Upto Chance

Part 20

Throughout the car ride, Ragini kept stealing glances at Karanveer, her mind racing with questions she couldn't bring herself to ask. Karanveer, noticing her restless energy, squinted slightly, his mind whirring with a guess. He wasn't sure what she was thinking, but he figured teasing her would break the tension.

"You know, biwi," Karanveer began, putting on a mock-serious face, 

"I've been thinking, what do you think mermaids would prefer—to swim or fly?"

Ragini shot him a confused look. 

"Fly? Mermaids don't fly, they swim," she corrected, barely paying attention as she stared out the window.

"Ah, but see, that's the problem!" Karanveer's smirk widened, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "There are some people out there who are genuinely upset that fish can't fly."

"What nonsense..." Ragini started, about to dismiss his comment, but she froze halfway through, her eyes widening as a vague memory from last night surfaced—her trying to explain to him, while clearly tipsy, why it was tragic that fish couldn't fly

Karanveer was watching her closely and the moment he saw realization dawn on her face, he couldn't hold back his laughter. 

"What's wrong? Not going to defend why fish should fly" he teased, his voice shaking with laughter.

Ragini groaned in embarrassment, burying her face in her hands.

"Shut up!" she muttered, turning her face away to avoid the teasing. But inwardly, she wondered why she had behaved so strangely the night before. What had caused her to act like that?

As if reading her mind, Karanveer spoke again, a grin still on his face. 

"You were drunk, that's why."

Ragini shot him a sharp look. "I wasn't drunk," she said defensively, but then faltered. 

"Wait... how do you know what I was thinking?"

Karanveer shrugged casually, still teasing her. "Superpower," he said, winking as he glanced at her.

Ragini made a face, clearly not amused. After a few moments of silence, she murmured, almost to herself, 

"But I didn't drink... not even a drop."

Karanveer's playful expression faded, replaced by surprise. He looked at her carefully now. "What?" he asked, his tone serious. He was about to say something but stopped, thinking hard.

"If you didn't drink," he finally said, his voice low and edged with concern, "then someone spiked your drink." His jaw clenched in anger as the realization hit him.

Ragini, now realizing the gravity of the situation, also thought back. Who could have done that? Her mind raced through the events of the previous night, but no clear answers surfaced.

As they pulled up to the house, they both stepped out, still heavy with the thoughts of what had transpired. 

Inside, Dadaji was seated in the hall, waiting patiently for them. His face lit up when he saw them enter, his old eyes filled with warmth and concern.

"How are you, beta?" Dadaji asked, his voice steady but filled with worry as he looked at Karanveer.

Karanveer gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Dadaji. Just a small strain, nothing serious," he replied, trying to brush off the concern. 

After a few moments of light conversation, Ragini excused herself and made her way to the kitchen.

As she entered, the familiar scent of spices and the calm routine of preparing a meal brought her some much-needed solace.