"From Stadium Lights to Starlit Nights"

Chapter 38: Moonlit Whispers

The night after the long drive, the house had finally quieted down. Vignesh's parents were asleep, and Aishwarya had curled up with a book in her room.

Niyati stood alone on the terrace, the soft breeze lifting her hair, the city lights below twinkling like scattered stars. The faint scent of jasmine from the garden mixed with the saltiness of the distant sea.

She held her phone, almost dialing, almost calling... but then the wooden door creaked behind her.

"Couldn't sleep?" Vignesh's voice was low, carrying the warmth of a thousand yesterdays.

She shook her head.
"Too many thoughts."

He came up beside her, slipping his hand into hers, their fingers locking instinctively.
"Tell me."

For a moment, she stayed silent — then spoke, eyes on the glowing city.
"I still remember the day we first met in Cape Town. I didn't know who you were, you didn't know who I was... and now we're here. Your family calls me Lakshmi. Your mother hands me keys. Your sister calls me akka."

She turned to him, eyes glinting with unshed tears.
"It's overwhelming, Vignesh. In the best way."

He cupped her face gently.
"You didn't just walk into my life, Niyati... you healed it. I didn't know how incomplete I was, till you showed up with your camera, your crazy travel stories, your silly Marathi words I don't even understand... but I love hearing them."

She laughed softly, leaning into his touch.
"And you — you taught me home isn't a place. It's a person. I don't care if it's Mumbai, Madras, or some stadium miles away... as long as you're there."

He took a deep breath, pulling her into his arms, holding her there against his heartbeat.
"Promise me we'll always have this. Even when the world gets loud, when schedules get insane... we find our way back to these quiet moments."

"I promise." Her voice was muffled against his chest.

They stayed like that for a long time, under the glow of the half-moon, city lights flickering below.

Then he whispered, playful now,
"Also... you better get used to filter coffee at 6 AM and cricket talk at midnight."

"Deal." she smiled, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

The world could wait. For now, it was just them — hearts entwined, futures untold, and a love story whispered between starlight and jasmine-scented nights.