Ritika sat comfortably at the dark-brown dining table, a warm smile playing on her lips as she watched Virat stroll into the kitchen with a sense of familiarity and cheerfully rummage through the cabinets for plates. Virat emerged moments later, carrying the white plates.

Ritika glanced at the clock, wondering how much time Rohit would take before he joined them. Almost as if he had read her mind, she heard the soft shuffle of feet. Rohit emerged from the hallway, his hands casually adjusting the sleeves of his cozy purple hoodie. His hair was slightly damped, giving him that just-out-of-shower look, and his gaze swept across the room before landing on Virat, who had already returned from the kitchen and was now laying the plates down on the table with casual ease while talking animatedly about something with Ritika.

Rohit's eyes narrowed with a playful edge, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Vi..." Rohit began, as he eyed Virat with mock seriousness, the corner of his lips twitching as he fought back a grin, while he slid into his seat at the table.

"Why are you even here this early in the morning, man? Shouldn't you be, I don't know, at home with your actual lover?"

Ritika, who had been quietly sipping her tea, suddenly raised an eyebrow and chimed in with a light-hearted tone, "Oh, I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Virat."

Rohit rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he reached for the jug of water, pouring himself a glass. "Please, don't get fooled by his innocent and gentlemanly acts," he said with a mock sigh, casting an amused glance at Virat. "This banda dates women like he's changing his fit—every day, it's a new one. The only constant thing in his life is his gym, which is also his real lover."

Ritika snorted into her tea, trying to hold back her laughter. "Oh, is that so, Virat?"

Virat paused mid-motion, holding the last plate he was about to set down, and turned to give Rohit an exaggeratedly wounded look, placing his hand dramatically over his heart. "Wow, Ro, seriously? Dates women like changing fits? I thought we were best friends! But here you are, trying to assassinate my character this early in the morning, that too in front of my Bhabi."

Virat sighed loudly, shaking his head with exaggerated disappointment before setting the plate down a little harder than necessary on the table then added, "And Bhabi, please don't feed into your idiotic husband's delusions. He's clearly jealous of the fact that I have all the charm to pull off all the girls. I mean, look at this face!"

Virat gestured dramatically to himself, as he finished with a smirk, winking at Ritika before sitting down across from Rohit, he shot him a smug grin, leaning back against the chair as if claiming a grand victory. Rohit couldn't help but chuckle at Virat's theatrical display, as he glanced at the breakfast spread laid out before them, he leaned over to serve Ritika first, then Virat, and then himself, plating a generous portion of fluffy aloo parathas, golden and crisp, with a dollop of fresh butter melting on top, paired with a side of tangy mango pickle.

Rohit chuckled, as he kept the mango pickle jar back at the table. "Jealous? Me? Not a chance! I'm just amazed at how you manage to juggle so many 'relationships' while still finding time to train like a maniac. Must be exhausting keeping up with all those ladies," he shot back, as he tore a piece of paratha and took a bite, savoring the buttery goodness.

Virat leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, a playful grin breaking through his fake hurt. "You know what's exhausting? he began, pausing for dramatic effect as he reached for the brown cup of hot tea and took a slow, deliberate sip.

"Coming straight to your best friend's house, right after wrapping up an all-night ad shoot," he said with exaggerated emphasis, "only for you to completely destroy my image in front of Bhabi. Unbelievable!" Virat finished with a dramatic sigh, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe Rohit's audacity.

Rohit paused mid-bite, his teasing demeanor faltering as he watched Virat sip his tea with exaggerated calmness. His eyes narrowed once again, this time with a hint of genuine concern. "Are you legit serious, Vi?" Rohit interrupted, his playful tone giving way to seriousness. "You mean to tell me you've been shooting all night... and instead of going home to get some much-needed sleep and rest, you're here at my place, bringing in breakfast and cracking jokes?"

Virat chuckled, unbothered by Rohit's stern tone, and shrugged as he reached for another piece of paratha. "What can I say, Ro? Priorities, man. I could no longer wait to meet my Bhabi."

