♥*♡∞:｡.｡𝕳𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝕶𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖓𝖆 ｡.｡:∞♡*♥

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•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

Shivendra and Ruhanika walked towards the car as his guards created a passage for them. 

The orphanage children had gathered to bid farewell to their beloved Ruhi Di, whom they cherished dearly.

In such a short time, Ruhanika had carved a special place in their hearts, just as they had in hers. For a while, they had been her only family, and now, parting from them felt bittersweet.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, yet not a single drop escaped. 

She was holding them back, forcing herself to stay strong. 

Shivendra frowned at this. He didn't want her to bear such burdens at this tender age. 

She should cry, throw tantrums, and express her emotions freely. 

She should live like a normal teenager—not someone carrying the weight of life's hardships.

After a tearful farewell, Ruhanika and Shivendra settled in the car.

In her hands, she clutched a small, cute brown teddy, gripping it tightly as if it were her lifeline. 

Beside her, Shivendra sat in the driver's seat. 

He knew she wasn't comfortable around his men yet, so he chose to drive himself.

"So, who gave you this teddy, princess?" Shivendra asked, wanting to hear her voice and ease the lingering sadness.

"This isn't just a teddy! His name is Hero!" Ruhanika huffed adorably, her expression scrunching up in the cutest way.

Shivendra's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She was acting differently as in the orphanage—almost as if something was holding her back in the orphanage.

"Oh really? And who gave this Hero to my little heroine?" he teased, chuckling softly.

Ruhanika blushed a little, making Shivendra's heart melt. He had an overwhelming urge to scoop her up and keep her safe forever.

"Someone special... from my last foster home," she replied, a distant yet fond smile gracing her lips.

Shivendra smiled too, relieved that at least someone had been there for her. Though, a part of him—his fatherly instinct—hoped that "someone special" wasn't a boy.

"Really? And who is this someone special, princess?" he asked curiously.

Before Ruhanika could answer, her stomach grumbled, betraying her hunger. 

She blushed deeply and hid her face behind her ted—oops—Hero.

Shivendra laughed heartily, and hearing his laughter, Ruhanika peeked out shyly. Unable to hold back, she blurted, "You look good laughing."

Then, she reached out and poked the dimples on his cheeks, giggling softly.

Shivendra stilled for a moment, his heart swelling with pure love.

"Are you hungry, princess?" he asked gently, running his fingers through her hair as the car halted at a red light.

Ruhanika hesitated but eventually nodded, feeling surprisingly comfortable around him.

Shivendra smiled and reassured her, "No worries, there's a restaurant nearby owned by an old friend of mine. We'll eat there."

Ruhanika beamed, nodding eagerly, and Shivendra felt his heart clench at how adorable she looked.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Shivendra stepped out first and opened the door for Ruhanika, helping her down.

The sight of a tall man—over six feet—holding the tiny hand of a girl barely five feet tall was so heartwarming that even Shivendra's guards couldn't resist clicking a picture secretly.

Inside, they settled at a quiet, secluded table since Shivendra sensed she wasn't comfortable in crowds.

"What do you want to eat, princess?" he asked, handing her the menu.

Ruhanika looked at the menu, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. The sight was too adorable to ignore, so Shivendra quickly snapped a picture.

"Can you order for me, please?" she asked, her big eyes sparkling with trust.

Shivendra smiled warmly and nodded. 

He called the waiter and placed their order while Ruhanika admired him silently.

She watched how confidently he spoke, how effortlessly he commanded attention.

She longed to be like that—strong, self-assured, fearless.

Shivendra caught her gaze and raised an eyebrow. "What happened, princess? Do you need something?"

Ruhanika shook her head before admitting softly, "You're very confident. I want to be like you too."

A small pout formed on her lips, making Shivendra chuckle.

"Don't worry, princess," he assured her, booping her nose playfully. "When you grow up, you'll be just as confident as me. But remember, confidence comes when you start believing in yourself. Love yourself first, and then you'll see how strong you can be, my little princess."

Ruhanika pondered his words for a moment before giggling softly. "You sound like Asha Kaki. She always says deep things like this."

Shivendra grinned. "Well, that means she's a wise woman."

Just then, Shivendra's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. 

The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression darkened for a brief second. 

But when he noticed Ruhanika's scared gaze, he immediately softened.

"I need to take this call, princess. Stay here and don't go anywhere, okay? My men are outside—if you need anything, just gesture to them," he instructed gently.

Ruhanika nodded, and Shivendra gave her head a soft pat before stepping away.

As she sat there, a boy—probably in his late teens—suddenly slid into the seat across from her.

"Hi! I'm Raj. And what's the name of this pretty lady?" he asked, his tone flirtatious.

Ruhanika, ever the innocent one, didn't catch on to the implication.

"Ruhanika Sharma," she murmured, unknowingly using her birth surname instead of Rathore.

The boy was about to say something when a cold, stern voice interrupted him.

"Ruhanika Arya Rathore. That's her name, boy."

Shivendra's voice was laced with authority, his glare deadly. The boy visibly shuddered under his gaze, quickly apologizing before bolting out of the restaurant.

