Chandigarh, India..

Vidhant carefully shifted Ruhi from his chest, his movements deliberate yet careful, as though afraid she might stir and add fuel to the chaos brewing around him. Her soft breathing brushed against him like a whisper, but he steeled himself.

"Rishu, Reet," he said with low authority, trying to mask his embarrassment, "come here and sit down. No shouting; Mommy is sleeping, okay?", For a moment he let it go as kids will get suspicions if he say bad about Ruhi about she not being their mother.

"But papa... you two looked funny," Rishu grinned mischievously, his twinkling eyes holding no filter. Reet giggled along, hiding half her face behind her stuffed bunny.

“Funny, huh?” Vidhant mumbled under his breath, raking a hand through his hair, trying to maintain composure. “Enough chatter now. You both are hungry, right?”

Both kids nodded eagerly, their previous teasing forgotten.

“Good.” He stood up, scooping Reet into his arms and holding Rishu’s hand with the other. “Let Mommy rest while I call for breakfast, alright?”

“Can we have pancakes, please?” Reet asked with hopeful eyes.

“Anything you want,” Vidhant replied, his voice softening despite his internal frustration. He knew today would test his patience again—Ruhi always had that effect.

Glancing back one last time at Ruhi—her hair tousled and resting peacefully—Vidhant’s expression briefly softened. Then, with his kids in tow, he stepped out into the morning light, determined to silence the conflict raging inside him.

One question, though, refused to let go.

What are you doing to me, Ruhanika?

Ruhi blinked away the drowsiness, her eyes adjusting to the warm morning light filtering through the curtains. She stirred slightly, when she find herself on bed maybe Vidhant shifted her but the sight before her made her freeze.

There they were—her family.

Vidhant sat at the couch, dressed casually, his hair slightly ruffled from sleep. Rishu and Reet sat on either side of him, their tiny hands gripping their forks as they dug into their pancakes. Their laughter echoed through the room, light and carefree, filling the air with a warmth Ruhi had long forgotten.

Her chest tightened as she watched them.

This is what I missed…

Tears pricked at her eyes, blurring the sight she wished she could hold on to forever. She had chased success, thinking it would bring her fulfillment, but the ache in her heart told her otherwise.

Reet giggled, holding up a piece of pancake, “Papa, say ahhh!”

Vidhant rolled his eyes but played along, letting Reet feed him a bite. Rishu clapped his hands in amusement, and the sound made Ruhi’s throat clog with emotion.

She had given birth to these little munchkins, yet she had missed moments like these.

Unknowingly, a tear slipped down her cheek.

And that’s when Vidhant looked up.

Ruhi wiped her tears quickly, masking her emotions behind an unreadable expression. She watched as Vidhant’s entire demeanor shifted—his jaw tightened, his grip on the fork clenched, and his usual coldness returned the moment his mother’s voice echoed through the phone.

Of course, she thought bitterly. The Vadhera family never fails to remind me of my place.

Vidhant’s gaze flickered toward her briefly, his expression unreadable, but she saw it—the hesitation, the conflict within him. For a moment, it felt like they had shared something… something real. But now, the reality check had hit.

"I'll be there soon, Maa," he said, his voice clipped, before ending the call. Without sparing Ruhi another glance, he turned toward the kids.

"Finish your breakfast quickly, we need to leave," he said, his voice firm but controlled.

"But, Papa—" Rishu started, but Vidhant shook his head.

"No arguments. We’ve already spent enough time here."

"Mom!!!", Rishu and Reet sniff.

"She will join us soon", Vidhant pass a soft smile to his kids and kissed her forehead.

Ruhi scoffed under her breath as Vidhant made an nice excuse to which she nodded. Spent enough time here? Like this was some sort of mistake? Like she was the mistake?

Vidhant was quick enough to say his kids as he needs to talk to Ruhi about something important. He took Ruhi to another room when,"You know, Vidhant," she spoke, her voice laced with sarcasm, "for someone who claims to hate me, you sure have a habit of ending up in my room."

Vidhant’s eyes snapped to her, a flicker of something dangerous crossing his gaze, but he said nothing. Instead, he stood up, adjusting his watch as if trying to regain control.

Ruhi smirked, tilting her head. "What's wrong? Reality sinking in?"

Vidhant clenched his jaw harder. "Stay out of my way, Ruhi."

"Or what?" she challenged, stepping closer. "You’ll pretend none of this happened? That you didn't just wake up next to me? That for once, we felt like a family?"

His silence was deafening.

Ruhi chuckled dryly. "Typical Vidhant Vadhera. Always running when things get too real."

Without another word, Vidhant turned to next room and took Rishu and Reet, gently helping them off their chairs. "Let’s go," he said softly, avoiding Ruhi’s piercing gaze.

As he led their children out the door, Ruhi’s smirk faltered, her heart heavy as her munchkins say goodbye to her rushing with their father.

She had won the argument.

So why did it feel like she was losing everything else?

*************

Anmol's heart had nearly stopped when she didn't find her grandchildren in their rooms. A whirlwind of thoughts clouded her mind—Did Ruhi take them away? Has she started manipulating them already? But just as panic started settling in, the sound of their giggles filled the hall, bringing instant relief.

She turned around to see Vidhant walking in, holding Rishu and Reet’s hands. The kids were cheerful, completely unaware of the storm brewing within their father. But Anmol wasn’t blind—she noticed the stiffness in Vidhant’s shoulders, the clench in his jaw, the way his eyes darkened as if haunted by something.

