18. Shopping and message

Niharika sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers curling around her phone as it buzzed with an incoming call. Seeing Raaj's name on the screen, she quickly answered, eager to hear a familiar voice.

"Hey, Raaj," she said softly, her tone laced with warmth.

"Nihu," his voice came through, filled with concern. "How are you? Adjusting there?"

"I'm fine, bhai," she replied. "How about you? How are Shalini aunty and Vishal uncle?"

Raaj hesitated for a moment before replying, a hint of bitterness in his tone. "They're living like the weight of the world has been lifted off their shoulders now that you're gone. But that’s not what matters. What about you? Are you happy there?"

His question caught her off guard. She paused, her mind flitting to the moments from last night—the fleeting smile on Shivaay's face and the overwhelming emotions it stirred in her. But she quickly brushed those thoughts away, reminding herself that happiness here was uncertain.

"I'm fine," she said after a pause, her voice steady but distant.

Raaj wasn’t convinced. "If you're not, Nihu, just say the word. I'll come and get you out of there. You don’t have to stay somewhere that hurts you."

His protective tone made her eyes sting with unshed tears. She smiled faintly, even though he couldn’t see it. "Thank you, Raaj," she said softly. "But I’ll be okay. You don’t need to worry about me."

Raaj exhaled heavily. "I trust you, but don’t forget—I'm just a call away, always."

"I know," she whispered, the sincerity in her voice unmissable. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too," he replied before the call ended.

Placing the phone on the nightstand, Niharika stared out of the window, her thoughts heavy. Raaj's concern was a comfort, but it also reminded her of the uncertainty she felt. Could this ever truly feel like home?

After ending the call with Raaj, Niharika decided to take a short rest. Her thoughts were still a little heavy, but exhaustion from the day before caught up with her. She leaned back against the pillows, allowing herself to relax for a while.

Just as she was about to drift off, her phone rang again. She picked it up and saw Ivaan’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hello, Ivaan?” she answered, her voice groggy from the brief nap.

“Bhabhi, could you please come outside? An order just arrived,” Ivaan said, his voice unusually casual.

“An order?” she asked, confused.

“Yes, yes, it’s urgent. Please,” he insisted.

Still puzzled but obliging, Niharika hung up, slipped on her sandals, and made her way outside. The moment she stepped out of the door, she paused, noticing the silence. There was no delivery person in sight.

“Ivaan?” she called, looking around. “What order are you talking ab—”

Before she could finish her sentence, a loud "BOOM!" erupted from behind her. She gasped, her heart leaping in shock, and instinctively clutched her chest.

When she turned around, she was greeted by a shower of colorful confetti raining down on her. She looked up to see Ivaan and Riya laughing uncontrollably while Ishaan stood nearby, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and mild annoyance.

“Are you okay, bhabhi?” Ishaan asked, stepping closer, his expression softening as he noticed the startled look on her face.

“What was that?!” she exclaimed, still catching her breath. “You scared me to death!”

“It was just a little fun!” Riya said, grinning widely. “Didn’t you like our surprise?”

“This was your idea?” Niharika narrowed her eyes at both Riya and Ivaan.

“Of course!” Ivaan said proudly, holding up an empty confetti cannon. “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it, bhabhi!”

“I didn’t,” she replied sternly, though the faintest smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “What if I’d gotten hurt?”

“That’s why we had Ishaan bhai to supervise,” Riya said cheekily.

“And now, I’m supervising this,” Ishaan said, crossing his arms. “Ivaan, Riya, this was unnecessary. Look at how scared she got!”

“She’s fine,” Ivaan argued, but one look at Ishaan’s stern expression made him relent. “Sorry, bhabhi,” he muttered sheepishly.

“Apology accepted,” Niharika said with a sigh, though her heart had softened at their childish antics. “But what are you all doing here? I thought you had a full day at college.”

“We got a half-day!” Riya chimed in brightly.

“Yes,” Ivaan added. “And since we were free, we thought of calling Ishaan bhai and then you. You’ve been cooped up here too long, bhabhi.”

“And?” Niharika prompted, sensing there was more to their plan.

“And,” Ishaan said, his tone resigned but with a small smile, “they decided we should all go shopping. Together.”

“Shopping?” Niharika repeated, blinking.

“Yes! You’ll love it!” Riya said excitedly, grabbing Niharika’s hand. “We won’t take no for an answer.”

“Absolutely,” Ivaan agreed, taking her other hand. “Come on, bhabhi. You need a break!”