Ritika, who had been quietly watching the playful back-and-forth, placed her teacup down with a soft clink and turned her attention fully to Virat, her smile fading into a more serious expression. Her eyes filled with concern as she sat up straighter, her voice calm but firm as she joined in, "Rohit's right, Virat. It's sweet that you wanted to surprise us, but you should be home resting right now, not running on fumes just to play the part of the 'best friend.'"

Virat waved them off with a half-hearted smile, though the exhaustion was clearer now. "You guys worry too much," he muttered, though he couldn't quite muster the same energy as before.

Virat reached for another piece of paratha, trying to change the subject, but Rohit wasn't having it. "No, you won't dare to ignore me on this, Vi," Rohit said firmly, his eyes locking onto Virat's. "After breakfast, you're heading home, and you're going to sleep, no excuses. I'll make sure of it," his tone was firm but caring.

Virat raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the sudden shift in tone from both of them. "Dayum, guys chillax, you both are lowkey sounding like my mum, now. I brought breakfast, here, cause, I was being considerate and thought who else is going to feed you two?" He tried to inject a bit of humor into the situation, but he could sense the seriousness of their expressions.

Ritika's smile softened as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "We appreciate the breakfast, but just because you can pull all-nighters doesn't mean you should. Sleeping less is not a flex, you know." She crossed her arms on the table, giving him a look that was both caring and stern.

Rohit leaned back in his chair, his expression mirroring Ritika's. "She's got a point, Vi. I get it, you love your work and your friends, but there has to be a balance."

Virat sat back in his chair, finally setting the piece of the paratha down. He let out a long sigh and rubbed his face with both hands, the exhaustion he had been masking now evident in the way his shoulders slumped slightly. "You two are too much, you know that? And Bhabi, Ro kaam tha kya, ki even you ganged up with him, on an innocent guy like me?" he said with a half-hearted chuckle, though his eyes softened with appreciation.

Rohit softened his tone as well, "That's enough, Vi. Here's how it's going to be—you're going to finish this paratha, then you're going home to sleep. No arguments."

Virat sighed, leaning back in his chair, but a faint, mischievous glint returned to his eyes as he looked over at Rohit and Ritika. "Look, guys, I would love to follow your orders—" Virat began, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "But I... uh... actually can't go home to sleep just yet," he said, his voice trailing off with a touch of reluctance.

Rohit narrowed his eyes suspiciously, sensing something amiss. "And why exactly can't you?" he asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into his tone again.

Virat shifted in his seat, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips as he took another sip of his tea, stalling. "Well... I have a lunch date," he said, his eyes darting between the two.

Ritika, who had just taken a bite of her paratha, looked up in mild surprise. "A lunch date?" she asked, her voice both curious and teasing. "With who?"

Virat placed his cup down, scratching the back of his head this time, before muttering, "Satakshi."

Rohit paused for a moment, the aloo paratha halfway to his mouth, as Virat's confession sank in, a look of annoyance flashing across his face. His eyes narrowed, this time not in playful suspicion but genuine unease. He slowly set the paratha back down on his plate, his expression darkening as the name 'Satakshi' registered. He glanced at Ritika, who looked intrigued but amused by Virat's sheepish confession, and then his gaze drifted back to Virat. Something about this didn't sit right with him.

"Satakshi?" Rohit repeated slowly, his voice laced with skepticism as if the very name had left a bad taste in his mouth.

Rohit's brow furrowed deeply, and he leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table as his gaze sharpened. "Just to be clear, you're talking about the same Satakshi who is allegedly one of the top models in the industry now and was at your 19th birthday party too?"

Virat didn't seem to notice the shift in Rohit's tone, his smile widening at mentioning the name. "Yeah, Ro, that Satakshi! We bumped into each other again a couple of months ago, all thanks to the ad shoot which was apparently for her father's company, and well, ever since then, we've been talking a lot, you know? So, we decided—well, actually to be more specific she suggested—that we give dating a shot. And I thought, why not?"

