AUTHOR’S POV 

As she ran into the closet, Vidyut let out a soft chuckle to himself.

She had changed so much.

He still remembered the first time he saw her—quiet, hesitant, almost scared of everything. And now… this Vani, laughing, teasing him, calling him buddha—it made something warm settle inside his chest.

All he had ever wanted was to see her this happy.

The way she had made that innocent, childlike face when he asked for a kiss… it was so adorable that, in that moment, he felt like if she had asked for the whole world, he would have placed it at her feet without a second thought.

And now, the way she had run from him, laughing…

He smiled to himself.

Ten minutes passed.

She still hadn’t come out.

Then he heard a faint creaking sound—the closet door.

Without turning, he understood. She was peeking out, trying to see what he was doing.

A small smirk formed on his lips.

He stretched slightly and faked a yawn.
“I’m going to sleep. I have an early meeting tomorrow,” he said loudly. “Take your time. I won’t be able to wait for you.”

With that, he lay down, pulled the quilt over himself, and turned to the other side, pretending to sleep.

A minute passed.

Then another.

Soft footsteps.

Vani slowly tiptoed out of the closet. She came closer to the bed, her movements careful, almost hesitant. Leaning in slightly, she tried to check if he was really asleep.

The moment she got close—

He turned suddenly and pulled her onto the bed.

Before she could react, his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close.

“I’m a buddha, huh?” he murmured.

Vani looked at him, a nervous smile forming on her lips.

Before she could make that tiny pouting face again, he warned,
“No. Don’t even think about it. Don’t make that face.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.

He widened his in return.
“Will you call me buddha again?”

She quickly shook her head.

Satisfied, he leaned down and kissed her forehead.
“Good girl. Come on, let’s sleep.”

Vani let out a soft chuckle and snuggled into his chest. He pulled her closer, holding her tightly, as if she belonged right there.

After a moment, he spoke again, his voice quieter now.
“Vani… did you make any friends in college?”

She hummed softly in response.

“Who?” he asked.

Half-asleep already, she looked up at him with drowsy eyes, her voice slow and soft,
“Why do you want to know…?”

Vidyut forced a small, casual smile.
“Just for general knowledge… tell me, who are your friends?”

Vani looked at him with a bored expression.
“I only have one friend… the one who thought you were my sugar daddy.”

Vidyut paused for a second, then asked carefully,
“Are you sure?”

Vani frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”

He hesitated, then said,
“Who was that boy… standing near you?”

The moment she heard that, her eyes widened—and then a smirk slowly appeared on her lips.
“Ohhh… so you are jealous?”

Vidyut blinked, clearly caught off guard.
“What? No. Never. I’m not the kind of person who gets jealous over some student who’s almost a decade younger than me.”

Vani let out a small squeal, laughing.
“Yes, you are! It’s written all over your face!”

He gave her a stern look, but she only laughed more. Gently, she cupped his face.

“Aww, Viii… he’s Diksha’s friend. Just a classmate. Nothing else,” she said softly. “And anyway, we’re married. I’ll tell them after my birthday. So you don’t have to be jealous.”

Vidyut didn’t reply to that. Instead, he pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close.

“It’s not about jealousy,” he said quietly. “Just promise me… if any boy or even a teacher misbehaves with you, you’ll tell me. I don’t want anyone touching my wife inappropriately… in ways even I don’t.”

Vani nuzzled into his neck and hummed softly.

He continued, his voice low but serious now,
“People aren’t always good, Vani. They can be clever… jealous… manipulative. They can hurt you—not just physically, but mentally too. And you…” he paused, tightening his hold slightly, “…you’re still very naive. You don’t always understand people’s intentions, especially the dirty ones.”

She stayed quiet, listening.

“So if anything happens… anything at all—even if it just makes you uncomfortable or gives you a bad feeling—tell me. Don’t hide it, okay, rabbit?”

Vani nodded gently against him.

For a brief moment, her mind drifted to the senior from earlier. That strange feeling… the uneasiness.

But she quickly brushed it off.

Maybe it was just first-time nervousness…

If I feel it again, I’ll tell him.

With that thought, she relaxed in his arms, holding onto him as sleep slowly took over.

The next few days passed in a rhythm of their own.

Vidyut stayed busy, quietly preparing gifts and planning a small surprise celebration for Vani’s birthday.

Meanwhile, Vani was slowly getting comfortable in college. 

The very next day when vani got a phone, she walked into college like it was any other morning—but it wasn’t. In her hand was the brand-new iPhone 18 Pro Max, a device that hadn’t even officially hit the market yet. Within seconds, heads turned. Whispers spread like wildfire across the corridors.

“How does she even have that?”
“Isn’t that unreleased?”

It didn’t take long for everyone to connect the dots—she wasn’t just any ordinary student. She came from a family that was not only rich, but powerful enough to access things others have to wait for .

The atmosphere around her shifted almost instantly. Classmates who barely acknowledged her before were suddenly warm, friendly, and overly polite. Smiles lingered a little longer, conversations felt a little more forced—everyone wanted to stay on her good side.

