A Special Kiss

Kartik glanced at the caller ID. It was Reyansh calling.

He answered the call and held the phone to his ear.

After a prolonged silence, a soft voice came from the other end, "Dad..."

"Hmm," Kartik responded briefly.

Reyansh paused, as though the words were caught in his throat.

Sensing the silence, Kartik broke it, his voice steady but cold, "You need my help to fix that girl, don’t you?"

Reyansh’s faint murmur came through, "You always know everything."

Kartik heard his soft whisper but chose not to react.

While gently stroking Bartika’s head, Kartik spoke in a measured tone, "Give me one reason, and I may consider helping you."

"I’m your son. Isn’t that reason enough?"

"Absolutely not," Kartik replied flatly.

After a brief pause, Reyansh admitted, "I don’t know... I just want to fix her. I don’t even understand why myself."

Kartik’s lips curled into a slight smile, and his gaze shifted toward Bella, who was silently asking him who was calling.

Kartik answered, "It’s Reyansh. Would you like to speak to him?"

"Yes, please. I haven’t spoken to him in six months. You talk to him whenever you want, but I can never bring myself to do it," Bella's voice carried a quiet hint of self-reproach, a sorrow she held more for herself than for Kartik.

Kartik sighed deeply before handing the phone to Bella.

At the Royal Academy, Rockwave's rules were rigid and uncompromising. No student was allowed any digital gadgets or phones.

Because of Aarav, Kartik had granted Reyansh a bit more freedom and power than most students, hoping that Aarav wouldn’t end up like his father, Tarun—once Kartik’s greatest enemy and leader of the Cannibal Tribe.

Kartik had Reyansh's contact number.

He had offered it to Bella several times, but she had declined, determined to avoid favoritism. Now, she was silently blaming Kartik for the lack of a connection.

Once she took the phone, Bella sat next to Kartik on the couch. Her face radiated with the joy of hearing her son’s voice.

"Ray, how are you?" she asked tenderly.

"I’m fine, Mommy. How are you?" Reyansh replied.

"I’m doing well too. How’s Adi and Aarav?"

"They’re both good."

"How’s school? I heard you had a weekly test today?"

"Yes, the test just finished."

"How did it go?"

"It went well."

After exchanging pleasantries, Bella glanced at Bartika, who had her small head resting gently on Kartik’s chest, gazing up at Bella with innocent eyes.

Bartika, in her white dress, looked utterly adorable and enchanting.

With a smile, Bella lovingly cupped Bartika’s cheek and asked, "Sweetheart, would you like to talk to Bhaiya?"

Bartika pouted cutely before asking, "Ray bro, Mommy?"

"Yes, your Ray bro. Do you want to talk to him?" Bella replied. After a moment’s thought, Bartika extended her tiny hand toward Bella.

Before handing the phone to Bartika, Bella said, "Ray, I’m giving the phone to Bartika. Let her talk to you."

"Okay," Reyansh replied.

Bella handed the phone to Bartika, who cutely placed it to her ear. Though Bartika didn’t quite understand what to say to Reyansh, she was eager to connect.

After a moment’s hesitation, Bartika spoke softly, "Ray bro, how are you?"

"I’m fine. How are you?" Reyansh responded.

After hearing Reyansh’s reply, Bartika said in her sweet, innocent voice, "I’m fine too. When are you coming back?"

"Next month," Reyansh answered.

Bartika, unsure of what more to say, handed the phone back to Bella after a brief pause.

"All done!" she said.

Bella, knowing Bartika’s quiet nature well, didn’t press her to speak more.

She then spoke to Reyansh, "She won’t talk much; she doesn’t enjoy it. Now, talk to Kartik. There’s an engagement party tonight, and I need to be there. Take care of yourself, Adi, and Aarav. Bye, love you, sweetheart."

"Bye, Mommy, love you too," Reyansh responded, and after hearing his reply, Bella returned the phone to Kartik, whom she had largely ignored during the conversation.

_______

After some time,

Bella was seated in the dining area with Kartik and Bartika.

Joining them at the table were Kartik’s cousin Palak, Bella’s maternal cousin Vansh, Charlie, Akshat, and Akshat’s wife, Sameera.

Although Kartik usually lived alone in the Opera Palace, Akshat and Sameera’s villa was nearby, and Palak and Vansh resided in their respective homes. Today, however, they had all gathered at Bella’s invitation for breakfast.

