24 | Sharayu Meets Rajvanshi's

A notification popped up.

A message.

From someone named Sharayu.

Sharayu? Who the hell was Sharayu?!

Curious, Vanya leaned forward. But before she could tap the screen, her jaw dropped.

The wallpaper.

Oh. My. God.

It was a picture of a girl.

In a stunning red dress.

Looking like an absolute goddess.

Her elder brother—Satish Rajvanshi—had a wallpaper of a mystery girl, wearing a sultry red dress.

"OH MY GOD!" she screeched, grabbing the phone.

Daksh looked up from his own phone. "What now?"

Vanya waved the phone like a winning lottery ticket. "Look at THIS!"

Daksh leaned in, frowning. But the moment he saw the screen, his eyes widened.

"No. Freaking. Way."

"What? What happened?" Ridhima asked, standing up.

"Who’s that?" Vasundhara peered over her glasses.

Vanya practically shoved the phone in her mother’s face. "That’s what we’re asking!"

Ridhima gasped. "Wait. Who is she?"

Vanya shrugged dramatically. "That’s the mystery! Some girl named Sharayu messaged him, and this is his WALLPAPER!"

Vasundhara squinted at the photo. "Hmmm. She is beautiful..."

Ridhima snatched the phone from Vanya.

"Satish’s wallpaper is of a girl." She stated it like she was trying to process the words out loud.

Silence.

Dead silence.

Then, Vasundhara grinned.

"My grandson has a girlfriend!"

Daksh smirked. "Ohhh, Bhai is SO done for!"

Ridhima’s eyes narrowed. "Who is she? How long has this been going on? Why hasn’t he told us?!"

Vanya giggled. "I say we find out."

Rajveer nodded, enjoying the chaos. "Agreed."

Just then—

Footsteps.

Satish was coming back.

Vanya panicked. "Quick! Put the phone back!"

Ridhima shoved the phone onto the table.

Vasundhara picked up the newspaper like nothing happened.

Daksh tried—and failed—to look innocent.

Satish walked in, rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

He froze immediately.

Something was off.

Way off.

Everyone was sitting too still.

Too quiet.

And they were all staring at him.

His gut told him something was wrong.

He glanced at the coffee table—and saw his phone sitting there.

Unlocked.

His brain stopped working.

Oh.

OH NO.

Ridhima broke the silence first.

"So, beta," she said sweetly. Too sweetly. "Who’s Sharayu?"

Satish stiffened.

"Who?" he tried.

Vanya snorted. "Oh, come on, Bhai. Don’t even TRY that. Your phone was unlocked. We saw."

Satish’s face went blank. "Saw… what?"

Daksh smirked. "A beautiful girl. A red dress."

Vanya wiggled her eyebrows. "Your wallpaper."

Satish felt his soul leave his body.

"You—" He pointed at them. "You snooped through my phone?!"

Vanya scoffed. "We didn’t snoop! You left it there! The notification popped up and—"

Ridhima interrupted. "Who is she, Satish?"

Satish opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

Rajveer smirked. "I’d choose my words carefully, son. We already know you weren’t with Neelesh."

Satish mentally cursed Neelesh for showing up at the worst possible time.

Vanya grinned evilly. "So, Bhai. Who is she?"

Satish ran a hand through his hair, realizing he was trapped.

"She’s…" He sighed. "She’s someone special."

Gasps.

Vanya screamed. "I KNEW IT!"

Daksh laughed. "Bro. How long were you planning to keep this a secret?"

Vasundhara clapped her hands. "Beta! Tell us everything! When can we meet her?"

Satish groaned. "I need another shower."

Vanya jumped up. "We’ll just ask her directly! We have her name! We’ll find her on Instagram!"

Satish snatched his phone. "NO, YOU WILL NOT!"

Ridhima sighed dramatically. "Beta, we’re your family. Why are you hiding her from us?"

Satish muttered under his breath. "Because you people are maniacs."

Vanya poked him. "You’re blushing!"

"I am NOT—"

"You SO are!"

Daksh laughed. "Okay, okay. We won’t stalk her. Yet. But Bhai, you do realize we’ll find out eventually, right?"

Satish sighed in defeat. "Yeah, yeah. But not today."

Ridhima asked. "Satish, I said I want to know who she is."

***

Satish knew he was doomed the moment he sat back down.

His family had their predator mode activated, and he was the helpless prey in the middle of the living room.

His phone was still in his grip, but it was too late.

They knew.

They knew everything.

His mother, Ridhima, sat with her arms crossed. "So, who is she?"

Satish sighed. "I already told you. She’s… someone special."

"That’s not an answer, beta." His father, Rajveer, raised an eyebrow. "Name?"

Satish pressed his lips together.

Vanya grinned. "Bhai, do you really think you can get away with being secretive now? We saw your wallpaper. Just say it."

Satish ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"You guys are relentless."

Vanya gasped dramatically. "Did you just realize that?!"

"Her name is…" He sighed. "Sharayu."

Vanya squealed.

Daksh clapped his hands. "Finally! We got a name!"

Vasundhara beamed. "Sharayu. Such a lovely name! What’s her full name?"

Satish hesitated for a second before muttering, "Sharayu Ketkar."

Silence.

Then—

Ridhima gasped. "Ketkar? That’s a Maharashtrian surname!"

Vanya froze. "Wait… WAIT. Bhai, don’t tell me—"

Daksh’s eyes widened.

Satish pressed his fingers against his temples.

"God, why did I even say anything?"

Vanya screamed. "OH MY GOD. INTER-CASTE LOVE STORY?! WE LOVE TO SEE IT!"

Vasundhara clapped her hands together. "Beta! This is a big thing! Since when?!"

Satish sighed, giving up. "It’s been… a while."

Ridhima narrowed her eyes. "And you didn’t think to tell us?"

"Because you guys are crazy!" Satish glared at his siblings. "I KNEW this is how you'd react!"

Vanya ignored him. "How old is she?"

Satish hesitated.

Daksh smirked. "You’re hesitating. She’s younger, isn’t she?"

Satish groaned. "She’s 21."

The silence was deafening.

Then—

Vanya SCREAMED. "EIGHT YEARS YOUNGER?! BHABHI IS A BABY!"

Satish glared. "She’s NOT a baby!"

Vanya was on the floor, laughing. "Oh my god! You’re 29 and in love with a 21-year-old! Bhai, you cradle-robber!"

Daksh grinned. "Damn, bhai. Didn’t think you had it in you!"

Vanya wiped fake tears. "I thought you were this strict, mature, responsible professor. Turns out, you’re a SIMP for a younger girl!"

Vasundhara was still smiling. "She must be very special if she captured your heart, beta."

Satish nodded. "She is."

His mother softened. "What does she do?"

Satish froze.

Vanya narrowed her eyes. "Bhai… What does she do?"

Satish fidgeted.

Rajveer raised an eyebrow. "Beta?"

Satish looked away.

Satish hesitating, "She is my student."

Vanya SCREAMED.

Daksh fell off the couch, laughing.

Ridhima held her head. "Satish Rajvanshi! You’re in love with your STUDENT?!"

Rajveer looked like he didn’t know whether to be shocked or impressed.

Vanya was rolling on the floor. "BHAI IS A LITERAL COLLEGE ROMANCE NOVEL."

Satish buried his face in his hands.

"Kill me now."

Vanya sat up. "Oh my god. Wait. Do you have more pictures of Bhabhi?"

Satish looked up. "She’s NOT your Bhabhi yet!"

Vanya ignored him. "Give us your phone. We need to see her!"

Satish held his phone close to his chest. "Over my dead body."

Daksh smirked. "We’ll just hack into your Instagram."

Satish glared. "Touch my phone, and I’ll end you."

Ridhima sighed. "Satish, we don’t care about all this student-teacher nonsense. What we care about is… do you love her?"

Satish paused.

His ears burned.

His face heated up.

And for the first time in front of his family, he whispered—

"Yes."

Silence.

Then—

Vanya threw a pillow at him. "YOU LOVE HER!"

Daksh hooted. "BHABHI IT IS!"

Vasundhara grinned. "Our bahu!"

Satish groaned. "You guys are ridiculous."

Vanya giggled. "Tell us more! When did you first realize you liked her? Who confessed first? How does she look at you? Have you kissed her?"

Satish’s ears burned hotter.

Ridhima gasped. "Have you met her family?"

Satish froze. "Uh…"

Vanya gasped again. "WAIT. DOES HER FAMILY KNOW ABOUT YOU?!"

Satish looked away.

Vanya screamed. "THEY DON’T KNOW?! OH MY GOD., STUDENT-TEACHER, SECRET RELATIONSHIP?! THIS IS BETTER THAN A SERIAL!"

Daksh laughed. "I can’t believe this! Our brother, the professor, is in a full-blown BOLLYWOOD-LEVEL ROMANCE."

Satish groaned into his hands.

Satish had made a mistake.

A huge mistake.

He should have kept his mouth shut.

***

The moment "Yes, I love her" slipped past his lips, he knew—his life was over.

His family had latched onto it like a pack of hungry wolves.

And now, he was trapped.

