chapter 5

Later that evening...

After all the laughter and teasing downstairs, Priya and Kritika finally went to the guest room.

Kritika threw herself onto the bed dramatically.

Kritika:

"Aah... my legs have officially resigned."

Priya laughed softly and sat beside the window.

She stayed quiet for a few moments before speaking.

Priya:

"I want to ask you something."

Kritika turned toward her.

Kritika:

"Ask. What happened?"

Priya tried to sound casual.

Priya:

"Why are you calling that man 'brother'... while your sister calls him 'mama'?"

Kritika frowned.

Kritika:

"Which man?"

Priya rolled her eyes.

Priya:

"The one whose mom is Ganga aunty."

Kritika smiled immediately.

Kritika:

"Oh... you mean Ram bro."

Priya pretended to be uninterested.

Priya:

"Hmm."

Kritika sat up and smiled sadly.

Kritika:

"Actually... he's my mama."

Priya looked surprised.

Kritika continued,

"But you know something..."

"He looks almost exactly like my elder brother."

Her smile slowly faded.

"When we were kids..."

"My brother died in an accident."

Priya became silent.

"I was very small then."

"I couldn't even understand why everyone was crying."

"But after that..."

"I kept searching for my anna in everyone."

She smiled faintly.

"The first day I saw Ram..."

"I accidentally called him 'Anna.'"

Priya listened quietly.

Kritika chuckled.

"Everyone immediately scolded me."

"They said, 'He's your mama! Call him mama!'"

"But Ram bro stopped them."

Priya looked at her.

Kritika smiled warmly as she remembered his words.

"He simply smiled and said..."

"'Let her call me whatever she likes.'"

"From that day..."

"I've always called him Ram bro."

"He never corrected me."

"He never made me feel embarrassed."

Priya lowered her eyes.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"That's exactly the kind of person he is..."

Kritika nodded.

"He may look strict."

"He may speak less."

"But his heart..."

"It's softer than anyone knows."

Priya's heart tightened.

She knew.

She had experienced that love once...

Only after it was too late.

Kritika suddenly narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Wait a minute..."

Priya looked up.

"What?"

Kritika folded her arms.

"Why are you asking so many questions about Ram bro?"

Priya blinked.

Then immediately looked away.

Priya:

"I... I was just curious."

Kritika smirked.

"Really?"

Priya nodded too quickly.

"Yes."

Kritika leaned closer.

"You don't..."

She paused dramatically.

"...like him, do you?"

Priya's eyes became as wide as dinner plates.

Priya:

"WHAT?!"

Kritika burst into laughter.

"I knew it! Look at your face!"

Priya immediately grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at her.

Priya:

"You're impossible!"

Kritika caught it easily.

Kritika:

"And you're suspicious."

The room soon filled with their laughter.

But after Kritika looked away...

Priya's smile slowly faded.

She looked toward the window.

And whispered so softly that even she could barely hear it.

Priya (thinking):

"I don't just like him..."

"I already loved him once..."

"And this time..."

"I won't lose him again."

__________

The next day...

It was the engagement day.

The entire house was buzzing with excitement.

Relatives were running around with flower baskets, aunties were giving orders to everyone, children were playing hide-and-seek between the chairs, and someone was shouting every five minutes,

"Where's the coconut?!"

Priya happily joined the decoration team.

She climbed onto a small wooden stool to hang flower garlands.

Standing on her toes, she stretched her hand as far as possible.

Priya:

"Almost... almost..."

The stool suddenly wobbled.

Priya:

"Aiyooo-!"

Before she could fall, a strong hand caught her by the waist.

She slowly looked up.

Ram.

He had caught her effortlessly.

Ram sighed.

Ram:

"Be careful."

Priya smiled awkwardly.

"Hehe... thank you."

Ram folded his arms.

Ram:

"You always manage to put yourself in danger."

Priya's eyes widened dramatically.

Priya:

"Excuse me?"

Ram raised an eyebrow.

Ram:

"Am I wrong?"

Priya immediately climbed down from the stool.

Priya:

"I do not create problems."

Ram looked at her with a straight face.

Ram:

"Really?"

Priya proudly nodded.

"Really."

She turned around dramatically.

Priya:

"See? I'm walking peacefully."

She took exactly...

Two steps.

Her foot got caught in a loose flower string.

Priya:

"Aiyoooo!"

She lost her balance again.

Ram caught her before she could even hit the ground.

Again.

For a few seconds...

Neither of them spoke.

Ram simply looked at her.

Then slowly raised one eyebrow.

Ram:

"...Need any more proof?"

Priya looked at him.

Then at the flower string.

Then back at him.

Priya:

"That string attacked me."

Ram couldn't stop the small smile that escaped.

Ram:

"So now the flowers are your enemies too?"

Priya nodded seriously.

Priya:

"Exactly."

"They're jealous of my beauty."

Ram let out a soft chuckle.

Priya froze.

Wait...

Did he just laugh?

She stared at him in complete shock.

Priya:

"You smiled..."

Ram immediately cleared his throat.

His face returned to its usual calm expression.

Ram:

"You imagined it."

Priya grinned mischievously.

Priya:

"Nope."

"I saw it."

Ram looked away, trying to hide the smile threatening to return.

Priya folded her arms proudly.

Priya:

"Mission successful."

Ram frowned.

"What mission?"

Priya smiled innocently.

"Nothing..."

"But you look much better when you smile."

For the first time...

Ram had no reply.

He simply stood there looking at her...

While somewhere behind them...

An aunty whispered to another aunty,

"I don't know what's happening..."

"But those two are decorating more than just the house."

The other aunty nodded wisely.

"Hmm... even the flower garlands have become witnesses."

______________

From a distance...

Kayal had witnessed everything.

Ram catching Priya.

Twice.

His rare smile.

The way they stood talking so naturally.

Her hands slowly curled into fists.

The smile on her face disappeared.

Her eyes burned with jealousy.

Kayal (thinking):

"Why is he smiling at her...?"

"No..."

"He belongs to me."

She quietly slipped away before anyone noticed.

A few minutes later...

She entered the guest room where Priya's clothes had been kept.

She looked around carefully.

No one was there.

Her eyes landed on Priya's beautiful dress prepared for the engagement.

Kayal walked toward it slowly.

She picked up the hot iron lying nearby.

A cruel smile spread across her face.

Kayal:

"If you can't stay away from Ram..."

"Then don't expect me to stay away from you."

She pressed the hot iron onto the dress.

The fabric instantly began to burn.

Dark burn marks spread across it within seconds.

Kayal watched silently.

Not a hint of guilt crossed her face.

Instead...

She smiled.

A dangerous smile.

Kayal:

"Ram is mine..."

She pressed the iron once more.

"Only mine."

After making sure the dress was completely ruined, she switched off the iron and placed it back exactly where it had been.

She looked around one last time.

Everything appeared normal.

As if nothing had happened.

Kayal adjusted her saree, wore her innocent smile again, and walked out of the room.

Leaving behind nothing but the smell of burnt cloth...

And the beginning of another plan.

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