Page 65 of Right Where I Belong
A moment later, Ahaan appeared in the living room, one hand resting on Maya’s head. He stopped abruptly when he saw Aditya. For a beat, curiosity lit his features, and then he smiled with the easy politeness Aditya remembered.
“Hello, Uncle,” the boy said, stepping forward and extending his hand.
Aditya took it, warmth spreading through his chest. He’d met Ahaan a few times before at Rithwik and Aisha’s house, and every time he’d been struck by the boy’s gentle manners and thequiet grace in the way he carried himself. Sabrina had done a great job in bringing him up.
Aditya reached into the bag by his side and pulled out a neatly wrapped package.
“This is for you,” he said, handing it to Ahaan.
The boy glanced at his mother first. Sabrina gave him a gentle nod, and only then did Ahaan accept it.
“Why don’t you open it?” Aditya encouraged.
Ahaan tore through the wrapping paper, and his eyes went wide. Nestled inside was a brand-new pair of roller blades. The boy’s jaw dropped, a sharp gasp escaping him.
“Oh wow!” His excitement was palpable. “I’ve wanted these for so long!”
Aditya smiled, happiness spreading through him at the boy’s joy. “I hope I got the right size.” He looked at Sabrina. “And I hope you haven’t already bought these for him.”
Sabrina’s smile was soft, her gaze flickering between her son and Aditya. “No, I haven’t.”
The boy’s brow furrowed slightly, curiosity written on his face as he looked at Aditya. “But… how did you know?”
Sabrina stepped in before Aditya could answer. “I met Aditya a few times in Singapore,” she explained gently, “and I told him you wanted these.”
Ahaan’s grin widened. “Thank you, Uncle!”
Without another word, he bolted down the hall, clutching the roller blades to his chest. Maya ran behind him, her tail wagging. Aditya smiled, watching them go.
“Bribing him already?” Sabrina said, her lips curved. “You didn’t have to get those for him.”
“I feared I needed all the ammunition I could get to make a good first impression.”
“You’ve met him before,” Sabrina said softly. “He already knows you.”
He took a step closer, his voice dropping, more intimate now. “He knows me as Aisha and Rithwik’s friend. He doesn’t know me as the man dating his mother. This is me trying to ease him into that. With your permission.”
He moved closer still, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. “Do I have your permission, beautiful? I know you’re scared for him to get to know me. But that was at the beginning of our relationship. I hope that you don’t mind me getting to know him now. I hope you don’t mind me dropping in unannounced. Honestly, I couldn’t stay away.”
Her lips parted, but before she could answer, another door creaked open.
Aditya looked past her and saw an older woman step into the living room, her expression sharp with curiosity. Sabrina stiffened instantly, every line of her body going taut as the woman came and stood in front of them, her assessing gaze on Aditya.
Sabrina stepped forward. “Aditya, this is Radha, my mother-in-law. And Ma, this is Aditya… a very close friend of Aisha and Rithwik.”
Aditya bent down to touch her feet, but his mind was already racing. The stiffening of Sabrina’s shoulders and the formality in her tone said more than words ever could. Winning over Sabrina’s son was one thing. Winning over her mother-in-law? That would be another battle entirely.
“You said he’s Aisha and Rithwik’s friend.” The older woman’s sharp eyes were fixed on him as she addressed Sabrina. “Are we expecting them to come tonight too? Is there a party happening in the house that I didn’t know of?”
Sabrina winced almost imperceptibly at her tone. Aditya’s chest tightened as he waited, his every muscle on edge. He knew her next words would decide everything—whether he remained an outsider or finally took his place in her life. Coming hereunannounced had been a risk. He’d very blatantly forced this situation on Sabrina. Hence, whatever she said now would show him where she truly stood with respect to him.
“He’s here because he’s my friend too,” Sabrina said calmly. “And no, Aisha and Rithwik are not joining us tonight. Aditya will, however, be staying for dinner.”
Relief flooded him. Delight too. She’d made her intentions clear, not just to her mother-in-law, but to him too. She wanted this. She was acceptinghim.
He turned his gaze back to the older woman, catching the flicker of surprise that crossed her face before it hardened into disbelief.
“In that case,” she said tightly, “you can have dinner with yourfriend. Ahaan and I will have our dinner in my room.”
