14. TalkBacks

Happy Monday..

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Ananya leaned casually against the pillar, sipping her juice as a group of relatives nearby sang her praises. She wasn’t exactly eavesdropping, but it was hard not to hear them gush about her.

“She’s so lively, isn’t she? The perfect person to bring energy into the family,” one woman said.

“She’s the life of any room she walks into,” another added.

Aditya, standing just out of sight, overheard the conversation. His jaw tightened. Lively? Life of the room? He scoffed quietly to himself.

Stepping into the circle, he spoke in his usual clipped tone, startling the group. “That’s one way to describe her.”

The relatives turned to Aditya, surprised by his sudden comment.

“And what’s the other way?” one of them asked curiously.

Aditya crossed his arms, his gaze sharp. “Unpredictable. Careless. Loud.”

The chatter stopped, replaced by an awkward silence. Aditya’s words hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Ananya, who had been too engrossed in her drink to notice him earlier, now turned her attention to him. Her brows shot up, and a slow, mocking smile spread across her lips.

“Wow, Mr. Groom,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Such high praise. You sure know how to make a girl feel special.”

Aditya’s eyes locked onto hers, his expression cold. “I’m just stating the truth. Not everyone is impressed by antics.”

“Antics?” Ananya repeated, feigning shock. “Oh no, Mr. Aditya. You’ve got it all wrong. That’s not antics—it’s called having a personality. You should try it sometime.”

The tension in the air became almost tangible as they stared each other down.

The relatives around them awkwardly began to disperse, clearly not wanting to get involved.

Aditya’s voice lowered, his words sharp enough to cut.

“A personality isn’t about being the loudest person in the room or drawing attention to yourself. Some of us believe in earning respect, not demanding it.”

Ananya took a step closer, her confidence unwavering. “Respect? You mean the kind you think you deserve just because you stand around acting like you’re better than everyone else?”

Aditya’s jaw clenched. “At least I don’t waste everyone’s time trying to be the center of attention.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Ananya said sweetly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “I don’t need to try. Unlike you, people actually like me.”

Aditya took a step back, his eyes narrowing. “Is that what you tell yourself? That you’re liked? Because from where I’m standing, all I see is someone who thrives on superficial connections.”

The words stung, but Ananya refused to show it.

Instead, she tilted her head, her smirk widening. “And from where I’m standing, all I see is someone who’s so busy being cold and aloof, he doesn’t realize he’s boring everyone around him.”

Before Aditya could respond, a familiar voice interrupted them.

“Ananya,” Ishika called, her tone calm but firm. She approached them gracefully, her eyes darting between the two. “What’s going on here?”

Aditya straightened, his posture becoming even more rigid, but he didn’t speak.

Ananya, however, wasted no time. “Nothing, Isha ma. Mr. Aditya was just sharing his glowing opinions of me.”

Ishika’s gaze shifted to Aditya, her tone more respectful now. “Aditya, I hope my Anu isn't troubling you”

Aditya shook his head, his expression unreadable. “Oh no bhabhi. We were just having a talk.”, he said as he glanced at Ananya.

Ishika nodded, sensing the tension but choosing her words carefully. “I would suggest we focus on the rituals for now. Everyone is waiting for you both.”

Ananya opened her mouth to retort, but Ishika gave her a look which shut her up.

Ananya huffed but stayed quiet, though the smirk on her face spoke volumes.

As Ishika turned to leave, she said softly, “Aditya, if you need anything, let me know.” Her tone was polite but carried an undertone of deference.

Aditya gave a slight nod and walked away without sparing Ananya another glance.

Ananya watched him go, her smirk returning. “This is going to be more fun than I thought,” she murmured to herself.

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The Sangeet came to a lively close, with the night filled with music, and laughter.

But amidst the celebrations, certain moments stood out more than others.

Rudraksh sat at the corner table, his usual confident demeanor faltering for once as his gaze trailed after Ishika.

Her dance had been effortlessly graceful, each step capturing his attention more than he cared to admit.

He rubbed the back of his neck, forcing himself to focus elsewhere, but the memory of her bright smile lingered, much to his frustration.

Daksh, on the other hand, was quieter than usual. His sharp eyes darted toward Divya more often than not, catching glimpses of her quick laughter and the way her eyes sparkled under the soft lights.

He tried to rationalize it— It’s just because she’s new to the family dynamics. But even he couldn’t deny the way his gaze kept finding her, no matter how much he tried to avoid it.

As the final song faded and everyone began dispersing, Aaryansh was the picture of contentment.

His face glowed with a happiness that hadn’t been seen in a while, and his energy was infectious. He chatted animatedly with the relatives, his joy evident to everyone.

Aditya, however, was a stark contrast. His annoyance was almost tangible as he stood near the entrance, his hands shoved into his pockets. His cold eyes scanned the room as if searching for a reason to leave, his patience clearly worn thin.

“Someone seems to have had a wonderful time,” Ananya said, appearing beside him out of nowhere.

Aditya glanced at her briefly, his expression unchanging. “You seem to have mistaken me for someone who enjoys chaos.”

Ananya laughed, ignoring the sting of his words. “Oh, come on, Mr. Aditya. Even you can’t deny the Sangeet was fun. I saw you tapping your foot—don’t think I didn’t notice.”

He raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. “You must have been hallucinating. Not surprising, considering how much attention you were seeking on the dance floor.”

Ananya gasped in mock offense. “Attention-seeking? I’ll have you know, my dance was the highlight of the night.”

“For you, maybe,” he replied coldly. “Some of us prefer not to make spectacles of ourselves.”

Before Ananya could retort, Geeta walked over, looking as composed as ever.

Her gaze flickered between the two of them, “The car is ready. Shall we leave?” she said to Aditya

Aditya straightened, his expression softening ever so slightly as he addressed Geeta “Yes. Let’s go, ma.”

As he walked past Ananya without another word, she called out, “Good night, Mr. Aditya. Don’t let the sour mood keep you up!”

Aditya paused, his jaw clenching, but he didn’t turn back. Geeta and Ananya exchanged small smiles before Geeta followed Aditya out.

Meanwhile, Aaryansh walked over, his energy radiating warmth. “You really enjoy riling him up, don’t you?”

Ananya grinned. “It’s the highlight of my night.”

Aaryansh chuckled. “Well, just don’t push him too far. Aditya’s patience isn’t exactly unlimited.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it, Bhaiya! ” Ananya said innocently, though the mischievous glint in her eyes said otherwise.

Aaryansh chuckled at her before he too got into his car and drove off.

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I've decided not to ask y'all to vote for me now. If you like the chapter, you will.

And your votes give me encouragement to write more.

Yours loving author,

Radha.

CARRY SUNSHINE IN YOUR SOUL️☀️🌻