The days passed peacefully.
The cookbook series continued to flourish.
The Moretti Villa, once a temporary workplace for Alankrita, had slowly begun to feel familiar.
Every morning...
The same smiling faces greeted her.
The same warm voices welcomed Raghuveer.
And every evening...
The little boy cried whenever it was time to leave.
No one had expected the bond between him and Damiano to grow so deep.
Least of all...
Alankrita.
Watching them together brought two completely opposite emotions into her heart.
The first...
Was gratitude.
A gratitude too deep for words.
She had always feared her son would grow up wondering what it felt like to have a father figure.
Now...
He laughed.
He played.
He reached for someone whenever he was frightened.
He had found security.
He had found affection.
He had found someone whose eyes softened every time they looked at him.
That thought brought peace to her heart.
But alongside that peace...
Lived another emotion.
A quiet loneliness.
Every evening she watched Raghuveer run happily toward Damiano.
She smiled every single time.
Yet...
When she returned to her room after putting her son to sleep...
The silence always returned with her.
She had spent her entire life giving love.
To her parents.
To her studies.
To Raghuveer.
But somewhere along the way...
She had forgotten what it felt like to receive it.
Only a few days remained before two important occasions.
Raghuveer's first birthday.
And...
Alankrita's birthday.
The entire Moretti family had decided to remain in Italy until both celebrations were over before returning to India.
For the villa...
It became another reason to celebrate.
Preparations had already begun.
The decorators discussed themes.
The chefs debated the birthday menu.
Lavanya insisted that every flower in the garden should bloom for her grandson's special day.
Sumitra smiled every time someone referred to Raghuveer as our little prince.
The child had become the heartbeat of the household.
That evening...
The entire family gathered for dinner.
The long dining table glowed beneath crystal chandeliers.
Fresh flowers decorated the center.
The aroma of homemade pasta, warm bread, roasted vegetables, and traditional South Indian dishes filled the room.
Conversation flowed naturally.
Laughter echoed through the hall.
Raghuveer sat proudly in his little high chair between Lavanya and Sumitra.
Completely unaware that he was the center of everyone's universe.
He happily chewed on a soft piece of bread while occasionally banging his tiny spoon against the tray.
Clink.
Clink.
Clink.
The rhythmic sound became background music to the evening.
Lavanya unfolded a notebook filled with handwritten ideas.
"We should keep his birthday simple..."
she said thoughtfully.
"But memorable."
"I've already asked the florist to prepare white lilies."
Sumitra smiled.
"And jasmine."
"Our little prince deserves jasmine."
Krishnamurthy chuckled.
"He'll probably be more interested in smashing the cake than admiring flowers."
Everyone laughed.
"I've already ordered the cake."
Lara announced proudly.
"It has tiny edible lions."
Raghuveer looked up the moment he heard laughter.
Without understanding why...
He laughed too.
The table erupted into even louder laughter.
Alankrita quietly watched everyone.
No one treated her son like an outsider.
No one pitied him.
No one whispered about his mysterious birth.
To them...
He was simply...
Raghuveer.
Their Little Prince.
A miracle who had somehow become the heart of the Moretti family.
She lowered her eyes.
Her heart filled with gratitude.
Dessert was served.
The conversations slowly shifted from birthday decorations to college plans.
Alankrita would soon complete another academic milestone.
Lavanya asked gently,
"We should celebrate both birthdays together."
Sumitra nodded immediately.
"One celebration."
"Double happiness."
Everyone agreed enthusiastically.
The atmosphere couldn't have been warmer.
Couldn't have been happier.
Then...
A calm voice broke through the cheerful chatter.
"Papa."
The single word silenced the entire table.
Every head turned toward Damiano.
He looked unusually serious.
His gaze rested quietly on his father.
Vittorio smiled.
"Yes, lion?"
Damiano inhaled slowly.
Then...
Without hesitation...
He spoke.
"I want to marry Alankrita."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The laughter disappeared.
Even the clinking of cutlery stopped.
It felt as though time itself had forgotten to move.
Sumitra slowly lowered her spoon.
Krishnamurthy stared in complete surprise.
Lavanya looked from her son...
To Alankrita...
Then back again.
Alankrita herself forgot to breathe.
Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.
She looked at Damiano as though she had misunderstood the words.
But his face remained calm.
Steady.
Completely certain.
He wasn't joking.
He wasn't asking casually.
He had just placed his heart before the entire family.
And the world around them...
Had fallen completely silent.