{ 🚨Warning: This chapter contains—
• Zero peace
• Maximum teasing
• And one very annoying Nishant Oberoi 😌

Proceed at your own risk.

💬 So tell me... Are you here for the fights 😤 or the tension 😏?
❤️ And if you're already hooked, don't forget to vote—it keeps this story going 🥺✨ }

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Meera's Pov

The next morning arrived far too soon.

I woke up to the sound of my cousins shouting instead of an alarm. Someone was banging on my door like the apocalypse had arrived.

"Meeraaa Di! Wake up!" Tanu's voice carried through the wood. "Breakfast time! Everyone's waiting downstairs!"

I groaned, burying my face in the pillow.
After last night's cousin interrogation, I had spent half the night reliving every embarrassing second with Nishant — the coffee incident, the teasing, the dancing, the wink.

Ugh. The wink.

I sat up, hair a mess, eyes half open, muttering to myself.
"New day. New me. No Oberoi drama."

After a long shower and a questionable attempt at blow-drying my hair, I finally walked downstairs.

The Kapoor house was already buzzing — laughter, chatter, clinking plates. My Chachi, Bani was supervising breakfast like a general commanding troops.

"Good morning, beta," she said, smiling as I entered. "Go sit. I'll send your coffee."

I nodded, scanning the hall.
Big mistake.

Because there he was.

Nishant Oberoi.
In a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up again, hair slightly tousled, laughing with my Chachu, Raghav over something.

And to make it worse, he spotted me almost instantly.

That damned grin spread across his face.

He lifted his cup slightly in greeting.
"Morning, sunshine."

I froze mid-step.
Riya and Tanu, sitting nearby, snorted into their tea.

"Morning," I muttered, sliding into the nearest chair like I was avoiding sniper fire.

Of course, he had to make it worse.
Within seconds, he was beside me, plate in hand.

"Mind if I sit here?" he asked, not really waiting for an answer.

"I mind," I said flatly.

"Too bad." He sat anyway, stealing a toast from my plate.

I gave him a glare sharp enough to cut diamonds. "Seriously?"

He shrugged. "You weren't eating it."

I snatched the toast back and glared harder. "Do you ever not irritate people before breakfast?"

He grinned. "Only the ones who look this cute when they're mad before breakfast."

Riya nearly choked on her orange juice. "Oh my god, Nishant Bhai, behave!"

"Why should he?" Tanu teased. "This is the best entertainment I've had all week."

"Glad to be of service," Nishant said smoothly, ignoring my death stare.

Across the table, my mother looked on fondly.
"You two are still the same. Always bickering since childhood," she said with a sigh. "Just like old times."

"Except now I can talk back," I muttered under my breath.

Nishant smirked, leaning a little closer.
"You sure can. And I've got to say—" his voice dropped, teasing— "you argue beautifully."

I stiffened, resisting the urge to pour juice over his head.

Before I could, my father, Sunil clapped Nishant's shoulder.
"So, beta, how long are you staying? We need you at all the functions!"

"Till the wedding, Uncle," Nishant said. "Can't miss the fun. Especially with such... lively company around."

He shot me a look. I rolled my eyes.

Riya whispered dramatically, "The tension is delicious."

I kicked her under the table.

                                                                  ✨ ☕ ✨

Nishant's Pov

Breakfast at the Kapoors' was exactly how I remembered it — loud, cheerful, and chaotic in the best way. Everyone talking over one another, a dozen different conversations happening at once, the smell of parathas and filter coffee in the air.

Except this time, it wasn't just nostalgia making me smile.
It was her.

Meera Kapoor.

In that soft yellow kurti, with her hair still damp and curling at the ends, she looked like sunlight personified — all warmth and fire at once.
And the best part? She clearly hadn't forgiven me for last night's teasing.

Her eyes narrowed every time I spoke. Her jaw clenched every time I smirked. And honestly? I lived for it.

She sat across from me, pretending to focus on her plate, completely ignoring me — or at least, trying to.
But every now and then, I'd catch her stealing a quick glance, only to look away like I hadn't noticed.
Of course, I did.

God, she was terrible at pretending.

I decided to test her patience a bit more.

I slid into the empty seat beside her and stole her toast — just to see that annoyed little crease appear between her brows.

"Seriously?" she snapped, snatching it back.

I grinned. "You weren't eating it."

She muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like "men are intolerable."

"You know," I said casually, leaning back in my chair, "you get this tiny wrinkle near your nose when you're irritated. It's... kind of cute."

Her head snapped toward me, eyes wide.
Riya choked on her juice. Tanu giggled like she was watching a rom-com in real life.

Mission accomplished.

Across the table, Ananya Aunty laughed. "You two still fight like you're ten years old."

