CHAPTER 22 : "SILENT YEARNINGS AND UNSEEN THREATS"

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Gently, almost instinctively, Vishwanath took Kashi's hand and led her into a slow, intimate dance. His grip was firm yet tender, sending an unexpected warmth through her body. Their hands fit together as though they had always belonged there, and for the first time in the entire evening, Vishwanath felt at ease.

As they began to move, the world around them blurred into insignificance. The guests, the glittering lights, the music, all faded into the background. There were no eyes on them, no Maya vying for his attention. It was just the two of them, lost in a rhythm that neither had to force. It flowed effortlessly, as if the universe had been waiting for this exact moment to bring them together.

Vishwanath held her close, his hand resting protectively at the small of her back. His heart raced as he took in every small detail the way her hair framed her face, the softness of her skin, the gentle rise and fall of her breath. He was mesmerized, unable to focus on anything but her. The tension that had clouded his mind throughout the evening slowly evaporated, replaced by a calm only Kashi could provide.

Kashi, too, felt her defenses crumble. Her emotions, which she had carefully guarded, now surged forward, overwhelming her. Her heart pounded, every beat louder than the last. She had always felt something for Vishwanath, but now, in his arms, those feelings were undeniable. She couldn't hide from them any longer.

They moved as one, their bodies swaying in perfect harmony. Neither of them spoke, but they didn't even need to. The silent language between them was far more powerful than words. Vishwanath's thumb gently stroked her hand, a barely-there touch that sent shivers up her spine. With every subtle movement, their connection deepened, growing stronger as the music played on.

For Vishwanath, each second with her felt like a gift. He had spent the evening suffocated by obligations, by pretenses, but now he was free. Free to be himself with the one person who saw him for more than his title, for more than his wealth. Kashi grounded him in a way no one else ever had, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe in the possibility of happiness of love.

As the song came to a close, Vishwanath spun Kashi gently, his hands guiding her with a grace that felt almost natural. When he dipped her low, their eyes locked, and the world seemed to hold its breath. The intensity between them crackled in the air, their unspoken emotions finally rising to the surface.

As he pulled her upright, their faces mere inches apart, neither of them moved. Time stood still, and for that brief, perfect moment, they felt as if they were the only two people in the world. Kashi's hand rested on his chest, feeling the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. They were meant for each other, and no one, no force in the universe could change that.

As the music died down, the crowd erupted in applause for the beautiful couples that had just mesmerized everyone with their elegant moves. Kashi, her heart still pounding from the closeness she shared with Vishwanath, quickly excused herself, her nervousness bubbling to the surface as she made her way back to the stall.

Vishwanath, on the other hand, stood still for a moment, his heart swelling with emotions. It felt as though he had just experienced the most beautiful moment of his life. The warmth of her touch still lingered on his skin, and for a brief second, everything in the world felt perfect.

Just then, Rudra walked up to him and softly nudged his brother's shoulder. "Bhaiya, yeh Romeo type looks dena band karo... sab dekh rahe hain." (Bhaiya, stop giving those Romeo type looks... everyone's watching)

Vishwanath blinked and, realizing he had been staring off into space, lightly elbowed Rudra in the stomach. "Tu chup kar." (You be quiet)

Rudra dramatically clutched his side, pretending to be in pain. "Mr. Romeo, waise yeh mat bhulo, meri wajah se hi aap Bhabhi ke saath dance kar paye ho. Aapko toh mujhe thank you kehna chahiye, aur yahan aap mujhe hi maar rahe ho!" (Mr. Romeo, don't forget, it's only because of me that you got to dance with Bhabhi. You should be thanking me, and here you are hitting me) He pouted and took a step back. "Main abhi maa ko batane ja raha hu. (I'm going to go tell maa now)

Vishwanath immediately put his arm around Rudra's shoulder, pulling him back. "Thank you, Rudra. You're the best," he said with a grin, patting his brother's chest.

"Voh toh main hoon Bhaiya," (That I am, Bhaiya) Rudra said, giving a wide smile. Both brothers shared a hearty laugh with Vishwanath shaking his head at his dramatic brother.

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Meanwhile, Kashi hurried back toward the stall, trying to calm her racing heart. She was lost in the memory of the dance and the closeness she had shared with her Veer ji when suddenly, she collided with someone.

Before she could fall, a pair of strong hands caught her by the arms. Kashi straightened herself immediately. "I'm so so..rry!" she stammered, not looking up right away.

"No worries, gorgeous," a deep, unfamiliar voice replied with a devilish smirk.

