Page 69
Story: When Love Trespassed
Lakshmi smiled. “You are on time today. Grandpa has been rehearsing his list of complaints since breakfast.”
Shaurya rolled his eyes and gave a wry smile. “Of course he is.”
Mentally bracing himself for another round of Grandpa’s theatrical drama, he made his way towards the guest bedroom. He hadn’t seen Nandini yet, and that fact irked him more than he cared to admit.
As if reading his thoughts, Lakshmi added casually, “Nandini’s out with Priya. You know… shopping for the pizza party this weekend.”
Shaurya instantly remembered. The infamous party Nandini had to host because she lost a bet during the New Year’s Eve event—the one where she had confidently declared that he wouldn’t show up.
He had, of course. She’d lost. And now, the weekend celebration was her penalty.
“Everyone’s coming,” Lakshmi went on. “Even Varun.”
That did it. A frown darkened Shaurya’s face like thunderclouds rolling in as he stopped at Grandpa’s door and turned behind. So, the old man could hand out invitations like ladoos at the wedding, but not to the person massaging his joints and managing his tantrums?
“Varun?” he repeated.
Lakshmi nodded. Inside the room, Grandpa was waiting—perched dramatically in his recliner. One look at Shaurya’s expression and the old man smirked.
“Why do you sound surprised?” he asked, pretending to inspect his fingernails. “He’s charming, entertaining, and so respectful. Obviously, he’s invited.”
Shaurya’s jaw flexed. “Interesting guest list,” he muttered.
Grandpa narrowed his eyes. “Are you… jealous, Mr. Ahuja? That the invite is not extended to you.”
Shaurya narrowed his eyes.
“Why do I need an invite? I’m your full-time male nurse who pushes your wheelchair and sacrifices his dignity daily until youfully recover, which obviously you won’t be until this weekend. That means I’m part of this party, whether you like it or not.”
Grandpa waved him off, but at that very moment, Nandini walked in.
Her hair was a little windblown, and her cheeks were flushed with a rosy glow from the afternoon sun. Also, something about the way the light caught her eyes made Shaurya forget everything— Grandpa’s endless sarcasm, his annoyance that Varun was on the pizza party guest list and he wasn’t, and even the mental checklist of things he’d come here to do today. It all blurred into nothingness, irrelevant.
He looked up… and stared.
Just stared.
And Nandini, catching that look, immediately felt her heart do that annoying flip-flop thing again.
Why did he have to look like that?
Relaxed and maddeningly handsome in his rolled-up sleeves and half-smirk, like he’d walked straight out of a romance novel and into her already complicated life. Or maybe hewasputting in extra effort lately, ever since he’d started showing up at the villa every day. Was that why he looked so… unfairly irresistible?
As her gaze met his, her cheeks betrayed her again, warming instantly.
And he noticed. Of course he did.
Grandpa, oblivious to the charged silence, asked her, “Did you get everything for the party? Cheese? Toppings? That fancy sauce with a name I can’t ever remember?”
Nandini blinked, turning her attention to her grandpa. “Actually, no. I didn’t get time to go to the store today. I’ll go this evening with Lakshmi Aunty or maybe tomorrow.”
“You’re not planning to make all those pizzas at home, right?” Shaurya cut in, crossing his arms.
“Well, that was the plan—”
“No,” Shaurya interrupted firmly. “You’re not baking those pizzas at home. Order them.”
Nandini stared. Grandpa looked equally baffled.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69 (Reading here)
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156