I was standing in front of the washroom mirror, staring intently at my own reflection, when Rithika's voice, sharp with urgency, screamed my name from the room, "Mishaaa!"
"Yeah, what is it?" I called back, splashing a handful of cool water onto my face before stepping out of the washroom.
The moment I entered the room, I was completely astonished by Rithika's beauty. She was standing there, radiating a fierce beauty that even her current expression of anger couldn't mask. I ignored her mood, focusing only on how captivating she looked.
I am certainly not a lesbian, but her sheer loveliness had completely mesmerized me.I was pulled abruptly back to reality when Rithika snapped her fingers right in front of my face. "Where did you disappear to, Madam ji?" she asked, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
"Rithika, honestly, how can you be this beautiful?" I asked, dramatically placing my hand over my heart.
"It feels like an angel has walked down directly from heaven just to grace us with her presence!" She chuckled softly, the anger melting away, and then walked into the washroom herself.
Seeing my chance, I moved to my suitcase, which was sitting open on the bed. I studied the clothes for a moment before my eyes landed on a simple but striking combination: a red top and off-white pants.
I quickly grabbed them and changed before Rithika could emerge. I accessorized with a delicate, small pendant that settled perfectly over my neckline. I brushed my hair, and just as I was about to braid it, I felt a hand gently touch my wrist.
I turned to see Rithika, who had come out of the washroom, stopping me from braiding my hair. I tried to argue, wanting my hair pulled back, but she was insistent, and I finally conceded. I left my hair down, letting it fall freely, and Rithika rewarded me with a wide, satisfied smile.
We were ready. The older generation was heading to a wedding, while the younger group planned a fun outing: first to a beautiful garden and then to the magnificent palace.
Rithika quickly called Akshara and Noor. They are both such genuinely kind people, and since I hadn't had enough time to spend with Akshara, I was happy she was joining us.
🦋
As we reached the main hall, we found Ayaan already there, sitting on the sofa with his arms crossed, glaring at Noor.
Watching them, I couldn't help but chuckle at their constant fighting; they were truly no less than Tom and Jerry. I shook my head and walked over to my mom and my dearest Dad.
My dad was meticulously fixing the pleats of my mom's saree. The care and attention he showed made me stop and admire them. They looked so incredibly cute together that a single, unexpected tear of happiness rolled down my cheek.
"Ashok, look at Raman Bhai! What an amazing husband he is," Anushka Aunty said, turning the conversation towards my uncle. "And then there's you, who doesn't even know how to compliment me!"
"Oh, really? If you don't want to go to the wedding, then let's go back to the room, and I'll compliment you there!" Ashok Uncle retorted cheekily, leaving everyone smiling at his boldness. Anushka Aunty's face turned bright red like a tomato.
"Hmph! Have some shame! You are the father of three grown children!" Anushka Aunty exclaimed, quickly walking out of the house. I laughed and took a seat on the couch, waiting for the three remaining men. After what felt like an hour, they finally came downstairs.
I turned to Ayaan and asked, "Oi, where are Aakarsh, Akshara, Saira, and Rida?"
"They're outside, busy clicking photos," Ayaan said, gesturing vaguely outdoors. I nodded. Ayaan and Noor immediately walked out, bickering loudly about something I didn't pay much attention to.
"Oiii!"
I heard a sudden female voice from Shivansh's phone, which was currently on speaker. The unexpected sound instantly drew everyone's attention to Shivansh. He quickly turned the speaker off and held the phone to his ear.
"Shiv, is everything okay?" Mr. Rajkot asked, concerned.
Shivansh simply nodded and walked out of the house, still engrossed in his conversation with the girl.
Rithika whispered something into Karthik Bhai's ear, and Karthik smiled broadly, looking directly at me.
I was completely confused, but I realized I wasn't the only one; Mr. Rajkot also had a puzzled look on his face. It had been years since I had spoken to Mr. Rajkot properly.
"Well, I think I'll go outside," I announced, walking towards the main door. I was about to step out when Rithika called my name. I stopped and turned back.
"I'll come with you," Rithika said, and we both headed towards the garden.
