The Dream in Cherry Red

It stood there like a secret whispered into the morning light—the cherry red Mercedes. Crimson and bold, reflecting the sun's golden rays, it wasn't just a car. It was a symbol of something much more intimate, something deeply personal.

To anyone else, it was a luxury vehicle.

To her, it was a dream she never dared to dream aloud.

Anaya's breath caught. Her heartbeat skipped in uneven beats. Was this real? Her fingers tightened around the cold railing of the stairs for a second longer as her gaze remained locked on the car's gleaming surface. It was hers. He had done this. For her.

In that moment, something inside her snapped—the composure, the shyness, the hesitations.

Her instincts took over.

She ran.

"Rudraaa!" she called out, voice laced with the kind of joy that cracked through every carefully constructed wall.

The man, dressed in a crisp navy blazer with his hands in his pockets, turned at the sound of her voice—and barely had a second to react before she collided into his chest like a rushing wind. A soft gasp escaped his lips as he instinctively caught her.

She leapt.

He held.

Her arms circled his neck as he lifted her just a little off the ground, like she weighed nothing, like the moment weighed everything.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she breathed into the crook of his neck, trembling with happiness.

Her lips brushed his cheek in a rushed, overjoyed kiss. Rudra stilled.

It wasn't the kiss that surprised him—it was the innocence of it. The softness. The purity. As though her happiness came pouring into him like honey on a wound.

"Thank you, Mr. Wallet," she added breathlessly, cheeks flushed, giggles caught in her throat, and eyes brimming with unshed tears of joy.

His lips curved into a rare, real smile.

Velvet.

Only she could call him that name and make him feel like it meant something softer than it sounded.

And then her body stiffened.

She blinked over his shoulder. Her arms around his neck froze. He followed her line of sight and found the culprits.

Four.

Four pairs of amused, nosy, sibling eyes watching them like they were the new season of their favorite drama.

Anaya's voice lowered to a shy whisper. "Rudra... they're watching."

Rudra's arms didn't loosen around her waist. If anything, he held her closer, like her discomfort amused him.

"Who is, Velvet?"

She nudged her chin slightly toward the columns where they stood. "Them..."

He turned calmly, with the deadly grace of a man used to power. His voice came deep, unshaken, commanding. "Come out."

Two shadows emerged immediately—Janvi and Ria, both giggling like schoolgirls caught watching a forbidden movie.

Ria smirked. "Bhai, the other two are hiding like amateurs. Call them too!"

Rudra raised a brow. "Ravi. Aarav."

Sheepish grins. Two smug faces peeking from the other side of the pillar. "We were just... learning for future reference," Aarav said.

Ravi added, "Yes, Rudra. Observing. Relationship studies."

Rudra let out a small scoff. "Oh? Toh kya sikha?"

They laughed.

Ria came closer with Janvi, both whispering and glancing between Rudra and Anaya.

Anaya tried to escape the moment, slipping from his arms, but he caught her wrist gently.

"Leave me, na," she murmured.

"Why should I?" he whispered back, pulling her flush against his chest. His breath brushed her temple. "What's there to hide now?"

"Rudra..."

The girls giggled. Ravi and Aarav were openly entertained.

"Bhai," Aarav called, "this wasn't an arranged marriage, right? Admit it. You arranged it yourself."

Ravi added, "Honestly, it was the worst kept secret in the house."

Rudra looked down at the girl in his arms. "See? Told you, Velvet. Caught."

Anaya groaned, burying her face into his chest. Her embarrassment made him chuckle. She looked so adorable when she was flustered.

He finally let go, letting her step back, brushing her hair gently off her cheek. "Go get ready for your drive," he said softly. "The driver's waiting."

But then Ria piped up again. "Bhai, actually... she knows how to drive."

Rudra's brows rose. His voice dropped an octave. "Really?" He turned to her slowly. "You do?"

There was a teasing danger in his tone.

Anaya opened her mouth, flustered, when Janvi stepped forward and said smoothly, "Sir, we need to prep the meeting presentation. Anaya's leading this one."

