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He wasn’t the type to chase after falling leaves. But this one… something about it compelled him to follow its path. Slowly, he got up from his chair and walked to the edge of the pool. He stood there for a long moment, silently staring at the water, watching the single leaf float without a care in the world.

And just as he turned to head back to his house, a movement caught the corner of his eye.

A cab pulled up near Shaurya’s villa, and Nandini stepped out.

But instead of turning towards Raichand Villa, she walked directly to Shaurya’s front door, her steps steady and certain.

A pang of hurt flared in his chest. He had asked her to stay away from Shaurya. And yet here she was, returning to the very man he was trying to protect her from.

Without another thought, he followed her, determined to bring his granddaughter back.

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

Present – Shaurya’s Villa

Grandpa stormed into Shaurya’s villa, unannounced. His eyes blazed, locking instantly onto Nandini and Shaurya, who stood frozen in place. Nandini instinctively stepped back, pulling away from Shaurya as a rush of shock and guilt surged through her. She hadn’t expected her grandfather to be here, especially not likethis.

“Daadu,” Nandini gasped, taking a step forward, instinctively reaching out, but he raised his hand to stop her.

“I knew something was wrong when you left this morning to meet the investor. Something was bothering you. There was no spark in your eyes, no joy, even though your dreams were one step away from becoming a reality,” he said, his voice shaking with shock. “I thought it was because we are flying to London today, against your will. But I didn’t expect… this.”

Nandini’s throat tightened.

“So, Shaurya’s ex-wife was the investor, and that’s why you didn’t sign the deal with her company today?” Grandpa asked, piecing it together.

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the floor.

“And you didn’t think I deserved to know that?” he demanded, his voice heavy with hurt. “My Nandu, the same girl who couldn’t keep a single secret from me, is now hiding something like this? I thought you would come home with good news. That you’d signed the contract. That your startup was finally ready to take off. But the truth is, you never planned to sign it at all. You went there just to say no.”

Shaurya stepped forward, instinctively ready to speak in her defence. But before he could utter a word, Grandpa turned to him sharply. “No. Not a word from you. This is between me and my granddaughter.”

Shaurya stilled, clenching his fist as he stepped back. He could’ve argued. He could’ve stood his ground and defended Nandini right there. But he also knew doing that would only make things worse.

Nandini finally found her voice. “Daadu… I was going to tell you, but—”

“But what?” he snapped, cutting her off. “You thought I’d stop you from backing out? That I’d force you to choose your business over everything else?”

She shook her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want to make things harder than they already are.”

“What rubbish,” Grandpa snapped.

Her hand reached for his arm. “Please, Daadu… calm down. Don’t strain yourself. Your health—”

“Enough with this health excuse,” he interrupted gruffly. “I’m not as weak as you think. I am fine.”

Then, he turned towards Shaurya again. “And you… you knew Rhea was her investor, didn’t you? And still, you encouraged her to go ahead with the deal?”

Shaurya let out a heavy breath, steadying himself. “Yes, I knew. And I still told her to go ahead because her happiness matters more to me than my resentment and insecurities. My past with Rhea isn’t above my present with Nandini. And if supporting her meant swallowing my pride, I was ready to do that.”

He glanced at Nandini briefly and then continued, “But the way you’re reacting right now… it feels like you’re not even trying to understand us.”

Grandpa’s expression darkened. “Iwouldn’t understand?” he repeated, incredulous. “I’ve lived nearly four decades longer than both of you. You think I haven’t known love? That I haven’tendured pain or made sacrifices? That I don’t know what it means to give something up for someone else?”

He paused and took a deep breath. “I am not just speaking from experience, Shaurya, but from wisdom that comes with age.”

His gaze shifted to Nandini now, whose eyes brimmed with emotion, a single tear escaping down her cheek. His voice softened just slightly.

“When I first found out about this so-called relationship of yours, I told myself it was temporary. Just a phase. I thought that two neighbours drawn together by proximity would eventually drift apart. That life, age, and your differences would pull you both in different directions.”