The music softened for a moment.
A gentle shift passed through the room as attention slowly moved toward the center of the hall.
The cake had been brought out.
A large, elegant piece—layered in white and gold, decorated with delicate sugar flowers that shimmered under the warm lights. The candles flickered softly, their glow reflecting in the polished surface of the table.
Tushar and Ruhi stood side by side.
For a brief second, everything else in the room faded into the background.
Ruhi looked… different tonight.
She wore a soft pastel dress that fell gracefully around her, the fabric light and flowing with every small movement. Her hair was styled neatly, resting over one shoulder, and the subtle glow on her face made her look almost radiant under the lights.
But it wasn't just her appearance.
It was the way she looked at Tushar.
Her eyes were full—soft, warm, almost shining with something she wasn't even trying to hide.
Tushar noticed it.
And for once, he didn't look away.
He smiled.
Not the polite smile he gave guests.
A real one.
The kind that reached his eyes.
Ruhi's fingers slowly found his hand on the table.
She held it gently.
Tushar didn't pull away.
Instead, his grip tightened slightly around hers.
Someone in the crowd called out—
"Cut the cake!"
Laughter followed.
Tushar picked up the knife, but before cutting, he glanced at Ruhi again.
For a brief moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.
Then together—
They cut the cake.
Applause broke out instantly.
Cheers, whistles, laughter.
Ruhi laughed softly, looking down for a second before looking back at him again.
She took a small piece of cake and lifted it toward him.
Tushar leaned forward slightly and took a bite.
Then he did the same.
As Ruhi leaned in to take the bite—
Tushar gently leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
The crowd reacted instantly.
Louder cheers.
Clapping.
Someone shouted, "Finally!"
Ruhi's face flushed slightly, but she didn't pull away.
She smiled.
A quiet, genuine smile.
Her hand still holding his.
Glasses were raised around the room.
"Speech! Speech!"
Ruhi laughed nervously but picked up a glass of champagne.
She turned toward Tushar, still holding his hand with her other hand.
"For… for someone who's been part of my life for so long," she began softly.
The room quieted.
Her voice was gentle, but steady.
"You've always been there… even when I didn't say it, I always knew I could count on you."
Her eyes lifted to meet his.
"And today… I just want to say… I'm really happy you're here. And I hope… you always will be."
There was a pause.
A small, emotional silence.
Then—
"To Tushar."
She lifted her glass.
Tushar looked at her for a moment longer before lifting his glass too.
"To us," he said quietly.
The room erupted again.
"Cheers!"
Glasses clinked.
Laughter filled the air.
From near the piano—
Leena watched.
Her expression was calm, unreadable.
The soft glow of the lights reflected in her eyes, but there was no visible emotion on her face. Her fingers rested lightly around her glass, untouched for a while now.
Beside her, Alok shifted slightly, watching the scene.
"They look happy," he said quietly.
Leena didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze remained fixed on Ruhi's face—
That pure, unaware happiness.
Then she took a small sip of her drink.
"People look happy," she said calmly.
Alok glanced at her, trying to understand what she meant.
Across the room—
Sami stood still, his glass in hand.
But he wasn't really watching Tushar or Ruhi.
His eyes drifted again.
Back to Leena.
To the way she stood there.
To the man beside her.
To the distance between them.
Something about the entire scene felt strange to him.
Everyone around him was celebrating.
Smiling.
Laughing.
But his attention refused to stay there.
Near the bar—
Samarth leaned casually against the counter, his arm wrapped loosely around the woman in the red dress.
She laughed softly at something he said, her fingers brushing against his chest.
Sam smirked slightly, lifting his glass.
"To love stories," he said lightly.
She smiled. "Temporary ones."
He chuckled.
"Those are the most interesting kind."
They clinked glasses.
Back at the center—
The music picked up again.
People began to move, talk, laugh louder.
The moment slowly dissolved into the flow of the party.
But for a few minutes—
It had truly belonged to Tushar and Ruhi.
A perfect picture.
A perfect moment.
Unaware of everything that stood quietly around them.
Watching.
Waiting.
The music inside grew louder again, laughter rising and blending into the night.
Leena stepped away from the piano quietly.
Her eyes had already found him.
Tushar.
He stood near the poolside, slightly away from the main crowd, talking to a few of his friends. The blue reflection of the pool lights shimmered against his face, softening his features.
For a moment, Leena just watched him.
Then she walked toward him.
Her heels made a faint sound against the floor, steady, controlled.
Tushar noticed her before she reached him.
His conversation slowed.
Then stopped.
His friends exchanged a quick glance and stepped aside, leaving the two of them alone.
Leena stopped in front of him.
A small, polite smile appeared on her lips.
"Happy birthday," she said again.
