The Veiled Hearts

🌹 Mother's Warmth 🔪

Vanya and Ishaan emerged from the mansion, his grip on her wrist unyielding. The force of his hold exacerbated the pain in her shoulder and foot, the latter still tender from an injury sustained during a test the previous day. As they crossed the threshold of the main entrance, a sharp pang made Vanya wince, the words slipping from her lips, "You're hurting me."
       
She nearly stumbled on the last step leading to Ishaan's car, but he tightened his hold, preventing her from falling.Just then, a voice rang out behind them—Anita, Yash's mother. "Stop," she said. Both Vanya and Ishaan froze in their tracks.
       
Leaning closer, Ishaan murmured under his breath, "Don't even think about doing something stupid."Anita approached them, her expression warm, yet curious. "You enjoy good food, don't you? You must be feeling uneasy after vomiting . I've packed some home-cooked gut friendly soup for you. And I apologize—I never got the chance to ask your name."
       
Vanya glanced at Anita's face, then at the packed soup, and back at Anita again. Ishaan, sensing the hesitation, interjected, "Her name is Vanya," his eyes briefly locked with Vanya's, a silent warning that if she tried anything, he'd reveal her full name. Vanya forced a smile at Anita, her emotions a tangled mix of fear and the unexpected warmth from Anita's kindness.
       
Ishaan opened the passenger door and gently, yet firmly, guided Vanya into the seat. He then turned to Anita, bending down to touch her feet in respect, "Chalo, Biji, I’ll be on my way."(Okay aunty!!I'll be on my way). Vanya watched as Anita smiled warmly, waving goodbye. The woman's gentle kindness stirred something within Vanya, a sense of the maternal warmth she had longed for.
       
As Ishaan settled into the driver’s seat, he stated, "I’m taking you to my home."Vanya's response was immediate, "I don’t want to go."Ishaan’s tone hardened, "It’s a command, not a request."With that, he drove away from the Singhania Mansion. Unbeknownst to them, Yash stood on his balcony, watching them leave, a storm of anger and helplessness brewing within him.
       
Inside the car, silence hung heavily between them. Ishaan noticed how Vanya kept staring at the packed soup. In a taunting voice, he asked, "What are you staring at? Never seen soup before?"Vanya, still gazing at the container, softly replied, "No, it’s just… it’s the first time I’m holding something made by a mother’s hands."
       
Ishaan shot back, "What, your mother never made soup?"Vanya lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes with a steely resolve. "You already found out my name, Ishaan. You should’ve checked my background too. My mother died giving birth to me. Not everyone is privileged to have a living mother."
       
Ishaan couldn't tear his eyes away from Vanya’s face, her eyes burning with a mix of anger and unshed tears. Distracted, he didn’t notice the car speeding towards them from the opposite direction, its horn blaring. It wasn’t until Vanya screamed, "Ishaaaan, the car!" that he snapped out of it.
       
In a split second, he swerved the car to the side, narrowly avoiding a collision. His one hand gripped the steering wheel tightly while the other instinctively reached out in front of Vanya, trying to shield her.Vanya clutched the soup container as if her life depended on it. When Ishaan finally brought the car to a stop, he looked at Vanya, still holding the soup protectively, her knuckles white from the grip.
        
His voice laced with anger, he ordered, "Get out of the car. Now."Vanya ignored him, staying firmly in her seat, holding on to the soup as if it were her lifeline. Frustrated, Ishaan grabbed the soup from her hands, holding it as a threat. "Come out, or I’ll throw it."
       
Fury sparked in Vanya’s eyes. "Don’t you dare. That’s from Biji."Ishaan retorted, "She’s not your Biji, she’s mine."Vanya shot back, "But she gave it to me, not you. Now give me my soup."Ishaan paused, realizing how childish the argument had become. "This is ridiculous. Just get out of the car. The soup will stay inside."
       
Vanya stared at him for a moment, then huffed in frustration. Reluctantly, she took the soup from his hand, handling it with the care of a child protecting a treasured toy, and placed it carefully back in the car. Ishaan couldn’t help but smirk at her behavior, finding it oddly endearing.Without another word, they both stepped out of the car, the tension between them still palpable.    
       
Ishaan’s eyes narrowed as he confronted Vanya. “Who sent you to the mansion?” he asked, his voice direct and unyielding.Vanya met his gaze, defiance written all over her face. “Why should I tell you?”“I’m not Yash,” Ishaan replied coldly. “I don’t show kindness.”
       
Vanya’s expression hardened. “I stopped expecting kindness from the world a long time ago.”Ishaan stepped closer, his voice dropping. “Your brother died, and instead of mourning, you’re risking your family’s reputation and other family life.”Vanya’s anger flared. “He didn’t die; he’s alive!” she snapped, tears welling up in her eyes.
       
It was the first time Ishaan understood why Yash had been so kind to her.Lowering his voice, Ishaan asked, “Okay, whatever you say. But what do you hope to achieve by hiding out in the mansion?”Vanya didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to get back into the car. But Ishaan, frustrated, grabbed her wrist, causing her to wince loudly from the sudden jerk, aggravating her already bruised shoulder. The memory of Raj hurting her flashed in Ishaan’s mind.“I didn’t mean to,” Ishaan said, a note of regret in his voice.
       
Vanya turned back to him, her eyes cold. “That’s the best line rich people have—‘I didn’t mean to,’” she retorted, then turned away, retrieved her soup from the car, and began walking back toward the Singhania mansion.Ishaan watched her, his concern evident as he called after her, “You’re going back in there? You’re putting yourself in danger if you get caught.”
       
Without turning back, Vanya shouted, “If you had a brother and someone told you he was dead, what would you do?”he sighed deeply as remembering his twin brother Vivaan who rarely comes home after joining the military.
     
Ishaan then pulled out his phone and dialing Yash. When Yash answered, his voice was tense with worry. Before he could ask about Vanya’s whereabouts,

Ishaan spoke first, “You’re screwed, Yash. Now I understand why you keep getting drawn to her.”
       
Panic crept into Yash’s voice. “Where is she? Did she do something stupid?”

“No,” Ishaan replied, “but she’s about to. She’s heading back to your house, holding onto her prized possession without hiding her identity.”

“What?” Yash exclaimed.
“She’s coming back, alone in the streets?”

“Yeah, but don’t worry,” Ishaan said with a hint of amusement. “I think she’d be fine if someone hurt her, but if anyone touches Biji’s soup, they’ll be kissing the ground.”
       
Yash chuckled, but as he was about to end the call,

Ishaan added, “Yash, she’s not Tanya. She’s not the girl you’re going to get married to ,Remember that.”

There was silence on the line before Yash abruptly ended the call. Ishaan sighed, watching as Vanya continued her determined march toward the Singhania mansion, holding onto her soup like it was the most precious thing in the world.

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