Chapter 35: Chapter 32

A Month Later

It was a sunny afternoon at the Desai mansion, and the atmosphere was unusually lively. Urmi sat cross-legged on the plush couch, her fingers drumming excitedly on the coffee table. Opposite her, Vasu leaned back in a recliner, scrolling through his phone. Both had mischief sparkling in their eyes, a telltale sign of brewing trouble.

Siya entered the living room, cautiously clutching a steaming cup of tea. She immediately noticed the conspiratorial smiles shared between Urmi and Vasu. Raghav trailed behind her, glancing at his phone, his expression blank until he caught sight of their faces.

“What are you two up to?” Siya asked, setting her cup down.

Urmi beamed, her enthusiasm almost blinding. “We’ve made a decision!”

“About?” Raghav raised a brow, already sensing that he wouldn’t like the answer.

“Our honeymoons!” Vasu announced, tossing his phone onto the table.

Cough, Cough

Our what???

“Honeymoons?” Siya echoed, her tone dripping with confusion.

“Yes, double honeymoon!” Urmi exclaimed. “Both couples, together!”

The room fell into an awkward silence. Siya froze mid-sip, choking slightly on her tea. Raghav, standing behind her, coughed to hide his reaction, his ears turning an unmistakable shade of pink.

“That’s… um…” Siya started, struggling for words.

“Ridiculous,” Raghav finished bluntly.

Urmi ignored the comment, leaning forward as if to seal the deal. “Think about it! It’ll be so much fun. We’ll create unforgettable memories, bond as a family, and—”

“And invade each other’s privacy?” Raghav cut in, his voice calm but firm.

Urmi gasped, clutching her chest theatrically. “Privacy? Oh, come on, Raghav. What privacy are you talking about?”

Siya’s face turned crimson, and she stammered, “Dii, that’s not—”

“Oh, don’t be shy!” Vasu interrupted, grinning like a cat that got the cream. “We know newlyweds can be a little… reserved about these things, but trust us, you’ll thank us later.”

“Thank you? For what?” Raghav asked, his eyes narrowing.

“For planning the most romantic getaway of your life,” Vasu declared. “Picture this: Goa. Beautiful sea, private villas, candlelight dinners…” He paused, leaning forward with a sly smile. “You'll be even closer than before.”

Siya sputtered, nearly knocking over her cup. “Jiju that’s really not necessary—”

“Necessary?” Urmi cut in, waving her hand dismissively. “Siya, you two need this! Marriage is about building memories, creating bonds, and—”

“Stop.” Raghav’s voice was sharp, but Urmi pressed on, undeterred.

“And maybe,” she continued, grinning wickedly, “we’ll finally get to see you two romancing, hmm?”

Raghav exhaled through gritted teeth, while Siya looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. “Di, we really don’t need—”

“Please don’t argue,” Urmi interrupted, her tone light but firm. “You’ve been so busy with family responsibilities; this is a chance to relax and reconnect.”

Vasu smirked. “And let’s not pretend you’re not excited. Siya, I’ve seen the way you look at brochures for romantic destinations. You’ll love it!”

Siya’s jaw dropped. “What!! When?? I have never—”

“Of course, you haven’t,” Vasu teased, winking. “But your blush says otherwise.”

Siya glanced at Raghav, silently pleading for rescue, but he looked equally trapped. He ran a hand through his hair, muttering, “This is ridiculous.”

Urmi clapped her hands together, her eyes shining with glee. “I’m taking that as a yes! Oh, this is going to be amazing. Double honeymoon—Desai style!”

“We didn’t agree to anything,” Raghav growled, his patience wearing thin.

“Oh, you will,” Urmi said, smirking. “Once you see the itinerary, you’ll change your mind.”

Vasu leaned back, grinning like a mastermind. “We’re doing this for your own good, you know. One day, you’ll look back and thank us.”

Siya buried her face in her hands. Raghav crossed his arms, glaring at the couple. “You two are impossible.”

“And you two are adorable,” Urmi countered, unfazed.

As Urmi and Vasu continued to chatter about flight schedules and villa preferences, Siya and Raghav exchanged a silent look of mutual despair. For the first time, they truly understood what it meant to be a part of ‘Deal 365: Chapter Honeymoon’.