Her tone was calm.
Almost too calm.
Tushar nodded. "Thanks."
There was a brief silence.
Then Leena tilted her head slightly, studying him.
"And… congratulations," she added softly.
Tushar frowned a little. "For what?"
Leena's smile didn't change.
"Your efforts paid off," she said. "Now you don't have to try so hard to impress her."
Her eyes flicked briefly toward the hall where Ruhi was laughing with friends.
"She's already under your spell."
The words were light.
But they carried weight.
Tushar's expression shifted instantly.
"T-Leena…" he exhaled, lowering his voice. "Please don't do that."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Don't bring her into this."
There was something almost desperate in his tone now.
"I love her."
Leena's eyes stayed on him.
Unblinking.
Cold.
"What if she finds out one day?" she asked quietly.
Her voice dropped just enough to cut through him.
"What if the day comes… when she needs you the most—"
She paused.
Her gaze sharpened.
"And you do nothing?"
The words landed hard.
Tushar looked away for a second, his throat tightening.
Guilt flashed across his face.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
"I…" he ran a hand through his hair, breathing unevenly. "I know what I did."
His voice dropped.
"I know."
He looked back at her.
"I'm sorry, Leena."
The words came out heavy.
"I was an asshole."
There was no defense in his tone this time.
Just regret.
"Please… don't do this."
Leena didn't react.
Not even slightly.
For a moment, it felt like she was waiting.
Watching.
Then something in Tushar changed.
His posture straightened a little.
The guilt didn't disappear—
But it hardened.
He looked directly at her now.
"You really want to do this?" he said quietly.
"I'm not begging you again."
A pause.
"I know I was wrong."
His voice was steady now.
"But you also know why I didn't step in."
His jaw tightened.
"You think I had a choice?"
Leena said nothing.
"You know what they're capable of," he continued, his voice low, controlled. "If I had gone against them… do you have any idea what they would've done to my family?"
Silence.
The sound of water moving gently in the pool filled the space between them.
Leena looked at him for a long second.
Her expression didn't soften.
Didn't change.
Then she spoke.
Just one sentence.
"Enjoy your day."A small pause.
Her eyes held his.
"Before someone ruins it."
The meaning settled slowly.
Uncomfortably.
Then she turned.
"Leena."
She stopped.
Turned.
Sami.
He stood a few steps away, his expression composed, but his eyes were sharp—taking in the space, the distance between them, the tension still lingering.
For a brief second, his gaze moved to Tushar.
He recognized him.
And something in his eyes darkened—
But only for a moment.
Then it was gone.
"Everything okay?" Sami asked.
His tone was neutral.
Too neutral.
Leena gave a faint smile. "Perfect."
Tushar shifted slightly, uncomfortable under Sami's presence.
"This is between us," Tushar said, low.
Sami glanced at him briefly.
Calm.
Measured.
"Then maybe keep it that way," he replied.
A pause.
"Doesn't look like she's enjoying it."
The words weren't aggressive.
But they weren't soft either.
Leena's eyes flicked toward Sami for a second.
Tushar's jaw tightened.
"You don't know anything about it."
Sami's expression didn't change.
"I don't need to," he said quietly.
"I can see enough."
Silence stretched.
Tushar let out a breath, irritation rising.
"It's not your place."
Sami stepped a little closer.
Not confrontational—
But enough.
"Then don't make it public," he said calmly.
That hit.
Subtle.
But direct.
Leena watched, silent.
Tushar looked between them, frustration and restraint clashing in his expression.
For a moment it felt like he might say more—
But he didn't.
Instead, he stepped back.
"Enjoy the party," he muttered, before turning and walking away.
The tension didn't leave immediately.
Sami exhaled slowly, then turned toward Leena.
"You okay?" he asked.
Leena tilted her head slightly.
"You always ask that."
"You never answer it."
A faint, almost-smile touched her lips.
Then her eyes drifted—briefly, unintentionally—
Toward the hall.
Toward Alok.
Sami noticed.
Of course he did.
Something tightened inside him again.
"You came with someone?" he asked, casually.
Leena looked back at him.
"And if I did?"
Sami held her gaze.
"I don't know him."
A pause.
"And I don't like not knowing things."
Leena stepped a little closer.
Just enough.
"You don't need to know everything," she said softly.
Sami's jaw shifted slightly.
"I prefer to."
Silence.
A quiet tension sat between them now.
Different from before.
More personal.
Then Leena stepped back, breaking it herself.
"Relax," she said lightly.
"It's just a party."
And just like that—
She turned and walked away.
Sami stayed where he was.
Watching her go.
His expression calm.
Controlled.
But inside—
The questions were building.
About her.
About the man she came with.
And about the things she never said—
But somehow made him notice anyway.