10. A Sweet Awakening

The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Abhir sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze distant as his mind wandered.

His eyes moved slowly across the photographs on the walls—some from his childhood, others from  family gatherings. Each image held a piece of his past, a time when everything had felt simpler.

A soft knock broke his reverie, and he turned toward the door. "Mind if I come in?" Charu's voice was gentler than usual, carrying a warmth that sent a shiver through him.

Before he could respond, Charu walked in, holding two steaming cups of coffee.

The aroma filled the room, familiar and comforting. She offered him a cup with a small smile, her eyes softening when they met his. "Tum theek ho?" she asked quietly, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Abhir exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Pata nahi. Yeh ghar, yeh log... sab kuch ajeeb lag raha hai."

Charu’s eyes softened in understanding as she tilted her head. "Tum sachai se jitna bhagenge, utna hi mushkil hoga Abhi. Kabhi toh deal karna hoga naa tumhe apne issues se?"

Abhir’s gaze lingered on her face, struck by the quiet wisdom in her words. "Aur agar main deal nahi karna chahta toh?"

A faint smile played at the corner of Charu’s lips. She leaned in slightly, brushing her fingers against his cheek before pressing a soft kiss there. "Toh yeh lawyer aapko apne tareke se mana legi."

His heart skipped a beat, and before he knew what he was doing, he pulled her toward him, making her land softly on his lap.

Charu gasped, looking up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "W... what are you doing, Abhir?" she asked meekly, her voice barely a whisper.

Abhir smirked, his lips curling in amusement. "I would love my morning coffee with a sweet kiss," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "And I’m addicted to the taste of your lips."

He closed the distance between them, his lips capturing hers in a soft but lingering kiss. The world seemed to blur around them, leaving only the warmth of her presence.

He could feel her heart beating faster against his chest, the tension between them palpable. Without thinking, he rolled them onto the bed, deepening the kiss.

But just as the moment intensified, the world shifted. A sudden *dummmm*—a loud thud—and Abhir’s eyes snapped open.

"Charu!" he shouted, but instead of her, he found himself sprawled on the floor, groaning from the unexpected fall.

His heart raced, his breath uneven. As his mind caught up with reality, he realized—he had been dreaming.

His cheeks flushed in embarrassment as he pushed himself off the floor, rubbing his head.

He groaned, shaking his head in disbelief. "What the hell was that?"

Still reeling from the intensity of the dream, Abhir slowly stood up and glanced around the room, his face now red with a mix of confusion and irritation.

Why had he dreamed about Charu like that? It didn’t make sense.

She was Abhira's sister -in-law, and they had never been anything more than acquaintances from the first meet.

Yet, his heart had raced in his dream, his thoughts consumed by her.

He groaned again, rubbing his face in frustration. "This is crazy" he thought. "Why the hell am I dreaming like this about that grumpy woman?"

With a final, exasperated sigh, Abhir shook off the remnants of the dream. He had to get his act together—this was just his mind playing tricks on him. But as he moved toward the bathroom, a part of him couldn’t help but wonder why his mind had chosen Charu, of all people, to be at the center of that strange dream.

"Maybe it’s just the stress and change of place" he thought gazing at his lavish hotel room, trying to push the thoughts aside.

But the flush on his cheeks lingered, and deep down, he knew it would be harder to shake the dream off than he cared to admit.

-----

Abhira was on her feet since dawn, bustling around the Poddar kitchen, her sleeves rolled up and her mind solely focused on perfecting her brother's favorite dishes. The aroma of spices and ghee filled the air as she worked tirelessly, her determination unwavering.

Vidhya, her mother-in-law who adored her like a daughter, watched her with a fond smile. “Abhira beta, tum itni khush ho aaj. You’ve been running around all morning. Take a break,” she suggested gently.

Abhira shook her head, a smile lighting up her face. “Maa, I’m fine. It’s been so long since I’ve had a chance to do something for Bhai. I want everything to be perfect.”

Vidhya chuckled softly and joined her, rolling up her own sleeves to help. The two women worked together in harmonious rhythm until Vidhya excused herself to serve breakfast to the rest of the family, leaving Abhira alone to finish the last dish—moong dal ka halwa, Abhir’s absolute favorite.

But the halwa wasn’t cooperating. No matter how much she stirred, it didn’t seem to have the right consistency or aroma. Frustration crept onto her face as she muttered to herself, “Why isn’t this turning out right?”

Just then, a pair of warm arms encircled her from behind. Startled, she turned her head slightly to see Armaan.

He pressed a soft kiss to her temple and whispered, “Abhira, take care of yourself first. Have you even eaten anything? Leave this for now.”

She sighed in irritation, trying to wriggle out of his hold. “Armaan, don’t distract me! This halwa isn’t turning out right, and I can’t mess it up. Bhai loves this so much, and I’ve already promised him.”

Armaan tightened his hold for a moment, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “You’ll get it perfect, I’m sure. But not if you keep stressing yourself out.”

Abhira spun around, her face flushed with frustration. “Armaan! I don’t have time for this. If you’re not going to help, then please let me work.”

Before Armaan could respond, Charu walked into the kitchen and froze at the scene before her.

Abhira, clearly exasperated, was glaring at Armaan, who looked thoroughly amused by her annoyance.

“What’s going on here?” Charu asked, arching an eyebrow.

Abhira’s eyes lit up when she saw her. “Charu! Thank God you’re here. I’m struggling with this halwa, and it’s just not working. Bhai’s going to be here soon, and I—”

Charu raised a hand to stop her. “Relax, Bhabhi. I’ve got this. Moong dal ka halwa is my specialty.”

Abhira’s face lit up with relief, and she quickly stepped aside, making space for Charu to take over. “Really? You’re a lifesaver, Charu. Thank you so much”

Charu tied her dupatta around her waist, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work.

She moved with practiced ease, roasting the dal to a golden brown, adding the perfect amount of sugar and ghee.

Armaan leaned against the counter, watching with an amused expression as Charu and Abhira worked side by side.

Within minutes, the kitchen was filled with the heavenly aroma of perfectly cooked halwa.

Charu scooped a small spoonful and handed it to Abhira for a taste.

Abhira’s eyes widened as she tasted it. “This is perfect, Charu! Thank you so much. Bhai is going to love it.”

Charu smiled modestly, brushing off the praise. “No need to thank me. I’m just glad I could help you. Now, go get ready. You’ve been in the kitchen all morning.”

Abhira grinned, her earlier stress melting away. “I will.” She turned to Armaan, who was still watching her with a smirk. “And you, stop teasing me and go help set the table!”

Armaan raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling. “Yes, ma’am.”

As Abhira rushed out to freshen up, Charu glanced at the halwa, a small smile playing on her lips.

Little did she know, her simple gesture had earned her another layer of admiration in Abhir’s eyes, though he wasn’t even there to witness it yet.