8:00 PM
Anamika’s House…
Rudra and Ruhi’s car pulled into the driveway. Ira stretched as she stepped out, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Anamika too got down, calm and gentle as always — like a well-mannered little girl. Ruhi got out of her car and walked toward Rudra’s, where he was busy unloading all the shopping bags.
Ruhi began helping him, while Anamika said, “Let me go and open the door!”
Ira made a face like a little child. “Huh?! So, do I have to carry the bags inside myself?”
Anamika smiled, handing her the house key. “Oh, no! Here — you open the door, I’ll bring the bags.”
Ira blinked innocently. “Really?”
“Yes, really!” Anamika replied with a warm smile.
Hearing that, Ira snatched the key like a happy kid and ran upstairs to open the door.
Anamika walked toward Ruhi.
Some of the bags were Ruhi’s, and some belonged to Ira and Anamika.
But Ruhi didn’t take her own bags — she only pulled out the ones belonging to Anamika and Ira and handed them over.
“Are you sure you can carry all of these alone? Should I come with you?” she asked.
Anamika smiled softly. “No… I’ll manage.”
But Ruhi didn’t look convinced that she could handle so many bags.
She was just about to say something when Rudra took all the bags from her hands.
“Hey, why would you girls carry bags when I’m here?” he said with a grin.
“Besides, Ruhi specifically called me for this exact job today!”
Ruhi made a face. “Are you teasing me?”
Rudra chuckled. “No, sweetheart — I’m just doing my duty!”
Saying that, he carried all the bags toward the house.
Anamika turned to Ruhi. “Won’t you stay for a bit?”
Ruhi shook her head, smiling. “Not today. Even though it was a holiday, I spent the entire day outside. Now I just want to spend a little time with my mom and brother.”
“Alright then! Take care. See you tomorrow!” Anamika said with a smile and went inside.
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Ruhi began putting her own bags into her car. She packed all of them — except one.
When she looked inside that last bag, she found a dress. But she didn’t remember buying it — neither had Ira nor Anamika.
Then she noticed the bill inside — and her eyes widened in shock.
Just then, Rudra came up behind her and asked, “What happened? Why are you standing like a statue?”
His eyes fell on the bag, and he grinned. “Oh… you found it! How is it?”
“It’s so expensive! Did we really buy it?? When did we buy this? Who even bought it?” she asked in disbelief.
Rudra tilted his head like an innocent child, folding his arms playfully. “I did — when you girls were in the trial room. It’s a limited-edition dress! You were looking at it, weren’t you?”
Before he could continue, Ruhi burst out, “I was looking at it?! Are you crazy?! When did I ever look at this? And even if I did, you just went and bought it? Are you insane?!”
Rudra pouted. “It’s not that expensive! Why are you overreacting?”
Ruhi shouted, “This dress costs more than everything we three bought together today! Have you lost your mind?!”
Rudra sighed dramatically, moving closer. “I thought you’d compliment me when you saw it, but sweetheart… instead, you’re throwing fireballs at me!”
Then, turning away with a sulky face, he muttered, “You’re so unpredictable!”
“What?!” Ruhi blinked, confused about what to even say.
She took a deep breath and tried to recall where she had seen that dress before — and then it hit her.
“Oh… this was on that mannequin!” she exclaimed.
Rudra turned toward her curiously, his expression adorably intrigued.
Ruhi explained, “I was only admiring that mannequin’s wig! I’ve been thinking for a while about cutting my hair short like that… I was just imagining myself with that hairstyle — but it’s not right!”
“Why not?” Rudra asked seriously, genuinely curious.
With a faint but wistful smile, Ruhi replied, “Because a girl’s beauty lies in her long, beautiful hair.”
Rudra looked away briefly, then back at her.
“And who told you that? I don’t think any of your friends did.”
Ruhi lowered her gaze. Childhood memories flashed before her eyes.
“When I was little… I told my brother I wanted short hair. He was just a kid too, but stubborn as ever. He used his pocket money to take me to a salon — and I got my haircut just the way I wanted without informing my parents. But when Dad saw me, he got furious… he scolded and even hit him. Mom stayed quiet. Both told me that girls should look beautiful, that beauty is important.
When I went to school, all the girls made fun of me. They teased me for a whole year — until my hair grew back. I couldn’t look anyone in the eye… I kept my head down all the time.”
Then she looked at Rudra with a faint smile.
“Honestly… I do look prettier with long hair. It suits me.”
Rudra was silent. There was no expression in his eyes.
After a deep breath, he finally said, “Neither long hair nor short hair — it’s your real smile that suits you the most.
It doesn’t matter what the world finds right or beautiful. You should only do what helps you smile.
If you want short hair, then cut it. And trust me… if you wear this dress with your new hairstyle, you’ll look absolutely stunning.”
He smiled and gently pinched her cheek.
“Sweetheart… listen to your heart, not to others. Be beautiful for yourself — not for the world.
The world only finds beautiful what pleases its eyes and its rules… but your beauty should be what makes you happy.”
Ruhi kept looking at his smile — the kind that quietly warms your heart.
In her mind, she whispered, “You’re beautiful… your smile is beautiful.”
Then she quickly turned her head away, hiding her emotions.
“Still… your dress is way too expensive! How can I accept it?”
Rudra pouted. “Fine then! You can pay for it.”
“What?!” Ruhi’s eyes widened.
Rudra grinned. “Wear it… and be the first to show me. That’s how I’ll forgive your ‘debt.’ Deal?”
Ruhi bit back her smile and replied, “Alright then! Deal.”
Meanwhile, up on the balcony…
Ira and Anamika were secretly watching them.
Ira whispered, “What are they talking about for so long? Don’t they have to go?”
Anamika replied innocently, “They must be talking about something important! We shouldn’t interrupt.”
Saying that, she went inside.
But Ira narrowed her eyes like a spy. “No way! Our Rudra Bhai and Miss Ruhi are acting way too familiar! Don’t tell me they’ve caught the same ‘disease’ as Aditya Bhai?! At least there’s one relief — unlike my brother, Rudra bhai’s love doesn’t look one-sided!”
Then she giggled to herself. “Anyway… I shouldn’t stand here and become the third wheel!”
And with that, she tiptoed away like a sneaky cat.
Meanwhile at the hospital…
Saaniya was returning to her cabin after her routine checkup when she noticed someone standing at the reception — Aniket.
She immediately walked toward him.
Aniket turned around — and there she was.
Her eyes, as usual, dull and emotionless.
Yet, as always, Aniket smiled softly and said, “Hey… how are you?”
“Why are you here?” Saaniya asked flatly, wasting no time.
Aniket chuckled lightly. “Oh, nothing much. I had some work nearby, so I thought I’d drop in and meet Rudra. Didn’t know he wasn’t around. Anyway… I’ll get going.”
He turned to leave.
Saaniya watched him go, her thoughts running wild.
“Why?! Why isn’t this jerk talking to me today? No complaints, no teasing, no questions… just walking away?!”
And suddenly — she shouted his name.
Aniket stopped in surprise. Everyone in the hospital — staff and visitors — turned to look.
Realizing what she’d done, Saaniya quickly bowed her head in apology.
She didn’t even know why she did it — she just… did.
She looked at him once more — and hurried toward her cabin.
Aniket stood there, confused… then followed her.
