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"Jaanvi beta, ab uth bhi ja. Agar abhi nahi uthi toh late ho jayegi aur baad mein mujhe hi aake bolegi ki maine nahi uthaya!" Kashvi ji's voice echoed through the entire patil house as she walked downstairs, though her eyes remained fixed upstairs, particularly on one specific door.

(Jaanvi, sweetheart, get up now. If you don't wake up right now, you'll be late, and later you'll come complaining to me that I didn't wake you up!)

Her voice carried the perfect combination of irritation and anger... something that had become almost habitual for her over the years.

Whereas Sandeep ji, on the other hand was sitting comfortably on the sofa with his newspaper in his hands, just like every other morning.

His eyes were over the headlines with a practiced ease... completely undisturbed by the familiar chaos happening around him.

Listening to this dialogue from his beloved wife had also become a part of his daily routine by now. In fact, he had heard some variation of the same sentence with different synonyms almost every morning for years.

He didn't even need to look up to know exactly what was happening because as always his princess, his beloved and mornings had never been the best combination for the past two decades.

"I'm home, Dad" Another voice came from near the entrance, instantly gaining his attention.

Sandeep ji smiled and looked up, finally keeping his newspaper aside as his eyes fell on the person walking inside.

There stood his son, Eklavya Patil, looking fresh and energetic after his morning gym session.

His hair was slightly messy and there was still a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead from the workout.

And looking at his son this energetic and early as always, he couldn't help but think about just how different his two children are.

Just like a north pole and south pole.

If one is an early bird... the other was a late riser. If one wakes up at 5 in the morning the other seems to sleep at 5 after being a night owl the whole night.

His son, Eklavya, was the younger one but he had always been the disciplined one. Whereas his daughter, the princess of the Patil house seemed to have turned out to be the spoiled one.

Still, the love was never any less for either of them. Both children held an equally special place in their parents' hearts, no matter how different they were from each other.

"Di hasn't woken up yet?" Eklavya chuckled as he walked towards his father and sat beside him. There was a hint of amusement in his voice because he already knew the answer before even asking the question.

Sandeep ji simply shrugged his shoulders and glanced towards his beloved "You know how it is every day, son" earning a knowing nod from Eklavya.

"Seriously, this girl! She'll never change... It's the same thing with her every single day." Kashvi ji gritted and again turned back, climbing up towards Jaanvi's room.

Both the father-son duo looked at Kashvi ji as she started climbing the stairs again mid way.

This drama happening was nothing new for the Patil family. In fact, as I said before, this had become their daily morning routine for the past two decades.

On the other hand, the house's princess was still happily living in her dreamland with the AC set at a comfortable twenty-four degrees, tucked inside her comforter enjoying the best sleep of her life.

And well... this is Jaanvi Patil for you.

The eldest daughter of the Patil family. A troublemaker, a spoiled princess and a self obsessed girl could be a few good names used for her.

As the first child of the family, that also a girl child she was always treated as a princess.

Jaanvi was blessed with loving parents who never made her feel that she was any less simply because she was a girl. Kashvi ji and Sandeep ji never put any limitations or boundaries on her by telling her that she couldn't do something because she was a girl.

Instead, they gave her the freedom to dream to explore and live her life exactly the way she wanted. She had always been their princess and had grown up surrounded by nothing but love and affection. With just one word, she could get almost everything she wanted from her parents.

And perhaps that was why she still stayed the spoiled brat yet the sweetest little princess of her family.

Feeling disturbance in her sleep by her mother Jaanvi frowned and grabbed the nearby pillow before placing it over her ears, trying her best to block out her mother's voice.

"Mumma, please... just two more minutes" she mumbled in her sleepy voice. But little did she know that her mother wasn't going to give her even those two minutes of peace.

Kashvi ji walked towards her daughter and without wasting another second, threw the pillow aside.

"I'm not waiting even one more second. Two minutes toh bahut door ki baat hai." She then grabbed Jaanvi's hand and pulled her up, shaking her like a doll until the sleepy princess finally opened her eyes.

"Bas, bas! You won. I woke up, so stop shaking me now" Jaanvi groaned, still half asleep as she held onto Kashvi ji's hand.

(Fine, Fine!...)

