That afternoon Devika and Manyata were preparing the lunch. Vyom was also supposed to join them for lunch.

“Di, Jiju is here! And Yuvraj Bhaiyya too!” They heard Sanjana's loud voice from the courtyard.

“Yuvraj is here too? That's quite surprising,” Manyata chuckled.

“Why is it surprising? Isn't he your friend too?” Devika asked curiously.

“Yeah, but Yuvraj never came over for lunch. He likes to eat alone at his home,” Manyata explained while cleaning the steel utensils. It would be a waste of effort to use crockery because Vyom didn't like eating in them.

“You mean, he has no one at home?” Devika asked that question in a sad tone.

“You can say that. His parents passed away long time ago. His sister met an accident few years back and is in coma. He has an uncle. But Vyom says Yuvraj's uncle is a very selfish man. He married off his stepdaughter to a man twice her age. How cruel.” Just mentioning that made Manyata furious.

“Oh... that's sad. So he only has you guys?”

“I'm not that close to him. Since school time he has only two friends. Vyom and another guy whose name, I think, was Vid-” Manyata's words were cut off by Sanjana who came running to the kitchen.

“Di! Jiju and Yuvraj Bhaiyya refused to have cold drinks. So quickly make lemonade for them.”

Manyata glared at her younger sister, “Just keep bossing around. Can't you make it yourself?”

“He is your fiance, not mine,” Sanjana retorted and walked away.

“Just look at her attitude,” Manyata grumbled.

Devika chuckled at her reaction, “I'll make the lemonade.”

“Alright, I'll set the dining table then.”

✿ ✿ ✿

Yuvraj accompanied Vyom to Mandira's place with sole intention of meeting Devika. He was waiting when Devika will appear in front of him.

She exited the kitchen with a tray carrying two glasses of lemonade. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and the dupatta was tied around her waist. She greeted Vyom with a smile and offered him a glass of lemonade. Then she turned towards him. They made an eye contact and her smile faltered for a second before returning to her gorgeous face. Yuvraj tried to smile back and took the glass of lemonade from her. All the while his heart was beating at an abnormal rate.

“Devika, Sanjana, Aniruddh! Come and help me!” They heard Manyata's loud voice from the dining area.

Devika put the tray on the table and went to help Manya. Aniruddh and Sanjana were reluctant to help, but one glare from their grandmother and they went to help Manyata and Devika set the dining table.

Ten minutes later, everyone was seated on the dinning table and enjoying the Rajma Chawal. Time to time, Devika and Yuvraj would share an eye contact and the look in his eyes kind of confused her. Because she had seen that look in Suraj's eyes before. She was very familiar with that gaze that exuded admiration and affection. She tried to ignore him. But then something strange happened.

Aniruddh went to the kitchen and brought a glass of cold drink for himself. But as he sat down on his chair, Sanjana's elbow accidentally hit his arm and the glass fell on the floor, shattering into pieces immediately. But the thing that Devika found strange was Yuvraj and Manyata's reaction. They quickly turned towards Vyom. Manyata began rubbing Vyom's back as she whispered something in his ear. And looking at Vyom, it felt like he was in a daze-like state. But he went back to normal after some time.

“Sanjana, you idiot!” Aniruddh angrily yelled at Sanjana while pushing her bare feet away from the broken pieces of glass and carefully picked them up.

“I didn't do it internationally, ” Sanjana mumbled guiltily.

Devika's attention went back to Manyata, Vyom, and Yuvraj. Their moods changed completely after the glass broke. They looked a little careful.

Devika wondered why three of them acted in such a strange manner.

✿ ✿ ✿

After handing the shopping bags to Vaidehi, Kajal took a cab and went to meet someone. Her mother tried her best to keep her away from that someone. Because according to her mother, that someone ruined their family. But Kajal felt more close to that someone than her own family.

About twenty-three years ago, her father had an extramarital affair with a woman. A baby girl was born through that affair. And that someone was her half-sister Pankhuri.

Kajal knocked on the main door of the small house that belonged to Pankhuri's late Nani. The door was opened by Pankhuri, who had a sandwich in one hand.

“Hey.” Kajal side-hugged Pankhuri and together they went inside the house.

“Eww, your house looks so messy.” Kajal scrunched her nose while picking up the clothes scattered on the sofa and threw them in the laundry basket. She put her handbag on the coffee table and sat down on the sofa.

“How's everyone in Mehergarh?” Pankhuri asked her about them out of courtesy. She was least interested in Kajal's in-laws.

“Everyone's good. We came to attend a wedding in Lakhnaur.”

Pankhuri nodded and quickly finished her sandwich before serving a glass of water to Kajal.

“What about you? How's life treating you?” Kajal asked her.

Pankhuri sighed and sat down beside Kajal as she began her rant, “Well, I was working as a caretaker of a ninety-nine year old granny. She died last month so now I'm unemployed. But her family was considerate enough to give me the salary of two months so that I don't go broke.”

“So now you are unemployed,” Kajal tsked.

“I'm working in a cafe as a waitress but the pay is not enough.”

“I'll try to find a decent job for you before I leave Lakhnaur,” Kajal assured her and then added with a smile, “Can I get your special cheese sandwich now?”

Pankhuri nodded with a chuckle and headed to the kitchen to make cheese sandwich for Kajal.

✿ ✿ ✿

Mandira hadn't imagined that by apartment, Vidyut meant a penthouse which was ridiculously majestic and aesthetic.

