4. Love at first sight?

Ishika's uncle and aunt were chatting with the Raghuwanshi family, their voices dripping with insincerity. Ishika sat quietly beside them, her hands folded nervously, trying to gauge the atmosphere. She felt a wave of anxiety wash over her as she wondered when her friends would arrive to support her through this tense evening.

Just then, Amrita's Mami (maternal aunt) approached her, her fake sweetness fading as she pulled Ishika aside into the kitchen. “Ishika, beta, come here for a moment,” she said, her tone friendly but with an underlying tension.

Once inside, the warmth disappeared. “Where are the remaining three idiots?!” Mami whispered furiously.

“I… I tried to call them, but they wouldn’t pick up…” Ishika replied softly, her heart racing as she anticipated the backlash.

“Do you realize what’s at stake here?” Ananya’s Chachi (paternal aunt) cut in, her voice dripping with barely contained frustration. “I swear, if this proposal slips away because of you four, I’ll make sure you all pay for it!”

Ishika stood there, lowering her gaze and absorbing the scolding like the polite, innocent girl she was. Deep inside, however, she felt a mix of frustration and helplessness. Why did everything always fall on her shoulders?

Just then, Geeta entered the kitchen with a bright smile. “What’s happening here?” she asked, sensing the tension.

The aunts’ expressions instantly shifted, turning into forced smiles. “Oh, it’s nothing, Geeta ji! We were just bringing you some juice!” Divya’s dadi lied, her voice syrupy sweet.

Geeta raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. She placed a comforting hand on Ishika’s shoulder, guiding her back to the sitting room. Ishika felt the support in that small gesture, and a sense of relief washed over her, though she could still feel her aunts’ icy glares boring into her back.

As they returned to the living room, Ishika’s heart leaped when she spotted movement at the main door. She dashed forward, her spirits lifting as she recognized her friend.

“Divya!” Ishika exclaimed, pulling her into a warm embrace. Divya hugged her back but seemed a bit worn out.

“Where are the others?” Ishika asked, worry creeping into her voice.

“They’re coming slowly,” Divya replied quietly, her smile fading slightly as she felt the weight of many eyes on her.

As Divya stepped inside, she instantly became aware of the many unfamiliar faces in the room.

Her gaze traveled from person to person until it landed on a young man sitting with the others, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Daksh.

She felt her heart skip a beat as their eyes met briefly, a spark of surprise and intrigue passing between them.

He was strikingly handsome, and though she quickly averted her gaze, she couldn’t shake the strange feeling he stirred within her.

Daksh, meanwhile, was frozen, captivated by her presence.

Even without makeup, her natural beauty took his breath away. Her amber eyes seemed to hold a story all their own.

His pulse quickened, and for a moment, he forgot everything around him, caught up in the sight of her. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he continued to stare, utterly mesmerized.

Aaryansh, watching from beside him, noticed the change in his brother’s expression and leaned over with a knowing smirk. “Someone’s lovestruck,” he whispered, nudging Daksh.

Daksh snapped out of his trance, blinking in surprise, though he couldn’t resist stealing another glance at Divya. His feelings confused him; he didn’t understand why this girl, a stranger, had such an effect on him.

Ishika gestured for Divya to head upstairs to change, and Divya nodded, disappearing down the hallway. Ishika returned to where everyone was seated, trying to mask her own nervousness with a smile.

“I’m sorry... The girls are just a little late…” she said, hoping to diffuse any tension.

“No problem, beta,” Ishwar replied kindly. “But where did they go at this time?” He glanced at the clock, which read 8 PM.

“Actually, Uncle ji, today is Ganesh Nimarjan na...” Ishika said, her voice trembling slightly. “So they went to give a dhum dham send-off to Ganapati Bappa…”

Everyone was confused by her words yet remained silent

“Oh! Koi baat nahi, beta! We can wait,” Geeta assured her, sensing Ishika’s nervousness and offering a comforting smile.

But Ishika’s aunt shot her a stern look, her voice sharp with reprimand. “These girls picked tonight of all nights to dance in the streets when they should be here! Meeting the Raghuwanshi jis is far more important than such nonsense!”

Her harsh words stung, and Ishika flinched, instinctively drawing back.

Rudraksh, who had been observing quietly, clenched his fists, struggling to control his anger at seeing Ishika flinch.

His usually calm expression turned steely, but before he could say anything, a voice rang out across the room, pulling everyone’s attention to the doorway.

“Dare to talk to my Isha Mayya like that again!” Amrita declared, her voice firm and unwavering as she entered the room alongside Ananya.

The two girls strode confidently to where everyone sat. “What were you saying, Aunty ji?” Amrita challenged, her eyes locked on Ishika’s aunt, her expression fierce.

Ishika quickly moved to Amrita’s side, silently pleading with her to calm down. “It’s okay,” she whispered, her eyes filled with gratitude and concern.

Amrita took a breath, her intensity easing as she noticed Ishika’s worry. Ananya, however, stood her ground.

“First of all, Aunty ji, we weren’t informed that the Raghuwanshi ji were coming today. So don’t put the blame on us,” she said firmly, her voice strong and commanding.

A tense silence followed her words as everyone processed the challenge. The Raghuwanshis exchanged looks, some with raised eyebrows and others with faint smiles, impressed by the girls' boldness.

Ananya turned to Ishwar, her hands folded in a polite gesture. “Maaf kar dijiyega, Raghuwanshi sahab. We’ll be back after freshening up,” she said with a small bow, a genuine smile softening her features as she led Amrita upstairs.

As the girls left, the atmosphere shifted. The Raghuwanshis watched the display of friendship and loyalty, realizing that these girls were more than just polite visitors; they were a formidable team.

Daksh, still recovering from the surprise of his reaction to Divya, felt a strange sense of anticipation.

He had never met someone like her before, and he found himself wanting to know more. The tension from earlier faded, replaced by a sense of intrigue.

Amidst the conversations and exchanged glances, two brothers stood in silent surprise. Aaryansh and Aditya hadn’t expected to encounter such boldness and charm tonight, and both found themselves caught off guard.

Aaryansh’s gaze was drawn irresistibly to Amrita. Her vibrant orange kurta seemed to light up the room, complementing her bold aura perfectly.

The way her hair rested smoothly on her shoulders as she spoke with such confidence made his heart flutter. He had never seen someone who carried herself with such effortless grace and strength.

His breath quickened as he took in her beautiful face, the spark in her eyes, and the way she held her ground fearlessly. It was like she was a force of nature, and he couldn’t help but feel a magnetic pull toward her.

On the other hand, Aditya felt something stir in his heart that he wasn’t ready to accept.

It was strange, unsettling even, and he tried to brush it off, determined to ignore the odd sensation. But as his eyes landed on Ananya, he couldn’t look away.

Her clothes were stained and slightly damp with splashes of orange Holi color, smudges decorating her cheeks, adding an unintentional charm to her appearance.

The sight made his heart skip a beat, but he quickly forced himself to scowl.

“Look at her,” he thought, half-annoyed. Her clothes were untidy, she was drenched in color, and she didn’t seem to care.

He convinced himself that he disliked this carefree, messy side of her. Yet, he couldn’t deny the strange warmth that bubbled up every time he looked at her.

As Aaryansh admired Amrita’s fierce beauty and Aditya wrestled with his conflicted feelings toward Ananya, the air around them felt charged, like something was shifting.

Though neither brother fully understood what was happening, the four felt an undeniable connection—a spark that, for better or worse, they couldn’t ignore.

_________________

Remember to Vote!!

radha_novel.love_

My Insta id 👆🏻

Do follow for spoilers!!