Kashvi ji looked into her daughter's eyes for more than a few seconds making sure that the sleep wasn't about to drag her back into the bed again.

Once she was satisfied that Jaanvi was finally awake, she let go of her daughter and finally started walking towards the door.

But before leaving, she stopped and gave her daughter one final warning. "Agar ab ek baar bhi dobara soyi na toh main tujhe nahi uthaungi. Phir hote rehna late shopping ke liye. Kal Janmashtami ki pooja mein bhi jaane nahi dungi tujhe. Bol dungi Ahana ko call karke ki tumhari best friend ghore bech kar so rahi hai, isliye woh nahi aa sakti."

(If you fall asleep even once more, I'm not waking you up again. Then you can keep being late for your shopping too. And tomorrow, I'm not letting you go to the Janmashtami puja either. I'll just call Ahana and tell her that her best friend is sleeping as peacefully as ever and won't be waking up anytime soon.)

Jaanvi's sleepy eyes widened immediately at the mention of her best friend and janmashtami puja.

"Mumma!" she exclaimed in disbelief as she finally sat properly on the bed. Kashvi ji simply smiled in satisfaction before walking out of the room. She knew exactly which threat worked on her daughter. And clearly, threatening to take away her time with her best friend was far more effective than any alarm clock in the world.

As Kashvi ji finally left, Jaanvi's room filled with silence again. The sudden quietness almost tempted her to crawl back under the comforter but she knew better than to test her mother's patience again.

A long yawn escaped her mouth as she sat up on the bed and pushed her messy hair away from her face. She remained seated for a few seconds, staring blankly ahead while her brain slowly started functioning. She was trying to figure out whether she should lie down for one more minute or not.

But at last, she decided to get out of the bed with a sigh.

Stretching her arms, she dragged herself to the washroom, brushed her teeth and did her morning routine and took a good bath.

Twenty minutes later, she came out wearing a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her wet hair.

Then she moved straight towards her dressing table and sat down ready to make herself pretty.

But before starting her makeup, there was one important thing she had to do first: her skincare routine.

After going through her twelve-step skincare routine she was finally ready for her makeup.

She picked up her tinted sunscreen and applied it over her face... blending it smoothly into her skin.

Then she applied a soft pink blush to her cheeks and moved on to the next step, her eye makeup.

She almost held her breath as she carefully created a sharp winged liner before applying a coat of voluminous mascara. The mascara made her charcoal-black eyes stand out beautifully, giving her entire look a more defined appearance.

She leaned closer to the mirror and checked both eyes carefully, making sure that neither wing was thicker than the other. Once she was satisfied, she let out a breath of relief and moved on to her lips.

She first applied a lip liner before mixing two different shades of lipstick to create the brownish-pink colour she wanted.

After that she settled everything with a light touch of setting powder.

Finally, she picked up her chocolate strawberry perfume and sprayed it on before taking one last look at herself in the mirror. Satisfied with her makeup and the way everything had come together, she finally stood up.

Now all that was left was to decide what she was going to wear and blow dry her hair. She opened her wardrobe and began looking through her clothes.

Her eyes fell on a top that instantly caught her attention. She looked at it for a few seconds before a small smile appeared on her lips.

"This one" she murmured to herself, picking it up from the wardrobe.

She then quickly changed into the outfit she had chosen and also blow-dried her hair.

Once she was fully ready, Jaanvi stood in front of the mirror and admired herself for a few seconds. She tilted her head from one side to another before a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

"Hayee jaanu, itna self-obsessed hona bhi achha nahi hai" she complimented herself with a cheeky grin.

(Hayee jaanu, being this obsessed with yourself isn't a good thing, you know.)

Then she picked up her belongings, placed everything inside her purse and finally walked out of her room, heading downstairs.

The moment everyone heard Jaanvi's footsteps, their eyes shifted towards the stairs, where their princess was finally making her grand entrance.

Just like everyone had a little habit in them that made them stand out, Jaanvi had one too. A little tradition started by Jaanvi herself... which had now become something even her little brother, Eklavya followed without fail.

And that was greeting their parents properly. Everyday.

Not just with a simple "Good morning" but with a warm hug for both of them. It was the first thing Jaanvi always did after coming downstairs from her room. No matter what happened or how rushed her morning was, she never skipped it. Without those hugs, somehow her day always felt incomplete.

