The day passed pleasantly. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I took a leisurely walk through the garden. The air was soft with the scent of blooming flowers, and the golden hues of dusk painted everything in a warm glow.
To my surprise, Adwait had returned early from work. He was sitting alone on a wooden bench nestled between rose bushes, seemingly lost in thought. When he noticed me, he gestured with a smile, inviting me to sit beside him.
“So,” he began, breaking the comfortable silence, “getting to know each other wouldn’t be a bad idea, right?” His tone was casual but kind. “I know your name’s Shivani, of course—but tell me more. What are your interests? Hobbies? For instance, I’m into bike racing.”
I smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I don’t have any particular hobbies, honestly. It depends on my mood. But if I had to pick something—I love dancing.”
“Ah, a dancer,” he nodded with interest. “And your favorite food?”
“I wouldn’t say I have one favorite,” I said, laughing lightly. “I’m more of a foodie. I like pani puri, pav bhaji, manchurian, ice cream… the list is long.”
Adwait raised an eyebrow playfully. “A foodie, huh? Then why didn’t you eat your breakfast properly this morning?”
“That wasn’t breakfast,” I replied with a scrunched nose. “I mean… bread and butter? That’s so bland.”
“There was jam, too,” he said, pretending to defend the meal.
“I don’t like that either. I mean—how can anyone—” I pulled a face to express my distaste.
He chuckled. “Looks like you really didn’t like it. So, tell me—what do you like?”
I straightened a little, a dreamy smile forming. “Chai. I absolutely love chai. Especially with khari biscuits. There’s something magical about it…”
“Chai?” he repeated with mock surprise. “Then why didn’t you say so?”
“I didn’t see any on the breakfast table, so I thought it wasn’t an option.”
“Well then, Miss Shivani,” he said with mock formality, “chai will be available for you from tomorrow morning onwards. That’s a promise.”
I looked at him, caught off guard for a moment. He continued, softening his tone, “You should start feeling like this is your home too. If there’s something you want or need—just say it. Alright?”
I nodded gently. “Okay, Adwait.”
“You can call me Bhai, or Adwait bhai, if that’s more comfortable.”
“No…” I hesitated, then said quietly, “No, I don’t want to call you Bhai. I’m okay with just Adwait.”
He paused for a moment, then nodded. “That’s fine too.”
Then, out of the blue, he asked, “What’s your age?”
I blinked. “Why do you want to know?”
Leaning slightly closer, he said in a low voice, “Because once you're better, we’re planning a night out at the club. What do you say?”
My eyes widened as I shot to my feet. “What? No way!”
He raised both hands in mock alarm. “Hey! Relax. Are you trying to call the entire family here or what?”
“Sorry, but I can’t.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t drink.”
“I don’t,” I said simply. “And…”
“And?”
“I’m not even old enough to go to a club.”
Adwait narrowed his eyes. “Wait… are you saying you're not an adult?” He chuckled, thinking I was joking.
But I remained silent, watching his face. His smile faded slightly.
He leaned in again, more serious this time. “Shivani, what’s your age?”
I hesitated before finally whispering, “Seventeen.”
He froze. Then shot to his feet, exclaiming, “What?!”
I grinned, smug. “Hey, keep your voice down. Want to alert the entire family?” I threw his own words back at him with a smirk.
He dropped back onto the bench, visibly stunned. “You’re kidding, right? I mean… you look twenty—maybe twenty-one.”
I raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re saying I look older than my age?”
“No! I mean—” he stammered, “you seem older. Mature. I never would’ve guessed.”
“I’m not joking,” I said softly.
Adwait shook his head in disbelief. “So you’re Omkar’s age?”
“Maybe.”
“That means you two should be in the same class—he’s in 12th.”
“I’ve already completed my 12th.”
“How? When I was in 12th, I was 17. Don’t tell me you skipped grades!”
“No, nothing like that. I just started school early.”
Adwait exhaled, a slow smile forming. “Wow. That explains a lot.”
Adwait shook his head again, still trying to process everything. “Well, you keep surprising me, Shivani.”
I gave him a soft smile. “Good surprises, I hope.”
He looked at me for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah… the kind that make you think.”
The garden had grown quieter, and the air had a slight chill. I wrapped my arms around myself as a breeze passed.
Adwait noticed. “Come on, let’s head inside. It’s getting cold.”
I stood up beside him. “Yeah… it was a nice talk.”
“It was,” he agreed. “And hey—chai tomorrow morning. Don’t forget to ask for it.”
I smiled. “I won’t.”
We walked back toward the mansion in a comfortable silence, side by side—not just as strangers anymore, but as two people slowly stepping into each other’s worlds.
I sat on the bed, hugging my knees, while my mind wandered back to the garden. The talk with Adwait kept replaying in my head. It started so casually, but somewhere along the way, it felt... nice. He asked about my hobbies, my likes, and even joked about my age. His reaction when I told him I was seventeen still made me smile. I had used his own words back on him—and that felt good. Strange, isn’t it? I’ve barely been here a few days, and yet, that one conversation made me feel like maybe... maybe I do belong here, even if just a little.
By thinking all don't know when she drifted into dream land.
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