𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

Chapter 36

If there was an award for handling chaos with grace, I'd already have a shelf full. But today?

Today, I deserved a damn crown.

Sitting on Maya's living room couch, watching her descend the stairs with that fake sweet smile—God, I knew exactly what she was thinking. She had no idea I was the guy her Bua had chosen for this rishta meeting.

And that samosa?

Let's just say... my tongue might never forgive me.

But watching her expression flip from smug to horrified in 0.2 seconds when she saw me? Worth every burn.

She froze mid-step like someone had pressed pause. Her eyes widened, lips parted, and for a moment, I thought she might drop to the floor in shock.

"YOU?!" she practically yelled.

Ah, music to my ears.

I took another calm bite of that chilli-loaded samosa, hiding the internal scream in my throat. "Hello, Ms. Raichand," I said in my most formal voice, "Pleasure to finally meet you for this rishta meeting."

The way her jaw dropped—God, I'll be replaying that in my head for days.

I noticed her struggling not to burst out, eyes darting from me to her Bua, then to me again like her brain was short-circuiting.

When she finally hissed, "You knew?!" I almost laughed.

Of course I knew.

She always bites her lower lip when she's scheming. Her fingers twitch. That innocent act? Please—I've studied every inch of that girl.

I told her the truth. "I ate it. Because if the rishta guy had been anyone else, I would've punched him out by now."

And it's true.

The mere idea of someone else showing up to marry my Maya made my blood boil.

But the moment her Bua started gushing about me being "sanskari" and "perfect marriage material," I had to suppress a smirk so hard it hurt. If only she knew that her perfect choice had already been sneaking around with her niece behind the curtains.

I looked at Maya again—she was fuming. Red cheeks, clenched jaw, those wild eyes threatening to expose me right there. I knew she wanted to drag me into a corner and give me an earful.

And honestly?

I couldn't wait.

Because that meant she'd touch me, yell at me, maybe push me—and in all that chaos, I'd get to hold her close, pull her flush against me and remind her...

That I always win.

Sitting at the Raichand dining table, surrounded by family chatter and the clink of cutlery, I was calm on the outside—but inside?

I was living for this moment.

Maya sat directly across from me, avoiding my eyes like her life depended on it. Her expressions kept switching between murderous and embarrassed. She looked like she wanted to crawl under the table and disappear.

Irony, because I had plans under the table.

Her Bua kept serving me food like I was some royal guest. "Rudra beta, have some more paneer. Maya made it."

I raised an eyebrow and looked straight at Maya. "Did she? That explains why it's a little extra spicy."

Maya kicked me under the table. Hard.

I bit my lip to hide the smirk.

"That was for the samosa stunt," her glare screamed.

I leaned slightly forward, resting my elbow on the table, looking casual. My foot gently tapped hers under the table, not hard... just enough to make her jump.

She looked at me sharply.

"Everything okay, Maya?" her mother asked.

Maya gave the fakest smile I've ever seen. "Yes, Maa. Everything's just... perfect."

"If looks could kill, I'd be a dead man by now," I thought.

I leaned back, crossing my legs and very intentionally rested my foot over hers again. Slowly. Teasingly.

She nearly choked on her water.

I chuckled into my napkin. "Careful," I murmured under my breath, "don't want your rishta guy thinking you're nervous."

"Bastard..." she mouthed silently.

I pressed my foot again—gently, playfully. She kicked me back, and this time, I actually winced.

Okay, fair enough.

But damn, her cheeks were all red now, and she looked away biting her lip.

God, this girl is going to be the death of me.

Veer, who had joined us for lunch, narrowed his eyes. "Why is Maya acting weird?"

I shrugged casually. "Maybe she's just... excited. First rishta meeting and all."

Maya shot daggers at me with her eyes.

"Wait till I get you alone," her look promised.

And I?

I was already looking forward to that part.

Lunch was finally over. Maya had practically bolted from the table the second her mom said, "Beta, tum sab living room mein baitho, main mithai laati hoon."

("Kids, go sit in the living room, I'll bring sweets.")

I knew she wouldn't go there. Nope. Not without settling scores.

So I followed her silently... into the kitchen.

The moment I stepped in, the door clicked shut behind me—and she turned around, fire blazing in her eyes.

"You! Tum hi ho woh professor?" she whisper-yelled, trying not to alert the whole house.

("You're the professor my Bua was talking about?")

I shrugged, leaning casually against the counter. "Surprise?"

She narrowed her eyes. "You knew, didn't you? You knew this whole time and still played along!"

I grinned, folding my arms. "I had to see how far you'd go. Also, the red chilli in the samosa? Really?"

She huffed. "That was meant for some 'unknown rishta professor', not you, Mr. Khadoos."

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "Still stings a little."

She turned around, trying to hide her flustered face. "You're impossible."

"And yet," I murmured, brushing her hair behind her ear gently, "you still like me."

Her breath hitched.

I could see it—her eyes softening, lips parting slightly as her heart betrayed her anger.

"Shut up," she whispered, cheeks heating.

I leaned even closer, lips barely an inch from hers. "Make me."

Before she could say anything, I quickly stole a soft peck from her lips. Featherlight. Quick.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Rudra!"

I grinned. "What? That's for putting my mouth through chilli warfare."

"You're unbelievable," she muttered, trying to keep a straight face, but failing miserably.

I gently cupped her jaw, thumb brushing her cheek. "And you, Maya Raichand, are mine... rishta or not."

She rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. "Fine. But no more secrets."

"Promise," I whispered.

Right then, the door creaked open and Veer peeked in, catching both of us way too close.

"OH MY GOD! I knew something was fishy!" he shouted dramatically.

Maya gasped, jumping back, face red.

I just sighed. "Well... there goes the 'secret dating' part."

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