"Good morning, Papa" she said cheerfully as she walked towards Sandeep ji and wrapped her arms around him from behind. Sandeep ji broke into a smile as always at the familiar gesture, reaching up to hold her hands.

"Good morning, princess" he replied affectionately.

She then excitedly came around to stand in front of him and gave him a few playful poses, waiting patiently for his reaction.

"So? What do you think?"

Sandeep ji acted like a serious judge for a moment, looking at his daughter from head to toe before finally focusing on her outfit.

Jaanvi had paired a blue denim mini skirt with long black boots and a black, slightly sheer kurti-style top with intricate golden detailing. The outfit gave her a stylish yet effortless look and she stood there confidently waiting for her father's compliment... as always.

Getting complimented by her father was also one of her daily rituals. No matter what she wore... she always wanted to know what her papa thought about it.

And Sandeep ji, being the loving father he was, never failed to make his princess feel good about herself.

"As always, makeup on point. Outfit on point. 10/10" Sandeep ji replied with a proud smile but before Jaanvi could even smile properly, someone interrupted them.

"Kya papa. Phir se jhooth. Chimpanzee lag rahi hai poori. Sach boldiya kariye" Eklavya spoke, looking at his elder sister with a winning smirk. Jaanvi slowly turned towards him, her expression immediately changing from happy to offended.

(What... Papa? Lying again? She looks like a complete chimpanzee! You should really start telling her the truth.)

She narrowed her eyes at him for a second, clearly not appreciating his words. Eklavya, however seemed quite proud of himself for ruining his sister's moment. That victorious smirk on his face only made Jaanvi more determined to give him a proper reply.

"Coming from the guy who got rejected by his own crush" Jaanvi shot back instantly, making Eklavya's smile fade as his face turned red with embarrassment.

"C'mon di, always the same thing to say? Bring something new. You know I was just in third standard that time" Eklavya argued but jaanvi didn't give a damn.

She rolled her eyes and ignored him like she ignores karela.

She knew that she had already won the argument and had no intention of wasting more time on him. So she walked straight towards the kitchen, her next target.

"Mummaa!"

Jaanvi called the moment she entered the kitchen.

She saw her mother cooking something and the kitchen was filled with its aroma. She walked straight towards her mumma and wrapped her arms around her from behind, showering her with kisses on her cheek.

Kashvi ji giggled as she tried to continue making breakfast while her daughter refused to let go of her.

"Beta, leave me alone... The whole chila will burn like this." she complained, trying to free herself from Jaanvi's grip. But Jaanvi only hugged her tighter, clearly enjoying her little moment with her mumma. After all, no matter how grown up she acted when it came to her parents, Jaanvi was still their little princess.

"Haan toh aap jala hua chila bandar ko dedena" Jaanvi replied, mentioning eklavya as the bandar here as she stayed still glued to her mother. Kashvi ji immediately shook her head at her daughter's antics and looked at her with a disapproving expression.

(Yeah so you can give that burnt chilla to our monkey na)

"Beta, aisa nahi bolte... Bhai hai woh tera" she scolded lightly, though the smile on her face gave away that she wasn't actually angry. She continued preparing the chilla while Jaanvi remained attached to her like a koala.

(Beta, you shouldn't say things like that... He's your brother.)

Kashvi ji finally managed to free one hand and continued cooking as she flipped the chilla.

Then from the other cooked piece... Kashvi ji tore off a small portion, blew it cool and stuffed it into Jaanvi's mouth.

Jaanvi smiled and chewed it as her eyes shone in the brust of flavours in her mouth.

"Mmm, mast bani hai.. mere liye rakh dena, aake khaungi."

(Mmm, it's delicious... Save some for me, I'll come and eat it later.)

Hearing that Kashvi ji frowned, already knowing exactly what her daughter was planning.

"Kya matlab aake khaungi? Khake ja" Kashvi ji immediately said, refusing to let her daughter leave without eating properly.

(What do you mean.. you will eat when you come back? Have some and then leave)

But jaanvi shook her head, already preparing to leave.

"Nahi Mumma, I'm already late. Aake pakka kha lungi. Abhi chalti hoon. Bye. Love you" she said in one breath, before rushing towards the door.

