been going beautifully.
Perhaps a little too beautifully.
The venue glowed beneath hundreds of warm golden lights. Elegant floral arrangements decorated every corner, soft music played in the background, and guests moved through the hall in their finest attire.
Pragya had slowly begun to feel comfortable.
She had arrived in Chennai only recently. Everything around her still felt unfamiliar—the city, the campus, the hostel, the language she occasionally struggled to follow, and the distance from home.
But tonight was different.
Eleanor had welcomed her warmly.
Eleanor's grandparents had practically adopted her within minutes.
And Anubhab was beside her.
For a few precious hours, Chennai didn't feel so far from home.
Unfortunately, there was one Rodrigues sibling who was still missing.
Ethan.
Ethan had not intended to leave the celebration.
In fact, he had been looking forward to the evening for weeks.
His grandparents' sixtieth wedding anniversary was one of the rare occasions when Ethan allowed himself to step away from the world of business.
For tonight, he wasn't supposed to be the terrifying CEO of Rodrigues Industries.
He was supposed to be their grandson.
But business had other plans.
His phone rang while he was speaking to one of the event managers.
He glanced at the screen.
The smile disappeared from his face.
He answered immediately.
"What happened?"
The person on the other end spoke rapidly.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Stop."
Silence.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
Another explanation followed.
His expression became colder.
"Who authorised the change?"
A pause.
"Get the legal team involved."
Another pause.
"No. Don't wait for me."
He looked across the hall.
His grandparents were smiling.
Eleanor was laughing with Pragya.
Anubhab was speaking to one of the guests.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"I'm coming."
He ended the call.
Eleanor immediately noticed.
"Ethan?"
He looked at her.
"I have to leave."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"A problem with one of the deals."
"Is it serious?"
"Very."
Eleanor sighed.
"Do you have to handle it yourself?"
"Yes."
She knew there was no point arguing.
"Go."
Ethan looked toward his grandparents.
"I'll come back."
Eleanor smiled.
"I know."
He approached his grandparents.
His grandmother immediately noticed the tension in his face.
"Ethan?"
"I need to take care of something."
"Business?"
"Yes."
She looked disappointed for half a second before smiling.
"Then go."
"I don't want to miss the celebration."
"You won't."
"I'll be back."
His grandfather placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't rush."
Ethan nodded.
"I'll come back as soon as I can."
His grandmother held his hand.
"Tonight isn't about the company."
"I know."
"Tonight you're our grandson."
Something softened in Ethan's eyes.
"I know, Dadi."
"Then come back as Ethan."
He smiled faintly.
"I will."
And with that, he left.
The next several hours were exhausting.
The problem wasn't a simple paperwork mistake.
A multimillion-dollar deal was at risk because of a contractual dispute.
Ethan spent hours in meetings and calls.
His lawyers explained the situation.
His executives presented solutions.
The clients demanded changes.
Ethan rejected several proposals.
"No."
The conference room fell silent.
"This clause exposes us to unnecessary liability."
One executive tried to respond.
Ethan raised his hand.
"Don't explain why it happened."
He looked directly at him.
"Tell me how you're going to fix it."
The executive swallowed.
"Yes, sir."
Hours passed.
Documents were revised.
Contracts were renegotiated.
Calls were made.
Eventually, the problem was resolved.
Ethan looked at his watch.
His eyes widened slightly.
"I'm leaving."
"Sir, there's still—"
"Tomorrow."
He stood.
"Tonight belongs to my grandparents."
He picked up his jacket and left.
By the time Ethan returned to the venue, the celebration was in full swing.
He entered through one of the side entrances.
His phone was still in his hand as he read a final message from his legal team.
Everything was under control.
Finally.
He exhaled.
Then—
THUD.
Someone collided with him.
Hard.
Ethan immediately looked up.
Pragya.
She stumbled backward.
Her clutch slipped from her hand.
"Oh!"
Ethan instinctively caught her arm before she lost her balance.
For one brief second, they stared at each other.
Pragya immediately straightened herself.
"I'm sorry."
Ethan released her arm.
"You should look where you're going."
Pragya blinked.
The apology vanished from her face.
"Excuse me?"
"You walked straight into me."
"I said sorry."
"And yet you weren't looking."
"I was looking!"
"Clearly not."