Rohit, however, hadn't moved; his eyes were still locked onto Virat, and the smile was long gone from his face. The name 'Satakshi' kept echoing in his head, dragging up memories he hadn't wanted to revisit. His fingers drummed lightly on the table, his jaw clenched just slightly. Rohit didn't care that Virat hadn't noticed the tension. He was too busy trying to wrap his head around the fact that his best friend was now dating the same Satakshi.

She was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist who he had met once, during Virat's 19th birthday party, and the impression she left on him was far from pleasant. Satakshi had waltzed into the party with an air of arrogance, her presence demanding attention in all the wrong ways.

The woman was loud but in a very obnoxious manner, throwing around her father's name like it was a golden ticket. And not to mention Satakshi had seemed more interested in showing off her designer dress and expensive jewelry than actually engaging with anyone. Seeing all of that Rohit, could never quite shake off the feeling that she was someone who believed the world revolved around her, powered by her father's wealth and status.

Rohit had felt it then—a vibe that screamed manipulation and toxicity, like Satakshi was someone who would use people as pawns in her own game. Rohit wanted to feel happy for Virat, and he really did. Virat finally decided to be in a stable relationship, but the memories of that party, Satakshi's attitude, and the way she treated others rubbed him the wrong way. Rohit had brushed it off back then, chalking it up to her being a young and spoiled rich brat. But now, hearing Virat talk about her again, those old suspicions came flooding back. His gut told him she hadn't changed, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't a good idea.

Ritika's curious smile lingered as she watched Rohit's reaction shift. She wasn't sure what was going through Rohit's mind, but the air in the room had changed. Rohit, however, was no longer hiding his unease. His jaw clenched slightly, and he leaned forward even more, his hands gripping the edge of the table as he stared at Virat. "Decided to date, huh?" he echoed slowly, his voice now devoid of the earlier playfulness.

Virat, still oblivious, reached for his cup of tea, chuckling as he took another sip. "Yeah, man, it's kind of funny how things work out, right? I mean, I never expected this, but we've been getting along so well lately. We just clicked."

"Vi," Rohit's voice cut through the moment, low and measured, with a sharp edge of concern. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his dark eyes fixed on his best friend. "Are you sure about this?"

Virat blinked, his smile faltering as he registered the seriousness in Rohit's tone. "What do you mean, 'am I sure?'" he asked, leaning forward too, sensing the weight behind Rohit's question.

Rohit glanced at Ritika, who gave him a curious look but didn't say anything. His lips twitched into an awkward smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. As, Rohit shifted slightly in his chair, forcing a chuckle, though it came out strained. His fingers continued to tapped rhythmically against the table before he finally spoke, trying to sound nonchalant but failing to completely hide his hesitation. "Areey, I mean... are you sure you want to start dating and be... you know, in a relationship? I mean, come on, yaar, you still have time to... uh, you know... explore a bit rather than—" he trailed off, gesturing vaguely with his hands as if the words were slipping through his fingers.

Virat blinked, his brow furrowing as he processed Rohit's question. "Explore?" he repeated, his tone shifting to one of playful incredulity. "Didn't you always used to give me long lectures on how I should stop playing around and settle for one? And now, when I'm finally getting into a serious relationship, you're going all 'you're young and should explore'?"

Rohit opened his mouth to respond but hesitated, caught off guard by Virat's quick counter. "Well, yeah, but... I mean, you know, being in a relationship is a huge change for anyone, right? It's not just about dating; it's a commitment, emotions, and all that stuff. You're putting a lot on the line. I just want you to be sure about it."

Rohit's voice softened, and Virat's brow furrowed deeper, sensing the gravity in Rohit's tone. "I get that, Ro, but I really like her. We click! I mean, haven't you ever felt that spark? Like you just know something feels right?"

