“You have legs, don’t you?” I bite out.
“I do, but I’m a guest. And your mother just said you should serve me.” He grins. “Unless you want to disrespect her wishes.”
My jaw clenches as my mom sighs. “Sana.”
I throw my hands up. “Fine!” I huff, turning towards the kitchen. As I walk away, I hear his soft chuckle behind me, and it only fuels my irritation.
Reaching the fridge, I yank it open, muttering under my breath. “Unbelievable. Stubborn idiot. Waltzing in here like he owns the place.” I grab the orange juice and pour it aggressively into a glass. Then I storm back into the living room and thrust the glass at him. “Here. Your juice, Your Highness.”
Aditya takes the glass but doesn’t sip immediately. Instead, he twirls it slightly in his hand, inspecting it. Then he lifts his gaze to mine. “I hope it’s safe to drink?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “I have not poisoned it, if that’s what you thinking.”
He places a hand over his heart dramatically. “Good to know. I’d hate to think you went through all this trouble just to get rid of me.”
I huff, rolling my eyes. “Trust me, if I wanted to get rid of you, I’d find a much faster way than serving you juice,” I say as I settle on the couch opposite them.
Aditya smirks, lifting the glass to his lips. “Wouldn’t want you wasting your breath thinking of ways to get rid of me.”
Before I can respond, my mom chimes in, shaking her head. “Honestly, you two bicker like an old married couple.”
I stiffen, and Aditya grins even wider, shooting me a knowing look. I cross my arms quickly to show it doesn’t affect me when my mom perks up again.
“Speaking of which, Aditya,” she begins, adjusting the pleats of her saree. “When are you getting married? No lucky girl yet?”
My gaze snaps towards him, but he doesn’t miss a beat. With that ever-infuriating ease, he leans back, smiling as if this is nothing more than casual chit-chat.
“Aunty, I want someone who is a reflection of you,” he says smoothly. “Kind, warm, and wise.”
My mother beams, clearly flattered.
Then, with a slight smirk, he adds, “But I guess fate is not in my favour. My parents have found someone who’s the completely opposite.”
There’s something almost bitter in his tone, but he masks it well.
My mom’s expression shifts, a small frown forming. “But beta, if you’re not happy, you shouldn’t rush into it.”
Before Aditya can respond, I jump in, my voice sharper than intended. “Mom, it’s his personal matter. You don’t have a say in it.”
The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret them. Because now his attention is fully on me. His smirk fades, replaced by something sharper.
“Aunty sure can talk about my personal matters,” he muses, his dark eyes boring into mine.
I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. “Well, whatever Mom says is a waste of time. And since your parents have it all figured out, you should listen to them and save everyone the trouble.”
His jaw tightens for a bit of a second—so brief that I almost miss it. Almost.
“Right,” he says, his voice quieter now but laced with something I can’t quite name. “And it’s not like my marriage doesn’t affect anyone else, right?”
My breath catches. There’s an underlying challenge in his words, something that makes my chest tighten, but before I can respond, my mom speaks.
“You two, honestly.” She shakes her head, looking between us. “Always at each other’s throats. But these old eyes can still see that you both care too much about what the other does.”
I scoff dryly. “Mom, please. That’s called frustration, not ‘caring.’” I throw a pointed look at Aditya. “And some people just have a talent for getting under my skin.”
Aditya doesn’t look away from me. His gaze darkens slightly, his grip tightening on the glass in his hand. “Funny, I can say the same about you—how much you get under my skin.” He grits his teeth, forcing a tight smile. “If only you knew just how much.”
Mom laughs, completely unaware of the fire burning between us as she speaks. “Let’s put a stop to this. Come on, let’s go to the table—lunch is ready.”