We entered the garden and immediately spotted someone drenched completely in red paint. Standing next to this unfortunate soul was Aakarsh, laughing hysterically. Saira, Rida, Akshara, and Noor were standing nearby, trying to control their own amusement.
Looking closer, I realized the one covered in paint was Ayaan. Upon this realization, I burst into laughter, and the others joined in again.
"Oh, you think this is funny, huh?" Ayaan challenged with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Watch this!" He immediately lunged forward and hugged Aakarsh tightly.
After making absolutely sure that Aakarsh was now as thoroughly covered in red paint as he was, Ayaan stepped back with a smug smirk.
"Pagal hogaye ho?" Aakarsh exclaimed, shocked.
"No, not at all," Ayaan replied cheerfully. "We're best friends, aren't we? We should be equal, both in joy and in suffering!"
I managed to control my laughter long enough to speak. "Oi, you two! Go change quickly and come downstairs."
"Ten minutes!" Akshara called out, and I agreed, nodding my head. The two 'monkeys' covered in red paint hurried inside.
🦋
After a seemingly endless wait of ten minutes, the two of them finally emerged, dressed in perfectly matching outfits.
They were "twinning" exactly like their respective partners. A faint, ironic thought crossed my mind: Wait, though, Ayaan doesn't even like Noor, and the feeling is mutual—she absolutely hates him.
Ayaan and Aakarsh looked stylish and relaxed. Both wore a blue collared shirt layered over a white T-shirt, paired with crisp white pants. I offered them a warm smile, then glanced to my right.
There stood Mr. Rajkot, seemingly on an important call, though his focus appeared to be subtly drawn to the intricate silver bracelet encircling his right wrist. The bracelet featured several delicate charms that glinted faintly in the light.
"Di, would it be okay if we all went together in one car?" Noor asked, pulling me from my observation of Mr. Rajkot. "Yes, of course," I replied instantly.
I called out to Ayaan and offered him a ride with us, but he politely declined, stating he preferred to ride with Shiv.
I nodded, understanding his choice, and settled into the passenger seat. Noor took the wheel, her face set with a pleasant anticipation.
Aakarsh and Akshara were already settled in Aakarsh's car, while Karthik bhai had flat-out refused to let Rithika join our impromptu carpool. Frankly, I had no interest in figuring out how Mr. Rajkot planned to reach the destination; it was the least of my concerns.
The powerful sound of the engine starting up jolted me out of my scattered thoughts. We pulled away smoothly, heading toward the majestic palace.
The ride itself was wonderfully easy. I've never felt awkward with Noor; she truly feels like the little sister I never had. We immediately turned up the music, singing along and laughing until we finally pulled up to the palace gates.
I quickly stepped out of the car, breathing in the fresh air. I turned back to Noor and told her to go ahead and join Aakarsh and Akshara. She nodded, offered a quick wave, and headed off to meet the others.
As I looked around, I couldn't spot Shivansh's car. Deciding to wait for them, I stood beneath the deep shade of a large, old tree. After a few minutes, their vehicle finally arrived and pulled to a stop. However, no one got out.
A wave of impatience made me walk over to the car. I reached the passenger door and gave a light knock on the tinted window.
The window smoothly rolled down, revealing a striking girl I didn't recognize. She was dressed in a stunning, vibrant red dress, and she stared back at me with an expression I couldn't quite place.
I wasn't entirely shocked by the sight of her, mostly because I had already glimpsed her photo on Shivansh's phone just yesterday. Yet, a part of me was still taken aback.
Earlier today, I had overheard some girl screaming at Shivansh on the phone, and he had replied with a degree of calmness that was utterly foreign to his usual temperament.
It struck me then, if that girl wasn't someone truly special to Shivansh, the person who dared to raise their voice at a member of the Rajkot family would surely find themselves six feet under the ground without a second thought.
"Who is she?" I asked Ayaan, gesturing toward the stunning woman sitting in the passenger seat beside Shivansh. My curiosity was piqued.
Ayaan stepped forward, a smug grin playing on his lips, and replied in a conspiratorial whisper, "She is Ruhi Bhabhi."
"Oh," I murmured, processing the information. Ruhi. What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. "That's a lovely name. I'm Misha," I introduced myself, offering a warm smile across the car to her.
