4|

The house was quieter than usual the next morning.

Not peaceful quiet.

Careful quiet.

Like everyone had collectively learned overnight that sound could feel too loud.

Anaira was still asleep on the couch.

Not in a bed.

Not in a room.

On the couch because she had refused to sleep anywhere without Anushka beside her.

Even now, in daylight, she looked like she hadn't fully decided whether the world was safe yet.

One hand was still curled around her stuffed rabbit.

The other loosely held Anushka's sleeve like an unconscious promise.

Anushka hadn't moved much since morning.

She just sat there, watching Anaira breathe.

Virat had already left early for a meeting, though his security updates hadn't stopped even for a second.

The situation outside was still controlled-but tense.

Media wanted answers.

Fans wanted clarity.

But Virat had made one thing very clear:

No one touches the child.

Aarav came downstairs in his school uniform.

White shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar, tie loosely hanging, backpack slung over one shoulder.

He stopped mid-step when he saw Anaira sleeping there.

Still.

Small.

Silent.

It was weird how fast the house had changed.

Yesterday it was just their family.

Today there was a child in the center of it.

Anushka noticed him.

"Morning," she whispered.

Aarav nodded.

"Morning."

He walked toward the kitchen, poured himself water, but didn't drink it immediately.

His eyes kept drifting back to Anaira.

After a moment, he asked quietly, "Is she always this quiet in sleep?"

Anushka looked at Anaira.

"No," she said softly. "She's just tired."

Aarav nodded slowly.

Then, after a pause- "She looks like she's scared even while sleeping."

Anushka didn't deny it.

Because it was true.

-

Anaira woke up slowly a few minutes later.

Same pattern again.

No sudden movement.

Just eyes opening, staying still, adjusting.

Like she was checking if the world had changed overnight again.

Aarav noticed immediately.

He leaned slightly against the counter, watching her.

She looked at him.

Quiet.

Curious.

Aarav wasn't used to being looked at like that.

At school, people looked at him in very specific ways.

Girls noticed him too much.

Guys either respected him or tried to compete.

Teachers expected performance.

Coaches expected discipline.

He was used to attention.

But not this kind.

Not quiet observation.

Not innocence.

Anaira tilted her head slightly.

"You go school?" she asked suddenly.

Aarav blinked.

"Yeah."

She looked surprised.

"You small school?"

Aarav almost laughed.

"I'm in 11th grade."

She processed that carefully.

Then nodded like she understood something important.

"Big class."

Aarav smirked slightly.

"Yeah, kind of."

She stared at him for a second.

Then asked very seriously, "You have friends?"

Aarav paused.

That question was oddly direct.

At school, yes.

Lots.

But real answer?

He didn't think about it like that.

"Yeah," he said finally. "I guess."

Anaira seemed satisfied with that answer.

Then quietly asked, "You come back?"

Aarav looked at her properly now.

"Yeah," he said. "I come back."

She nodded once.

Like that answer mattered more than anything else.

-

Before leaving, Aarav grabbed his bag and hesitated.

He walked toward the couch.

Anaira looked up at him.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a small packet of biscuits.

Placed it on the table.

"If you get hungry," he said casually.

Anaira looked at it.

Then at him.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Aarav nodded awkwardly.

Then left quickly before anything emotional could settle in his chest.

Because he didn't know how to deal with that.

Not here.

Not in this house.

Not with her.

-

At school, Aarav Kohli immediately became someone else again.

The moment he stepped into the corridor, voices picked up.

"Yo Aarav!"

"Bro practice later?"

"Did you see the match highlights yesterday?"

He smirked instantly, slipping back into his usual version of himself.

Confident.

Relaxed.

Popular.

That Aarav.

The one everyone recognized.

The one people called a "heartthrob" half-jokingly, half-seriously.

He leaned against his locker while talking to friends.

Laughing.

Teasing.

Easy.

Effortless.

A girl walked past, glancing at him a little too long.

Another whispered something to her friend.

Normal.

Familiar.

But today, something felt slightly off.

Like his mind wasn't fully here.

A friend nudged him.

"Bro you're quiet today."

Aarav smirked.

"Am I?"

"Yeah."

He shrugged.

"Didn't sleep well."

No one questioned it further.

They never really did.

Because Aarav Kohli didn't usually give reasons.

-

But in between classes, his mind kept drifting back home.

To the couch.

To the rabbit.

To the way Anaira had asked "you come back?" like it wasn't casual.

Like it mattered.

