MAHATAB

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Yuvika

I'm engrossed in my laptop when I hear my phone ring. I glance at the screen-it's Rohan.

"Hey, did you leave yet?" he asks the moment I answer.

"For what?" I respond, confused.

He sighs dramatically. "For dinner at my place, silly."

Oh crap. I totally forgot.

He chuckles. "You have approximately two hours to get your ass down here."

I quickly check the time-it's already 7:30. "Alright, alright, I'll be there," I say, cutting the call.

Closing my laptop, I get up, and Coco, my loyal furball, follows suit. I dial the dog care facility in my apartment complex and make arrangements for him. One of the major reasons I chose this place was because it's so pet-friendly-it even has a playcare for dogs when you're out. It's like a daycare, but for our furry companions.

Coco nudges my foot, and I crouch down, rubbing his ears affectionately. "I'll be back soon, buddy." He gives me that puppy-eyed look that always melts my heart, but I have to hurry.

I dash to my room and quickly pick out my beige cargo pants and a brown crop top. I accessorize with the gold pendant Rohan gave me, a delicate necklace with a 'Y' charm. Deciding to keep it casual yet neat, I tie my hair into a French braid.

Grabbing my bag and keys, I give Coco one last pat before dropping him off at the dog care and heading to Rohan's place .

I step out of the car, feeling a wave of warmth wash over me as I look up at Rohan's house. This place has always felt like a second home to me-filled with laughter, comfort, and a kind of love I never really knew growing up. As soon as I reach the door, it flies open, and before I can even say anything, I'm enveloped in a tight hug.

"There she is, my favorite girl!" Sunidhi Aunty's voice is as welcoming as ever, and her embrace feels like a blanket of warmth. I can't help but smile as I hug her back. "Come in, come in, we've been waiting for you."

I step inside, immediately greeted by the mouthwatering smell of spices and something sweet baking in the oven. It's such a comforting scent. I take a deep breath, letting it ground me as I look around the cozy living room. It's everything I wish I had-everything I've never experienced in my own house.

"Yuvika, I made your favorite-Shahi Paneer and butter naan," Sunidhi Aunty says, her eyes twinkling with pride. "And," she adds, grinning, "I baked a fresh batch of those cookies you love."

My heart feels like it's going to burst. She always remembers, always goes out of her way to make me feel special. It's hard not to get emotional about it-this kind of attention, this kind of love, is something I've never had from my own mother.

"Thank you, Aunty... You really didn't have to go through all that trouble for me," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but she waves off my words with a smile that says she knows exactly how much this means to me.

"Nonsense, Yuvika. I enjoy it. Now come on, everyone's in the dining room."

I follow her, and the warmth in my chest grows as I take in the familiar faces of Rohan's family. His dad gives me a kind nod, and Rohan himself greets me with a mock-serious look, probably because I'm late. But as I glance around the room, I realize someone's missing.

Dhananjay.

I feel a strange mixture of relief and disappointment settle in. I shouldn't care, right? He's Rohan's brother, nothing more. But after everything that happened earlier today... part of me had been curious. Curious to see him again.