She returned the smile politely. "Hello," she replied, her voice soft and pleasant.
I subtly signaled to Ayaan to get out of the car. He immediately caught my drift and moved quickly to stand beside me.
"Let's go," I whispered. We walked away from the car, heading toward a cluster of trees a bit farther from the entrance, intending to hide behind the thick trunk of one particularly large specimen.
We crouched down, peeking eagerly around the tree's bark, just in time to see Shivansh slowly roll the window back up. The timing was terrible.
"Ugh, why did they have to install tinted windows in this car?" Ayaan muttered, his tone instantly becoming irritated and dramatically disappointed.
"We can't see a single thing," I added, equally frustrated. The attempt at spying had been a spectacular failure. In defeat, we both stood up and walked away from our hiding spot, shaking our heads at the missed opportunity.
We straightened our clothes and composed ourselves before walking toward the grand entrance of the palace.
Just inside the foyer, a small crowd had gathered. Everyone was there, waiting for us, and perhaps waiting for Shivansh and his mysterious guest as well.
"Where were you two?" Aakarsh asked, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.
"We were trying to sneak a peek at Shivansh Bhai's romance," Ayaan whispered back to Aakarsh, though not quite quietly enough.
I shot Ayaan a sharp glare—a warning to stick to the script—and quickly interjected with our rehearsed cover story. "It was nothing important, Aakarsh. We were just admiring the view of the palace from the outside."
Fortunately, everyone seemed to be convinced by our small, hastily constructed lie. The immediate tension dissolved, and we all moved deeper inside the breathtaking palace halls.
As we walked, Akshara caught up to me, pulling me aside into a quieter corner. "Di," she began hesitantly, her voice low. "If I ask you something, you won't get upset, will you?"
"Of course not, ask away," I reassured her, trying to keep my voice light.
She took a breath and then asked the question I hadn't prepared for. "Aap ko Vihaan bhai pasand hai na".
Hearing Vihaan's name unexpectedly dropped into the conversation was like a physical blow. Instantly, a tight, painful knot began to form in my stomach. My breath hitched.
I desperately wanted to respond, to deny it, or perhaps even confess the truth that lay buried deep inside, but the words simply refused to form in my mouth. I stood there, trapped in a moment of silent, painful vulnerability.
Akshara must have seen the sudden shift in my expression and the distress in my eyes. She didn't press the matter.
Instead, without saying another word, she simply reached out and pulled me into a tight, comforting hug.
I truly cherish moments like this; both Noor and Akshara have a way of talking to me that feels so gentle and understanding.
I hugged her back, leaning into the simple, supportive embrace. The emotional dam I had been holding back finally broke, and a single, hot drop of tears escaped my eye, tracing a path down my cheek.
I thought it was just Akshara and I sharing this quiet moment of solace, our little secret hidden in the vast space of the palace, until a deep, resonant voice broke the silence from nearby.
_____________________________________
After Ayaan and Misha finally left, the silence of the evening immediately fell over the car. Shivansh slowly rolled the window up with a quiet whir and then unclipped his seatbelt.
Ruhi watched his movements, a knot of confusion tightening in her stomach. Seeing him remove his seatbelt, she assumed he was preparing to get out of the car.
But instead, a subtle, knowing smile touched the corner of his lips. He leaned over, pressed the cen locking button—the soft 'thunk' of the doors locking echoing the sudden increase in Ruhi's heart rate—and then he turned his full attention to her, moving his body closer.
"Shiv...an...sh..." Ruhi whispered, her voice barely a breath. "Wh...at are yo...you doing?" She tried desperately to maintain composure, to speak normally, but the intense look in his eyes made her stuttering inevitable.
Shivansh offered no verbal reply. His eyes, dark and heavy with unspoken desire, simply held hers for a long, charged moment before he acted.
With a smooth, decisive motion, he reached for her, pulling her across the center console until she was settled directly onto his lap.
His heart thumped steadily beneath her. One hand slipped immediately to her thigh, its heat seeping through the fabric of her dress as he began to gently caress the skin. The other arm wrapped securely around her waist, anchoring her to him.