During lunch break, he sat with his usual group.

Loud table.

Chaos.

Cricket talk.

Jokes.

Someone was laughing about a teacher.

Someone else was planning weekend party.

A girl leaned toward him teasingly.

"You coming this weekend or family boy mode again?"

Aarav smirked lazily.

"Maybe both."

Laughter.

But then he went quiet for a second.

And someone noticed.

"Bro what's wrong with you today?"

Aarav shook his head slightly.

"Nothing."

But even he knew it wasn't convincing.

Because for the first time-

"nothing" didn't feel like the right answer anymore.

-

Back at home, Anaira sat cross-legged on the couch again.

Anushka was beside her, gently helping her color a page.

Anaira suddenly looked up.

"Papa also go school like Aarav bhaiya?"

Anushka paused slightly.

Then smiled faintly.

"No baby."

Anaira tilted her head.

"Why?"

Anushka hesitated.

Then softly said, "Because he became very big very early."

Anaira nodded slowly like she was trying to understand grown-up logic.

Then quietly said, "Aarav bhaiya also big."

Anushka smiled.

"He thinks he is," she said softly.

Anaira looked serious.

"He nice."

That simple statement made Anushka pause.

"Yeah," she said after a moment. "He is."

-

That evening, Aarav returned home earlier than usual.

He walked in quietly.

No loud entrance.

No shouting.

Just silence.

And when he stepped into the living room-

he saw Anaira still sitting there.

Waiting.

Like she had been expecting him.

She looked up immediately.

"You came."

Aarav stopped for a second.

Then nodded.

"Yeah."

Anaira shifted slightly.

Then held up the biscuit packet he had left earlier.

"I ate one."

Aarav raised an eyebrow.

"Only one?"

She nodded.

He sighed.

"Kids."

But there was no irritation in it.

Only something softer.

Anaira studied him carefully again.

Then suddenly asked, "You are always like this?"

Aarav frowned slightly.

"Like what?"

She thought for a second.

Then said very simply, "Come and go."

That question hit deeper than it should have.

Aarav didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he walked past her and sat down on the floor near the couch again.

Like morning.

Like instinct now.

Then quietly said, "Yeah. I guess I am."

Anaira nodded like she accepted that.

But after a pause, she said something softer.

"Then come back always."

Aarav looked at her.

This time, he didn't smirk.

Didn't joke.

Didn't deflect.

Just nodded once.

"Okay."

And for some reason-

that one word felt heavier than anything he had said all day.

The evening at the Kohli house didn't feel loud like before.

It wasn't silence exactly.

It was just... softer.

Like the house had learned to lower its own voice around Anaira.

Lights were warm instead of bright.

Staff moved slower.

Even conversations felt careful.

Anaira sat curled on the big sofa in the living room, legs tucked under her, rabbit clutched against her chest.

Aarav was beside her.

Not fully beside her at first-he had started on the opposite end.

But somehow, over time, the distance had reduced without either of them noticing.

The TV was playing something random.

A cricket highlight show.

Aarav wasn't really watching it.

Anaira was trying to.

At least at first.

She kept blinking slowly, like her body was still catching up with exhaustion from everything that had happened.

Anushka had gone upstairs to take a call.

Virat was still out handling work.

So for the first time that day-it was just Aarav and Anaira in the same space without adults constantly shaping the atmosphere.

Aarav leaned back, one arm resting on the couch edge, scrolling his phone half-heartedly.

Anaira shifted slightly.

Then leaned a little closer.

Not dramatic.

Just instinctive.

Like her body was slowly learning where comfort existed.

Aarav noticed but didn't say anything.

A few minutes passed.

The TV commentary filled the background.

Anaira rubbed her eyes once.

Then again.

Aarav glanced sideways.

"You sleepy?"

She shook her head immediately.

"No."

But her voice didn't match her body.

Because the next moment, her head tilted slightly toward him.

Just slightly.

Aarav paused.

Looked down.

"Hey-"

But before he could even finish, Anaira had already drifted.

Her small body leaned more and more until her head gently rested against his shoulder.

Aarav froze.

Completely still.

For a few seconds, he didn't even breathe properly.

Anaira didn't wake up.

She just settled there like it was the most natural thing in the world.

One hand still holding the rabbit.

The other resting loosely on her lap.

Her breathing slowed into soft, steady sleep.

Aarav slowly turned his head a little.

She was actually asleep.

On him.

Like it was normal.

His expression changed slightly.

Confused first.