Kashi looked up and saw a man with sharp eyes, a small scar near his eyebrow, and an unsettling grin playing on his lips. Something about him made her uncomfortable, but she didn't want to be rude. "Sorry " she mumbled, turning to leave.

Just as she was about to walk away, the man's smirk deepened, and he called out, "Be careful, gorgeous."

Her heart skipped a beat, and without looking back, she quickened her pace, feeling a sudden urgency to put distance between them. Back at her stall, Kashi busied herself with the customers, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that clung to her. The man's voice echoed in her mind, but she forced herself to focus on the tasks at hand, determined to forget the brief but unnerving moment.

_________________________________________

Kashi had almost let go of the moment when the same man appeared in front of her stall. "Hello? Umm... can I know your name?" he asked, his tone carrying a sinister undertone.

Kashi hesitated, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over her. But he was a guest at the Singhania's event, and she didn't want to offend anyone because of her. "Kashi," she said softly.

She hoped her response would end this conversation, but the man's sinister grin widened, making her uneasy. "Kashi....Wow what a beautiful name!

He leaned slightly over the counter. "Kashi what a beautiful girl like you is doing here, working at a stall?"

Kashi bit her lip, her discomfort growing. "It's my work, sir. How can I help you?" she said politely, trying to end the conversation.

He let out a soft chuckle. "Well, a cup of tea, sweet girl."

Kashi quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it over. As she passed the cup, he purposely brushed his fingers against hers, sending a shiver of unease down her spine. She quickly pulled her hand back, trying to hide her discomfort.

"Thank you, Miss Kashi," he said with a crooked smile. "By the way, I'm Neel Oberoi. I'm sure we will be seeing each other again." With a final smirk, he walked away, leaving Kashi with a sinking feeling in her stomach.

She tried to shake off the uncomfortable encounter, telling herself to focus on her work. But something about Neel's behavior didn't sit right with her. She couldn't pinpoint why, but she didn't get good vibes from him at all.

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Later, when the pastries at her stall ran out, Kashi decided to head to the storage room to get more. The cooks were busy, and she didn't want to trouble anyone, so she volunteered to bring the extra boxes herself. As she walked through a quiet corridor, lost in thought, she spotted Vishwanath coming from the other end.

They both stopped as soon as their eyes met. For a brief moment, they simply stared at each other, unsure of what to say. Vishwanath's heart thudded in his chest. He couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked under the soft lights.

Seeing her hesitance, Vishwanath finally broke the silence. "Thank you, Kashi," he said, his voice low and sincere.

Kashi tilted her head slightly, confused. "Thank you? Par kis liye, Veer ji?" (Thank you? But for what, Veer ji?)

He smiled gently. "Thank you mere saath dance karne ke liye." (Thank you for dancing with me.)

A small smile tugged at the corners of Kashi's lips as she remembered the dance. But she quickly shook her head. "Aree, woh toh Rudra hume dance floor pe le aaye the toh...." (Oh, that was because Rudra brought me to the dance floor, so....)

"Par tumne mere saath dance kiya," (But you danced with me) Vishwanath interrupted softly, his gaze intense. "Aur mere liye, yeh meri zindagi ka sabse khoobsurat aur khaas pal tha Kashi. Iske liye Thank you" . (And for me, it was the most beautiful and special moment of my life Kashi. Thank you for that)

Kashi's eyes widened in astonishment. She could feel her heart racing as his words sank in. But just as she was about to smile, the thought of Maya's words, about her alliance with Vishwanath, flashed in her mind. Her smile faded, replaced by a sadness that clouded her features.

"Vishwanath ji.... Mujhe bohot kaam hai. Main chalti hoon," (Vishwanath ji.... I have a lot of work. I will be going now) she said softly, trying to control the ache in her heart as she moved to walk past him.

But as she took a few steps forward, she felt a tug on her dupatta. Without looking back, she spoke, "Vishwanath ji, yeh kya kar rahe hain aap.... mera dupatta chhodiye." (Vishwanath ji, what are you doing.... please let go of my dupatta)

There was no response. Kashi tugged at her dupatta again, but it remained stuck. She could hear Vishwanath's soft footsteps coming closer, and her heart began to pound in her chest.

"Yeh kya kar rahe hain aap, Vishwanath ji?" (What are you doing, Vishwanath ji?) she asked again, her voice a little shaky.

Vishwanath moved closer until her back was nearly pressed against his front. He leaned down, his lips close to her ear. "Kya kar raha hoon, Kashi?" (What am I doing, Kashi?)

