Morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, and soft golden beams kissed the edges of the pillow where Shaurya stirred, waking to the rhythmic chirping of birds and the faint smell of sandalwood lingering in the room.
As he turned to reach for his phone, his hand brushed against something unexpected-folded paper, slightly crinkled.
Curious, he sat up and unfolded it, his sharp eyes scanning the crooked handwriting.
His breath caught.
It was from Mehul.
A letter-written with effort, with innocent spelling errors, and yet the words... they hit him like nothing else ever had.
> "Main aapke saath hoon kyunki aapne mujhe sirf ek zimmedari nahi samjha... pehli baar kisi ne mujhe meri hi nazron mein kuch banaya hai... Shaurya ji, aap meri nayi duniya ho."
Shaurya sat still for a long moment, the paper trembling between his fingers. A strange tightness bloomed in his chest, unfamiliar but warm.
He folded the letter carefully, tucked it into his wallet, and stood up.
"Mehul?" he called, his voice softer than usual.
Mehul peeked in from the balcony, where he was standing barefoot, eyes wide at the morning skyline.
"Aap jaag gaye?" he asked, quickly padding toward the bed.
"Main-main bas-bahar dekh raha tha. Yeh sheher subah mein kitna sundar lagta hai..."
Shaurya just stared at him, chest still full, eyes lingering.
And then, without warning, he pulled Mehul into a quick, firm hug.
Mehul froze. "Shaurya ji?"
Shaurya didn't say anything.
He just whispered, "Thank you."
Later, after breakfast-Mehul sticking to his favourite milkshake and sandwich combo while Shaurya had coffee and toast-they sat in the living room. Shaurya had a rare free day, no meetings, no calls.
"Chalo, tumhe bahar le chalta hoon," he announced.
"Bahar?" Mehul blinked. "Kahaan?"
"Mumbai dikhata hoon," Shaurya smiled. "Tumhari nayi duniya."
Mehul looked nervous but excited, nodding quickly.
The drive through Mumbai was filled with awe on Mehul's side. His head turned constantly-gaping at the tall buildings, the endless traffic, the noise, the sheer energy of it all.
They stopped first at a quiet bookstore café.
Shaurya watched Mehul look around wide-eyed at the maze of books and neatly dressed people sipping coffee.
"Yeh jagah toh... bahut sundar hai" Mehul whispered.
Shaurya smiled, ordering them both hot chocolate and guiding him to a quiet table near the window.
For the first time, they talked-really talked.
Shaurya told him about his childhood, how he lost his parents at thirteen, how Rudra's family had taken care of him until he built his empire from scratch. Mehul listened, eyes brimming with admiration.
"Aapne... itna kuch kaise kiya?" Mehul asked softly.
Shaurya looked into his eyes. "Mujhe kisi se kuch prove karna tha. Aur ab... lagta hai sirf ek insaan se kuch chupana nahi hai."
Mehul's heart skipped a beat.
They visited a museum next.
Mehul marvelled at everything-from ancient statues to vintage cars-like a curious child, asking questions Shaurya patiently answered.
Some people stared at them-a sharply dressed CEO and a simple boy in a kurta-pajama-but Shaurya never looked away from Mehul.
By the time they sat at Marine Drive, sun dipping into the Arabian Sea, Mehul's head was leaning lightly on Shaurya's shoulder.
They didn't speak.
They didn't need to.
But not everything was peaceful.
At a corner café not far from where they sat, a camera clicked.
A man zoomed in on the duo-Shaurya's arm protectively around Mehul, both watching the waves.
"Interesting," the man murmured, sending the photo to an unknown number.
Within seconds, a reply came:
"Keep watching. I want to know everything about that boy."
Back at the penthouse, Mehul hummed to himself while helping the cook set the plates.
He'd insisted he wanted to learn more about the kitchen. Shaurya, amused and fond, let him.
But as Mehul placed the last plate, he felt something... odd.
A shiver.
Like someone was watching.
He turned-but there was nothing.
Just the quiet buzz of the city beyond the tall glass windows.
He smiled to himself and returned to work, unaware that far away, someone else was beginning to take an interest in him.
Someone who would test everything Shaurya had begun to feel.
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