chapter 10
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow in Jasmine's room. She stretched and yawned, the events of the previous day replaying in her mind. With determination fueling her, she decided it was time to step up her investigation.
After quickly dressing in her usual maid's attire, Jasmine made her way to the kitchen. The familiar bustle greeted her, and the delicious aroma of breakfast filled the air. As she started her morning chores, she overheard snippets of conversation between the cooks. They were gossiping about the fiancées, and Jasmine's ears perked up.
"Did you hear about Vidisha?" one cook said, stirring a pot of curry. "I heard she was seen with that guy from the coffee shop again."
Jasmine's interest piqued. "What guy?" she thought, trying to remain inconspicuous as she washed the dishes.
"Oh, just some guy she met before the engagement," another cook replied, her voice dripping with intrigue. "He's not from a good family, you know. Rumor has it, he's bad news."
Jasmine's heart raced. This was the lead she had been looking for! She needed to find out more about Vidisha and her mysterious rendezvous.
---
Later that day, as Jasmine was cleaning the living room, she saw Vidisha and Naira whispering to each other in a corner. Seizing the opportunity, she stealthily positioned herself behind a nearby potted plant, trying to eavesdrop.
"What if they find out?" Vidisha whispered, her eyes darting around the room.
"Just be careful. You know how Abhiraj can be," Naira cautioned, glancing in Jasmine's direction.
Jasmine held her breath, praying they wouldn't spot her. "What are they up to?" she thought, her mind racing.
---
Just then, a loud crash echoed from the kitchen. Startled, Jasmine turned her head too quickly, and her foot caught on the edge of the rug. With a yelp, she stumbled out from her hiding spot, falling dramatically in front of the two fiancées.
"Oh, my!" Jasmine exclaimed, blushing furiously as she scrambled to her feet. "Just... practicing my moves, you know?"
Naira rolled her eyes, while Vidisha covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Are you okay, Jasmine?" Vidisha asked, half-smirking, half-concerned.
"I'm perfectly fine! Just wanted to see how well I could... uh, blend in!" Jasmine stammered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
---
After escaping the awkward encounter, Jasmine wandered upstairs to deliver fresh towels. She was passing Tara's room when she saw the door slightly ajar. Out of curiosity, she peeked in and saw Tara sitting at her dresser, holding a photograph in her hands and whispering to it. Jasmine couldn't make out the words, but the way Tara was speaking softly, almost lovingly, piqued her interest.
Suddenly, Tara's eyes caught Jasmine in the reflection of the mirror. Startled, she quickly hid the photograph under a book and stood up. "Jasmine! What are you doing here?" Tara asked, her tone sharp.
"Oh, uh... just delivering towels," Jasmine stuttered, trying to act casual while secretly wondering what Tara was hiding.
"Next time, knock," Tara said, her voice firm. Jasmine nodded quickly and left the room, her curiosity about the photograph growing stronger.
---
Later in the day, Jasmine was helping set the table when her eyes landed on her favorite dish – a rich, creamy bowl of butter chicken. Her stomach growled loudly, and she realized she hadn't eaten properly all day. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching and grabbed a spoon. But as she started shoveling the food into her mouth, she noticed Ranbir and Siddharth standing nearby, smirking at her.
"Hungry, are we?" Ranbir teased, raising an eyebrow.
Jasmine froze, her cheeks stuffed with food. "Uh... it's my favorite," she mumbled through her mouthful, trying not to look embarrassed.
Siddharth chuckled. "I've never seen someone enjoy food as much as you do, Jasmine."
"Hey, a girl's gotta eat!" she replied, grinning despite herself.
Ranbir shook his head, clearly amused. "Careful, or you'll end up like me – eating apples all the time just to stay healthy," he joked, waving the apple he always carried.
Jasmine rolled her eyes playfully. "I'll take butter chicken over an apple any day."
As the brothers walked away, still chuckling, Jasmine couldn't help but feel a little lighter despite the day's strange events. However, the moment passed quickly as her thoughts returned to her investigation.
---
That night, as Jasmine lay in bed, her mind raced with questions. What was Vidisha up to, meeting someone in secret? And why was Tara so protective of that photograph? She knew that to figure out the truth, she had to start digging deeper.
Jasmine scribbled down a new list in her journal:
1. Find out who Vidisha is meeting.
2. Learn what Tara is hiding with that photograph.
3. Stay on Grandma's good side – she's the key to learning more about the Rajput family.
4. Watch the brothers more closely – they might know more than they let on.
She yawned, exhausted but determined. Tomorrow, her investigation would continue, and she wouldn't stop until she uncovered the truth.
Unknown to her, someone was watching from the shadows, their eyes locked on her as she drifted off to sleep, deep in thought.