✨13. Dinner chaos

Niharika's tears escaped her control as Shivaay's words struck deep. She quickly lowered her gaze, trying to compose herself. Shweta, noticing the tension, called out to him sharply, “Shivaay!”

He stopped in his tracks, turning halfway to face his mother, frustration evident on his face. “What, Maa? Please don’t force me into this more than you already have. I’ve fulfilled your and Dad’s wish by getting married. Isn’t that enough?”

Shweta’s face tightened with disappointment. "Shivaay, you’re forgetting your responsibilities. This is no way to speak to your wife, the bahu of this house."

Shivaay scoffed, shaking his head. “Responsibilities?” His tone dripped with bitterness. “This is nothing but a deal to me. So don’t expect anything more.”

With that, he stormed off, leaving everyone in stunned silence. Niharika stood frozen, her chest heavy, tears silently flowing as she felt the weight of his disdain. Shweta walked up to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Beta, don’t take his words to heart. He’s just angry. Give him time."

Niharika nodded slightly, forcing a faint smile, but inside, she wondered how much more of this coldness she could endure.

Indra walked toward the door, his expression heavy with regret. Before stepping out, he turned to Niharika and said softly, “I’m sorry, beta. You don’t deserve this.”

Niharika looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Please don’t say that, Papa ji. It’s not your fault,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

As Indra began to leave, Shweta called out after him, her tone firm. “Where are you going, Indra?”

He stopped but didn’t turn around. “I’ve lost my appetite,” he said flatly, his voice tinged with frustration and sadness. Without waiting for a response, he walked away, leaving the room silent.

Niharika lowered her gaze, feeling an even heavier burden on her shoulders. Shweta, sensing her discomfort, wrapped an arm around her. “Beta, don’t let this shake you. You’re stronger than this situation. Come, let’s sit and eat.”

Anita nodded in agreement, trying to lighten the mood. “Yes, Niharika, the food you’ve made smells divine. Let’s enjoy it together.”

Niharika mustered a small smile, trying to find solace in their warmth and understanding. Despite the tension, she resolved to keep moving forward, determined to find her place in the Ranawat family.

Ivaan chimed in, breaking the heavy silence. “Yes, bhabhi, don’t take tension. Bhai is like that only—grumpy and impossible. Ignore him!”

His lighthearted tone made everyone smile slightly, and he reached for a plate. “I’m not letting such delicious food go to waste. I’m eating!” he declared, serving himself a generous helping of the shaahi paneer.

Niharika looked at him, her eyes softening at his attempt to make her feel better. “Thank you, Ivaan,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Anita chuckled, patting Ivaan on the back. “At least someone has some sense in this house.”

Shweta smiled gently at Niharika. “See, beta? Not everyone here is as stubborn as Shivaay. Now, let’s all eat. You worked so hard to prepare this feast.”

Niharika nodded and began serving everyone, trying to push away the sting of Shivaay’s words. She was grateful for the support she received from the rest of the family, especially Ivaan’s playful yet comforting presence.

As Niharika walked back to her room after preparing the plate for Indra, she noticed Shweta sitting on the bed, looking worried. She hadn’t touched her food either.

“Maa, why aren’t you eating?” Niharika asked softly, sitting beside her.

Shweta sighed deeply. “I can’t eat when Indra doesn’t. He hasn’t eaten anything since he came back from work. I don’t know what’s going on with him.”

Niharika thought for a moment, then made up her mind. “Don’t worry, Maa. I’ll go to him and bring him downstairs. You’ll see, he’ll listen to me.”

Shweta looked at her, a hint of disbelief in her eyes. “Beta, you know how he is. Indra has never listened to anyone when it comes to meals. And don’t even get me started on Shivaay... both father and son are so stubborn.”

“I’ll try,” Niharika said, her voice determined.

She left the room and went straight to Indra’s. After knocking softly, she entered and found him still sitting on the couch, staring out of the window. She placed the plate on the table next to him and said, “Bauji, I understand you’re upset, but Maa isn’t eating either because you haven’t. She’s worried about you, and so am I.”

Indra didn’t respond immediately. He looked at the food and then back at Niharika. “I’m not hungry,” he muttered, his tone distant.

“Please, Bauji,” she insisted. “Just for Maa. She’s waiting for you downstairs. You can’t keep her worried like this.”

For a long moment, Indra didn’t speak. Niharika could feel the tension in the air. Then, to her surprise, he stood up, albeit reluctantly. “Fine,” he said, his voice tinged with resignation. “I’ll go.”

Niharika smiled, relieved. “Thank you, Bauji.”

Together, they walked downstairs. Shweta was still sitting at the dining table when she saw Indra enter the room. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Indra never listened to anyone, especially not when it came to eating.

Shweta stood up, almost as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. “Indra… you actually came?”

He nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “For you, I will.”

Shweta was speechless for a moment, before she smiled warmly. “I can’t believe this! You actually listened to her.”

