AUTHOR'S POV
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Ayesha and Kritika stepped inside the Singhania mansion, a heavy silence hanging between them The contrast on their faces was stark and immediate
Kritika’s cheeks were flushed with a shy rosy glow and a demure almost hidden smile played on her lips a secret she couldn't quite keep
Ayesha, however was a portrait of quiet despair the bright sparkle that had lit her eyes when they left was completely extinguished, replaced by a profound, aching sadness that seemed to darken the very room around her
They walked into the grand hall each lost in their own world until a gentle melodic voice cut through their thoughts
"You're both back, come here and sit" It was Nitya ji's her warmth a stark contrast to the coldness Ayesha felt inside Jolted from their private reveries, they moved to the sofa and sat beside her
Kritika offered Nitya ji a genuine warm smile, a look of pure contentment Ayesha in turn, forced a smile a brittle fragile thing that didn’t reach her eyes which remained full of a deep sorrowful ache
"They've eaten, haven't they?" Nitya ji asked, her voice full of maternal concern
The question was a pinprick to Ayesha's fragile composure tears immediately welled in her eyes a hot stinging reminder of the pain she was holding in
She quickly averted her gaze, looking down at her hands and blinking rapidly, furiously, to force the tears back They vanished, swallowed by her eyelids, leaving only a fresh wave of grief in their wake
"Yes, Mom they've eaten," Kritika answered smoothly, her voice a soothing balm
Ayesha, however, felt a weight settle on her chest "Well… Mom actually, he were in a meeting" she said, the words feeling like sharp stones in her throat
"So he said he eat later, he promised"Â The lie felt heavy and hollow, a painful twist of the knife in her heart
Nitya shook her head with a resigned sigh "That boy, always busy with work and meetings" She then gave them a loving smile
"But it's okay now you two go freshen up I'll have lunch prepared for you"
"Um, mom I don't feel like eating" Ayesha whispered, the thought of food making her feel sick
"Why not?" Nitya ji asked, her smile fading into a worried frown
"Just... because i didn't feel like eating right now but I'll eat later, I promise" she insisted, her fingers nervously pinching the soft skin at her throat a habit born of her anxiety
"Alright then Kriti bache will you eat?" Nitya ji turned to Kritika, her hope for a shared meal shifting to her
"Oh, Mom I already had lunch with Rudra ji" she said, her cheeks reddening again as she shyly looked down
The very mention of his name seemed to bring a blush to her face.
Nitya ji's smile returned, even brighter this time
"Oh, what's there to be shy about child It's perfectly fine Now you two go freshen up I'll be back in a bit" She patted their hands and left, leaving them alone with their contrasting emotions
"Ooh, what's this? Eating together, are we" Ruhaan's teasing voice broke the silence
He was looking at Kritika with a mischievous glint in his eyes Kritika's face instantly went a deeper shade of scarlet, but she tried to compose herself
"Well, he forced me to eat! I didn't want to, but he insisted," she stammered, the words tumbling out in a rush
Ayesha watched her, her eyes narrowing as she saw right through the lie she raised a single eyebrow in a silent question, a small, knowing smirk forming on her lips
"Oh, he forced you to eat? And you ate from the same plate, hmm?" Ayesha's voice was a soft, playful whisper but her words landed with the force of a hammer
Kritika's eyes widened in mortification, and she bowed her head, utterly defeated by the playful jab
"Come on, that's enough" Ayesha said her voice softening as she tried to comfort kritika "why are you so shy? he's your husband; what's wrong with eating with him"
"Okay, I'm going bye" Kritika said, hurrying away, her face burning with embarrassment
Ruhaan and Ayesha shared a quiet laugh as she disappeared
"Bhabhi I'm going out for a little while, okay" Ruhaan said, his tone more serious now
"Alright, but come home soon, wherever you're going" Ayesha replied, her voice filled with sisterly concern
"Okay, Bhabhi bye" Ruhaan said, giving her a warm side hug before leaving
Left completely alone, the forced composure Ayesha had been holding onto crumbled
She walked to her room opened the door and went inside, closing it behind her. She slid to the floor her back against the door, and leaned her head back, letting the cold wood soothe her aching temple
She looked down at a small wound on her wrist, a faint smudge of blood still clinging to the skin She touched it gently, her breath catching in her throat
"Shhh," a pained whimper escaped her lips
"Why do you do this? Why do you give me so much pain? Why?" she thought to herself, her eyes squeezed shut The memory of Ayansh's harsh behavior was a bitter taste in her mouth She couldn't understand his cruelty, couldn't fathom what she had done to deserve it