The first touch sent a powerful current through Ruhi. Before she could formulate a protest, Shivansh lowered his head.
He started trailing wet, scorching kisses down the vulnerable line of her neck, moving lower to the elegant curve of her collarbone.
"Van...shh, please st...op," Ruhi pleaded, her fingers grasping at the lapels of his shirt. Her entire body was humming, her voice tight with panic and pleasure. "Wh-what if someone sees us?"
Shivansh paused his kisses only long enough to tilt his head, his breath hot against her skin. "They won't," he murmured, the confidence in his voice absolute. He then returned to his task, refusing to be deterred.
Suddenly, a sharper sensation made her tense—he nuzzled then gently bit the sensitive skin just below her ear, eliciting a soft, involuntary gasp that escaped her lips.
He immediately moved to soothe the sting, his tongue tracing the spot he had just marked. The action was incredibly tender, a brief intermission of care amidst the escalating intensity.
He then moved his lips up, trailing kisses slowly along her sharp jawline.
Finally, he reached her face, pausing for a delicious moment before he gently planted a lingering, tender kiss on her cheek.
He stayed there, his lips pressed softly against her skin, his heart pounding a rhythm that Ruhi felt deep within her own chest.
A dark red mark, clearly visible, stained her neck. She spun to face Shivansh, her gaze a burning glare, but he simply met it with a carefree smile. Reaching into her bag, Ruhi quickly pulled out a concealer stick and expertly worked to cover the tell-tale blemish.
"Are you absolutely crazy?" Ruhi's voice was a furious whisper. "What if I hadn't brought my concealer? Everyone would have seen it, you absolute idiot!" She yanked the door handle, but the lock remained stubbornly engaged.
"Now, promise me you'll agree to—" Shivansh began, but Ruhi swiftly cut him off. "Okay, okay, I promise. Now let's go inside, everyone must be waiting for us!" Relieved, Shivansh's smile widened, and he finally disengaged the car's central locking system.
They both quickly exited the car and started walking toward the magnificent palace entrance.
As they stepped through the threshold, the first thing they saw was Akshara and Misha locked in a tight embrace. Misha's shoulders were shaking subtly, and there were unmistakable tears glistening in her eyes.
"Mishu, are you alright?" Shivansh hurried toward the two women, his voice laced with concern.
Hearing his voice, Misha and Akshara immediately broke their hug and stepped apart, quickly composing themselves.
"It's nothing, Shiv," Misha said, quickly wiping the last traces of moisture from her cheeks. "I just... I saw a little boy near the palace grounds selling some handmade toys, and he was missing an eye. It just got to me."
Shivansh instantly recognized the flimsy excuse for what it was—a lie—but understanding that she wasn't ready to share what was truly upsetting her, he decided not to press the matter. He simply gave her a knowing look and steered the group further inside.
Akshara, however, was not easily fooled. Though she hadn't overheard any specific detail, she was now certain that the source of Misha's distress had something to do with Vihaan.
The sight of her friend crying had been a definitive confirmation that something significant, and likely emotional, had occurred between them.
🦋
As the group dispersed to explore the historical beauty of the palace, snapping numerous pictures, Noor suddenly began to feel an alarming wave of dizziness.
Her breathing became shallow and difficult, a tightness gripping her chest. She instinctively made her way to a nearby open window and leaned out, desperately taking deep, gulping breaths of the fresh air.
Noticing her labored breathing, Ayaan quickly took a bottle of water from Saira and approached the window where Noor was standing.
He extended the bottle toward her, his expression one of gentle worry. "Are you okay, Noor?" he asked softly.
Noor simply nodded, gratefully accepting the water. She took a slow, steady sip, and within moments, her breathing began to regulate itself. The dizziness subsided, and she felt significantly better.
She thanked Ayaan with a genuine smile and moved away from the window, rejoining Misha and Akshara, who were busy taking candid photographs of each other.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the vast hall, Vihaan was engrossed in a phone call. "Yes, Mr. Sharma," he confirmed, "I will check that message right away."
Saira spotted her brother still talking business and marched straight up to him. With a playful yet firm motion, she snatched the phone right out of his hand. "Bhai, we are on vacation! Absolutely no work is allowed on a holiday," she declared.