Rudra tilted his head, admiring the quiet teamwork. "Go ahead. Best of luck."

As the three girls turned to leave, Rudra's eyes followed her. Just before she disappeared inside, she looked back at him—and he smiled. The kind of smile that only belonged to her.

Aarav leaned in toward his older brother and asked, "Bhai, Janvi and Bhabhi ka project toh samajh aata hai… but Ria? Ghar par rehne wali ko kab se meetings ka shauk lag gaya?"

Rudra laughed softly, placing a hand on Aarav's shoulder. "She might surprise you someday."

He paused.

"Or not. But she'll definitely shop as if she's training for the next Olympics."

Everyone laughed.

And behind them, the cherry red car gleamed brighter in the sunlight—as if it too had a heart that had just witnessed love bloom.

.______..______..______.📕.______..______.📑📑

The soft click of the front door echoed behind them as the Singhaniya brothers departed for the office, leaving a trail of warm engine rumble and an invisible cloud of cologne in the air. The mansion sighed into silence, just for a moment—until Ria, with her usual bounce, turned mid-step on the staircase.

"Anaya," she said, her voice sharp with curiosity, "did you ever tell my brother about the car of your dreams?"

Anaya stopped walking.

Her hand froze on the polished railing. Her brows furrowed as her mind rewound. Through conversations, teasing nights, and quiet dinners—had she ever mentioned it?

"No…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "No, I never told him."

Ria blinked. "What?"

Anaya turned to her slowly, her eyes wide with realization. "I never told him. Not once. Not even by accident."

The thought hit her like a summer storm—unexpected, heavy, and impossible to ignore.

Her diary.

The cherry red Mercedes… she'd written about it. Not said it aloud. It was a wish buried in the pages of her private thoughts, scribbled in faded blue ink with little hearts around it. A dream she'd once sketched on paper, not in speech.

"Oh my god," she muttered.

"What?" Janvi asked, her interest piqued. She walked beside her now, her eyes glinting with suspicion and mischief. "Wait... you write a diary?"

Ria gasped dramatically and burst out laughing. "Girl! Our beastie writes a diary too? What is this—secret life of Anaya Malhotra?"

They both looked at her with wide grins and gleaming eyes.

"Woah, chica," Ria said, nudging Janvi, "how many secrets do we not know about her?"

Janvi joined the laughter. "She's got levels, babe. Plot twists and layers."

Anaya, caught in their whirlwind, bit her lower lip and tried to suppress a smile—but failed gloriously. Her cheeks turned a soft pink. She was glowing in the kind of way that wasn't just from blush—it was from joy, surprise, and a love blooming beneath the surface.

"Well ladies im your friend yeah, we are the trio," Anaya said, lifting her chin playfully, "you girls want the whole story?"

"Yes, duh!" Ria and Janvi said in unison.

"But not now," Anaya added with a wink. "Janvi meri jaan, we're late for the presentation!"

"Ugh, right," Janvi groaned, rolling her eyes as she turned toward Ria's room.

"I'll grab my phone," she muttered, already halfway there.

Ria huffed. "Fine. I'm going to the dining room. But you owe me tea and tales later."

Anaya smiled, watching them scatter like wild colors in the wind. She turned and walked gracefully to her own room.

The air inside was still—calm, familiar. She moved like a rhythm—grabbing her laptop, the soft beige file folder, and her satchel. Her eyes, for a brief second, flicked to the side table drawer where her diary was tucked safely.

Her fingers lingered on the drawer handle.

He read it.

But somehow, it didn't feel like a breach. It felt like he saw her. He wanted to know her. To give her a dream she never dared ask for.

Her heart raced.

"Mr. Billetera," she whispered under her breath, the nickname curling on her lips like a secret.

Minutes later, the girls met again outside.

And there it stood—her cherry red Mercedes, waiting like a knighted chariot. The morning sun glazed the hood, making it gleam like rubies.

