Sanya pov...
After dinner, we sat in the hall, waiting for the inevitable farewell. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken emotions, each second stretching longer than the last. My hands fidgeted in my lap as I tried to keep my mind occupied, but the weight of the moment made it difficult.
Then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs. We all turned towards the grand staircase, watching as Vikram Uncle descended, his presence always commanding attention. The moment he reached the last step, we stood up out of respect. My parents greeted him warmly, exchanging polite yet familiar words, a subtle reminder of the close bond between our families.
Uncle walked up to me, his eyes soft with affection. He wrapped me in a warm embrace, pressing a gentle kiss on my forehead. I couldn't help but smile; his love had always been constant, like a shield protecting me.
He turned to my father. "Vijay, why don't you let Sanya stay here?" His voice carried the same plea it had the last four times. And as expected, my father's response was unwavering.
"I can't say anything, Vikram. It's her choice."
Uncle sighed, turning towards me with hopeful eyes. I knew what was coming next. He would list all the reasons why I should stay, how much I was needed here, how incomplete this place would be without me. But this time, he didn't even try. Instead, he took a deep breath and said, "Please, Sanya."
That was it—his secret weapon. One simple word, laced with so much emotion. He knew I could never say no to him when he said 'please' like that. I sighed, my gaze flickering to my parents. They gave me a small nod, silently assuring me that the choice was mine to make.
I turned back to Uncle and nodded.
A huge smile spread across his face. "I knew my daughter could never say no to me." His voice was filled with triumph, while my father simply rolled his eyes.
My mother laughed, shaking her head. "You and your emotional blackmail, Vikram."
Uncle only grinned wider as we all moved towards the entrance of the mansion. My parents hugged me tightly, whispering parting words filled with love and warmth. After one last wave, they got into their car and drove away, leaving me standing beside Uncle.
As we walked back inside and settled onto the couch, I noticed the slight tension in his expression. He had been carrying it for the last fifteen minutes, though he tried to mask it.
I hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "What did he say? You look tense."
Uncle sighed, rubbing his temples before looking up at me. "You know how stubborn he is."
I nodded instantly. Of course, I knew. Ayaan had always been strong-willed, especially when it came to things he truly cared about.
Uncle leaned back against the couch, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "He has a plan to be a single dad."
I exhaled sharply. "I knew it."
The moment I had seen Ayaan standing in the rain, drenched and clutching that tiny baby to his chest as if the world would take her away from him, I had known this was what he had decided. And when Ayaan made up his mind, no force on earth could change it.
"I just don't understand him sometimes," Uncle murmured, shaking his head. "I tried talking to him, reasoning with him, but he won't listen."
I bit my lip. "He's serious about this, Uncle. He isn't doing this on impulse. You know how he is when he makes a promise."
"I do," he admitted. "But this isn't just about him. Raising a child alone isn't easy."
"I think…" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "I think he needs support, but he won't ask for it. He's too proud."
Uncle sighed again. "That's what worries me the most."
I sat back, my mind drifting to the stubborn man who had been my best friend once. The man who had once made me laugh until my stomach hurt. The man who was now trying to shoulder the responsibility of a father all on his own.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt an overwhelming urge to be there for him.
I shifted slightly on the couch, watching Vikram Uncle's expression carefully. His furrowed brows and the distant look in his eyes told me his mind was still preoccupied with worries.
"Uncle, he's a grown man. He knows right from wrong. Let him handle this," I said softly, hoping to ease his concerns.
Uncle sighed, rubbing his temple. "I've accepted it already, Sanya. But I'm still not sure… This isn't just about him anymore. There's a child involved."
I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "I know, Uncle. But trust Ayaan. He's stubborn, yes, but he has a good heart. He won't make a reckless decision when it comes to the baby."
Uncle studied my face for a moment before exhaling deeply. "I hope you're right." A small, weary smile played on his lips, and I finally felt the tension in the air start to lift.
Just as the atmosphere lightened, a voice interrupted our conversation.
"Sir, your parcel is here."
We both turned toward the doorway where a guard stood holding a medium-sized box.
Uncle frowned. "Parcel? Who ordered this?"
The guard shook his head. "I don't know, sir. It was just delivered at the entrance."
Before Uncle could ask more questions, I quickly spoke up. "You can leave it here."
The guard nodded and placed the box on the coffee table before leaving the room.
Uncle's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the package, then at me. "You bought this, didn't you?"
I hesitated, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Uncle… it's just baby essentials. I thought it would help."
Uncle leaned back against the couch, crossing his arms. His lips curled into a smirk.
I rolled my eyes. "Seriously, Uncle? You're teasing me again?"
His smirk widened. "I'm just amused, that's all. You act like you're not involved, but you're doing more than anyone else."
I let out a breath, shaking my head. "Uncle, it's not about me. The baby needs these things. I just wanted to make sure Ayaan has everything necessary to take care of her properly."
Uncle hummed thoughtfully, drumming his fingers against the armrest. Then, his expression shifted back to amusement.
"Ramya!" he suddenly called out.
The maid rushed in immediately. "Ji, sir?"
"Ask someone to take this box to Ayaan's room and tell him Sanya bought it."
"No, Uncle!" I interrupted quickly, sitting forward.
He raised an eyebrow. "Now what?"
I sighed, folding my arms. "You know he won't accept it if he knows I bought it."
Uncle stroked his chin, thinking for a moment before nodding in agreement. "You're right. He'd probably return it out of pure stubbornness."
He turned back to Ramya. "Just tell him these essentials were already at home if he asks."
Ramya nodded before bringing in a worker, who picked up the box and carried it upstairs.
I exhaled in relief. "Finally."
Uncle chuckled. "You really have a way of handling things, Sanya."
I shook my head with a small smile. "It's just common sense, Uncle."
He gave me a knowing look. "Or maybe it's something more than that."
I looked away, pretending not to hear the teasing in his voice. But deep down, I knew it wasn't just about the baby. It was about Ayaan too. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, something always pulled me back toward him.