~ 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 ~

Chapter 11. Uff

Riya sat at her desk, a storm of exhaustion and frustration swirling within her. The relentless pressure from her boss seemed to have no end. Every task felt heavier than the last, each request coming with a deadline that couldn't be missed. As her fingers typed furiously on the keyboard, she muttered under her breath, "Uff, this boss won't let me live. One day, I swear I'll die working, and they'll still ask for just one more file."

She paused for a moment, letting out a long, tired sigh, and glanced down at her phone. A brief, unexpected smile played at the corners of her lips. Should I call Rishabh? she thought, the idea of his voice offering a momentary escape from the weight of the world around her. At least he'd let me breathe... and I might get to see him too. The thought of him made her cheeks warm, and she couldn't help but smile at her own fluttering feelings. Main toh abhi se blush karne lagi hoon, she murmured, rolling her eyes at herself. Why am I even blushing?

Meanwhile, across town, Rishabh strolled through the park with his dog Bruno, the calm morning air surrounding him like a soft embrace. The sunlight filtered gently through the trees, casting playful shadows on the ground. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he pulled it out, a familiar name flashed across the screen: Little Angel calling... A smile tugged at his lips, and he couldn't help but laugh to himself. Oh, whose call now—oh, it's my Little Angel, he thought. His heart skipped a beat as he answered, already grinning. "Hello?"

"Hey, Rishabh," came Riya's voice, soft yet hesitant, like she was unsure whether to ask him for something. "I wanted to check if you're free...?"

Rishabh raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "No, but what's up?"

"Nothing much... I just thought maybe you could drop me off at the office?" Riya's voice trailed off, as if unsure whether to push the request further. "But never mind, I'll just take a rickshaw."

Rishabh's smile widened, and without a second thought, he replied, "Oh, okay. Just come near the temple. I'll be there in a minute."

Her voice was surprised when she responded. "What? Aren't you busy?"

"Yeah, I am. So what?" he replied casually, his tone teasing. "Meet me near the temple."

He hung up the phone, feeling a strange warmth spread through his chest, but he didn't let it show. Riya's presence always managed to do that to him.

Back at the Chauhan house, Garv, ever the quiet observer, watched Riya from the hallway. She was engrossed in her phone, her smile giving away more than she realized. Oh, now she's talking to someone, Garv thought with a furrowed brow. Should I ask? No... That wouldn't be right. But I remember how much Keshav hurt her last time... He sighed, conflicted. Maybe I should ask...

"Hmm, boyfriend, huh?" Garv teased from the doorway.

Riya quickly shook her head, her voice almost defensive. "No, Bhai, he's just a friend... there's nothing like that."

Garv smirked, but before he could press further, Riya had grabbed her bag and rushed out. "Bhai, I'm getting late! Bye!" she called over her shoulder.

Garv chuckled to himself, shaking his head. She's hiding something, he mused, but he didn't press the issue. Not today.

Meanwhile, across town, Pratha, still half-asleep, rolled over in bed with a groan. "I'm getting a fever-like vibe," she mumbled to herself. "No school today. Mrs. Kavita Rathi can handle the class." She buried herself deeper under the covers, drifting back to sleep. "Everything will be fine... just a little nap."

At the temple, Rishabh had parked his bike when he saw Riya approach. She climbed onto the back, and as the engine roared to life, she fiddled with her phone, murmuring, "Arey, this Instagram... why is everyone posting these weird trends?"