The alarm rang.

Kiara groaned softly, her hand moving out from under the blanket to shut it off before it could ring again. She sank back into the pillow for a second, eyes still closed, before forcing herself up.

6:30 a.m.

She turned slightly, Aarav was still asleep.

Completely unaffected by the sound of the alarm.

Her brows drew together. “Unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath.

Kiara got out of bed, grabbing her clothes and heading straight to the bathroom.

By the time she stepped out, dressed and ready, the room was still quiet. Aarav hadn’t moved. She checked the time.

7:30 a.m.

Right on cue his alarm went off. Kiara paused for a second, watching him. He didn’t wake immediately. Of course he didn’t. The alarm rang again. And again.

Then he finally stirred, his expression tightening as he reached for the phone and shut it off, clearly irritated.

“What time is it…” he muttered, sitting up slightly.

“Late,” Kiara replied coolly, picking up her bag.

He looked at her, then at the clock. His expression shifted instantly.

“Great.”

“You’re welcome,” she said.

“I didn’t ask for commentary.”

“You got it anyway.”

He exhaled sharply, already getting out of bed and heading toward the bathroom.

Downstairs, the house felt… different.

Kiara slowed as she reached the last step, her gaze scanning the space instinctively.

She stepped in fully, her eyes searching for her family. But they weren't there.

Anika looked up from the couch, already dressed, coffee in hand.

“They left early,” she said before Kiara could ask.

Kiara frowned slightly. “Left?”

“Got a call in the morning,” Anika added. “Someone called and said that they were goin to visit in an hour. And they didn't want to disturb you two so they left.”

Kiara processed that for a second. Then nodded once.

She didn’t say anything more, just moved toward the table, pouring herself a glass of water.

Aarav walked in a twenty minutes later, adjusting his watch, his expression composed but clearly rushed. Their eyes met briefly.

“You’re still here,” he said.

She raised an eyebrow. “Should I not be?”

“I thought you’d leave early too.”

“I don’t run from responsibility.”

“Neither do I.”

She tilted her head slightly. “Debatable. You were sleeping through alarms.”

“I woke up.”

“Very late.”

He gave her a look and continued eating.

………..

Outside, the cars were already waiting.

Kiara walked toward hers, her heels steady against the ground.

Aarav moved toward his at the same time.

Just as she reached for the door—

“Kiara.”

She paused. Turned slightly.

“Yes?”

“Try not to start a fight with you employees.”

Her expression didn’t change.

“I don't fight with employees, I fight only with you.”

He gave the smallest nod, his expression unreadable.

She got into her car. He got into his. Engines started.

….

Kiara’s office buzzed the moment she stepped in.

Fabric swatches. Sketch boards. Mood walls. Conversations layered over each other.

“Good morning, ma’am,” her assistant said, rushing to keep up.

“Show me the final edits for the summer line,” Kiara replied without slowing down.

“They’re in the design room.”

She pushed the glass door open.

Inside, her team was already gathered around a display—models of garments lined neatly, each piece pinned, adjusted, reworked.

Kiara’s eyes moved quickly.

Analyzing.

Observing.

She walked straight to the first piece—a pastel lehenga with intricate threadwork.

Her fingers brushed the fabric lightly.

“This embroidery is off,” she said calmly.

The room stilled.

The lead designer stepped forward. “We followed the original sketch—”

“No,” Kiara cut in, her gaze sharp. “The density is wrong. It loses depth under light.”

A pause.

Then—

“Redo it,” she said. “I want dimension. Not flat work.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She moved to the next.

A gown. Her eyes lingered for a second longer.

“This works,” she said simply.

A quiet relief passed through the room.

“Finalize this one.”

Across the city Aarav walked into his own design floor.

His space was different.

Darker tones. Bolder pieces. More experimental layouts.

“Sir,” his head designer approached. “We’ve prepared the new couture concepts.”

“Show me.”

They moved toward the display.

The first design—

Sharp cuts. Metallic accents. Aarav studied it silently.

“The structure holds,” he said. “But the finish is predictable.”

The designer hesitated. “We thought—”

“I don’t want safe,” Aarav replied calmly. “I want impact.”

A pause.

“Rework the silhouette.”

“Yes, sir.”

He moved to the next. A deep-toned sherwani.

“This stays.”

Back in Kiara’s office she stood in front of a mirror as a sample outfit was adjusted on a mannequin beside her.

“Shift the waistline slightly higher,” she instructed. “It’ll elongate the frame.”

The stylist nodded quickly.

“And change the fabric fall,” she added. “It needs movement.”

