chapter 8

Jasmine couldn't help but wonder why the fiancées were living in the Rajput house even though they were only engaged, not married. It seemed odd, and her curiosity got the better of her, so she decided to ask Rohit.

"Hey, Rohit, why are the brothers' fiancées staying here? I mean, they're not married yet, right?" she asked while cleaning the dining table.

Rohit looked up from polishing a vase and shrugged. "It's all about the family tradition. The Rajputs like to get to know the future members of the family before the wedding. It's a way for the fiancées to learn about the house, the family's routines, and expectations. Also, it's easier to plan the wedding if everyone's in one place."

"Hmm, makes sense, I guess," Jasmine muttered, still feeling uneasy about it. She didn't have much time to ponder further as she noticed Vidisha speaking on the phone in a hushed tone.

Vidisha's voice was low, but Jasmine could just make out a few words. "Yes, I'll meet you there in the evening... No, it's fine, I'll be careful."

Jasmine's ears perked up. Was Vidisha planning to meet someone outside the mansion? This could be her chance to find out something significant. Determined, she decided she would follow Vidisha and see who she was meeting.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice Ranbir walking up to her until he spoke. "What are you thinking about?"

Jasmine jumped, startled. "Nothing!" she replied quickly.

Ranbir raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. "And why are you making those strange faces?"

"Strange faces? What are you talking about?" Jasmine asked, trying to play it cool. Then she realized she must have been making odd expressions while eavesdropping on Vidisha. She glanced around and noticed Naira watching her from across the room, her gaze sharp and suspicious. Ranbir grabbed an apple from the table, winked at her, and walked away.

Naira sauntered over, her expression turning cold. "Stay away from things that don't concern you," she hissed, her voice dripping with disdain. Jasmine stood there, stunned, as Naira turned and walked away.

"What did I do now?" Jasmine thought, frustrated. She had enough to deal with already, and now Naira was acting all high and mighty.

Deciding not to waste any more time, she hurried back to her room to change. If she was going to follow Vidisha, she needed to be prepared.

***

Jasmine waited by the main door, ready to slip out as soon as Vidisha left. She was about to sneak out when Abhiraj and Siddharth caught sight of her.

"Where are you going?" Abhiraj asked, his voice stern.

"Just, um, going to buy something," Jasmine stammered, her heart pounding. She could feel Abhiraj's piercing gaze on her, and Siddharth's curious eyes didn't help either. Before they could ask more questions, she dashed out of the house, trying not to look suspicious.

She followed Vidisha to a cozy little coffee shop on the other side of town. Jasmine slipped in and chose a seat just a few tables away from Vidisha, hiding behind a large menu. Vidisha was talking to a guy who looked nervous, glancing around frequently as if he was afraid of being seen.

Jasmine leaned forward, trying to catch bits of their conversation. She craned her neck, straining to hear, but all she could catch were a few words like "plan," "money," and "don't let anyone find out." Her heart raced. What were they planning?

Lost in her spying, Jasmine didn't realize she was leaning too far forward. The menu she was hiding behind tipped over, knocking a sugar dispenser off the table. It crashed to the floor, sending sugar everywhere.

Everyone in the café turned to look, including Vidisha and her companion. Jasmine quickly ducked down, pretending to tie her shoelace. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. "Smooth, Jasmine, really smooth," she muttered to herself.

Trying to play it cool, she glanced around, hoping no one recognized her. Unfortunately, she didn't notice Abhiraj, who had followed her. He stood at the entrance, arms crossed, watching her ridiculous attempt at eavesdropping with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

Jasmine, oblivious to his presence, sat back up and resumed her spying. She peered over the edge of the table, holding a fake plant in front of her face like it was a perfect disguise. Vidisha's companion said something that made her look startled. Jasmine tried to lean in closer to catch it, her chair wobbling precariously. Before she knew it, she lost her balance and fell forward, her head landing right in her half-eaten plate of pasta.

Vidisha and her companion turned to look, shock evident on their faces. Jasmine quickly sat back up, her face smeared with tomato sauce, and gave them an awkward smile.

"Just... uh... taste-testing," she stammered, grabbing a napkin to wipe her face. She could feel someone's eyes boring into her back and turned to see Abhiraj standing there, his lips twitching as if he was holding back laughter.

"Miss Jasmine, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with amusement.

Jasmine's heart sank. She had no idea what to say. Caught red-handed, with a face full of tomato sauce, all she could do was stammer, "I... I was just..."

Abhiraj shook his head, a small smile finally breaking through his stoic expression. "I think you need to come back to the house," he said gently, his eyes still twinkling with amusement.

Jasmine sighed, knowing she was in for a lecture. She cast one last glance at Vidisha and her companion before following Abhiraj out of the café, her mind racing with questions and a new determination to find out the truth.