50. A lively evening

50th episode!!✨

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

The whole ride to the restaurant was filled with Ishika giving a lecture to Ananya, about being respectful to Aditya and Ananya nodding like an obedient child.

The five girls—Amrita, Ananya, Ishika, Divya, and Mahima—sat around an elegant table in the center of an upscale restaurant.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm golden glow, and the faint sound of a piano playing in the background added to the sophisticated ambiance.

The servers, dressed in crisp uniforms, moved silently between tables, carrying expensive dishes plated like pieces of art.

The girls, however, were anything but comfortable. They exchanged awkward glances, their eyes darting around the pristine space as they tried to process the sheer luxury surrounding them.

"This restaurant was recommended by Daksh," Ishika whispered, leaning slightly forward across the table. "He said it’s ‘safe’ whatever that means."

Amrita raised an eyebrow. "Safe? From what, exactly? Fine dining etiquette?"

Ananya snorted quietly, while Mahima fidgeted with her napkin.

Divya, on the other hand, was busy inspecting the menu, her expression a mix of confusion and horror at the prices.

What none of them realized was that the restaurant wasn’t just a random recommendation—it was actually owned by their family. A subtle detail Daksh had conveniently left out.

After a few moments of silence where no one dared to speak, Ishika cleared her throat.

"So… does anyone actually want to eat here?" she asked, her voice low but clear enough for all of them to hear.

The response was dead silence.

"……"

"……"

"……"

"……"

Not a single one of them spoke up or even made eye contact.

Ishika glanced at each of them, her lips twitching as if holding back a smile.

She leaned forward again, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Okay, let me ask again… Who wants to get out of here?"

Without hesitation, all five hands shot up into the air.

"Thought so," Ishika said, finally breaking into a grin.

Ananya giggled behind her hand, and Mahima let out a relieved sigh.

Divya looked like she was ready to bolt out of her chair, and Amrita just shook her head, amused at the situation.

"Alright, ladies," Ishika said, dropping her napkin onto the table. "Operation Escape Fancy Restaurant begins now."

The five of them exchanged mischievous glances before sliding their chairs back, trying their best not to attract attention as they quietly made their way toward the exit.

Behind them, a waiter watched in confusion as the impeccably dressed group of girls hurriedly left the restaurant, stifling laughter and clutching their purses tightly.

Outside, the fresh air greeted them, and they burst into laughter the moment they were far enough away from the entrance.

"Safe restaurant, huh?" Amrita said between giggles.

"Next time, let’s just go to a normal café," Mahima suggested.

"And someone remind me to never trust Daksh's recommendations again," Ishika added, still laughing.

The girls linked arms and began walking down the street, their laughter echoing under the afternoon sun, leaving behind the posh restaurant and its overpriced menu.

Meanwhile, in two separate offices, Daksh and Rudraksh sat in their respective cabins, their eyes fixed on large screens displaying the live feed from the restaurant's hidden security cameras.

The sleek, high-definition monitors showed the five girls sneaking out of the restaurant, their laughter visible even without sound.

Rudraksh leaned back in his leather chair, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Ishika lead the escape.

His gruff voice broke the silence of his office as he muttered, "Where will they eat, leaving behind an exclusive restaurant like this?"

His brow furrowed slightly, and he rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, in his own cabin, Daksh reclined in his chair with one arm casually draped over the armrest, his lips curling into an amused smirk.

"Well, guess they didn’t like my recommendation," he muttered to himself, shaking his head slightly.

Rishi, who was with Daksh at that time, smiled as he say Mahima.

His gaze lingered on Mahima for a moment longer than he intended before he quickly looked away, clearing his throat and focusing back on the screen.

Rudraksh, on the other hand, switched the camera feed to show the street outside the restaurant, where the girls were now walking down the road, arms linked and faces lit up with carefree laughter.

A rare glimmer of amusement flickered in his usually stern eyes as he observed Ishika.

Back in Daksh’s office, he leaned forward slightly, zooming in on the camera feed with practiced ease.

“At least they look happy,” he said quietly to himself, a faint smile softening his features.

Neither brother would admit it out loud, but seeing the girls enjoying themselves—despite abandoning their carefully planned arrangement—somehow brought them a sense of relief.

Rudraksh sighed and leaned back in his chair, muttering under his breath, "These girls... unpredictable."

His sharp eyes stayed glued to the screen as he watched the group stroll down the busy street, their laughter carrying an energy that even the silent camera feed couldn't mute.

In his own cabin, Daksh leaned closer to the monitor, resting his chin on his hand as he observed the scene with growing curiosity.

The girls had stopped in front of a humble street food stall—one of those bustling little carts with sizzling pans, spicy aromas, and the unmistakable charm of authenticity.

The vendor greeted them with a wide grin, and without hesitation, Ishika confidently placed an order.

The girls crowded around the cart, their faces lighting up as the food was served—steaming plates of pani puri, crispy chaat, yummy pav bhaji and spicy noodles glistening under the shiny sunlight.

“They really ditched luxury for this?” Daksh muttered to himself, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Rudraksh, on the other hand, remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly but not with anger—rather, with intrigue.

The girls found a small corner with mismatched plastic chairs arranged haphazardly on the uneven pavement.

