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Hello, my beautiful and handsome Tulips! 🌷🤍

How are you all doing?

Before we begin, if you're enjoying this story, please don't forget to vote, comment, follow, and share it with your friends. It truly means a lot to me and motivates me to keep writing. 🤍

Today's chapter is a little quieter...

But sometimes, the quieter chapters hold the memories that matter the most. 🌸

So, let's take a small step back... and discover a little more about Aira's bond with someone you already know. 👀🤍

Happy Reading! 🌷✨

The examination centre had begun to grow quieter.

One by one, students were walking out through the large gates, some discussing the paper among themselves while others simply looked relieved that the final exam was finally over.

Outside...

Meera stood beside the car with her parents.

Her eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

She had been waiting for only a few minutes.

Yet every few seconds...

she found herself looking toward the gate again.

Then...

she saw her.

Aira.

The moment the little girl stepped outside, her eyes immediately searched the crowd.

And the second she spotted Meera...

her entire expression changed.

The quietness in her face gave way to something much brighter.

Her eyes sparkled.

A small smile appeared.

And for once...

she didn't even try to hide it.

Meera's own smile widened.

"There she is."

Aira adjusted the strap of her bag and walked toward them.

Her Nani immediately opened her arms.

"Come here, beta."

Aira stepped closer.

Her grandmother gently touched her cheek.

"Ho gaya?"

(Is it over?)

Aira nodded.

Then Meera leaned slightly toward her.

"Angel..."

She paused.

"How was your exam?"

Aira's eyes brightened again.

She lifted her hands.

It was really good.

Meera's eyebrows rose.

"Really?"

Aira nodded enthusiastically.

Then she signed again.

I think I did very well.

Her Nanu chuckled.

"That's the confidence I wanted to see."

Aira lowered her eyes with a shy smile.

Meera gently squeezed her shoulder.

"I knew you would."

There was no need for a long celebration.

They could see the answer on her face.

Their Angel was happy.

And that was enough.

Her Nani glanced toward the car.

"Chalo, ab ghar?"

(Come on, shall we go home now?)

Aira nodded.

She had barely taken a step when Meera suddenly remembered something.

"Wait."

Aira looked at her.

Meera smiled.

"We have one more little person to collect."

Aira's eyes widened slightly.

Mishti.

The name didn't even need to be spoken.

A tiny smile immediately appeared on her face.

They stopped at their relatives house on the way home.

Mishti had been staying there while Aira's examinations were going on.

The moment the door opened...

a tiny white blur came racing across the floor.

"Mew!"

Aira's face lit up.

"Mishti..."

The kitten reached her within seconds.

Aira immediately crouched down.

Mishti climbed straight into her arms and began purring as though she had been waiting all morning for exactly this moment.

Meera laughed.

"Someone seems very happy."

"Mew!"

(Mishti's translation: "Of course. My person is finally back.")

Aira hugged her carefully.

Her shoulders trembled with a silent laugh.

Her aunt smiled.

"She has been looking toward the door every few minutes."

Aira looked down at Mishti.

The kitten responded by rubbing her tiny head beneath Aira's chin.

"Mrrp..."

(Mishti's translation: "I had important waiting duties.")

Everyone laughed softly.

After a few more minutes, they talk for sometimeand said goodbye.

Mishti remained comfortably curled in Aira's arms as they left.

By the time they reached home...

the afternoon had already begun fading toward evening.

Everyone changed into comfortable clothes.

Aira freshen up before returning to the living room.

Mishti followed her like a tiny shadow.

The kitten jumped onto the sofa and immediately claimed the space beside Aira.

Meera was already sitting with her parents.

Aira settled down quietly.

For a few moments...

there was only the soft sound of the television playing in the background.

Then Aira looked toward Meera.

Her hands moved.

What happened today?

Meera understood immediately.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Everything went well."

Aira waited.

Meera glanced briefly at her parents.

Then back at Aira.

"The families agreed."

Aira's fingers paused.

"And..."

Meera smiled.

"The wedding will be next week."

Aira already knew there was a wedding being discussed.

She had known something important was happening.

But hearing the words aloud...

made everything suddenly feel much closer.

Her eyes lowered.

She signed slowly.

So soon?

Meera nodded.

"Yes."

"Very soon."

Her Nani smiled warmly.

"You are going to have a very big family now."

Aira remained quiet.

Her fingers rested together in her lap.

Then, after a moment...

she raised them again.

Will they like me?

The question changed the atmosphere immediately.

Meera's expression softened.

She moved closer.

"Angel..."

She gently took Aira's hands.

"Why wouldn't they?"

Aira looked at her.

Meera smiled.

"Vikram ji already knows you."

"And his family will get to know you too."

"You don't have to impress anyone."

"You don't have to change anything about yourself."

Aira listened.

Meera gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.

"They'll see what I see."

"My kind-hearted Angel."

A tiny smile appeared on Aira's lips.

Meera continued.

"And trust me..."

"Vikram will make sure you're comfortable."

That name stayed with Aira.

Vikram.

Her expression softened.

