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Shaurya’s Villa

It had been two whole days since Keshav Raichand was discharged from the hospital, and yet, Shaurya Ahuja’s mood hadn’t improved even a bit. If anything, it had only soured further.

The image of Grandpa beaming at Varun and generously promising him mangoes still played on a loop in his head. The same Varun, who’d only just shown up and cracked a joke, was suddenly on his ‘special list.’ Meanwhile, Shaurya, who had actually carried the old man to the hospital, broken traffic rules to get him there in time, and stayed through every tense second, was treated like a piece of furniture. A very unwelcome one at that.

That was the blow Shaurya couldn’t quite digest. So he had walked out of the hospital that day without so much as a backward glance.

And since then, he hadn’t had a single glimpse of Nandini. Not even once.

Every morning since that day, Shaurya had found himself spending too much time in his garden than was necessary, pretending to water plants that didn’t need watering, inspecting leaves that didn’t need inspecting, even doing pushups by the pool, hoping he could get even the smallest glimpse of her...ofNandini, talking to the mango tree, adjusting her messy bun, or flashing him her signature annoyed glare that, oddly enough, he looked forward to.

But Villa No. 10 stayed silent. The curtains remained drawn. She hadn’t stepped out of the house. Not even once.

Whether she was still angry at him or was just too caught up caring for her grandfather, who had flat-out refused professional help and made Nandini his full-time nurse, Shaurya couldn’t tell. All he knew was that he missed her more than he cared to admit.

He wanted to talk to her. Wanted to clear the air about the kiss. To explain. To say something, anything, that might make her stop looking at him like he’d committed a crime kissing a woman almost a decade younger than him. He needed her to know he wasn’t the monster she probably thought he was. That what happened wasn’t entirely thoughtless. That yes, he’d been stupid but not cruel.

He should have let it go. Moved on. He wasn’t the kind of man who dwelled. And yet here he was, pacing his living room for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, like a man with nowhere to be and nothing else to think about.

But in all this, he had found a temporary solution of knowing what was going on in the Raichand house. He’d found a reluctant spy to do his bidding.

The moment Meera, his house help, returned with the groceries, he nearly pounced on her.

“What’s the update?” he asked sharply, unable to contain his curiosity.

She gave him a dry look. “Mr. Raichand is fine. Resting. Recovering. Crankier than usual, but nothing alarming.”

“That’s no surprise. Cranky should have been his second name.” Shaurya folded his arms. “And Nandini?”

“She’s taking care of everything, of course,” she paused, sighing with a trace of genuine sympathy. “But poor Nandini... that girl hasn’t had a moment to herself these days. She’s full time busy looking after her grandfather—feeding him, managing his medicines, running the entire house alone… God bless her. But it’s too much for one person.”

She set the bags down and straightened. “But let me be clear. I’m not doing this again. If you’re so concerned about their wellbeing, go and check for yourself.”

Shaurya frowned. “Why? Did something happen? In fact, what’s wrong with you? Your mood has been off for two days now. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

Meera crossed her arms, clearly not in the mood to sugarcoat anything.

“I’m a part of Serene Meadows too, Shaurya. Gossip reaches my ears just as fast as mangoes fall from that blessed tree of his.”

“What gossip?” he scowled, his jaw tightening.

“The whole of Serene Meadows is still talking about the scene you and Mr. Raichand caused on New Year’s Eve. About how you humiliated him in front of everyone.”

Shaurya groaned. “Did they mention thathestarted it? Thathehumiliated me first?”

Meera raised up a hand, cutting him off. “Doesn’t matter. He’s an old man. You’re not. People expect better from you. And Nandini… poor girl. If outsiders like us felt bad watching it happen, can you even imagine what she must be feeling like, knowing how you treated her grandfather that night?”

Shaurya froze. That hit harder than it should have. He looked away, hating that he was being painted as the villain in Serene Meadows folklore. He hated it even more that Nandini might be seeing him that way too.

“I don’t care what people think,” he muttered, but he knew that wasn’t the truth.

“Then don’t,” Meera replied with a shrug. “But don’t expect me to be your spy either. And for God’s sake, stop pacing around like some heartbroken teenager and let it go.”

She gave him a pointed look and added, “First, you humiliate someone in front of half the community, then rush him to the hospital like nothing ever happened, and now you want daily updates on their wellbeing? Seriously?” She scoffed, shaking her head. “Make up your mind, Shaurya.”

Shaurya frowned, very well knowing that Meera was right. He really had to make up his mind and think wisely. He needed to decide what he wanted and stop hiding behind stupid excuses.

The moment Meera turned to walk away, he called out to her.