Anaya walked to the driver's side, inhaling the scent of fresh leather and new beginnings.

She slid into the seat.

Janvi sat beside her in the front, buckling up with a raised brow. "Driving today, boss?"

Anaya nodded, adjusting her rearview mirror.

With a gentle hum, she started the engine. Her fingers ran softly across the steering wheel before she whispered, "Soon to be twenty-one… and I already have you, my red love."

Her voice was calm but full of emotion. She admired the dashboard like it was alive.

"This is my dream."

Janvi smiled as she looked at her. "You deserve all of it. Every damn bit."

With that, Anaya pressed the accelerator. The car glided forward like silk on marble. The cherry red dream roared gently to life as it pulled out of the driveway.

But little did they know—they weren't alone.

Behind them, like shadows with golden hearts, the black G-Wagon glided out of the Singhaniya mansion.

.______..______.📑.______..______..______..______.‼️

The black G-Wagon roared to life behind the Singhaniya mansion as Rudra slipped into the driver's seat. He looked over at his unexpected passenger, Aarav, who climbed in with a careless grin.

"Why are you here?" Rudra asked, voice low, eyes flicking to the passenger door. "Where's Ravi?"

Aarav clicked his seatbelt into place, stretching one arm across the headrest. "Bhai, drive fast—before they get too far. I'm not here for your love story; I'm following my own." He laughed, but Rudra merely raised an eyebrow.

Rudra started the engine. The G-Wagon lurched forward, black steel sliding into the driveway. "I don't know how well she drives," Rudra said, tone clipped. "Better I follow her to the office."

Aarav leaned back, smirking. "The aunty from next door can drive better than you, bhai. I only know how to… face rejection."

Rudra glanced at him, eyes narrowing. "She's rejecting you because you work too hard before proposing. Instead, impress the girl who lives inside her." His voice was firm but carried an edge of teasing affection. "Go after her next time."

Aarav's smirk melted into a slow grin. "So, you mean the child inside? Right." He waved a hand theatrically. "Got it. Live, love, propose."

Rudra's foot pressed down, and the G-Wagon leapt forward, its bulk sliding out of the gates with surprising agility.

.______.◑﹏◐.______.◑﹏◐.______..______..______.💕

Ahead, the cherry-red Mercedes slipped around the first bend. Anaya sat poised behind the wheel, her long hair caught in the breeze of the open window. Janvi sat beside her, phone in hand, bracing herself against the rush of speed.

"Mom," Janvi squeaked, her knuckles white on the door handle. "Drive slower—this isn't a racetrack!"

Anaya's lips curved into a confident half-smile. She glanced at the speedometer—it hovered at ninety, then nudged past a hundred. "I'm not driving slow because our… man is chasing us, Janvi."

Janvi's eyes widened. "Our man?! I thought you want to say your man...right?"

Anaya laughed, a soft, joyous sound. "Not now…but soon."

She flicked a glance into the rearview mirror and saw the G-Wagon's headlights glinting like twin sentinels. Recognizing the shape, her heart fluttered—he was close.

With a determined nod, she pressed her foot harder on the accelerator. The Mercedes responded like a thoroughbred—its engine snarling in eager compliance.

Janvi's phone buzzed. She fumbled to answer. "Hello?"

"Aarav," came the voice. "Don't park in the public lot. Pull around to the back of the office building."

Janvi's jaw dropped. "How'd you know we were—?" She looked at Anaya, panic flickering.

Anaya drew a steadying breath. "He must be listening in." She kept her foot heavy on the gas pedal. "Hold on."

"Okay, private parking," Janvi told Aarav, then dropped the phone. "He says pull into the back. And fast."

Anaya's grin turned playful, almost wicked. She slammed her right hand to the wheel and flicked the Mercedes into a smooth, controlled drift around the next curve. The cherry-red body swayed—and then straightened, as she regained grip.

Aarav, who is just shocked at Anaya's drifts. "Wow! Did you see that?"

Rudra, said whiel saying his senses sharp. "I'm only warming up."