The Audacious Hearts

Teekhi Mirchi!

To say I was angry would be an understatement. I was not angry I was raging. I was fuming with anger. This game was mine but he is ruling the gamble. And I had to take the control back. No matter what!

Wearing a fresh purple saree and matching blouse, I quickly made my way downstairs. No one was there due to early morning expect for chachi. I touched her feets and took her blessings. She smiled at me.

She told me the names of the dishes I need to prepare as it was my pehli rasoi. I quickly moved to the stove and started to do my work.

The kitchen buzzed with activity and the sizzling sounds of spices meeting hot oil mirrored the simmering rage within me. The rhythm of my culinary dance provided an odd comfort, a momentary escape from the turmoil of the past hour.

But as I said momentarily.

My actions halted when I saw him at the entrance of the kitchen door. He was talking to a helper, but his eyes met mine for a fleeting moment, and I crushed the morsel in my hands so hard that every eye turned to me.

I turned towards the back shelf to get some spices off because I just didn't wanted to see his face, but I could hear him saying something to the butler and then moving towards me.

"Seems like you're better at handling spices than your secrets, Ruhi."  He whispered near my ear and I flinched a little at the sudden proximity. He was close I could fell it the way his breath fanned my neck and the hairs of my neck stood up.

"I am better at  handling knives better than spices." I replied, turningand nudging.

His dominating presence filled the room as he closed the distance, locking his eyes onto mine.My back pressed against the shelf, and although his torso didn't make contact, the effect was there. I could feel it in the way my heart suddenly thudded in my chest.  Despite the shelf at my back, his aura asserted itself, sending a shiver down my spine. When he raised his hand to retrieve something from the shelf, I could practically feel the intensity of his commanding presence. The rich scent of his cologne surrounded me, leaving me both captivated and affected, yet determined not to yield. I stood my ground, determined not to succumb, but the impact of his commanding presence lingered, like an invisible force that refused to be ignored.

If he think he could intimidate me then he's so wrong.

He placed the herbal coffee powder besides me.

"I like my coffee at 7. Sharp." He commanded, as if I was his servent and not wife he married the previous day.

"Then be ready to make it  at 7. Sharp." I replied, already making my way towards the stove, thumping my shoulder into his chest.

"You're not going to make this easy, are you?" he remarked, his tone a blend of frustration and amusement.

"Easy is not my style, Aryansh," I retorted, matching his intensity. The tension simmered between us just like the flame of the stove. Just like a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken battles.

I moved my eyes to the other people in kitchen but they seem to engross their work or so they pretended.

"Ruhi beta, everything alright?" Chachi interferred before he can say anything else.

I responded with a forced smile, "Yes, Chachi, just making sure the flavors are perfect."

Her eyes moved towards Aryansh.

"Oh nothing, chachi. I was just telling her how to make my herbal coffee." He said with some extra sweetness in his tone and I wanted nothing but him to be die of diabetes by that.