Ruhanika's POV

They say home is where the heart is.
But what if your heart was broken in the very house you were supposed to feel safe in?

I woke up to the same ceiling I stare at every morning now-
The one in my flat here in Jaipur.
It's small, cozy, filled with warm fairy lights and cluttered dreams.
But it's mine.
It wasn't gifted by love, but by care.
By two people who saw me when the rest of the world looked away-
Vikram Bhaiya and Veer Bhaiya.

My cousins. But not by heart-
By heart, they're more than real brothers ever were.
This flat isn't luxurious.
But it's a safe space.
It smells like second chances and silent healing.

I'm in my last year of law school.
Yeah, a lawyer in the making.
Funny, right?
A girl who couldn't defend herself in her own family...
Now wants to defend others.

But that's how life goes.
It burns you. Then it rebuilds you.

So I didn't hide. Not anymore.

As I stood in front of the mirror brushing my slightly curled hair,
I caught a glimpse of the girl I used to be-
Soft. Naive. Desperate to be loved.
Now?
She's gone.
In her place stands someone who doesn't beg for love.
She walks away from where it's missing.

I picked up my phone, ready to ignore all notifications like I usually do.

But then-
it rang

I knew that name.
That name I had once saved with hearts and fire emojis.
Yuvraj❤️

The guy who was always there for me whenever i needed him never questioned me only stay by my side.

My Yuvi❤️

Author's POV

The phone kept buzzing on the glass-top table, and for a moment, Ruhanika thought of ignoring it.
But something about his name lighting up her screen made her heart skip... just like always.

With a deep breath and a hint of attitude, she finally picked it up.
Before she could say anything, that husky, all-too-familiar voice dropped in.

"Good morning, Butterfly."

A smirk crept up on her lips-there he goes again.

"Oh, look who finally got the time for me," she said, casually twisting a strand of her hair.
"Didn't it take you a while, Mr. Yuvraj Singhania?"

He chuckled, the kind that made her want to hate him but love him harder.
"Butterfly, I was just caught up with work... Nakul and Arjun had me buried under files since last night. I swear."

"Oh, I understand. Must be tough being a CEO and heartbreaker at the same time," she replied, voice dripping with that classic Ruhanika sarcasm.

"You wound me," he teased.
"Anyway... How sharadha di doing ?she asked

"Doing great," he replied, tone light.
"Now apparently searching for a groom."

Yuvraj paused, like he was about to drop something.

"Did she tell you she loves someone?"

Ruhanika scoffed softly.
"She? Confess? Please. Her savage replies can kill proposals at birth. She'll die single but sassy."

"True that," he laughed. "But not everyone's like you, Butterfly."

Before she could fire back, his voice turned just a little serious.
"Can we meet today? Coffee shop? It's Sunday, no? I'm dying to see you. Let's meet at our favourite spot."

There it was. That soft edge to his voice that melted her, no matter how much she pretended otherwise.

She tried not to sound too eager.

"Fine. I'll come. But I'll be late. I have some work."

"Doesn't matter," he said, his voice lower now.
"I'll always be waiting for you, my Butterfly."

And with that, she couldn't help it-
That soft smile appeared on her lips. The one she never gave anyone else.

"Okay... bye."

AUTHOR NOTE

I know this chapter was short but it is just a beginning so from chapter 2 you all getting long chapters ❤️

Thank you lovelies 💕