ENIGMA

Steady Command

Ruhani pouted, trying to muster up an excuse. “Well, yes, but... not like this! A little treat wouldn’t hurt.”

Advik leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched her squirm. “A little treat,?” He leaned closer, his voice softening just a bit. “You know this is good for you. I’ll make sure you get a treat later, alright?”

She sighed, rolling her eyes but taking a tiny, hesitant bite of the spinach. Her face immediately twisted, and she let out a dramatic sigh. “Why do you torture me like this?” she muttered.

Advik held back a laugh, shaking his head. “Such a drama queen.” Then, seeing her frown deepen, he became more serious, though his tone remained light. “Ruhani, you need to eat properly. No skipping breakfast, and no excuses. Now, come on, another bite.”

Ruhani shook her head, mumbling, “You’re impossible.” She tried to avoid his gaze, pushing the food around with her fork.

But Advik was relentless. He nudged her plate back in front of her. “I mean it. Don’t make me feed you every bite,” he warned, though there was a playful glint in his eyes.

Ruhani glared at him but, under his watchful eye, slowly began eating, taking small bites and making exaggerated faces after each one. “Fine,” she muttered. “But I’m only doing this because you’re forcing me.”

“Oh, believe me, I’m well aware,” he said, smirking. Then, in a gentler tone, he added, “Good girl. I’m proud of you.”

She couldn’t help but feel a bit better at that, despite her lingering annoyance. With Advik still watching, she finished her plate, albeit with the occasional exaggerated grimace, which only made him laugh.

Finally, when she put her fork down, Advik reached over and ruffled her hair. “See? Wasn’t so bad, was it?”

She swatted his hand away, smiling despite herself. “Easy for you to say. I think I deserve double dessert tonight.”

Advik chuckled, nodding. “We’ll see about that. For now, you’ve got a full, healthy breakfast to start your day right.”

And though she wouldn’t admit it, as she looked at him smiling, she felt grateful.

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As soon as Advik's parents arrived at their home, Ruhani stepped forward, greeting them warmly. "Good morning, Mom, Dad," she said, offering a gentle smile, though her nerves were still evident in the way she clasped her hands.

His parents returned her smile, his mother reaching out to give her a quick, affectionate hug. "Good morning, dear," she replied warmly before glancing around. "Where’s Ini? My little baby girl?"

Advik quickly stepped in, his voice calm yet firm. "She’s not feeling well, Mom," he said. "I’ll explain everything later."

A brief look of concern crossed his mother’s face, but she nodded, trusting him. Advik gestured toward the stairs, subtly steering the conversation away. "How about you both go and freshen up? After that, we can sit down and talk about everything over breakfast."

His parents agreed, still smiling, and headed upstairs to change.

Once Advik’s parents went upstairs to freshen up, he turned to Ruhani, his tone steady and authoritative. “Ruhani,” he said, “go upstairs and start packing your bags. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

She looked at him with a hint of surprise. “Tomorrow? We need to consi...”

“Don't,” he replied, his tone leaving no room for questions. “Just pack the essentials. Anything else you need will be arranged when we arrive. I don’t want you burdened with unnecessary things.”

Ruhani nodded, understanding his intent, and quietly went to gather her belongings, carefully selecting only what was necessary, as he’d instructed.

After some time, Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra came downstairs, now refreshed and seated themselves at the breakfast table. Advik greeted them with a composed smile, and Ruhani soon joined them.

Advik’s father looked around, noticing the slightly different atmosphere. “So, beta (son), is everything ready for tomorrow?”

Advik nodded confidently. “Everything’s arranged, Dad. I’ve made sure all details are in place.” He glanced at Ruhani, giving her a reassuring nod before turning back to his parents. “We’ll have some time to talk this morning, and I’ll fill you in on anything else you need to know.”

Mrs. Malhotra reached out to pat Ruhani’s hand gently. “We’re so glad to have you with us, dear,” she said warmly. “This is an exciting new beginning.”

Ruhani managed a grateful smile, feeling a bit more reassured by her mother-in-law’s kind words, even as she sensed the new chapter beginning under Advik’s steady guidance.

As they were chatting over breakfast, Advik casually mentioned, "By the way, I’ve decided to take Inaya with us."

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I have the upcoming chapters ready, but I will not be updating until each of these four chapters reaches 35 votes! Your support means a lot, and your votes will help me continue with the story. Thank you for your patience and understanding!