“Should I bring you lunch today? We could eat together.”
His heart swelled at her offer.
“I’d love that. Whatever you make, I’ll enjoy.”
“No,” she playfully insisted. “Give me your choice. I want to make something you like.”
Rudra thought for a moment.
“Ladies’ finger.”
Kashish grinned.
“Got it. Bye.”
“Bye, sweetheart.” He leaned in for a kiss on her lips, but she quickly turned her head, making him settle for a cheek kiss instead.
“Save it for later,” she whispered with a teasing giggle.
“I’ll never run out of kisses for you,” he said, kissing her roughly on her lips despite her fake resistance before heading out.
*****************
That evening, Kashish took Anjali to visit the bungalow. As they entered, Anjali’s eyes widened in admiration.
“Wow, Kashish, this house is stunning,” she exclaimed.
Kashish nodded, but her smile faded slightly.
“It is beautiful, Anju, but I don’t like the idea of staying away from all of you.”
Anjali’s expression softened as she placed a comforting hand on Kashish’s shoulder.
“It’s only temporary. Once Daadi accepts you, this place will be our weekend retreat.”
Kashish’s spirits lifted a little, and she smiled again. The two spent the rest of the evening meeting the designer, finalizing the interior details. She made sure to incorporate Rudra’s preferences as well, ensuring the house would be a perfect blend of both their tastes—a sanctuary where they could build their future together.
*****************
A month passed swiftly. Kashish was extremely busy with both the house décor and her work at Raheja Office. Despite the chaos, she managed to balance everything well. However, Daadi’s acceptance of her remained distant. It was clear Daadi was still holding out hope that Rudra would marry Suman. Meanwhile, Kashish and Rudra met at work every day, and on weekends, they spent time finalizing the details of their bungalow.
One such weekend, Kashish was at the bungalow, admiring the finished touches in their bedroom. She snapped a picture of the room and sent it to Rudra with the caption:Our Room. His reply came instantly, making her blush, reading all those things he mentioned he wanted to do there with her. She tucked her phone back into her purse, preparing to head downstairs when she noticed someone entering the house. As the woman approached, Kashish’s heart sank. It was Suman. She had seen her picture recently through Anjali.
Kashish froze in place, unsure of what to do.
“Hi, Kashish.” Suman smiled warmly as she approached.
“Hi… Suman, right?”
“That’s right.”
Kashish’s confusion deepened. “How did you know about this place?”
“Rudra told me,” Suman replied casually.
Kashish blinked in surprise.
“He… told you?”