Rai POV:

The air was thick with unspoken tension as I sat at the dining table, acutely aware of Rudy's gaze fixed upon me. My heart raced, and I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, turning my face as red as a chili pepper. It was a sensation I had never experienced before, a mix of nervousness and something else—something thrilling yet terrifying.

"Where is Nisha? I mean, everyone is here, but she is not," I asked, trying to divert my attention from Rudy's piercing stare.

Devika, with her usual nonchalance, replied, "Oh, don't think about Nisha. She is in her so-called dieting era because she feels she is gaining weight." Her words dripped with disdain, and I could sense the underlying tension between her and Nisha.

Badhi Maa, Rudy's mother, interjected, "Don't call her by her name, Devika. She is your soon-to-be sister-in-law. Call her bhabi."

Devika scrunched her nose in defiance. "No. She is in my age. So, I won't call her bhabi! I don't even like her as my sister-in-law. If it were someone else, like Rai di, then I would've considered it, but Nisha... Nah!"

As I sipped my water, Devika's words caught me off guard, and I sputtered, spilling water everywhere. The sudden silence at the table was deafening, all eyes now on me and Rudy. Badhi Maa gently rubbed my back, her touch comforting amidst the awkwardness. 

I glanced at Grandma, who continued to eat her meal in silence, seemingly unfazed by the drama unfolding around her.

"Why are you behaving like this these days, princess?" I whispered to Devika, hoping to keep our conversation private. She merely shrugged, her expression unreadable. I sighed, feeling the weight of the moment.

Just then, Nisha's voice broke through the tension. "I'm ready! Oh, Rai, you also came. Are you still angry at me?" Her tone was soft, almost apologetic, as she directed her question at me.

"NO," I replied, my voice firmer than I intended. Her face lit up with a smile, and for a moment, the atmosphere lightened.

"Why, what happened?" Grandma asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Are dadi, aapko pata hai..." Devika began, but I quickly interjected, "Nothing concerning, Grandma." I could see the skepticism in her eyes, but she chose to remain silent, sensing the delicate balance of emotions at play.

"I know a friend who has a jewelry showroom. If you have no problem, then we can shop from there," I suggested, trying to steer the conversation towards something more pleasant.

"Ye to achhi baat hai. Fir tumlog sidha wahi par jao," Grandma responded, her interest clearly piqued.

"I'm going outside. After you all are done here, whoever will go, come outside. I'll be waiting," Rudy announced, his voice cutting through the chatter as he stood up and headed towards his car. The moment he left, I felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment wash over me.

Grandma called out to Nisha, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. "Nisha, I have something to say to you." Meanwhile, Devika, her stomach growling in protest, dashed upstairs to get ready, clearly too hungry to wait any longer. With nothing else to occupy my mind, I decided to step outside.

As I walked out, I spotted Rudy leaning against his car, engrossed in whatever was on his phone. The sight of him sent a flutter through my chest, a mix of excitement and anxiety. I approached his car and slid into the back seat, feeling a strange thrill at being so close to him.

"I am not a driver," Rudy's voice broke through the silence, his tone teasing yet serious.

"I know. Nisha will sit in the front seat," I replied, trying to keep the mood light, though my heart raced at the thought of being alone with him.

The silence that followed was palpable, stretching between us like an unspoken tension. I could feel the weight of his presence, the air thick with anticipation. Just when I thought the quiet would stretch on indefinitely, he spoke again, his voice low and contemplative. "About last night's call..."

I felt a rush of heat and interrupted him, "No need to mention it." My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of embarrassment and a desire to avoid the topic altogether.

Then, unexpectedly, I heard a soft chuckle escape him, so low it was almost imperceptible, yet it sent a shiver down my spine. It was a sound that hinted at a shared understanding, a moment of connection that felt both thrilling and terrifying. 

I turned slightly to catch a glimpse of his face in the rearview mirror, and for a fleeting moment, our eyes met.

In that instant, the world outside faded away, and it felt as if we were suspended in our own little bubble, where nothing else mattered. The tension between us crackled like electricity, and I could hardly breathe, caught between the urge to lean closer and the fear of what that might mean. 

I drag myself out of LaLa land and told myself "What are you thinking Rai. You must have gone crazy." 

Rudy POV:

I saw Rai turned her face return and scrolling on phone. Then I saw Nisha and my sister coming so I sat on my driving seat.

Before Devika sits at front seat Nisha came and sat on the sit so Devika sighed being irritated and seat beside Rai at back seat. I start the engine.

I was looking at Rai through the front mirror. She is engrossed on her phone and talking to my sister sometimes well not talking just nodding. Then she also looked at the mirror and our eyes met. As soon as our eyes met, she turned her face to the window avoiding the eye contact. 

"Here. The showroom is on the left side." Rai said. I saw a big showroom named 'Shine Bright' at the left side of the road. I heard about this company somewhere. But I can't remember where.

After parking the car, we all went inside when I saw the watchman at the main door greeted Rai with a knowing smile while she just nodded politely. As we are going, we saw a little girl hugging Rai. 

"Maasi, I was waiting for you." that little girl said in a cute tone.

                                                                                                                                                                    (to be continued)
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