Vihaan merely chuckled at his sister's protectiveness. Saira, intending to enforce her rule, slipped the phone into Misha's bag, hiding it without Misha realizing it.
Rida, who witnessed the quick maneuver, smiled knowingly at Saira. Saira returned the conspiratorial smile, and the two young women moved on, their attention turning back to the grand architecture of the palace.
🦋
Misha was utterly lost in admiring the breathtaking beauty and intricate architecture of the Bangalore Palace when Ruhi approached her, a hint of shyness in her voice. "Umm, excuse me," Ruhi began softly.
Misha turned, her face instantly lighting up with a bright, welcoming smile.
"Actually, we haven't had a proper introduction yet, and that's terrible manners! Hi, I'm Ruhi, Ruhi Raina," Ruhi said, extending her hand.
"I'm Misha Joshi. It's lovely to meet you. I'm the CEO of Joshi Industries," Misha replied, shaking Ruhi's hand with a firm but friendly grasp. They both began to move forward, their feet carrying them deeper into the palace grounds.
"Oh, nice! That's impressive," Ruhi responded, her shoulders straightening slightly with a gentle sense of pride.
"I'm a paediatrician." Misha nodded, genuinely interested, and they continued their conversation, easily finding common ground.
They were nearing the grand exit of the palace when a new conversation drew their attention. Akshara turned to a tall, handsome man.
"Arsh, mujhe na kuch bangles so, can we go to the fair," she announced, her voice full of excitement.
(Arsh, I want to buy some bangles so, can we go to the fair)
"Ohoh, Arsh, huh?" Ayaan teased instantly, his playful grin widening as he nudged the man next to him. Aakarsh (Arsh) and Akshara blushed deeply, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared, affectionate embarrassment, which only encouraged the others to tease them more playfully.
Ruhi found herself standing quietly, a tiny flicker of feeling left out crossing her features. Shivansh, ever the observer, noticed her momentary solitude and walked toward her.
"Are you feeling left out?" he asked gently, his voice filled with sincere concern. Ruhi, masking her feelings, simply shook her head in disagreement.
Across the lawn, Misha, Noor, and Akshara saw the exchange and immediately sensed Ruhi's discomfort.
They exchanged a meaningful glance, silently agreeing to make her feel welcome. The three walked over to Shivansh.
"Shivansh Jiju," Akshara began with a charming smile, using the affectionate term for a brother-in-law, "if you don't mind, can we whisk our Ruhi Di away for a bit?" Before waiting for a reply, they gently dragged Ruhi with them, wrapping their arms around her.
Shivansh smiled warmly at the three ladies—Misha, Noor, and Akshara—pleased to see them instantly embrace a new friend. He then walked back to join Ayaan and the rest of the group.
Misha, Noor, and Akshara kept the momentum going, launching into animated chatter and physically dragging Ruhi everywhere—to see a last-minute carving, to admire a particular fountain, and into their ongoing jokes.
Ruhi couldn't think of her earlier shyness, the sheer love and overwhelming warmth of their company washed over her, making her feel completely accepted.
Finally, everyone exited the palace and headed toward the vibrant fair being held just outside the gates.
They decided to walk, enjoying the pleasant afternoon air. All the girls—Misha, Ruhi, Noor, Akshara, Rithika, and Saira—walked ahead, their lively chatter creating a cheerful buzz, with the men following close behind.
Rithika and Saira were deep in a discussion about which souvenirs to buy when Karthik quickened his pace to catch up to Rithika. He held out a chilled bottle of water.
"Mishti," he said tenderly, using her nickname. "Drink some water, otherwise, you'll get dehydrated walking in this heat."
Rithika stopped, gratefully took the bottle, and drank the water eagerly, much like a five-year-old child might, completely focused on quenching her thirst.
_____________________________________
Hey readers,
Thank you all for reading the seventh chapter!
Guys, in future chapters after a tragic event there is gonna a be change in the story so please wait for that.
Ayaan just being Ayaan in this chapter.🤣
I hope you are enjoying the book so far!
Readers, please vote because that helps my book to reach to a higher place.
And lastly please vote the chapter if you like it.
Happy reading 💛💛
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