49. Phasa Diya

Bonus chapter!! ✨

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Ishika stood in front of her full-length mirror, adjusting the soft curls in her hair one last time.

She wore an elegant pink midi dress, made of satin that glimmered under the light.

The dress had delicate floral embroidery along the neckline and waist, cinching perfectly to highlight her slender figure.

The puffed sleeves added a touch of charm, while the flowing skirt gave her an effortless grace.

She paired it with pearl drop earrings and strappy nude heels, her makeup soft and subtle—a light blush on her cheeks and a natural pink shade on her lips.

Just as she was about to grab her handbag, Rudraksh walked into the room, his usual stern expression etched on his face.

His sharp eyes scanned her from head to toe before he asked in his deep, gruff voice, "Where are you going?"

Ishika turned, a small smile playing on her lips as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm going out for lunch with the girls."

Rudraksh said nothing for a moment, his gaze lingering before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his sleek black credit card.

Extending it towards her, he said curtly, "Here, use it. Spend as much as you want."

Ishika blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Oh no. I don't need it." Her voice was polite but firm, her hands staying by her side.

His brows furrowed slightly. "I didn’t give you an option," he said in a tone that left no room for argument as he gently placed the card into her hand and turned to leave the room.

As the door closed behind him, Ishika sighed and looked at the card in her hand.

"I didn’t give you an option," she mimicked in a gruff voice, rolling her eyes.

"He's growing ruder and ruder din ba din," she mumbled under her breath before placing the card carefully in her purse.

With one last glance in the mirror, Ishika picked up her bag and walked out of her room, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.

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Downstairs, Amrita, Ananya, Divya, and Mahima were already waiting near the grand staircase.

Amrita wore a sleek black jumpsuit with silver accessories, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail.

Ananya had chosen a sky-blue floral dress paired with white sneakers, exuding her usual bubbly charm.

Divya wore an elegant emerald green dress with matching heels, while Mahima opted for a mustard yellow kurti paired with straight-cut white pants, keeping her look simple yet graceful.

"Where are you all going?" Geeta asked, emerging from the kitchen with a warm smile.

"Oh, we're just going out for lunch together, Ma," Divya replied with a bright grin.

Just then, Rukmini appeared from the hallway. "Before you all go, meet your Dadi and then leave. She wanted to see you girls."

The girls nodded in agreement and began walking towards Dadi’s room.

"You guys go. I'll wait," Mahima hesitated, slowing her steps.

Ananya frowned and grabbed her arm. "Why? You should meet Dadi ji too! She's the sweetest one alive!"

Before Mahima could protest, the four girls dragged her along, their chatter echoing through the hallway as they made their way to the cozy, sunlit room of their grandmother.

In Dadi’s room, the smell of incense mixed with the faint aroma of jasmine flowers.

Sunlight poured through the sheer curtains, casting soft patterns on the antique wooden furniture.

Dadi sat comfortably propped up by pillows on her bed, her silver hair neatly tied in a bun, and a serene smile gracing her face.

Beside her, Rishi sat peeling oranges with focused precision, placing the neat slices onto a small silver plate.

As the girls entered, Dadi’s face lit up instantly. "Ah, my beautiful granddaughters! Come, come!"

Ananya rushed forward with her signature cheerfulness, wrapping her arms around Dadi carefully. "Dadi ji!"

The rest followed, greeting her warmly and taking turns to sit near her.

"Where are you all off to, looking so lovely today?" Dadi asked, her sharp, observant eyes twinkling as she took in their appearances.

"We’re going out for lunch, Dadi ji," Ishika said, flashing a soft smile as she adjusted her purse strap.

Dadi gestured towards the plate of oranges. "Before you leave, have some fruit. Blessings always taste sweeter with a bit of sweetness, don’t they?"

The girls laughed lightly and each took an orange segment, savoring the moment of warmth and affection.

"Who's this beautiful lady?" Neelima asked, her gaze warm as she looked at Mahima.

"She's Mahima... Our best friend," Amrita replied, a proud smile on her face as she introduced Mahima to Dadi.

Mahima joined her hands in a respectful gesture and smiled softly. Dadi, with her gentle expression, gestured for her to come closer.

When Mahima obeyed, Dadi placed a hand on her cheek and said warmly, "If you're dear to my daughters, you're dear to me too." Her smile was a comforting reassurance.

Mahima, feeling the warmth of Dadi’s words, smiled back. "Thanks, ma'am," she said, her voice soft with gratitude.

Neelima’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she shook her head. "Ma'am? No! Call me Dadi."

Mahima chuckled, her smile never fading as she responded, "Yes, Dadi."

