Rishabh’s POV
I went to see Ruhi in her office, and that’s when I saw Aayansh standing there.
He said he had come for work.
I nodded, listened but I didn’t believe him.
I know Aayansh very well. He doesn’t visit other companies like this. If there’s work, he calls people to his office, or meets them somewhere neutral. And this… this wasn’t the first time. It had quietly become his routine coming to Ruhi’s office almost every day.
He thinks I don’t notice.
But I do.
I always do.
After he left, I walked straight into Ruhi’s cabin.
She didn’t even realize I was there at first.
She was sitting at her desk, holding a bouquet of roses in her hands admiring them like they were something precious. Her fingers brushed over the petals gently, her lips curved into a soft smile, and there was a faint blush on her cheeks.
That smile.The one she doesn’t wear often.The one she doesn’t fake.
And I knew why she is behaving like this lately.
The way Aayansh shows up too often.
The way Ruhi’s mood has changed lately.
The quiet happiness she carries now.
I cleared my throat.
She looked up and panicked.
The bouquet slipped slightly in her grip as she stood up too quickly.
“Bhai” she started.
I raised my hand, stopping her.
I didn’t say anything.
I just looked at her.
At the roses.
At her flushed face.
At the truth she hadn’t said yet but didn’t need to.
And in that moment, I realized something important:
This wasn’t a phase.
This wasn’t a mistake.
This was love.
And whether I liked it or not,
the man standing at the center of my sister’s smile
was Aayansh.
They didn’t know this.
None of them knew that I had seen it long before anyone said a word.
I had noticed it from the very beginning the way Aayansh was around Ruhi. Every time he came to our house, his eyes would find her without fail, no matter how many people were in the room. At first, I dismissed it. Their first meeting hadn’t gone well. They had argued, clashed, annoyed each other. I assumed his attention came from irritation.
But irritation doesn’t look like that.
Slowly, I began to notice the changes.
The way his gaze softened whenever Ruhi was around. The way his jaw tightened when any boy stood too close to her, when someone talked to her a little too long, when Shrey was near her. I saw the concern behind his anger, the worry he tried and failed to hide.
And Ruhi… she wasn’t any different.
At first, she was clearly annoyed by him. Defensive. Guarded. But over time, that irritation faded into something quieter. Warmer. The way she looked at him when she thought no one was watching I had never seen her look at anyone like that before.
I knew then.She was in love long before she herself realized it.
But I am her brother.
And no matter how grown up she is, no matter how strong she has become, a part of me will always want to keep every boy far away from her. I know I can’t control her life. I don’t want to. But that fear still exists. what if it doesn’t work out? What if she gets hurt?
I know Aayansh.
He’s a good man. Honest. Principled. But he’s also like me reserved, emotionally guarded, anger always simmering just beneath the surface. Men like us don’t open up easily. And when we do, it’s dangerous because we feel deeply.
That scared me.
But all my doubts faded the day I spoke to him.
The way he talked about Ruhi…
The way his voice softened without him realizing it…
The way his eyes shone when he said her name…
That wasn’t infatuation.
That was love.
And in that moment, I understood something I hadn’t before
He wouldn’t protect Ruhi from pain.
He would stand with her through it.
And for the first time, I wasn’t just her brother standing in the way.
I was a brother learning to trust the man who held her heart.
Author’s POV
The Next Day
Ruhi was unusually happy that morning.
Even during breakfast, her smile refused to fade. The moment her eyes landed on Rishabh, she stood up, walked straight to him, and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Rishabh smiled, a soft, rare smile meant only for her, and gently ruffled her hair. Everyone at the table noticed and smiled knowingly.
Bade papa raised an eyebrow, amused.
“What’s this, Ruhi?” he asked. “Why are you so happy today?”
Before Ruhi could answer, Riya chimed in cheerfully,
“Someone finally got approval for her boyfriend.”
The table froze.
Bade papa, chachu, and Ruhi’s two other brothers looked confused, while the rest of the family exchanged knowing glances.
“Boyfriend?” chachu asked slowly. “What boyfriend?”
Parth abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
“Wait what?” he asked, staring at Ruhi. “You’re dating? You have a boyfriend?”
Ruhi looked at them, a little nervous but firm, and nodded.
“Yes.”
Chaos followed instantly.
Bade papa and chachu started questioning her at the same time
“Who is he?”
“When did this happen?”
“How long has this been going on?”
Before Ruhi could answer, Rahul slammed his hand on the table.
“I don’t care who he is,” he declared. “I’m going to beat him. How dare he flirt with my sister?”
“Okay,” Aditya said calmly, sipping his tea. “Go beat Aayansh.”
Silence.
Rahul blinked.
“A..Aayansh bhai?” he stammered. “The one we know? The guy who’s always angry and replies in one word? That Aayansh?”
“Yes,” Rishabh replied smoothly. “That Aayansh.”
Rahul immediately sat back down.
“Well… I’m not an idiot,” he muttered. “I’m not planning my own murder. I’ll let papa and chachu handle it.”
Bade papa turned toward Rishabh, eyes sharp.
“You knew about this?” he asked. “And you don’t have a problem with it?”
Rishabh met his gaze calmly.
“Yes, I knew,” he said. “And no, I don’t have a problem as long as Ruhi is happy and no one hurts her.”
He paused. “I’ve already spoken to him. He’s been warned.”
Chachi smiled, shaking her head fondly.
“Finally, our little Ruhi has a boyfriend,” she said. “I thought she’d stay single forever with so many protective brothers around.”
Parth looked around the table, stunned.
“So… all of you knew?”
Everyone gave him sheepish smiles.
Ruhi bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
And just like that, between teasing, mock threats, and silent approvals, Ruhi’s secret was no longer a secret.
It was family news now.
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