Healing each other

chapter 48

Riya and Reyansh arrived at the orphanage. Riya hopped off the bike, followed by Reyansh, who seemed nervous. "Are you nervous?" Riya asked, chuckling at his flustered expression. Reyansh nodded. "You don't need to be," Riya reassured him, "I've got everything under control. Let's go." Taking his hand, she led him inside.

Binita was waiting, holding the plates for the Aarti ceremony. She smiled and performed the ritual, after which Riya and Reyansh took their seats. The children surrounded Riya, laughing and playing. Reyansh watched his wife with adoration.

After an hour, one of the children asked, "Di, what about the plan you made for your birthday? Aren't we going to do that?" Riya nervously glanced at Reyansh. "We'll do it on my next birthday," she replied.

The children groaned in disappointment. "Why, Di?" One child asked. Another child approached Reyansh, "You are Riya Di's prince!" Reyansh chuckled and nodded.

A different child then piped up, "Why did you play that gun game on Riya Di's birthday?" Reyansh looked to Riya for an explanation. Riya took his hand and led him into the garden. "I told them that day we were playing a game. You were the police, and I was the thief, and I lost," she explained.

Reyansh looked guilty. "So that day was your birthday, and I ruined it, didn't I?"

Riya squeezed his hand. "Let's not think about that now. Let's go. I have to fulfill the promises I made that day."

Reyansh held her close. "What promises did you make?"

I promised them we would watch a movie and I'll cook with Binita maa. They're really excited! Riya said Than Reyansh called his guy and told him to set up a movie night at the orphanage. He asked them to bring lots of gifts, and Riya was shocked.

She asked him, "What are you doing? That's not needed, Reyansh." Reyansh held her hand, hugged her, and said, "Let's celebrate your birthday the way you want that day, biwi."

His man came and started setting up the movie night, while the children started playing with their new toys. Riya smiled wholeheartedly as she watched them. Reyansh only had eyes for his wife.

Riya then tiptoed up to Reyansh, reached for his cheek, and gave him a quick peck before saying, "Thank you, Reyansh." He placed his hand on his cheek, then over his heart and muttered, "Stop beating so loudly, yarr," to his heart.

Riya went to the kitchen, sat on the counter, and started eating an apple while chatting with her mom and the other women cooking. Reyansh entered the kitchen, cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, and nervously scratched the back of his neck before asking, "Can I cook?" Riya jumped down from the counter, shocked, and asked,

"Do you know how to cook, Reyansh?"

He nodded and leaned in close to her ear, whispering, "I own two Michelin stars, biwi." Riya covered her mouth in shock. Binita came up to Reyansh, ruffled his hair, and said, "You can cook, beta. Come on." Reyansh smiled and started cooking.

As Reyansh was cooking, Riya got closer to see if he really knew how to cook. She was shocked to see that he was doing everything so finely.

She then turned to Binita and said, "Maa, he knows how to cook!" Binita smiled and nodded. Riya got super excited since she didn't know how to cook and always told her maa that she would marry a guy who could.

Reyansh turned to her and asked, "Why are you so excited to know that I can cook?" Riya then side-hugged his biceps and said, "Because I can't even cook a Maggi, Mr. Rajput!"

Reyansh stopped when he side-hugged her. His heart started beating faster, but then he replied, "Really? You don't know how to cook?" Riya nodded and looked at him, saying, "It's not like I didn't try, but every time I made only disaster. You know I can't even be in the kitchen without breaking something. I always try to be careful but end up hurting myself because of my clumsy behavior. You know, but I love to eat a lot. I used to be so fat, but everyone in school bullied me because I was fat, so I lost weight."