The Devil's Substitute : Book #1 [Original Edition]

||Chapter 22||

Nandini dragged Piyali to the kitchen, who resisted every step, her face a mixture of hurt and anger from Reyansh's earlier behavior. She was fuming, itching to give him a piece of her mind as soon as she saw him again.

"Piyali, sit down," Nandini instructed, pointing to a stool with a firm yet gentle command.

"No, aunty, I don't want to sit," Piyali snapped, crossing her arms defiantly.

Nandini pushed her gently but firmly onto the stool. Piyali yelled, "Areyy aunty, my bum isn't interested in sitting!"

"Quiet, you little rascal. I wonder what this house will be like when Kairav comes," Nandini said, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Why? Is he also like me?" Piyali asked, her curiosity piqued as she leaned in closer.

Nandini smiled as she walked towards the cupboard, her face softening with fond memories. "Yes, he is the most jovial person in this house. He will do something crazy every single day. And you know, sometimes I wonder how he was born to Samya di."

Piyali giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're right, aunty. He was born in the wrong place. He should have been my brother and my mummy's son, not that rakshasi's."

Nandini's eyes widened at Piyali's bold remark. "Piyali, hush! Do you want her to hear?"

Piyali pouted, her lips forming a playful frown. "Waise Aunty, does he know about me?"

Nandini nodded, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Because of you, he is coming back." Piyali's brow furrowed in confusion.

"He was jumping in surprise and shock when he heard about the photos. He yelled at us, asking how we could welcome his bhabhi without his presence."

Piyali laughed happily, her earlier tension dissolving. "Aunty, can I give him a surprise?"

"Of course. And what is it?" Nandini asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Surprise, aunty. And it's bad to share surprises," Piyali replied, her eyes dancing with mischief.Nandini took a pan and poured water into it, the familiar sound of bubbling water filling the room. Piyali's eyes lit up when Nandini showed her the packet of instant noodles.

"Wow, Aunty, are you making this for me?" Piyali asked, her voice filled with excitement and gratitude.

Nandini nodded, her smile warm and affectionate. Piyali's heart swelled with happiness. She instantly stood up and hugged Nandini tightly, surprising her with the sudden show of affection."Thank you so much for being my aunty," Piyali said, her voice muffled against Nandini's shoulder.

Nandini chuckled, the sound rich and comforting. She hugged Piyali back, patting her gently on the back. "Can this aunty become ma or mummy?"

Piyali broke the hug and stared at her thoughtfully, her eyes searching Nandini's face. "Hmmm, I'll have to think about it."

Nandini glared at her playfully, her eyes twinkling with mirth. Piyali laughed, the sound joyous and free, and kissed her cheek, shocking her even more. "Love you, meri maa."

Nandini smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She made Piyali sit back on the stool and started making the noodles, the comforting aroma filling the kitchen. As they shared stories and laughter, the bond between them grew stronger, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere amidst the chaos of the house.

⭑⭑⭑★✪ ✪★⭑⭑⭑

With a mischievous smile, Piyali burst into the bedroom, slamming the door so hard it disturbed Reyansh's sleep. 

"Oh no!" she froze, staring at him as he scrunched his face and turned to the left. 

"Phew, close call. I'm not in the mood to battle Hulk tonight," she muttered under her breath, tiptoeing back to quietly close the door. 

She sat cautiously on the bed, her eyes fixed on him, ensuring he wasn't stirring. 

Little did she know, Reyansh was wide awake, feigning sleep. 

"Who sleeps through such a loud noise? I practically shook the room, and he hasn't budged," she whispered, glaring at his still figure as he took slow, deliberate breaths. 

Meanwhile, Reyansh was struggling to suppress his irritation. *Why can't she just shut up for once? Is it too much to ask for a moment of peace?* 

Piyali smirked. "Feeding my chocolates to those crazy dogs and then sleeping like a saint? Not happening, Hulk. I'm going to make you regret this." She leaned closer to his ear and sang, "Hulkyyy... you're such a baddyyy..." 

Reyansh's fists clenched the bedsheet, his patience wearing thin. 

"Dead, are you?" Piyali muttered in mock disappointment. To test her theory, she grabbed a strand of her hair and tried to tickle his nose. 

Reyansh shot up in horror, glaring at her. 

Piyali jumped off the bed, laughing hysterically. "I win! I win!" 

"ARE YOU INSANE?" Reyansh roared, halting her victory dance. 

He got out of bed and advanced toward her. Piyali instinctively pressed herself against the wall. 

"Why do you keep disturbing my peace? My sleep?" he demanded. 

"Because you fed my chocolates to those dogs, and I wanted revenge!" she retorted, standing on her tiptoes in a feeble attempt to intimidate him. 

Reyansh sighed, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "You're such a child." 

"Yes, I am!" Piyali sang, her grin widening as his irritation grew. 

"You're not a child. But if you want one, I can give you one," he screamed, instantly regretting his words. 

"How?" she shouted back, demanding an answer. She didn't register the inner meaning of his words.

Reyansh froze, realizing the trap he'd set for himself. 

"How?" she pressed, her expectant eyes boring into him. 

"Amazon pe order karlo," he blurted, turning back toward the bed. 

Her brows furrowed. "Amazon pe ?. Disount hai kya ?" 

Defeated, Reyansh sat on the bed and looked at her with a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. "Nehi." 

"Fine. I'll wait for the summer sale—there'll be better offers then," she murmured thoughtfully, much to his dismay. 

Reyansh groaned, flopping onto the bed. "Piyali, please, for the love of God, let me sleep. I have a very important meeting tomorrow." 

"What about my chocola—" 

"I'll buy you new ones!" he cut her off, desperate. 

"Okay!" she chirped, grinning as she skipped toward the couch. 

Reyansh exhaled in relief, silently thanking the stars as he closed his eyes once more.