idk what's wrong with me. Why am I suddenly feeling this sadness in her absence? Come on, Reyansh, you are not some teenager. She has work now, she is the Chairwoman of Malhotra Group; of course, there must be a workload.

"Reyansh beta, where is Naina?" Dadi asked, looking around. "She is busy, Dadi. Maybe she will be late today," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. Dadi nodded understandingly.

The maids started serving the food. When they reached me, I declined. "Arey bhai, kya hua? You are not having dinner?" Aarav asked, his tone filled with mischief.

"I'm not hungry, Aarav," I told him seriously. "Of course, bhai, we believe you," Mihir said nonchalantly, not convinced at all.

"Ap lage gi inko bhook," Aarav teased as I turned back to see Naina entering, talking to someone on her phone.

She looked visibly angry, the tension clear on her face. She ended the call and, with a forced smile, greeted everyone. She put her bag aside, washed her hands, and sat beside me.

"Why aren't you eating?" she asked, noticing my empty plate. "Apka intezaar kar rahe the ap ke pati dev," Raihaana teased, making everyone chuckle.

"Accha ji?" Naina raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. I smiled, serving her food, and answered, "Haan ji."

The younger ones let out a serious "oh hoo" while the elders smiled warmly. Naina returned my smile, and with her eyes, I urged her to eat. She nodded, feeding me the first bite herself.

"Mera to hogaya bhai, mai yaha se ja raha hoon," Mihir said, getting up. "Arey bhai, roko! Main bhi single hi hoon," Raihaana said, following him.

"Ap kyu apkele baithoge? Kainaat ko bula lo," Naina suggested to Aarav, who quickly got up from the table, grabbing the last bite. "Arey roko mere bhai aur behen, mai bhi aarahu," Aarav said, joining them.

We all completed our dinner, and after chatting for a while, we shifted to our respective rooms. Naina went to change her clothes while I set the bed.

She came out wearing one of my T-shirts. I've seen her in my clothes more often than her own. I studied her expression; it was clear how tired she was. Even earlier, her smile wasn't completely genuine. Is something bothering her?

I went to the fridge in our room, taking out the box of cupcakes. I moved towards her as she again retreated to the study.

"Naina," I called out softly. She looked at me, "Ji?" I smiled, passing her the box. "Here, Mumma gave these for you." She smiled, opening the box and taking out a chocolate-flavored cupcake. A soft moan escaped her lips as she tasted it.

"Ah, this is heaven," she said, taking a seat on the sofa. She passed me a cupcake, and I took it, taking a bite.

After a little teasing and talking, we both fell asleep, comforted by each other's presence.

-•-•-•-•-

I woke up the next day to the other side of the bed empty. Sitting up, I noticed Naina coming out of the bathroom. She passed me a smile. "Here," I called out, extending my arms. She looked at me puzzled for a moment before coming forward.

I engulfed her in a soft hug, stroking her hair. "Get ready, I'll drop you today," I told her, breaking the hug. She nodded at me, then went inside to change.

Soon, we both settled inside the car. I turned on the radio, and "Wajah Tum Ho" started to play. Is it only me who gets turned on by a freaking song?

The lyrics flowed through the car, and I heard Naina hum along. I joined her, and soon, the car was filled with her warm laughter and melodic voice.

We reached her office, and as we descended from the car, we found her friend Dhruv standing with another male figure. I could hear Naina click her tongue in distaste as she looked at the other guy. Who is he?

"Hey Dhruv," she greeted him with a sweet smile.

"Hi man," Dhruv greeted me. I smiled and waved at him.

Naina turned to the other guy. "Hi, Mr. Ahuja," she said, passing him one of her sarcastic smiles.

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Come on, Naina, why so formal?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "I would be glad if you stay in your boundaries, Mr. Ahuja," she replied in a deadpan voice, emphasizing the word "Mr. Ahuja."

Dhruv, sensing the tension, cut them off. "Guys, guys. Nihal, meet Reyansh Singhania, Naina's husband. Reyansh, this is Nihal, my childhood best friend."

I passed him a hesitant smile. "Nice to meet you, Reyansh," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.

"It's Mr. Singhania for you," Naina's stern voice cut in.

Mumma, save me! I sensed another presence behind me and turned around. Please, God, save me. I saw Kainaat with a horrified expression on her face. She tried her best to hide it, but I could sense something was wrong.

Who the hell is this guy?

I looked at Nihal's expression. He had a smirk on his face as he looked at Kainaat. I felt disgusted. I went towards Kainaat. "Hi!" I passed her a smile.

She flinched at my voice, trying her best to smile. "Hi, jiju," she said in a slow voice. Did I just see the fearless Kainaat afraid? What could be wrong?

"Kainaat, in my cabin now," Naina said sternly before moving towards the elevator.

Kainaat passed me a forced smile before following Naina. As she passed Nihal, he touched her waist slightly, which didn't go unnoticed by me.

My jaw clenched in anger. I made my way towards him, but before I could do anything, Naina landed a strong slap across his face. The sound of the slap echoed through the silent room.

"Apologize," she demanded in a dominant and stern voice.

"Whoa, whoa, I was just greeting my old friend, Mrs. Singhania," the annoying jerk said.

"I don't like repeating my words," Naina roared at him. He apologized to her and hurried away with a clenched jaw.

"Dhruv, who is he?" I asked as Kainaat and Naina left.

Dhruv looked at me, completely shocked. "He's my childhood friend. He had a crush on Naina in high school, but she wouldn't react like this for a normal guy who has a crush on her. I don't know what more happened between them."

"You're sure it was just a crush? He didn't do anything wrong?" I asked.

He shook his head no. "It's okay. Just make sure he never comes into her sight again. Who knows, she might kill him next time."

He nodded, and we bid our goodbyes. I took a seat in the car, wondering what could be so wrong with that guy. Naina's reaction and Kainaat's terror were deeply unsettling.

Seeing Kainaat like this was very strange. She looked scared to death, like she wanted to run away. What could be the reason?