The girls, feeling like little children, said their goodbyes with an enthusiasm that only Dadi could draw out of them.

They were in no rush to leave, but Dadi’s smile lingered in their hearts as they waved goodbye.

Yet, there was something more in the air—something Dadi noticed.

Beneath the playful banter, love was quietly beginning to take root.

Rishi, who had been sitting across from Dadi, was observing Mahima intently.

His gaze was locked on her the entire time, but Mahima remained blissfully unaware, caught up in the warmth of the moment with Neelima.

Neelima, ever sharp, noticed Rishi’s attention and cleared her throat softly, breaking the silence.

Rishi snapped out of his trance, his eyes widening as he was caught.

"Oohh, did I disturb you, beta?" Neelima teased, her smile mischievous.

Rishi quickly averted his gaze, his face flushing a little at being found out.

"Oh no no, Dadi!" he stammered, feeling embarrassed for being so obvious. "I wasn’t— I mean, I just... never mind."

Neelima chuckled softly and leaned back, her eyes twinkling with knowing amusement.

"She seems like a nice girl," she teased further, a smile playing on her lips. "Very beautiful and sweet."

Rishi’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as he cleared his throat, trying to shake off the unease. "Oh Dadi..." he muttered under his breath.

He paused for a moment before adding, "It's just that... I felt like I've seen her before somewhere."

Neelima raised an eyebrow, but decided to leave the matter for now.

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Meanwhile, the girls were heading out of the house, laughing and talking amongst themselves, when they noticed Aditya standing near his car.

His usual composed demeanor made him look like a picture of confidence.

As soon as Ananya saw him, her heart skipped a beat, and her anxiety resurfaced.

After the panic attack, she had become more withdrawn and nervous around Aditya.

She had been avoiding him, not knowing how to face him after that moment of vulnerability.

This time, she looked everywhere except at him, fidgeting with her purse strap.

Aditya’s sharp eyes immediately caught her discomfort. He smirked slightly, but he didn’t address it right away. Instead, his focus shifted to Ishika as she asked,

"How is Anu being with you? Is she troubling you?" Her voice had a teasing edge, and she couldn’t resist asking the question.

Ananya froze, her wide eyes darting to Ishika. She knew exactly what kind of trouble Aditya could stir with that question.

This definitely wasn’t the best topic to bring up.

Aditya, however, was fearless. He raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ananya before giving Ishika an amused look.

"Troubling? Oh yes, bhabhi! A lot, actually! She never gives me respect, you know?"

Aditya continued with a mischievous smirk, playing the victim in the most innocent way he could manage. "She even calls me names!"

Ananya's eyes went even wider, and her face flushed with embarrassment. She stared at Aditya, horrified by his boldness.

Ishika, on the other hand, turned to look at Ananya with a glare that spoke volumes.

"Is that true?" Ishika's voice was sharp, her eyes cold as she turned to look at Ananya.

The tension in the air was palpable, and it was clear that Ishika wasn't going to let this slip away so easily.

Ananya froze, the weight of Ishika's glare making her feel small and helpless.

Her mouth went dry, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words.

She shook her head slightly, her gaze flicking nervously to the ground, feeling completely cornered.

The situation had suddenly become a lot more complicated than she had anticipated.

"I'll take care of it, Aditya," Ishika said, her voice smooth but firm, directed at Aditya with a slight nod of her head.

Aditya, however, was enjoying every second of the drama unfolding before him.

His smile stretched wider, pleased to have successfully put Ananya in such an awkward position.

He knew exactly what he had done, and he was certain it would make things interesting.

Before getting into his car, Aditya shot one last glance at Ananya.

As he did, he winked at her with an unmistakable smirk, a silent message that he was fully aware of how much he had unsettled her.

He knew he had left her with a mess to clean up, and that thought seemed to please him.

Then, without waiting for a response, he slid into his car and sped off, the sound of his engine roaring as he disappeared down the street.

Ananya stood there for a moment, her heart racing. She cursed under her breath, frustrated and embarrassed.

She had hoped to avoid this awkwardness, but now it felt like everything was spiraling out of control.

Ishika’s glare was still burning into her, and the weight of it felt heavier with each passing second.

"Aditya... I swear," Ananya muttered under her breath, clenching her fists at her sides as she watched his car vanish into the distance.

"Phasa diya na mujhe.."

The lingering tension with Ishika made her feel trapped, knowing she would have to face her now—no escape, no excuses.

The silence between them was thick with unspoken questions and unprocessed emotions.

Ishika had been on the receiving end of a playful taunt, and Ananya knew it would only take a moment before her friend demanded an explanation.

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They Couldn’t Stand Each Other, Except When They Couldn’t Stop Staring At Each Other.✨🌸