Monster's Queen 👑

Chapter 16

As the evening settled in, everyone gathered around the grand dining table at the palace. The meal was a quiet affair, a tradition that carried an air of reverence and respect for the food and the company. The table was laden with an array of exquisite dishes, each one carefully prepared and served with elegance. The only sounds were the clinking of cutlery and the soft rustle of fabric as the family enjoyed the delicious spread in comfortable silence.

Once the meal was finished, the atmosphere lightened. The silence that had accompanied dinner gave way to the familiar sounds of laughter and conversation.

Shrikant, still not over the cricket match, grinned at Nandini from across the table. "Now that dinner's over, can we finally agree I was the real winner today?"

Nandini, with Snowy comfortably perched on her lap, smiled but before she could reply, Abhimaan cut in with a teasing smirk, "Let's see if you can keep Snowy from stealing your dessert first."

Vikrant, added with a chuckle, "I'm still convinced that bat of yours has some sort of spell on it."

Laughter filled the room, everyone enjoying the light-hearted teasing.

As the day drew to a close, the night sky above the palace glittered with countless stars, casting a serene glow over the world below. The warm breeze carried the scent of jasmine, and the soft rustling of leaves provided a gentle soundtrack to the night. Abhimaan and Nandini, along with Snowy, found themselves on the balcony, where they had set up a cozy sleepover spot.

The balcony, adorned with plush cushions and a light blanket, felt like a private haven away from the rest of the world. Abhimaan leaned back against the cushions, gazing up at the stars, his mind at peace. Snowy, ever the curious companion, curled up comfortably between them, his purring adding to the calm atmosphere.

Nandini, sitting close to Abhimaan, smiled as she looked at the night sky. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she whispered, her voice soft, as if not wanting to disturb the tranquility of the moment.

Abhimaan turned his gaze from the stars to her, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Yes, it is," he replied, but his eyes remained on her, the unspoken thought clear-he wasn't just talking about the stars.

As the night deepened, the three of them settled in, the world around them fading away. The closeness they shared in that moment felt effortless and natural, a bond that had grown stronger over time. With Snowy nestled between them and the stars above, Abhimaan and Nandini drifted into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in the comfort of each other's presence and the quiet beauty of the night.

As usual, Nandini's alarm softly chimed in the early morning, stirring her from sleep. Blinking awake, she quickly realized she was nestled in Abhimaan's arms, their legs tangled together under the blanket. A warm blush crept up her cheeks as she tried to carefully extricate herself from his embrace, but before she could get far, Abhimaan's arms tightened around her, pulling her back close.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, his voice still heavy with sleep. "Where do you think you're going?" he murmured, his tone teasing yet affectionate.

"Abhimaan, let me go. I'm going to be late," Nandini whispered, trying to sound stern, but the softness in her voice betrayed her.

He held her closer, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "No, you won't," he replied with a smile. "I've already taken care of everything. I asked the maid to come early; she'll make breakfast and handle the cleaning. So, you can sleep a little longer."

Nandini paused, her heart warming at his thoughtfulness. She gazed up at him, her eyes filled with love. "Abhimaan, you didn't need to do all this."

Abhimaan met her gaze, his expression tender but resolute. "Maybe I didn't need to," he admitted, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, "but I wanted to. Now, no more arguments. Just rest."