14 | jealous wifey
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After reaching home, we all sat together and had dinner like a family.
For a while, everything felt normal.
After dinner, I went back to my office because there was still some work left.
Back at the office, a new investor had replaced the previous one, but my mind wasn’t fully there.
I kept thinking about the photos I had seen in the car… the ones I couldn’t finish watching.
I wanted to see them again.
I let out a deep breath, finally forcing myself to put my phone aside and focus completely on work.
After the meeting, I left for home.
I rarely stayed in the office for long—whenever I got even a minute free, I just rushed back home.
On the way, I opened Instagram, made a small video by combining all the clips from the day, and posted it.
Then I uploaded a story—the picture where I was carrying Avantika during the temple ritual.
Right after that, I also set one of the morning pictures as my DP on Instagram, WhatsApp, and even Twitter.
Within seconds, Ruhi called me.
“Oh God, bhai… lovesick!” she teased.
I ignored her and checked my story views.
She continued,
“Bhaiya, are you coming for dinner? Bhabhi is asking.”
I immediately replied,
“Yes.”
She repeated,
“Yes what?”
Then she added casually,
“Bhabhi didn’t say anything. She just fell asleep with Siya. She was really tired.”
I instantly asked,
“With whom?”
“Bhaiya, with her sister,” she laughed.
Then she added,
“On your way, bring ice cream for all of us.”
“Okay,” I said and cut the call.
I stopped at a restaurant and bought four ice creams—strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, and mango.
When I entered the house, everyone was already sitting at the dining table.
Ruhi immediately teased,
“Look who came… my bhabhi’s lover. Have you guys seen his social feed?”
Mom and Dad looked confused.
“What social feed?”
Siya also asked,
“What happened?”
Avantika stood there confused, without even checking her phone.
Everyone quickly checked their phones, and Siya showed Ruhi’s screen.
The moment they saw it, everyone reacted dramatically, saying,
“Oh my God… true love!”
Avantika still didn’t understand anything.
“What is happening? Can someone tell me?”
I interrupted while walking in with the ice cream,
“Can we eat first?”
Everyone smiled and immediately agreed.
Siya and Ruhi teased Avantika, saying,
“You really have some magic on him.”
She still looked confused and said again,
“Can someone please explain?”
I turned to her and said,
“By the way, you have your final semester exam in two days. Did you study?”
Before she could answer, Dad said,
“You should teach her.”
Mom suddenly got worried and said,
“The muh dikhayi ritual didn’t happen properly because of the wedding, and even now it hasn’t happened… maybe we should do it.”
Dad replied,
“Nobody does muh dikhayi these days. Just arrange a reception party instead. Everyone will see her there.”
Avantika went upstairs to get her phone.
But before things went further, I stopped them and said,
“There is no need to turn my wife into a display piece. No woman will make her uncomfortable for no reason.”
Everyone—Dad, Ruhi, and Siya—looked at me and said together,
“What a protective husband!”
Mom calmly said,
“Do as you wish. She is your wife.”
And then, the whole room became quiet again.
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My eyes went from one notification to another, then to his profile picture, then to his story, and finally to the post he had uploaded.
My breath hitched.
What is this?
The same picture.
The same picture I had almost snatched away from Ruhi because I didn't want anyone to see it.
And now he had made it his profile picture.
Not just on Instagram.
WhatsApp too.
Even Twitter.
I stared at the screen in disbelief.
My cheeks slowly started heating up.
Did he seriously post this?
And that story...
The song.
The caption.
The way he had tagged me.
Anyone who saw it would immediately know how much he liked me.
I quickly locked my phone and placed it beside me before pressing a hand against my chest.
My heartbeat was ridiculously fast.
I kept telling myself it wasn't a big deal.
It was just a picture.
Married couples posted pictures all the time.
Then why was my heart reacting like this?
Before I could think further, Ruhi called.
"Bhabhi! Come downstairs. We're eating ice cream."
Taking a deep breath, I stood up and went downstairs.
The moment I entered the living room, I saw Ruhi and Siya sitting comfortably on the couch with ice cream tubs in their hands.
A few steps away stood Avyukt.
He was on a call, walking back and forth and smiling.
Actually smiling.
Not his usual small smile—a proper smile.
The kind I hadn't seen much.
For some reason, my eyes stayed on him longer than necessary.
Ruhi immediately noticed me.
A mischievous grin appeared on her face.
"Looks like Bhaiya is looking for a new wife. This one doesn't even give him attention."
I almost stopped walking.
A few minutes ago, I had been staring at his posts wondering why he was posting our pictures everywhere.
Now he was laughing and talking so happily with someone else.
My gaze automatically shifted back toward him.
Who was he talking to?
And why did he look so happy?
Ruhi took another bite of her ice cream.
"Relax, Bhabhi. It's his friend."
I don't know why, but something inside me instantly stiffened.
"Friend?"
"Yeah," Ruhi said casually.
"She's coming tomorrow."
I frowned.
"Coming where?"
"Here."
I blinked.
"Here?"
"Obviously. Reception ke liye. Bhaiya told her to stay here instead of a hotel."
Something about that answer irritated me immediately.
I couldn't even explain why.
"Your brother seems very concerned about everyone," I muttered.
Ruhi and Siya exchanged a quick look.
Before either of them could reply, Avyukt ended the call and started walking toward us.
For absolutely no reason at all, my irritation doubled.
I stood up.
"At least take your ice cream!" Siya called.
"I'm not hungry."
My voice came out sharper than intended.
While turning away, my eyes met Avyukt's for barely a second.
He looked confused.
Good.
Let him be confused.
I walked upstairs before anyone could stop me.
As I reached the staircase, I heard his voice behind me.
"What happened to her?"
Ruhi shrugged dramatically.
"No idea."
I should have continued walking.
Instead, I slowed down just enough to hear the conversation.
In that brief pause, Avyukt sat down and started discussing preparations—a room, someone's stay, arrangements.
Every word somehow made me more annoyed.
By the time I reached our room, I was properly angry.
I entered, shut the door, and locked it.
Then I stood there staring at the door.
At least he could have told me.
One sentence.
One small sentence:
"A friend is coming tomorrow."
Was that so difficult?
Instead, he discussed it with everyone else.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and folded my arms.
This man was impossible.
One moment he was buying my favorite sweets, remembering things I never told him, posting our pictures everywhere, and looking at me like I was the most important person in the room.
And the next moment he was happily arranging a room for some girl and talking to her for half an hour.
How was anyone supposed to understand him?
I grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly.
"I don't care," I muttered.
Really, I didn't care.
Who he talked to was none of my business.
Who his friend was was none of my business.
Where she stayed was definitely none of my business.
I didn't care—not even a little.
A few seconds passed.
Then I groaned and buried my face into the pillow.
"Then why am I angry?"
The room remained silent.
Unfortunately, I already knew the answer, and that answer was making my face burn even more.
Oh God.
This man was going to drive me crazy.
There was a knock.
I didn't respond.
"Avantika, open the door."
"No!!"
"Why??"
"I don't know."
"Then who knows?"
"Ghost."
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