"Except now I win," Meera said quickly, crossing her arms.

I chuckled. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."

Truth be told, though — she had changed.
There was a quiet confidence to her now. The little girl who used to chase me with a stick for stealing her crayons had grown into a woman who could turn a single glare into a challenge.

And I couldn't seem to stop watching her.

When she laughed with her cousins, it filled the whole room. When she looked away, I still caught myself tracing the curve of her smile.

I'd danced with her, teased her, seen her blush, and yet — sitting there, surrounded by our families — something about that moment felt different.
Real.

As she sipped her coffee, trying so hard not to look my way, I leaned in slightly and murmured, just loud enough for her to hear,

"You argue beautifully, you know that?"

{ 💌 Okay tell me —Who's winning this morning battle?👀}

She froze mid-sip, eyes darting toward me, cheeks instantly pink.

Worth it.

I leaned back, smiling to myself as Uncle started talking about the wedding schedule.
For the first time in a long while, I felt something I hadn't expected — the quiet, strange pull of home.

And every time Meera's laughter reached me, I knew exactly why.

                                                                  ✨ ☕ ✨

Meera's Pov

I was trying to enjoy reading my story book when my mom's voice echoed through the hallway like a siren.

"Meeraaa!"

I sighed. "Here we go again."

I walked out to find Ananya Kapoor, my ever-dramatic mother, standing in the middle of the living room with a worried expression.

"Beta, the pooja bangles for Dhwani and Chirag's wedding are missing!" she said, flapping her hands. "The ones we got from Rajsons Jewellers !"

I frowned. "You mean the ones with gold lining and red stones?"

She nodded. "Yes! We checked everywhere. They must have been left at the store. We need them in tomorrow morning pooja."

I groaned softly. "Fine, I'll go get them."

"Good girl." She smiled in relief. "Take Arjun with you."

I turned toward my cousin's room and yelled, "Arjun! You're coming with me!"

A muffled voice came from inside. "Sorry Di! Meeting call in ten minutes!"

I glared at the closed door. "You're the worst brother alive!"

"No argument there!" he yelled back cheerfully.

I turned back to my Mumma. "Great. I'll go alone."

Her eyes widened in horror. "Alone? Absolutely not, Meera! It's not safe."

"I'm not five, Mumma."

Before she could reply, a familiar baritone chimed in from behind.

"I can go with her, Aunty."

I froze.
Of course.
Because fate clearly enjoyed humiliating me.

I turned slowly to find Nishant Oberoi standing near the staircase, hands in pockets, wearing a light grey T-shirt and jeans, hair slightly tousled — like he'd stepped out of a lifestyle magazine.

My mother's face lit up like Diwali.
"Perfect! Nishant beta, please go with her. "

I blinked. "Mom, that's not—"

"Done!" Ananya declared, cutting me off. "Both of you, go get the bangles and maybe pick up some fresh flowers from the market. Take my car."

Nishant gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

I groaned. "This is not happening."

He smiled, utterly unbothered. "It's definitely happening. Come on, Miss Bangle Duty."

"Don't call me that."

He leaned closer, his voice teasing. "Fine. Then what should I call you? Miss Coffee Spill? Miss Dance Disaster?"

I glared. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"Only because you make it so easy."

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Nishant's Pov

Honestly? I hadn't planned on going anywhere this morning.

I'd just stepped out of my room, planning to call my parents — check in, update them about all the chaos here — when I heard Meera's voice from the hall, sharp and exasperated.

Something about missing bangles and unhelpful cousins.

So naturally... I volunteered.

Was it purely to be helpful? Maybe.
Was it also to see that adorable scowl on her face again? Definitely.

Ananya Aunty was thrilled. Meera — not so much.

She looked at me like I'd just announced I was her new math teacher.

When her mom handed her the car keys, Meera sighed like she was accepting her tragic fate.
"Fine. Let's go before I change my mind."

"Gladly," I said, following her out.

As we walked toward the car, she muttered something under her breath about "cosmic punishment" and "annoying Oberois."

I pretended not to hear — mostly because her irritation was adorable.

"Relax," I said, sliding into the passenger seat as she got behind the wheel. "It's just a quick drive."

She shot me a look. "You say that now. Wait till you experience Bangalore traffic."

I grinned. "I've survived London rush hour. I think I'll live."

She turned the ignition, jaw tight. "Let's see if your confidence lasts till Rajsons."

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Meera's Pov

Ten minutes into the drive, I realized why my mother had sent him — he talked nonstop.

He'd already commented on my driving ("Surprisingly good for someone who once drove a scooter into a bush"), my playlist ("You still listen to old Bollywood? That's cute."), and my navigation skills ("You missed a turn, but it's fine, I like detours").

