Silent worries

Chapter 18

In the quiet elevator, Sky and Nani stood side by side, the soft hum of the machinery filling the silence. They were on their way to dinner with Mrs. Hari.

Nani noticed the faint trembling in Sky's hand. Without a word, Nani reached out, slipping his hand gently into Sky's. His grip was warm and steady, an unspoken promise that he was here.

As the elevator reached the top of the building, the most exclusive and luxurious floor. Sky's grip on Nani's hand tightened slightly. The doors slid open to reveal the breathtaking restaurant, every detail gleaming with quiet elegance. The entire space was booked by Nani to ensure his mother could enjoy her evening in privacy.

Nani gave Sky's hand a light squeeze, glancing back at him with a reassuring smile. "Come on," he murmured softly, his tone gentle, like a warm embrace.

Walking out of the elevator, Nani kept Sky's hand firmly in his, leading him through the grand dining room.

At the heart of the room, Mrs. Hari waited at a beautifully set table, her graceful posture radiating warmth. Her expression softened the moment she saw them.

Mrs. Hari stood up with a warm smile, opening her arms for a hug. Nani stepped forward, wrapping her in a brief, gentle embrace before turning to Sky.

"Mom, this is Sky." Nani said, his voice soft but steady. "Sky, this is my mom."

Sky offered a polite smile, his hands fidgeting slightly at his sides. Mrs. Hari's gaze softened as she stepped closer, extending a hand to him.

"It's lovely to meet you, Sky." she said warmly.

Sky quickly took her hand, his grip light but respectful. "It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Hari."

Nani's hand lightly rested on Sky's shoulder, a quiet reassurance. The moment was simple, but the kindness in the air was enough to make Sky feel welcome.

Mrs. Hari turn toward the table with a kind smile. "Come, sit. Let's make this evening a comfortable one."

Nani led Sky to a seat beside him, pulling out the chair for him. Once seated, Mrs. Hari's gaze alternated between her son and Sky, her smile never faltering.

"Nani talks about you," she said, addressing Sky directly. "He didn't mention how charming you are, though." Her tone was light, teasing.

Nani leaning back in his chair. "Mom, don't scare him off."  he said with a small laugh, his eyes flicking toward Sky as if to make sure he was okay.

Mrs. Hari chuckled, her smile deepening as she rested her hand gently on the table. "I'm just being honest, Nani. You could stand to learn a thing or two about making people feel appreciated. Before he runs away from you again."

"Mom," Nani groaned, letting out a soft laugh, his cheeks tinting just slightly.

Before the teasing could go any further, the food arrived. A variety of dishes graced the table, but most of them were Nani's favorites.

Nani picking up his fork to scoop a perfectly cooked shrimp onto his plate. Sky noticed immediately, his brow furrowing as he let out a small cough—a clear signal to Nani. But Nani pretended not to hear, focusing on the shrimp as if it were the only thing in the world.

Sky sighed, leaning over with a gentle but firm movement, using his fork to remove the shrimp from Nani's plate. His voice was calm but steady as he spoke. "Nani, we've talked about this. You're not allowed to eat shrimp."

Nani let out a dramatic huff, his shoulders slumping as he glanced at Sky with a mix of defiance and pleading. "It's just one, Sky. Just one! It won't do anything," he argued softly, his tone more hopeful than stubborn.

But Sky didn't budge, his sharp but caring gaze locking onto Nani's. "No. We're not risking it," he said firmly, his voice unwavering yet full of quiet concern.

Across the table, Mrs. Hari watched the exchange with a knowing smile, her heart swelling with a mix of warmth and amusement. Of course, she was well aware of her son's love for shrimp and his allergy to it, a frustrating combination that often led to moments like this. She also knew her son's stubborn habit of preparing medicine just so he could eat them.

But seeing Sky's firm yet caring response, her worries eased. It was clear this young man wasn't just attentive, he cared deeply about her son's well-being.

