chapter 9
As Jasmine and Abhiraj walked back into the mansion, she was still covered in tomato sauce, looking utterly ridiculous. Abhiraj glanced at her, an eyebrow raised. "What were you doing in the café, Jasmine?" he asked, trying to maintain a serious tone but failing to hide the amusement in his voice.
"I was just there to eat something!" she replied defensively, trying to wipe some sauce off her cheek, which only made it worse.
Before Abhiraj could ask her anything else, Ranbir appeared around the corner. His eyes widened at the sight of Jasmine, and without hesitation, he burst into laughter. "What happened to you?" he asked, doubling over with laughter.
"Shut up!" Jasmine exclaimed, her face turning crimson.
Ranbir pulled out his phone and started taking pictures, completely reveling in her embarrassing state. "This is going on my story!" he declared, laughing even harder.
Jasmine couldn't let him get away with this. She started chasing him around the hall, her laughter mingling with his as she yelled, "Delete those pictures, Ranbir!"
Abhiraj stood back, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with an emotionless expression. Unbeknownst to them, Naira watched from the shadows, her expression darkening as she witnessed the playful interaction. With a huff, she stormed away in anger, feeling more isolated from the family than ever.
---
Later that evening, Jasmine pondered her strategy for learning about the family and their fiancées. If she wanted to get the inside scoop, she needed to be in the good books of the grandmother. So, she prepared a cup of tea and made her way to the sitting room where the grandma usually spent her evenings.
"Good evening, dear," Grandma said, her face lighting up when she saw Jasmine. "Come, sit with me."
Jasmine settled beside her, feeling warmth radiate from the elderly woman. Grandma began sharing stories, showing her baby photos of the brothers, and Jasmine couldn't help but smile at the cherished memories.
"Why do the fiancées stay here even though they aren't married yet?" Jasmine asked innocently, genuinely curious.
Grandma chuckled softly. "It's part of our family tradition. We believe it helps the future daughters-in-law bond with the family. It gives them a chance to learn about us and adjust before the big day."
They chatted for a while, with Grandma sharing snippets of family history and laughter. Jasmine felt a sense of belonging that she hadn't anticipated.
---
Later, while Jasmine was in the kitchen preparing vegetables for the dinner salad, she felt a chill run down her spine as Naira entered.
"Working hard as usual, huh?" Naira sneered, leaning against the doorframe with a condescending smile. "You think you're one of us just because you're being nice to Grandma?"
Jasmine ignored her, focusing intently on the vegetables she was chopping.
Naira stepped closer, her voice dripping with disdain. "You'd do well to remember your place. Don't get too friendly with the brothers, especially Ranbir. He's not worth your time."
Still, Jasmine didn't respond, choosing to remain silent. Naira, frustrated by Jasmine's indifference, huffed and left the kitchen, throwing one last warning glance over her shoulder.
Moments later, Ranbir strolled in, his usual carefree demeanor shining through. He grabbed an apple from the bowl, completely unfazed by Naira's earlier remarks. "Just ignore her," he said casually, throwing a wink at Jasmine.
Jasmine smiled back, grateful for his light-hearted nature as he walked out, leaving her with a sense of comfort.
---
That night, as Jasmine lay in bed, she found herself lost in thought about the fiancées and the strange dynamics within the Rajput household. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was hiding something, and she felt determined to uncover the truth. "Who will the real villain be in this house?" she pondered.
As she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep, she didn't notice someone is standing just outside her door, watching her intently. A mix of emotions swirled within him, something he couldn't quite name yet but knew it was becoming harder to ignore.