“Vidyut, how come you can afford such a luxurious penthouse when you are just an unemployed rich guy who is financially dependent of his brother?” Mandira didn't even bother to sugarcoat her words.

“Excuse me, I'm an agricultural engineer. The raw material for Bhai's factory comes from Mehergarh and I'm responsible for supervising the farmers. So I get paid for that,” Vidyut explained the entire process to prove that he is not unemployed.

“Oops, so my husband is not dependent on the generational wealth left behind by his forefathers. Good, I'm proud of you,” Mandira patted his shoulder jokingly.

“I'm not a spolit brat like you who depends on generational wealth,” He glared at her.

“Excuse me, I have done masters in psychology. I can easily get a job in any university or hospital,” now Mandira got offended when Vidyut made her taste her own medicine.

“We will see that in the future. Let's head inside,” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and entered the pass code. That was when Mandira noticed that the door had a digital lock. As the door opened, Vidyut and Mandira stepped inside the penthouse.

Vidyut switched on the lights and the first thing Mandira noticed was the chandelier hanging on the roof. The interior was minimal, nothing flashy, just like her husband's personality, who wore Kurtas every day even though he can afford wearing luxury brands.

“There must be a housekeeper, right? The penthouse is in pretty good condition.” Mandira asked while resting on the couch.

“Yeah, she comes every morning to clean the penthouse. I had informed her about our visit and told her to arrange food and nightwear,” He sat down beside her.

“Then let's eat first. I'm hungry,” She clutched her stomach.

Vidyut patted her head and headed to the kitchen to see what Komal auntie prepared for them. There were sticky notes attached on the surface of refrigerator doors. The yellow one read, “Nightwear is in the closet.” The pink one read, “Food is kept in the oven & there's also desert in the fridge.” The blue one read, “There are cold drinks too in case your wife wants them.” The orange one read, “Have a good night ♡”

Vidyut opened the oven to see a delicious looking lasagna sitting proudly inside it. He closed the oven and put the timer to heat the lasagna. Then he opened the fridge to see a box of mouth-watering Gulab Jamuns. There were also two bottles of cold drink, but he ignored them and took the Gulab Jamuns.

When the lasagna was perfectly heated, he served it into two plates and took the plates to the dining table.

“Mandira, food is served!” He announced loudly and then brought the box of Gulab Jamun too.

“Woah! This looks so delicious. And there are Gulab Jamun too!” Mandira quickly sat down and began devouring the food. It didn't take her more than ten minutes to finish the food and then ate six pieces of Gulab Jamuns just like that.

“I didn't know I married the female incarnation of Kumbhakaran,” Vidyut joked while eating his food.

Mandira frowned at his remark, “I was extremely hungry.”

“You should have eaten something in the shopping mall then,” He shrugged.

“But I wasn't hungry at that time,” And she argued.

“Ugh, alright. Are you full now?”

“Are there any beverages available?”

“There are cold drinks in the fridge,” He was hoping that Mandira does not consume the cold drinks because that's just unnecessary calories, but alas!

“Okay, I'll get a glass for myself then.” It was pointless to ask him if he wanted a glass too because Mandira already knew his answer.

Mandira headed to the kitchen and Vidyut quickly finished his food. He was about to eat Gulab Jamun when his phone rang in the pocket of his Kurta. With a heavy heart he put the spoon down and picked the phone call coming from Vikram.

“Yes, Bhai.”

“Vidyut, where are you both?”

“At my penthouse.”

“Come back immediately. I'm tightening the security.”

“Why?”

“Mandira's brother called me and explained that his uncle has escaped the mental asylum. Do you remember the news of Dushyant Thakur?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Mandira can be his potential target. So come home as soon as possible.”

“Okay, we'll be there in a while.”

And the call ended.

Mandira returned to the dining table while sipping the cold drink. Vidyut looked at her worriedly.

“Mandira, we have to go back to Bhai's place,” He informed her.

“Why?” Mandira put the glass of cold drink.

“Your uncle has escaped the asylum. So we need to tighten the security in case you are his target,” He informed her and then picked the dishes to wash them quickly before leaving.

Mandira followed him to the kitchen and stood beside him as he washed the dishes.

“I don't think I'm his target. This time his target should be either my parents or Devika's father,” Mandira was in deep thoughts, trying to figure out her uncle's next step.

“Are you sure?” Vidyut asked her doubtfully as he washed his hands after doing the dishes.

“Not really. But it's not me or Bhai. When he escaped the first time and came to attack my parents, he had a chance to kill us. We were standing in front of him. Killing us could be the cruelest but the best revenge on our parents.”

“I hope his target is Devika. My one worry will be reduced after her murder,” Vidyut mumbled.

“Vidyut, you are starting it again!” Mandira yelled at him furiously.

“I'm sorry,” He apologized but his tone was not apologetic.

Mandira shook her head in disappointment and angrily walked out of the house. Vidyut followed her to the car. Mandira was about to sit in the passenger's seat but he stopped her. Mandira looked at him questioningly. Vidyut just handed her the car keys and himself sat on the passenger's seat. Mandira sat behind the steering wheel and drove away.

So he learned that the best way to shoo away her anger is to let her drive the car.

•••

What's wrong with Vyom? 🤔

What's the first impression of Pankhuri? 🙂

When will Vidyut stop hating Devika? 😔

Who is Dushyant's target? 😟

•••

Next chapter will be up soon. Let's not waste time over vote targets because some people are very stubborn and shameless. 😠
Let's focus on the voting readers only.