Hope you enjoy this chapter ❤️

Gauri POV~

Today marks the fifth death anniversary of my grandmother.

The woman who took me in her arms when my own relatives abandoned me after my parents' death. The woman who wasn’t my grandmother by blood but was the best grandmother anyone could ever ask for.

A soft hand wiped the tears off my face, and I looked beside me to find Rishi, a seven-year-old boy.

He was abandoned by his own family when he was just a newborn. My grandmother found him in a park and gave him all the love he deserved.

I gave him a small smile before turning back to my grandmother’s photo for one last time. When I stepped back, I saw all the children standing together.

"I'm sorry," Nidhi, a five-year-old girl, said in a sad voice. I knelt before her.

"Aww, princess, what happened?" I asked gently as a tear escaped her eyes.

"We know you're missing your grandmother. She can't come to us now… you said she has become a star," she whispered, her tiny hands gripping my wrist.

I pulled her into a hug.

"Yes, baby, but we should remember her through our happy memories. She is at peace now, and if she sees you crying like this, she’ll be sad too," I said, wiping her tears away. She nodded in understanding.

"Didi, let’s watch her favorite movie, DDLJ!" Rishi suggested excitedly, trying to cheer me up.

I chuckled. "That’s a great idea! But I think it's time for your school," I said, glancing at my wristwatch. It was already eight o’clock.

"Come on, everyone! Go to Aunty and get ready for school. I promise I’ll come in the evening, and we’ll watch the movie together, okay?"

As soon as I finished speaking, the children cheered and ran to the wardens.

There was a government school nearby, and it was mandatory for all of them to attend.

I walked outside the orphanage and put on my helmet before starting my scooty.

Little Angels Home.

The place I once called home, the orphanage where I grew up. Even though I don’t live here anymore—since children are required to leave once they finish their 12th grade—I still miss staying here.

I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to study at Horizon University, the most prestigious university, where I found the two girls I now call my family—Chandni and Mary.

It’s not that no one wanted to adopt me. It’s just that I never wanted to leave the woman I considered my grandmother.

After a short ride, I parked my scooty in the small parking area near my studio and rushed inside.

The morning session was about to begin—this session was exclusively for school girls who came to learn dance.

As I stepped in, I saw Krishna arranging water bottles.

I had been searching for someone to help me manage the studio, and that’s when I found her.

She was like a little sister to me.

"Good morning, Didi!" The girls greeted me with bright smiles, their eyes shining with excitement.

"Good morning, champs!" I greeted them back, my mood instantly lifting.

I started the session by asking them to perform what I had taught them yesterday. Most of them were so passionate about dancing that they executed the steps perfectly.

The morning session ended sooner than I realized, and soon, their parents arrived to pick them up.

"Did you have breakfast?" Krishna asked as soon as I sat on the bench.

She knew me too well.

I gave her a small smile, and she shook her head in disapproval.

"Didi, you need a husband," she said out of nowhere, making me blink.

"Huh? You’re lucky that you found yours on an app. I’m just… unlucky in love," I admitted, a small bitter laugh escaping my lips.

"Did someone break your heart?" she asked suddenly, her tone was serious.

I chuckled. "Yeah, very badly," I admitted, my voice softer this time.

"You’re really good at hiding your pain behind smiles," she whispered.

I looked away, pretending to search for my phone.

"Enough of this discussion. Let me check the comments now," I said, changing the subject.

Checking Instagram has become a part of my daily routine.

Social media had been a game changer for my dance studio, and I was truly grateful for all the support I received. That’s why I made it a habit to reply to every comment on my posts.

Krishna soon brought me breakfast from a nearby dhaba, and I ate while scrolling through my phone.

Before I knew it, the afternoon session had started.

This session was for college girls who often performed with me at events.

We had an important performance coming up—an award function organized by Kapoor Dance Center. It was a huge event, and I had been invited to participate because of my popularity on social media.

At first, I wasn’t sure about joining.

Not because of the competition… but because it was organized by Sunidhi Kapoor.

The mother of Rajveer.

Rajveer.

My first love.

I pushed the thought away. There was no point dwelling on the past.

I had decided to participate for the sake of my students—I couldn’t let their hard work and talent go to waste.

We practiced our routine multiple times, making sure every step was perfect.

Then, the last session of the day began.

This one was unplanned at first.

It had started when a few elderly women approached me, asking if I could teach them to dance. I couldn’t say no.

This one-hour session had now become a part of my daily routine.

I had seen many elderly women who had nothing left to look forward to—women who were just waiting for their final days, bored and lonely.

And now?

Dancing had become one of the things that brought them joy.

In each of them, I saw my grandmother.

And in me, they saw their granddaughter.

Was my life busy? Yes.

Did I ever wish to be free? No.

Because I was still trying to forget the memories I had promised myself, four years ago, to let go of.

But forgetting was easier said than done.

So, here's the first chapter of this book.

Do you find it interesting?

Thanks for reading ❤️