Later, as they retreated to their rooms, Siya broke the silence. “This is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?”

Raghav glanced at her, his expression softening. “Probably. But if we survive this, we can survive anything.”

She smiled despite herself, a quiet laugh escaping her lips. Raising her book, “Well, here’s to surviving.”

Raghav’s lips twitched into a small smirk. “To survive,” he echoed, walking ahead as she trailed behind, bracing herself for the madness to come.

The Next Morning,

Sumitra Desai stood at the door, seeing them off with a warm smile. “Have fun, and don’t worry about your dad. He won’t be back until the month ends,” she assured, waving as they left.

As the car pulled away, a soft murmur escaped her lips. “Soon, I’ll have my grandchild to cherish.”

The flight was a whirlwind of contrasting emotions—excitement and joy for Vasu and Urmi, but an awkward ordeal for Raghav and Siya. Their flushed faces betrayed the unease they felt, the weight of their unspoken agreement hovering like a cloud.

Three hours later, they touched down at their destination right on schedule. By 1:30 PM, they were gathering their luggage and heading to the hotel. Urmi and Siya clicked photographs in playful camaraderie, while Vasu and Raghav handled the check-in paperwork. With the sun still high, they decided to freshen up and rest before setting off for a leisurely evening walk.

The streets of Goa shimmered under the soft glow of streetlights. The Gama Bridge stretched ahead, the golden sand against the night sky. Urmi and Vasu walked ahead, their laughter ringing in the air as they admired the historic architecture.

“Siya, come on! Look at this! It’s like stepping into a fairy tale!” Urmi called out, her voice filled with excitement.

“You two go ahead. We’ll catch up,” Siya replied, a forced smile tugging at her lips.

Urmi shrugged and grabbed Vasu’s hand, pulling him toward a street artist painting portraits. Their cheerful voices faded as they moved farther ahead.

“They’re having fun,” Siya said quietly, breaking the heavy silence between her and Raghav.

“At least someone is,” Raghav replied dryly, his hands buried deep in his coat pockets.

Siya glanced at him, her heart sinking at the edge in his voice. She looked away, unwilling to continue a conversation that would only highlight the distance between them.

They walked in silence, the festive chatter of tourists growing faint as they turned into a quieter alley. The muted hum of the city should have been comforting, but something felt off.

Siya stopped suddenly, her eyes scanning the shadows around them.

“Raghav… do you feel like someone’s watching us?”

Raghav frowned, his eyes narrowing as he followed her gaze. “It’s a crowded city, Siya. People are everywhere.”

“This is different,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “I think someone is following us.”

Raghav turned, his sharp gaze sweeping over the empty alley. “But there’s no one. You might be just tired.”

“I’m not imagining this,” Siya insisted, clutching his arm. “I saw something—. Back at the hotel too. But, I wasn't sure then. Someone was watching us.”

Raghav hesitated for a moment, his expression softening. “Alright. Let’s not dismiss it. I’ll stay close. If someone’s following us, they’ll have to go through me first.”

His words offered some reassurance, but the weight of unease lingered. They continued walking, the stillness of the alley pressing against Siya’s senses. Every flicker of light, every distant sound, felt amplified.

When they passed a narrow side street, Siya froze again. “Hold up like this”, Raghav quickly made her hold his arms.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Siya, listen to me. You’re safe. Nothing will happen to you. I promise.”

The sincerity in his tone calmed her slightly, but the dread refused to leave. They quickened their pace, the glow of the main street offering a faint sense of security.

Back at the hotel, the tension hung in the air like a shadow. Siya sat on the edge of the bed, her hands gripping her scarf tightly. Raghav stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the glittering cityscape.

“Raghav… what if it’s not just in my head?” Siya’s voice was barely above a whisper. “What if someone really is following us?”

Raghav turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Then we’ll find out who it is. And we’ll make sure they regret it.”

His words were steady, but Siya could feel the undercurrent of tension. She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling as her mind replayed the shadowy figure she’d seen. The way it moved, the way it vanished when she tried to focus on it—it all felt too real.

By the window, Raghav remained still, his face outlined by the glow of the city lights.

Neither of them spoke again, but the unspoken question lingered: Was this just paranoia, or was it the start of something far more sinister?