GUYS IM SORRY THIS CHAPTER IS STILL PENDING BUT YOU CAN CONTINUE FROM CHAPTER 4..
Prerna suddenly walked in.
"Mom is calling you," Prerna said with a smile. "She made snacks for you."
"Oh really? I'm coming," Aanya replied, surprised and happy.
Both of them walked to the living room, where Devika was waiting.
"Aanya, you came! Come beta, sit here and try these snacks," Devika said warmly.
Aanya sat down. "Aunty, what was the need for this? You don't have to do all this for me… please don't treat me like a guest."
"No problem at all, beta," Devika chuckled. "By the way, Aryan never lets anyone eat oily food, so I usually don't make these. But today I thought of you. Anyway, you like these, right?"
Aanya's eyes widened for a second at the mention of Aryan, but she quickly smiled.
"Yes, aunty! I love these. In fact, most of my favorite foods are oily foods only," she said shyly.
She tasted the snack, and her face lit up.
"Wow… it's so good. Really good," Aanya said with genuine delight.
Devika's smile grew warmer as she watched her.
when suddenly the doorbell rang.
Prerna looked up. "Maybe bhai came…"
Aanya's head snapped toward her instantly, hope flashing in her eyes.
"I'll go and open it," Prerna said, hurrying toward the door.
Finally… Aryan came.
Aanya's heart thudded. I'm going to meet him after five years…
She quickly adjusted her hair, smoothing it down nervously.
Prerna opened the door—
only to find a delivery boy standing outside.
"Oh… okay," she muttered, speaking with him for a moment.
Aanya watched the entrance anxiously from the sofa.
"Prerna, who came?" Devika called out.
"Mom, it's just a delivery boy," Prerna replied, stepping inside.
Aanya's smile faded instantly, shoulders dropping ever so slightly.
Prerna carried the parcel in. "Looks like this is for bhai. I'll keep it in his room."
"Okay," Devika said. "And Prerna beta, please bring my phone also. It's in my room."
"Okay, Mom," Prerna replied as she walked away.
Aanya sat quietly, lost in her thoughts.
When will Aryan come…?
"Aanya, why aren't you eating? Come on, try them," Devika urged gently.
Aanya forced a small smile. "Yes, aunty," she said and took a bite.
Suddenly—
the doorbell rang again.
Aanya immediately stood up.
"Aunty, I'll open the door!"
She rushed toward it, her heart racing, excitement flooding her chest.
She pulled the door open—
and froze.
Her breath caught.
Her eyes widened.
Aryan stood there.
He looked at her — calm, unreadable —
while Aanya's face slowly bloomed into a smile.
"A… Aryan…" she whispered, almost breathless.
He frowned slightly, confusion flickering in his eyes.
Realising what she had just blurted out, Aanya's cheeks burned.
She quickly stepped aside, looking down in embarrassment.
Aryan walked inside quietly.
Unable to stop herself, Aanya followed him from behind, her heart fluttering, a shy blush warming her face.
Devika spotted him. "Aryan, you came!"
Aryan's eyes went straight to the table… to the oily snacks.
Then, as if pulled by something stronger, he looked at Aanya —
who was already staring at him with a soft, hopeful smile.
Devika continued, "Aryan, she is Aanya."
Then she turned to Aanya. "Aanya beta, this is Aryan — my son."
Aanya nodded gently. "Hello…" she said with a small, sweet smile.
"Namaste," Aryan replied politely.
Aanya's smile faded for a second — not expecting such a formal tone —
and she also responded quietly, "Namaste…"
"I'm going to freshen up," Aryan said and turned away.
Just then Prerna came rushing out. "Bhai, you came! A parcel came for you just now. I kept it in your room."
"Okay. I'll see," Aryan replied and headed to his room.
Aanya watched him leave, her eyes unconsciously following him until he disappeared inside.
"Mom, your phone," Prerna reminded.
Devika took it, then glanced at Aanya.
"Aanya, I'm sorry beta… Aryan doesn't talk much. He's always like that."
Aanya forced a soft smile.
Later that night, Aryan, Devika, and Prerna were already seated at the dining table when Aanya walked in.
"Hi…" she said softly.
Aryan looked up at her—only for a second—then quietly turned back to his plate.
"You came, Aanya. I was about to call you," Devika said warmly.
Aanya smiled and sat beside Prerna.
The first thing she did was glance at Aryan again, watching him eat in silence.
"Aanya, beta, come on, start eating," Devika urged.
Aanya instantly turned toward her, smiled sweetly, and began eating.
"Aunty… there's something on your hand," Aanya said suddenly.
Devika checked her hand quickly. "What?
Aanya grinned. "Magic."
Devika didn't smile this time. Instead, she looked straight at Aryan—
who was already staring at Aanya with a puzzled, serious expression.
Aanya laughed nervously. "Really, aunty… the food is so good."
This time Devika gave a small smile, and everyone continued eating.
Aanya reached for the water jug—
but a little water spilled on the table.
"Oops… sorry," she whispered.
Prerna and Devika instantly glanced at Aryan.
He looked up from his plate, eyes sharp, staring at Aanya as if she had committed a crime.
Aanya froze.
Then Aryan suddenly looked away and calmly resumed eating.
Aanya exhaled and whispered, "Aunty… don't you guys talk while eating?"
Aryan spoke before anyone else.
His tone firm. "Have we talked even a single word till now?"
Devika and Prerna glanced at each other awkwardly.
Aanya blinked. "Yeah… embarrassing," she muttered and quietly started eating again.
After finishing his dinner, Aryan stood and walked away without a word.
Aanya's eyes followed him until he disappeared from the dining area.
Prerna leaned toward her. "Aanya… bhai is very strict. He doesn't like talking while eating."
Aanya nodded slowly. "But… isn't it boring?"
Prerna made a funny expression as if saying, I know, right?
Aanya held back a laugh, shaking her head lightly.
Devika came toward her as she stood up from the table.
"Aanya beta, tomorrow morning… what time will you go?"
"9, aunty," Aanya replied politely.
Devika nodded. "Okay."
---
Later, in Aanya's room…
As she walked inside, she closed the door behind her and immediately started talking to herself.
"Oh my god… Aryan is so strict," she whispered dramatically.
"I mean… I thought he would be nice and sweet but… looks like he's completely opposite."
She pouted for a moment, feeling a little bad.
Then her expression softened.
"Anyway… I'm still happy. I finally met him after five YEARS."
She smiled widely, hugging her pillow.
But suddenly she stopped smiling.
"Wait… now that I'm finally in Aryan's house… what's the next move?"
She started pacing anxiously.
"I have to get close to him… but how? He's not even looking at me!"
She paused and frowned.
"Aanya, come on… think!"
Then her eyes widened.
"College!" she gasped.
"How will I go to college every day? I mean, I have an idea…"
She pointed at herself dramatically.
"I will ask Aryan to drop me and pick me up from college daily!"
A big smile spread on her face.
"And like that… day by day… I'll become close to him."
She twirled around happily.
But then she froze again.
"Wait, wait, wait… I should ask Aryan? Should I ask him directly? Should I think of some other plan?"
Her face went from excited to stressed within seconds.
"What if he says no!?" she whispered in panic.
Then she slapped her cheeks lightly.
"Oh no, Aanya, stop! Don't think too much!"
She took a deep breath and said firmly to herself:
"Just go and ask him directly. Because you love him… and you have to make the first move."
She stared at herself in the mirror, nodding seriously.
—-
End Of Chapter 3.