An Excuse He Didn't Mind Taking
Avinash hadn't planned on seeing Tanya again so soon.
Yet, after the business event after that moment where he had helped before she even asked she had lingered in his thoughts longer than she should have.
Not because he had solved her problem.
Not because she had looked at him with that fleeting mix of surprise and something softer.
But because it wasn't nothing.
It was a realization he wasn't sure he was ready for.
So when his mother casually mentioned over breakfast that Tanya's mother had suggested they meet again to talk, to spend time, to be sure about if they want this or not, he had agreed without hesitation.
Silence.
The kind of silence that only happened when something truly shocking occurred in the Malhotra household.
Raj Malhotra, his grandfather, paused mid-sip of his tea, his sharp eyes flickering to Avinash over the rim of his cup. "Well, that was... fast."
His grandmother, Gayatri Malhotra, was the first to recover. "Finally." She smiled, setting her spoon down delicately. "I was beginning to think we'd have to push you into this."
Veer Malhotra, his father, folded his newspaper, his gaze unreadable. "No arguments? No conditions? No 'I don't have time for this'?"
Avinash didn't bother answering. His decision had been made, and he saw no reason to explain it.
But his silence only fueled his cousins.
Darsh , Avinash's cousin, leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Wait, wait, wait so you want to meet her? You, Mr.Too-Busy-for-Emotions, are choosing to spend time with your fiancée , Like are you actually considering her? Because it sure seems like you are."
Aarav, Avinash's sibling, ever the instigator, grinned as he nudged Darsh. "Bro, are we witnessing the downfall of Avinash Malhotra? Is this what love does?"
"That's enough." Veer said, though the corner of his lips twitched as if he too, was amused.
Shreya, Darsh's mother, laughed softly. "Let him be. It's a good thing. Avinash has never done anything he wasn't fully certain about."
Dilip, his uncle, nodded in agreement. "And if he agreed so quickly, that means he's very certain."
His mother, Diya Malhotra, reached across the table, placing a gentle hand over his. Her eyes, warm with affection, searched his face as she smiled knowingly. "I'm very happy, beta. We all are." She said softly, as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long time. "I always knew you'd make the right choice when the time came." She gave his hand a light squeeze before adding with a hint of amusement. "But Tanya has a busy schedule, you know. You might have to go to her office."
Avinash picked up his coffee, unbothered. "That won't be a problem."
Another pause.
Then Darsh let out a dramatic sigh. "Gone. Our brother is gone."
Aarav clasped a hand over his heart. "May the ruthless, untouchable Avinash Malhotra rest in peace."
Ignoring them, Avinash pushed back his chair and stood. "I have a meeting. Excuse me."
As he walked away, he caught his grandfather's voice calm, wise, and full of amusement.
"Perhaps this decision was a good idea after all."
And Avinash, didn't say anything.
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Tanya's Side - An Unexpected Visit
Tanya had barely settled into her morning routine when her assistant, Aarvi, knocked on the door.
"Ma'am, Mr. Malhotra is here to see you."
Tanya stilled for a second, caught off guard.
Avinash? Here?
Her parents had mentioned about meeting up, but she hadn't expected him to show up like this.
She quickly composed herself, straightening her dress. "Send him in."
The door opened, and there he was imposing as ever in a dark charcoal suit, his presence effortlessly filling the space.
She stood up as he walked in, his eyes scanning the studio, the unfinished sketches on her desk, the mood board pinned to the wall.
"You're working." he noted. His voice was as composed as ever, but there was something else in his gaze something assessing.
"Yes." she said, offering a small smile. "Didn't expect you here."
"Our mothers suggested we meet. Your mother mentioned you were busy today, so mine suggested I come to your office." He paused, stepping further inside. "I didn't mind."
Tanya tilted her head slightly, something flickering in her eyes. He didn't mind?
"Would you like to sit?" she asked.
Avinash nodded, taking a seat across from her. His gaze flickered toward her phone, which was face down on the desk.
She noticed and let out a quiet laugh. "No work crisis today, if that's what you're wondering."
His lips quirked slightly. "Good."
Tanya picked up a pen, twirling it between her fingers. "So," she said, meeting his gaze, "what are we supposed to talk about?"
There was a pause, just for a moment.
Then, Avinash leaned back slightly, resting his arm on the chair. "Are you sure about this?"
The question was straightforward. No hesitation.
Tanya knew what he meant. This marriage. This engagement. Them.
She exhaled, looking down at the sketches on her desk. "I don't think it's about being sure." she admitted. "It's about knowing if this is something we can build."
Avinash studied her. She didn't answer immediately not because she was unsure, but because she thought before she spoke.
It was something he appreciated.
"Do you want to see someone else?" he asked.
Tanya blinked, slightly startled by his bluntness. Then, she let out a soft laugh. "No."
Avinash's expression didn't change, but something in his posture relaxed just slightly.
"What about you?" she asked, meeting his gaze.
His answer was immediate. "No."
A beat of silence passed between them. It wasn't awkward. It wasn't tense.
It was simply understood.
Avinash glanced at the sketches once more. "You're designing for an upcoming show?"
Tanya nodded, welcoming the change in topic. "Yes. A spring collection."
His gaze lingered on the fabric swatches beside her. "You like it." he observed.
She tilted her head. "What?"
"This." He gestured around the studio. "Your work. You don't just do it because you're good at it."
Tanya smiled. "You noticed that?"
"I notice a lot of things."
It wasn't flirtatious. It wasn't playful.
It was just... honest.
And for some reason, that made her chest tighten slightly.
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A Quiet Realization
Avinash watched her, his gaze steady. He didn't believe in love at first sight, or grand romantic gestures, yet something about Tanya made him pause. He had agreed to this meeting without hesitation.... why?
It wasn't just an obligation. It wasn't nothing.
Tanya, on the other hand, felt an odd warmth settle in her chest. It wasn't love, not yet. But as Avinash noticed things about her that no one else had pointed out so effortlessly, she realized she didn't mind the idea of figuring this out with him.
Maybe this wouldn't be as unbearable as she had imagined.
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Hello, lovies!
Chapter 6 is here, and Avinash and Tanya are slowly stepping into something, even if neither of them fully understands it yet. The tension, the awareness, the unspoken emotions. I love writing these two!
What did you think of this chapter? Did you feel the shift between them? Drop your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time, stay dreamy!
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