Next Morning
The next morning, Anaya woke to the sound of movement. She blinked groggily, realizing that Rudra was already up and dressed, adjusting his cufflinks in front of the mirror. The light filtering in through the heavy curtains gave the room a muted glow, and for a moment, everything felt surreal.
She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes as she tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Morning," she mumbled, her voice thick with grogginess.
Rudra glanced at her through the mirror, his expression unreadable. "Morning," he replied, his tone neutral.
Anaya watched him for a moment, feeling that same sense of distance between them that had been present the night before. She knew it was too early to expect any real change, but a part of her had hoped that things might feel a little different in the light of day.
Rudra picked up his briefcase and made his way toward the door. "I'll be at the office all day," he said, his voice businesslike. "You can do as you please."
Anaya nodded, though she wasn't sure what that meant. She was still getting used to her new life, still trying to figure out what her role was supposed to be in all of this. "Okay," she said quietly, feeling a bit lost.
Rudra paused at the door, his hand resting on the handle. He looked back at her, his expression softening just a fraction. "If you need anything, Ravi will be here," he said.
Anaya smiled weakly, appreciating the gesture, even if it felt like a small consolation. "Thank you."
With that, Rudra left, the door clicking shut behind him. Anaya sat there for a long moment, staring at the empty space where he had stood. The room felt even larger, more imposing, without him in it.
She let out a soft sigh and got out of bed, deciding to make the most of the day. Maybe she would go downstairs and join the family for breakfast, or maybe she would explore the house a little more. Anything to avoid the stifling silence that seemed to cling to her whenever she was alone in this room.
But as she moved about the room, getting ready for the day, her mind kept drifting back to Rudra—his cold demeanor, his preference for solitude, and the way he had looked at her last night when she had tried to reach him.
Maybe, she thought to herself, *maybe it'll take time.* But a part of her wondered if time was enough to break through the walls he had built so high around himself.
With one last glance at the room, Anaya stepped out into the hallway, determined to find her place in this new life, even if it meant doing it without Rudra's help.
### Chapter 24: Morning Encounters
It was early, and the first rays of sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the Singhaniya mansion, casting soft, golden light onto the grand staircase. Anaya descended from the third floor, her footsteps light but hesitant. Her mind was still clouded with thoughts of the night before—her awkward exchange with Rudra, the cold distance between them that seemed to grow larger with every passing minute.
As she reached the second-floor landing, she saw Aarav and Ria at the top of the staircase, caught in the middle of one of their typical sibling squabbles. Ria, with her arms crossed, was leaning toward her brother, her tone sharp but playful. Aarav, taller and just as stubborn, was standing there with a look of exasperation, trying to fend off her persistent requests.
"Good morning," Anaya said softly as she approached them, but neither seemed to notice her at first, too caught up in their back-and-forth.
"Come on, Aarav!" Ria insisted, her voice a mix of pleading and annoyance. "Just drop me at college today. I have paperwork to submit, and I'm running late already!"
Aarav groaned dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ria, I told you I'm busy today. I've got a meeting to prep for, and I can't be your chauffeur every time you have some urgent 'crisis' at college."
Ria rolled her eyes, clearly used to this argument. "It's not just some crisis, Aarav! This is important. I need to get this done before class starts, or I'm going to be in trouble. Please, just this once?"
Aarav shook his head, turning to walk down the stairs. "You say that every time. Just take the driver or call someone else. I can't help you this morning."
It was only then that Aarav noticed Anaya standing there, watching them with a faint smile. He raised an eyebrow, the sibling banter between him and Ria pausing for a moment. "Morning, Anaya," he said, offering her a nod.
Ria turned around as well, realizing Anaya was there. Her face brightened immediately. "Oh, Anaya! Good morning! You're up early," she said, though her tone still carried the remnants of her argument with Aarav.
"Good morning," Anaya replied, smiling at the two. "I thought I'd join the family for breakfast today."
"That's great!" Ria chirped, momentarily distracted from her battle with Aarav. "I was just trying to get *this* stubborn brother of mine to drop me at college, but he's being impossible, as usual."
Aarav shrugged, walking down the stairs at a leisurely pace. "Like I said, Ria, I'm busy today. You're going to have to figure it out on your own."
Ria groaned in frustration, following after him. "You're *always* busy! You have time to take me if you really want to, Aarav."
Anaya watched the interaction with amusement, finding it refreshing to see the normal sibling bickering after the cold, controlled atmosphere of her morning with Rudra. The lightheartedness between Ria and Aarav was a reminder of what family life could be—warm, noisy, and full of affection, even if it came out as playful arguments.
