60. Kitchen Disaster #2
As Dadi said, I shouldn't do things just to please others. And honestly? That's exactly what I had been doing lately. Wearing sarees because I secretly liked the way Yugant's eyes weakened every single time my waist showed, while he still forced himself to behave decently around the family.
Though, I am doing to try that thing again, but exclusively for him.
But now that he was gone, I happily pulled out my comfortable clothes.
A long light-blue denim skirt with a front slit, paired with a bright pink puff-sleeve top that hugged perfectly at the waist. I wore my white sneakers because comfort mattered more than fashion when Mumbai roads existed to destroy feet.
After taking out my bag, I stuffed all the important things inside. My card, obviously, because art supplies were expensive for absolutely no reason. Then my sunglasses, a clutcher for my hair because the heat was criminal, lip balm, and my phone.
After applying a proper amount of sunscreen on both my face and arms like a responsible citizen, I did light makeup, tied my hair half up using the clutcher, and got ready.
I informed Dadi that I was going out.
Then after closing my room door, the moment I turned around, I smashed directly into Dhrithika.
"Oh my God, girl, what are you doing?" I groaned while rubbing my forehead which had basically collided with hers like two coconuts.
Though immediately after that, I held her head and lightly bumped our foreheads together once again.
Dhrithika blinked. "What was that for?"
"I'm checking if I grew horns."
"What?"
"Eww, imagine if I suddenly got two horns on my head because of this collision. It'll ruin my beauty."
She stared at me before bursting out laughing.
"Ah! I'm really sorry," she muttered while stepping back. "I was just in a hurry."
"Alright," I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Hurry? To where exactly?"
Her cheeks instantly turned pink. "I actually... I'm going to meet Rohit."
Oh, fuck the fucking fucker already.
How could I forget about her and her lover boy?
"Haven't you broken up with him yet?" I asked.
Dhrithika looked personally attacked. "What? Why would I do that?"
I shrugged. "Because he's somehow related to Adhvait and you know..." I stopped before sighing. "You know what Adhvait did. There are chances Rohit might be the same."
Her expression softened instantly.
"Oh no. No, no. He's not like that," she said quickly. "He's genuine. He loves me, and I love him too."
Yeah. She loves him, but she doesn't even know what love really is.
That's exactly how people in love sound before ruining their own mental peace.
I seriously don't understand how girls become blind after one decent smile and bare minimum effort. A man can wave one green flag while carrying ten red ones behind his back and somehow still get defended like a misunderstood hero.
So risky.
"That's cool then," I replied slowly. "We should tell the family about this, right? Especially Your brother."
The moment I said his name, she immediately grabbed my arm tightly.
"No. Please don't."
I frowned. "Why?"
"I'll tell bhaiya myself... within few month."
"Few month?" I repeated.
She nodded nervously. "Actually... Rohit's dad owns seventy-five percent shares in Adhvait bhaiya's company, and after everything that happened, their business situation is unstable right now. Investors are already panicking because of the scandal and internal issues."
I stayed quiet and let her continue.
"He just wants to fix things first," she explained softly.
"He said if he comes right now asking for my hand while the company is collapsing, it'll look like he's using family relations for support or sympathy. He wants to stabilize the business on his own first, then talk to bhaiya properly with a clear mind and proper intentions."
Okay.
Still... something about this situation kept irritating me.
"But what does that even prove?" I asked honestly. "If he's actually a good person, then you know Yugant won't mind helping him. He won't judge him for bad times. If anything, he'll support him."
"That's exactly why Rohit doesn't want help," she said quickly. "He doesn't want bhaiya to think he's with me because he needs something. He wants to stand properly first."
I crossed my arms. That answer was decent actually. Not convincing though.
"He is not what you think, Dhrithi," I said more seriously this time. "He can be wrong. Fraud too. Just like Adhvait. Don't do something that will hurt your brother in the end."
She bit her lip softly, her gaze lowering toward the bag clutched tightly in her hands. Then she slowly looked back at me and nodded.
"I won't," she said quietly. "Just... don't tell bhaiya. Please."
I swallowed hard.
God, she was making this difficult for me. I didn't say yes. I didn't say no either.
I just adjusted my bag on my shoulder and walked past her quietly.
I took a cab and came straight to Colaba Causeway market.
The place was crowded as usual. Street shops lined up one after another.
After paying the cab driver, I adjusted my sunglasses over my eyes and walked ahead. The afternoon sun was harsh enough to roast human souls.
A few minutes later, I entered a huge supermarket nearby called ArtVerse Lifestyle Mart.
The ground floor had groceries and random household stuff, but the first floor was heaven for stationery and art lovers.
Paints, sketchbooks, canvases, brushes arranged neatly by size, markers, acrylics, oil paints, texture knives...
basically enough things to make artists forget bank balance exists.
The moment I stepped inside, cold air hit my face. "Peace," I muttered, under my breath.
I pulled a basket and walked toward the color section immediately.
My eyes scanned through rows of paint tubes before finally spotting the shade I needed.
"Ultramarine blue, finally," I whispered like I had discovered treasure.
I picked up two tubes because trusting one tube was stupidity. Then cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, titanium white, and a few fine detailing brushes caught my attention too. Which was exactly how artists get robbed legally.
You go to buy one color but return with half the store.
I was checking a pack of palette knives when suddenly my phone rang.
Exhaling softly, I took it out from my bag, and of course... it was Yugant. A smile instantly pulled at my lips without permission.
"Hey, what's up?" I asked cheerfully while my other hand again moved toward the palette knives.
His deep voice came from the other side almost immediately. "Missing your husband already?"
I rolled my eyes automatically. "You've been gone for barely two hours."
"Hm. Still enough. I am missing you."
I chuckled softly. "I know exactly what you're missing."
The moment the words left my mouth, regret hit instantly.
Because the shameless man on the other side could make me blush through a phone call alone.
"Oh yeah?" His voice lowered slightly. "You're right. I am missing you or your legs around my waist."
A chuckle escaped my lips before I could stop it. Heat instantly rushed to my face.
God.
This man had absolutely no shame left.
"Are you blushing by any chance?" he asked smugly.
"N-no. No, no, not at all. I am not."
"Hm. Liar."
"I am literally in public." I lowered my voice while walking toward another aisle. "Behave yourself."
"I'm behaving a lot actually."
"Is that so?" I asked while trying not to smile again.
"Mmh." His voice turned calmer this time. "Have you had lunch?"
"Nope, not yet." I placed the colors carefully into the trolley and pushed it toward the billing counter.
"Alright then, come to the office. We'll have lunch together."
I blinked. "Are you sure? I mean... you might be busy."
"No, I'm not."
There was something weirdly soft in the way he said it. Like despite meetings, work pressure, and office chaos, he still wanted to make time for me in the middle of the day.
And honestly? That felt nice. Really nice.
"Alright then," I replied while smiling to myself. "Reaching there in half an hour. Bye."
"Can you please sign these files now?" Ishaan asked irritably as I placed my phone on the table.
My eyes moved toward the stack of files sitting like a personal attack on my peace.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my jaw tiredly. "Urghh... this is so hectic."
Ishaan looked at me blankly. "Hectic?" he repeated slowly. "These are just a few files that need your signature. Few. And this is hectic?"
"You're being insensitive to a newly married man."
"I'm being realistic to a CEO who disappeared for an entire week."
I clicked my tongue. "It was my wedding."
"And?"
"And weddings are exhausting."
"You didn't even do half the work I did. Okay?You just sat and got married."