Eternal Ties: The Heartfelt Journey of Rohan and Priya

3.) The Curious Glance

Priya mustered up all her courage, trying to sound as polite as possible. "N-nice to meet you, Rohan," she stammered, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red.

Rohan, catching her discomfort, decided to play along. "REALLY?? Ahh nice to meet you too, Priya. Or should I say... very nice to meet you," he said with a cheeky grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Priya's eyes widened, and she looked around nervously. "A-actually, I was just... uh... not really expecting to... meet you like this."

Rohan leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a mere whisper. "And what were you expecting, Priya?"

"Uh, maybe... you know... not like this," Priya said, her words coming out in a jumble. She was trying to avoid eye contact, but Rohan's intense gaze made it difficult.

"Alright, Rajesh ji, we should be heading to home now," said Priya's father. However, Rajesh ji persuaded them to stay a bit longer.

"Let the children enjoy a bit more," said Rajesh ji with a warm smile. "It's rare for all of us to get together like this. Let them have some fun."

[Later at party...]

The party was still in full swing, with lively music and chatter filling the air. Rohan was engaged in conversation with some of his relatives and friends, making small talk and enjoying the festive atmosphere, everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Surrounded by the noise and laughter, Rohan suddenly felt a strange sensation - a feeling that someone was watching him intently. He glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source of his discomfort.

His eyes scanned the room, passing over the lively crowd until they landed on a corner where Priya was partially concealed behind her younger brother, Kabir.

Priya's eyes were peeking out from behind Kabir, her gaze fixed on Rohan. She seemed to be trying to stay hidden while also failing to look away.

Kabir, unaware of Priya’s anxious attempt to remain unnoticed, was chatting with Nikhil, completely unobservent of the playful drama unfolding behind him.

Suddenly he felt someone's grip tightening on his coat, "Di, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Kabir, not now," Priya hissed. "I'm trying to avoid someone."

Rohan’s lips curled into a mischievous smile as he realized Priya’s dilemma. An idea sparked in his mind. He excused himself from his current conversation, using the excuse of needing to grab a drink, and made his way towards the corner where Priya was trying so hard to stay out of sight.

As Rohan approached, Priya’s anxiety seemed to intensify. Her eyes widened, and she pulled Kabir closer as if trying to use him as a shield.

"Hiiiii", Rohit teased her from a distance.

Priya’s heart skipped a beat as she saw Rohan nearing. She tried to back away, but there was no escaping the playful intensity in his gaze.

Kabir finally noticed Rohan’s presence and raised an eyebrow. "Ooo, now I seee, so you were trying to avoid him??", but why?? he added.

"Ohfoo Kabir, tum kabhi bhi koi sahi baat sahi time pe mat krna. Mar gyi Priya." She murmured with a straight face, giving Kabir a  pinch.
(Ohfoo Kabir, you never say the right thing at right time.)(You're dead Priya.)

Kabir flinched and looked at his sister with wide eyes. “Ouch! That hurtsss.

“Priya, are you hiding from me?” Rohan’s voice was light and teasing.

Priya’s heart raced as she faced him. “N-No, I’m not hiding,” she stammered. Her face flushed even more as she realized her attempt to stay hidden had been noticed. “I wasn’t hiding, Rohan. I was just… observing,” she said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

Rohan’s grin widened. “Observing, haann? Well, I’m glad you’re observing me. But you should know, you can’t escape me that easily.”

Before Kabir could ask more, Rohan asked them with a charming smile. "Priya, Kabir, would you like to join me for a drink? The bar has some amazing mocktails."

Priya's was about to give an excuse but Kabir instead grinned and nodded. "Sure, why not? Lead the way, bhaiya!" and gave a look to his sister as if he was taking some sort of revenge from her for pinching him hard.

As they walked towards the bar, Priya shot Kabir a murderous look, but he just shrugged. Once they were seated, Rohan turned to Priya with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"So, Priya, how's the nose-breaking business going?"

Priya's face turned crimson. "I-I didn't mean it literally. It was just... a figure of speech."

"Really? Because it sounded pretty serious to me." Rohan chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Priya let out a nervous laugh. "Thanks, I guess."

Kabir, who was sipping his mocktail, looked between Rohan and Priya with curiosity. "What are you guys talking about? Did Di threaten to break someone's nose again?"

Priya groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Kabir, you better stop."

Rohan laughed heartily. "It's nothing serious, Kabir. Just a little misunderstanding."

As the night went on, Rohan and Priya found themselves talking more and more. Rohan's initial nervousness had faded, and he was now enjoying the playful banter. Priya, despite her initial embarrassment, found herself laughing at Rohan's jokes and feeling strangely comfortable around him.

"So, tell me more about this exhibition you're preparing for," Rohan said, genuinely interested.

Priya's eyes lit up. "It's a college project. We're showcasing various traditional arts and crafts from different regions of India. I'm in charge of the Rajasthan section."

"Wow, that sounds amazing. I would love to see it sometime," Rohan said, leaning closer.

"Really? You'd be interested in something like that?" Priya asked, surprised.

"Of course," Rohan replied with a smile. "Culture and heritage are fascinating. Plus, I have a feeling you put a lot of effort into it."

Priya blushed at the compliment. "Thank you. That means a lot."

As the party wound down, it was clear that the evening had brought them a little closer. The bond which had forming was both unexpected and delightful, setting the stage for what could be the beginning of something more meaningful (maybe).
Despite the earlier teasing and mishaps, there was a new warmth between them.
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💕Lots and lots of love and Take care of yourselves💕
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