But Diksha? She was different.

With a mischievous grin, she nudged her and said, “Wow, look at you your sugar daddy gave you this hmmm..? This is the benefit of having sugar daddy meanwhile i have to beg in front of my dad to let me buy all this ” 

Vani chuckled at her words . The teasing continued, playful and relentless, but never cruel. It was just Diksha being Diksha—turning curiosity into humor.

And despite all the attention, the whispers, and the sudden change in how people treated her, Vani tried to be calm as if none of it really mattered.

Whereas after that initial uneasy feeling, she didn’t think much about Rakshit anymore. With the upcoming fresher’s event, she had joined the dance group—and since Rakshit was the club president, they ended up spending a lot of time together. Gradually, they became quite friendly.

Vani started enjoying college life.

She and Diksha would often spend time with the little kitten. Since its mother hadn’t returned, Vani had already started planning ways to convince Vidyut to let her bring it home.

One afternoon, during lunch break, Vidyut called her.

But she didn’t pick up.

He frowned slightly, confused, but decided to wait for her to call back.

After half an hour, his phone finally rang.

He picked it up immediately.
“Where were you?”

Vani’s voice sounded tired.
“I was in practice…”

He hummed.
“Did you have lunch?”

She gave a small, nervous chuckle.
“Uh… no. I just got free. I’ll feed the kitten first, then I’ll eat.”

Vidyut sighed.
“Vani, you need to take care of yourself. Stay hydrated too.”

She hummed softly, then said hesitantly,
“Viii… can you pick me up late today? I have to stay back for practice.”

He frowned slightly.
“Aren’t you already practicing the whole day for fresher’s?”

Her voice turned a little sad.
“The dance is really difficult… I’ve never danced before. I need more practice.”

He paused, then said calmly,
“Okay. Just call me half an hour before you’re done. And don’t go anywhere with anyone else—I’ll come pick you up myself. Alright?”

She agreed, and after talking for a bit longer, they disconnected.

Evening came.

Seven passed… but she didn’t call.

By 7:30, Vidyut decided to go to the college himself. He waited outside, leaning against his car, occasionally checking his phone and working in between.

Finally, his phone rang.

“Viii… I’m done now. Can you come?” she asked.

His tone turned slightly stern.
“I’m already outside.”

“Oh… okay! I’m coming.”

He straightened, ready to scold her for staying this late.

But the moment he saw her approaching, his expression changed.

She was carrying a cardboard box.

Frowning, he walked toward her, thinking it might be some props from practice.

But when he got closer, he realized the box looked… empty.

“What are you doing with an empty cardboard box?” he asked.

Vani looked at him, amused.
“Look properly, Viii. The kitten is sleeping in the corner.”

He blinked, then leaned closer—and there it was. Curled up quietly.

He straightened, confused.
“And where are you taking her?”

A mischievous smile spread across Vani’s face.
“To our home.”

He stared at her.

“You said that day—if her mother doesn’t come, we’ll take her. Her mother didn’t come. So now… we’re taking her.”

Vidyut let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair.
“You still have this kitten fever? Vani… keeping a pet isn’t easy. You have to take care of it like a baby.”

She huffed softly and walked past him toward the car, muttering just loud enough for him to hear,
“So what? I can be your wife… so I can be her mumma too. She’s my baby, and you’re her dad.”

He shook his head, helpless but unable to stop the faint smile tugging at his lips.

Without arguing further, he walked ahead and opened the car door for her.

Vani carefully sat inside, holding the box close to her as if it were something precious.

And just like that…

The kitten had already found its way into their home.

As Vidyut started driving, Vani sat beside him, completely focused on the tiny kitten in the box. She gently tapped its little nose, smiling to herself.

“Rabbit, don’t do that,” Vidyut said, glancing at her. “The kitten might bite you.”

Vani scoffed.
“Viii, she’s just a baby. She won’t bite.”

He scoffed back.
“Oh, right. She’ll warn you before biting? Or does she have some age limit for it?”

Vani rolled her eyes.

After a moment, Vidyut spoke again, this time more serious.
“Before going home, we’re taking her to a vet. We need to check if she has any infection or disease.”

Vani looked at him, shocked.
“Viii… really? She’s just a baby. What disease could she even have?”

He gave her a firm look.
“It’s important, Vani. There could be infections. It’s better to be safe.”

She pouted slightly and looked down at the kitten.
“See, little kitten? Look at your dad…”

“Wait—wait,” Vidyut interrupted immediately. “I am not her dad.”

Vani tried to hide her smile.
“If I’m her mom, then who will be her dad?”

He frowned.
“You’re not her mom either. She’s a kitten, and you’re a human.”

Vani crossed her arms with a dramatic expression.
“No. Diksha told me—either you’re a pet’s owner or their parent. And I’m not going to be just an owner. I’ll be her parent. I’m a girl, so obviously I’m her mom. And since you’re my husband…” she paused proudly, “…you’re her dad.”