Niharika looked at Ishaan, silently asking if this was really necessary. He shrugged lightly. “They won’t stop pestering you unless you agree,” he said.

With a defeated laugh, Niharika relented. “Fine, fine! But only because I know you won’t let me rest otherwise.”

The trio cheered, and with that, they whisked her away for a much-needed outing. Niharika couldn’t help but smile at their infectious energy, feeling a sense of belonging she hadn’t expected.

Before getting into the car, Niharika paused for a moment, thinking she should inform Shweta about their plan. She wasn’t sure if it was okay to leave the house just like that.

“I better let Maa know,” she muttered to herself.

Ishaan, sensing her hesitation, quickly handed her his phone. “Don’t worry, bhabhi,” he said with a reassuring smile. “Maa is already on the line.”

Niharika took the phone, and before she could even say anything, she heard Shweta’s calm voice from the speaker.

“Beta, Ishaaan has already told me everything. Go ahead and enjoy,” Shweta said, her tone warm and approving.

Niharika smiled softly, feeling relieved. “Thank you, Maa,” she said, still a little unsure about the spontaneity of the outing.

Shweta’s voice became playful. “Just remember, you deserve to have fun. It’s good for you.”

“Okay, Maa,” Niharika responded, her worries fading away as she felt the support from Shweta.

“Enjoy, beta. Have a good time with them,” Shweta added, and the call ended.

Niharika handed the phone back to Ishaan with a grateful nod. “Thank you,” she said.

“Now, that’s settled! Let’s go!” Ivaan urged, already excited.

With that, they all climbed into the car, and Niharika felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. She hadn’t expected to have a day out like this, but with the permission from Shweta, she was ready to enjoy herself.

As the car came to a halt in front of a grand, luxurious mall, Niharika stared at it in awe. The building was massive, its glass walls gleaming under the sunlight, and the bustling crowd outside spoke of its exclusivity.

Riya looked at Niharika with a playful grin. “Bhabhi, you’re going to shop from here?”

Niharika turned her gaze to Riya and then back to the opulent mall. The lavishness of the place made her feel slightly out of place. She frowned and crossed her arms. “I am not going to buy even a single thing from here,” she said firmly. “This place looks way too expensive.”

Ivaan, who was locking the car, stopped mid-action and turned to her with an amused expression. “Bhabhi,” he began, his voice carrying a teasing edge, “you’re the wife of Shivaay Singh Ranawat and the daughter-in-law of the Ranawat family. You can buy anything you want, from anywhere you want.”

Niharika shot him a look, unimpressed. “That doesn’t mean I should spend money recklessly,” she said. “This mall isn’t for people like me.”

Ishaan, who had been quietly observing, stepped in with a soft chuckle. “You’re not ‘people like you’ anymore, bhabhi. You’re family now. And besides, it’s not reckless. Think of it as... pampering yourself a little.”

Riya chimed in, tugging at Niharika’s arm. “Come on, bhabhi! Don’t be like this. You deserve it. Let’s go!”

Niharika sighed, realizing she was outnumbered. She gave them a hesitant nod, still feeling a little unsure but touched by their efforts to include her.

“Fine,” she said finally. “But only a few things, and no unnecessary spending!”

Ivaan smirked. “We’ll see about that, bhabhi.”

With that, they walked towards the mall entrance, Niharika still feeling slightly nervous but also warmed by the excitement of her newfound siblings-in-law.

As they entered the mall, Niharika couldn’t help but look around in awe. The lavish interiors, the sparkling chandeliers, and the polished marble floors made everything feel surreal. She felt like she had stepped into a completely different world—one she wasn’t sure she belonged to.

Walking ahead, she noticed a shop displaying beautiful ethnic wear. The intricate designs and vibrant colors of the outfits immediately caught her attention. Riya noticed her lingering gaze and grabbed her hand. “Bhabhi, let’s check this one out! I bet you’ll find something amazing here.”

The four of them entered the store, where racks of luxurious sarees, lehengas, and anarkalis were neatly displayed. Each piece screamed extravagance, the delicate fabrics shimmering under the soft lighting. Niharika carefully touched one of the sarees, feeling the richness of the material between her fingers.

Ishaan leaned in with a smile. “You like it, bhabhi?”

“It’s beautiful,” she admitted softly, her eyes scanning the intricate embroidery and fine detailing. But as she glanced at the price tag, her expression shifted to one of disbelief.

“This is too expensive,” she said, stepping back. “I can’t buy something like this. It’s not practical.”