(No, Mumma... I'm already late. I'll definitely have it when I come back. I'm leaving now. Bye. Love you.)

Kashvi ji tried to say something but Jaanvi was already halfway out. She knew that if she stayed for even another minute, her mother would somehow convince her to sit down and eat. And with her already running late, Jaanvi wasn't taking that chance.

"Kitni baar bolti hu jaldi uth Jaya kar... kabhi meri baat nhi sunti. Ye larki bhi na... kabhi nhi sudhregi" Kashvi ji murmured to herself as she heard jaanvi unlocking her car and driving away.

(How many times have I told her to wake up early... she never listens to me. This girl, honestly... she'll never change.)

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After four hours of shopping, Jaanvi was finally done. She had bought a few dresses for herself and some for her best friends as well.

But by that time, however, all the excitement of shopping had been replaced by a big problem.

She was extremely hungry.

And rather than craving some fancy restaurant food or anything remotely healthy, all she wanted at that moment was a plate of dahi wale golgappe.

And luckily, she found a golgappa stall nearby too. The moment her eyes landed on it from afar, her stomach growled loudly... making her instinctively lick her lips.

Her eyes immediately lit up at the sight of the familiar stall and suddenly those four hours of shopping didn't seem tiring anymore.

It felt like the fruit of her labour.

She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped out of the car and immediately made her way towards the stall.

"Chacha... do plate dahi wale golgappe lagana... aur thoda jaldi kariye. Bhook se main ab behosh hi ho jaungi warna" she said dramatically, making the vendor chuckle at her expressions.

(Chacha... two plates of dahi golgappe, please... and a little quickly. Otherwise, I'm going to faint from hunger.)

He shook his head in amusement before nodding and getting started on her order. Jaanvi stood there impatiently, watching him prepare the golgappe while her stomach seemed to growl every few seconds.

"Jaldi kariye na, Chacha" she added, making the elderly vendor laugh again.

(Please do it fast, uncle)

"Kar raha hu beta. Machine thori hu" he replied softly.

(I’m making them, beta. I’m not a machine, you know.)

There were quite a few other customers around the stall as well which wasn't surprising considering how popular the place seemed to be. Jaanvi glanced around and noticed people happily eating their golgappas while waiting for their turns.

She didn't want to stand there staring at other people's food with a drooling face, so she quickly pulled out her phone and started scrolling through it.. pretending she's the most busiest person in the world.

But just then, she suddenly felt a small pat on her thigh. Her eyebrows furrowed as she lowered her phone and looked down... wondering who had touched her. Standing beside her was a small boy, probably a little over eight years old.

He was incredibly thin, with clothes that looked old and worn out but there was something about his eyes that immediately caught Jaanvi's attention. They were innocent, yet tired in a way no child's eyes should be. The boy looked up at her hesitantly, almost as if he was scared that she might refuse him.

"Didi, bas paanch rupaye de dijiye... meri behen kal raat se kuch nahi khai hai. Bohot ro rahi hai" he asked in his small voice. His voice was thin, carrying the weakness of someone who hadn't eaten properly either.

(Didi, please just give me five rupees... My little sister hasn't eaten anything since last night. She's been crying so much.)

Jaanvi's expression immediately softened. She slowly bent down to his level and gently cupped his face.

"Sirf behen ko bhook lagi hai? Tumhara kya? Tumko nahi lagi bhook?" she asked brushing his hair with her fingers. The boy immediately looked down, avoiding her eyes.

(Is your sister the only one who's hungry? What about you? Aren't you hungry?)

After a moment, he gave a small nod. There was no complaint in his expression, only a strange kind of acceptance that made Jaanvi's heart ache. He looked far too young to have learned how to ignore his own hunger.

"Lagi toh hai... par abhi mujhe aadat hai bhookhe rehne ki. So jaunga na thora sa, phir bhook bhi nahi lagegi. Par meri behen abhi chhoti hai, usko aadat nahi hai. Toh aap meri fikar na karein... bas please didi, thode paise de dijiye. Usko ek biscuit ka packet khareed ke khilaunga." He spoke slowly, as though he was trying to convince her that he was perfectly fine.

