Author's POV:-
"Never." he replied, sounding almost like he was complaining.
His grandfather cleared his throat.
"You both are going, today." he said, causing her eyes to widen slightly, while he looked up at his grandfather, a silent spark in his eyes now. The rest of the family exchanged glances.
"Woah, today? Where will bhai bhabhi go then?" Riya asked, a wide smile on her face.
"That they will decide by themselves" his mother replied, exchanging glances with his father and grandfather.
He and she looked at each other briefly before quickly looking away. He noticed her cheeks turning red, and a small smile appeared on his lips.
He nodded to his grandfather.
On the other hand
Siddharth's POV-
I was about to leave as soon as possible, but as I reached the exit, that same girl blocked my way. Gosh, I thought, feeling exasperated.
What now?
"Wait!" she said, much to my annoyance. What's her deal?
"What? Get out of my way. And are you crazy? When did I become your boyfriend? Why don't I know I'm your boyfriend?" I asked, frustration evident in my tone, while she sighed.
"Aren't you the same guy from that cuisine that day?" she asked, as if oblivious to the obvious.
Is she blind? Or just plain stupid for asking such an idiotic question? Obviously, I'm the same guy who she was ready to eat alive that day.
"So? Will you now explain what all that was about?" I demanded, feeling my patience wearing thin.
If she didn't explain soon, my mind might just explode.
"See, it was just... My necessity... that's why I told her that you're my boyfriend, okay? No need to fly off clouds... it was just my necessity" she explains, her words leaving me even more baffled.
Is she bipolar? Is she the same person who was pleading just moments ago to go with the flow?
"Hello? What do you think of yourself? I helped you, and you're rude enough to talk like this?" I snap, unable to comprehend her erratic behaviour
"Listen, I know it was wrong... but please, listen to me once. I'll explain everything later.. Can we take a seat?" she asks, attempting to regain some semblance of control over the situation.
"Why? Have you applied henna to your legs that you can't talk while standing?" I retort, growing impatient with her reluctance to explain
"Oh hello? I was just trying to be considerate and make it comfortable for you, okay? Anyway, let's talk like th—" Before she could finish her sentence, I had already taken a seat. I can't tolerate her antics any longer.
"Huh?" she stuttered in surprise, taken aback. "Now what, Mr.? Are your legs hurting?" she teases, taking a seat in front of me.
God. How much she speaks in a day, I wonder, feeling a headache coming on.
"Will you now explain?" I ask, trying to maintain a calm demeanor despite my growing frustration.
She looks at me, pressing her lips together as if contemplating how to explain. "I... I don't know how to explain this—" she begins.
"Try using your mouth." I cut her off, unable to hide my exasperation any longer.
She glanced at me, pressing her lips together as if holding back from saying something rude, perhaps.
"Kal tak bata dengi aap?" I asked, trying to gauge her intentions.
I could almost feel her rolling her eyes inwardly, though I hadn't noticed the colour of her eyes before. They were pretty, hazel green, mesmerizing and captivating
"Can you be my boyfriend?" she suddenly asked, snapping me out of my reverie. The hell?
"Hein?" I blurted out, taken aback by her unexpected request. Has she completely lost her mind?
"I mean... pretend.. I mean, can you pretend to be my boyfriend, just for 2 months? After that, we're done. I won't bother you anymore. See, I know you must think I'm mad or something, but I have a valid reason for it. I may... not be able to explain it to you right now, but please, just for 2 months. You have to pretend to be my boyfriend, just for two months, in front of my family" she explained hastily.
"Are you crazy?" I stood up, but she continued.
"Look. It's just a matter of 2 months, after that I'll seriously not bother you, we'll sign a contract, in return I'll give you whatever you wish. I'll give any amount you'll ask, but just please-" she said, her desperation palpable.
Does she even know me?
"Are you mad or what? You want to deceive your own family?" I snapped, though I didn't want to. What the hell is she even saying, to fool her own family?
"I'm having a reason for this. Please understand. I seriously have a valid... reason... " she said, her eyes welling up with tears, sinking into a nearby chair. Shit. I didn't mean to make her cry. Did I speak too harshly?
Oh god, what the hell is happening in my life? Instead of her, I should be the one crying. Why the hell is she crying??