I gripped the steering wheel tighter. "If you keep talking, I might miss a turn on purpose."

He laughed, completely unfazed. "You've gotten sassier. I like it."

"Remind me again why I agreed to this?"

"Because you secretly enjoy my company?"

I turned and gave him a flat look. "In your dreams."

"Exactly where you've been lately," he said with a wink.

{ 💌 Do you think Meera secretly enjoys this banter? 👀

Or is she one step away from throwing him out of the car? 😂}

I nearly braked on instinct. "Excuse me?!"

He laughed, holding up his hands. "Joking! Relax, Miss Overreact."

"I'm regretting this entire morning."

"No, you're not," he said softly, glancing at me. "You just won't admit you're having fun."

I didn't reply.
Mostly because I wasn't sure if he was wrong.

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Nishant's Pov

The little bell above the shop door chimed as we stepped inside Rajsons Jewellers.
It smelled faintly of sandalwood and new metal — polished gold gleaming under warm lights.

The owner wasn't in yet, so the assistant politely said, "Sir, Ma'am, please wait a few minutes. Mr. Raj will be back shortly with the set you mentioned."

I nodded. "Sure."

Meera gave a small sigh, walking toward one of the display counters lined with hundreds of bangles — gold, glass, stone-studded, every shade of shimmer imaginable.

She wasn't even trying to look interested, but her gaze betrayed her.
Her fingers hovered above a Jewellery Set — a delicate one, Diamonds with tiny stones that caught the light perfectly.

Her eyes softened for a fraction of a second.

I noticed.
Of course I noticed.

She quickly pulled her hand back and looked away, pretending to study another section.

But that one moment stayed with me.

                                                                  ✨ ☕ ✨

Meera's Pov

While waiting for the owner, I absentmindedly looked at the Jewellery Set near the counter.
There was one — thin, elegant, a delicate one, Diamonds with tiny stones — that somehow caught my attention.

I don't even know why.
I wasn't that type girl.

Still, I picked it up for a second, turning it under the light.

It sparkled softly, beautiful but unnecessary.

What will I even do with this? I thought, setting it back. I barely wear Jewellery unless Mom forces me to.

And the matching bangles wasn't there anyway. What's the point of buying?

                                                                  ✨ ☕ ✨

Nishant's Pov

She placed it down, trying to act indifferent.

I leaned against the counter beside her, watching her from the corner of my eye.
"You should get that," I said casually.

She turned to me, brows raised. "Get what?"

I pointed at the same bangle. "That one. You were practically smiling at it."

Her eyes widened slightly. "I wasn't smiling at it!"

"Sure," I teased. "You were glaring lovingly, maybe."

She sighed, shaking her head. "I don't even these Jewellery Sets, Nishant. Besides, the matching bangles isn't here."

"Who cares about matching sets?" I said. "Sometimes one thing is enough to make a statement."

Before she could retort, the shopkeeper — a middle-aged man with a mischievous smile — joined the conversation.

"If your husband insists, ma'am, you should buy it," he said warmly. "Not every man brings his wife for jewellery shopping these days."

{ 💌 SCREAMING— did you see that?! 😂

Should Meera have corrected him... or just gone with it? 😏}

Meera froze. "He's not—!"

I coughed lightly, hiding a grin. "That's okay, uncle. I'll make sure she gets it next time."

Her eyes flashed at me. "You're impossible."

The shopkeeper chuckled and turned away.

Before I could tease her further, Mr. Raj finally arrived holding a velvet box.
"Sir, ma'am — here are the Disha-Chirag wedding bangles you ordered."

Meera exhaled in relief. "Finally."

She checked the bangles carefully, thanked the owner, and started walking toward the exit.

I followed her out, but just as she stepped outside, I turned back.

"Excuse me," I murmured to the owner, nodding toward the counter. "Could you please pack that Jewelry set — the one she was looking at and get me a pair matching bangles to it."

He smiled knowingly. "Of course, sir. Shall I wrap it discreetly?"

"Yes," I said quietly, slipping him my card. "It's a gift."

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Meera's Pov

Outside, I waited near the car, scrolling through my phone, completely unaware of what he was up to inside.

When Nishant finally came out, he was carrying just the pooja bangle box and his phone in his hand.

"Took you long enough," I said.

"Had to settle the bill," he replied smoothly, opening the car door for me.

I frowned. "You didn't even buy anything."

He smiled faintly. "Not yet."

"What?"

"Nothing," he said.

I gave him a suspicious.

A tiny satisfied smile tugging at his lips.

And I had no idea that the Jewelry I'd just dismissed was now wrapped in soft paper inside a velvet box.

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