Then... something else.

Careful.

Because he didn't move her away.

He could have.

Easily.

But he didn't.

Instead, he stayed still.

Like any movement might break something fragile.

The TV kept playing.

Cricket commentary filled the room.

But Aarav wasn't hearing it anymore.

He was very aware of her small weight on his shoulder.

Very aware of how warm she felt.

Very aware of how her fingers occasionally tightened slightly in sleep like she was holding onto safety even unconscious.

His phone buzzed.

Once.

Then again.

Then again.

He glanced at the screen.

Group chat.

Friends.

"BRO WHERE ARE YOU?? NIGHT PLAN TONIGHT"

"Don't tell me you're skipping again"

"Party at 10, same place"

Aarav stared at it.

Normally, he would've already replied.

Normally, he would've been joking in the chat.

Normally, he wouldn't even be sitting here like this.

He looked back at Anaira.

Still asleep.

Still leaning on him like she trusted him completely.

His thumb hovered over the screen.

Typing.

Stopping.

Deleting.

Then finally-

He typed:

"Not coming."

Sent.

Instant replies came.

"What??"

"Bro are you serious"

"Aarav Kohli skipping?? since when"

He didn't respond again.

Just locked the phone and set it aside.

His friends would not understand this.

They didn't know her.

They didn't know the house.

They didn't know what had changed in the last few days.

Aarav leaned back slightly.

Careful not to disturb her.

His jaw relaxed slowly.

For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel like explaining himself to anyone.

Because something here felt more real than any night party ever did.

-

A little later, Anushka came downstairs.

She stopped instantly when she saw them.

Aarav on the couch.

Anaira asleep on his shoulder.

Completely trusting.

Her expression softened immediately.

She didn't say anything at first.

Just walked closer slowly.

Aarav looked up at her.

He immediately put a finger to his lips.

"She just fell asleep," he whispered.

Anushka nodded softly.

Then sat down opposite them.

Her eyes stayed on Anaira for a long moment.

Then she quietly said, "She never falls asleep like this with anyone."

Aarav looked down at her.

"She did now."

Anushka smiled faintly.

"Yes," she said softly. "She did."

Aarav shifted slightly.

Careful again.

"I'll move her to the couch properly?"

Anushka shook her head immediately.

"No."

Aarav looked at her.

Anushka's voice softened.

"Let her stay."

Silence.

Aarav nodded slowly.

And stayed still again.

-

Minutes passed.

Then more.

The house remained quiet.

TV still playing in the background.

Outside, Mumbai continued its usual chaos.

But inside this room-

time slowed down.

Aarav glanced down again.

Anaira's face looked different in sleep.

Less guarded.

Less afraid.

Just a child.

He noticed something small then.

Her fingers had loosened slightly.

Not clenched like before.

Just resting.

Aarav exhaled slowly.

Weirdly, he felt something shift inside him again.

Not heavy this time.

Just... soft.

Like his life had quietly added something he didn't know he needed.

-

Aarav's phone buzzed again.

He looked at it.

Another message.

"Last warning bro, coming or not?"

He stared at it for a second.

Then replied:

"Not coming tonight."

This time, no hesitation.

No explanation.

Just certainty.

He placed the phone face down.

And leaned back again.

Careful.

Still.

Because on his shoulder-

someone had finally stopped being afraid for a few minutes.

And for some reason-

that mattered more than anything outside this house.

Night had fully settled over the Kohli house now.

Not the peaceful kind.

The guarded kind.

The house was dimmer than usual, lights lowered in most rooms, like even electricity was respecting the weight of everything that had happened.

Anaira was still asleep on the couch in the living room.

Aarav hadn't moved from his place beside her.

He sat slightly stiff at first, but over time his body had relaxed into stillness. Her head was still resting on his shoulder, her small hand loosely gripping his sleeve now instead of the rabbit.

Like her body had decided he was safe enough to not let go of completely.

Aarav glanced down once.

Still asleep.

Still there.

He didn't know when exactly this had become normal.

But it had.

Footsteps echoed softly from the staircase.

Virat came down slowly.

No suit jacket now.

Just a plain black t-shirt, sleeves slightly rolled, phone in hand.

His expression softened the moment his eyes landed on the couch.

Aarav looked up at him immediately.

"Still asleep," Aarav whispered.

Virat nodded once.

Then his gaze shifted slightly.

Noticing the position.

The way Anaira was leaning into Aarav without fear.

Something subtle passed through his expression.

Approval.