I hesitantly knelt down in front of her, unsure of how to comfort her. "Don't--cry... Why are you crying?" I said, reaching out to wipe her tears, my hand trembling.
"What? Stop crying" I said as she started crying even more. Oh God, what is happening here? Her tears are discomforting me, don't know why
I reached out and held her cheeks, hesitantly wiping away her tears. "Stop crying" I said, my own voice shaky. If she doesn't stop crying, I'll start crying now. She looked at me with her teary eyes, and I realized I shouldn't have touched her. I quickly moved my hand away, feeling like a fool, while she pleaded with her eyes.
"Please..." she said again, and I felt torn.
"Why the hell me only? Just find anyone else na?" I stood up.
And then she pressed her lips together and stood with a jolt. I stepped back as her gaze pierced through my soul................... hello?
"Then what will I say to my grandmother? That my boyfriend had plastic surgery?" she snapped, her mood shifting suddenly. What's with her? She was literally crying a moment ago!
"Look—" I began, but before I could finish, her grandmother's voice interrupted.
"Aanya?" Her grandmother called out of nowhere, and she quickly turned around to wipe her tears as her grandmother approached us with small, deliberate steps.
As her grandmother came closer, I instinctively stepped back, anticipating another ear-pulling session. Instead, her grandmother smacked my shoulder with surprising force. "Ouch!" I winced at the sharp pain.
This hitler granny.
"Bad young man! You made my granddaughter cry again?"
Granny, your granddaughter is the one who's making me cry!
"Grandma, why did you come back? I told you to wait in the car—" she began, but her grandmother ignored her and leaned in to whisper something in her ear.
"Is he still angry with you?" Her grandmother's hushed words were barely audible, but I caught them nonetheless.
She glanced at me before leading her grandmother into a corner for another hushed conversation. God, my mind is about to explode.
Meanwhile
Everyone was having their breakfast.
He had a meeting to attend, so he had to go.
They were going to leave in the evening.
He stood and left the dining table after finishing his breakfast. As he left, she glanced at him, a thought lingering in her mind about whether he was upset with her, recalling the incident in Riya's room. She stood up to go after him.
"Where are you going beta? You didn't finish your breakfast?" His father asked, and she glanced at him.
"Um... Papa... I was going to... bring water from the kitchen" she replied, unsure of what else to say.
"But the water is here—" his father began to say, but his mother interrupted.
"Okay beta" she said, giving her a reassuring smile. She exchanged a glance with his father, who looked a bit puzzled.
"Go on" his mother said, and Meera nodded.
She goes and stopped at the entrance, observing him engaged in a conversation on his phone.
She looked away when his gaze fell on her, feeling a rush of nervousness. When she thought of stealing another glance at him, she found him approaching her, still engrossed in his call. As he drew nearer, her heart began to race, her breath catching in her throat.
Finally ending the call, he turned to her
"Do you want to say something?" he asked, his voice low.
She shook her head, unable to find her voice, her eyes cast down.
Sensing her hesitation, he nodded slightly and glanced elsewhere, while she kept her gaze lowered.
Suddenly, she felt his lips press against her cheek, causing her eyes to widen in surprise. His arm encircled her waist, drawing her closer, and her hand instinctively found its place on his shoulder. His lips lingered on her cheek for a moment, sending a tingling sensation through her.
"Aaryansh jii.." she whispered, her cheeks flushing with warmth as she feared someone might see them.
He reluctantly pulled away, his breath brushing against her skin as he whispered,
"It's Aaryansh, not Aaryansh ji. Next time, I'll kiss you in front of everyone if you call me 'Aaryansh ji' again."
His words sent a shiver down her spine, and she looked away, feeling both flustered and exhilarated.
"We'll head off in the evening" he said, his tone gentle
"But whe—" she began, only to feel his lips press against her other cheek now, causing her to clutch his shirt in surprise.
"See you, biwi" he said softly, before reluctantly leaving her side.
As he left, she couldn't resist touching her cheek where his lips had touched, feeling the lingering warmth. Blushing like a fool, her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.
Recalling the water excuse she made earlier, she hurried to the kitchen to fetch water for everyone, her mind still filled with thoughts of him.
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