Pragya stared at him.
"Do you always talk to people like this?"
"Only when they walk into me."
"I didn't do it deliberately."
"I didn't say you did."
"Then why are you behaving like I committed a crime?"
Ethan's eyebrow rose.
"Because you turned a simple accident into an argument."
Pragya stared at him.
"You started the argument!"
"You walked into me."
"You were looking at your phone!"
"I was handling something important."
"So was I."
Ethan glanced at her.
"What exactly were you doing?"
Pragya opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
"My clutch almost fell."
Ethan stared at her.
"That was what you were doing?"
"Yes."
"That is not exactly comparable."
"Why?"
"Because I was handling a multimillion-dollar business issue."
Pragya folded her arms.
"And I was protecting my phone."
Ethan stared at her.
"Your phone?"
"Yes."
"You nearly dropped your clutch."
"Which contains my phone."
"Right."
"Exactly."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then shook his head.
"You're impossible."
"And you're rude."
"I wasn't rude."
"You were."
"I was stating facts."
"Your facts have terrible manners."
For the first time, the corner of Ethan's mouth almost moved.
Almost.
Pragya noticed.
"Did you just smile?"
"No."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
"I didn't."
"You're terrible at lying."
"And you're terrible at walking."
Pragya gasped.
"Again?"
"Pragya?"
Anubhab's voice interrupted them.
He approached with Eleanor.
"What happened?"
Pragya immediately pointed toward Ethan.
"He's rude."
Ethan looked at Anubhab.
"She walked into me."
"I apologized!"
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Oh no."
Eleanor then turned toward Anubhab.
"This is Anubhab."
Ethan looked at him properly.
The two men shook hands.
"Anubhab Banerjee."
"Ethan Rodrigues."
"We've heard a lot about each other, talked to each other but never met in person," Anubhab said.
Ethan nodded.
Again, Ethan and Pragya started quarrelling about Ethan's dressing choice.
Pragya: "You always wear black."
Ethan: "I love black."
Pragya: "I noticed. I'm beginning to think your wardrobe has only one colour."
Ethan: "It does the job."
Pragya: "That's your excuse?"
Ethan: "It's not an excuse. It's a preference."
Pragya: "Preference? Ethan, I've seen you thrice, and all three times you've looked like you're attending a very expensive funeral."
Ethan: "And I've seen you thrice, and all those times you've been arguing with me."
Pragya: "That's because you keep giving me reasons."
Ethan: "You seem to manufacture the reasons yourself."
Pragya: "At least I have variety."
Ethan: "You mean your ability to talk continuously?"
Pragya: "Exactly. It's called having a personality."
Ethan: "I have a personality."
Pragya: "Really? I haven't seen it yet."
Ethan: "Maybe you're too busy talking to notice."
Pragya: "Oh, very clever."
Ethan: "Thank you."
Pragya: "That wasn't a compliment."
Ethan: "I'll take it anyway."
Pragya narrowed her eyes.
Pragya: "You know what? You really are impossible."
Ethan: "And yet you keep talking to me."
Pragya: "Because someone has to tell you when you're being insufferable."
Ethan: "And you've appointed yourself for the job?"
Pragya: "Someone had to."
Ethan: "How noble."
Pragya: "Don't mock me."
Ethan: "I'm not mocking you."
Pragya: "You're smiling."
Ethan: "No, I'm not."
Pragya: "You are!"
Ethan: "Prove it."
Pragya: "I don't need evidence. I have eyes."
Ethan: "Apparently, they don't work very well. You walked into me earlier."
Pragya stared at him in disbelief.
Pragya: "You're bringing that up again?"
Ethan: "You started the argument."
Pragya: "You started the second one!"
Ethan: "There was a second one because you wouldn't stop."
Pragya: "Because you wouldn't stop!"
They stared at each other for a moment.
Then Pragya folded her arms.
Pragya: "And for the record, black isn't the only colour in existence."
Ethan: "I know."
Pragya: "Then why don't you wear anything else?"
Ethan: "Because I like black."
Pragya: "You're boring."
Ethan: "You're exhausting."
Pragya: "Grumpy."
Ethan: "Talkative."
Pragya: "Arrogant."
Ethan: "Stubborn."
Pragya: "Annoying."
Ethan: "Irritating."
