The Rathore's Family

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They finished breakfast and were now talking. Siddharth was sharing stories about Sagun, and Drishti listened attentively, as if it were her favorite subject. Advait’s gaze kept flickering over to her face. Each time Siddharth said something joyful, Drishti smiled; when he got dramatic, she mirrored his expression, fully engrossed in the conversation. Suddenly, Siddharth’s phone rang, and their conversation halted. Drishti, now quiet, glanced up—and met her husband’s gaze, his entire focus resting on her.

"Has he always been like this, or am I just starting to notice him?" she wondered. She gave him a soft smile, and his smile in return grew warmer.

“Yes, baby I was just talking about you!” Siddharth’s voice broke their gaze, his words carrying a teasing undertone as he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Advait’s eyes flicked toward the door, muttering, “Cheesy, crazy guy.”

When he looked back at Drishti, his expression softened as he saw her glaring at him, pretending to be offended.

“Why did you call him cheesy?” she asked, slightly amused.

“Then what should I call him?” he countered.

“You call me by my name every time, ‘Drishti, Drishti.’ And here he is, saying things like ‘baby’ and ‘babe,’ and you find that cheesy?”

Advait moved closer, his eyes glinting with challenge. “So, you want me to call you ‘baby’ or ‘babe,’ is that it?”

“Please,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Just call me anything decently for once; that’s enough for me.”

“Oh, so when I say it sweetly, there’s a problem. When I don’t say anything, there’s a problem. What exactly do you want me to do?” he teased.

“Take me home,” she replied, trying to keep her tone serious, but a smile danced on her lips.

He smirked. “Oh, sure, we’ll go home. But for now, just stay here with me a little while.”

Drishti’s lips formed a cute pout, an expression that made Advait’s heart soften. But as he looked at her, a pang of sadness crept into his gaze. He couldn’t shake the feeling that her attachment to his family ran deeper than her bond with him—at least for now. Since she’d come into his life, his mother had been her constant support; his brother never missed a chance to make her smile; his sister shared everything with her; and even his aunt loved to crack jokes to bring her joy. To Drishti, they were more than just his family; they had become her family too, filling the void that had once felt insurmountable.

As he thought about the future, the idea of leaving home crossed his mind. He’d considered it more than once, hoping he could convince her if it ever came to that. But with each moment he saw her immerse herself in his family, he feared that she might never be ready for such a choice—that leaving his family might mean tearing her away from the people she had come to love just as deeply as he did.

Drishti called his name twice, but he was lost in thought. Only when she shook his shoulder did he snap out of it, looking at her with a start. “What happened?”

“Where did you get lost?” she asked gently.

“Want the truth?” he replied, his tone serious as he held her hands. She nodded, searching his eyes.

With a slight tremor in his voice, he asked, “If I... if I left the house, would you come with me?”

A flicker of hope and the weight of sadness intertwined in his gaze. Drishti studied his face, trying to gauge if he was serious. His expression was earnest, each word revealing a hidden vulnerability. She slowly pulled her hands back, her response clear without needing to say a word.