(I am hungry too... but I'm used to staying hungry now. I'll sleep for a while and then I won't feel hungry anymore. But my sister is still little. She's not used to it yet. So please don't worry about me... just please, Didi, give me some money. I'll buy her a packet of biscuits and feed her.)

But those words did anything but convince Jaanvi. Instead, they broke something inside her. She was twenty-one herself and even she couldn't imagine staying hungry for more than four hours without complaining. Yet this little boy was talking about hunger as if it was something he had simply learned to live with.

For a moment jaanvi didn't say anything. She just stared at the child's eyes. A child shouldn't know how to sleep just to forget hunger. A child shouldn't have to choose between feeding himself and feeding his younger sister. And the fact that he was more worried about his little sister than himself made Jaanvi's heart sink even further.

And at that moment Jaanvi knew exactly what she had to do.

"Apni behen ko leke aao" Jaanvi took a deep breath and stood up. The boy looked at her in confusion, clearly not understanding what she meant.

(Go and bring your sister)

"Today, you two are having a golgappa party. Eat as much as you want. Keep eating until your stomachs are full. No one's going to stop you." The little boy's eyes immediately lit up at her words, as if she had just offered him something he had never imagined he could have. His lips parted slightly in disbelief while he continued staring at her.

"Aap sach keh rahi hain, didi?" he asked, almost afraid to believe her. Jaanvi chuckled at his innocence and nodded. "Sach. Ekdum pakka wala sach" she assured him with a small smile.

(Are you telling the truth, didi?)

The boy's face brightened instantly as he ran across the street calling his sister's name.

Jaanvi smiled seeing the boy so happy and then looked at the vendor, who had been silently listening to their conversation while preparing the food.

"Bhaiya... aur do plate laga dena"

(Bhaiya... add two more plates, please.)

"Ji. Abhi lagata hu." He smiled.

(Yes, I'll get them ready right away.)

After five minutes, the boy returned with a little girl who looked no more than five years old. Her tiny face was still damp from crying, with dried tear marks visible on her cheeks and her eyelashes still wet.

She held onto her brother's hand tightly as they approached Jaanvi, looking a little hesitant at first. The sight of her immediately softened Jaanvi's heart. She crouched slightly and looked at the little girl with a warm smile.

"What is your name?" Jaanvi asked, looking at the doll-like girl standing in front of her. The little girl stared at her for a few seconds before her lips slowly curved into the cutest little smile. She looked innocent and shy, as if she wasn't quite sure whether she was allowed to smile at a stranger. Then she finally answered in her tiny voice...

"Humara naam Varsha hai aur ye humara bhai Viraj hai. Sukriya, didi. Humara bhai humko bola ki aap hum dono ko golgappe khilayenge"

(My name is Varsha and this is my brother, Viraj. Thank you, Didi. My brother told me that you would treat both of us to golgappas.)

Jaanvi couldn't help but smile at the way she introduced herself and her brother. She gently nodded at her before looking towards the vendor, who had finally finished preparing their food.

By that time, Jaanvi's food was also ready. She immediately took the plates from the vendor and handed them to the two children. The moment the plates reached their hands, their eyes lit up. They stared at the golgappas for a second as if they were looking at something precious before both of them gulped hard.

And without wasting another second, they started eating. They were eating so quickly that Jaanvi couldn't help but wonder just how hungry these two little children must have been.

She then took her own plate and joined them, happily eating her share while occasionally making silly comments that made the children laugh.

Varsha giggled at almost everything Jaanvi said while Viraj tried to act a little more mature but couldn't stop smiling either.

After almost fifteen minutes, they were finally done. Viraj and Varsha had both eaten three plates each, while Jaanvi had finished her two. All three of them sat there with completely full stomachs, looking far more satisfied than before.

Jaanvi couldn't help but smile when she saw the content expressions on the children's faces. She paid the vendor for everything and then turned towards the two siblings. "Ab chale?" she asked casually.

(Shall we go now?)

The children looked at each other first before turning towards her and giving a small nod. "Thik hai" they replied together.

(Ok)

Jaanvi frowned slightly at their response. She looked at them for a moment before asking "You two... aren't you going to ask where I am taking you guys? Would you just go anywhere with any stranger like this?"

Her voice carried genuine concern. She couldn't believe that two children could trust a complete stranger so easily, especially when the world wasn't always as kind to people as innocent as them.