Shivendra turned to face Ruhanika, his expression softening immediately.

"Princess, your name is Ruhanika Arya Rathore now. Our surname is Rathore," he informed her gently but firmly.

Ruhanika frowned in confusion, tilting her head cutely. "Is your surname Arya Rathore?"

Shivendra let out a small chuckle before replying, "No, princess. It's just Rathore. But I gave you the middle name Arya." His voice turned guilty. "I should have asked you first before deciding on a name. I'm sorry, princess." he inwardly cursed himself for not seeking her permission about such an important decision of her life.

Ruhanika blinked in surprise. "It's okay... but why only Arya?" she asked curiously.

A soft, nostalgic smile appeared on Shivendra's face. "Aryavi—that was my late wife's name. We always wanted a daughter. When she was pregnant the first time, we decided that if it was a girl, we'd name her Arya. But... life had other plans, and we were only blessed with sons. Now that I finally have a daughter, I wanted you to have the name she dreamed of."

Ruhanika's eyes sparkled with newfound knowledge. "Asha Kaki told me about Aryavi Ma and you. She always said how much Aryavi Ma did for the orphanage. You know, all the kids at the orphanage call her Ma... because she gave us the home we needed."

Shivendra swallowed hard, his eyes misting over. "I know. She was just like you, princess... an angel. A true angel. I miss her a lot." His voice cracked slightly.

Ruhanika, wise beyond her years, responded softly, "You know a person never dies because there memories are always alive with us. These memories are something which makes us realise no matter what the person will always remain in our heart and soul"

Shivendra looked at her, truly seeing her—this little girl who had already suffered so much yet carried wisdom far beyond her years.

 It pained him. 

She was too mature for her age, and he didn't like that one bit.

Soon, their food arrived, and they ate while having lighthearted conversations. 

After settling the bill, they resumed their journey to the airport.

When they arrived at the private jet terminal, Ruhanika's eyes widened in awe.

"It's so beautiful!" she exclaimed excitedly, her childlike wonder making everyone—Shivendra's men and the crew—adore her even more.

Shivendra smiled. "I know, princess. Come on, let's go. Our home is waiting for us."

With then they stated boarding the plane embarking their journey towards Mumbai, the place where Shivendra Rathore lives with his five sons.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

I carefully buckled Ruhanika's seatbelt, ensuring she was comfortable before holding her tiny hand in mine. 

It was her first time on a flight, and I expected her to be a little nervous. But as I observed her, I realized she wasn't the least bit scared. 

Instead, her wide eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed out of the window, completely mesmerized by the journey.

A proud smile tugged at my lips. My little girl was so strong, yet so innocent.

"Weren't you scared, princess?" I asked curiously, my voice soft. Most kids would be a little anxious during their first flight, but she seemed completely at ease.

She turned to me, tilting her head slightly. "What's there to be scared of? We should enjoy the present, not worry about the future," she said with a small shrug, as if it was the simplest truth in the world.

I blinked at her in astonishment. This girl... she was definitely something else. Such wisdom in such a small frame.

I decided not to disturb her moment of admiration and instead pulled out my laptop to complete some pending work. 

But just as I got into my flow, I felt a tiny poke on my bicep. 

I glanced sideways and found Ruhanika staring at me with the most adorable pout.

"What happened, princess?" I asked, closing my laptop to give her my full attention.

She shifted in her seat, her expression a mix of curiosity and hesitation. "You told me you wanted a daughter but had sons instead," she began hesitantly, then suddenly blurted out a string of rapid-fire questions. "How many sons do you have? What are their ages? Are they older than me? Are they tall and scary like you?"

I raised an amused brow, biting back a chuckle at her innocent interrogation.

"Okay, okay, meri Rajdhani Express," I teased, ruffling her hair gently. "I have five sons. Four of them are older than you, and one is the same age as you. So, that means you have five brothers—four elder brothers and one twin in age."

Her mouth fell open in shock, her eyes widening like saucers. 

But in that brief moment, I caught a flicker of something else in her gaze—fear. 

My heart clenched. No, she shouldn't be afraid. 

My sons might be a bit closed off at first, but I knew that in time, they would love and cherish her just as much as I did.

I gently cupped her small hands in mine. "Don't worry, love. Your brothers might seem scary, rude, or distant at first, but trust me, they will love you endlessly. Just give them some time to adjust, hmm?" I reassured her warmly. "And no matter what, I'll always be here. No one will ever hurt you, not while I'm alive."

I watched as her tense shoulders eased slightly, though I could tell she wasn't fully reassured yet. 

Wanting to lighten the mood, I smirked and arched a playful brow.

"But I didn't know you found me tall and scary, princess," I teased, feigning a hurt expression.

Her eyes widened in realization. "N-no! No, no, no, I d-didn't mean it like that!" she stammered in a panic. "It's just... you're really tall and always have that serious face! That's why!"

I couldn't hold it in any longer—I burst into laughter.

She pouted, looking a little flustered, before her eyes landed on my dimples. Without hesitation, she reached out and poked them, giggling sweetly.

