Whispers of Destiny.

CHAPTER 5

Nina's POV

The next morning, the house was buzzing with excitement. Ganpati festival prep was in full swing, and the entire family was involved. Myesha was running around with decorations, while 

Akshay helped string lights across the courtyard. The children, of course, were more interested in playing with the glitter and flowers than actually helping, but their laughter added a joyful energy to the air. I felt at ease, watching everyone work together. It was like the old days when we all used to gather here as one big family before life took us in different directions.

Harsh and I had returned late last night from the market and the studio, and today he was back, blending into the chaos as if he'd always been part of the family. He chatted with my cousins, shared stories with my uncles, and even managed to charm my mom, who was usually pretty reserved around new people.

After a hearty breakfast, the kids ran around excitedly, trying to decide who would help with what. My youngest cousin, Arjun, tugged at my hand. "Nina Didi, tell us a story while we help with the Modak! Please!" he begged, his wide eyes impossible to resist.

"Alright, alright," I laughed, ruffling his hair. "Gather the others, and I'll tell you one while we work."

We all gathered around the dining table where the ingredients for Modak were laid out. Harsh slid in beside me, his shoulder brushing against mine, sending a spark up my arm.

"I'm curious to hear this legendary story too," he said, his voice teasing.

I gave him a playful glare. "Don't get your hopes up, it's just a simple story from when we were kids."

As we started shaping the Modak, the children eagerly listened, and memories of my childhood here started flooding back. I recalled the long summer vacations spent with cousins, the midnight games of hide-and-seek, and the way Nani used to spoil us all with sweets.

Just then, my Nani, who had been quietly sitting in a corner, spoke up. "You know, Nina, you and Harsh used to play together when you were little."

I froze, surprised. Harsh looked equally taken aback."Wait... what?" I turned to her, confused. "I don't remember that."

Nani chuckled, her wrinkled face lighting up with amusement. "Of course, you don't. You were both very young. Harsh's family used to visit during the holidays. You two were inseparable—always running around the house, hiding in the gardens, getting into trouble."

Harsh raised an eyebrow, leaning in a little closer. "Guess we've known each other longer than we thought," he said, his voice soft but with that familiar playful edge.

I laughed, feeling a warm blush creep up my cheeks. "Seems like it. Why didn't anyone tell us earlier?"

Nani just smiled knowingly and went back to her knitting, as if she'd revealed some grand secret that no one had bothered to mention for decades. The thought of Harsh and me, back then as kids, running around this very house together, felt strange yet oddly comforting. It was as if our paths were always meant to cross, even if we hadn't realized it until now.

As the afternoon rolled on, the preparations continued in full swing. The courtyard was now decked out with marigolds, bright lights, and lanterns. The smell of incense and flowers filled the air, blending with the scent of sweets being prepared inside.

Harsh stayed close, helping wherever he could. There was an easy rhythm between us now, the playful banter mixed with comfortable silences. At one point, as we stood in the courtyard arranging the last of the flowers, he leaned in slightly, his voice low.

"Seems like fate had us planned out from the start, huh?"

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "Or maybe Nani's just messing with us."

"Could be," he grinned, his hand brushing against mine as he passed me another string of flowers. There was a tension between us, but the good kind. The kind that makes your heart race just a little faster.

Just when the moment felt like it could stretch into something more, we heard the sound of a car pulling up to the house. My brother Akshay, who had been setting up the sound system, looked up and broke into a wide smile. "Oh, here he is!"

I glanced at Harsh, who raised an eyebrow in question. "Who?"

"My best friend, Vikram. He's staying with us for the festival," Akshay explained, excitement clear in his voice.

Vikram stepped out of the car, a tall, good-looking guy with an easy smile. He was the kind of person who immediately commanded attention, and I could see why Akshay was so thrilled to have him here.

"Nina!" Vikram greeted me warmly, giving me a quick hug. "It's been too long!"

I returned the hug, smiling. "Yeah, it has. Welcome back!"

Vikram's energy was infectious, and soon he was mingling with everyone, catching up with the family, sharing jokes with Akshay, and even charming the kids with his animated stories. It was like he'd never been away.

I noticed Harsh standing a little off to the side, his easygoing smile from earlier now slightly faded. He watched as Vikram and I caught up, his eyes narrowing just a bit when Vikram playfully bumped my shoulder or made me laugh.

"You alright?" I asked, walking over to him during a quiet moment.

He shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, just... getting used to all the new faces."

I raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "You sure? You seemed pretty comfortable earlier."

Harsh gave me a sidelong glance, his jaw tightening just slightly. "It's nothing. Just... it's hard not to notice how close you and Vikram are."

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden hint of jealousy in his voice. "Vikram's just an old friend, Harsh. There's nothing more to it."

Harsh nodded, but his eyes remained on Vikram, who was now helping Akshay set up more decorations. "I get that. It's just—" He paused, then let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Forget it. I'm just being ridiculous."

I touched his arm lightly, feeling a little guilty for some reason. "You're not. But there's really nothing to worry about. Vikram's like a brother to me."

Harsh finally looked at me, his expression softening. "Alright. I'll try to remember that."

Before I could say anything more, Vikram called out to me from across the courtyard. "Nina! Come over here, you've got to see this!"

Harsh's eyes followed mine, and I felt the tension between us simmering beneath the surface. There was something there, something unspoken. But before I could untangle it, the evening swept us up again in the preparations, the chatter, and the laughter of family and friends.

As the day wore on and the Ganpati decorations neared completion, I couldn't shake the feeling that things between Harsh and me had shifted—just slightly—but enough for me to notice.

And as for Vikram's arrival? It felt like a storm was brewing, though I couldn't quite see where it was headed yet.

big one uh