Vanya was literally vibrating with excitement. "OH MY GOD! Bhai, this is the best gossip we’ve had in YEARS!"

Daksh smirked. "Damn, bhai. You’ve been busy."

Satish glared. "It’s NOT gossip! And I swear, if you people don’t stop—"

Vanya ignored him. "Okay, okay! Serious question—" She leaned forward. "How did you even FALL for her?"

Satish hesitated.

Vasundhara smiled. "Beta, tell us. We genuinely want to know."

Satish sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "I don’t know. She just… happened."

Vanya gasped. "OH MY GOD. THAT'S SO ROMANTIC."

Daksh chuckled. "You’re GONE for her, aren’t you?"

Satish pressed his lips together.

Vanya wiggled her eyebrows. "Exactly! Bhai, what does she call you? Professor? Sir? Satish? Baby?"

Satish choked. "WHAT?!"

Daksh laughed. "Oh god. Imagine her calling you baby in class."

Vanya clapped her hands. "Satish Rajvanshi standing in front of the lecture hall, and then  bhabhi raises her hand and says, ‘Baby, I have a doubt.’"

Satish choking on his coffee and threw a cushion at her. "SHUT UP!"

The whole family burst into laughter.

Vanya dodged the cushion, still giggling. "Bhai, don’t be so shy! Tell us, tell us! When did you first think, ‘Oh shit, I like her’?"

Satish sighed, knowing there was no escape.

"I don’t know, okay? It just… built up. The way she talks, the way she challenges me, the way she gets on my nerves but still makes me want to be around her…"

Vanya screamed. "HE’S SIMPING. HE’S A GONER."

Daksh shook his head. "Never thought I’d see the day."

Ridhima sighed dreamily. "Beta, this is wonderful. We just want to meet her now."

Satish froze. "NO."

Everyone looked at him.

Vanya smirked. "Why not? Are you scared, Bhai?"

Satish narrowed his eyes. "I just… it’s complicated."

Rajveer frowned. "Complicated how?"

Satish hesitated. "Her family doesn’t know."

Silence.

Then—

Vanya screamed again. "THEY DON’T KNOW?! BHABHI HASN’T TOLD THEM?!"

Satish rubbed his temples. "She’s trying to find the right time, okay?"

Daksh raised an eyebrow. "So, what’s the plan? You’re just gonna hide forever?"

Satish groaned. "We’re figuring it out!"

Ridhima sighed. "Beta, we support you, but you need to talk to her. If you two are serious, she needs to tell her family at some point."

Satish nodded. "I know."

Vanya smirked. "So, when’s the wedding?"

Satish choked. "WHAT?!"

Vanya grinned. "What? You LOVE her, don’t you? So wedding is the next step!"

Satish gaped. "I just confessed my feelings to you people FIVE MINUTES AGO!"

Daksh grinned. "And now we’re planning your wedding. Keep up, bhai."

Vanya gasped. "OH! Can I pick bhabhi’s wedding outfit?!"

Ridhima clapped her hands. "I’ll start looking for venues!"

Vasundhara smiled. "I’ll call the pandit!"

Satish stood up. "I’M LEAVING."

Vanya grabbed his arm. "NO! TELL US MORE!"

Satish glared. "I HATE YOU ALL!"

Daksh laughed. "Love you too, bhai!"

Vanya winked. "Say hi to Bhabhi for us!"

Satish stormed out of the living room.

His family cheered behind him.

Satish knew he had to tell her.

He just didn’t know how to tell her.

After the hell his family had just put him through, he knew one thing for sure—this conversation was not going to be easy.

Still, he took a deep breath, grabbed his phone, and called her.

The phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Then—

"Hello?"

The second he heard her voice, he felt something warm settle in his chest.

"Hey," he said, his voice softer than he intended.

She hummed. "What’s up? You missing me already?"

Satish sighed. "Sharayu…"

Something in his tone made her pause. "What? What happened?"

Satish rubbed his face. "So… my family kind of… found out about us."

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT?!"

Satish winced, pulling the phone away from his ear. "Calm down—"

"CALM DOWN?! SATISH!" Her voice was horrified. "HOW? HOW DID THEY FIND OUT?!"

Satish sank into his bed. "You won’t believe me if I told you."

Sharayu groaned. "Try me!"

He sighed. "I… might have forgotten my phone on the table when I went to freshen up."

"Okay…?"

"And… my dear, dear sister Vanya happened to see a message from you."

"OH GOD."

"And then… she saw the wallpaper on my phone."

Sharayu gasped. "SHE WENT THROUGH YOUR PHONE?!"

Satish grimaced. "No. She just… saw the wallpaper."

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT. WALLPAPER. SATISH?"

Satish gulped. "The one of you… in the red dress."

Dead silence.

Then—

"SATISH RAJVANSHI! OUT OF ALL PHOTOS, YOU KEPT THAT ONE?!"

Satish closed his eyes. "Sharayu—"

"ARE YOU INSANE?!"

"Sharayu, breathe—"

"BREATHE?! WHAT MUST THEY BE THINKING?!"

Satish chuckled. "They actually think you’re adorable."

"ADORABLE?! SATISH! I CAN NEVER SHOW MY FACE TO YOUR FAMILY!"

Satish sighed dramatically. "That’s a shame. Because they already call you ‘bhabhi’ and ‘bahu.’"

More silence.

Then—

"…I’m going to KILL you."

Satish grinned. "You’re welcome to try, jaan."

Sharayu groaned. "Oh my god, I hate you."

"No, you don’t."

"YES, I DO!"

Satish laughed. "Shona—"

"DON’T SHONA ME!"

"You should’ve seen Daksh and Vanya. They were dying to know what you call me."

Sharayu paused. "…What did you tell them?"

Satish smirked. "Nothing. But they assumed you call me ‘baby’ in class."

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah," he drawled. "Imagine you raising your hand in class and saying, ‘Baby, I have a doubt.’"

Sharayu screamed. "OH MY GOD. THEY DID NOT SAY THAT!"

Satish grinned. "They did. And I had to sit through it."

Sharayu was horrified. "Satish. Satish, listen to me. Break up with me. Right now."

Satish laughed. "Not happening."

"I CAN NEVER FACE YOUR FAMILY!"

"Too late, jaan. They already love you."

Sharayu groaned. "Oh my god, I hate this. I hate you.  I hate your wallpaper choices. I—"

Satish chuckled. "You love me."

Sharayu froze.

Her voice was quieter when she spoke. "…You’re impossible."

Satish smiled softly. "And you’re stuck with me."

She sighed. "I hate that you’re making me smile right now."

Satish’s voice was gentle. "Good. Because I love it when you smile."

Sharayu blushed.

Satish smirked. "What? No scolding now?"

She huffed. "Shut up."

Satish laughed. "Never."

***

Satish knew he was walking into a trap.

But he was also hungry.

So, despite knowing that his family was definitely talking about him and Sharayu, he took a deep breath and walked into the dining hall.

The second he stepped in—

Silence.

Too much silence.

His mother, Ridhima, was serving food.

His father, Rajveer, was pretending to be engrossed in the news.

Vanya and Daksh were whispering to each other, failing miserably at being subtle.

His grandmother, Vasundhara, just smirked at him.

Satish narrowed his eyes. "What?"

Vanya gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, he speaks!"

Daksh grinned. "Bhai, you’ve been avoiding us all evening. What’s wrong? Blushing too much to face us?"

Satish sighed, taking his seat. "I’m eating. Let me eat in peace."

"Peace?" His mother raised an eyebrow. "You mean like the peace you had while hiding your relationship from us?"

Satish groaned. "Ma…"

His grandmother chuckled. "Beta, I must say, you have good taste. The girl is beautiful!"

Satish felt heat creep up his neck. "Dadi…"

"And smart too," Ridhima added. "She looks very intelligent."

"Of course," Rajveer said, finally looking away from the TV. "She must be, to have handled this idiot for so long."

Satish glared. "Papa—"

"Arre, but the most important thing—" His grandmother smiled mischievously. "Bachhe bhi toh khoobsurat honge!"

Satish choked. "DAADI!"

Daksh burst out laughing. "Oh my god, look at his face!"

Vanya clapped. "Bhai is blushing! HE’S BLUSHING!"

"I AM NOT!"

"You so are."

"Shut up, Daksh!"

"Shut up, Vanya!"

"Beta," his mother sighed dramatically. "Just admit it. We like her. We like your choice. You two look good together."

"Jodi achi lagegi," Vasundhara added, smiling.

Satish groaned. "Can I just eat in peace?"

His father chuckled. "We’re just saying, beta. When do we meet our bahu?"

Satish froze. "She—"

"Arre," Vanya smirked. "Should we call her now? Put her on speaker?"

Daksh gasped. "YES! I want to hear how she scolds him!"

Satish pinched the bridge of his nose. "I hate all of you."

"But you love her."

Satish blushed again. "I am going to my room."

"You just sat down!"

"I lost my appetite!"

Daksh grinned. "Sharayu Bhabhi will feed you later, anyway."

For most people, holidays meant relaxation.

For Satish, they meant constant teasing, zero privacy, and never-ending torture.

