Third person’s pov!

“This is our new home..” Dhruv said as they both stood outside a quaint two storeyed beautiful house in the outskirts of Bangalore.

They had landed in Bangalore late last night and stayed in a hotel room near the airport itself. Sai had been waiting for Dhruv outside the airport and he was shocked out of his wits seeing his boss coming out of the airport with a woman. The mangalsutra and the sindoor made it clear who she was to Dhruv. 

But Sai remained silent, without asking a single question. He took them to the nearby hotel as per Dhruv’s instructions.

Dhruv had made arrangements for the purchase of a new house outside the city. He wanted to start from scratch. He was starting a new life with Shraddha and he wanted to start from point zero.

“It’s beautiful. Isn’t it a bit big for the two of us? It must have been expensive.” Shraddha said, worry lacing her voice as she looked at the big house in front of her. She believed Dhruv belonged to an upper middle class family. But did he have enough money to afford a completely new house? That too a big one, she wondered anxiously.

“I can afford it, Shraddha. As it is, I have been travelling a lot all these years, never settling anywhere. Now we are starting a new life. And I know how much you have longed for a home of your own. So, we will set up our home together. The house is completely unfurnished. Everything will have our touch in it when we make this house our home.” Dhruv said and Shraddha’s eyes filled with tears hearing his words.

“Home! Our home!” Shraddha mumbled, trying to stifle a whimper that threatened to break out.

“Our home..” Dhruv said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

He could understand what she was going through. All his life, he craved it too. Though he never accepted to himself how much he craved the stability of a family, now he understood that yearning was always there.

And here begins a new phase in Dhruv’s and Shraddha’s life..

Dhruv gently nudged Shraddha forward, both of them stepping into the house with their right foot first, in an unspoken acknowledgment of the sacredness of the moment. As they crossed the threshold, Dhruv couldn’t help but glance over at Shraddha, watching as her eyes flickered with a mix of excitement and disbelief.

The air inside was still, the faint echo of their footsteps filling the spacious emptiness around them. Shraddha’s gaze swept across the pristine white walls and high ceilings, her heart swelling as she absorbed the reality of it all — this was their home. No longer just a dream, no longer something she only imagined. It was real, and it was hers.

“Isn’t it amazing?” Dhruv’s voice broke through her thoughts as he moved ahead of her, walking through the main living room. “I have only seen pictures of this place, videos… I wasn’t sure what to expect. But it’s better than I imagined.”

Shraddha could only nod, words failing her. The living room was expansive, with large windows that allowed natural light to flood the space. She could already envision it — their furniture, their life slowly filling up the emptiness.

Dhruv noticed her silence and smiled softly. 

“Let me show you around. You need to see the rest of it.”

He led her through the house, his hand slipping into hers as they walked. The kitchen was the next stop, a modern space with gleaming countertops and sleek cabinets. Shraddha ran her fingers over the counter, marvelling at the thought of cooking meals here — of laughter and conversations shared over dinner.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, almost afraid to say it aloud, as though voicing it might shatter the delicate joy she was feeling.

Dhruv turned toward her, leaning casually against the counter. 

“I knew you would love it. And the best part? It’s completely empty. We can pick everything together, make this house truly ours.”

Shraddha’s eyes filled with tears once more. She had spent her whole life longing for a home, and now Dhruv was offering her exactly that. Her throat tightened, but she managed to smile. “It’s more than I ever imagined.”

Dhruv squeezed her hand before guiding her further. They climbed the stairs, the wooden steps creaking softly beneath their feet. The first floor opened into a large hall, spacious and filled with potential. Shraddha looked around, envisioning what could be — maybe a cosy reading corner or a space for future family gatherings.

“This is huge!” Shraddha exclaimed, her eyes widening as she turned to Dhruv.

He chuckled, pleased with her excitement. 

“Yeah, it is. I thought we would use this space for anything we want — maybe a home theatre for us, or a family room. Whatever feels right.”

She nodded, already lost in the possibilities.

He led her into one of the three bedrooms on the first floor. It was spacious, with large windows that overlooked the backyard. As Shraddha stepped in, she noticed something that made her heart skip — two mango trees, their branches stretching over the fence, stood proudly in the backyard.

“Look!” She said, pointing at the window. “Mango trees! We have mango trees in our backyard.”

“I didn’t even notice that. That’s a bonus, huh?” Dhruv grinned at her excitement, stepping closer to the window to take a look.

“I’ve always dreamed of having a little backyard, a garden maybe, and now we have trees. Our own trees. It’s… it’s perfect.” Shraddha’s happiness bubbled over as she turned toward him.

“I am glad you like it. We can do so much with this space — it’s ours to make into whatever we want.” Dhruv's smile softened as he watched her. 

They walked through the rest of the house, with Dhruv showing her the two bedrooms on the ground floor and the work space that would be perfect for when they wanted to focus on their careers.

Finally, Dhruv led her up to the terrace, the cool breeze welcoming them as they stepped out. The terrace was vast, offering a view of the surrounding trees and distant hills. Shraddha took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the last few days lift off her shoulders.

“This place feels like a dream.” She turned to Dhruv, her eyes shining. 

Dhruv walked up beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist as they stood together, looking out at the view. 

“A dream we’ll build together,” he said quietly. “I know this is all new, and we are still figuring things out. But I want us to make this place into a home. I want you to feel like you belong here. Like you belong with me.”

His words touched her heart in a way that she hadn’t expected. She leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder as they both looked out at their new life ahead.

“This house may be big,” Shraddha whispered, “but it already feels like home.”

“It is. It’s our home now.” Dhruv kissed the top of her head, his own heart swelling with hope.

Together, they stood in the quiet of the morning, the weight of their new beginning settling over them like a promise. They both had their doubts — the uncertainty of this new chapter hung in the air between them. But in that moment, standing side by side in their empty house, the doubts seemed smaller, more manageable. They had each other, and for now, that was enough.

“Thank you… for this, for everything. I have never had a home. And now, with you… I feel like I do.” Shraddha looked up at Dhruv, her voice soft but full of emotion.

“I’ve spent years building my life and career, but I never built a home. Now I am building it with you. We’ll make this place ours, Shraddha, together.” Dhruv’s eyes softened as he cupped her face gently.

With those words, they stepped back inside, ready to face the future — with all its uncertainties — hand in hand.