Because he was already someone she trusted.

Not as much as Meera.

Not in exactly the same way.

But enough.

Enough that his presence never frightened her.

Enough that she could sit beside him without feeling the need to hide.

Enough that, somewhere along the way...

he had become part of the very small circle of people she trusted completely.

Meera.

Nanu.

Nani.

Riya.

Shona.

Kamla Kaki.

Mishti.

And Vikram.

Aira looked toward the window.

And suddenly...

she remembered the first time she had met him.

Three years earlier.

Three years ago...

I didn't know that one ordinary afternoon would become the beginning of a friendship I would slowly learn to trust.

At that time...

I didn't know Uncle Vikram.

I didn't know he was the King of Jaipur.

I didn't know why people seemed to become a little more careful whenever his name was mentioned.

I only knew that Maiya had told me she wanted me to meet someone.

Someone important.

That was enough to make my fingers tighten around hers.

The restaurant was beautiful.

It belonged to the Deora family, although I didn't know that then.

That afternoon, it was strangely quiet.

There were no other guests.

No loud conversations.

No unfamiliar people moving around.

Only a few members of the staff remained nearby.

Later, I would learn that Uncle Vikram had reserved the entire restaurant for the afternoon.

At that moment...

I didn't care about any of that.

I only cared about staying close to Maiya.

The moment we stepped inside, I moved closer to her.

Then a little closer.

And finally...

I slipped behind her.

Only my eyes appeared from beside her.

Maiya looked down.

She didn't laugh.

She never laughed when I did that.

Instead, she gently squeezed my hand.

"Angel..."

Her voice was soft.

"You don't have to be scared."

I didn't answer.

I simply looked past her.

That's when I saw him.

Uncle Vikram was standing near one of the large windows.

He was tall.

Quiet.

Dressed neatly.

His expression was serious.

Not angry.

Not frightening.

Just serious.

The kind of serious that made it very obvious he was someone people listened to.

His eyes moved toward us.

And then...

toward me.

I immediately disappeared behind Maiya again.

I thought he might come closer.

He didn't.

Instead, he remained exactly where he was.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then he smiled.

Just a little.

And slowly...

he lowered himself onto one knee.

I peeked out again.

Why had he done that?

He was a grown-up.

He could have simply stood there and asked me to come closer.

But he didn't.

He had lowered himself instead.

So I could see him without having to look up.

I watched him carefully.

He didn't hold out his hand.

Didn't ask me to speak.

Didn't ask Maiya why I was hiding.

He simply waited.

Then he reached into his pocket.

And took out a chocolate.

My eyes moved to it immediately.

I tried not to look.

I really did.

But chocolates had a way of making that difficult.

Maiya noticed.

A tiny smile touched her face.

Uncle Vikram noticed too.

Of course he did.

He held the chocolate out toward me.

"Come on."

His voice was calm.

"No hurry."

I looked at the chocolate.

Then at him.

Then at Maiya.

She gave me a small nod.

It was okay.

I slowly stepped out.

One step.

Then another.

He didn't move.

He waited until I reached him.

I took the chocolate carefully.

Then immediately signed,

Thank you.

His eyes followed my hands.

He understood.

"You're welcome."

That was all.

No questions.

No demands.

No expectation that I should suddenly become comfortable.

Somehow...

that made it easier.

I looked at him again.

He was still watching me.

Not in a way that made me uncomfortable.

More like he was trying to understand me without asking me to explain myself.

I tilted my head.

Then signed,

Why are you looking at me?

For a moment, he seemed surprised.

Then he smiled.

"Because..."

His eyes moved briefly toward the place behind Maiya where I had been hiding.

"...you're a little Lado."

I blinked.

Lado?

I looked at him.

Then at Maiya.

She was already smiling.

I signed,

Why Lado?

He gave a quiet laugh.

"Because you're small..."

He paused.

"...quiet..."

Then his eyes softened.

"...and you seem to think hiding behind Meera is a very good idea."

My eyes widened.

I looked at Maiya.

She laughed softly.

I gave her a tiny offended look.

She only smiled more.

I looked back at Uncle Vikram.

For the first time...

I smiled too.

That was how the name began.

Lado.

I didn't know then that he would keep calling me that.

I didn't know that the nickname would follow me through the years.

At that moment...

it was simply a strange little name given to me by a man I had met only a few minutes earlier.

Nothing more.

A little later, I began noticing something.

Whenever someone from the staff came near him, their behavior changed.

They spoke respectfully.

They waited for him to finish before speaking.

They seemed careful about their words.

I looked at Maiya.

Then at him.

Then back at Maiya.

I signed,

Who is he?

Maiya smiled.

"He's Vikram ji."

I waited.

That wasn't what I had meant.

I pointed toward him again.

Who is he?

This time, Maiya understood.

She smiled softly.

"He's the King of Jaipur."

I stared at her.

Then at him.

King?

I looked around the restaurant.

Then back at Uncle Vikram.

There was no crown.

No throne.

Nothing that looked like the kings from the stories I had heard.

My confusion must have been obvious.

Because Uncle Vikram noticed.

