BOOK 1 OF THE UNEXPECTED SERIES
In a world where tradition clashes with modernity, Vaidehi is a modern-day princess bound by society's rigid expectations.
Saransh, a brooding prince with a shadowed past, one he's not keen to reveal. Despite his nobl...
It took me the whole night to write this chapter accurately, definitely one of the most difficult chapters I have written so far.
Uff, mai toh thak gayi bhaisahab!
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The hotel we came in for dinner was breathtaking. We stepped into it's rooftop restaurant, and the first thing I noticed was the view. The park stretched out below like a sea of green, city lights twinkling, as a soft night breeze curled around us.
Live singers performed at the far end of the rooftop, their voices a perfect harmony with the hum of conversations and the clinking of glasses. A few couples swayed on the dance floor, lost in the moment.
We chose a cozy corner seat near the railing, a quiet place with the best view and the moment settled in.
The menus were passed around quickly, pages flipping as everyone scanned through their choices. The waiter arrived within minutes, poised with a notepad in hand, patiently taking everyone's orders one by one.
As soon as the last person spoke, the attention shifted toward me.
"And for you, ma'am?" the waiter asked, pen hovering expectantly over his notepad.
I hesitated, my fingers curling into the edge of the table. I could feel the weight of their gazes—my brothers, Rhea, Anay. They were waiting. Expecting.
But I shook my head, forcing a small smile. "Oh, nothing for me." My voice was even, controlled. Casual, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Silence stretched across the table, thick and heavy. I knew they understood.
Anay's hand stilled on his glass. Rhea's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but she stayed quiet, her lips pressing together as if she was holding back words she knew I wouldn't want to hear. My brothers exchanged glances—subtle, almost imperceptible, but I caught it.
They knew. And worse, I knew they knew.
Guilt settled like a stone in my stomach, pressing down on me. I had eaten breakfast. I had eaten lunch. That was enough. More than enough. Anything else felt like too much. Like I was taking more than I deserved.
But then Himanshu spoke.
"Why are you not having anything?" His voice was casual, but Saransh turned to look at me with curiosity, suspicion even. Unlike the others, they hadn't yet caught on.
My pulse quickened.
Before I could stumble over an excuse, Rhea jumped in.
"Oh, we're sharing," she said quickly, flashing a practiced smile. "Me and Vaidehi. We always do."
I nodded without missing a beat, my voice light, almost convincing. "Yeah, yeah, we usually share," I added, waving it off as if it were nothing.
For a moment, Saransh studied me, his brows slightly furrowed. But then Rhea turned towards Himanshu, steering the conversation in a different direction, and just like that, the tension in the air dissolved.