Slowly, she opened her eyes, pushed herself to her feet, and stumbled towards the couch She sat down, her gaze fixed on the wound lost in a haze of pain and confusion, until a heavy numb exhaustion finally pulled her into a fitful sleep
ON THE OTHER SIDE
Shivansh rode his bike with a wild abandon, the wind tearing at his hair as he devoured the road A small tea stall caught his eye and he slowed down a sudden impulse taking over He pulled over, took off his helmet, and got off the bike, the scent of fresh tea hanging in the air
"Uncle, one tea, p..." he began, but his words were cut short by the sound of a voice so sweet it seemed to sing
He turned, his eyes drawn to the source and saw a girl standing at a jhumka shop. It was Shivi a vision of charming defiance
"You can't do this! You have to give it to me for 200 " Shivi was saying, her tone a mix of petulance and determination
A wide, genuine smile spread across Shivansh's face. He just stared at her mesmerized, and slowly, almost unconsciously, began to walk towards her
"Bhaiya, I'm telling you, this isn't worth more than 200" she insisted
"Madam, this is worth 600. How can I give it to you for 200" the shopkeeper pleaded
"I said it's not worth more than 200 You can't fool me Either give it to me for 200 or not at all" she declared, her chin held high
He came to a stop a short distance behind her, a silent, amused spectator to the unfolding drama
"Madam, 200 is not possible," the shopkeeper repeated, his voice strained
"Look, bhaiya, I'm poor. I come from a poor family" She said, her voice trembling slightly
"I can't afford such expensive jhumka, but they're so beautiful I don't want to leave without them. Please think of me as your little sister and give it to me" She even dabbed at her eyes, conjuring a single, convincing tear
The shopkeeper, a kind man, was completely taken in by her sincere heartfelt lie Shivansh however watched in stunned disbelief
"My God, this girl is so cunning" shivansh thought, his inner monologue in full swing
"She looks so innocent, but what did she just say? Poor? Huh? Her dad owns a hospital and look at that acting the poor shopkeeper has completely fallen for it"
"Oh, sister don't cry here, take them for 200 and be happy" the shopkeeper said, his heart melting He put the earrings in a paper bag and handed it to her
"Thank you, bhaiya, you're so nice aapki shadi kisi achi sundar or susil ladki se ho " Shivi said, a huge, triumphant smile lighting up her face as she took the bag
She paid him and turned around, her smile freezing on her face as she saw Shivansh
"Y-you?" she stammered, her eyes wide with shock
"Yes, me. And aren't you ashamed of yourself for robbing that poor shopkeeper" he asked, a playful smirk on his face
Suddenly, Shivi's composure returned, and she stepped forward to face him
"Oh, hello, garibo ke messiah ( messiah of the poor ) he was trying to rob me not the other way around " she retorted, her voice rising slightly
"These earrings were only worth 200 That shopkeeper fools everyone, and today, I fooled him So what's there to be ashamed of " she said, her indignation causing her nose to turn a cute, furious shade of red
He found himself captivated by her fiery spirit and her adorably red nose a genuine charmed smile spread across his face
"I have to admit, your acting was amazing, main to fidaa ho gya " he said, the flirty undertone unmistakable
Shivi's cheeks immediately flushed, and she looked down shyly "W-what did you say?" she whispered
" main 'aapki' acting par fidaa ho gya " Shivansh clarified,
And She let out a small, relieved breath
"Oh, okay"
"What are you doing here, by the way?" she asked, changing the subject
"I was just passing by and saw the tea stall, so I thought I'd get a cup" Shivansh said, gesturing to the stall
"Oh, okay" Shivi replied
"If you don't mind, would you like to have tea with me?" Shivansh asked, his gaze fixed on her, his eyes filled with a desperate, unspoken hope
"Oh, god, I'll offer prayers with sweets Please make her say yes Please god let her say yes" he prayed silently, his heart pounding
"Yes, alright, let's go" She said softly and Shivansh's face lit up like a Christmas tree He was doing a silent, triumphant dance in his mind
"Ladies first," he said, gesturing to the stall with a flourish, and Shivi laughed, the sound as sweet as a bell
They walked to the stall. "Two teas, uncle" Shivansh said
A brief, awkward silence settled between them
"Um, how are Ayesha and Kriti?" She asked, her voice a lifeline in the quiet
"They're both fine" he replied, and the silence returned, heavier this time
"The weather is quite nice today, isn't it?" Shivansh tried again, a desperate attempt at conversation She just smiled, a small, polite curve of her lips
"Shit, what was that? What a cringey question. She's going to get bored and run away, you idiot," Shivansh mentally berated himself
"And how's everything at college? I mean, studies and all," he asked, a little more desperately She simply nodded