He couldn’t walk into a room without someone saying “Sharayu” in a singsong voice. He couldn’t breathe without his family finding a way to connect it to her. He was, in short, suffering.

Satish walked into the dining hall, hoping for a peaceful breakfast.

Foolish of him.

Because the moment he sat down, his sister, Vanya, nudged Daksh.

Daksh smirked. “Bhai, you look… tired.”

Vanya giggled. “Or should we say, love-struck?”

Satish exhaled sharply. “I am not having this conversation.”

His mother, Ridhima, placed a cup of tea in front of him. “Beta, why don’t you call Sharayu home one day? We’d love to meet her properly.”

“She has exams,” Satish lied instantly.

Rajveer, his father, raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t even think before saying that.”

“Fine,” Satish muttered. “She’s… busy.”

His grandmother, Vasundhara, chuckled. “Busy with you?”

Satish choked on his tea.

Daksh burst out laughing. “Dadi, that was savage!”

“Look at him!” Vanya clapped. “His ears are turning red!”

Satish gathered every ounce of patience he had left. “Can we not talk about my personal life?”

“But beta,” Ridhima smiled, innocently. “We’re just happy for you.”

“And curious,” Vasundhara added. “Very, very curious.”

Daksh smirked. “Like… what’s she like? Does she—”

“She’s none of your business!”

Vanya gasped dramatically. “How rude! After we accepted her as our bhabhi without even meeting her?”

Rajveer chuckled. “You know, your mother is already thinking of wedding arrangements.”

Satish groaned. “Oh my god—”

“And Dadi,” Daksh added, grinning, “is thinking about future great grandkids.”

Satish stood up. “I hate this family.”

“We love you too, beta!” Ridhima called out as he stormed away.

***

Satish had locked himself in his room, hoping for peace.

Again, foolish of him.

Because barely an hour later, there was a knock.

Vanya.

“I’m sleeping,” Satish called out.

“You are NOT,” Vanya called back. “Open the door!”

“No.”

“I’ll tell Ma you’re being rude to your baby sister.”

Satish sighed and opened the door. “What?”

Vanya walked in and plopped on his bed. “So, bhai. Tell me. How did you two fall in love?”

Satish pinched the bridge of his nose. “Get out.”

“Not until you tell me everything.”

“You already know everything.”

Vanya smirked. “Not the juicy details. Like… who confessed first?”

Satish rolled his eyes. “It was mutual.”

Daksh suddenly appeared in the doorway. “Was it, though?”

Satish groaned. “Can I have ONE moment of peace?”

“Nope!”

Vanya grinned. “So? Who confessed first?”

Satish muttered, “It was me.”

Both Daksh and Vanya gasped.

Vanya: “OH MY GOD, OUR BROTHER FELL FIRST AND FELL HARD!”

Daksh: “And he’s BLUSHING!”

Satish: “Get. Out.”

Vanya: “Tell us how you confessed!”

Daksh: “Yeah, was it romantic? Did you get on your knees?”

Satish closed his eyes. “I’m going to kill both of you.”

Daksh smirked. “Before or after you text Sharayu Bhabhi?”

Satish grabbed a pillow and threw it at them.

Both ran away laughing.

Satish fell back on his bed, groaning.

***

But as soon as he entered the living room, his mother, Ridhima, sat waiting for him on the couch with a soft smile.

“Come here, beta,” she patted the seat beside her.

Satish hesitated. This felt like a trap.

“Why?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

She chuckled. “Why are you acting like I’m going to attack you? Just sit.”

Sighing, Satish did as told. “If this is about Sharayu again—”

“It is,” Ridhima cut in smoothly, placing a gentle hand on his. “Satish, I’m your mother. I’ve never forced you into anything. I never pressured you about marriage, did I?”

Satish hesitated. “…No.”

“I always trusted you to make your own decisions,” she continued. “And I can see that this decision—this girl—means a lot to you.”

His ears tinged red, but he said nothing.

“So, as your mother,” she said softly, “I want to meet her. In person.”

Satish sighed. “Ma…”

“I’ve seen her in photos. I’ve heard your siblings tease you about her. But I want to see her with my own eyes. I want to talk to her, get to know her.”

Satish ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple.”

Ridhima smiled knowingly. “Because she’s your student?”

She sighed. “Satish, I understand your concerns. But at some point, we have to face the real world. If you’re serious about her, if she’s truly the one you see a future with, then we should meet her.”

Satish leaned back, thinking.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want Sharayu to meet his family. It was just… the thought of it made him nervous. His family was chaotic, loud, overwhelming. And Sharayu—

Well, she was Sharayu.

Sassy. Sharp-tongued. Stubborn.

What if she freaked out?

Ridhima watched him with a knowing smile. “She’ll be fine, Satish.”

He looked at her, startled. “What?”

“You’re worried about her meeting us, aren’t you?” she said, reading him like a book. “Worried that she might feel pressured. Or that we might be too much for her.”

Satish didn’t respond, which was answer enough.

Ridhima squeezed his hand. “Beta, I promise we won’t overwhelm her. We just want to meet the girl who has our Satish so smitten.”

Satish exhaled sharply. “I’m not smitten.”

Ridhima laughed. “Of course you’re not.”

Satish rubbed his face. “I’ll… talk to her.”

“Good.” She smiled. “And let her know there’s no pressure. Just a casual dinner. Just so we can put a face to the name.”

Satish sighed. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

Ridhima grinned. “Absolutely not.”

Satish shook his head but couldn’t help smiling.

Because deep down, he knew—

This meeting was going to happen.

***

Satish took a deep breath, staring at his phone. He knew this conversation was going to be tricky.

After all, Sharayu wasn’t the kind of girl to calmly accept things—especially something like meeting his family.

Still, he had to try.

So, he dialed her number.

It barely rang twice before she picked up.

Satish hesitated for a moment before softly saying, “Hello.”

“What do you want?” Her voice came, suspicious.

Satish smirked. “Wow. No ‘hello,’ no ‘missed me,’ just straight to hostility?”

“Because I know that tone,” she said dryly. “That’s the tone you use when you’re about to say something that will stress me out.”

Satish chuckled. She knew him too well.

“Alright, since you’re so sharp,” he said, getting straight to the point, “my family wants to meet you.”

Silence.

Dead. Absolute. Silence.

Then—

“WHAT?!”

Satish winced, pulling the phone away from his ear. “Damn, Sharayu. Are you trying to make me deaf?”

“ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK?” she screeched. “What do you MEAN they want to meet me?!”

Satish sighed. “What do you think I mean? They know about us, and now they want to meet you in person.”

“Oh my God.” Her voice dropped. “Oh my GOD.”

“Sharayu—”

“Oh my entire GOD.”

“Breathe.”

“How do you expect me to breathe after dropping something like this on me?” she snapped. “What did you say? What did they say? What do they think? Why is this happening?!”

Satish rolled his eyes. “Maybe because they’re curious about the girl I’m dating?”

“But why?!” she cried. “Why can’t they just—just leave it at knowing?! Why do they have to meet me?”

“Because they’re my family, Sharayu,” he said, voice calm but firm. “And they want to see for themselves the girl who has me all wrapped up around her little finger.”

She paused.

Then, softer—

“…I don’t have you wrapped around my finger.”

Satish smirked. “That’s what you think.”

She groaned. “Satish, this is not funny.”

“I’m not laughing.”

“Your voice is smug, which means you’re mentally laughing.”

“…Fair.”

She sighed heavily. “Satish, I don’t know about this. What if they don’t like me?”

“They already do.”

She scoffed. “They haven’t even met me.”

“They’ve seen your pictures. Heard about you. Trust me, they’re already obsessed with you.”

Sharayu went silent at that.

Satish softened. “Sharayu, I get it. It’s a big deal. But it’s not some scary interrogation, alright? It’s just a casual dinner. No pressure.”

She hesitated.

“…Are you sure?”

“I swear on my most expensive suit.”

She exhaled a laugh. “I swear, Satish, your priorities—”

“So, you’ll come?” he pressed.

“…I don’t know.”

“Sharayu.”

She groaned. “Ugh, you’re so annoying.”

“I know.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me.”

She huffed. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she mumbled—

“Fine. I’ll come.”

Satish grinned. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

She grumbled something under her breath.

Satish chuckled. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“You’re lucky you’re hot,” she muttered. “Otherwise, I’d never agree to this.”

Satish smirked. “Oh? So you think I’m hot?”

“BYE.”

And with that, she hung up.

Satish laughed, shaking his head.

***

Satish barely had a moment to breathe after his victory—getting Sharayu to agree—before his mother, Ridhima Rajvanshi, ambushed him.

He had just walked into the living room when she turned sharply, hands on her hips, eyes full of determination.

“What does she like?”

Satish blinked. “Who?”

His sister Vanya scoffed, plopping onto the couch. “Are you dumb, Bhai? Your girlfriend, obviously.”

His grandmother Vasundhara was nodding eagerly. “Yes, yes! What does she like in food? Snacks? Sweets? Tea or coffee? What’s her favorite dish?”

Satish stared at them.

They were serious.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Guys, she’s just coming for dinner. Not a feast at a royal wedding.”

