TEN

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HER POV

We stood there silently for a while, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Then, I slowly gestured with my eyes, a subtle signal meant only for him. Understanding my silent cue, he looked at me-his intense gaze holding mine for a few seconds.

In that brief moment, his eyes were so piercing that I felt a shiver of fear run down my spine. But then, slowly and deliberately, he moved his hand away, and only then did I finally breathe a sigh of relief, feeling the tension melt away.

Just as I began to feel the tension fade, his deep, intense voice suddenly pierced the silence, resonating in my ears. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his words firm and unyielding.

The weight of his voice sent a shiver down my spine, pulling me back into the moment. His eyes remained fixed on mine, sharp and searching, as if demanding an answer I wasn't prepared to give.

I look at him, my eyes meeting his with a mix of hesitation and courage. Taking a steady breath, I finally speak, my voice soft " M-me galti...se yaha aa gayi "

{I-I came here by mistake...}

He looks at me, his eyes narrowing slightly it's sharp, almost unsettling. His gaze remains fixed on me as he finally speaks, his voice dripping with subtle mockery

" Galti se? "

{"By mistake?"}

" Jiii "

{"Yes"}

He stared at me for a few moments, his eyes studying me intently, as if trying to read what I was thinking. Then, slowly, a smirk began to curl at the corners of his lips, adding a new layer of mystery to his expression. Feeling unsure and a little nervous, I looked back at him with confusion in my eyes and hesitated before finally asking,

" K-kya me jaa sakti hu " My voice trembled slightly, revealing the uncertainty I felt inside.

{C-can I go now?}

" Hmm jaao " he said with a sigh

{"Hmm go ahead"}

I look at him, as if I want to say something but can't find the words. He meets my gaze, narrowing his eyes slightly, a knowing look crossing his face.

“Kya hua? Jaane ka mood nahi hai,

ya phir main kuch zyada hi handsome lag raha hoon, ki tum jaana hi nahi chahti?” His voice is calm but carries a hint of challenge as he says.

{"What happened? Not in the mood to leave… or do I look too handsome for you to walk away?"}

My eyes widened as I looked at him, then I pointed toward my hand-the one he had been holding for quite long time

“N-nahi, w-wo… mera haath to chhodiye” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper as I tried to pull my hand away, flustered by the sudden closeness and the way his touch sent a shiver down my spine.

{N-no, i-it’s just… please let go of my hand.}

“Mann nahi hai,” he said softly, his voice low and intense as his eyes stayed fixed on mine—unblinking, unwavering.

{I don't feel like it}

" Jiiii? "

{"What?"}

“Kuch nahi… jaao,” he said, clearing his throat as if to mask the sudden shift in his tone.

{"Nothing... just go"}

He let go of my hand, but not before a moment’s pause—one that lingered longer than it should have. His eyes briefly met mine again, holding something he didn’t say aloud, before he turned away, leaving behind a silence louder than words.

Without saying a word, I open the door and walk out of the room, not looking back even once. Yet, I can still feel his intense gaze burning into my back, following my every step as I leave.

I quickly went to another room, hurriedly cleaning the stain off my clothes. My hands moved fast, wiping away any trace of it. Once I was done, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and headed downstairs to the hall where everyone was talking and laughing.

My face was still slightly flushed, the warmth of the previous moments lingering. I tried to compose myself, blending into the crowd, but I could still feel my heartbeat racing just a little faster than usual.

Aunty looks at me and smiles. Her eyes linger on my face for a moment, as if noticing something. Then, with a slight smile, she says.

"Beta ye chehre ko kya hua? Sab theek hai"?

{"Beta, why is your face so red? Is everything alright?"}

I touched my face with my hands, feeling the warmth still lingering on my cheeks. My hands were slightly trembling, and I took a deep breath to steady myself.

How could I tell her that this state of mine was all because of her beloved son?

All eyes were on me. I could feel everyone's gaze fixed in my direction, filled with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. My heartbeat quickened, but I kept my smile steady, trying not to reveal the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

I forced a smile onto my face and said, "N-nothing, Aunty. I'm fine, just a little tired." My voice wavered slightly, but I hoped she wouldn't notice. I tried to appear calm, even though my heart was still racing from everything that had happened.

My mother looked at me for a moment, her, but she didn't say anything. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that she hadn't asked any questions. I straightened up, trying to compose myself ,

Just then, Ruhi came over and sat beside me, her presence instantly easing the tension that had wrapped itself around me like an invisible thread.

With a playful, teasing smile, she said,

"Looks like someone's been caught in a little trouble, huh?"

I looked at her in shock, my eyes widening as her teasing words caught me completely off guard.

She laughed softly, clearly enjoying my reaction, and leaned in a little closer. "Relax, I'm just kidding," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"But seriously, you look different something's definitely going on."

I hesitated, unsure whether to share or keep everything to myself. The weight of the moment still lingered, but her friendly teasing made it a little easier to breathe.

"What's wrong?" she asked again, her voice gentle now, waiting patiently for me to open up.

I decided it was better not to tell her and replied softly, "No, it's nothing important. Just a little tired, that's all." I hoped my calm tone would convince her to drop the subject, she nodded understandingly,

After a little while, everyone gathered around the dining table. The table was filled with a variety of delicious-looking dishes, some so unique that I didn't even know their names. The aromas were inviting, and the spread looked like a feast prepared with great care and love.

Everyone had just settled around the table when, before I could gather my thoughts, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. The sound was loud and deliberate, making the room fall into a sudden, tense silence.

VEER

The heavy footsteps were coming from the hallway, and he was walking toward us wearing a simple t-shirt and casual lower, looking extremely hot. His presence was magnetic, instantly drawing everyone's attention as he moved with effortless confidence.

He looked around at everyone briefly, then his eyes locked onto me for a moment-intense and unwavering. But just as quickly, he shifted his gaze away, He walked over toward my parents, and my father warmly embraced him in a hug.

The gesture was full of familiarity and affection, showing the close bond they shared.Then, he turned to my mother and gave her a warm hug as well, his gesture gentle and respectful.

He then moved toward the head chair at the table and calmly took a seat, settling in with a confident and relaxed air. I also took my seat, and soon everyone began eating dinner.

The food was incredibly tasty, each dish bursting with flavors that made the meal even more enjoyable. Everyone ate with smiles on their faces, the warmth of the moment making the atmosphere feel cozy and happy.

After dinner, we spent some time chatting and sharing stories, enjoying each other’s company as laughter echoed softly around the room. The atmosphere was warm and light, filled with smiles and easy conversations.

But amidst all the warmth, there was one person who had remained quiet the whole time. He sat slightly apart, his expression unreadable, speaking only when absolutely necessary. It wasn’t rudeness—just a quiet distance, like his thoughts were elsewhere, far from the room we all shared. And though no one said it aloud, we all felt it—his silence spoke volumes.

VEER

He remained absorbed in his phone, quietly working on something, barely speaking a word throughout the evening. His silence was noticeable, but no one brought it up—perhaps out of respect, or perhaps because everyone felt it too.

Later, we took our leave from the Rathore house, expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the warm hospitality. Despite the awkward moments, the evening left behind a trail of meaningful memories—some comforting, some curious, and some that lingered in the unspoken glances exchanged.

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