Pragya gasped.
Pragya: "You copied mine!"
Ethan: "Because it suited you."
She glared at him.
He looked completely unfazed.
Then, despite herself, Pragya started laughing.
Ethan's lips curved into the faintest smile.
Pragya: "There! You smiled again."
Ethan: "Forget it."
Pragya: "Never."
Anubhab looked between them.
"I'm afraid to ask."
"You should be," Eleanor replied.
Everyone laughed.
There was something immediately interesting about the meeting between Ethan and Anubhab.
They were different.
Anubhab's confidence was calm.
Ethan's confidence was intimidating.
But there was mutual respect.
Ethan had heard about Anubhab's work in geology.
Anubhab had heard about Ethan's achievements in business.
"You've built quite an empire," Anubhab said.
"Thank you."
"Eleanor says you're extremely disciplined."
"She exaggerates."
Eleanor laughed.
"He doesn't."
Pragya whispered,
"She definitely doesn't."
Ethan glanced at her.
"You really can't stay quiet."
"No."
"I noticed."
Eventually, Ethan looked toward his grandparents.
And stopped.
His grandmother was sitting beside Pragya.
Her hand rested affectionately over the young girl's.
His grandfather was listening attentively as Pragya spoke about her first week at IIT Madras.
Ethan stared.
He had been gone for some hours.
And somehow—
he had returned to find his grandparents had acquired a new favourite.
He walked toward them.
"Granny."
His grandmother looked up.
"There you are!"
She hugged him immediately.
Ethan smiled.
"I told you I'd come back."
"I knew you would."
Then she turned toward Pragya.
"Ethan, come sit here."
Ethan looked at the empty chair beside Pragya.
Then at his grandmother.
"Here?"
"Yes."
He looked at Pragya.
She was trying very hard not to smile.
Ethan sat.
His grandfather looked amused.
Ethan leaned closer.
"Grandpa."
"Yes?"
"I've been replaced."
His grandfather laughed.
"Don't be dramatic."
"I'm not being dramatic."
"You are."
"I've been gone for two hours."
"And?"
"And you've adopted someone else."
Pragya immediately burst out laughing.
His grandmother smiled.
"She is a lovely girl."
"Granny, I'm your grandson."
"And she is our guest."
"You've known her for one evening."
"Sometimes that's enough."
Ethan stared at his grandmother.
Pragya smiled triumphantly.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't look sorry."
"I am deeply sorry."
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
Dinner was eventually served.
The atmosphere became warmer.
The anniversary couple sat at the centre.
Eleanor sat beside her grandparents.
Pragya sat beside Anubhab.
Ethan sat opposite Pragya.
The moment their eyes met, Pragya smiled.
Ethan knew exactly why.
"Don't."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Don't what?"
"You're thinking something."
"No."
"You are."
"Maybe."
"Tell me."
"I was just wondering..."
"What?"
"How it feels to be replaced by a twenty-two-year-old you've known for approximately for few days."
Ethan stared at her.
"Very funny."
"Thank you."
"I wasn't complimenting you."
"I accepted it anyway."
Anubhab tried to hide his laughter.
Eleanor shook her head.
"Both of you are ridiculous."
The dinner continued.
Stories were shared.
Photographs were taken.
Ethan's grandmother repeatedly asked Pragya whether she was eating enough.
Pragya's plate kept mysteriously receiving extra food.
Ethan noticed.
"Granny."
"Yes?"
"You haven't asked me whether I've eaten."
"You're capable of feeding yourself."
Pragya covered her mouth.
Ethan looked at her.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm trying."
"You're failing."
After dinner, the guests began moving toward the main hall for photographs.
Pragya stepped outside onto the terrace for some fresh air.
The Chennai night was pleasantly warm.
She stood near the railing, looking at the lights of the city.
A few moments later, she heard footsteps.
Ethan.
She looked over her shoulder.
"Oh."
He stopped.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You said 'oh'."
"Because I didn't expect you."
"I didn't expect you either."
"Then we're both surprised."
He leaned against the railing.
For a few seconds, silence.
Then Pragya glanced at him.
"You know..."
"What?"
"You're much less terrifying than people say."
Ethan looked at her.
"And you're much less irritating when you are silent."
Pragya's jaw dropped.
"Wow."
