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But what truly irked her was that Shaurya wasn’t even trying to push them away.

No, of course not.Mr. Touch-Me-Not, Shaurya Ahuja was suddenly all smiles and civil responses. Sure, he wasn’t exactly flirting back, but he wasn’t pulling away either. And to top it all off?

Kavya had asked him if he wanted the chicken pepperoni pizza, and the man had nodded in affirmation.

Nandini blinked, seething silently.He said no to me… but not to her?

She watched in indignation as Kavya placed a fully loaded slice of chicken pepperoni pizza on Shaurya’s plate like she was just presenting him with an award. And he even said ‘thank you’ with that rare half-smile of his.

Oh, she was going to throw something now. A cushion. A plate. Maybe the entire speaker system.

She marched past them, pretending to adjust the music volume, when in reality, all she wanted was a reason to walk by and glare. But it didn’t work. No one noticed.

Not even him.

Of course, she thought bitterly.Because why would my neighbour, who literally lives next door, who overdoes his push-ups when I’m gardening, who lectures me about junk food and then eats the same junk when Kavya offers…why would he notice me now?

“Deep breaths,” Priya whispered from behind her, having silently walked up to her. “Or the steam from your ears might start melting the fairy lights.”

“I’m fine,” Nandini snapped.

“Sure. That’s why you’ve been staring at him like you’re plotting his slow and painful death via pepperoni.”

Nandini groaned, rubbing her temples. “Next time, no pizza party. In fact, no house party at all where Shaurya Ahuja and these girls are invited together.”

And as if he’d heard her, at that exact moment, Shaurya glanced up.

And caught her gaze.

Their eyes met across the room, and the conversation around him blurred. His eyes didn’t waver. They held hers with that maddening calm confidence. But there was a glint of smugamusement swimming in their depths. The“I-know-you’re-jealous”kind of glint.

She blinked once, then narrowed her eyes as if silently asking him:Really? You refused the pizza from me, and now you’re eating the same pizza because just because she offered it? What are you trying to prove, Shaurya Ahuja?

Her cheeks betrayed her by heating up, and before she could look away, he raised his slice of pizza slightly, like a silent toast, and took a bite, all the while holding her gaze.

The smugness in that one look nearly made her combust.

Her mouth parted in a sharp gasp, indignation practically radiating off her in waves.Unbelievable.

He gave a small shrug with his eyes, as if to say,You offered as a host. She offered as… foreplay.

It hit her square in the gut.

“You’re doomed,” Priya whispered beside her, grinning. “I told you, this is way better than any Netflix rom-com.”

Nandini scowled, turning away with a final muttered curse.

“I hope he chokes on that stupid pepperoni.”

*****************

An hour later

The music had long stopped, reduced now to soft chatter and occasional bursts of laughter from the living room where Varun and her friends still lingered. But Shaurya was gone.

Nandini noticed almost immediately.

Lakshmi Aunty, passing by with some tissues, casually informed her, “He got a call. Sounded like a business one. Went back to his villa.”