I shook my head, my heart swelling with love. 

This little girl had no idea just how much she had already wrapped me around her tiny fingers.

"Don't worry, I was just teasing you, princess," I said softly, my fingers threading through her silky hair.

She pouted adorably. "This is wrong, sir. You shouldn't tease me."

The moment that word—sir—left her lips, my hand stilled. My eyes darkened slightly as an unfamiliar feeling twisted inside me. 

Sir?

She shouldn't be calling me that. I wasn't her employer. I was her father.

I took a deep breath, softening my gaze before asking, "Why are you calling me sir, princess?" My voice came out calm, but there was an underlying firmness to it.

Ruhanika hesitated, playing with her fingers—a nervous habit, I noticed. "I thought... I was supposed to call you sir," she mumbled, barely above a whisper.

I lifted her chin gently, making her meet my eyes. "Princess, I am your father. If you're not ready to call me that, I understand. No one will force you. But if you think I am not ready to be your father, then you're wrong," I told her, my voice filled with warmth. "I want you to give me that place in your life. I want you to call me Baba."

She frowned slightly, tilting her head. "What's Baba?" she asked curiously, her innocent gaze making me smile.

"Baba means father, my princess," I explained gently.

Her eyes lit up in understanding, and she grinned. "Okay then! I'll call you Baba!" she chirped excitedly.

My heart nearly stopped. A warm, overwhelming feeling surged through me. 

Baba. 

She called me Baba. 

The word sounded so beautiful, so perfect coming from her lips. I had never thought a single word could bring me to the verge of tears, but here I was, completely undone.

I then resumed my work, letting her continue gazing out of the window. But before long, I felt a soft poke on my bicep again.

"Baba."

That single word made my heart stutter.

I closed my laptop and turned to her, my emotions swirling uncontrollably. 

Without thinking, I pulled her into a warm embrace, holding her close.

She stiffened for a second and as I was about to pull back thinking she's uncomfortable  she slowly relaxed, wrapping her tiny arms around me. 

That was it—I couldn't hold back anymore. A few silent tears slipped down my cheeks.

Feeling the dampness on her shoulder, Ruhanika quickly pulled back, looking at me with concern. 

"Why are you crying, Baba? Is everything okay?" she asked worriedly, her little hands cupping my cheeks as she tried to wipe away my tears.

I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head. "They're happy tears, princess," I assured her, holding her hands. "Hearing you call me Baba made me so happy that I couldn't control myself."

She smiled, her eyes full of warmth.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself. "By the way, why were you calling me? Did you need something?" I asked, watching her face brighten.

"Baba, can you tell me more about my to-be brothers?" she asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I smiled at her choice of words—my to-be brothers. She was already beginning to accept my family as her own. I just hoped the boys would do the same.

As I started telling her about each of her brothers, she listened intently, hanging onto every word.

Before we knew it, we had landed in Mumbai. The moment we stepped off the plane, we were greeted by our family driver, Ram.

"Welcome back, sir," Ram said respectfully before his eyes curiously landed on Ruhanika.

I nodded at him, then proudly introduced her. "Morning, Ram. Meet Ruhanika—my daughter."

Ram's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise, his expression softening.

"Hello, beta. I'm Ram," he introduced himself gently.

Ruhanika tilted her head adorably before replying, "Hello, Ram Kaka. Myself, Ruhanika Arya Rathore."

A stupidly proud smile stretched across my face. 

She had just introduced herself as a Rathore—with confidence, without hesitation. 

She has been accepting our family as her's too which made me grin like a mad man inside.

Ram, too, looked momentarily taken aback before his lips curved into a warm smile. "That's a beautiful name, beta," he said kindly.

She beamed, and I could see in his eyes that she had already melted his heart.

We got into the car, and just like on the flight, Ruhanika was glued to the window, watching the city pass by with childlike excitement. 

Her eyes sparkled at the towering buildings, the moving cars, and the busy streets. It was heartwarming to watch.

But soon, I felt a shift in weight on my shoulder. Looking down, I saw Ruhanika had dozed off, her small body leaning against me.

A soft smile tugged at my lips. Carefully, I adjusted her into a more comfortable position, letting her head rest on my lap.

My fingers instinctively ran through her soft curls as I gently caressed her head.

Then, suddenly, reality hit me.

Shit.

My sons.

I needed to inform them—fast. The house wasn't exactly child-friendly, and I couldn't have Ruhanika staying in an environment that wasn't comfortable for her.

Luckily, I had already gotten a guest room ready for her. 

But that was temporary. 

Soon, I would personally design her own room—a place that truly belonged to her. 

A place where she would feel safe.

Pulling out my phone, I quickly typed out a message in our group where we mostly discuss mafia or business my two younger son aren't added yet, One don't know about mafia and the second isn't of legal age yet.

Me: Make sure the house is ready to welcome a child. We have a new Rathore in the family. Ensure all of  five of you are present, I'll reach in about 30 minutes

I stared at the message for a second before hitting send.

One thing was certain—Ruhanika wasn't just entering the Rathore family. She was about to change it forever.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•