Her assistant stepped in. “The client review is in thirty minutes.”

Kiara didn’t look away from the design.

“I’ll be ready.”

Hours passed. Sketches refined. Designs approved. Details corrected.

By evening Kiara leaned back slightly, flipping through the finalized collection sheets.

Not impressed but satisfied.

Across the city Aarav stood with his team, reviewing the final lineup.

“Send these for sampling,” he said.

“And the rest?”

“Scrap them.” he said with zero hesitation.

By the time they got home, it was late enough for the house to have quieted. Dinner had already been laid out.

Kiara entered first, slipping into her seat with a small nod to the elders. Aarav followed a moment later, just as composed, just as unreadable.

Dinner passed with the usual rhythm—questions about the day, small discussions about work, occasional comments that didn’t require full attention. Kiara answered when needed,  Aarav did the same, his responses short but enough. At one point, their eyes met across the table. Then both looked away like it hadn’t happened.

After dinner, while the others began to disperse, Kiara stayed back.

She moved toward the seating area where Aarav’s parents and elders were still seated, mid-conversation.

“Dada,” she said, her tone respectful but steady. “I wanted to give you a quick update on the collaboration.”

That caught their attention immediately.

Kiara stood straight, explaining clearly, progress, timelines, adjustments, everything laid out without unnecessary detail. There was a confidence in the way she spoke, something that didn’t shift depending on who she was addressing.

“And if the projections hold,” she finished, “we should be able to move into the next phase without delays.”

A small pause followed.

“That’s impressive,” his father said.

His uncle nodded slightly. “You’ve handled it well.”

Kiara gave a small nod. “Thank you.”

A while later, Kiara stepped into the living room. The atmosphere there was completely different.

Kabir was sprawled across one side of the couch like he had no responsibilities in life. Rohan sat beside him, scrolling through something on his phone, while Anika leaned back comfortably, her attention shifting between the two. And Aarav sat on the opposite couch working.

Kiara walked in and sat down without hesitation.

“What did I miss?” she asked.

“Nothing important,” Kabir said immediately. “Just Rohan embarrassing himself.”

“I did not—”

“You did.”

Anika smirked slightly. “He absolutely did.”

Kiara leaned back, folding her arms. “ Continue.”

Rohan looked at her. “You’re enjoying this too much.”

“I haven’t even heard the story yet.”

“Exactly.”

A quiet laugh slipped from her before she could stop it.

“Did the supplier confirm the revised numbers?” Aarav asked suddenly.

The conversation paused. Kiara looked at him.

“Yes,” she replied. “This afternoon.”

A small nod.

Then silence again.

A few minutes later—

“What about the new designs?” he asked, this time looking at Kabir.

Kabir groaned. “We’re off work bhai!!.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“They are under review.”

“Still?”

“It takes time.”

“It shouldn’t.”

Kabir glared at him. “You’re annoying.”

Aarav didn’t respond. But there was a faint shift in his expression that almost looked like amusement.

The conversation resumed, lighter this time, though every now and then Aarav would drop in another question. It had been almost an hour when the elders walked in.

Aarav’s mother looked at the four of them for a moment before speaking.

“There’s something we need to discuss.”

That was enough to get their full attention.

His grandmother continued, calm but firm. “In four days, both of you will be moving to the penthouse.”

Silence.

Kiara blinked. “Moving?”

“Yes,” his uncle said. “It’s already prepared.”

Aarav's gaze shifted toward them. “That wasn’t discussed.”

“It is now,” his grandfather replied evenly.

Then his aunt added, a little more gently, “You’ve had the wedding. The reception. Everything else. It’s time you both start living… independently.”

Kabir leaned forward slightly, interested now. Anika’s brows lifted just a fraction. Rohan didn’t even pretend to look surprised.

Aarav glanced at Kiara, she looked back. Same thoughts. Different reactions.

“You’re sending us away?” he asked, his tone controlled but direct.

“Not sending,” his father corrected. “Giving you space.”

“For what?” Kiara asked.

This time, there was a small smile.

“For your relationship.”

A brief silence followed.

“It’s already decided,” his grandmother added. “The arrangements are done.”

Kiara leaned back slightly, processing. Aarav exhaled once.

Kabir broke the silence first. “This is interesting.”

Anika elbowed him lightly. “Don’t.”

“I’m just saying—”

“Don’t.”

Rohan looked between them. “Four days isn’t much time.”

“It’s enough,” Kiara said.

Aarav glanced at her.

“Is it?” he asked.

Their eyes met, not arguing but not agreeing either, just acknowledging a challenge neither of them had asked for and neither of them could refuse.