Published on:- 1/3/25 [Saturday]
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🔥THIRD UPDATE🔥

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A few days later, at the Khanna mansion, Sunaina and Chase were having a quiet conversation.

Neil, however, wasn’t paying attention to his wife, Aashmaan, who was speaking to him. His eyes kept drifting toward Sunaina and Chase and a subtle frown formed on his face as he watched them.

Aashmaan noticed his distraction and paused mid-sentence while her expression was shifting from confusion to mild annoyance.

But Neil didn’t seem to realize as his focus remained fixed on the silent exchange happening across the room.

"Neil! Are you even listening to me?", Aashmaan asked.

Neil blinked, tearing his gaze away from Sunaina and Chase.

"Huh? Yes… I am", he replied.

Aashmaan crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Really? Then what did I just say?".

Neil opened his mouth but no words came out. The silence that followed was louder than any answer he could’ve given.

"Ummm, ummm… you were talking about going to Mumbai", Neil guessed and his voice was unsure.

Aashmaan's eyes narrowed as she let out a frustrated huff. "Seriously, Neil?".

Her tone was a mix of disbelief and irritation. It was clear he hadn’t heard a word she said.

Neil scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, avoiding her sharp gaze.

"Why don’t you join them?", Aashmaan said as her voice was laced with sarcasm as she glanced toward Sunaina and Chase.

Neil's jaw tensed.

"What are you talking about?", he replied, trying to sound indifferent.

Aashmaan crossed her arms and said, "Oh, come on, Neil. You’ve been staring at them this whole time. If you are so interested, why not just go and join their conversation?".

The room fell into an awkward silence as Neil struggled to find a response, while Aashmaan’s sharp gaze didn’t waver.

"It’s nothing like that", Neil said quickly.

Aashmaan rolled her eyes. "Really? Because it sure looks like something".

Neil sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You are overthinking, Love. I was just… distracted".

"Distracted? By what, their silent conversation or just Sunaina's closeness with everyone?", she repeated and a hint of disbelief was visible in her voice.

Neil’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t answer.

"Neil! Why don’t you learn something from your brothers?", Aashmaan said as she huffed her cheeks bulge out.

"What’s that supposed to mean?", he asked annoyingly.

Aashmaan pouted, "It means they actually pay attention to their wives instead of getting distracted by their children's conversations".

Neil let out a slow breath and then pulled Aashmaan's cheeks while saying, "You are overreacting, Baby"

"Am I?" she shot back while hitting his hands.

"Okay, now tell me, what were you talking about?", Neil asked, hoping to steer the conversation back.

Aashmaan's eyes narrowed as she said in a sharp tone, "Oh, now you are interested?".

Neil sighed. "Yes, baby. I am asking now".

"I was talking about the welcome party for Sunaina. Let's call everyone. I want her to meet our families. but clearly, you were too busy staring at them to hear a word I said", She huffed.

Neil blinked, "The… welcome party?".

"Yes, Neil. For our son's wife to welcome in her family, to introduce her to everyone", Aashmaan said.

Neil's lips parted slightly, caught off guard. "Oh… right", he muttered.

Aashmaan tilted her head, "Did you forget that Sunaina is part of this family now? Or you forget that we accepted her wholeheartedly?".

Neil cleared his throat. "Of course not", he replied.

Aashmaan noticed his wavering gaze and said, "Then maybe you should focus more on the party and less on whatever you think is so important over there", she said.

At last, Neil flared his nose in frustration and said, "I don’t know why, but I think those two monkeys are planning something. Just look at them, how secretive they are!".

Aashmaan blinked, then let out a small laugh. "Monkeys? Really? Who calls their son-in-law and daughter-in-law monkeys, Neil?".

Neil huffed, "Well, when they act like monkeys, what else am I supposed to call them? Just look at the way they are whispering and exchanging glances. Something’s definitely up".

Aashmaan shook her head, "You are unbelievable. Maybe they are just having a normal conversation".

Neil didn’t budge as his eyes stayed fixed on Sunaina and Chase, "Just wait. I bet. They are planning something and when they do, don’t say I didn’t warn you".

Aashmaan shook her head, still smiling. "You are impossible, Neil.  You can’t handle not knowing what’s going on".

Neil didn’t respond but his glare at the "monkeys' didn’t waver.

Suddenly, Nilay and Nishma arrived and sat next to their parents.

"What’s going on?", Nishma asked, her gaze shifting between Neil’s flared nostrils and Aashmaan’s amused smirk.

Neil didn’t hesitate.

"I’ll tell you what’s going on.... those two monkeys are clearly planning something", he said while pointing discreetly at Sunaina and Chase.

Nilay raised an eyebrow, "Monkeys?"

Aashmaan sighed while shaking her head. "Yes. Your father seems to think your wife and Chase are up to something".

Nishma chuckled, "And what exactly do you think they’re planning, Dad? A secret heist?".

Neil crossed his arms and said, "Laugh all you want, but I know what I saw. They’re being way too secretive".

Nilay exchanged a glance with Nishma, both biting back their smiles.

"Or maybe, they are just… talking?", Nilay said calmly.

Neil huffed, "We will see".

