My father's study smells like very old wood, heavy and nostalgic, the kind of scent that seeps into your clothes if you stay too long. I usually hate sitting here, but tonight it feels right somehow. Appropriate.

I keep reading the articles they have posted about my father, the same phrases repeated in different words, all saying what people want to believe.

"One of the best businessmen."

I lean back in his chair, the leather cold under my arms. My phone buzzes on the polished desk. I do not need to check who it is. Only one man would dare disturb me at this hour. Manish Uncle.

He has been my father's personal assistant for decades but somewhere along the line he became mine too. He has watched me grow up, kept my secrets, fixed my mistakes. Sometimes I think he knows me better than my own father ever bothered to.

I unlock the chat, already knowing what the message will be.

"Ivansh, her parents are landing tomorrow. Evening flight. Six twenty-five arrival. They should be home by seven at the latest."

Perfect. Exactly what I have been waiting for. Her parents, back in the state.

Her.

My Daisy.

I type back without hesitation.

"Arrange dinner. Tomorrow night. My family and her family. Here."

His reply comes almost instantly.

"What reason do you want me to give?"

I tap my fingers on the desk. The answer has always been there, waiting in the corner of my mind for the right moment.

"The Dehradun project. Remember? Assign it to them. Dad wanted a reliable partner for that project. Let him have one."

His response takes a minute.

"I will call the boss first."

The room is silent except for the faint hum of the old ceiling fan. I glance at the photo of my father on the wall, the one where he is shaking hands with some minister I can never remember the name of.

Another message appears.

"Boss agreed to the plan. I called Mr Oberoi just now. I offered him the project."

A small smile finds its way to my face.

"He will accept for sure," I type, quickly.

"He already did. I told him when he is back tomorrow, I will pick him up myself and bring him to your house to finalise the details. His family can join for dinner too."

I send one final message.

"Convince Dad tomorrow. The dinner and the business trip with their family."

A moment later Manish replies. I can almost hear the edge of worry in his voice even through the words.

"But Ivansh, business trip this soon? That's quite impossible."

I stare at his message, fingers drumming on the old wood of the desk. Impossible. There's no such thing called impossible when it comes to what I want.

"Do it, Manish Uncle. Make it happen. Talk to Dad in that voice he listens to. Tell him the Dehradun site needs quick groundwork, fresh eyes, a partner he can trust and all that. And the families should come along too, afterall it's a reunion between two old friends. Make it sound like a mix of work and leisure. He'll like that."

I pause, remembering the college notification that popped up on my phone this afternoon, the one that ruined my mood for the rest of the day.

Examinations. Perfect timing, really. She will be too busy preparing to join the families. I will not join the trip too.

I type again, slower this time.

"We got the college notice this afternoon. Exams are coming up. She will definitely bring that up when her father mentions the trip. And knowing him, he won't leave her alone at home while they're away."

I smirk at the thought. All falling into place.

"When the plan's finalised tomorrow, make sure Dad mentions that she should stay here. With us. With me, my sister, my little brother. Tell him, 'Aapke bachche bhi humare bachon jaise hi hai, bilkul fikar mat kijiye, hum sambhaal lenge' blah blah. Dad will say it the way only he can. Sweet, reassuring, impossible to refuse. He'll convince Mr Oberoi himself if he has to."

Manish's typing bubble flickers and then his reply lands.

"I understand. I'll handle it. The families go for the trip, she stays here, safe under your roof. I'll speak to the boss tomorrow morning and prepare him."

I lean back, staring at the ceiling. Safe under my roof. Just where I want her.

"Good. Book the best resort near the site too. Private cottages, calm surroundings. Make it look like a holiday first, business second. Keep everyone happy and relaxed. And keep me updated every step."

His reply comes in, quick as ever.

"Consider it done."

A moment later, another line follows.

"Do you not think you're doing too much for this girl, Ivansh?"

I almost laugh. If only he knew how little this is compared to what I'd do for her.

"I've waited for fourteen years, Manish Uncle."

Fourteen years since I first knew she was it for me. I was seven. She was six. If only her family hadn't shifted away, we'd have grown up side by side. We would've been great friends. I would've known every version of her. Her secrets, her moods, her anger, her softness. Maybe life would've been simple, a bit kinder. Maybe I wouldn't have had to wait this long.

But life loves drama more than simplicity. It didn't happen that way. Life took her away from me and handed her back years later. Right in my college, right in front of me. Like it wanted to see what I'd do.

The day I saw her again at Saint Xavier's- God. I swear I lost my heartbeat for a second. I forgot how to breathe. She didn't recognise me. Just looked right through me like I was another stranger on her first day. She just saw another arrogant guy she'd rather slap than smile at. I had to pretend that I didn't know her either.

She probably hates me already. Everything about me: my constant teasing, my annoying voice. I could see it in her eyes when she rolled them at me for calling her Daisy. I know she hates how I follow her around, how I push her buttons, and how I call her Daisy.