"You started it."
"I was complimenting you!"
"That wasn't a compliment."
"It was."
"No."
"It absolutely was."
Ethan shook his head.
"You've got an answer for everything."
"And you've got a complaint for everything."
"Because you argue about everything."
"You argue too!"
"I don't."
"You do."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Ethan looked at her.
"Are we five?"
Pragya smiled.
"Apparently."
He almost smiled again.
Pragya noticed.
"There!"
"What?"
"That."
"What?"
"That almost-smile."
"I didn't smile."
"You did."
"No."
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Pretending you're made of stone."
Ethan's expression changed slightly.
For a moment, his teasing disappeared.
"You don't know me well enough to say that."
Pragya noticed the shift.
She softened.
"I know."
There was a brief silence.
Then Ethan looked away.
"People think they know everything about me."
"Do they?"
"No."
"Then I won't."
He looked at her.
She shrugged.
"I don't know you."
"Good."
"But..."
She smiled.
"I still think you're unnecessarily grumpy."
Ethan stared at her.
"There it is."
She laughed.
The tension disappeared.
Eventually, Anubhab came looking for them.
"Pragya."
She turned.
"Coming."
Ethan nodded.
"Goodnight."
Pragya smiled.
"Goodnight, Grumpy."
Ethan's eyebrow rose.
"Grumpy?"
"It's affectionate."
"Don't call me that."
"Goodnight, Grumpy."
She walked away before he could answer.
Ethan watched her leave.
Then shook his head.
"She is unbelievable."
Pragya and Anubhab approached Eleanor and her grandparents.
Pragya hugged Eleanor.
"Thank you for tonight."
"Thank you for coming."
"Your grandparents are wonderful."
Eleanor smiled.
"They loved you."
"I noticed."
She hugged Eleanor's grandmother.
"Thank you for making me feel at home."
The grandmother held her tightly.
"You must visit again."
"I will."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
The grandfather smiled.
"And bring your brother."
Anubhab laughed.
"Of course."
Ethan stood nearby.
His grandmother looked at him.
"Ethan, take care of them."
He nodded.
"I will."
Pragya looked at him.
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
Ethan replied,
"I know."
Anubhab smiled.
"That's enough, you two."
The drive back to the hotel was quiet.
Pragya looked outside the window.
Anubhab glanced at her.
"You're quiet."
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
"Tomorrow."
"My flight?"
"Yes."
He smiled gently.
"I'm only going to Kolkata."
"I know."
"You'll see me soon."
"I know."
"But?"
Pragya looked down.
"I just don't like saying goodbye."
Anubhab's expression softened.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
When they reached the hotel, Anubhab helped her out of the car.
Inside the room, he began preparing his luggage.
Pragya sat silently on the edge of the bed.
"You're really leaving."
"Yes."
"Tomorrow morning."
"Yes."
She nodded.
Then quietly said,
"I miss home."
Anubhab stopped packing.
He walked toward her.
"I know."
"I miss Papa."
"I know."
"I miss you."
"I know."
Her voice trembled.
"And I miss everything."
Anubhab sat beside her.
"You don't have to stop missing us."
She looked at him.
"You don't?"
"No."
"Then what do I do?"
"Carry us with you."
She smiled faintly.
"You sound like a motivational speaker."
"I've had practice."
She laughed softly.
Then her eyes filled.
Anubhab opened his arms.
Pragya immediately hugged him.
He held her tightly.
"You're not alone."
"I know."
"You're doing something extraordinary."
"I know."
"You'll be okay."
"I hope so."
"You will."
She held him tighter.
"Promise you'll always be there?"
"Always."
"Even when you're busy?"
"Always."
"Even when I call you ten times?"
"I'll answer."
"What if you're in a meeting?"
"I'll call back."
"What if—"
"Pragya."
She looked at him.
"Stop worrying about tomorrow."
He gently squeezed her hand.
"Live today."
She nodded.
"Okay."
Across the city, the atmosphere inside the Rodrigues home was equally emotional.
The celebration was over.
The guests were gone.
The music had stopped.
The house was finally quiet.
Ethan sat beside his grandparents.
Eleanor sat on the other side of her grandmother.
For once, nobody talked about business.
Nobody talked about work.
Nobody talked about responsibilities.