His younger brother Daksh grinned. “Are you sure? Because from the way Maa and Dadi are planning, it sounds like a wedding function.”

Ridhima shot him a look. “Shut up, Daksh. You don’t understand. This is the first time she’s coming home.” She turned back to Satish. “Now, tell me, what does she like?”

Satish sighed. “She eats everything.”

“That’s not an answer,” Vanya said, rolling her eyes. “We need details.”

His father Rajveer, who had been silently reading the newspaper, suddenly spoke. “She’s Maharashtrian, right?”

Satish nodded. “Yeah.”

Rajveer hummed. “Then she must like Puran Poli and Modaks.”

His grandmother beamed. “Oh! I love Modaks too! She has good taste.”

Satish sighed.

This was getting out of hand.

“Maa, she doesn’t have any specific favorites,” he said, trying to control the madness. “She just loves good food. So don’t stress.”

His mother wasn’t convinced. “Does she like spicy food?”

Satish smirked. “Very. But she can’t handle it.”

Daksh burst out laughing. “Aye, that’s perfect! We should make something extra spicy and see how she struggles.”

Vanya smacked him. “Shut up, idiot. We want her to like us, not hate us.”

His grandmother chuckled. “No, no, let’s just make a balance. Some spicy, some sweet.” She turned to Satish. “And what about drinks? What does she like? Juice? Lassi? Soft drinks?”

Satish thought for a moment. “She likes cold coffee.”

Vanya lit up. “Oh my God! Same! She and I are going to get along so well.”

Satish raised a brow. “Oh? So you’ve accepted her already?”

Vanya grinned. “Duh. She’s already bhabhi in my head.”

Daksh snorted. “Correction. She’s bhabhi in all our heads.”

Vasundhara nodded, smirking at her grandson. “Yes, yes. She’s already the bahu of this house.”

Satish coughed, looking away. “Dadi, stop.”

His entire family burst into laughter.

Ridhima sighed dramatically. “I can’t believe my son is actually blushing. The Satish Singh Rajvanshi.”

Satish grumbled. “I am not blushing.”

Rajveer smirked. “You are.”

Vanya gasped. “Wait! What is she wearing?! What if she wears something casual, and we all dress up too much?! That would be embarrassing.”

Satish groaned. “Guys, just be normal. Please.”

His grandmother nodded seriously. “Oh, we will be. But you should dress nicely.”

“Why, by the way I always dress nicely?”

“Because you need to impress her.”

Satish stared at her. “Dadi. We are already together.”

Vanya smirked. “Doesn’t matter. You still need to look good.”

Daksh smirked. “Yeah, because if you don’t, she might dump you.”

Satish glared. “Daksh, I swear—”

His mother clapped her hands. “Enough arguing! We have a lot to do. The house must be spotless. The food should be perfect. And, Satish—”

He groaned. “What now?”

She smiled sweetly. “Behave yourself.”

Satish gave up.

***

Satish had survived battlefield interrogations at his university, academic grilling from senior faculty, and student pranks that tested his patience.

But this?

This was chaos.

His mother was in the kitchen, orchestrating the food preparations like it was the finale of MasterChef. His grandmother was supervising with an approving nod. Vanya was obsessing over decorations, and Daksh?

Daksh was just existing to annoy him.

“You’re wearing this?” Vanya raised an unimpressed brow, eyeing his black button-down and jeans.

Satish glanced down at himself. “Yeah?”

Daksh smirked. “Bhai, don’t you think you should go full Bollywood hero? Open the top two buttons, roll up your sleeves, show off the muscles—”

“Shut up.”

“Or maybe a suit?” Vanya suggested. “You want to impress your future wife, right?”

Satish rolled his eyes. “She already likes me.”

Vanya grinned. “That’s today. Who knows about tomorrow?”

Daksh snickered. “Better be irresistible, Bhai.”

Satish grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it at him. Daksh dodged, laughing hysterically.

Meanwhile, his mother wasn’t done yet.

“Satish,” Ridhima called from the kitchen. “I need you to pick up some fresh flowers.”

Satish nodded.

Daksh whistled. “Damn, bhai. Dadi is more excited for this than you are.”

“I AM excited,” Satish muttered.

Vanya smirked. “Then why do you look like you’re being sent to the gallows?”

Before Satish could respond, his grandmother clapped her hands.

“Enough chit-chat! Let’s rehearse how we welcome her.”

Rehearse?!

Satish groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

Daksh immediately pounced. “Wait, wait. Who opens the door? Do we all line up dramatically?”

Vanya nodded. “Yes! And when she enters, we should play romantic background music.”

Ridhima thoughtfully tapped her chin. “Maybe I should do an aarti?”

Satish choked. “Maa, no.”

His grandmother was delighted. “Oh, that’s a good idea! I’ll hold the plate, and you put the tilak.”

Daksh doubled over in laughter. “Bhai, they’re treating it like an engagement ceremony.”

Satish snapped. “You know what? Do whatever you want! I give up.”

His entire family burst into laughter.

His mother grinned mischievously. “Beta, you may be a professor in your college, but in this house, we are your professors.”

Satish sighed in defeat.

***

Sharayu sat in her room, staring at her reflection.

Her heart was waging a war against itself.

She was excited. She was scared. She was nervous. She was happy. She was panicking. All at once.

Her hands smoothed over her orange Anarkali dress, the fabric light yet rich, flowing around her like liquid fire. The gold embroidery shimmered under the soft light, accentuating the intricate patterns.

A delicate bindi rested between her brows, making her large expressive eyes even more captivating. Her chandbali earrings dangled, grazing her jawline, and the golden bangles on her wrists jingled softly as she adjusted her dupatta.

She took a deep breath.

This was it.

She had told her mother she was going with Rutuja to a pooja.

That was only half true.

The real reason?

She was meeting Satish’s family.

Just the thought of it made her stomach do somersaults.

A sudden buzz on her phone snapped her out of her trance.

Satish: “I’m outside. Come down.”

She grabbed her bag, took one last deep breath, and walked out.

Satish was prepared to meet her.

Or so he thought.

The moment she stepped out of her house, he forgot how to breathe.

The orange dress hugged her perfectly, swaying with every graceful step she took. Her bindi, those earrings, the way the bangles on her wrists clinked with each movement—she looked like a goddess.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath.

His jaw had literally gone slack.

Sharayu, oblivious to his internal breakdown, walked toward the car. She opened the door and slid in, only to find him staring at her like she had just descended from the heavens.

She frowned. “What?”

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then, slowly, he exhaled.

“Sharayu…” His voice was hoarse. “What the hell are you trying to do?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“You—” He gestured at her entire being. “You look… dangerous.”

She laughed. “Dangerous? I’m wearing a traditional dress, Satish.”

“Yes. And you still managed to nearly give me a heart attack.”

She blushed, but rolled her eyes. “Stop being dramatic.”

He leaned in slightly, his eyes dark and intense. “Not even joking. You look…” He exhaled again. “Breathtaking.”

Her breath hitched.

There was something about the way he looked at her. Like she was the only thing in the world worth looking at.

Sharayu swallowed. “We should go.”

He smirked, but didn’t move away. “Nervous?”

She let out a long breath. “Very.”

Satish reached out and took her hand, his thumb rubbing slow circles on her skin.

“I’m with you,” he murmured. “Always.”

Her heart fluttered.

She nodded. “Okay.”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “Let’s go charm my family.”

***

The moment they arrived at Satish’s house, Sharayu was stunned.

She had seen big houses before, but this? This was something else.

The mansion stood tall, surrounded by lush greenery, blooming flowers, and a stunning pathway lined with fairy lights. The air was crisp, carrying a faint scent of roses and sandalwood. It was the kind of place that belonged in a movie.

“Satish…” She turned to him, wide-eyed. “You live here?”

He smirked. “Shocking, isn’t it?”

She shook her head. “It’s beautiful.”

Before he could reply, BOOM!

A loud pop echoed, followed by a burst of colorful confetti.

Sharayu jumped. “What the—”

“Welcome, Bhabhi!!”

She barely had time to react as Vanya, Daksh, and even his grandmother Vasundhara burst into laughter, holding party poppers in their hands.

Satish groaned. “Really?”

Vanya smirked. “Obviously.”

Sharayu, still recovering from the mini heart attack, turned to look at the family. Her cheeks were already flushed.

But the real problem?

They were all staring at her.

And not just normal staring—stunned, open-mouthed, ‘can’t-believe-what-they’re-seeing’ kind of staring.

Vanya was whispering to Daksh, “Bro, she’s actually real. And she’s hot.”

Sharayu blinked. “Uh…”

Satish sighed. “Okay, enough staring. She’s a person, not an artifact.”

Vanya huffed. “Well, excuse us for being mesmerized! You hyped her up so much, and for once, you were right. She’s freaking gorgeous.”

Sharayu blushed harder. “I—um… thank you?”

Satish pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let’s just go inside.”

***

Once inside, everyone settled in the cozy living room.

The house was warm, inviting, and elegant.

A househelp soon arrived, serving water first before bringing in trays of tea and coffee.

Satish’s mother, Ridhima, smiled warmly. “Sharayu beta, what would you like? Tea or coffee?”

