Maanvi's Destiny

Chapter 13

Maanvi was engrossed in a lighthearted conversation with Jia and her mother, laughing as they shared stories about the family. Just as Jia was finishing a particularly funny story, she noticed Shaurya entering the room, but Maanvi had her back to him and didn’t see him approaching.

Unaware that it was Maanvi he was sneaking up on, Shaurya casually walked up and threw his arm around her shoulders, grinning. “What are you two plotting over here?” he teased, assuming he was talking to his cousin Saira.

Maanvi froze, her cheeks turning bright pink. She glanced up, wide-eyed, and saw Shaurya’s face inches away, his easy smile quickly replaced by surprise when he realized who he was actually holding.

“M-Maanvi?” he stammered, quickly dropping his arm, his own cheeks turning a shade of pink to match hers. “I—I thought you were Saira didi!”

Jia and her mother exchanged a knowing smile, stifling their laughter as Shaurya fumbled to recover. Maanvi, still taken aback, couldn’t help but laugh softly, the tension melting away. “No worries,”she said with a shy smile. “I guess I’m just part of the family now.”

Shaurya’s face softened, and he managed to return her smile. “Well, I wouldn’t mind that,” he said, a touch of warmth in his voice.

Jia gave them both a playful nudge. “Well, if you two want some privacy, I can definitely take my mom elsewhere,” she teased, winking at Maanvi.

Maanvi and Shaurya both laughed, though their eyes lingered on each other for a moment. There was something unspoken between them, a shared spark, as if the whole evening had shifted in that one unexpected moment.

After the birthday formalities, the night settled into a warm, lively atmosphere. People mingled, laughing and sharing stories, with a few couples and friends drifting to the makeshift dance floor. Maanvi, who had been chatting with a few guests, excused herself to find the bathroom. Spotting Jia across the room, she approached her friend for guidance.

“Oh, you can use my room,” Jia said casually, suppressing a grin. “It’s just down the hall, first door on the left. Go right ahead!”

Maanvi thanked her, not noticing the twinkle in Jia’s eye as she walked down the hall. She turned the handle and stepped inside, only to realize she’d walked into a room that wasn’t quite as expected. It is decorated with shelves lined with books, a guitar in the corner, and a few framed photographs on the walls.

Before Maanvi could back out, the door opened again. She turned, startled, to find Shaurya standing in the doorway, equally surprised to see her there. “Maanvi?” he asked, his voice both amused and curious. “What brings you to… my room?”

Maanvi’s cheeks turned pink as she looked around, realizing Jia’s little trick. “Oh, um, I thought this was Jia’s room. She told me I could use her bathroom,” she explained, flustered.

Shaurya chuckled, shaking his head. “Sounds like something Jia would do.”He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms with a warm smile. “But since you’re here, I guess we have a moment to ourselves.”

Maanvi felt her heart flutter. She glanced down, then back up at him. “It seems like we do.”

Shaurya stepped into the room, gently closing the door behind him. “I’m really glad you came tonight, Maanvi,”he said, his voice soft. “I was hoping I’d get a chance to talk to you.”

Maanvi’s breath caught as she looked into his eyes, feeling the warmth of his gaze. “I… I’m glad I came too,”she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, the world outside seemed to fade, and it was just the two of them in that quiet, unexpected moment. They stood there, caught in each other’s gaze, the air around them thick with anticipation, and in that silence, both Maanvi and Shaurya knew that something new, something special, had begun.
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