"Where were you all?" Anmol asked, her voice laced with concern, though her eyes lingered on her son.

"With Mom!" Reet chirped excitedly, her innocent voice cutting through the thick tension.

Anmol’s smile faltered for a brief second before she quickly masked it. "Oh… you were with Ruhi?"

Rishu nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Papa slept there too! It was so fun!"

A sharp silence followed.

Anmol's gaze snapped to Vidhant, whose expression turned even grimmer. She saw it—the regret, the frustration, the war he was fighting within himself.

"Vidhant?" she questioned, voice softer now, sensing something deeper.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. "It was a mistake."

A mistake.

Anmol studied her son carefully. "Was it?" she asked, her voice quiet, challenging.

Vidhant's jaw tightened, his fists curling. Yes. No. Maybe. He didn’t know anymore. All he knew was that he had lost control, that for a moment, he had forgotten everything—his anger, his resentment, his pain. And that terrified him more than anything else.

Anmol placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding him. "Vidhant, be careful," she warned gently. "You can’t afford to be weak, not now."

Weak.

That word struck something deep within him. He wasn’t weak. He wouldn’t be weak.

Straightening up, he nodded. "I won’t let this happen again," he declared, his voice cold, detached.

But deep inside, a part of him wasn't so sure.

**************

After the chaos of the morning, Ruhi’s mood was completely ruined. The reality check from Vidhant, his cold demeanor, and Anmol’s watchful gaze had left a bitter taste in her mouth. But she wasn’t someone to dwell on emotions for too long—she had work to do.

With the Mehndi function approaching, she buried herself in preparations. The Hitchhiker's crew, always ready for a challenge, worked tirelessly with her, ensuring everything was on point. From floral décor to seating arrangements, from organizing the mehndi artists to curating the perfect playlist—Ruhi made sure everything screamed perfection.

As she walked through the venue, making final checks, she stole a moment to breathe. She had built a life of independence and control, yet here she was, in a place that reminded her of everything she had lost.

Shaking away the thoughts, she focused back on work. Tonight is about Pihu. Nothing else matters.

Little did she know, the night had plans of its own.

Ruhi’s eyes kept drifting towards her little munchkins, who were the true stars of the evening. Their laughter echoed through the venue, their tiny hands dipped in mehndi as they ran around, spreading joy effortlessly. It was a sight she wanted to lock in her heart forever.

The women, draped in shades of green, sat together with their hands adorned in intricate henna patterns, gossiping and giggling. The men, meanwhile, were preoccupied with their own conversations, lost in the festivities.

Ruhi felt an overwhelming urge to drop everything, to rush over and pull her babies into her arms. How much have I missed? How much more will I have to fight to get back what’s mine?

But as she took a step forward, her instincts warning her to be cautious, she caught sight of Anmol’s sharp gaze fixed on her like a hawk. Ruhi clenched her fists, masking her emotions. Of course, she wouldn’t let this be easy.

Taking a deep breath, Ruhi turned away. Not now. But soon.

*************

Ruhi hesitated, her heart pounding as the mehndi artist repeated the question.

"Naam kya likhna hai, madam?"

She swallowed hard, her fingers slightly trembling. Her gaze instinctively shifted towards Vidhant, whose intense stare was already burning into her.

Dressed in a stunning green lehenga, Ruhi looked breathtaking—elegant yet rebellious. She was the center of attention, whether she liked it or not. The dim glow of fairy lights reflected off her radiant face, making her look ethereal.

Vidhant, on the other hand, was struggling to keep his emotions in check. His jaw clenched as he took in the sight of her. The way her dupatta carelessly slipped off her shoulder, the way her hands, now decorated with henna, moved gracefully—it was all too much.

"Madam?" the artist asked again.

Ruhi blinked, snapping back to reality. A smirk played on her lips as she decided to play along as he stood a quite distance away but enough for him to hear.

"Likh do... Vidhant but keep it secret."

A hushed silence followed.

Vidhant's fists tightened. His name, on her hands, after all these years. It was a declaration, a challenge, and a bitter reminder—all at once.

***************

Ruhi's heart swelled with emotions as Rishu ran toward her, his tiny feet almost stumbling over the carpet. His voice rang loud and clear— “Mom! Mom!”

The entire function came to a sudden halt. Conversations died down, music lowered, and all eyes turned towards them.

Anmol’s expression darkened instantly, her grip on her saree tightening. Pihu clenched her jaw, exchanging a worried glance with her mother and brother. The whispers started, hushed yet sharp.

"Mom?"

"What is going on?"

Ruhi ignored the stares, kneeling to embrace Rishu, who wrapped his little arms around her tightly. Reet followed right after, hugging her from the side, completely oblivious to the storm they had just triggered.

Vidhant’s jaw clenched, his fists curling at his sides. He could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on him. His mother’s disapproving glare was sharp enough to cut through him.

Anmol took a deep breath before stepping forward. “Rishu, beta, come here,” she said, trying to maintain her composure.

But Rishu held onto Ruhi tighter. “No, Dadi! I want to stay with Mom.”

Ruhi smirked slightly, her gaze meeting Anmol’s with a silent challenge. For the first time in years, she had something Anmol couldn’t take away—her children’s love.

"Who is she??"

"Rishu and Reet calling her mom", Everyone whispered..

Tillthengoodbye
moonwithflames_