Her eyes soften with reluctant understanding. She glances at Sidharth, who gives a small nod of agreement.
“You’re right,” she finally says, looking back at me, then turns again to Sidharth. “Any progress on the case?”
He shakes his head, his jaw tightening. “Not yet, Aunty. But soon, I’ll have them behind bars.”
“I trust you,” she says, nodding at him, then looks between the two of us.
“Anyway, coming back to what we were discussing… I know we can’t fix a wedding date yet, but I still need to know what the plan is between you two. Are we talking about something like a live-in setup?” She raises her brows meaningfully. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those orthodox types. But I’m the one who has to answer the nosy neighbors, so just give me something to work with.”
“Aunty…” I half-shout, mortified, as my face heats up. Sidharth, of course, doesn’t help. He’s grinning now, clearly enjoying every second of this. I shoot him a glare, the kind that says this is not funny, but he just leans back, that infuriating smirk widening.
“I’m serious,” Aunty says, undeterred. She crosses her arms as she leans back into the pillows, like she’s settling in for a proper interrogation. “You both may think you’re sneaky, but I’ve watched enough serials to know where this is heading.”
“Aunty, there isnolive-in. Sidharth will go tohishouse, and I will stayhere. End of story,” I grit out.
Sidharth raises a brow, pretending to look hurt. “That sounded almost like a punishment.”
My stomach flips at his words, my face growing warm. But I square my shoulders and lift my chin, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.
“Will you stop entertaining Aunty already?” I say, narrowing my eyes at him. “Because if you don’t, I swear, I’ll lock the door the next time you try to come over.”
He lifts his hands in mock surrender. “Noted. But just so you know, locked doors don’t scare me. I’m a detective for a reason.”
Aunty chuckles, her eyes twinkling. “That’s why I love this boy so much,” she says fondly. But then her voice turns serious. “Nisha,” she says, her gaze steady on me. “You know I’ve seen many relationships fall apart and have lived long enough toknow love isn’t always enough. It takes loyalty, patience, and a lot of sacrifice.” She glances at Sidharth, her eyes filled with warmth. “And this boy… he’s committed to you in every way that matters.” Her hand finds mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know you need time until things settle, beta. But just make sure you don’t ever let go of him. Men like him are rare and don’t come around often.”
My throat tightens with emotion as I risk a glance at Sidharth, who just sits there quietly, watching me with eyes that convey he loves me more deeply, more fiercely than I can ever imagine.
Unable to hold his intense gaze, I lower my eyes, my breath coming out in shallow bursts as a tear slips silently down my cheek.
Aunty reaches out and brushes the tear from the corner of my eye. “Happy tears are good for health.”
I look up at her and smile, still unable to find my voice. My heart feels too full, my throat too tight with emotions I can’t quite put into words.
She tilts her head towards me, her lips curving into a teasing grin. “How about you tell me how he proposed? Was it romantic? On one knee? With flowers and all?”
I almost choke on my breath. Aunty is definitely in a mood to embarrass me, and she’s showing no signs of stopping.
“I have to hear this. You haven’t told me a single thing. I want all the details,” she insists, her eyes dancing with amusement.
Groaning, I bury my hot face in my hands. How do I even begin to explain that there were no candles, no roses, no violins in the background? Just him and me, and a moment so intense, it meant more to me than any orchestrated fairytale ever could.
I’m still scrambling to make up some fake proposal story when Sidharth’s voice cuts in.
“I can tell you, Aunty.”
My head snaps up so fast it’s a miracle I don’t sprain my neck. My eyes widen in horror as I glare at him, a silentdon’t you darewritten all over my face. But the man just smiles, ignoring my warning with that cocky smile.
“You see, Aunty…” he begins in that storytelling voice of his, like it’s his favourite story to tell.
“There were no flowers or knees involved,” I cut in quickly. “You know how boring he is. All detective-type, and no fun.”
Sidharth raises a single brow, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Boring?” he repeats.
I nod quickly. “Very.”
Aunty’s eyes bounce between us like she’s watching the most entertaining tennis match of her life.
“That’s terrible. A proposal without flowers or going down on one knee? Where’s the romance in that?” she exclaims, pretending to be scandalised.