"Nahi didi, aisi baat nahi hai. Aapne hum dono ko pet bhar ke khilaya. Pehli baar hum dono ko pata chala pet bharna kisko kehte hain. Aur jo insaan humein khila sakta hai, humse door nahi bhagta hum log gande hain bolke, woh thori na humko kuch karega. Hum aap pe bharosa karte hain." Their innocent words stirred something deep inside Jaanvi, filling her heart with warmth.

(No, Didi, it's not like that. You fed both of us until our stomachs were full. For the first time, we know what it feels like to have a full stomach. And a person who can feed us, who doesn't run away from us thinking we're dirty... they wouldn't hurt us, right? We trust you.)

She looked at them for a few seconds, unable to stop the small smile that appeared on her lips. Their trust was so pure and uncomplicated that it almost felt precious.

She gently placed a hand over both their heads before taking them towards her car. She opened the back door and helped them settle inside before closing it carefully.

The moment they sat inside, both children started looking around with wide, curious eyes, their gazes moving from one corner of the car to another. Everything seemed new to them. Jaanvi closed the window and turned on the AC and within seconds, the cool air began filling the car.

"Wow! Kitna thanda-thanda hai" Viraj giggled, stretching his little hands towards the AC vent.

(Wow it's so chill in here)

Jaanvi smiled at his excitement through the rear-view mirror. Beside him, Varsha had already started losing the battle against her sleep. Her little head slowly slipped onto Viraj's leg and within barely a minute she had dozed off peacefully.

"You also sleep. It will take some time to reach" Jaanvi suggested looking at Viraj through the rear-view mirror. The little boy nodded, settling himself more comfortably beside his sister. He carefully rested his head against the seat before slowly closing his eyes.

Within a few moments, both siblings were peacefully asleep in the back seat, their tiny faces finally free from the worry and hunger they had carried just a little while ago.

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After driving for almost two hours, Jaanvi finally stopped her car in front of a familiar place. She glanced at the backseat through the rear-view mirror and found both children still sleeping peacefully.

"Children, wake up. We have arrived" she said gently calling them.

Hearing Jaanvi's voice, they slowly opened their eyes, rubbing them sleepily as they looked around. For a moment, they seemed confused about where they were before remembering everything that had happened.

They slowly got down from the car and immediately reached for Jaanvi's hand, holding onto it tightly as they walked beside her. Jaanvi looked down at their tiny hands wrapped around hers and smiled before leading them towards the entrance of the building. The moment they stepped closer, the large board above the entrance caught their attention.

THE SMILE FACTORY.

This is an NGO opened and managed by Jaanvi herself. Anyone in need who crossed paths with her or her workers was brought here and given a place where they could eat, sleep and live without constantly worrying about their next meal.

The entire idea behind this place had started because of Jaanvi herself. In fact, it had been one of the biggest demands she had ever made from her father.

When Jaanvi was just ten years old, she had once seen a little boy eating leftover food from the roadside. The sight had broken her little heart so badly that she had cried for hours in front of her parents, refusing to calm down until her father promised to do something.

And that was how The Smile Factory came into existence.

What had started as her childhood demand slowly became something much bigger than anyone had expected.

Her father had established the NGO, making sure that people who had nowhere else to go had a safe place to come to. And when Jaanvi turned fifteen, she took over its management herself.

She began visiting regularly, learning how everything worked and making sure that every person who came through those doors was treated with dignity. It wasn't simply an NGO for her. It was something personal. Something she had asked for with a child's tears and had grown into protecting with all her heart.

The moment Jaanvi stepped inside with the two children, three elderly ladies came walking towards her. They knew exactly what her arrival usually meant. Jaanvi rarely came alone. There was almost always someone new accompanying her, someone whose life needed a little help.

One of the elderly ladies looked towards the two children standing beside her before turning her attention back to Jaanvi. "Are they new members, beta?" she asked warmly. Jaanvi simply nodded.

"Yes. Take care of them and make sure they're never hungry... as always" she said. Her voice was authoritative, carrying a hint of coldness to it.

The three women nodded immediately... Although Jaanvi's voice is cold but after working with Jaanvi for so many years, those ladies knew... how much she respects them and loves them.

