Chapter 2 - The Dinner with the Malhotras

Adhya's POV

I woke up to the soft golden light streaming through my bedroom window, the familiar scent of jasmine and sandalwood lingering in the air.

For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to register the fact that I was home.

My gaze drifted around my room, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me. Everything was exactly as I had left it—the soft pastel walls adorned with framed sketches, the white bookshelf stacked with old issues of Vogue and Elle, and the mannequin in the corner still draped in an unfinished dress from my last project. My desk was cluttered with color palettes and swatches, and my corkboard still had pinned-up fabric patterns and half-baked design ideas scribbled on sticky notes. The only addition was a fresh bouquet of roses on my nightstand—Mom's touch, no doubt.

A small smile played on my lips. It felt like my younger self was still here, waiting for me to pick up where I left off.

With a content sigh, I slid out of bed and padded downstairs, the warm aroma of breakfast leading the way.

In the kitchen, my father sat at the dining table, his usual morning routine in full swing—newspaper in one hand, a steaming cup of chai in the other. His glasses had slid slightly down his nose as he hummed under his breath, completely immersed in the news.

Mom was by the stove, making dosas with practiced ease. The moment she spotted me, her face lit up. "Good morning, sleepy princess," she teased. "Look at you, waking up at noon like a proper diva."

I grinned, shuffling toward her for a quick side hug. "Not my fault! Jet lag is evil."

At the kitchen counter, Aarav sat, already suited up for the day. His tailored navy-blue blazer and crisp white shirt made it clear that he had an important meeting ahead. With his laptop open in front of him and a coffee mug in hand, he barely glanced up when he spoke, "Morning, lazy bum Finally decided to join the living?"

I rolled my eyes, sliding onto the stool next to him. "It's called adjusting, dear brother."

He smirked, taking a sip of his coffee. "It's called laziness."

Before I could throw a witty comeback, a loud, high-pitched shriek echoed through the house.

"ADHYA CHAUHAN, YOU TRAITOR! YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU WERE BACK!

A second later, my best friend, Riya, came storming into the kitchen, her dramatic entrance almost knocking over a chair.

Before I could react, she launched herself at me, squeezing me in a death grip.

"You didn't tell me you were back! I had to hear it from your brother! What kind of betrayal is this?!"

I laughed, struggling to breathe. "I just landed last night—"

"You could've at least sent a text!" she scolded, pulling back with an exaggerated glare.

Aarav groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And here I thought the house was finally peaceful."

Riya turned to him with a wicked grin. "Aww, missed me, Aarav?"

Aarav didn't even look up. "Like I miss getting stuck in traffic."

She gasped. "How rude! And here I was, thinking of bringing you cupcakes from my bakery!"

Aarav sipped his coffee, unimpressed. "I don't like sweets."

Riya smirked. "Oh, I know."

I narrowed my eyes. There was something in the way they exchanged glances, a lingering tension I couldn't quite place.

Interesting.

Mom cleared her throat, trying to hide her amusement. "Alright, enough of your daily banter. Adhya and Riya, eat something before you both start plotting against poor Aarav."

Riya gasped dramatically. "Plotting? Me? Never."

Aarav sighed, clearly over it. "God, I need to leave for work."

And just like that, the chaos of the morning continued, filled with laughter, teasing, and the overwhelming warmth of home.

By the time evening rolled around, I was dressed and ready for dinner. I had chosen a soft ivory Anarkali suit with delicate gold embroidery at the neckline, the fabric flowing elegantly as I walked down the stairs. My hair was left in soft waves, and I kept my accessories minimal—just a pair of pearl earrings.

As I reached the living room, I saw them—the Malhotras.

Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra sat comfortably on the couch, talking with my parents. Aarav stood near the fireplace, deep in conversation with another man.

And then my eyes landed on him.

Reyan Malhotra.

He looked like he had just walked out of a high-stakes boardroom—polished, powerful, and utterly untouchable. His sharp black three-piece suit fit him like a second skin, the crisp white shirt beneath making his tanned complexion stand out. His dark hair was neatly styled, not a strand out of place, and his chiseled jawline held the kind of intensity that could make anyone nervous.

But it was his eyes that held me captive.

Dark, piercing, unwavering.

There was something dangerous about the way he looked at me—like he had already claimed me without a single word.

Before I could process it, Mrs. Malhotra beamed at me. "Oh, Adhya, look at you! All grown up and so beautiful. I still remember when you used to run around behind Aarav and Reyan, trying to act like one of the boys."

I felt my cheeks heat up as she turned to Reyan. "Do you remember how she used to follow you two everywhere? We had to drag her away to give you boys some peace!"

Aarav smirked. "Oh, we remember. She was like a tiny detective, always trying to eavesdrop on our conversations."

I groaned. "Can we not do this?"

Aarav gasped dramatically. "Oh! Aunty do you remember when she broke your Parisian vase? The one you had just bought?"

She laughed. "Oh, that was a disaster."

I buried my face in my hands. "Please stop."

Mrs. Malhotra continued, ignoring me. "She cried for an hour! And guess who had to console her?" She pointed at Reyan. "This one. He bribed her with a handful of candy just to stop her wailing."

I peeked through my fingers, completely mortified.

Reyan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke—his voice deep and commanding. "It worked, didn't it?"

I blinked at him, stunned by the rough timbre of his voice.

Mrs. Malhotra chuckled. "Oh, Reyan was always good at handling her tantrums."

Before I could die of embarrassment, Mr. Malhotra turned to me. "Adhya, since you're back, I was talking to your father about your internship. Why not gain experience at Reyan's company?"

I hesitated. "At... his company?"

"Of course," my mom chimed in happily. "It's a great opportunity, beta."

Aarav nodded. "You'll learn a lot under Reyan."

I fidgeted. "I mean... I was planning to apply elsewhere too..."

Mrs. Malhotra smiled knowingly. "Why go elsewhere when this is yours anyway?"

I stiffened.

There was something off about the way she said it. Something everyone else understood—except me.

And then I felt it again.

Reyan's gaze.

Possessive. Intense.

Like he already knew something I didn't. He exchanged a look with Dad, and for the briefest of moments, I could swear I saw a flicker of something pass between them—a look that made me feel like I was on the edge of something huge, something I wasn't prepared for.

The dinner went by in a blur of laughter and polite conversation, but Reyan's gaze never quite left me. And as the night came to a close and the Malhotras prepared to leave, I felt an unfamiliar sense of unease, mixed with something else I couldn't quite name.