Pyaar ki Takrar

Chapter 29: Love and Protection

The days that followed were a whirlwind of emotions for Twinkle. With Neil's looming threat, her family’s support, and the growing bond with Kunj, she felt pulled in multiple directions. Yet, somewhere in the chaos, something beautiful was blooming between her and Kunj.

Leela had stayed true to her word, keeping a watchful eye on Twinkle. The Sarnas were on high alert, too, and Kunj was practically glued to her side. If Neil wanted to come near Twinkle again, he'd have to get through her entire family first.

But amidst all this tension, there were moments—stolen moments—when Twinkle and Kunj could just be them. The newfound closeness was something neither of them could ignore anymore.

---

A Quiet Morning

It was early, the sun just beginning to rise. Twinkle stretched in bed, the soft sheets tangled around her legs. She turned to see Kunj still fast asleep beside her, his hair messily falling over his forehead, his face relaxed in the early morning light.

She couldn’t help but smile. The man who once irritated her to no end had become her rock, her protector, and maybe… just maybe, something more. Twinkle’s heart fluttered at the thought.

She carefully slid out of bed, trying not to wake him, and padded over to the window. The sky was painted in soft hues of pink and orange, a peaceful contrast to the chaos of the past few days. For the first time in a while, she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, she felt a pair of warm hands wrap around her waist from behind. Twinkle’s breath hitched as Kunj pulled her back against him, his chest warm against her back.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

Twinkle’s heart skipped a beat. "Good morning," she whispered, a soft smile playing on her lips.

Kunj rested his chin on her shoulder, looking out at the sunrise with her. "I like this… waking up with you, standing here like this."

Twinkle’s cheeks flushed. She wasn’t used to this side of Kunj—the soft, tender side that made her feel like the only person in the world.

"Me too," she admitted quietly, leaning back into him.

They stood like that for a while, just enjoying the peaceful moment, neither of them saying a word. It was a rare, perfect moment of silence amidst the storm brewing around them.

But, of course, the moment couldn’t last forever.

---

Unexpected Guests

The peace of the morning was shattered by the loud ringing of the doorbell. Twinkle jumped, startled out of her reverie.

"Ab kaun aa gaya?" Kunj muttered, reluctantly pulling away from her.

Twinkle chuckled softly. "Lagta hai, aaj sab ko subah jaldi hai."

They quickly got dressed and headed downstairs, where Leela and Usha were already by the door, looking equally surprised.

When Usha opened the door, a tall, elegant woman with sharp features and expensive clothes stood on the doorstep, flanked by two stern-looking men.

"Maya!" Usha exclaimed in shock.

Twinkle froze in place. Maya? Kunj’s badi bua? Twinkle had heard of her but never met her in person. Maya Sarna was known for her fierce personality and, apparently, her ability to make grown men tremble with a single look.

"Kaisi ho, Usha?" Maya asked with a thin smile as she stepped inside, her eyes sweeping across the room.

"Maya bua," Kunj greeted her, clearly surprised by her sudden appearance. "Aap yahan?"

Maya raised an eyebrow. "I heard some troubling things, Kunj. About Neil coming back into the picture. I thought it was time I stepped in."

Twinkle stiffened at the mention of Neil’s name. She hadn’t expected Maya to show up like this.

Leela, standing next to Twinkle, exchanged a wary glance with Usha. Maya had always been a bit of a wildcard in the family, and her sudden arrival could only mean one thing: more drama.

"Neil is none of your concern," Kunj said, his tone clipped. "We have everything under control."

Maya’s sharp eyes flicked to Twinkle, studying her intently. "Control? I doubt that. This girl has a history with Neil, doesn’t she? And now he’s trying to come back into her life? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."

Twinkle felt a surge of anger rise in her chest. Who was Maya to talk about her like that? She was about to speak up when Kunj stepped forward, placing a protective hand on her shoulder.

"Bua," Kunj said, his voice calm but firm, "Twinkle is my wife. Whatever happened between her and Neil is in the past. And we’re dealing with it."

Maya’s expression didn’t change, but Twinkle could tell she wasn’t convinced. "I hope you’re right, Kunj. Because if Neil causes any more trouble, it could ruin our family’s reputation."

Twinkle clenched her fists, her frustration bubbling over. "Neil won’t ruin anything," she said, her voice steady. "We’re not going to let him."

Maya’s gaze flicked to Twinkle, her lips curving into a slight smile. "Good. I hope you can keep that promise."

With that, she turned and walked toward the living room, leaving a tense silence in her wake.

---

The Unspoken Tension

Later that afternoon, the house was buzzing with tension. Maya had made herself at home, subtly questioning everything about Twinkle and Kunj’s marriage. Leela and Usha did their best to keep things calm, but it was clear that Maya wasn’t going to leave without stirring up some trouble.

Twinkle found herself in the kitchen, chopping vegetables for dinner, trying to keep her mind off of Maya’s judgmental stares and sharp comments. But it was easier said than done.

As she chopped, she didn’t notice Kunj slip into the kitchen behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him like he had that morning.

"Kya kar rahe ho?" Twinkle asked, her voice soft as she leaned into him.

"Just reminding you that I’m here," Kunj murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck.

Twinkle’s heart fluttered. "Kunj…"

"Ignore her," he said quietly. "Maya bua likes to stir the pot, but she doesn’t know anything about us. She can’t come between us."

Twinkle sighed, closing her eyes. "I know, but it’s still hard to hear her talk about us like that."

Kunj turned her around to face him, cupping her face in his hands. "You’re stronger than this, Twinkle. We’ve faced worse, and we’ll get through this too. Together."

Twinkle smiled softly, her heart swelling with affection. "I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Kunj grinned, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Lucky for you, you’ll never have to find out."

Twinkle laughed softly, resting her head against his chest. In that moment, with Kunj holding her so close, the tension of the day seemed to melt away.

No matter what Maya or anyone else said, Twinkle knew that she and Kunj were stronger together. And as long as they had each other, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.