Bulbul had barely let her little shoes slip off before she darted toward her bedroom, announcing in her sweet, sleepy tone that she needed a nap after the long PTM. Her tiny feet pattered across the floor and soon the sound faded behind the closed door. The house instantly quieted, leaving only the faint hum of the ceiling fan and the soft rustle of Kavya’s saree as she stepped inside the living room. She was about to follow her daughter when a sudden tug stopped her midway.

Krishiv’s hand slipped firmly yet gently around her waist, pulling her against him before she could even process what was happening. Her eyes widened in surprise, her breath caught, and she looked up at him with that puzzled softness she always carried.