**"From Clashes to Crushes: A Haryanvi & Punjabi Love Tale"**

The war of words and stares

Dinner was a formal affair, with a large table spread full of exquisite dishes. The Sangwan family prided themselves on their hospitality, and tonight's meal was no exception. Simran, Rajveer, and the Khurana family sat alongside the Sangwans, with light conversation floating around the table.

But amidst the friendly exchange of words, there was an unspoken battle brewing—one that only two people at the table were aware of. Yuvraj, sitting across from Simran, couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her. His gaze was sharp, almost daring her to meet it, but she was doing an excellent job of ignoring him. Too excellent, in fact.Simran glanced up briefly and caught his eye. She raised an eyebrow slightly, as if to say *Really? Again?* Yuvraj's smirk deepened, but he said nothing. Instead, he leaned in a little closer, his eyes never leaving her.As everyone continued with dinner, Yuvraj leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, and subtly tilted his head toward Simran. **"You enjoy playing games, don't you?"** he whispered, his tone smooth, yet laced with irritation.Simran didn't look up at him, her focus remaining on her plate as she took a bite of her food. After a pause, she answered just as quietly. **"What makes you think this is a game?"**Yuvraj's eyes flickered, a smirk tugging at his lips. **"Because you've been ignoring me ever since you walked in. That's a pretty obvious move, don't you think?"**Simran fought the urge to roll her eyes. She took a sip of her water, keeping her composure. **"Ignoring someone isn't a game. It's called focusing on more important things."**Yuvraj's smirk widened. **"More important things, huh? I didn't think you'd consider street fights 'important.'"**Simran's jaw tightened, but she didn't let it show. She turned slightly in her seat, keeping her movements subtle so that no one else at the table would notice the silent exchange happening. **"Street fights?"** she murmured back, her voice steady. **"I was handling a situation. You just happened to be part of the problem."**Yuvraj chuckled quietly, his deep voice barely audible to anyone but her. **"Problem? You really like labeling people, don't you?"**Simran's gaze sharpened, but she maintained her calm demeanor. **"Only the ones who deserve it."**The tension in the room was palpable, though no one else at the table knew the real reason behind it. To the rest of the family, it seemed like harmless banter. But to Yuvraj and Simran, it was a continuation of the battle they had started earlier in the day.Yuvraj picked up his glass of water, taking a slow sip while his eyes stayed on Simran. He set the glass down softly and leaned back in his chair. **"I guess no one's told you,"** he whispered, his voice a dangerous low murmur. **"I don't lose."**Simran leaned in slightly, her eyes locking with his. **"Maybe no one's told you,"** she whispered back, her lips curling into a soft smile. **"Neither do I."**For a brief moment, everything was still, the silent war between them simmering under the surface. The rest of the family remained blissfully unaware, exchanging glances but dismissing the tension as a simple exchange of words.Simran, maintaining her composure, turned back to Rajveer and resumed their conversation as though nothing had happened, effortlessly brushing off the encounter.Yuvraj's smirk faded, his annoyance growing. She had gotten under his skin, and he wasn't used to being dismissed so easily. But one thing was clear—this wasn't over.**"You know, you've got a lot of nerve for someone who's sitting in my house,"** Yuvraj said, his voice low as he leaned closer.Simran didn't flinch. She kept her face neutral, pretending to focus on the food in front of her. **"Your house?"** she whispered, a touch of amusement in her voice. **"I didn't know you owned this mansion."**Yuvraj narrowed his eyes slightly. **"I don't have to own it. I run things around here. You'd do well to remember that."**Simran let out a soft, barely-there laugh. **"Running things... is that what you were doing earlier? Beating up some poor guy? Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were losing control."**Yuvraj's smile faltered for a brief second, and for the first time, a flicker of annoyance crossed his face. But he recovered quickly, his smirk returning. **"Losing control?"** he whispered back, his voice dangerously low. **"Trust me, sweetheart. I was very much in control."**Simran tilted her head slightly, meeting his eyes with a cool, unflinching gaze. **"That's funny,"** she whispered. **"Because I don't remember control looking so... violent."**Yuvraj's smirk faded. His eyes darkened, the playful glint in them replaced with something more serious. **"You don't know anything about me,"** he said quietly, his voice carrying an edge now.Simran's gaze softened, but her words remained sharp. **"You're right. I don't. And from what I've seen, I don't think I want to."**The table remained a peaceful scene of family chatter, but beneath it, the conversation between Simran and Yuvraj was growing more intense. Their words were soft, but they held the weight of a deeper battle—one that neither of them was willing to lose.Yuvraj leaned forward again, this time his voice a little lower, a little rougher. **"You really think you can just walk in here, punch me, and act like it's nothing?"**Simran's lips curled into the faintest of smiles. **"I didn't act like it was nothing. I'm just not wasting time on people who don't matter."**Yuvraj's jaw clenched. *Doesn't matter?* His pride took a hit, and for the first time that night, he felt a surge of real anger. She was dismissing him. Acting as if he wasn't important, wasn't a threat. And that... that was something he wouldn't tolerate.He leaned in closer, his eyes locking onto hers with a fierce intensity. **"You'll regret saying that,"** he whispered, his voice filled with quiet menace.Simran didn't move. Didn't flinch. Her eyes remained calm, her voice steady. **"You'll have to try a lot harder if you want me to regret anything."**As the evening wore on, the family remained blissfully unaware of the war being waged in whispers. To everyone else, Yuvraj and Simran were just two people sharing a dinner table, barely interacting. But to the two of them, the battle lines had already been drawn, and neither of them was willing to back down.The dinner came to a close, and as everyone rose to leave the table, Yuvraj glanced at Simran one last time. She met his gaze head-on, her expression calm, but her eyes held a challenge.*This isn't over,* Yuvraj thought as he turned and walked away, the silent war still raging between them.Simran watched him go, her own thoughts swirling. She knew he was dangerous. She knew he wasn't someone who let things go easily. But she also knew she wasn't someone to be intimidated.As she walked away from the table, one thing was clear: their war of words and stares was just beginning.-