Sharayu gave a small, polite smile. “Tea, please.”

“Same for me,” Satish added.

The househelp nodded and poured the tea into delicate china cups.

Everyone resumed small talk, asking Sharayu things like:

“Where are you from?”

“What do your parents do?”

“How do you even tolerate Satish as a professor?”

Each question made her more comfortable, and soon, she was laughing along with them.

But then…

Satish took one sip of his tea—and immediately stopped.

He frowned.

Then, without hesitation, in front of everyone, he looked at the housekeeper and said in a perfectly straight-faced voice:

“Kya aap dusri chai bana dengi, bina adrak ki? Please, Inhe adrak wali chai nahi pasand.”

(“Make another cup of tea without ginger. She doesn’t drink tea with ginger.”)

Silence.

Dead. Silence.

Then—

CHAOS.

Vanya was the first to react. “OH. MY. GOD.”

Daksh whistled. “Bro, that was smooth.”

His grandmother gasped dramatically. “Arey re! Pati ka farz nibhate hue dekho isko! Ek sip se hi yaad aa gaya ki biwi ko kya pasand nahi!”

His mother clasped her hands together. “He’s already memorized her tea preferences? Wah, wah!”

His father, Rajveer, shook his head, amused. “And he said he didn’t believe in romance.”

Satish blinked. “Wait, what—”

Vanya pointed at him. “You. Are. Gone.”

Sharayu?

She was sinking into the couch, her face redder than a tomato.

Satish groaned. “I just— I mean, it’s normal to—”

“NO, IT’S NOT,” Daksh cut in. “We’ve never seen you care about ANYONE’S tea preference, EVER.”

Vanya smirked. “If she asks for a spoon, are you going to personally hand-feed her too?”

Sharayu covered her face. “Oh my god.”

Satish sighed in defeat.

His mother just smiled knowingly. “Beta, don’t worry. It’s okay. When you love someone, these things happen.”

“EXACTLY,” Vasundhara added, grinning. “Jab pyaar hota hai toh aise chhoti chhoti cheezein yaad reh jaati hai.”

Satish took a deep breath.

Looked at Sharayu—who looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

Looked at his smug siblings.

Then, finally, he rubbed his temple.

She was still holding the cup, her fingers frozen around the delicate porcelain, while Satish sat beside her, his face blank but his ears, traitorously, red.

Daksh leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, and smirked. “So, Bhai… how many more of Bhabhi’s preferences do you know?”

Satish rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”

But Vanya was far too entertained.

“No, no, this is serious. Does she like her sandwiches grilled or plain? Extra cheese or no cheese? Sweet chutney or spicy?”

“Which movie makes her cry the most?” Daksh added.

Their mother, Ridhima, was shaking her head fondly. “You two should stop teasing. It’s natural for him to know these things.”

“Exactly,” Vasundhara Dadi chimed in, smirking. “When your grandfather and I were young, he even knew how many teaspoons of sugar I took in my tea.”

“But did he ever order a second cup for you before you even asked?” Vanya teased.

Satish glared at his sister. “I swear, I will—”

“—do nothing, because we all know Bhabhi won’t let you.” She winked.

Sharayu, who had been quietly sipping her tea (and dying inside), finally placed the cup down and muttered just loud enough for only Satish to hear:

“I hate you so much right now.”

He turned his head slightly and whispered back, “Not my fault you have specific tea preferences.”

She gave him a murderous glare.

But before she could snap back, his grandmother clapped her hands together.

“Okay! Enough teasing—for now.” She turned to Sharayu, her eyes twinkling. “Tell us, beta, how did you and our Satish meet?”

Satish groaned internally.

Here we go.

Sharayu hesitated, glancing at Satish, who gave her a look that said, ‘You brought this on yourself by agreeing to come here.’

She took a deep breath and started explaining.

“Well… he is my professor…”

“OH, THIS IS GETTING BETTER,” Vanya gasped dramatically.

Sharayu ignored her and continued, “And at first, he was just… terrifying.”

Vasundhara Dadi nodded approvingly. “Good. Professors should be strict.”

Sharayu laughed nervously. “Yeah… except we didn’t exactly get along at first.”

“Define ‘didn’t get along,’” Daksh asked, raising an eyebrow.

Satish cut in flatly. “She hated me.”

Sharayu grinned cheekily. “Still do.”

His mother laughed. “And yet, here you are, sitting together like a lovely couple.”

Satish just sighed while Sharayu tried not to blush.

Daksh smirked. “Wait… so you went from ‘I hate you’ to ‘I can’t drink tea without ginger in it’?”

Vanya pretended to wipe a tear. “A love story for the ages.”

Satish rubbed his temple. “I should’ve left you two at the orphanage.”

“You literally didn’t find us at an orphanage,” Vanya shot back. “You’re just mad that we’re right.”

Sharayu bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

She liked how they teased Satish, how comfortable they all were with each other. She liked how they immediately made her feel included, despite meeting her for the first time.

And she especially liked how Satish, despite all his grumbling, let them tease him.

The serious, intimidating Professor Satish Singh Rajvanshi was blushing, flustered, and helpless in front of his family.

And she loved every second of it.

Just then, his grandmother suddenly leaned forward, lowering her voice mischievously.

“So, beta… do your parents know about Satish yet?”

Sharayu choked on air.

Satish froze.

The entire room went silent.

And then—

His mother, however, smiled gently at Sharayu. “Beta, do they at least know you’re seeing someone?”

Sharayu gulped. “Not exactly.”

Vasundhara Dadi’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Oho, toh ab maza aayega.”

Satish groaned.

Satish knew he was doomed.

One moment, his family was teasing him over tea preferences. The next?

They were strategizing how to break the news to Sharayu’s family.

“Okay, okay,” Vanya clapped her hands together like she was leading a military mission. “Step one: We find out how scary Bhabhi’s parents are.”

Daksh leaned forward, grinning. “Step two: We send Bhai in as the sacrificial lamb.”

“Step three—” Vanya smirked. “Hope for the best.”

Satish groaned. “There is no ‘we’ in this situation.”

Vanya ignored him completely. “So, Bhabhi, tell us. How terrifying are your parents?”

Sharayu blinked, still recovering from the whiplash. “Umm… I mean, they’re not terrifying, but…”

Vanya’s smirk widened. “Oh, so they are terrifying.”

“No! That’s not—” Sharayu stopped, realizing she had fallen right into their trap.

Satish held her hand, gave a squeeze, and finally spoke up. “I’ll talk to them when the time is right.”

His grandmother, Vasundhara, tutted. “Beta, the ‘right time’ never comes on its own. You have to make it happen.”

His mother, Ridhima, nodded. “And it’s better if they hear it from you two rather than finding out on their own or from a third person.”

Sharayu swallowed. That was her biggest fear.

Her parents were traditional. If they found out in a way that wasn’t on her terms, it would be chaos.

Satish must have sensed her unease because his hand brushed against hers lightly, reassuringly.

“I’ll handle it.” His voice was low but firm.

Sharayu looked at him, searching his face for doubt.

There was none.

And that? That calmed her more than she expected.

Of course, his siblings didn’t let the moment last.

Daksh dramatically sighed. “Look at them, having their little eye-contact moment. It’s like a movie.”

Vanya fake sniffled. “I swear, if this were a drama, this is where the romantic background music would start playing.”

Satish gave them a deadpan look. “Both of you, get out.”

“This is our house.”

“I don’t care.”

But before the teasing could escalate, Ridhima clapped her hands.

"Okay, enough now. Let’s eat! You must be hungry, beta," she said, turning to Sharayu warmly.

Sharayu, who had been nervous about meeting them all day, finally relaxed a little.

“I am, actually,” she admitted, smiling.

Vasundhara Dadi beamed. “Good! Because we made all your favorite dishes.”

Sharayu blinked. “Wait… how do you know what I like?”

And then—realization hit.

She turned to Satish slowly. Accusingly.

“You told them?”

Satish simply took a sip of his tea and shrugged.

Vanya and Daksh burst out laughing.

Vasundhara Dadi patted Satish’s shoulder proudly. “Arre, of course he told us. How else would we impress our future bahu?”

Satish choked on his tea. “Dadi!”

But his grandmother wasn’t done.

She turned back to Sharayu with a teasing smile. “Tell me, beta, do you want more paneer? Or just Satish?”

Sharayu almost dropped her spoon.

Vanya and Daksh collapsed laughing.

Ridhima shook her head, smiling fondly.

And Satish? He just covered his face with his hands.

The dining table was a feast in itself.

Bowls of paneer makhanu, chole, and rajma sat alongside steaming plates of piping hot puris and fragrant basmati rice. A large bowl of dal tadka, rich with ghee, filled the air with a comforting aroma. On another end of the table, a plate of crispy aloo sabzi sat next to a tray of golden-brown gulab jamuns, their sugary syrup glistening under the lights.

And right at the center?

A massive bowl of kheer, its creamy texture speckled with slivers of almonds and pistachios.

Sharayu, who had been nervous just moments ago, couldn’t help but be stunned.

“Are we feeding an army?” she asked, wide-eyed.