Virat leaned in, his enthusiasm bubbling up again, but Rohit remained guarded, as he leaned back slightly in his chair, trying to hide his frustration. As his eyes dropped to his plate, he mumbled under his breath, just loud enough for Ritika to catch but quiet enough that Virat might miss it, "Yeah, I'm sure the 'spark' is probably from her ego lighting up the room."

Ritika's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she glanced at Virat, who was too absorbed in describing how convinced he was that Satakshi was the one. Virat leaned forward, his eyes lighting up as he continued. "Ro, I don't know how to explain it, but there's this comfort. Like, when I'm with her, things make sense. It feels... right. You know what I mean?"

Rohit leaned back slightly in his chair, the tension in his shoulders never quite leaving, as he murmured under his breath again, "Yeah, feels right... like how she felt right about bragging for hours about that 'limited edition' diamond necklace at your 19th birthday."

Ritika almost choked on her paratha, her eyes widening as she quickly shot Rohit a look, half-exasperated, half-amused. She was trying to cover her mouth with her hand, her eyes slightly watering as she hastily took a sip of water. After taking a few sips, she set her glass down, taking a deep breath to compose herself, but the look on her face said it all.

Virat was in the middle of describing how Satakshi had a "hidden depth" when he noticed Ritika's sudden, sputtered reaction. Concern instantly flickered across Virat's face as he leaned forward, his enthusiasm pausing for a moment. "Bhabhi, you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with both concern and confusion, as he watched her struggle to regain composure.

Ritika, in her typical composed manner, nodded quickly, trying to regain her composure. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she replied, waving her hand dismissively, "Just, uh...just the paratha went down the wrong pipe, I guess."

Ritika wiped her mouth with the napkin, her gaze discreetly drifting toward Rohit as she finished speaking. Though Ritika couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, it was clear that Rohit's mood had undeniably taken a nosedive the moment the name 'Satakshi' had been mentioned. He had gone from playful to annoyed in a matter of seconds, and she could sense the shift in his demeanor wasn't just some passing irritation.

As she took another sip of water, buying herself a moment to think, she noted the way Rohit's shoulders stiffened, the tightness around his jaw, the way his fingers had begun rhythmically drumming on the table. He hadn't touched his paratha again, his once lively expression now replaced by a growing storm cloud of frustration and unease. Even though Ritika had known Rohit for a while now, to be more specific for 24 hours, but hey, that much time is enough at least for now for Ritika to recognize that something about Satakshi—about Virat's newfound relationship—had struck a nerve.

As Virat continued his enthusiastic recounting of how he and Satakshi had reconnected, Ritika continued to quietly observed Rohit. She didn't miss the way his eyes darkened or how his smile never quite reached his eyes anymore. It wasn't jealousy, she could tell that much. No, this was something else—something deeper, maybe even protective. Rohit wasn't just annoyed; he was genuinely concerned. And well, Virat, bless his oblivious heart, wasn't noticed at all.

Ritika cleared her throat, cutting through Virat's excitement before he could notice the tension hanging thick in the air. "Well, Vi," she started, her voice light but thoughtful, "since you came straight here from your all-night ad shoot, why don't you just crash here for a while? You look like you could use a few hours of proper sleep. We'll wake you up in time for your lunch date, don't worry."

Ritika shot Rohit a quick look, silently telling him to let it go, for now, to let Virat rest and not dig deeper into his skepticism just yet. Rohit, still a bit tense, sighed heavily before finally nodding, though his tone was still a bit stiff. "Yeah, Vi, she is right. Sleep here. You look like a walking zombie right now, and honestly, you'll need to be fully awake if you want to 'survive' a date with Satakshi."

Virat tilted his head slightly, a small frown tugging at the corners of his lips as he picked up on the odd emphasis Rohit placed on the word 'survive.' He blinked, momentarily breaking from his happy reverie, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously at Rohit. "Survive, huh?" he echoed, his tone light but laced with curiosity.