They simply sat together.
His grandmother looked at Ethan.
"You came back."
"I promised."
"You were tired."
"I was."
"But you still came."
Ethan smiled.
"Of course."
She touched his cheek.
"You've grown up too quickly."
Ethan's smile faded slightly.
"You raised me."
"And you made us proud."
Ethan looked down.
His grandfather placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You've done more than anyone expected."
Ethan swallowed.
"I couldn't have done it without you."
Eleanor quietly reached for her grandmother's hand.
"We wouldn't have made it without you."
Her grandmother's eyes became moist.
"You two were all we had."
"And you were all we had," Ethan replied.
The room became silent.
His grandmother pulled both grandchildren closer.
For a moment, Ethan allowed himself to simply be their grandson.
Not a CEO.
Not a billionaire.
Not the man everyone feared.
Just Ethan.
Their grandson.
Their little boy who had grown into a man.
Much later, Eleanor lay awake.
The clock had crossed midnight.
She stared at the ceiling.
She should have been sleeping.
But her mind refused.
One person kept appearing in her thoughts.
Anubhab.
She remembered his voice.
His calm confidence.
The way he spoke.
The way he listened.
The way he treated her grandparents with respect.
The way he teased Pragya.
The way he protected his sister.
She smiled unconsciously.
Then immediately covered her face.
"Oh God."
She turned over.
Why was she thinking about him so much?
She remembered him in his blue tuxedo.
The way he had looked when he smiled.
The calm expression in his eyes.
She felt her cheeks warming.
"No."
She buried her face into the pillow.
"Stop thinking about him."
But she couldn't.
She finally admitted the truth to herself.
She had feelings for him.
Real ones.
And that frightened her.
Because Anubhab trusted her.
He treated her as a friend.
A junior.
Someone he respected.
And she didn't want to lose that.
So she whispered into the darkness,
"Maybe it's better if he never knows."
Her smile faded.
She closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, Anubhab."
The airport was crowded.
Pragya stood beside Anubhab.
His luggage was beside him.
His flight to Kolkata was approaching.
She stared at the departure board.
Then at him.
"I don't want you to go."
Anubhab smiled.
"You'll survive."
"That's not comforting."
"You'll call me."
"You'll be busy."
"I'll still answer."
She hugged him.
He hugged her back.
"Take care of yourself."
"You too."
"Eat properly."
"You sound exactly like Papa."
"Someone has to."
She laughed through her tears.
Then her voice became softer.
"Dabhai?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"For?"
"Everything."
He looked at her.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I do."
"You're my sister."
"I love you."
"I love you too, Angel."
He kissed the top of her head.
"Now go."
"I'll wait until you disappear."
He smiled.
"Fine."
He walked toward the security checkpoint.
Then turned.
"Pragya!"
She looked up.
"Make the most of this opportunity."
She nodded.
"I will."
"And call Papa."
"I will."
"And don't forget your brother."
She smiled.
"Never."
He disappeared through the security gate.
Pragya stood there for several seconds.
Then whispered,
"Bye, Dabhai."
When Pragya returned to the hostel, Bristi was already getting ready.
"You're back!"
Pragya nodded.
"Yeah."
"How was the farewell?"
Pragya smiled faintly.
"Emotional."
Bristi immediately understood.
She didn't tease her.
Instead, she simply smiled.
"Come on. We have class."
Pragya nodded.
She changed.
Packed her books.
Checked her schedule.
Looked at the time.
Then looked into the mirror.
For a moment, she saw the girl who had arrived in Chennai frightened and homesick.
But she also saw someone stronger.
Someone who had survived her first week.
Someone who had made new friends.
Someone who had found a second family in unexpected places.
Someone who was slowly building a new life.
She picked up her bag.
Bristi called from the doorway.
"Pragya!"
"Coming!"
She took one final look at herself.
Then smiled.
"Okay."
She stepped outside.
Her brother was flying back to Kolkata.
Her father was waiting for her call.
Her friends were miles away.
Her old life was far behind her.
But her new life was waiting.
And somewhere in Chennai, Ethan Rodrigues was probably still wondering how one girl he'd known for barely a day had managed to argue with him thrice.
Pragya had no idea what the future held.
But she was ready to find out.
She walked toward her classroom.
And another chapter began.
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