Vanya, grinning, picked up a puri and tore it apart dramatically. “Nope. Just trying to impress our future Bhabhi.”

Sharayu coughed.

Daksh, who was sitting to her right, smirked. “And it’s working, isn’t it? I mean, just look at this spread. It’s basically a welcome feast.”

Satish, who had just walked in and was about to take a seat next to Sharayu, was rudely shoved aside.

Vanya plopped into the chair on Sharayu’s left. Daksh slid into the one on her right.

Satish blinked. “Excuse me?”

Daksh grinned up at him. “No seats left, Bhai. Too bad.”

Satish glared. “You both have seats on the other side of the table.”

Vanya took a dramatic bite of paneer and shrugged. “Yeah, but this side is more fun.”

Satish rubbed his temples.

Sharayu, biting back a smile, looked at them. “Are you both always like this?”

Daksh snorted. “Oh, this is nothing. Wait till we start the real teasing.”

Vanya nodded, leaning in. “For example… tell me something, Bhabhi—”

Sharayu choked on her bite of chole. “Call me Sharayu.”

Daksh clicked his tongue. “Nope. That’s not how this works.”

Vanya, looking mischievous, added, “You do realize this is a tragedy for us, right?”

Sharayu frowned, confused. “What is?”

Daksh sighed dramatically. “That you’re younger than both of us, but we still have to call you Bhabhi.”

Sharayu burst out laughing.

“That’s not a rule! Just call me by my name.”

But before either sibling could respond, Vasundhara Dadi cleared her throat.

Everyone turned to look at her.

She smiled at Sharayu, but her words were sharp. “How is that possible? You will be Satish’s wife. He is older than them, which means they must respect the hierarchy.”

Sharayu, mouth opening and closing like a fish, looked helplessly at Satish.

He smirked, clearly enjoying this.

Sharayu hid her face behind her hands.

Satish, grinning, finally took the only available seat—directly across from her.

“Feeling welcomed?” he asked, voice laced with amusement.

Sharayu narrowed her eyes at him. “You planned this, didn’t you?”

Satish sipped his water, looking far too smug. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Vanya, chewing on a puri, sighed. “Ugh, whatever. Let’s just eat. Bhabhi, pass me the chole.”

The second the word ‘Bhabhi’ left her mouth, everyone froze.

Then—chaos.

Daksh started laughing so hard he nearly spilled his rice.

Satish looked like he had just won a battle.

Dadi beamed proudly.

Now, as they all sat in the living room, sipping on after-dinner paan and warm milk, laughter still hung in the air. The atmosphere was light, joyful, and filled with familial warmth.

Until Dadi suddenly cleared her throat.

Everyone turned to look at her.

With a knowing smile, she reached for a small red velvet box on the side table.

Satish, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly choked. Oh no.

He knew that box.

Inside it lay the Rajvanshi family’s traditional gold bangles—ones passed down to the eldest daughter-in-law of every generation.

And sure enough, when Dadi popped open the box, two intricately carved, gold bangles gleamed under the warm yellow lights of the living room.

Sharayu, who had been relaxed just moments ago, froze.

She knew exactly what was happening.

Dadi held the bangles out to her, smiling warmly. “These have been in our family for generations. And now, they belong to you.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Sharayu’s brain short-circuited.

Satish, sitting across from her, silently panicked.

Daksh and Vanya? Barely containing their laughter.

Sharayu swallowed hard. She loved the warmth of his family, she adored how welcoming they were, but—

This was too fast.

She slowly shook her head, trying to find the right words. “Dadi, this… I—I can’t take them.”

Dadi frowned. “Why not?”

Sharayu stammered, glancing at Satish for help.

His useless self just sat there, enjoying the show.

Sharayu glared at him before turning back to Dadi. “My parents don’t even know about us yet…” she tried to explain carefully. “It wouldn’t be right for me to accept these when—”

Dadi waved a hand dismissively. “That is a small thing! You are already a part of this family. The rest is just a matter of time.”

A matter of time?!

Sharayu’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

Vanya leaned over, whispering dramatically, “Just take them, Bhabhi. Resistance is futile.”

Daksh, grinning, added, “Yeah, once Dadi decides something, there’s no turning back.”

Sharayu looked helplessly at Vasundhara Dadi, who was still holding the bangles out with an expectant expression.

She could feel everyone’s eyes on her.

She could even sense Satish’s amusement from across the room.

“Satish,” she hissed through gritted teeth, her voice low but sharp. “Do something!”

Satish finally sighed, sitting up straight.

“Dadi,” he said gently. “She’s right. Her parents don’t know about us yet. Let’s not rush things.”

Dadi eyed him for a long moment before sighing. “Fine.”

Sharayu internally exhaled in relief.

But then—Dadi turned to Sharayu with a sharp look.

“But the moment your parents agree, you are taking these.”

Sharayu, too overwhelmed to argue anymore, just nodded weakly.

Vanya, smirking, whispered again. “Congratulations, Bhabhi. You survived.”

Sharayu shot her a murderous look.

Satish chuckled, shaking his head.

After all the drama with Dadi and the bangles, Sharayu was still recovering.

But before she could even settle, Vanya suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Come with me!” she announced excitedly, dragging her toward the hallway.

Sharayu barely had time to glance at Satish, who simply raised an eyebrow in amusement.

“You’re on your own now,” his expression clearly said.

Useless man.

Vanya pulled her into what was clearly her bedroom—a space decorated in cool pastel shades, fairy lights, and an entire bookshelf filled with novels.

Sharayu blinked in surprise. “Your room is really pretty!”

Vanya beamed. “I know, right? Now, sit.”

She plopped Sharayu onto her bed and sat cross-legged in front of her, eyes twinkling with curiosity.

“Okay,” Vanya said, grinning mischievously. “Tell me everything.”

Sharayu blinked. “Everything… what?”

Vanya rolled her eyes. “Don’t play innocent, Bhabhi. You and my brother. I need details.”

Sharayu groaned. “First of all, stop calling me Bhabhi.”

“No.”

Sharayu narrowed her eyes. “Vanya…”

Vanya smirked. “Okay, fine. I’ll call you Sharayu… for now.”

Sharayu sighed in relief.

“But only in private,” Vanya added, winking. “In front of everyone else, you’re Bhabhi.”

Sharayu buried her face in her hands. This girl was impossible.

Vanya laughed, then leaned in closer. “Now, back to my question. How did you manage to tame my arrogant, grumpy, impossible-to-please brother?”

Sharayu giggled. “Tame?! I haven’t tamed him. If anything, he’s the one who—”

“AHA! So, you admit it!”

Sharayu froze.

Vanya smirked. “You were about to say, ‘He’s the one who has tamed me,’ weren’t you?”

Sharayu went red. “That’s not what I meant!”

Vanya just giggled like a devil. “Oh, this is so fun! My brother—THE Satish Singh Rajvanshi—is whipped. Completely, absolutely, hopelessly whipped.”

Sharayu groaned. “Please stop.”

“Never.”

Sharayu glared. “You and Daksh are literally the same. Do you both have a degree in ‘How to Annoy People 101’?”

Vanya grinned proudly. “It’s a sibling talent.”

Sharayu sighed but smiled. She really liked this girl.

Vanya suddenly perked up. “Oh! Before I forget—give me your number.”

Sharayu tilted her head. “Huh?”

Vanya grabbed her phone and handed it to her. “Save your number. I need direct access to my favorite future sister-in-law.”

Sharayu narrowed her eyes. “You’re not even trying to be subtle, are you?”

“Nope!”

With a laugh, Sharayu saved her number.

Vanya immediately sent a text.

Vanya: Welcome to the Rajvanshi madness. You’re stuck with us now.

Sharayu chuckled, shaking her head.

Sharayu glanced at the text on her phone and laughed, shaking her head.

“Stuck with you, huh? You make it sound like a life sentence.”

Vanya smirked. “Oh, it is. But trust me, you won’t regret it.”

Sharayu rolled her eyes playfully. “I already feel like I’ve been adopted by you all.”

Vanya gasped dramatically. “Excuse me? Adopted? No, no, no. You’re going to be the ‘official’ part of this family. That’s not adoption—that’s a lifelong contract, sweetheart.”

Sharayu chuckled, crossing her arms. “And what if I run away?”

Vanya scoffed. “Where will you even run? Bhai would track you down in less than an hour.”

Sharayu froze. That was… scarily accurate.

Vanya noticed her expression and grinned. “See? You know it’s true. My brother is obsessed with you.”

Sharayu groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Can we please talk about something else?”

“Nope,” Vanya popped the ‘p’ smugly.

Sharayu threw a pillow at her. “You’re evil.”

Vanya caught it effortlessly, laughing. “I know. It’s a gift.”

Sharayu sighed, but a smile was tugging at her lips.

“Okay, okay,” Vanya leaned forward eagerly. “Let’s talk about something else. Tell me, when did you realize you were falling for my brother?”

Sharayu blinked, taken off guard. “What kind of question is that?”

Vanya grinned. “A very important one.”

Sharayu thought for a moment, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her dupatta. “I don’t know… maybe when he stopped being so insufferable.”

