35 comments please...

The boutique felt strangely quieter after Yash left.

A few minutes ago, his presence had filled the entire place.

Now only the usual sounds remained.

The hum of sewing machines.

The chatter of customers.

The rustle of fabrics.

Dhwani was still staring at the glass door through which he had exited.

Padma returned from seeing him off and immediately caught her expression.

"What?" A mischievous grin appeared on her face.

Dhwani slowly turned toward her. Then narrowed her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me that your infamous Yash mamu is actually THE Yash Goenka?"

"Because I am too modest." Padma blinked innocently.

Dhwani deadpanned. 

"Okay, fine." Padma burst out laughing.

"You have spent three months talking about him." Dhwani folded her arms.

"True."

"You mention him in literally every second conversation."

"Also true."

"You could have casually added that he owns one of the biggest production houses in South India."

"Hmm." Padma looked thoughtful. Then she nodded. "I could have."

Dhwani picked up a measuring tape and threw it at her.

"Hey!" Padma dodged it with a laugh.

"You deserved that."

"I absolutely did not."

"I genuinely had no idea." Dhwani shook her head.

"Most people don't." Padma shrugged. "Mamu doesn't exactly enjoy attention."

"I have heard his name countless times."

"Everybody has. But he rarely appears in interviews. Or events. Or social media." Padma smiled. "He hates cameras. Which is ironic. Considering he literally produces movies."

The two women laughed.

"Seriously though." Padma sat on the edge of a worktable. "Most people know the Goenka name." They know the studio. They know the movies. But they wouldn't recognize him if he walked past them."

Dhwani nodded.

"That's why I didn't connect the dots."

Then she paused.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Actually..."

Padma immediately noticed it.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

Dhwani looked down.

A distant expression entered her eyes.

"I knew what he looked like."

"Wait. What? You already knew his face?" Padma asked.

Dhwani nodded.

"A few years ago."

Padma frowned.

"How?"

The smile on Dhwani's lips softened.

One that carried memories.

Both beautiful and painful.

"There was a music album."

"Oh?"

"It was released under Goenka banners."

 "Which one?" Padma's eyebrows shot up.

Dhwani immediately named it.

Padma's eyes widened.

"That album?"

Dhwani nodded.

"I loved every song." A laugh escaped her. "I think I listened to it a hundred times."

"Only a hundred?" Padma scoffed dramatically. "Fake fan."

Dhwani rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, one day I got curious. So I searched for everyone involved in the album. The singers. The composer. The production house. And that's when I stumbled upon your uncle's social media page."

A strange warmth entered her voice.

"That album was beautiful." The words escaped before she could stop them.

Because it truly had been. It reminded her of another version of herself. A younger Dhwani. A happier Dhwani. The girl who had just fallen in love. Back then everything had seemed magical. Even songs sounded different. The world itself had seemed brighter.

Before reality had taught her otherwise.

Padma's expression softened.

She understood immediately.

There were certain memories people didn't need to explain.

You simply knew.

Fortunately, Padma wasn't the emotional type for too long.

A second later she clapped her hands loudly.

Startling everyone nearby.

"Moving on."

"God!" Dhwani jumped.

"I have important news."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes." Padma grinned. "We have a new project."

"What project?" Dhwani immediately looked interested.

"A new movie under Goenka Banners." Padma puffed up proudly.

"Really?" Dhwani's eyes widened.

Padma nodded dramatically.

"Signed today."

"Starring Superstar Ram Niketh."

"No way."

"And Haniya Bhosle."

Dhwani nearly dropped the embroidery hoop in her hand.

"What?" Padma nodded smugly. "And guess who is handling the costume department."

"You?" Dhwani pointed at her.

"Me." Padma pointed at herself.

Dhwani stared.

Then laughed.

"No seriously."

"I am serious."

"You are actually designing costumes for them?"

"What exactly did you think I do all day?" Padma looked offended.