He leaned forward again, his earlier oblivion quickly slipping away as he scrutinized his best friend's expression. "What's with the special emphasis, Ro? What do you mean by 'survive?'"

Before he could think of a quick response, Ritika, seated beside him, gave him a subtle yet pointed side-eye that spoke volumes. As she nudged Rohit's foot under the table with her own, the pressure firm enough to grab his attention without anyone else noticing. Rohit shot her a quick glance, a mixture of surprise and irritation flashing across his features. The small gesture was enough to prompt him to mask his unease with a forced chuckle, though it felt hollow in his throat.

"What I mean is," he began, feigning casualness, "it is your date lunch, you gotta look fresh, sharp, and alert, right? You know, not everyone can handle the 'spark' you're talking about." He offered a quick, strained smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Ro," he began, his voice quiet but with a hint of amusement, "what's going on here? What's really on your mind?"

Rohit stiffened, as he looked down at the table, avoiding Virat's searching gaze for a second before he muttered, "I'm just saying...um..nothing, Vi."

Virat studied Rohit's face, the confusion deepening in his brow as he leaned back slightly, "Come on, Ro. I know, it is not 'Nothing', there's clearly something on your mind. You've been acting strange ever since I mentioned-"

As Virat leaned forward, about to press Rohit further, his phone buzzed loudly on the table, cutting him off mid-sentence. The sudden ping drew both Rohit's and Ritika's attention toward the phone. Virat glanced down, his brow furrowing slightly as he picked up his phone.

"Hold on, just a sec..." he muttered, his earlier intensity momentarily forgotten as his thumb swiped across the screen to check the message.

A small frown tugged at the corners of his lips as he read the notification, but then, as if on cue, his eyes widened slightly, as he scanned the message on his screen. Rohit, who had been staring at Virat with guarded intensity, leaned back slightly. "What is it now?" he asked his tone more relaxed but with an edge of curiosity.

His eyes flicked to the phone in Virat's hand. Virat's smile faltered as he read the message again, his expression shifting from excitement to concern. "Uh, guys," he said slowly, his voice tinged with disappointment, "it's... it's Satakshi."

Ritika's expression changed immediately to one of concern. "Is she running late?" she asked, attempting to hide the flicker of relief that surged through her. "I mean, it happens. Sometimes people just get caught up," she added, her voice dropping to a whisper, as a strange blend of relief and worry washed over her, leaving her uncertain of why she felt that way.

Virat shook his head, his eyes clouding with concern. "No, she's canceling," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper as he turned his phone around to show them the message. "She just texted me that she's suddenly feeling sick and can't make it."

Rohit's reaction was instantaneous, he had been on edge the entire time, and Satakshi's sudden cancellation seemed to wash over him like a wave of unexpected relief. His shoulders, which had been tense all morning, loosened visibly. He leaned back in his chair, a small but unmistakable grin tugging at the corners of his lips before he quickly schooled his features, trying to feign concern like the others. But, of course, Rohit could never quite hide the twinkle in his eyes when he felt too strongly about something. "Oh, that's... that's great!"

Rohit blurted out, far too cheerfully for the situation. The words slipped out before he could mask them with feigned sympathy, and he instantly regretted the bluntness. Cause, as soon as the words left Rohit's mouth, both Virat and Ritika turned to look at him with identical expressions of disbelief. Rohit's grin slipped, and he coughed awkwardly, trying to recover from his too-hasty response.

"I mean," he began again, this time trying for a more somber tone, "that's great that she's taking care of herself. You know, health comes first and all that." He waved his hand in what he hoped was a wise and dismissive gesture, but his attempt to sound nonchalant fell flat.

Virat blinked at Rohit, his brows knitting together as he tried to process his best friend's oddly enthusiastic response. "Uh... great?" he echoed, his confusion evident. "Ro, she just canceled. I mean, I was really looking forward to this. And you think it's... great?"