"Oh, God, Shiv, are you crazy? What kind of grandpa-like questions are you asking? You're usually such a flirt, what happened now?" his inner voice screamed at him
"What kind of grandpa-like questions are these? Studies and all, huh" Shivi thought to herself, a playful eye-roll hidden from his view
"At least he's asking something. You're just nodding your head" her own inner voice chimed in
"Just shut up, you idiot," she mentally snapped back
The silence between them became an almost physical presence until the tea vendor finally arrived. "Here's your tea," he said, placing the cups in front of them
"Thank you uncle," he said, handing a cup to her they both took a sip
"Wow, this tea is really good," he said, genuinely surprised
"Yes, I really like the tea here," She replied, a soft, genuine smile on her face
"Do you come here often?" He asked, his confidence returning slightly
"Yes, I used to come here with Ayesha, Kriti, Dev, Aryan, and Vihaan after college," She said
"Oh, really?" He said, a tiny, unfamiliar pang of jealousy stirring in his chest
They talked for a little while longer, finishing their tea
"Well, I should get going now It was nice meeting you," she said, a bittersweet note in her voice, She didn't want to leave
"Mee too " he replied, a similar reluctance in his tone as he got back on his bike "Shivi ji let me drop you home"
"Oh, no, no, my house is nearby I'll walk," Shivi said politely
He nodded, put on his helmet, and started his bike. Shivi turned to walk away, but just then, he called out to her
"Shivi ji"
Shivi turns around and says "yes"
"Uh, well, if you don't mind, could you give me your number " he asks, a little nervously She suddenly looks at him
"I mean, just in case you can't get ahold of either of the bhabhi you can call me"Â he adds stammering slightly
"Wow, what a terrible excuse to ask for her number" he thinks to himself
She thinks for a moment then "Okay, fine" She says this and he looks at her in surprise She takes his phone, types in her number, and hands it back to him and was about to leave
"Shivi ji" he said again
She turned back, a question in her eyes "Yes"
"Your red nose when you're angry and your red cheeks when you're shy, they both suit you very well," he said, a low, charming smirk on his face He then drove away, leaving a dazed Shivi standing on the sidewalk
Her cheeks immediately flushed a deep crimson, and a shy, happy smile spread across her face. She walked home, her heart doing a little dance
ON THE OTHER SIDE
It was 8:30 in the evening, and the atmosphere in the Singhania hall was thick with unspoken amusement
Kritika, Ayesha, Ruhaan, and Manvi were all sitting together, but their attention was focused on Shivansh He was in a world of his own, a faraway, dreamy look on his face, a faint smile playing on his lips as if he were replaying a wonderful memory
They all looked at each other, their eyebrows raised in silent question, before turning back to Shivansh
"Shiv, are you okay?" Ayesha asked, her voice filled with gentle concern
"Ha, Bhabhi," Shivansh replied, his voice distant, his mind still miles away
Ruhaan, unable to resist, held up a hand to stop the others "Brother, are you worthless?" he asked, his tone deceptively innocent
"Yes" Shivansh replied, and the entire group erupted in muffled laughter, holding their hands over their mouths to keep the sound from reaching him
Ayesha, still giggling, gestured for them to stop "Dever ji" she asked, her voice as sweet as honey
( brother-in-law )
"Ji Bhabhi ji," he replied, his focus slowly returning
"Can I ask you a question?" she said.
"Ha, puchiye na," he said
"Who are you lost in the thoughts of" she asked, a playful gleam in her eyes
"Sh..." He began, and then the full import of the question hit him. His eyes widened, and he snapped back to reality
"Hehe, nowhere, Bhabhi, I'm right here," he said with an awkward, strained laugh
"Oh, so you're back from your little world?" Manvi teased
"Shut up! I wasn't in any little world," Shivansh retorted, his face burning
"Oh, then where were you? Having tea?" Ayesha asked, a sly smirk on her face he looked at her in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief
"K-kya k-kaha aapne Bhabhi?" he stammered
( w-what d-did you just say bhabhi )
"Chai peene gye the kya?" Kritika asked, her lips twitching with a suppressed smile
( did you go to drink tea )
"No, no, I didn't go, I don't even like tea," Shivansh said, his gaze darting around the room, trying to avoid their knowing looks
Ayesha and Kritika narrowed their eyes at him, a mischievous glint in their eyes
"Okay I just thought you might have gone. The weather was so nice, isliye. Kyu hai na, Ayesha" Kritika said, sharing a look with Ayesha, who nodded with a conspiratorial smirk
"Ha, mausam acha hai, but I didn't go," Shivansh repeated, his voice firm, though he knew they saw right through him
( yes the weather is nice )
"Oh," Ayesha and Kritika said in a mock-dramatic, long-drawn-out tone, and Shivansh let out a sigh of relief, unaware that their game was far from over
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