They took the children from jaanvi and started taking them inside. Jaanvi watched them from her place without going further in when the children paused, turned around and ran back to Jaanvi.

"Didi... aap humse firse milne aayengi na?" they asked innocently. Jaanvi's expression softened instantly. She walked a little closer and smiled at them reassuringly.

(Didi... you'll come to see us again, won't you?)

"Har Sunday aati hoon main yahan. Don't worry. Aur abse tum logon ko khane-peene ya sone ki chinta bilkul karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Jitna marzi khana, khelna aur naye dost banana... hmm?" Both children smiled brightly, their little faces finally free of the worry of the cruel world they had carried earlier.

(I come here every Sunday. Don't worry. And from now on, both of you don't have to worry about food, drinks or a place to sleep anymore. Eat as much as you want, play as much as you want and make lots of new friends... hmm?)

They nodded before running back towards the elderly ladies, who happily welcomed them inside.

Jaanvi stood there for a few more seconds, watching them disappear into the building.

Then she slipped inside her car again and started the engine and drove away from The Smile Factory.

On her way back, however, Jaanvi suddenly stopped her car at a quiet place where not many people were around.

The sun had already settled below the horizon, leaving behind only a faint stream of light in the evening sky. The road was almost empty and the silence around her felt peaceful.

Jaanvi switched off the engine and stepped out of the car. She walked around to the roof, climbed up and lay down there... staring at the evening sky above her.

The small chilly breeze touched her bare legs, making her shiver slightly while her silky straight hair brushed against her skin.

She smiled and breathed the fresh air, closing her eyes slowly.

"Everything in this place is so beautiful and perfect. Only... only if I had my husband... Dante Russo Or maybe Rhys Larsen... or maybe Christian Harper Or at the very least, maybe Kai Young here with me then it would actually feel complete" she murmured to herself biting her lips shyly.

As she kept taking each of their names, her wild imaginations already started taking over her mind. She kept crafting different scenarios in her mind which made her own face red and hot in embarrassment.

"Oh my god... Stop it jaanu... You're not in your own room and it's not even night, girl!!!" She opened her eyes and sat down slapping her cheeks herself.

And this is another side... or perhaps, a very well-hidden side of Jaanvi Patil.

A die-hard fan of dark romance books.

Jaanvi firmly believed that if a man didn't yearn for her, obsess over her and lose his sanity over her... then he simply wasn't the one for her.

Her standards weren't high. They were practically somewhere in another universe. She didn't want a boring, predictable love story where the girl blushed at every compliment and waited for her man to sweep her off her feet.

No.

Jaanvi always wanted to be the villainous female lead of her own story. The kind of woman who wouldn't blush helplessly in front of her male lead all the time but would instead make him fall for her, accept her and surrender to her... using every twisted trick she could possibly come up with.

In simple words... She would force the man she chose, to choose her.

Her confidence in herself made her believe that once she finds that one guy she's yearning for in her heart.

There's no escape of him, from her life.

It may sound dramatic.

But for her... It was not even a percentage of drama.

But there is only one problem standing between Jaanvi and her perfectly imagined dark-romance life.

She couldn't find a good man... not even a single man worthy of her.

Those men she sees almost everyday in her life are...

Not worthy of her time.

Not worthy of her attention.

And definitely not worthy of her love.

"Kash main kisi book ke andar transfer ho jaati... Kya hi toh sahi hota," she muttered, opening her eyes and staring at the sky again.

(I wish I could Have transmigrated into a book... How amazing would that be)

"The way I keep judging men these days... I don't think my soulmate has even been born yet. I mean... if he had been born, by now we should have met... or at least I should have gotten some hint from God. But no. Nothing. Not even a single sign. And honestly, I think that's enough proof that God wants me to stay single forever. They simply failed at creating the most perfect man for me."

She said with a pout looking at the sky, complaining to the Gods.

_____________________

Hey Roses! 🌹

As promised, I’ve given you the first chapter of His Sinful HOPE. I really hope you enjoyed it because to be honest, I’m actually really nervous about whether you all will enjoy this story or not. 😭

But anyway, the story has finally begun and I’m so excited to take you all on this journey with me too.

Please give Bhuvan and jaanvi the same love you have to Aastik and ahana🥹🌸

And follow me on insta if you hadn't- olly_writess