Page 45 of When Love Trespassed

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.”

Rohit chuckled, clearly amused. “I like that. Strong and independent. I admire women who talk like that.”

Across the table, Shaurya’s grip on his fork tightened, his knuckles turning white as he stabbed at his food, his appetite long gone.

As Rohit continued to lavish Nandini with compliments, far more than necessary, Shaurya bit down on his tongue, forcing himself to chew through the frustration.

Lakshmi, while clearing the side dishes, caught his expression and offered him a knowing, sympathetic glance. He gave her nothing back. He couldn’t.

The conversation shifted again. Grandpa leaned back with a heavy sigh. “Once Nandu gets married, I’ll be left alone in this huge house.”

“I wouldn’t mind staying here if you’d have me,” Rohit said quickly, smiling. “That way, Nandini could still stay close to you, and I’d get to live in such a beautiful house. Villas have a charm that high-rise towers just can’t match. What say, Grandpa?”

Grandpa beamed. “Now, that’s the kind of son-in-law I’d like to have!”

Shaurya’s jaw ticked. His gaze snapped to Nandini again, just in time to see her smile falter, ever so slightly. She glanced his way, and in that brief eye contact, everything unspoken roared between them.

Stop this, his eyes said. Don’t go any further.

But she broke the moment, looking away.

When she spoke, her voice was soft but steady. “Would you like to see the house, Rohit? I can show you around.”

Grandpa nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, yes! Show him your room too, Nandu. Let him see the place where my granddaughter dreams up her business empire.”

The fork fell from Shaurya’s hand with a loud clink .

Their eyes locked again. Hers filled with hesitation… guilt. His blazing with rage.

As Nandini rose and quietly motioned for Rohit to follow, Shaurya abruptly pushed his chair back and stood.

“I should get going,” he said.

“Now? But we haven’t even had dessert yet,” Grandpa replied, disappointed.

“Some other time, Grandpa. Something urgent came up. I really can’t stay anymore.”

Grandpa nodded without protest. “Okay. And thank you for joining us, Shaurya. It’s always good to have you here.”

As he turned to leave, Nandini turned slightly, her gaze catching his one last time.

This time, there was no hiding what was in his eyes. Pain and fury. She had never seen him like this before. And the fact that she was the reason behind that storm in his eyes nearly knocked the breath out of her.

But still, she said nothing.

Shaurya turned and walked out, each step heavy with barely controlled emotion. He didn’t look back. Not even once.

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

It was late evening when Nandini stepped out of the shower for the second time that day.

The shower hadn’t just been to wash off the day’s physical exhaustion, it was an attempt to drown out the chaos in her mind.

Too much had happened in a single day—Shaurya’s sudden confession, his apology still echoing in her ears, and now Grandpa’s obvious interest in pushing forward the alliance with Rohit.

Her head and her heart were at war, and both were losing.

Wrapped in a soft robe, she stepped out onto the balcony of her bedroom, hoping the night air might bring some clarity. Almost instinctively, her gaze drifted towards Shaurya’s villa. And what she saw there made her heart skid to a stop.

The gym lights on the ground floor were on.

And in the middle of it stood Shaurya, mercilessly punching a heavy bag suspended in the middle of the room.

He wore a black sleeveless training vest, his arms flexing with every strike.

His black gym pants moulded to his powerful legs, his muscles taut with tension.

Sweat poured off him, soaking through the fabric.

But it wasn’t the intensity of his blows or his fury that startled her. It was his hands.

His knuckles were red, and they were bleeding. Still, he didn’t stop. He kept hitting the bag like he was trying to beat something dead inside him back to life.

Watching him like that, angry and wounded, hurt her more than she could handle.

She didn’t even pause to think, didn’t care that she was wearing nothing but a robe. Worry took over, and she just ran.

Down the stairs. Across the silent hallway. Ignoring Lakshmi Aunty’s faint humming from the kitchen. She barely registered anything around her. She didn’t even stop to inform anyone.

Fortunately, Grandpa was out, visiting his friends for their evening chess game. She flung the French doors open and sprinted across the garden pathway that connected the two villas.

Her fists banged urgently on Shaurya’s front door. Meera opened it, startled by the relentless knocking.

“Nandini? What—?”

But Nandini didn’t answer. She brushed past her and ran straight to the gym.

Inside, Shaurya drew back, ready to land another brutal punch, when Nandini suddenly threw herself between him and the bag. Terrified, she grabbed his arm with both hands and pulled him back.

“Stop it!” she cried, breathless, her eyes wide and teary as they fell on his bloodied hands. “What the hell are you doing to yourself?”

For a moment, he just stared at her, too stunned to react. Meera rushed in behind her, worry etched across her face. “Nandini, what’s going on?”

“Get me the first aid kit!” Nandini shouted, not taking her eyes off Shaurya.

Meera, taking in the scene, quickly nodded and dashed out.

Shaurya jerked his arm free, anger lacing his words. “Why are you here? Go back to your Rohit.”

She glared at him, grabbed his wrist again, and dragged him towards the couch. “Shut up and sit down,” she snapped, practically shoving him into the seat before sitting beside him.

Meera returned with the first aid kit, and Nandini grabbed the kit from her hands. “Thank you,” she said.

Meera hesitated, unsure, but then slipped out, understanding they needed this moment alone.

Shaurya’s eyes didn’t leave Nandini as she began cleaning his wounds, her fingers shaking slightly. He watched her work in silence for a few moments, torn between pain and frustration. Then, unable to hold it in any longer, he pulled back slightly.

“How could you take him to your room, Nandini? Only I have the right to be there. That room is mine. Ours. That room… that bed… it’s not for anyone else to see. How could you do that?”

She looked up, fire flashing in her eyes as she grabbed his hand again with trembling fingers.

“I didn’t,” she snapped. “I couldn’t . I stopped at the stairs. And before you call him ‘mine’ again, let me tell you something—” she paused, her breath hitching. “I told him I can’t marry him.”

Shaurya stilled. The rage in him evaporated in an instant, replaced by stunned silence. “You… what?”

“I said no,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

His face softened, a flicker of hope blooming through him. He reached up slowly to touch her cheek, but she flinched and swatted his hand away.

“That doesn’t mean I’m forgiving you,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks now. “It doesn’t mean I’m marrying you. I hate you, Shaurya. I hate you more for hurting me… and now for hurting yourself like this.”

He said nothing. Just looked at her.

She couldn’t even bring herself to wipe her tears. He did it for her, gently brushing them away with his free hand. And then, in the next breath, he pulled her to him.

She collapsed into his embrace without resistance, burying her face in his chest. Her fingers clutched at his vest, gripping the fabric tightly, knowing that even the thought of letting him go might break her all over again.