Ivaan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “Bhabhi, you need to stop thinking like this. You’re a Ranawat now. These are the kinds of clothes that suit your status.”

Niharika shook her head firmly. “Ivaan, it doesn’t matter what my status is. Spending so much money on a single outfit doesn’t feel right to me.”

Riya pouted. “But, bhabhi, these are perfect for you! You’ll look amazing in them.”

“I don’t need to look amazing,” Niharika replied gently but decisively. “I’ll find something simpler. Something that’s beautiful but also reasonable.”

The siblings exchanged glances, knowing they couldn’t argue with her logic but feeling a little disappointed.

“Fine,” Ishaan said with a small smile. “Let’s look somewhere else then. We’ll find something you love, even if it’s not here.”

Niharika smiled at him gratefully. “Thank you.”

With that, they left the shop, continuing their search for something that resonated more with Niharika’s values and comfort.

As Niharika walked out of the fitting room and handed the dress back to the saleswoman, Ivaan discreetly checked his phone, smirking mischievously. While she had been trying on the dress, he had snapped a quick photo of her without anyone noticing. The dress accentuated her grace, and the shy, almost nervous look on her face made the picture even more striking.

He quickly composed a text message to Shivaay:

Bhai, just look at bhabhi! Isn’t she stunning? You’re one lucky man. We’re out shopping—don’t worry, we’re taking good care of her.

Ivaan added a couple of teasing emojis and hit send, chuckling to himself. Shivaay's reply didn’t come instantly, which he found unusual. Usually, his brother would respond with a curt acknowledgment or a disapproving remark.

What Ivaan didn’t know was that Shivaay had seen the message. Sitting in his office, he stared at his phone, his jaw tightening. The image of Niharika in that green slit dress made his chest tighten in ways he couldn’t understand. She looked… breathtaking. His usually stoic demeanor faltered for a moment as his thumb hovered over the screen, debating whether to respond.

But instead of replying, he locked his phone and tossed it onto the desk with a little more force than necessary. He didn’t want to admit how much the image had affected him—or how much he disliked the idea of her being out with others while looking like that. A storm brewed within him, but he masked it with his usual cold exterior.

Back at the mall, Ivaan slid his phone back into his pocket, suppressing a laugh. He had no intention of telling Niharika or Riya about the photo—or the teasing message he had sent to Shivaay. He knew his brother well enough to predict that this small prank would stir up something far more interesting than anyone expected.

"Come on, bhabhi, let’s go grab something to eat,” Ivaan said casually, as if nothing had happened.

Niharika smiled, unaware of the tiny storm brewing in the mind of her husband.

The group made their way to a trendy café in the mall that was known for its gourmet burgers. Riya, buzzing with excitement, clapped her hands as she scanned the menu. "Bhabhi, you're going to love these! They have the best burgers in the city."

Niharika glanced hesitantly at the menu. She wasn’t used to eating burgers often, let alone the fancy, overloaded ones listed here. "Riya, these look… huge. I don’t think I can finish one," she said softly.

Ivaan laughed. "Come on, bhabhi, you’re not allowed to diet when you’re with us! Besides, this is a must-try place. We’ll share if you can’t finish."

Relenting, Niharika nodded and let them order for her. Soon, the table was filled with massive, colorful burgers, crispy fries, and tall glasses of milkshakes.

“Here’s yours, bhabhi,” Riya said, sliding a burger with a fancy toothpick stuck in the center toward her. “It’s a little spicy, but trust me, it’s amazing.”

Niharika took a careful bite, and her eyes widened at the explosion of flavors. "Wow, this is really good," she admitted, earning grins from both Riya and Ivaan.

Ivaan chuckled. "Told you! Stick with us, bhabhi, and we’ll show you the fun side of life."

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily, with Riya and Ivaan recounting funny childhood stories about Shivaay. "You know," Riya said between bites, "Bhai used to be so strict even when we were kids. I once spilled juice on his favorite book, and he made me do all his chores for a week as punishment."

Niharika laughed, trying to imagine a younger, equally intense Shivaay. The image felt strange yet endearing.

Unbeknownst to her, Ivaan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. When he checked, he found a single reply from Shivaay: Keep an eye on her. No more stunts.

Smirking, Ivaan quickly typed back: Relax, Bhai. She’s in safe hands.

He pocketed his phone again, glancing at Niharika, who was happily munching on her burger. The teasing prank had certainly added some spice to their outing, and Ivaan couldn’t wait to see how things unfolded later.