Episode 2: First Impressions, Final Glances

The waiting area outside Family Court Room 3B buzzed with soft murmurs, rustling papers, and anxious parents. Naina sat beside Aarav on the stiff wooden bench, knees locked, palms cold, heart racing.

Her fingers fiddled with the fake engagement ring he’d handed her in the car — simple, elegant, and just tight enough to remind her this wasn’t real. Yet it gleamed too comfortably on her finger. Like it belonged.

“Are you nervous?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

Aarav didn’t look at her. “I don’t do nervous.”

“Of course not,” she mumbled, “You're Aarav Singh Rathore. You probably intimidate the judge in her own courtroom.”

That earned her a faint side-glance. Not a smile, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Barely.

Before either could say more, a court officer appeared at the door. “Case 418B. Custody Hearing — Aarav Rathore on behalf of Mishti Sharma. You may enter.”

Aarav stood. Naina rose beside him, smoothing her pastel kurti and adjusting her dupatta. She felt his hand briefly touch the small of her back — a silent cue — as they stepped into the courtroom as a couple.

Fake.

Pretend.

Yet her heart didn’t get the memo.

The judge was a woman in her late fifties, sharp-eyed and steady-voiced — Justice Meera Rao. She adjusted her glasses as her gaze fell on the couple before her.

“I’ve gone through the initial application,” she said, flipping a few pages. “Mr. Rathore, you’ve petitioned for full custody of your niece after your sister’s unfortunate demise. You’ve also requested expedited consideration based on the child’s mental well-being?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Aarav said clearly. “Mishti is struggling with the constant shifts in guardianship. I want to provide her with the most stable environment possible.”

The judge’s eyes flicked to Naina. “And you are?”

Naina straightened her shoulders, voice calm. “Naina Kapoor, Your Honor. I’m Aarav’s… fiancée.”

There was a pause. A brief flicker of curiosity passed over the judge’s face.

“I see. And how long have you been together?”

“Three years,” Naina answered instantly.

Aarav glanced sideways, startled by her smooth delivery. She didn’t even blink.

“We met at the firm. It started as mutual respect,” she added, smiling softly, “and turned into something deeper. Especially after Mishti came into our lives.”

The judge tilted her head. “Interesting. You live together currently?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Aarav replied this time. “We moved in last week. For Mishti’s sake, we wanted to create a home environment.”

Justice Meera tapped her pen thoughtfully. “I’ll want to see how the child responds in this setup. I’ll be appointing a family welfare officer to visit the home unannounced.”

“We’re ready,” Aarav said.

Before the judge could dismiss them, Mishti, sitting quietly with the court nanny nearby, piped up in a tiny, clear voice.

“Excuse me, Your Honor?”

Everyone turned. Mishti stood on tiptoe, peeking over the wooden barrier.

“Yes, sweetheart?” the judge asked, her face softening.

“I just wanted to say… I like my new mummy. She sings me songs at bedtime and smells like flowers and makes Daddy laugh.”

Naina blinked.

Did Mishti just call Aarav Daddy?

Aarav cleared his throat, visibly caught off-guard.

The judge, meanwhile, smiled. “Noted.”

She banged the gavel once. “Next hearing in two weeks. Until then, the child remains with Mr. Rathore. Good day.”

Outside the courtroom, Naina crouched down, hugging Mishti tightly. “You were so brave in there, angel.”

Mishti grinned. “I told the truth. That’s what grownups say, right?”

Aarav watched them both — the way Naina’s hand brushed through Mishti’s hair, the warmth in her touch. It didn’t look fake. It didn’t feel fake.

For the first time, the weight in his chest — the constant tightness he lived with — loosened just a little.

As they walked out together, Naina matched pace with him.

“You okay?” she asked.

He nodded once.

Then, with a dry chuckle, “You’re really good at lying under oath.”

Naina snorted. “I call it creative storytelling.”

He paused, glanced sideways. “You didn’t have to say we’ve been together for three years.”

“I figured it made us sound serious,” she replied, not looking at him. “Why? Do you think I oversold it?”

“No,” he murmured. “I think you made it sound real.”

Their eyes met — just briefly. And in that second, the world blurred. Cars honked. Phones buzzed. None of it reached them.

“Come on,” Aarav said, breaking the silence. “Let’s take her home.”

📍Scene: Aarav’s Apartment – Evening

Mishti was asleep in Naina’s lap, holding her stuffed dinosaur. The TV played low music in the background. Naina stroked the child’s hair absentmindedly, humming under her breath.

Aarav stood at the doorway, arms crossed.

“She really likes you.”

Naina looked up. “She’s… easy to love.”

He walked in, sat on the opposite couch. “Thank you. For doing all this.”

She shrugged. “You don’t have to thank me. I care about her. And…” she hesitated, “you’re not too bad yourself.”

Aarav quirked a brow. “Are you flirting with your fake fiancé?”

Naina smiled, a soft blush creeping in. “Maybe.”

The air between them warmed.

He stared at her for a long moment before standing. “I’ll bring dinner. Thai okay?”

She nodded.

But even as he left the room, her fingers absentmindedly touched the engagement ring.

Fake.