It was almost time for dinner when Aanya gathered her courage and went to knock on the adjoining door. “Raghav,” she said softly, “if you give Akira to me, I’ll get her ready.”

But his voice came from inside, calm yet firm, “You get ready, Aanya. I’ll take care of my daughter.”

The words stung. She stood there for a moment, her hand lingering on the door, before nodding silently. “Okay,” she whispered to herself, and turned back to her room.

She dressed slowly, her heart heavy though she didn’t want to admit it to herself. By the time she stepped out, she found Raghav standing in front of the mirror, already dressed in a crisp suit. Little Akira was in his arms, almost ready too—except for her tiny hair, which he was struggling to tie up neatly.

Akira spotted Aanya instantly. Her eyes lit up and she wriggled in her father’s hold, wobbling to jump down. Before Raghav could react, Akira leaned too far and almost slipped forward. Aanya rushed ahead, catching her just in time. In the process, her ankle twisted slightly, and she winced, but steadied herself before anyone else noticed.

For a brief second, Raghav froze—watching Aanya cradle Akira, soothing her naturally. His chest tightened with a wave of guilt for how coldly he had acted earlier in the evening. He should have trusted Aanya more. She wasn’t just “someone” in Akira’s life anymore—she was becoming home for the little girl.

Aanya smiled through the moment, brushing Akira’s hair with gentle hands. “Hold still, princess, let me make you pretty,” she cooed, fixing her soft curls into place. Akira giggled happily, clutching Aanya’s shoulder, completely content.

Once all three of them were ready, they moved out together and took the lift down. The silence between Raghav and Aanya was noticeable, though neither spoke of it.

In the dining area, a man and a woman were already waiting. The man—tall, warm-eyed, and dressed sharply—stood up immediately when he saw them. His face broke into a wide smile as he pulled Raghav into a tight hug.

“Finally!” he exclaimed. “You took your time to reach Milan.”

It was Marco, his old college friend, now settled in Italy. Beside him stood his wife, Elena

The woman beside him stood gracefully, greeting Raghav with a polite smile. Then the man’s attention shifted to Aanya. His tone softened, his expression respectful. “And you must be Aanya. I’ve heard much about you. Welcome.”

The lady too greeted her warmly, “We’ve been eager to meet you.”

Aanya smiled politely, offering them a courteous nod, Akira still balanced on her arms. She noticed Raghav’s hand at the small of her back, guiding her to take a seat beside him—a small gesture, but one that eased the ache she’d carried all evening.

Introductions were made, and soon they were all seated. Akira sat comfortably in Aanya’s lap, clutching her small toy in one hand.

“You know,” Marco said with a nostalgic chuckle, “Raghav and I were inseparable in college. Always competing for the top spot.”

Raghav smirked, “Competing? You mean you were always trying to catch up.”

The table laughed. Elena leaned closer to Aanya, whispering, “you know your husband did not changed a little he still is as handsome as he was in his collage days .”

Aanya smiled politely, glancing at Raghav.

Marco continued, “After graduation, I moved here to help my father’s business. And Raghav…” he paused, “…he was pulled back to India. Our paths separated, but business still kept us tied.”

Aanya listened quietly, watching Raghav speak with an ease she rarely saw in him. When Marco teased him about how serious he was back in those days, Raghav countered with Marco’s love story.

“Don’t be fooled by his smooth Italian charm,” Raghav said with a playful smirk. “Marco chased Elena for years before she finally agreed to marry him.”

Elena laughed, blushing slightly. “He’s not wrong.”

The women soon drifted into their own conversation while the men dived deep into business. Aanya and Elena exchanged stories of travel, family, and motherhood. Phones were taken out, numbers exchanged, and even social media handles followed, their bond growing in those few hours.

Meanwhile, Akira grew restless, squirming in Aanya’s lap. When dinner was served, Raghav immediately stretched his arms out.

“Give her to me. You eat properly,” he said firmly.

For a moment, Aanya hesitated, still remembering his earlier coldness, but she passed Akira into his arms.

Raghav tried to balance both his plate and Akira, who was tugging at his tie with giggles. “Not so easy, is it?” Aanya teased softly.

He gave her a look but didn’t respond, only bouncing Akira gently on his lap, murmuring something in her ear to keep her distracted while Aanya enjoyed her meal. The small act didn’t go unnoticed by her—it softened her heart, just a little.

As the evening wound down, coffee was served, laughter mellowed, and the warmth of old friendship filled the table. When they finally excused themselves, goodbyes were exchanged with promises to meet again soon.

Back in their suite, Akira was already dozing in Raghav’s arms. Aanya unlocked the door, her steps slow from exhaustion, while Raghav carefully placed their daughter on the bed. The night ended in quietness, but also with a strange comfort neither of them voiced.

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