Rohit opened his mouth, clearly realizing that he'd walked into a trap of his own making. Ritika, sensing the impending awkwardness, stepped in quickly. "What Rohit means is," she said, giving her husband a pointed glance, "it's great that Satakshi is being responsible and not pushing herself when she's not feeling well." She shot Rohit another warning look before adding, "Right, Rohit?"

"Exactly!" Rohit jumped in, nodding vigorously. "That's exactly what I meant. Health first. Always. And who would know it better than us cricketers."

Virat stared at Rohit, his eyes narrowing slightly, trying to figure out why Rohit was being so... off. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, his gaze fixed on Rohit as if trying to dissect the real meaning behind his words. "Oh really, Ro?" he asked, his tone teasing but laced with suspicion. "You seem awfully happy about Satakshi canceling. What's going on? What are you not telling me?"

"Happy?" Rohit scoffed, raising his eyebrows in mock innocence, "Who, me? Nah, Vi, I'm just—" Rohit was still scrambling for a way to deflect Virat's probing gaze when Ritika, sensing the growing tension, jumped in.

"Offo, Virat, leave all this!" she exclaimed, her tone lightening the mood. "Now that you've already made the reservation at the restaurant, why don't you take your siblings or friends on a surprise lunch date today?"

Virat blinked, clearly caught off guard by the abrupt shift in conversation. "What?" he replied, a hint of confusion mixing with amusement. "Just take my siblings out? They'll probably think I'm going mad for offering them a surprise-"

Virat paused mid-sentence, his face lighting up as something clicked in his mind. His earlier amusement morphed into realization, and he snapped his fingers, turning to face Ritika. "Wait, your suggestion just gave me a better idea, Bhabi!"

Virat exclaimed, his eyes glinting with a kind of enthusiasm that immediately put Rohit on edge. "Instead of sitting here, I can crash at Satakshi's place. You know, to be there for her while she's sick."

The silence that followed his words felt almost deafening. Rohit's jaw tensed visibly, as he broke the silence, letting out a short, disbelieving laugh that sounded more like a forced cough. "You... you're serious, Vi?" he asked, his tone carefully neutral, though there was an unmistakable edge to it. "You're actually thinking of going over there? Now?"

Something in Rohit's gut twisted, an uneasy feeling settling deep within him. It was the kind of instinct he'd developed over years on the field—something wasn't right. "Vi..." Rohit began, but his voice came out rougher than he'd intended. He cleared his throat, trying to control the sudden worry that washed over him. He forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I mean, maybe that's not the best idea, yaar. She's probably resting, and you wouldn't want to disturb her, right?"

Virat, still in the grips of his enthusiastic idea, didn't seem to notice Rohit's unease. "Nah, she won't mind," he said with a shrug, already pulling out his phone, likely to text Satakshi. "I'll just drop by for a bit, make sure she's okay."

But Rohit wasn't listening anymore. His gut feeling was getting worse, a strange sense of anxiety creeping in. He couldn't shake it off; an unsettling feeling settled deep within him, whispering that something was about to go terribly wrong. And if you guys know Rohit, well enough, you might also know that Rohit's gut feelings are always 99 percent right. But, Today, Rohit chose to believe in that one percent of doubt, hoping against hope that his instincts were mistaken this time.

But if only Rohit had trusted his gut completely, he might have acted differently. That one percent of doubt—the one he chose to believe—would come back to haunt him sooner than he could have imagined.

The easy banter between them was suddenly overshadowed by an unspoken tension like a storm gathering quietly on the horizon, and soon it was about to unleash its fury.

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Hi..I am back after so many days lol. Sorry for going MIA, but the last 2 weeks were my semester-end weeks, so had many quizzes, assignments, and tests lined up. Finally, they are over now and my sem break started. So yeah..will give regular updates.

PS. I already have the next chap in the draft, you guys want the teaser? LOL! Also, had to reupload this chap, as my dorm's wifi is facing some issues, sighs.

XOXO!