His voice was soft, teasing, sending a shiver down her spine.

Her breath hitched. "Mera dupatta kyu pakda hai aapne?" (Why are you holding my dupatta?) she whispered, trying to control her racing heart. "Please, usse chhodiye" (Please, let go of it)

Vishwanath raised his hand, showing her his wrist where the dupatta was tangled around his Rolex watch. "Mene toh nahi pakda tumhara dupatta, Kashi," (I didn't grab your dupatta, Kashi) he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Kashi's cheeks turned a deep shade of red as she realized her mistake. The dupatta had gotten stuck in his watch. "Oh...." she mumbled, her eyes wide with embarrassment.

Vishwanath grinned, enjoying the moment as he gently began to untangle the dupatta. Just as he was about to fix it, Kashi turned towards him, her wide eyes meeting his. The closeness between them made her breathless. For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension thick in the air.

He carefully placed the dupatta back on her shoulder, his fingers lingering just a little longer than necessary. His touch was gentle, but the intensity of his gaze made her heart race even faster.

Kashi, feeling overwhelmed by the closeness and his gentle touch, whispered a quick "Thank you, Vishwanath ji," before turning and practically running down the corridor.

Vishwanath watched her go, a soft smile playing on his lips as he ruffled his hair. Every moment spent with Kashi made his day brighter, made his world feel more complete. Gosh, how much he loved this girl.

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The party went on smoothly, and after a sumptuous dinner, the guests slowly started to leave. Kashi, ever diligent, stayed back to help clean up, her thoughts still swirling with the evening's events.

As she was winding up the stall, Rajmata walked over with a kind smile. "Kashi beta, you did a wonderful work today. Everyone loved the Indian snacks. Thanks to you and your cafe for accepting the order and doing such an amazing job."

"Aunty, please don't say thank you. It's my work," Kashi said shyly, brushing off the praise.

Where are you staying tonight, beta?" Rajmata asked, a note of concern creeping into her voice. "You can't possibly travel back to Jhansi at this time. It's already past 8, and it's not safe."

"Oh, don't worry, Aunty," Kashi said, trying to sound confident, "I will just find a nearby guest house or hotel for the night. It's really no trouble."

Shalini frowned at the idea. "No, Kashi beta, you're new to this place. I can't let you stay somewhere unfamiliar and unsafe."

Kashi was taken aback by the concern in Rajmata's tone. After what had happened during the revelation, she hadn't expected such warmth. She hesitated, lowering her eyes. "But aunty, I will manage, really.

Shalini reached out and gently held her hand, her eyes soft yet resolute, making Kashi look up. "I understand, beta, that what happened before is making you hesitant to accept my offer. But that's a different matter altogether. I won't let you compromise your safety, no matter what.

Kashi felt conflicted. A part of her wanted to escape this place, where every corner seemed to remind her of Vishwanath. She couldn't control her growing feelings for him, and staying close to him would only intensify those emotions. Deep down, she believed she didn't deserve him. Soon, his alliance would be fixed with Maya, and then he would belong to someone else. This thought broke her heart even more, leaving her feeling hollow and helpless. The mere idea of Vishwanath being with someone else was unbearable, yet she knew it was inevitable. But she knew Rajmata wasn't someone to argue with. Still, her heart raced at the thought of staying under the same roof as Vishwanath ji.

"Aunty, but....."

"No ifs & buts Kashi!" Shalini's voice left no room for argument. "You're staying here tonight, and that's an order from me.Your safety and well-being are our priority."

Before Kashi could protest further, Shalini called one of the helpers. "Prepare the guest room for Kashi," she instructed with the ease of someone who knew her orders were to be followed immediately.

Kashi stood there, feeling her heart thud in her chest. How was she going to face Vishwanath ji now? She had been doing everything she could to avoid him, to stay out of his way, but now, in his home.... how was she supposed to run away? How was she supposed to hide?

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Author's Note 📖

This chapter, highlights the sweet moments between Kashi and Vishwanath that truly showcase their growing connection. However, amidst these tender interactions, we also see the entry of Neel, a character shrouded in mystery and potential danger. His unsettling vibe introduces a new layer of tension that could threaten Kashi and Vishwanath's relationship. As Kashi grapples with her growing feelings for Vishwanath, Neel's presence looms ominously, hinting at challenges ahead. Stay tuned to discover the twists and turns Neel Oberoi brings to Kashi and Vishwanath's lives.

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