Niharika stood quietly behind him, her heart swelling with a mix of pride and relief. She had brought him down, and it felt like she was slowly earning her place in this family.

As Niharika stood beside Indra and Shweta, watching the tender moment between them, she felt a warmth in her heart. She had successfully brought him downstairs, and it felt like a small victory. Just then, Ivaan and Riya, who had been standing near the dining table, couldn't help but notice the scene before them.

Seeing their father's soft side toward Shweta, Ivaan and Riya exchanged mischievous glances. They were both trying to lighten the mood, sensing Niharika’s need for some encouragement.

Riya smirked and nudged Ivaan. "Look at Bauji, all soft and loving with Maa. Who knew he had it in him?" she whispered, trying not to be too loud.

Ivaan chuckled and added, “Who would’ve thought, huh? Bauji listening to someone for food! Definitely a first.”

Unable to contain themselves, they both hooted playfully, their laughter ringing through the room.

“Finally, someone has tamed the great Indra Singh Ranawat!” Ivaan teased, winking at Niharika.

Niharika couldn’t help but smile at their light-hearted teasing. It was the first time in a long while she had felt some warmth and ease in the midst of the tension that had surrounded her ever since the wedding.

Shweta smiled at her children’s playful comments, and Indra, though a little embarrassed, couldn’t hide a slight smile as he glanced at his children.

“Alright, enough teasing,” Indra said, though there was a hint of affection in his voice. “Let’s eat.”

With that, the mood lightened, and everyone sat down together, ready to share the meal. Niharika felt a bit more at ease, as she had not only managed to bring Indra downstairs but had also been accepted in the family’s playful dynamic.

Shivaay came downstairs after changing into something more comfortable for dinner. As he walked into the dining room, his eyes scanned the table, where everyone was gathered. Niharika looked up and their gazes met for a brief moment, the tension still lingering between them.

Riya, noticing her brother’s arrival, smiled brightly and said, “Finally, Bhaiya! We thought you were going to skip dinner again.”

Shivaay merely nodded, sitting down at the table with a quiet grunt. He didn’t speak much, but his presence filled the room. Niharika, relieved that he had decided to join them, focused on serving the food, hoping the meal would bring some sense of normalcy, despite the underlying strain in their relationship.

Anita smiled warmly at Niharika and said, “Beta, you sit too.” Niharika glanced at the two empty seats—one beside Ishaan and Ivaan, and the other beside Shivaay.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she chose to sit with Ivaan and Ishaan, settling into the seat next to them. It was a more comfortable option for her, away from the tension that seemed to linger around Shivaay.

As she took her seat, she gave a small smile to Ivaan and Ishaan, who greeted her with a friendly nod. The atmosphere at the table was still a little awkward, but Niharika tried to focus on the meal in front of her, hoping the evening would pass without any more uncomfortable silences.

As Niharika settled beside Ivaan and Ishaan, Shivaay couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary. It bothered him to see her sitting so comfortably beside his brothers, especially when he hadn’t been able to get her to sit next to him earlier. He tried to shake off the feeling, but it only intensified when Niharika laughed at something Ivaan said, her smile lighting up the room.

Shivaay’s expression remained neutral, but inside, he felt an unfamiliar tug. Why did it bother him so much that she was away from him? He couldn’t understand it. It was just another dinner, after all.

But as he pushed his food around his plate, his gaze unintentionally flicked back to her. He realized it wasn’t just about the dinner—it was about her being near him, about his possessiveness slowly growing. He didn’t want to admit it, but the jealousy was there, creeping in quietly.

Shivaay’s thoughts were interrupted by the taste of the food on his plate. He took a bite of the shaahi paneer, and his eyes involuntarily widened. The flavors were rich, perfectly balanced—better than any he had ever tasted before. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until the first bite.

The food was too tasty to ignore. As he took another mouthful, he found himself actually enjoying it, something he hadn’t expected. His mind momentarily shifted from the discomfort he had felt earlier to the pleasure of the meal in front of him.

He glanced at Niharika, sitting across from him, and a small, unspoken appreciation lingered in his eyes. She had prepared all of this—despite everything, she had done it so well. His lips curled into a faint smile as he continued eating, unable to stop himself from feeling a little bit impressed.

After everyone had finished dinner, they slowly made their way to their rooms. Niharika, however, couldn’t shake the feeling that she should help out. The maids were already cleaning up the dining area, but she quietly walked over to them, offering her assistance.

"Let me help with the dishes," she said, looking at the maids with a gentle smile.

The maids hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, glad for the extra pair of hands. Niharika took a cloth and began drying the dishes, her mind wandering as she worked. Despite all that had happened, she felt some solace in doing something familiar and productive.

As she helped, her thoughts returned to her place in the house, to Shivaay, and to the family she was now a part of. It was all so overwhelming, yet in this small act of helping, she felt a little more grounded. She didn’t know what the future held, but in that moment, she simply focused on what she could do—helping, even in the smallest way.