But he didn't say it.

Instead, he walked toward the other side of the house quietly.

Anushka was upstairs.

The house was quiet enough that even small movements felt loud.

Virat paused near the hallway for a second.

Then turned toward the bedroom.

-

Inside the dim room upstairs, Anushka was sitting on the bed adjusting the blanket when Virat entered.

She looked up.

"She's still asleep?" she asked softly.

Virat nodded.

A pause.

Then- "Aarav is with her."

Anushka smiled faintly.

"That's good."

Virat didn't respond immediately.

He just stood there for a moment.

Then his voice lowered slightly.

"She trusts him."

Anushka looked at him.

"That's rare for her."

Virat nodded again.

He knew.

He understood that kind of trust didn't come easily from a child like Anaira.

It had to be earned.

Quietly.

Without forcing it.

-

A small movement interrupted the silence.

From the hallway.

Soft footsteps.

Sleepy ones.

A small voice followed.

"Papa..."

Virat turned instantly.

Anaira stood there.

Barefoot.

Hair slightly messy.

Holding her rabbit tightly.

Her eyes were half-closed with sleep.

Anushka immediately stood up.

"Hey baby," she whispered.

But Anaira wasn't fully awake.

She just walked forward slowly.

Straight toward Virat.

And before either of them could react properly-

she raised her arms slightly.

Virat didn't hesitate.

He crouched down and lifted her immediately into his arms.

Instant.

Natural.

Like she belonged there without question.

Anaira buried her face into his shoulder instantly.

No fear.

No hesitation.

Just exhaustion.

"Bad dream?" Anushka asked softly.

Anaira nodded faintly against him.

Virat gently adjusted her.

"Shh," he murmured. "It's okay."

He looked at Anushka briefly.

Then carried her toward their room without saying anything else.

-

Inside the bedroom, he placed her carefully on the bed.

But Anaira immediately held onto his hand.

Not letting go.

Virat paused.

Then sat beside her instead.

She curled slightly into the blanket.

Still holding his fingers.

Anushka sat on the other side.

"Do you want water?" she asked softly.

Anaira shook her head slightly.

Then, very quietly- "Don't go."

Virat looked at her.

Something in his expression softened further.

"I'm here," he said calmly.

Anaira slowly relaxed.

And within minutes, she drifted back to sleep again.

Still holding onto his hand.

Anushka watched quietly.

Then whispered, "She's starting to feel safe."

Virat didn't answer immediately.

He just looked at Anaira sleeping between them.

Then said quietly-

"We'll make sure she stays that way."

-

Later that night.

The house was fully silent now.

Aarav had finally moved Anaira carefully to the couch properly, making sure she was covered with a light blanket.

She didn't wake.

Just shifted slightly and stayed asleep.

Aarav stood there for a moment longer before walking upstairs slowly.

His mind still felt strangely quiet.

Not empty.

Just... different.

-

In the bedroom, Virat sat at his desk.

Phone in hand.

Anushka watched him.

"You're posting?" she asked softly.

Virat nodded once.

"Yes."

Anushka understood immediately.

He wasn't emotional about social media.

He was strategic.

Controlled.

Every post had purpose.

And this one wasn't for attention.

It was for boundary.

Virat opened Instagram.

Typed slowly.

No dramatic caption.

No emotional explanation.

Just clarity.

His post went live.

A black blank image.

No photo.

No face.

Just pure black screen.

Caption:

"Please respect her privacy.

She is my child. Legally, emotionally, and in every way that matters.

She is a Kohli.

Do not circulate her images or attempt to identify her.

She deserves peace."

- Virat Kohli

No hashtags.

No engagement bait.

No softness.

Just finality.

Anushka read it quietly.

Then looked at him.

"That will shut everything down," she said softly.

Virat locked his phone.

"It needs to."

A pause.

Then he added calmly-

"I won't negotiate on her privacy."

Anushka nodded.

She already knew that tone.

It wasn't negotiable.

It was law.

-

Downstairs, Aarav's phone buzzed.

He opened it lazily.

Then froze slightly.

Because everyone was already talking.

Group chats exploding.

"BRO VIRAT KOHLI JUST POSTED???"

"It's about that girl??"

"Who is she??"

"Legal child?? what??"

Aarav stared at the screen for a second.

Then glanced toward the living room.

Where Anaira was still asleep.

Small.

Unaware of the storm she had already triggered outside.

He locked his phone slowly.

And for the first time that night-

he didn't feel like joining the conversation at all.