Page 107

Nandini gave a courteous smile. “Hi.”

Rohit’s eyes lit up. “Hi,” he said, far more enthusiastically than warranted. “It’s really nice to meet you. I don’t know if you remember, but we’ve actually met before.”

Her brows drew together slightly in confusion. “We have?”

Rohit let out a small laugh. “Almost twenty years ago. Our fathers had attended the same family event. You must’ve been five—clinging to your mom’s saree while the grown-ups talked.”

Nandini blinked, trying to recall, but the memory escaped her.

From the hallway, Shaurya stepped into the living room, just in time to hear every word. His jaw tightened at the unnecessary sense of nostalgia dripping from Rohit’s tone.

“I was hiding behind my mom, huh?” Nandini asked with a faint smile. “And what were you doing?”

“Trying to sneak glances at you,” Rohit replied, smirking. “Whenever I could.”

Grandpa burst out laughing, clearly charmed by the boyish honesty. Nandini looked down, half-embarrassed, her cheeks reddening.

And Shaurya? He was burning inside. Every word from Rohit felt like a direct challenge, and he didn’t like it one bit.

Before Rohit could ride that moment any further, his gaze shifted and landed on Shaurya, standing just a few feet away. A flicker of confusion crossed his face as if wondering who this unfamiliar man was.

“Oh,” Grandpa interjected quickly, picking up on it. “That’s Shaurya Ahuja. Our neighbour. But more than that, a dear part of this household now.”

Shaurya stepped forward, extending his hand with a tight, unreadable smile. “Rohit.”

Rohit took it, but before he could finish a friendly handshake, he felt it—the slight extra pressure, just enough to make a point. Shaurya’s grip was firm, almost too firm, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Rohit.

Nandini shot Shaurya a warning look, silently telling him to behave.

Grandpa raised a brow and chuckled. “Just a heads-up, Rohit. This man is probably the fittest and the most charming fellow in all of Serene Meadows. Gives every other guy around here a serious complex.”

Rohit let out an awkward laugh as Shaurya finally released his grip.

“I’m sure,” he said, forcing a polite smile, clearly unsettled by the other man’s presence. It was as if he hadn’t expected anyone outside the Raichand family to be included in this lunch, let alone someone like Shaurya.

Just then, Lakshmi entered from the kitchen, carrying a tray of welcome drinks—fresh lemon mojitos topped with mint.

“Perfect timing,” Grandpa said, beaming. “Rohit, you must have already met Lakshmi at the door. She’s the backbone of this home. She looks after me better than anyone else ever could. Almost like a daughter.”

Lakshmi smiled modestly, offering Rohit a glass.

“You have a wonderful family, sir,” Rohit said warmly.

“Touchwood,” Grandpa replied, his face glowing with pride.

With their drinks in hand, he gestured for everyone to follow him, leading them toward the main seating area in the living room.

By the time lunch was served, Grandpa was clearly taken with Rohit, and to Shaurya, it was obvious that even if he voiced his disapproval, the old man wouldn’t give it a second thought. His laughter echoed through the dining hall as Rohit cracked another harmless joke, and Nandini, out of sheer obligation, smiled back politely. But to Shaurya, seated quietly across the table, every smile felt like a stab in the chest.

From his corner, he watched Nandini move gracefully between the kitchen and the dining table, serving the food she had prepared with her own hands. Her soft voice mingled with Rohit’s cheerful banter, and even though she kept her tone courteous, it was enough to make Shaurya’s blood simmer.

As she set a bowl of dal on the table, Rohit smiled at her and asked, “So, Nandini, what do you do? Your father mentioned something about a business, but I’d love to hear it from you.”

Before she could open her mouth, Grandpa jumped in, his chest puffing with pride. “She runs her own startup,” he announced. “Build it from scratch. I tell you, this girl’s got the brains and the drive.”

Rohit leaned forward with genuine interest. “Really? Yes, her father told me that. And he also mentioned that she’s still looking for investors. I can help if you’d let me. I mean, if you ever need investment or connections, then please let me know.”

“I won’t,” she interrupted, her smile sharp. “I want to build it on my own. No shortcuts.”