"I don't know." Dhwani tried not to laugh. "I thought maybe local fashion shows. Bridal collections. Designer wear. You know. Normal things."

"Excuse me." Padma gasped dramatically. "I am deeply insulted."

"When you said you have designed outfits for actresses before, I honestly thought you were exaggerating." Dhwani laughed harder.

"The betrayal. The disrespect. The audacity." Padma put a hand on her chest.

"Padma."

"Yes."

"You are secretly a celebrity."

"I know." Padma smiled proudly.

"No wonder you walk around like you own the world." Dhwani shook her head.

"I practically do."

"God save us."

"Amen."

The two dissolved into laughter again.

A few moments later, Dhwani looked thoughtful.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Depends." Padma immediately looked suspicious.

"How old is your uncle?"

"What?" Padma blinked.

"Your uncle. How old is he?"

"Twenty-nine."

"Twenty-nine?” Dhwani stared.

"Yes."

"But you are twenty-five." Dhwani looked genuinely confused.

"Also yes."

"How?"

Padma immediately burst out laughing.

"I knew this would confuse you."

"It should."

"It absolutely should."

Padma leaned back in her chair.

"Mamu was a late surprise. A very late surprise. My mom was well into her twenties when he was born."

"What?" Dhwani's eyes widened.

Padma nodded.

"My grandparents had already started searching for a groom for Mom."

"No."

"Yes."

"No." Dhwani laughed.

"I swear."

"Honestly, I think Nanu and Nani forgot they already had children of marriageable age." Padma lowered her voice dramatically.

"Padma!"

"What? They did!"

Dhwani was laughing so hard her stomach hurt.

"They were clearly very much in love." Padma winked.

"Stop."

"It's true."

"Stop."

"Evidence exists."

Dhwani threw a cushion at her.

Padma dodged it easily.

Then suddenly her grin turned suspicious.

Uh oh.

Dhwani knew that look.

"What?"

"By the way." Padma casually said.

"No."

"I haven't said anything yet."

"You have that face."

"What face?"

"That face."

Padma ignored her.

"Mom called."

Dhwani immediately groaned.

"No."

"I still haven't said anything." Padma blinked.

"No."

"How do you know what I am going to say?"

"Because I know you."

"My mother says she isn't accepting any more excuses." Padma smiled sweetly.

"Padma..." Dhwani dropped her head onto the table.

"She wants you for dinner tonight."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Padma."

"You are staying at our house tonight."

"No."

"Tomorrow morning you can return to the hostel."

"Padma."

"No arguments."

Dhwani sighed. Her smile slowly faded. The familiar discomfort returned.

Families. Homes. Dinner tables. Warm conversations.

Those things had become difficult.

Painful.

Dangerous.

Because they reminded her of everything she had lost. Or maybe everything she never had.

Padma noticed instantly.

The teasing disappeared from her face.

"Dhwani."

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

Dhwani looked away.

She didn't know how to explain it.

How every happy family reminded her of the one she had almost built.

How every warm home made her remember the one she had walked away from.

How every dining table reminded her of empty chairs.

"My family already loves you." Padma reached forward and squeezed her hand.

"They haven't even met me."

"They have heard enough stories."

"That doesn't count."

"It does in our family."

Dhwani laughed weakly. Padma wasn't giving up.

For the next twenty minutes. She negotiated. Persuaded. Bribed. Threatened. Emotionally blackmailed. And generally behaved like an absolute menace.

Until finally...

Dhwani surrendered.

"Fine."

"YES!" Padma immediately jumped up.

Several employees looked over.

"You are impossible." Dhwani buried her face in her hands.

"I know." Padma hugged her instantly.

Then she looked down at the baby bump.

"Good news, baby."

"Not again." Dhwani groaned.

"You finally get to meet your future favourite family." Padma grinned.

And despite herself...

A small smile appeared on Dhwani's face.

A/N

Please do vote and comment...

Love❤️