Vidyut stared at her like she had just broken every known rule of logic.

Before he could argue further, he parked outside a veterinary clinic.

As he helped her out of the car, he muttered,
“There is absolutely no logic in this. Humans and animals are different species. I can’t be a cat’s parent.”

They walked inside.

The receptionist smiled politely.
“How can we help?”

Vani carefully showed the kitten.
“We just want to check if he has any disease or infection.”

The receptionist nodded and began writing.
“And what’s your cat’s name?”

Vani paused and looked at Vidyut.

He simply shrugged.

She smiled brightly.
“Baby Russo.”

Vidyut turned to her in shock.
“Rabbit… she is not a Russo. How can she be a Russo?”

Vani looked at him with a sweet but stubborn smile.
“I’m your wife. I’m a Russo. She’s my baby… so she’s also a Russo.”

Vidyut looked genuinely horrified.

Before he could argue more, the doctor called them in.

As the check-up began, Vidyut leaned closer and whispered,
“She cannot be a Russo.”

Vani shot him a glare and whispered back,
“Fine. Then I’ll find someone else to be her dad. I’ll still be her mom—and he’ll be the dad.”

Vidyut’s expression changed instantly.

“Fine,” he said quickly, his tone firm. “I’ll be her dad.”

Vani giggled softly at his reaction.

The doctor cleared his throat.
“Now that you both have decided who the father is… may I continue?”

Both of them went quiet, slightly embarrassed.

Vidyut nodded.

The doctor examined the kitten and said,
“There’s no serious issue. Just a few ticks—we’ll remove them. Otherwise, he’s healthy. You just need to feed him properly and take basic care.”

Vidyut nodded, relieved.

But Vani blinked.
“Wait… he?”

The doctor smiled.
“Yes, the kitten is male. It’s a common mistake—many people assume small cats are female.”

Vani made a small “ohhh” face, looking down at the kitten.

As the doctor removed the ticks and explained basic care, both of them listened carefully. He also suggested a few essential items they would need.

After everything was done, they left for home.

During the drive, exhaustion finally caught up with Vani. Holding the kitten box close, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Vidyut glanced at her and smiled faintly.

His little rabbit… finally quiet after an entire day of chaos—practice, arguments, and even a full debate over the kitten’s surname.

He shook his head slightly, still smiling, and continued driving.

As they reached home, Vidyut stepped out of the car first. He signaled one of his men to take the shopping bags inside, while carefully handing the kitten’s box to a butler.

Vani stirred slightly in her sleep.

Without waking her, Vidyut gently lifted her into his arms, holding her in a bridal position.
“Shh… sleep. We’re home,” he murmured softly.

She instinctively snuggled closer to him.

He carried her upstairs to their room and laid her carefully on the bed. Slowly, he removed her shoes and socks, making sure not to disturb her rest.

Then he went to change.

When he returned, he took out a pack of wet wipes and gently cleaned her hands—remembering she had been holding the kitten earlier. After that, he tucked her under the blanket and softly stroked her hair.

“She didn’t even have dinner… exhausted herself completely,” he murmured to himself.

Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead before stepping out of the room.

Downstairs, he checked if everything for the kitten had been arranged.

The small kitten was now awake, sitting inside the cardboard box, its tiny eyes looking around—then stopping on Vidyut.

For a brief moment, something unfamiliar stirred inside him.

He frowned slightly and crouched down near it.

“Hungry?” he asked, almost as if expecting a reply.

Of course, there was none.

Still, he stood up, went to get one of the treats the vet had given, and carefully tore it open. He brought it closer, letting the kitten lick it slowly. Once it started eating, he gently squeezed out the rest until it was done.

Watching it finish, he spoke again, his tone oddly calm.
“Enough. Go to sleep now. Your mom is already sleeping… and your stomach is full too.”

He paused, then added quietly,
“I’m going to sleep as well. Don’t make noise.”

As if the kitten understood.

He stood up and began to walk away, but after a few steps, he turned back for one last glance.

The kitten looked so small… so helpless.

A strange discomfort settled in his chest.

He wasn’t someone who got attached to animals. He didn’t know how to deal with them… didn’t even try.

Still…

He called one of the staff members.
“Stay here. Don’t leave until the kitten falls asleep.”

The man nodded.

Only then did Vidyut head back upstairs.

Entering the room, he quietly lay down beside Vani and pulled her closer into his arms.

For a moment, the image of that tiny kitten lingered in his mind.

But then he looked at her—his rabbit.

His expression softened. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.

And soon, with her in his arms…

He drifted off to sleep, thinking only about her.

・。.・゜✭・

_________________________________________________________

Hello Everyone !!!!

Hope you all liked the chapter

Don't forget to comment down your opinion and which moment you liked the most .

Hope you all are happy and enjoying life

Thanks for your love

Your author

CHRONIC

BYE BYE BUTTERFLIES 🦋🦋❤❤