Vanya snorted. “That doesn’t help, Sharayu. He’s always insufferable.”

Sharayu laughed. “Okay, fine. I guess I realized it when I started missing him at the most random times. Like, even in the middle of the day, when I wasn’t even talking to him, I’d suddenly think, ‘Oh, what’s he doing right now?’”

Vanya wiggled her eyebrows. “Awww. That’s adorable.”

Sharayu rolled her eyes. “It was annoying! I was so used to being independent, and suddenly, there he was—invading my thoughts 24/7.”

Vanya clutched her heart dramatically. “This is better than any romance novel I’ve read!”

Sharayu threw another pillow at her. “Shut up.”

Vanya giggled and then tilted her head. “Okay, but what was the exact moment you knew it was love?”

Sharayu exhaled softly, her smile turning a little softer. “When I realized that… no matter how annoying he is, no matter how much we fight or argue, I still feel safest with him.”

Vanya’s teasing grin softened into something more genuine. “You really love him, huh?”

Sharayu nodded, a blush creeping up her neck.

Vanya clapped her hands. “Okay! Now, let’s flip the question. When do you think Bhai fell for you?”

Sharayu blinked. “How would I know?”

Vanya scoffed. “You really think I don’t know my brother? Trust me, he was gone for you the moment you did something unexpected that shook his stupid world.”

Sharayu laughed. “That could be anything. I argue with him all the time.”

Vanya hummed. “Maybe that’s it. He finally met someone who wasn’t scared of him.”

Sharayu shook her head. “He’s not scary.”

Vanya raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Sharayu smirked. “Not to me.”

Vanya burst out laughing. “Oh, you are SO perfect for him.”

Sharayu grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Vanya patted her shoulder. “Good. Because it was.”

Sharayu looked at her phone and sighed. “I should probably go back before your brother gets suspicious.”

Vanya rolled her eyes. “He’s already suspicious. I bet he’s waiting outside the door.”

Sharayu froze. “Wait… what?”

Vanya giggled. “Kidding! But seriously, don’t be surprised if he is.”

Sharayu groaned. “I swear, if he is, I’m going to—”

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Both girls froze.

Then Vanya whispered, “If it’s him, I’m going to scream.”

Sharayu smacked her arm. “Shut up!”

Vanya was already grinning mischievously.

Vanya and Sharayu stared at the closed door, neither making a move.

Knock. Knock.

Sharayu gulped. “What if it’s actually him?” she whispered.

Vanya smirked. “Then it’s our moral duty to mess with him.”

Sharayu rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

Vanya straightened her shoulders and called out in the sweetest voice possible, “Who is it?”

A deep, familiar voice responded from the other side. “Who do you think?”

Sharayu immediately stiffened. Satish.

Vanya turned to her with a look that screamed, ‘See? I told you!’

Sharayu glared. “I hate you.”

Vanya giggled. “The feeling is mutual, Bhabhi.”

Sharayu smacked her arm just as Satish’s voice dropped an octave.

“Are you both going to open the door or should I make my way in?”

Vanya, the little devil, gasped dramatically. “Oh, no! Someone save our poor Sharayu from her terrifying boyfriend!”

Sharayu covered her face, muffled a scream into her hands, and whispered, “I am actually going to die of embarrassment.”

Vanya threw her a wink. Then, before Sharayu could stop her, she swung the door open.

There he stood—arms crossed, eyebrow raised, looking way too intimidating for his own good.

Satish’s sharp gaze immediately landed on Sharayu. She was sitting on Vanya’s bed, looking flustered, guilty, and incredibly adorable.

His eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”

Vanya clapped her hands. “Oh, nothing. Just some top-secret Bhabhi-nanad bonding.”

Sharayu turned to glare at Vanya, who was enjoying this way too much.

Satish’s lips twitched.

He looked at Sharayu, who was already avoiding his gaze.

Vanya grinned. “Of course! You should’ve heard how sweetly she was confessing how much she loves you.”

Sharayu whipped her head toward Vanya. “VANYA!”

Satish, meanwhile, looked smug.

“Oh?” He took a step forward, leaning against the doorframe. “Sweetheart, is that true?”

Sharayu, completely flustered now, buried her face in her hands. “I hate both of you.”

Vanya giggled. “Aww, don’t be shy! We all know the truth. You’re crazy about my brother.”

Sharayu peeked through her fingers, shooting a glare at Vanya.

Satish, however, was having the time of his life.

“Crazy about me, huh?” His voice was teasing, deep, and dangerously smug.

Sharayu finally dropped her hands and shot him a scowl. “Shut up, Satish.”

Vanya gasped dramatically. “Wow. No ‘Sir’? No ‘Professor’? Just Satish?”

Satish chuckled.

Sharayu groaned. “I am never speaking again.”

Vanya patted her head. “Poor thing. So in love that she can’t even function properly.”

Sharayu picked up a pillow and threw it at her.

Satish just watched, amused.

Then, he sighed dramatically. “Well, I came here to check on you, but clearly, you’ve been enjoying yourself.”

Sharayu looked up, still pouting. “You make it sound like I was partying without you.”

Vanya smirked. “Oh, she was. But don’t worry, Bhai, she only has eyes for you.”

Sharayu turned to glare at her again. “Stop talking.”

Vanya shrugged. “Just stating facts.”

Satish chuckled, shaking his head. Then, he looked at Sharayu, his expression softening. “Come down when you’re ready. Everyone’s waiting.”

Sharayu nodded. “Okay.”

As he turned to leave, Vanya called after him, “Don’t worry, Bhai! I’ll send your girlfriend back to you in one piece!”

Satish smirked over his shoulder. “Good. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with me.”

And with that, he walked away.

Sharayu, still blushing furiously, turned to Vanya and groaned. “You are the worst.”

Vanya winked. “And you’re the future Mrs. Rajvanshi.”

Sharayu threw another pillow at her. “STOP.”

Sharayu took a deep breath, smoothing her dress as she prepared to go downstairs. Her heart was already racing from Vanya’s teasing, and now she had to face Satish’s parents again. She was nervous—very nervous.

But just as she reached for the door, a strong hand gripped her wrist.

Before she could even react, she was pulled backward, her breath hitching as she collided with something solid and warm.

Satish.

“What the—” She barely had time to gasp before she felt herself being whisked away—not toward the staircase, but in the opposite direction.

Toward his room.

“Satish!” She struggled, twisting in his hold, but he was faster.

The next thing she knew, he had kicked the door shut behind them.

She turned abruptly, eyes wide, breath uneven. “Are you insane?! What are you doing?”

Satish, utterly unbothered, leaned against the closed door, his arms caging her in.

“I needed a moment alone with my girlfriend. Is that a crime?”

Sharayu’s pulse skyrocketed. “Your entire family is waiting for us downstairs!”

He hummed, tilting his head. “So?”

She glared. “So?! They’ll wonder where we are!”

He smirked. “Let them wonder.”

“SATISH!”

He chuckled, his deep, rich laughter making her stomach flip. “Relax, sweetheart. We’ll go. But first—”

He leaned in, his lips brushing dangerously close to her ear.

“Kiss me.”

Sharayu’s eyes widened. Her breath caught in her throat. “What?!”

He pulled back slightly, his dark, playful eyes locking onto hers.

“You heard me.” His voice was low, husky, teasing.

Sharayu stepped back, pressing against the door. “You’ve lost your mind.”

Satish smirked. “No, just lost my patience.”

She gawked at him. “Your patience?”

He nodded. “Do you know how hard it was to sit through dinner, watching you smile at everyone but me?”

Sharayu stared, stunned. “What—”

“How do you expect me to act normal when you look like that?” His eyes raked over her. “That dress… this bindi… those bangles… Sweetheart, you’ve completely ruined my sanity today.”

Her breath stuttered. “You’re impossible.”

He grinned. “And you’re beautiful. So… where’s my kiss?”

Sharayu glared, crossing her arms. “I am NOT kissing you right now.”

Satish sighed dramatically. “Then I guess we’re not leaving.”

She gasped. “SATISH! Your family is literally downstairs!”

He shrugged. “Then kiss me quickly before someone comes looking for us.”

She groaned, shoving at his chest. “Behave!”

“Not happening.”

She huffed, turning her head away. “You’re shameless.”

He leaned in closer, voice dripping with mischief. “And you love it.”

She slapped a hand over his mouth. “You—! Don’t even finish that sentence.”

He grinned behind her hand, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Just then, there was a loud knock on the door.

“Bhai! Bhabhi! What the hell are you doing? Come down already!”

Vanya.

Sharayu panicked, shoving him away. “See?! I told you!”

Satish sighed dramatically, stepping back with zero regret.

“Fine. But this isn’t over, sweetheart.”

Sharayu sent him a warning glare. “It is for now.”

He smirked. “For now.”

Sharayu practically fled from Satish’s room, her heart racing like she had just run a marathon. That man was impossible.

As she stepped into the hallway, she tried desperately to compose herself, smoothing her dress and patting her warm cheeks.

But Vanya was waiting.

Arms crossed. Smirking.

“Hmm.”

Sharayu froze. “Hmm?”