They sat down without a care in the world, their dresses brushing against the worn-out chairs, but none of them seemed to mind.

Amrita eagerly twirled her noodles onto a fork, while Ananya closed her eyes as she popped a pani puri into her mouth, savoring the burst of flavors.

Ishika laughed at something Mahima said, and Divya nudged Amrita, pointing out a smudge of sauce on her cheek.

The brothers watched in silence, taking in the way the girls ate—not with the polished, restrained manners expected in an upscale restaurant, but with genuine satisfaction and childlike joy.

“They look… content,” Daksh finally said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rudraksh's gaze lingered on Ishika, her face bright with laughter as she wiped her hands on a tissue.

"Peace," he muttered under his breath, almost as if the word itself felt foreign on his tongue.

In that moment, both brothers realized something—they could build the most luxurious spaces, offer the most exclusive experiences, but happiness, the kind they were witnessing right now, couldn’t be bought.

Daksh smirked lightly. "Guess street food wins this round," he said to himself, the image of Divya's carefree smile lingered in his mind a little longer.

After their peaceful meal, the girls wandered through the bustling streets, the lively atmosphere wrapping around them like a warm embrace.

They weren’t buying anything, but the joy of simply being together, laughing, and sharing carefree moments made the evening perfect.

Amidst their stroll, Divya’s eyes lit up as she spotted a charming little bookstore tucked between two larger shops.

Its wooden signboard hung low, and soft yellow lights spilled out from the windows, illuminating rows of books stacked haphazardly yet invitingly.

Without a second thought, Divya dashed inside, her excitement making the girls chuckle.

From his office, Daksh raised an eyebrow as he noticed her on the camera feed.

“Books? Honeypie? Huh… I didn’t expect that,” he muttered, leaning closer to the monitor with a spark of curiosity in his eyes.

Inside the store, Divya moved between the shelves with the quiet reverence of someone walking through a sacred space.

Her fingers gently brushed against the spines of her favourite romance books.

Her face glowed with pure delight as she picked up one book after another, flipping through their pages and inhaling the scent of paper and ink.

Her smile widened every time she found one of her favorite titles, books she had only read digitally, their stories etched in her memory.

But as much as she adored them, she knew she couldn’t justify spending money on them.

The bell above the door jingled softly as Divya stepped out of the bookstore, empty-handed.

Her earlier excitement dimmed slightly as she looked back at the shop.

"You know you can buy those books, Divi…" Amrita said in her usual cold voice but with a hint of softness, walking beside her.

Divya smiled faintly and shook her head. "Nah… Why spend money like that? I can always read them online."

Mahima stepped forward and held Divya’s hands. "Divi… I can buy anything for you. Just say the word."

Divya looked at Mahima, her eyes softening at her friend’s sincere words.

"It’s not about buying, Maahi. It’s just… I like the feeling of being surrounded by books. Even if I don’t own them, standing there, touching them—it’s enough."

The girls exchanged glances, their hearts swelling with affection for Divya’s quiet love for stories.

From his cabin, Daksh leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed as he stared at the now-empty bookstore entrance on the screen.

A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he replayed the scene in his mind.

“Divya… you deserve more than just digital pages,” he murmured under his breath.

Back on the street, Ananya broke the soft silence by pointing to a nearby ice cream cart. "Alright, enough emotional stuff. Who wants ice cream?"

With laughter and renewed energy, the girls hurried toward the cart, their voices filling the night air once again.

But in Divya’s heart, the warmth of that small bookstore lingered—a fleeting moment of happiness etched into her soul.

As the girls continued their walk through the vibrant streets, Rudraksh couldn't help but watch Ishika from a distance.

Her laughter echoed through the air, her animated gestures punctuating each story she told.

It was clear that Ishika was the life of the group—her energy infectious, her words flowing with ease.

She spoke freely with her friends, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she shared every little detail of her day.

But with him… it was different.

Whenever Rudraksh and Ishika were alone, there was an unspoken quiet between them.

Despite the occasional casual conversation, there was always a sense of distance, a layer of silence that hung in the air.

She wasn't the same talkative, outgoing person with him as she was with the others.

Why was that? he wondered.

His eyes followed her as she laughed with the others, her words coming effortlessly, her face glowing with happiness.

And yet, when it came to him, she became reserved.

He knew she was not the type to shy away from speaking her mind—so why did it feel like there was something unspoken, something between them that caused her to hold back?

He caught a glimpse of her smiling at something Divya said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

She was so different with her friends—free, open, and unapologetically herself.

But with him, there was a sense of formality, an invisible wall that kept her from truly letting go.

Was it him?

Rudraksh thought, a frown knitting his brows.

Had he said something, done something to make her wary of speaking her mind around him?

The questions gnawed at him, but he pushed them aside for the moment, knowing he wouldn’t get answers just by observing her.

For now, he stayed silent, watching her interact with the others.

But in his heart, the mystery of Ishika's silence with him lingered, leaving him with a feeling of unease that he couldn't quite shake off.

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

🌟✨🌟✨🌟

One Was The Calm In The Chaos, The Other The Chaos Itself—yet Together, They Found Balance...✨❣️