But, she doesn't know a thing. She doesn't know how I've made her mine in my head a thousand times over. How she looked holding that daisy Aryan gave her. She looked prettier than the flower.

She probably thinks I'm just another cocky bastard in her new college. She probably goes back to her home cursing my name, telling herself she'll avoid me.

Little does she know. Little does she know how I'm going to make her fall for me, piece by piece, day by day.

She's meant for me. Always was. Always will be.

Tomorrow, she'll remember exactly who I am.

Not the football captain.

Not the annoying guy.

But me.

The real me.

She has no idea she's already mine. She has always been.

Maya's phone starts buzzing on the kitchen shelf while she is trying to dry the last plate. She wipes her hands fast on her old pink towel and picks it up. She checks the time. It is 2:45 PM. The screen shows Dad calling. Her heart jumps a bit. She presses the green button and holds it close.

"Hello, Dad?" she says, a small smile already on her face.

"Hi beta," her dad says. His voice sounds warm but a little tired too. She can hear the airport noise behind him. Announcements, people talking.

Meera comes near the kitchen door. She is still holding the vacuum pipe. She makes a face at Maya, like is that Dad? Maya nods.

"Where is Meera?" Dad asks.

Maya laughs a little. "Right here. She has been cleaning since morning. She even cleaned your study, Dad. All your files are safe."

Her dad laughs too. "Good job. But Maya, there is a small change."

Maya stops smiling. She knows his small changes are never really small. "What change?" she asks.

Her dad clears his throat. "We are not coming home straight. Mr Kapoor, you remember him? My old friend. We're going to his house."

Maya stands still. Meera is watching her, trying to read her face.

"So, you are not coming home?" Maya asks slowly.

"Beta, it is important. He offered me a project too. We can't say no. He said bring your wife and daughters too. It will look nice, he said. A car will come for you both. Mr Kapoor's assistant will come to pick you up by six."

Maya tries to hide her small sigh. "Okay, Dad."

"I will bring you pastries tomorrow, your favourite ones. I promise. Now get ready, okay? Wear something nice. I want you both to look happy."

"Okay," Maya says again.

"Good girl. I will see you there. Love you, beta."

"Love you too, Dad."

He cuts the call. Maya keeps holding the phone for a few seconds. Meera comes and takes it from her hand.

"They are not coming?" Meera asks, though she knows.

Maya shakes her head. "We are going to Mr Kapoor's house. For Dinner. He was dad's friend, if you remember."

Meera rolls her eyes. "So all this cleaning was for nothing. We could have just cleaned our room and slept."

Maya laughs a small fake laugh. "I know."

Meera drops the vacuum pipe. "So what will you wear now? Should I iron your green suit?"

"Anything," Maya says. "It does not matter."

----

On the other side

While Maya and Meera are at home changing bedsheets and arguing about what to wear, Ivansh is already at the airport. He stands near the arrival gate, phone in his hand. He checks the flight status every two minutes. Landed shows up on the screen. He locks his phone and slides it in his pocket.

He watches the gate doors open and close. People come out pulling suitcases, hugging family, laughing. He spots Mr and Mrs Oberoi even before they see him. They look just like he remembers - her father's serious face, her mother's kind smile.

Ivansh walks up to them, hands in his pockets. He smiles, small but clear.

"Good evening, sir," he says, voice polite and soft. He bends his head a little like he always does when he wants to look sweet.

Mr Oberoi's eyes widen for a second, then he laughs. "Ivansh! You here? Why did you bother, beta?"

"I wanted to, sir. It felt right to come myself," Ivansh says. He turns to Maya's mom. "Hello aunty. I hope the flight wasn't too tiring?"

She smiles and pats his cheek softly. "It was long, beta. But we're fine now."

Ivansh takes the small cabin bag from her hand without asking. He gestures towards the black car waiting outside. "The car is right here. Let's go. You should rest a bit before dinner."

They walk towards the exit. Mr Oberoi keeps talking about the Dehradun project and how it came at the right time. Ivansh nods at all the right places, asks a few questions to look interested. He doesn't say too much. He wants to look like the good boy in front of them.

He opens the back door for aunty first, then places the bag in the trunk. He sits in the front beside the driver but keeps turning back to talk when needed.

But his mind was only filled with the thought of her. She did not even recognise him that day. Just gave him that cold look and walked away like he was nobody.

Ivansh smiles a little to himself. You don't know yet, Daisy. But tonight you will see who I am. And after that, you will know who you are to me.

He looks at his phone once. Manish Uncle's message is still there: "I will pick up the girls at 5:30 PM. Don't worry."

Ivansh's hand tightens around the phone. Everything is falling into place. Tonight she w

ill sit under the same roof as him, at the same table, eating the food his mother made. And when her parents go away for the project, she will stay back. In his house.

Right where he wants her.