Borrowed Warmth. 

Borrowed Warmth.

“One week from now!” Neelam aunty gushed excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation over the surprises she had planned. “There are going to be so many surprises for them. I simply cannot wait to see their faces when they receive the most awaited gift of their lives!”

Radhika found herself grinning along with her. She was happy too. No—she was absolutely ecstatic.

Over the past few months, she had unintentionally grown incredibly close to Neelam aunty, Sabba, and Zara.

They were no longer just people she knew. Somehow, they had quietly become the family she now lacked.

“You’re more excited than they are going to be,” Radhika found herself laughing from beside her.

“Of course I am!” Neelam aunty defended dramatically. “Do you know how difficult it was to prepare all this secretly?” She gasped suddenly.

“Imagine if someone accidentally ruins the surprise.”

Neelam aunty pointed a warning finger immediately.

“Don’t even joke about such terrible things.”

“I would never dare!”

Watching herself laugh so freely together with her made something ache softly inside her chest.

It had been a very long time since she had felt included somewhere this naturally.

“It’s been a long time since this house felt this lively,” Neelam aunty admitted softly after a moment.

The warmth in her voice made Radhika’s chest tighten unexpectedly.

“And all of you made that happen.”

Neelam aunty clasped Radhika’s hands a little tighter, as though trying to wordlessly tell her how much she meant to her now—how deeply she had become a part of their lives.

Neelam aunty shook her head fondly, changing the subject before the moment grew too emotional.

“You need to promise me something.”

Radhika blinked. “What?”

“That you won’t overwork yourself before the celebration.”

Her gaze softened further.

“Especially you. You lose yourself in work so easily, as if resting were some terrible crime.”

For a brief moment, Radhika allowed herself to enjoy the warmth surrounding her. She didn’t realize then how temporary peace could truly be.

“I won't, I promise.” Smiling softly, she replied.

For the first time in a very long while, Radhika felt truly happy being part of this family. Not once had they treated her like an outsider.

And truthfully, she did not regret becoming close to them—not even for a second.

Being part of a family again, after having lost her own not very long ago, brought a quiet warmth to her heart. Even now, despite the lingering emptiness left behind by that loss, being surrounded by them still felt comforting.

It felt good to belong somewhere again. A small smile found its way onto her lips once more.

“We’ll be celebrating the birthday at a grand hotel this year too, just like always,” Neelam aunty explained excitedly, already lost in planning the upcoming celebration in her mind.

The sparkle in her eyes alone revealed how much she had been waiting for this occasion.

Truthfully, Radhika felt excited too.

The moment she had learned that Sabba and Zara were finally turning twenty the following week, she had been genuinely thrilled for them. Somehow, the excitement inside the house had slowly become hers as well.

A soft smile rested on her lips as she listened quietly to Neelam aunty continue rambling about decorations, guests, food arrangements, and surprises she wished to prepare for the twins.

“There’s still so much left to do,” Neelam aunty murmured thoughtfully before suddenly gasping softly to herself.

“Oh!”

Her eyes brightened almost instantly as another idea crossed her mind.

“Should I take them shopping beforehand?” She asked suddenly, though it sounded more like she was speaking to herself rather than expecting an actual answer.

Radhika couldn’t help but smile at the sheer excitement in her voice.

Sometimes, Neelam aunty resembled an excited child more than a parent.

“Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea,” Radhika heard herself saying.

“Oh, dear, why only them?” Neelam aunty frowned suddenly, her brows knitting together thoughtfully.

“No, no…” she muttered softly to herself before her expression brightened all over again.

“Why don’t we all go shopping together instead?” She suggested midway through her own thoughts, this time sounding much more certain about the idea.“I already know Sabba will spend hours choosing one dress,” Neelam aunty sighed dramatically. “That girl changes her mind every five minutes.”

There was something so childlike and genuine about her excitement that even Radhika found herself getting carried away by it.

“It has been such a long while since we all went out together,” she added warmly before looking at Radhika expectantly.

“What do you think, gudiya?”

Radhika found herself smiling at the hopeful look in her eyes.

“Yes, I think that’s a really good idea,” she replied softly. “You all should definitely go.”

Then, grinning faintly, she added, “I’ll take care of the decorations here meanwhile.” And she would.

Somewhere along the conversation, she realized she had stopped feeling like a guest in this house long ago.

A deep frown immediately formed on Neelam aunty’s forehead. Was she serious?

“What do you mean by you all go?” she asked slowly. “You are not actually thinking of staying behind while we go without you, are you, Radhika?”

Radhika’s silence answered the question for her. Wasn't it obvious enough?

“Oh, you certainly are,” Neelam aunty sighed dramatically reading her expression.

“And no refusing,” Neelam aunty added immediately, pointing a finger at her suspiciously. “You’re coming with us too. No questions.”

Radhika blinked in surprise. “Me too?”

“Obviously.” Neelam aunty looked almost offended. “Did you think we’d leave you behind?”

Then her expression softened, though the firmness in her voice remained untouched.

“No, honey. You are not backing out of this. You’re coming with us.”

Even without saying a word aloud, Radhika’s eyes quietly pleaded with her to let the matter go.

But Neelam aunty simply shook her head in refusal, as though Radhika had suggested something utterly unreasonable.

“Radhika,” Neelam aunty said more gently this time, “family goes together.”

The simplicity of those words left her strangely speechless.

“Do you understand?”

Warmth spread through her chest so unexpectedly that she suddenly found herself unable to speak.

“I—” Radhika started, but she was interrupted.

“No!” She tossed her head again. “Radhika, go. Now!” Taking a deep breath, she repeated the order.

Yet when Radhika still did not move from her place, she made the decision for her.

“I will not hear any more excuses from you. Besides, you need to come with us for your own good, love.”

Her voice softened then, her eyes turning warm and gentle as she studied Radhika’s expression. There was something so achingly maternal about her voice and behaviour that she reminded Radhika of her mother every time she looked at her. The softness in her tone soothed her almost instantly.

Nodding, she urged again, “Go on now, and be quick! We’re going shopping today!”

Clapping her hands excitedly, a bright sparkle lit up her brown eyes as she spoke loudly, her pitch higher than usual.

One more time, Radhika tried to persuade her. “Aunty, I don’t think it is a good idea for me to go. You should go on ahead. I will be fine with Shau—”

“Nonsense!” She cut her off at once. “I wasn’t asking, Radhika. I was stating it. And my little chimpuk is coming too! Your doe eyes will not work on me today, doll. Go and get ready in fifteen minutes. We shall be—” Glancing at the wall clock behind her, she checked the time. “—leaving by four-thirty in the afternoon!”

She waved her hand dismissively, shooing her away. “Go. Be ready. Now!”

Completely defeated, Radhika finally nodded and stood to leave, though not without reluctance.

Over the past few months with her, Radhika had come to realise something about the woman—something rather dangerous. Whenever she wanted something done, it would be done one way or another. She was stubborn to a fault, impossibly adamant once she had made up her mind.

Radhika had noticed that a long time ago.

With her head hanging low in defeat, she finally turned to leave. “Okay.”

“Very good.” Satisfaction coloured her voice immediately. “I’ll be waiting. And be quick!”

Radhika could already tell there was no escaping once that tone entered her voice. The woman had the uncanny ability to bulldoze through every excuse with alarming ease.

She shuffled away reluctantly, though the faint amusement dancing in the woman’s eyes nearly made her smile.

Behind her, she could still hear the woman muttering to herself about outfits, handbags, and how “the girls” desperately needed a proper shopping day.

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