"What happened, Lado?"

I pointed at him.

Then signed,

King?

Maiya nodded.

I continued staring.

Uncle Vikram smiled.

"Yes."

"I'm the King of Jaipur."

I looked at him for another few seconds.

Then signed,

What does a king do?

He thought for a moment.

"A lot of things."

"Looking after people."

"Making difficult decisions."

"Taking responsibility."

Then his expression became slightly amused.

"And apparently answering questions from curious little girls."

I looked at him.

Then signed,

Me?

He nodded.

"Especially you."

I didn't know what to say to that.

So I looked down at my chocolate.

Then quietly smiled.

After that day...

I saw him again.

And again.

Never too often.

Never in a way that felt forced.

Whenever Maiya brought me to meet him, I would usually stay close to her at first.

Sometimes I sat beside her.

Sometimes I watched Uncle Vikram from a distance.

Sometimes I answered his questions through signs.

Sometimes I didn't feel like answering at all.

He never complained.

He never said I was being difficult.

He never asked why I couldn't simply behave like other children.

He just...

let me be.

And slowly...

I began approaching him myself.

The first time I sat beside him without waiting for Maiya to tell me it was okay, he didn't make a big deal out of it.

He simply continued talking.

That helped.

Because when people made a big deal out of something I had done...

I immediately wanted to take it back.

Uncle Vikram never did that.

Sometimes he brought chocolates.

Sometimes ice cream.

Sometimes nothing at all.

And somehow, the days when he brought nothing were just as normal.

He didn't need gifts to make me comfortable.

I simply started getting used to him.

His voice.

His quiet smile.

The way he noticed things without pointing them out.

The way he seemed to know when I wanted to talk...

and when I didn't.

I slowly began noticing that Uncle Vikram understood people very well.
He noticed little changes in their expressions, their voices, even the way they moved.

He noticed things most people missed.

With everyone else, that ability could make him intimidating.

With me...

he used it differently.

If I became quiet, he didn't immediately ask questions.

If I moved closer to Maiya, he gave me space.

If I smiled...

he smiled back.

That was enough.

I never thought of him as anything beyond Uncle Vikram.

I didn't need to.

Trust didn't arrive in one dramatic moment.

It came quietly.

Meeting after meeting.

Small kindness after small kindness.

Until one day...

I realized I wasn't hiding behind Maiya anymore.

I was simply standing beside her.

And eventually...

sometimes...

I would walk toward him first.

That was all.

No promises.

No big declarations.

Just a little more comfort than before.

And for me...

that was already a lot.

Even now...

three years later...

I could still remember that first afternoon.

The quiet restaurant.

Maiya's hand in mine.

The chocolate.

His patient smile.

And that strange little nickname.

Lado.

I opened my eyes slightly.

The memory faded around the edges.

I looked toward the darkness of the room.

Kanhaji...

I wonder if Uncle Vikram still remembers that day.

A tiny smile touched my lips.

He probably did.

Uncle Vikram remembered small things.

At least...

the things that mattered to him.

And I had slowly learned that sometimes...

someone could be kind to you without asking for anything in return.

I still didn't always understand why.

But with him...

I didn't have to.

For now...

Uncle Vikram was simply someone I trusted.

And that was enough.

The memory slowly faded.

Aira's eyes remained closed for a few moments longer.

The room was quiet.

Meera was still sleeping peacefully beside her.

Aira turned slightly toward her and settled back into the warmth of her mother's presence.

For tonight...

that was enough.

Almost a week passed quietly.

And before anyone realized it...

the day of the wedding had finally arrived.

At the Deora family's grand resort in Jaipur, preparations had already begun.

The enormous venue had been transformed for the occasion.

Flowers adorned the entrances.

Lights covered the grand halls.

Staff moved from one place to another, making the final arrangements.

Everything was ready.

The guests would soon begin arriving.

And after a week filled with preparations, conversations, and anticipation...

the wedding day had finally arrived.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

And that's the end of this chapter. 🌸

This chapter was a little different from the ones before it.

We got to see a small piece of Aira's past...

and finally saw how her bond with Vikram began. 🤍

Sometimes, trust isn't created through one big moment.

Sometimes...

it's built through tiny things.

A little patience.

A little kindness.

A little chocolate. 🍫🤍

And perhaps...

a very unexpected nickname. 👀

Now tell me...

🌷 How did you like Aira and Vikram's first meeting?

🌷 What did you think about the nickname Lado? 🤍

🌷 Did you expect Vikram to be this soft around Aira?

🌷 What was your favorite moment from Aira's flashback?

🌷 And finally...

Are you ready for the wedding? 👀✨

Because after all those preparations...

the wedding day has finally arrived.

As always...

please don't forget to vote, comment, follow, and share if you're enjoying the story. Your support truly means a lot to me and keeps me motivated to write more. 🤍🌷

Take care. Stay happy. Keep smiling. Love you all bohottt saaraaa! 🤍🥹

Bye-bye! 👋🏻

See you all in the next chapter. ✨🤍

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆

Radhe Krishna🌷**