The Wings of Harmony

24. Love and Loyalty

Manya parked her car and dashed into the house, heading straight to Niha's room, where Niha was taking an afternoon nap. Manya shook her awake, "Wake up, Niha! We don't have much time!"

Niha sat up, groggy and confused. "What? What's going on?"

Manya, catching her breath, replied, "We have guests coming for dinner. We need to prepare!"

Niha's eyes widened in shock. "You invited someone over? Is it your boyfriend?" She was trying to process the news.

Manya's face lit up with a big smile as she nodded. Niha's curiosity was piqued. "So, you two sorted things out? Who is it?"

"It's a surprise," Manya replied with a mischievous grin. "You'll meet him tonight. We need to get moving, though. We've got a lot to do!"

"How many guests are we talking about?" Niha asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

"About seven," Manya said nonchalantly.

Niha's jaw dropped. "Seven guests? Did you invite the whole family?"

Manya chuckled, "Yep, and that includes everyone."

Niha was taken aback. "I thought your boyfriend was Korean. If he's bringing his whole family, he must be Indian then. I'm a little disappointed."

Manya gently nudged Niha towards the kitchen. "Don't be disappointed, girl. You'll be in for a surprise. Now, let's figure out the menu."

After a quick brainstorming session, they decided on roti, chicken, and pizza. "We can order the pizza and some Korean dishes," Niha suggested, "but we'll cook the roti, chicken, and maybe some rice and rasam ourselves."

The two split up the tasks, preparing the food and tidying up the living room. After everything was ready, they headed to their rooms to get dressed. Manya advised Niha, "Make sure you dress nicely. It's important."

Niha puzzled, "It's your boyfriend coming over. Why should I dress up?"

Manya chuckled. "Trust me, sweet girl, just look your best—casual but stylish. You never know who might make an impression tonight!"

Niha sighed but followed Manya's advice, curious and excited about the evening's surprise.

At 7 p.m., Manya received a text and hurried outside to wait by the front door. One by one, three cars pulled up. As the first car's door opened, Nam Joon stepped out and quickly made his way inside. He greeted Manya with a warm hug and a tender kiss.

Inside the living room, Niha stood frozen in disbelief. She was so stunned by the revelation that Nam Joon was Manya's boyfriend that she forgot to extend a proper welcome. Her eyes widened as she watched the members of BTS stream into the house, including Suga, her ultimate bias. Niha was so stunned that she could barely move, let alone remember her manners. It was as if her very soul had left her body. Her jaw dropped in astonishment, and for a moment, she forgot how to speak.

As everyone settled in and exchanged greetings, Manya introduced Niha to the BTS members. Nam Joon gave Niha a warm hug, expressing his gratitude for looking after Manya.

J-Hope, with a playful grin, said, "Wow, two moons living under the same roof." Niha, caught his playful spirit and responded with a grin, "It feels like we've got the sunshine brightening up our evening!" They all laughed.

The group admired the living room's luxurious setup. Jin, impressed, commented, "This place looks amazing." Manya responded with a smile, "Our company takes good care of its people."

As they got comfortable on the couches, Jimin leaned forward with curiosity, "So, tell us everything! How did you two meet, and how did you fall for each other? We didn't get a chance to dive into it at the office."

Niha and Manya served drinks while Nam Joon reminisced about their first encounter and their journey together. The room was filled with animated conversation, laughter, and playful teasing from the members.

However, the mood shifted when Suga, in a more serious tone, said, "It seems like it's been a short time to truly get to know each other. Nam Joon, are you sure about this? What if things don't work out or if your choice is wrong?"

Niha, visibly upset by Suga's comment, spoke up with fierce conviction, "Manya is one of the best people you'll ever meet. If Nam Joon can't be happy with her, he won't find happiness with anyone else. I just hope nothing and no one will cause trouble for them."

It was a bit awkward for Niha, especially given her deep admiration for Suga and her discomfort at seeing him critique her friend. Manya gently patted Niha's hand, trying to smooth over the tension.

"Shall we move to the dining room for dinner, or would you all prefer to stay here in the living room?" Manya asked, hoping to shift the focus.

Jin, sensing the need to lighten the mood, chimed in with a friendly grin, "Let's just enjoy our meal here in the living room. I'll help bring out the dishes!"

As they enjoyed the meal, the room buzzed with conversation about the Indian dishes. The BTS members were intrigued, eagerly asking Manya and Niha about the recipes and preparation.

Nam Joon, seated next to Suga, leaned in and spoke quietly, "Hyung, I know you're concerned about me and BTS. But trust me, Manya is a wonderful person. I genuinely believe she'll strengthen our bond and bring us closer together as a family."

Suga gave a thoughtful nod, but his expression remained contemplative.

Nam Joon continued, "By the way, did you know Niharika is a big stan of yours? She's actually designed several dresses for you, some of them are really impressive. I've got photos on my phone—check them out."

Suga looked intrigued but kept his thoughts to himself. "I don't want any misunderstandings between you two. She's just been supporting her friend the way you would support me," Nam Joon added, hoping to clear any lingering doubts.

Later, Suga spotted Niharika in the kitchen and approached her with a curious look. "So, you're a fan of mine, huh?"

Caught off guard, Niha blinked in surprise before responding, "I'm still evaluating that."

Suga raised an eyebrow. "So you'd choose a friend over your bias?"

Niha shrugged nonchalantly and said, "I stand for fairness, not favoritism." She gave him a playful twinkle in her eye and added, "I'd fight any obstacle for them."

Suga's face remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something—maybe admiration or surprise—in his eyes as he watched her playful and earnest demeanor. He nodded, then turned and walked away, leaving Niha to ponder the strange twist of fate where a friend and a bias collided in such unexpected ways.

In life, friendships and admiration often blend in surprising ways, changing how we see things. Just as a thread can alter a fabric's design, our choices can reshape relationships, revealing new meanings in the ever-changing landscape of the heart.

After the younger ones hugged Manya and bid their goodbyes, Manya and Niha found themselves sitting at the dining table, sipping on their drinks.

Manya sighed, "Suga had a point. Mymind is still debating all the odds. I don't really know how this is going towork out. I made the decision by trusting my heart, not my mind."

Niha, visibly upset, retorted, "Are you saying I was wrong to support you?"

Manya quickly shook her head. "No, that's not what I meant. Suga doesn't know me, so he voiced his concerns. You know me well and defended me. Both of you were right in your own ways. The problem was that your first meeting ended in an argument because of me. That makes me upset."

"I can't stand anyone being insolent with you," Niha said fiercely.

Manya hugged her tightly. "Girl, I will win him over. I'll show him who I am and win his heart. But I don't want you to lose him. Don't let this trouble your heart because of me. His concern just shows how much he loves his brothers and BTS as a family. I want you to have good terms with him."

Niha, wanting to lighten the mood, exclaimed, "Wow, so, Nam Joon and you! I'm overwhelmed. BTS was in this very house an hour ago. I want to shout it to the world. Wow!"

They both burst into laughter, enjoying their chit-chat late into the night.