Shantanu slowly opened his eyes as the soft morning light filtered through the curtains.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
As his gaze instinctively shifted toward the balcony, he noticed Garima's absence, and a strange pang of disappointment struck him.
Just then, the sound of the bathroom door opening caught his attention.
He turned his head and saw Garima stepping out, her presence immediately capturing his focus.
She was dressed in a light green cotton saree with a white full-sleeved blouse, a simple outfit that somehow made her look even more beautiful.
The way her dusky skin contrasted against the delicate green fabric highlighted every curve, every graceful movement.
Shantanu remained lying in bed, his eyes following her every action.
He observed how she tied her long hair into a perfect braid, how she carefully placed a small black bindi between her brows, and how the silver jhumkas dangled elegantly from her ears.
The clinking of her glass bangles seemed to synchronize with his heartbeat.
She was a sight to behold, and for a moment, he was lost in the simplicity of her beauty.
But then, as if sensing his gaze, Garima suddenly turned around.
Shantanu quickly closed his eyes, pretending to still be asleep.
Garima watched him for a moment, her face showing a mix of hope and resignation.
What were you thinking, Garima? her subconscious mind chided. That he'd actually be staring at you? No way. He'll never like you the way you like him.
She felt a twinge of disappointment but quickly brushed it aside, reminding herself of the reality of their situation.
With a shake of her head, she left the room to head downstairs.
The moment he heard the soft click of the door closing behind her, Shantanu's eyes flew open.
His heart raced as he sat up, running a hand through his hair, his mind flooded with confusion.
Why the hell was I looking at her?
Why couldn't I take my eyes off her?
The questions swirled in his mind, unanswered and unsettling.
Frustrated with himself, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up.
The strange emotions gnawing at him made no sense, and he hated that he couldn't simply dismiss them.
He needed to clear his head.
With a deep sigh, Shantanu walked into the bathroom, hoping that a cold shower might wash away the thoughts that were beginning to plague him.
But as the water cascaded over him, he realized that the image of Garima—her soft smile, her gentle grace—was stubbornly refusing to leave his mind.
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Garima sat at the dining table, enjoying breakfast with the Rajyavadkar family.
She had bonded well with everyone, especially Neil, who kept cracking jokes that made her laugh uncontrollably.
Samriddh, who had grown to consider Garima an elder sister, shared his thoughts and concerns with her openly.
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