"You know, Nani," Mrs. Hari said gently, her eyes sparkling with affection, "I think Sky is going to keep you out of trouble more than I ever could."

Nani, on the other hand, rolled his eyes dramatically, though there was a small smile tugging at his lips. "Trouble is more fun, though," he muttered under his breath, earning a quiet chuckle from his mother.

Even so, as they continued eating, Nani stayed away from the shrimp like Sky had told him. But he couldn't help teasing, gesturing toward the shrimp now and then with a playful smile.

Sky caught on quickly, meeting Nani's antics with a soft smile and a gentle shake of his head each time as a no to Nani.

Mrs. Hari watched the exchange with quiet warmth, her heart touched by the natural connection between them. Sky's unwavering patience, paired with Nani's playful softening under his gaze, created a balance that spoke of care and understanding.

Leaning back slightly, she let her eyes linger on the pair. In Sky, she saw someone who could meet her son's stubbornness with steady kindness.  And in Nani's teasing, she saw something deeper, a trust and comfort she hadn't seen in her son with anyone before.

It all painted a clear picture. Her son had found someone who would stand by him, stubbornness and all, and for that, she couldn't be more grateful.

After dinner had finished, Mrs. Hari returned home and quietly walked into her husband's study room. The soft light from the window bathed the room as Mr. Nirav sat on the couch, a book in hand. His focus was on the pages, but when he sensed her presence, he looked up, a calm smile appearing on his face.

"How was dinner?" he asked gently, his voice soft as he reached out to take her arm.

Mrs. Hari returned his smile and walked over, sitting beside him. She leaned in, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. The warmth of the moment was comforting, peaceful.

Mr. Nirav smiled gently and took photos from between the pages of his book, showing it to his wife. It is the photo of Sky and Nani when they went to ice cream together. "I haven't seen him smile like this since I chased Cherry out of his life." he remarked, a bittersweet note in his voice.

Mr. Nirav knows it hurt Nani, but as a father, Mr. Nirav wanted the best for his son. At first, he just wanted to test her, see if she truly cared... but he never expected her to actually take what he offered and leave his son like that. After seeing that, he couldn't allow someone like her to be near his son anymore.

Mrs. Hari took the photo in her hands, studying it for a moment before glancing at her husband. She could tell from his expression that there was more to the story than just a simple decision. Mr. Nirav's protective nature was always there, but she knew it hadn't been easy for him either.

"I know that you feared Sky might hurt our son like Cherry did, but I can tell he's different," Mrs. Hari said gently. "He's not going to hurt our son, not like that. And for Nani... well, you've already seen it yourself. He's back to his normal self, just because of this boy."

The shift in their son was clear to her, and she could see how Sky had become a steady presence in Nani's life. The way Nani let himself be cared for, she knew that this was something genuine, something Nani needed.

" I haven't said anything yet." Mr. Nirav said

"Khun Nirav, we've been married for a long time," Mrs. Hari said with a soft laugh, her eyes twinkling as she looked at him. "Just the look on your face, I can already tell what you're thinking."

Mrs. Hari chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Like father, like son," she teased, her voice light. "You both think you can hide everything behind a calm face, but it's clear to me."

Mr. Nirav let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head with a small smile.

She smiled warmly, leaning in to rest her head against his shoulder again. "But it's okay to trust Sky. Nani is in good hands."

Mr. Nirav didn't answer immediately. His gaze was distant, as if his mind was already made up. He needed to ensure that this boy, Sky was truly the right one for Nani.

He didn't doubt his son's feelings, but he couldn't ignore his role as a father, wanting to shield Nani from any possible harm.  His thoughts were quiet but firm; he had his plans, and he would take the necessary steps to make sure Sky's intentions were clear before fully letting go of his concerns.

Mrs. Hari watched him in silence, knowing her husband well enough to understand that his actions would speak louder than words. She trusted him, as she always did, but part of her hoped he wouldn't do anything that might hurt Sky and Nani again, even if it wasn't his intention.