"Maybe I could help," Anaya offered hesitantly, though she wasn't entirely sure what she could do. She still felt like an outsider in this family, unsure of her place or role.
Ria waved her off with a smile. "Oh, don't worry about it, Anaya. I'll figure something out. I just need to get to college on time today. Ugh, why is it so hard to get my own twin to help me out?" She shot a mock glare at Aarav, who was now grinning at her.
"Maybe because you're always so dramatic about everything," Aarav teased. He reached the bottom of the stairs and gave Ria a sideways glance. "Anyway, I'll be heading out soon, so don't wait up for me."
Ria pouted but didn't seem too upset. "Fine, fine. I'll manage. But just remember, next time you need help, I'm going to remind you of this moment."
Aarav chuckled. "Sure, like I haven't heard that before."
As they reached the ground floor, the atmosphere lightened, and Anaya couldn't help but feel a bit more relaxed in their company. The warmth of the family dynamic between Ria and Aarav was comforting, even though she wasn't directly involved in their banter.
The three of them walked together toward the dining room, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm breakfast filled the air. Komal, Rakhi, and Misha were already seated, chatting lightly as they waited for everyone to arrive.
"Morning, everyone," Aarav greeted as he took his seat at the table.
Ria dropped into the chair beside him with a huff, still mildly annoyed at her brother. "Morning," she mumbled, though her irritation was fading quickly.
Anaya quietly slipped into her seat, glancing around the table. It felt good to be with the family, even though her mind kept drifting back to Rudra, alone upstairs, isolating himself from this warmth and togetherness.
Komal noticed Anaya's pensive look and offered her a kind smile. "Good morning, Anaya. It's lovely to see you with us this morning."
Anaya returned the smile, though it was a little strained. "Good morning, Grandma. I thought I'd join everyone for breakfast today."
Rakhi, who was sitting across from them, nodded approvingly. "It's good to have you here, Anaya. Breakfast with the family is a tradition we've always kept, and we'd love for you to be part of it."
Misha, seated next to Rakhi, chimed in. "Yeah, and you'll get used to the noise soon enough. Especially with these two," she said with a playful smirk, nodding toward Ria and Aarav.
Ria rolled her eyes. "We're not that bad," she defended, though there was a grin tugging at her lips.
Aarav shrugged, clearly enjoying the teasing. "Speak for yourself. I'm the sensible one."
"Yeah, right," Ria shot back with a snort. "You're the *boring* one."
Anaya couldn't help but smile at the playful exchange. It was moments like these that made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she could find her place in this family. The warmth, the lightheartedness—it was everything she had always wanted in a family but never had growing up in the orphanage.
But as the conversation continued around her, Anaya couldn't shake the lingering thought of Rudra, still upstairs, detached and alone in his own world. She wondered what it would take for him to be a part of this—to let go of the barriers he had built around himself and join in the simple joy of a family breakfast.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Komal turned to her again. "How did you sleep last night, Anaya? I know it's still an adjustment, but I hope you're getting comfortable."
Anaya hesitated for a moment, not sure how much to reveal. "I slept well, thank you," she said, keeping her answer short. She didn't want to mention the awkward tension between her and Rudra, not when everyone seemed so cheerful this morning.
Komal gave her a knowing look, as if she sensed there was more to the story but chose not to press. Instead, she smiled warmly. "That's good to hear. You're a part of this family now, Anaya, and we're all here for you."
Anaya nodded, feeling a small surge of gratitude. The Singhaniya family had been nothing but welcoming to her, and for that, she was grateful. But she couldn't ignore the growing sense of isolation when it came to Rudra.
Breakfast continued with the usual family banter, laughter, and stories, but Anaya remained quiet, her mind drifting back to the third floor where Rudra sat alone, likely working or eating his breakfast in solitude. She wanted to reach out to him, to break through the wall of silence that seemed to divide them, but she wasn't sure how.
As the family finished breakfast, Aarav stood up, ready to head out for his day. "Well, I'm off. See you all later," he said, giving a quick wave.
Ria groaned, still annoyed that Aarav hadn't agreed to drop her off at college, but she didn't dwell on it for too long. "Fine, I'll find my own way," she muttered before turning to Anaya with a smile. "Want to join me on a little adventure to campus? It'll be more fun with company."
Anaya smiled back, grateful for the offer. "Sure, why not?"
As the two of them prepared to leave, the lingering thought of Rudra weighed on Anaya's mind. But for now, she decided to focus on the present, to enjoy the warmth and companionship that Ria offered. Maybe, in time, she'd figure out how to navigate the shadows of her new life with Rudra.
For now, she was content to take things one step at a time.
##To be continue....**