Vanya tilted her head, eyeing her suspiciously. “You both took an awfully long time in there.”

Sharayu gulped. “W-We were just talking.”

Vanya raised an eyebrow. “Talking, huh?”

Before Sharayu could respond, Daksh appeared, grinning. “Vanya, I told you! These two were up to something. Look at bhabhi—she looks like she’s seen a ghost.”

Sharayu groaned. “I AM NOT A BHABHI! Stop calling me that!”

Vanya gasped dramatically. “Excuse me?! Are you rejecting my brother?! After all the shameless flirting he does for you? The man has no shame left! He demands kisses like they’re his birthright! And you’re still acting shy?”

Sharayu’s jaw dropped. “How do you even know about—”

Vanya grinned wickedly. “Bhai is predictable. Of course, he tried something! I just knew it.”

Daksh sighed, shaking his head. “Our poor brother. He puts in so much effort, but his girlfriend doesn’t even give him a little peck in return. Tsk tsk.”

Sharayu glared. “You two need hobbies.”

Daksh smirked. “We have one. It’s called teasing you.”

Before she could strangle them both, Satish finally appeared, looking annoyingly smug.

“What’s taking so long?” he asked lazily, leaning against the wall.

Sharayu pointed at his siblings. “THESE TWO.”

Vanya grinned. “Bhai, did you get your kiss or not?”

Sharayu gasped, covering her face in mortification. “VANYA!”

Satish, unbothered, simply smirked. “Not yet. But I’m patient.”

Daksh whistled. “Oho. Determination. We love to see it.”

Sharayu groaned loudly.

“Can we PLEASE go down before your mother starts thinking I ran away?!”

Vanya linked arms with her. “Oh, don’t worry, bhabhi. You’re already one of us. There’s no escape.”

“I AM NOT YOUR BHABHI!”

“Not yet.” Satish winked.

Sharayu was seriously considering throwing herself off the balcony at this point.

As soon as they entered the living room, all eyes turned to them.

His mother, Ridhima, smiled sweetly. “Finally! We thought you two got lost upstairs.”

Sharayu felt her soul leave her body.

Satish chuckled. “Just showing her around.”

His grandmother, Vasundhara, nodded approvingly. “Good! Make sure she gets familiar with the house. She’ll be running it someday.”

Sharayu choked on air.

Rajveer, his father, chuckled. “Don’t scare the girl, Ma.”

Vasundhara snorted. “She doesn’t look scared. She looks like a deer caught in headlights.”

Daksh nodded seriously. “That’s just her default look around bhai.”

Sharayu glared. “DAKSH.”

Vanya whispered dramatically. “Bhabhi is so scary when she’s mad.”

Sharayu’s phone buzzed loudly, making her jump.

She quickly glanced at the screen—her mother’s name flashed brightly.

Oh no.

Taking a deep breath, she answered in the calmest voice possible. “H-Hello, Aai?”

“Sharayu, where are you?” her mother’s voice came through, slightly impatient.

Sharayu gulped. “I—I’m on my way home.”

A pause.

“Hmm. Okay, come soon.”

Sharayu exhaled a sigh of relief. “Yes, Aai. I’m coming.” She immediately hung up before her mother could ask anything more.

Time to go.

She stood up quickly, adjusting her dupatta. “I should leave now. Aai will get suspicious.”

Ridhima smiled warmly. “Of course, beta. But you’ll come again, won’t you?”

Sharayu nodded shyly. “Yes… um, hopefully.”

She bent down to touch her feet, but before she could, Ridhima stepped back, shaking her head.

“Arey, hamare yaha ladkiya pair nahi chooti, beta,” she said, pulling Sharayu into a hug instead.

Sharayu was stunned for a second but then melted into the warmth of it.

Rajveer patted her shoulder, then her head affectionately. “Take care, Sharayu. And take care of him too. He’s a handful.”

Sharayu flushed as she nodded. “I’ll try my best.”

Vasundhara grinned. “You’ve already handled him better than we ever could.”

Before she could react, Vanya suddenly launched at her, hugging her dramatically.

“Oh my god, I feel like I’ve found my long-lost sister in some huge mela,” she wailed, clinging onto her.

Sharayu laughed nervously. “Vanya—”

Daksh sighed, shaking his head. “Alright, alright, let her breathe. Bhabhi, congrats on officially surviving our family.”

Sharayu groaned. “DAKSH, I AM NOT—”

Daksh side-hugged her, cutting her off. “Yeah, yeah, you’re not our bhabhi yet. But just wait. It’s happening.”

Sharayu whimpered as Satish casually grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards the door.

“Let’s go before they adopt you,” he muttered.

But just as he opened the car door for her—

“WAIT!”

Vanya sprinted forward and jumped into the backseat.

Daksh followed right after.

Satish blinked. “What the—”

Vanya grinned. “We’re coming along.”

Daksh nodded. “You can’t hog her all to yourself, bhai.”

Satish groaned loudly. “Oh, for—GET OUT.”

Vanya batted her eyelashes innocently. “Aww, why? You wanted some ‘alone time’ with her?”

Daksh grinned. “What were you planning to do in the car, huh, bhai?”

Satish glared. “Drive, you idiots.”

The car had barely started moving when Vanya and Daksh leaned forward between the front seats, grinning wickedly.

“So, bhabhi,” Vanya started.

Sharayu groaned. “Vanya…”

Vanya ignored her. “How does it feel to have our brother completely wrapped around your finger?”

Daksh nodded seriously. “Yeah. He’s a changed man, you know. Just a few months ago, he used to scold us for flirting with people. Now look at him.”

Vanya gasped dramatically. “That’s right! He used to say things like ‘focus on your future’ and ‘don’t waste time on romance.’”

Daksh clutched his chest. “Such a hypocrite.”

Satish exhaled sharply. “I will throw both of you out of this moving car.”

Vanya ignored him completely. “So, tell us, bhabhi—how did you seduce him?”

Sharayu choked on air. “WHAT?!”

Daksh nodded, playing along. “Yeah, yeah. We need to know. Was it the eyes? The hair? Did you use black magic?”

Satish sighed, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “You two are UNBEARABLE.”

Vanya giggled. “Oh, come on, bhai! We’re just curious! You know, ever since you got together with her, you’ve been…”

She pretended to think.

Daksh finished for her. “Softer. More romantic. Dumber.”

Satish gritted his teeth. “I. Am. Right. Here.”

Sharayu hid her face in her hands.

Daksh smirked. “Bhai, tell me honestly, how many times do you stare at her photos in a day?”

Satish remained silent.

Vanya gasped. “Oh my god, IT’S TRUE! He stares at your photos, doesn’t he?”

Sharayu, embarrassed beyond belief, turned to Satish. “You do WHAT?!”

Satish shrugged casually. “It helps with stress.”

Daksh fell over laughing. “OH MY GOD.”

Vanya clapped her hands. “Bhai, you’re SIMPING. Hard.”

Satish smirked slightly, side-eyeing Sharayu. “Well, can you blame me?”

Sharayu felt her entire soul leave her body. “I hate all of you.”

Vanya patted her shoulder. “Get used to it, bhabhi. We’re not going anywhere.”

Satish sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately.”

Daksh grinned. “At least he admits it.”

As soon as the car stopped in front of her building, Sharayu practically jumped out.

“Okay! Bye! Good night! Have a safe drive!” She rushed toward the lift.

But of course, they weren’t letting her off that easily.

Vanya leaned out of the car window. “Aww, bhabhi, no goodbye to bhai?”

Daksh sighed dramatically. “Tch, tch, tch… Poor Satish bhai. His girlfriend ditches him the second she reaches home.”

Satish pinched the bridge of his nose. “You two seriously need therapy.”

Vanya grinned. “We’re just making sure our soon-to-be bhabhi doesn’t forget to be romantic.”

Sharayu pressed the lift button aggressively. “I WILL BLOCK BOTH OF YOU.”

Daksh gasped. “So violent. Just like bhai. Perfect match.”

The lift doors opened. Sharayu quickly stepped inside and turned to Satish.

Her eyes softened for a second. “Thank you for today.”

Satish gave her a small, warm smile. “Anytime.”

Just as the doors started closing, Vanya shouted, “Kiss him, bhabhi! Quick!”

Sharayu smacked the button to close the doors faster. “VANYA, SHUT UP!”

The doors shut before she could hear their laughter, and she let out a deep sigh, already dreading the next time she had to face them.

The moment she stepped inside her house, her Aai looked up from the sofa, narrowing her eyes.

“Where were you so late?”

Sharayu froze for a second but quickly composed herself. “Uh… I told you, na, Aai. Pooja. With Rutuja.”

Her Aai crossed her arms. “You’re hiding something.”

Sharayu immediately shook her head. “No, no! I’m just tired. Long day.”

Her Aai kept staring for a few seconds before sighing. “Fine. Go freshen up.”

Sharayu nodded quickly, escaping to her room before her mother could ask more questions.

As soon as she shut the door, she fell back on her bed, covering her face with her hands.

“That was TOO close.”

She needed to be more careful next time.

Because if her Aai ever found out she wasn’t at a pooja…

Well, forget dating—she might not live to see tomorrow.