Rihaan sat on the couch, his heart still racing from the unexpected moment with Naira. He closed his eyes, folding his hands in a silent prayer. "Bhagwan ji, please, agar aapko kahin se bhi lagta hai ki yeh ladki mere liye sahi hai, toh meri future wife banake mere paas bhej dena. Iâll offer 5 kilos of laddus and organize a bhandara. Bas yeh ek wish puri kar do."
( Please God if you think that this girl is good for me please make her my future wife)
As the thought of Naira as his future wife crossed his mind, he opened his eyes, surprised at himself. Where did that even come from? He hadnât really considered her that way before. But after that accidental kiss, the idea of her being more than Ekanshâs best friend had somehow lodged itself in his mind.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. The feelings were confusing, but he couldnât deny that something about Naira stirred emotions in him he hadnât felt before. Maybe there was something more between them, something he hadnât noticed until now. The thought left him both excited and nervous as he realized just how much that brief moment had changed everything.
As Rihaan finished his silent prayer, he felt warmth creeping up his neck, and before he knew it, his face flushed with a deep blush. What am I even thinking? he thought, utterly flustered. His own reaction startled himâhe had never imagined himself blushing over someone, least of all Naira.
But there he was, sitting on the couch, grinning like a fool, blushing at the mere thought of her as his future wife. He shook his head in disbelief, trying to shake off the embarrassment, but the feeling wouldnât go away. The accidental kiss had done more than just catch him off guardâit had ignited a spark he hadnât seen coming.
Bhagwan ji, yeh kya ho raha hai? he thought, his heart thudding in his chest as he glanced toward the kitchen where Naira was. The blush deepened as he realized he couldn't stop thinking about her, and now the idea of her being more than a friend was growing stronger in his mind.
Naira, still in the kitchen, tried to shake off the strange flustered feeling that had overtaken her. She placed the sandwich on a plate, but her mind was elsewhere. What is wrong with me? she thought, frustrated.
Suddenly, the realization hit her like a tidal wave. I love Ekansh, she reminded herself. For years, she had been by his side, silently harboring feelings for him, waiting for the right moment. So why on earth was she now thinking about Rihaan, of all people?
She clenched her fists, feeling annoyed with herself. It was just an accident, she reasoned, her heart racing as she tried to push away the unexpected thoughts of Rihaan. But no matter how hard she tried, the moment of their lips brushing wouldnât leave her mind.
Stop it, Naira! You love Ekansh, she repeated, but the conflict in her heart only seemed to grow. She couldnât understand why Rihaan, someone who had never been more than an acquaintance, was suddenly occupying her thoughts. It was maddening, and the more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
Samyuktika walked into the kitchen and saw Naira finishing up with the sandwiches. It seemed like she had been working on them for a while, long before Samyuktika had woken up. Without saying much, Samyuktika headed to the counter and started preparing some poha, her movements calm and focused.
Naira glanced at her, confused. "Why are you cooking more? I already made sandwiches for everyone."
Samyuktika smiled politely but kept her attention on the poha. "A breakfast should always be filling, Naira. Sandwiches are nice, but poha will give everyone the energy they need for the day."
Naira bit her lip, sensing the unspoken tension. It wasnât just about the foodâthere was something more, something lingering between them that had nothing to do with breakfast. Samyuktika was clearly putting on a composed front, but Naira could tell there was more to her calm demeanor.
As soon as Samyuktika left the kitchen to attend to the servant, Nairaâs competitive side flared up. She stared at the poha, frustration bubbling inside her. Thereâs no way her poha is going to outshine my sandwiches, she thought, her jealousy over Samyuktikaâs calm and poised demeanor mixing with her frustration over Ekansh.
Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, Naira quickly grabbed the jar of red chili powder. Knowing Ekansh couldnât handle spicy food, she sprinkled a heavy amount into the poha, stirring it in with a wicked grin. Letâs see how she feels when her perfect breakfast makes him run for water, she thought smugly.
As she finished, Naira stepped back, her heart racing with a strange sense of satisfaction. She wasnât sure why she felt the need to sabotage Samyuktikaâs dish, but her own insecurities were getting the better of her. For a moment, she felt triumphantâuntil a pang of guilt hit her. Was this really necessary?
After Naira was done adding the extra chili powder to the poha, she smirked with satisfaction. The image of Ekansh struggling with the heat played in her mind, and it gave her a twisted sense of victory. Letâs see how she handles this, she thought smugly.
With the chili thoroughly mixed in, Naira stepped back from the stove, feeling triumphant. She knew Ekansh couldnât tolerate anything too spicy, and this would definitely get a reaction. In her mind, it was a small payback for all the attention Samyuktika was getting lately.
Naira quickly tidied up, putting everything back in place before anyone could suspect a thing. When Samyuktika returned, she found Naira calmly sipping her tea, a perfectly innocent look on her face.
As breakfast time arrived, Ekansh walked into the dining room, looking as sharp as ever. The moment he entered, Naira quickly moved in and wrapped her arms around him in a friendly hug, her voice filled with excitement. "Look, Ekansh! I made your favorite sandwiches just for you."
Samyuktika, standing by the table, clenched her fists, her heart burning with jealousy as she watched Naira get so close to her husband. She forced a calm expression and stepped forward, her voice steady but competitive. "Ekansh, I made your favorite poha. You should try it too."
Ekansh glanced between the two women, clearly sensing the silent rivalry. He gave them both an appreciative smile, though he was a bit confused by the intensity in their eyes. "Wow, I'm getting spoiled today," he chuckled, trying to ease the tension as he took his seat at the table. "Letâs see whose dish wins me over."