Navya's POV
I didn't even realize how time flew by so effortlessly. Shriya and I thoroughly enjoyed the company of Ranveer, Diya, and Varun. Fortunately, Rudraksh had to leave due to his prior commitments. That was a relief-otherwise, we would have spent the entire evening under the unbearable pressure of his presence.
I once heard from a batchmate that he had shot a journalist simply because she asked a question about his personal life. While I understand that not everyone is comfortable discussing such matters publicly, his reaction was shockingly brutal. That being said, was it really wise for her to be so bold as to ask such a personal and potentially provocative question? It was reckless on her part. Unfortunately, she not only faced his wrath but also lost her job as a consequence.
I was still deep in thought, replaying the incident in my mind, when Shriya's voice pulled me back to reality. She was standing with Veer, Diya, and Varun, all looking at me expectantly.
"What happened?" I asked, slightly startled.
"It's time for us to leave," she replied, holding up her phone to show me the time. My eyes widened in realization.
"Oh, shoot!" I exclaimed, running a hand over my forehead in frustration.
"We should go now, or we'll be late," I added hastily. Shriya nodded in agreement, already reaching for her bag.
Before we could make a move, Diya spoke up. "Don't worry, guys. Our driver will drop you back."
Shriya and I instinctively started to protest, not wanting to trouble them, but they insisted. Seeing no way around it, we finally agreed. We climbed into their car, exchanging a few more words before bidding them goodbye and heading home.
Reached at Home
After dropping Shriya at her place, the driver took me home. As I stepped out of the car and approached the front door, I rang the bell, only to be greeted by my mother's slightly serious expression. Noticing her stern look, I instinctively pouted, hoping to soften her mood.
"I'm really sorry, Maa. I'm only fifteen minutes late. But look, I arrived safely," I said, attempting to reassure her. My words seemed to ease her expression slightly, though she still had a hint of frustration on her face.
"Still, Navya!" she scolded, crossing her arms. "At the very least, you could have picked up my calls. Do you know how worried I was? Your dad isn't even home right now!"
Hearing her concern, I couldn't help but chuckle. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her from behind in a warm hug, resting my chin on her shoulder. She turned her head slightly to look at me, but her glare was still firm.
In an attempt to win her over, I planted a quick kiss on her cheek and spoke in my sweetest tone, "Oh, my darling Maa! Don't be mad. I promise I'll be more careful next time. Please?" I added, flashing my best puppy-dog eyes.
She let out a small chuckle, but before I could celebrate my victory, she grabbed my ear and gave it a playful twist.
"Shaitan!" she scolded, though amusement danced in her eyes.
"Maa!" I yelped, laughing as I tried to escape her grasp.
Aryan also stepped out of his room upon hearing our voices. His curious expression quickly turned into amusement as he watched Maa scolding me. Leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, he smirked.
"Looks like someone's in trouble," he teased.
I shot him a playful glare while rubbing my ear. "Oh, shut up, Aryan!"
Maa turned to him with a sigh. "And you! You could at least call your sister when she's late instead of playing games in your room."
Aryan held up his hands in defense. "Why would I interfere when Di is perfectly capable of getting herself into trouble?"
I rolled my eyes as Maa shook her head. Before she could scold us further, I quickly grabbed her hands and grinned. "Alright, alright! Let's not waste time being mad. How about we all sit and chat for a bit?"
Maa sighed but smiled softly, and Aryan chuckled before walking toward the living room. Just as we settled in, we heard the sound of the main door unlocking. Dad had arrived from the office, looking exhausted but still managing a small smile as he stepped inside.
"You're back late today," Maa commented, taking his bag from him.
"Long day at work," he sighed, loosening his tie before glancing at us. "What's going on here? I heard some commotion from outside."
"Aryan was enjoying my scolding session," I huffed, crossing my arms.
Dad chuckled, ruffling my hair as he walked past. "I'm sure you deserved it."
Before I could protest, Maa called us to the dining table. "Enough talking, let's eat before the food gets cold."
We all took our seats, and the comforting aroma of Maa's homemade food filled the room. The warmth of family surrounded me as we passed dishes around, sharing stories from our day. Aryan complained about his professors, Dad shared an amusing incident from work, and Maa kept reminding us to eat properly between conversations.
As I savored my food, I realized how much I cherished these simple moments-laughter, lighthearted banter, and the unspoken comfort of being home, with my family.
After dinner, we sat together for a little while longer, chatting and enjoying each other's company. The warmth of home and the comfort of family made the long day feel lighter.
After some time, I stretched with a yawn and decided to head to my room. "Alright, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, everyone," I said, standing up.
"Goodnight, Navya," Maa replied with a smile, while Aryan simply waved without looking up from his phone. Dad gave me a nod, still engaged in a conversation with Maa.
I walked to my room, changed into my nightwear, and slipped under the covers. As my head hit the pillow, exhaustion finally caught up with me. The day's events played briefly in my mind before fading into the background. Within minutes, I drifted into a peaceful sleep, feeling safe and content in the warmth of my home.
Write a comment ...