You Are My Obsession Till Eternity

Bonus Chapter-6

Author's POV

As everyone gathered around the dining table for breakfast, the atmosphere remained warm and lively. Plates were passed around, and laughter filled the air, with everyone immersed in their conversations. Pihu sat between Rudra and Shivani, her heart swelling with contentment. Rudra, as always, was watching her closely, adding more food to her plate despite her mock protests.

"Pihu, eat more," Rudra whispered in her ear with that familiar mischievous smile. His voice dropped lower, teasing her as he added, "You'll need the energy tonight."

Pihu's face instantly turned a deep shade of red, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She tried to focus on her food, but the meaning behind Rudra's words had her feeling self-conscious. Her grip on the fork tightened as she glanced at him, her lips trying—and failing—to suppress a smile.

Shivani, sitting next to Pihu, caught the entire exchange, her sharp eyes noticing the playful glances between the couple. Never one to miss an opportunity for teasing, she leaned in, her voice just loud enough for only Rudra and Pihu to hear. "Pihu, why is your face so red? Are you feeling feverish from all the hard work you did last night?"

Pihu nearly choked on her food, her eyes wide with shock. Coughing and sputtering, she glared at Shivani, who was biting her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. The heat in Pihu's face only intensified, and she could feel Rudra stiffen beside her as he tried not to laugh, his ears turning red.

On the other side of Shivani, Veer frowned but understand the glances passed between them.

Neha and Dev, completely oblivious to the exchange between the younger trio, continued their conversation with Aakash and Ankit. Shivani, however, wasn't done teasing. She leaned in again, this time her voice even lower as she whispered to Pihu, "You better be careful, or everyone will notice. Your face is giving everything away."

Pihu shot Shivani another death glare but couldn't hide the way her face burned brighter. She quickly glanced at Rudra, who gave her a comforting smile, his hand brushing against hers under the table. His touch, though small, was enough to calm her nerves.

As the breakfast continued, Rudra took a bite of khadai paneer, one of the dishes, savouring the flavour as memories of his childhood flooded back. He paused for a moment, his expression softening. The warmth of the food reminded him of the meals his own mother used to prepare for him with such love and care.

He looked across the table at Neha, who was chatting animatedly with Dev, and with genuine appreciation, he said, "Thank you, Maa, for this delicious food."

Neha, noticing the emotion in his voice, turned to him with a gentle smile. She understood the depth behind his words, the memories they stirred. "It's nothing, beta," she said warmly, her voice full of motherly affection. "If you ever want to eat more in the future, just let me know, okay?"

Rudra smiled back at her, feeling an unexpected warmth in his chest. Neha's kindness reminded him of the love and family he had missed for so long, and he silently vowed to cherish every moment he had with Pihu and her family.

As the meal wound down, everyone was served kheer, and Rudra, after taking a bite, turned to Pihu with a grin. "Pearl, it's really amazing."

Aakash, who was sitting nearby, chimed in with a teasing laugh. "Jiju, you should be grateful you even got to eat it! Di only knows how to eat, not cook."

Ankit, not wanting to miss out on the fun, added, "Yeah, Jiju! She never cooks for us at home."

Pihu shot them both a fiery glare, her eyes narrowing in mock anger. "Why should I cook for you two, jungli bandars?" she retorted, her tone sharp but playful.