The next morning when Rishika woke up, she was in tears after being told what happened at the Puja. But then she saw a cheekstamp on Arjun's face.

“Arjun, what happened to your cheek?” She asked him. Devansh and Hiya who were still present in the room began laughing.

“Well, you slapped me.” Arjun replied while rubbing his cheek. It still stung.

“Oh.” Rishika reacted awkwardly. Like what else she could say. She felt sad that the Puja was ruined. She felt sad that it happened during her wedding preparations when she was already stressed.

That entire day she rested to mentally prepare herself for the hullabaloo about to began.

✿ ✿ ✿

The next day, Rishika and Devansh's pre-wedding photoshoot began. The entire afternoon they spent posing for the camera. However, Rishika fell sick and the pre-wedding shoot had to be canceled.

Well, her health got a little better but her mood didn't. So Devansh decided to make cook something special for her. But he wanted to do it somewhere where they could spend some private time together. So he chose Hiya's place, trusting that Hiya will let them have some privacy.

That afternoon, he reached Hiya's place while carrying all the ingredients required to make the special dish. He didn't tell them what dish it would be. It was a surprise.

Hiya and Rishika were lounging in the living room while Devansh began cooking his favorite dish. Half an hour later, a very familiar aroma began flowing in the air and reached the living room.

Both Rishika and Hiya scrunched up their noses. The aroma was very familiar but they were confused why it was coming from the kitchen. That dish does not come under the category of special dishes.

Both of the girls entered the kitchen. Rishika asked Devansh, “Why the kitchen smell like Kadhi?”

Devansh smiled, “Because I'm making Kadhi.”

And the little bit excitement remaining on their faces said goodbye to them and flew out of window. He had told them that he will be making a special dish. Kadhi can't be that. Not even in a million years.

Rishika and Hiya stared at him as if he had grown two horns and a tail. They shook their heads at his unnecessary excitement and left the kitchen.

✿ ✿ ✿

Devansh stepped out of the kitchen while delicately carrying the bowl of Kadhi with both hands and put it on the coffee table in the living room. Rishika and Hiya had sour expressions on their faces.

“Presenting Devansh Agarwal's favorite Kadhi.” Devansh uttered proudly.

The same moment doorbell rung and Hiya excitedly ran towards the door. She returned with a food delivery.

It was a heartbreaking moment for Devansh to see Rishika's face beaming at the sight of fried rice.

“Bro, don't make that face. It's just a fried rice.” said Hiya. Though she had ordered Rajma Chawal for herself. But she didn't order the same for Rishika because strangely kidney beans resemble cockroaches in Rishika's opinion.

“Hiya, you can't understand the hurt I'm feeling right now.” Devansh said melodramatically.

“Eat your favorite Kadhi then. Maybe it helps the hurt.” Hiya told him sarcastically and sat down to eat but Devansh glared at her.

“What?” She shrugged.

He gestured her to leave them alone. Hiya sighed audibly and went to the terrace to leave the lovebirds in privacy.

Finally Devansh and Rishika sat down on the couch and began eating the food.

“Rishu, Kadhi is not that bad of a dish. ”

“Well, fried rice is not bad either.” She told him back because just like she didn't like Kadhi, he didn't like fried rice either.

Devansh sighed, “Okay, how about sometimes I eat fried rice and sometimes you eat Kadhi?” 

“Hmm, not a bad idea.” She smiled.

They ate in silence and then put the dishes in sink. That was when he made a move, trapping her between him and the shelf. The kiss was about to happen.

“Sajna mai teri aa, mai teri aa. Sajna mai teri aa, mai teri aa- Oops!”

However, Hiya entered the kitchen while singing a random Pakistani song. She quickly turned around putting a hand on her eyes.

“Oh, my poor virgin eyes.” And Hiya walked away.

Devansh and Rishika were stunned at her dramatics and their romantic moment ended abruptly.

✿ ✿ ✿

The same evening, when Hiya was cleaning the kitchen, she saw a wristwatch kept near the stove. She quickly called Devansh to confirm if it was his watch. It was his watch which he forgot there.

So Hiya decided to go to his house to give it him. Well, it wasn't necessary for her to go there but there were two reasons for her to go. Number one, she wanted to meet Devansh's siblings because Rishika talked a lot about them. Number two, she wanted to meet Shreya and see how she behaves with her. And she went to the Agarwal house, dressing as decent as she could.

And Hiya was absolutely right about Shreya. She did give her an unwelcoming glare.

“Why do you have Devansh's watch?” Shreya asked.

“He and Rishika visited my place around lunch time. He forgot it there.”

“What were they doing there?”

“We had lunch together.”

Shreya was about to ask more questions but her mother called her.

Hiya huffed a sigh of frustration. She wanted to do something. Something bitchy. Her eyes landed on the paste that Shreya was holding earlier. And then she saw the glue kept with Deveshi's books on the coffee table. Hiya looked around and quickly mixed the glue in the paste that Shreya was going to apply on her face.

She snickered and turned around to leave. However, Karan was standing at a distance and looking at her. Her face paled.

Karan ambled towards her. Hiya was scared of the consequences if he told anyone about her deed. She was about to explain herself but he walked past her, leaving her dazed.

“He didn't say anything.” She was shocked to say the least. But still she walked out of the house, saying bye to the twins on the way.

•••

Finally done with this chapter!