The half-serious, half-comical air hung in the air as they all turned their attention back to the 'suspicious monkeys'.

Meanwhile, Sunaina and Chase exchanged a knowing smile, completely unaware or perhaps fully aware of Neil’s burning gaze and decided to turn the teasing up a notch.

Chase leaned slightly closer and whispered, "Looks like we have an audience".

Sunaina smirked. "Let him watch. The more curious he is, the more fun this gets".

Chase chuckled softly, "Our father-in-law thinks we are plotting something".

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Good. Let him think about whatever he wants".

From a distance, Neil's jaw tightened as he watched their quiet exchange.

"See? They are definitely up to something", he muttered to the others.

Nishma bit her lip to stop from laughing, while Nilay simply shook his head. Aashmaan, however, couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle.

Whatever Sunaina and Chase were planning or pretending to plan was clearly working.

Chase leaned in even closer and Sunaina gasped dramatically, covering her mouth as if shocked, then burst into a soft laugh.

From across the room, Neil's eyes narrowed into slits. His nostrils flared again.

"Did you see that? They are laughing at me now", Neil hissed.

Nishma pressed her lips together, trying not to giggle. "Dad… maybe they are just...".

"Just what? They are doing this on purpose!", Neil snapped.

Nilay finally broke into a small smile. "Well, they wouldn’t be wrong. You do look a bit… invested".

Aashmaan shook her head, chuckling softly. "I told you, Neil. You are playing right into their hands".

Meanwhile, Chase and Sunaina continued their act, whispering and laughing, all the while throwing subtle glances in Neil’s way, watching his growing frustration like it was their favorite game.

Suddenly, Sunaina's phone pinged, breaking the flow of their whispered jokes.

A message popped up on the screen, the text floating just long enough for Chase to catch a glimpse of it.

Unknown Number: ~I’m closer than you think~

Sunaina’s smile faltered for a split second. Her fingers tightened around the phone, and a flash of something dark flickered in her eyes, it was an annoyance, maybe even anger.

Chase noticed immediately.

"What is it?" he asked softly as his teasing tone now replaced by quiet concern.

Sunaina quickly locked the screen and slipped the phone into her pocket.

"Nothing brother! Just spam", she said with a forced smile.

But Chase wasn’t convinced. He studied her for a moment and said nothing.

From across the room, Neil who was still watching like a hawk, leaned toward Nilay. "See that? Now that wasn’t part of their little act", he muttered.

Nilay’s smile faded as his eyes were narrowing at the sudden shift in Sunaina’s expression.

Whatever that message was… it clearly wasn’t a joke and Sunaina knew this very well.

Nilay walked over to Sunaina as his gaze was sharp yet calm and asked in a gentle voice, "Wife! Is everything alright?"

Sunaina blinked and her expression smoothed out in an instant and that too quick, too practiced. She offered a small, almost convincing smile. "Yes, everything’s fine".

But Nilay didn’t move, his eyes studying her face carefully. "Are you sure?".

Chase looked at her and said, "I don't think so".

Suddenly, Neil, who had followed closely behind, huffed loudly, "It didn’t look fine to me too".

Sunaina sighed weakly as she looked at the three Alpha males and said, "It’s just a spam message. Nothing to make a scene about".

Nilay held her gaze for a moment longer, then finally nodded. "Alright but remember I'm here with you", he said softly and the concern in his eyes didn’t fade.

Neil, however, wasn’t satisfied as well. "Spam message or not, it changed the air of our home", he muttered under his breath.

Sunaina clenched her phone in her pocket, her mind was racing. The message wasn’t spam.

And whoever sent it… wasn’t far.

At that moment, Sunaina’s phone rang again, she glanced at the screen and the caller was T-Rex.

Without hesitation, she answered. "What is it?"

"Princess… the business deal with the Russians has hit a snag", T-Rex said, his tone of all business.

Sunaina’s eyes darkened. "What happened?".

"They are demanding an in-person meeting. Tonight. Seems like they are having second thoughts about the terms", T-Rex said.

A flicker of annoyance crossed her face, but she masked it instantly. "Set the meeting. I will handle it".

"Understood", Trex replied and the call ended.

Nilay, who had been watching her closely, took a step forward. "What’s wrong?".

Sunaina slid her phone back into her pocket. "Nothing that I can’t fix".

Nilay crossed his arms and stood blankly before her. She took a deep breath and said in a crisp tone, "Just a small issue with the Russians. I need to meet them tonight".

Suddenly, Chase said, "Small issue? Russians don’t call last-minute meetings over small issues".

Neil crossed his arms and spoke as well, "I don’t like the sound of this".

Sunaina’s lips curled into a warm smile, "Brother! Dad! You guys are acting as if you are a member of a mafia organisation as well".

Neil choked his saliva and Chase scratched his neck while smiling sheepishly.

Then Nilay said, "I am coming with you".

Sunaina declined on the spot, "That won’t be necessary".

"It’s not up for discussion", Nilay replied.

"I don't want anyone, any member of this family to come face to face with any mafia organisation and team ever. Do you get it?", She said while smiling coldly.

Their eyes locked and a silent battle of wills collided together and neither backed down.

The Russians wanted a meeting.

And Sunaina was ready.

But was this a simple meeting?

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