During the meal, Bella turned to Sameera and asked, “Sameera, where’s Era? I haven’t seen her all morning.”

Era was Akshat and Sameera’s daughter.

With a soft smile, Sameera replied, “She’s been buried in her math book since early morning. Last night, she couldn’t solve a trigonometry problem, and now she’s determined to master it. When I asked her to join us for breakfast, she refused to leave her room until she’d conquered trigonometry. It took a lot of convincing to get her to eat; otherwise, she was ready to skip breakfast entirely.”

Hearing this, Bella said with a small smile, “That’s wonderful. The next generation is already proving their mettle. It’s reassuring to see such dedication—it eases some of our concerns for the future.”

Bella’s words brought a hint of pride to Akshat’s face. A compliment from the queen of the corporate world herself was no small matter.

Throughout the meal, Kartik remained his usual quiet self. He only engaged socially when Bella was present; otherwise, solitude was his constant companion.

After breakfast, the group stayed a while longer for casual conversation before eventually dispersing to their respective homes.

Now, only Kartik, Bella, Bartika, and Charlie remained in the grand Opera Palace.

Charlie discreetly excused himself to the backyard, where the jet awaited for their departure.

In the living area, Kartik sat with Bartika on his lap, while Bella appeared engrossed in her phone. After a moment, she set the device aside and looked at Kartik, who was conversing softly with Bartika.

Breaking the calm, Bella said, “Kartik, we should leave now. I still need to visit Mumbai to meet Mom and Grandpa.”

Kartik rose with Bartika in his arms and asked, “Are you heading to Mumbai first, or straight to the party?”

“I’ll visit Mumbai first, then attend the party. Kartik, please make sure to come, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Your presence matters,” Bella said with gentle insistence.

“I’ll try,” Kartik replied evenly.

Bella’s tone firmed. “This isn’t optional, Kartik. You have to come.”

He said nothing further but stepped closer to inspect her arm, where Emma had shot her two days ago. The wound was now completely healed, leaving no trace behind.

Leaning in, Kartik pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Take care of yourself, wifey.”

Bella responded with a faint smile.

Bartika, watching intently, puffed her cheeks and exclaimed, “Daddy! I want a kiss like Mommy’s too—right here!” She tapped her forehead, her expression filled with innocent determination.

Kartik’s calm demeanor softened as a rare, almost imperceptible smile graced his lips. He kissed Bartika’s small forehead, earning a dimpled, radiant smile from her. She giggled and leaned forward to place a kiss on his forehead in return.

For a moment, Kartik froze. Bella had kissed his forehead countless times, but this was different. This was the first time someone else—his little daughter—had done so. It was a feeling unlike any other, a moment to cherish.

Though he said nothing, the look in his eyes conveyed everything.

Later, Kartik escorted Bella and Bartika to the jet. Once the aircraft took off, he returned to the Rockwave office building.

The journey to Mumbai took Bella just half an hour—Rockwave’s advanced technology was decades ahead of the rest of the world.

The jet landed directly in the sprawling backyard of Raichand Mansion, located in Mumbai’s prestigious Dream Valley. The mansion, built generations ago by Bella’s ancestors, was a marvel of architectural grandeur. Crafted from exquisite marble, it reflected the regality of a bygone era, befitting the legacy of one of India’s royal families.

As Bella stepped out with Bartika holding her hand, her gaze fell upon an elegant woman waiting nearby. Draped in a simple silk sari, she exuded timeless grace and beauty despite her age.

Bella approached her with a smile, touching her feet. “Mom, why are you standing here in the sun? I would’ve come to you.”

Mrs. Raichand cupped Bella’s face lovingly and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I wanted to welcome you myself. Can’t I do that?”

“Of course, you can, Mom. But you need to take care of your health. Roy told me about your condition last week. Why do you always push yourself? Don’t you care about me? If something happens to you, what will I do?” Bella’s voice carried a mix of worry and frustration.

Mrs. Raichand sighed. “Alright, alright, no lectures. Your dad is waiting for you. Go see him.”

Bella hesitated before asking, “How is Grandpa?”

A shadow of sadness crossed Mrs. Raichand’s face. “Not well. The doctors have given up. We’re just... waiting now.”

---

At Rockwave:

Akshat entered the chairman’s office. “Kartik, the cargo ship’s wreckage has been located. The divers who vanished during the search have also been found.”

Kartik’s sharp gaze darkened as suspicion flickered in his eyes.

---

What will happen next?

To know…

To be continued…

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***