04

4. Raindrops and Reckonings

{ 😏 One car. One storm. Two people who refuse to act normal around each other.

What could possibly go wrong? 👀

💬 Do you think this night will bring them closer... or push them apart?
❤️ Vote if you're already loving their chemistry! }

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Meera's Pov

The sky had turned grey by the time we stepped out of the jewellery shop.
Of course. Because why wouldn't it rain right when I'm wearing sandals and holding an armful of shopping bags?

Nishant opened the car door with that maddeningly smug grin of his.
"Ladies first," he said.
"I can open my own door," I muttered, slipping in anyway.

By the time he got in, the first drops had started to fall — light, playful splashes on the windshield. He leaned back, rolled his sleeves, and for a moment, the car filled with the quiet hum of rain and soft music from the radio.

I stared out the window, pretending to be fascinated by the raindrops. But my mind wasn't cooperating. It kept replaying the shopkeeper's words — "If your husband insists..."
Ugh. As if.

Still, there had been something about the way Nishant had looked at me back there — teasing, yes, but also strangely... gentle?
No. I shook the thought away. He was Nishant Oberoi — professional flirt, part-time nuisance. End of story.

Except... why was he so quiet now?

{ 💌💬 Why do you think Nishant suddenly went quiet? 👀

Planning something... or feeling something?}

                                                                  ✨ ☕ ✨

Nishant's Pov

She was staring out the window again.
Which would've been fine if she didn't look so damn adorable doing it.
Raindrops danced on the glass, and every few seconds, she'd tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, sigh, then pretend she wasn't aware I was looking.

I wanted to tell her I'd already bought that Jewellery for her — that I'd seen the exact moment she fell for it even if she wouldn't admit it. But no. The timing wasn't right.

Instead, I settled for what I do best — teasing.

"You know," I said, breaking the silence, "you were practically glaring at that poor shopkeeper when he called me your husband."

She snapped her head toward me. "Because it was ridiculous!"

I grinned. "You didn't deny it right away though."

Her eyes widened. "Oh my god, you—"

"Relax, Meera. You're blushing. Again."

{ 💌💬 Was that teasing... or flirting? 😏 And did Meera actually blush?}

"I'm not!"

"Right. And it's not raining either."

She crossed her arms, glaring out the window again — but there was a tiny twitch at the corner of her lips. A half-suppressed smile.

                                                                  ✨ ☕ ✨

Meera's Pov

I tried not to smile, I really did.
But something about the way he said my name, the lazy grin in his voice—it made it impossible to stay annoyed.

Later, The rain had turned into a soft rhythm against the car roof — the kind that makes you want to close your eyes and just breathe.
For once, Nishant wasn't teasing. He was just driving — one hand on the wheel, the other tapping absently to the music.

And honestly... it was peaceful.
Too peaceful. Suspiciously peaceful.

So when a file suddenly slid off the dashboard and hit my knee, I almost jumped.
"What the—" I bent forward to grab it, and just then —

BAM.

The car jolted as we went over a pitch deck in the road. My forehead was milliseconds away from becoming best friends with the dashboard—

—but a strong hand caught me by the shoulder and pulled me back.

For a moment, everything froze.

His arm was around me, holding me steady against him. The faint scent of his cologne mixed with rain and leather. His thumb brushed against my collarbone — probably by accident, but my brain refused to file it under "accident."

"Careful," he said, voice low, the kind that somehow made the air feel warmer. "Trying to crack your head open already?"

I blinked, realizing my face was way too close to his chest.
"I—I wasn't expecting— that bump came out of nowhere!"

He smirked. "So did you."

I pushed him lightly, cheeks burning. "You could've just warned me!"

"I did. Three seconds ago. You were busy glaring at the rain like it offended you."

{ 💌❤️ That save though—smooth or dangerous?

💬 Would you push him away... or freeze like Meera?}

"I was not glaring—"

He grinned wider. "Fine. You were... adorably concentrating."

I groaned. "You're impossible."

"Maybe," he said, eyes still on the road. "But at least I saved your face. Pretty thing like that shouldn't meet a dashboard."

{ 💌💬 SOMEONE STOP HIM—how is Meera supposed to stay mad now?! 😩

Is Nishant crossing the line... or winning her over?}

My breath caught.
"You're unbelievable."

He chuckled. "You keep saying that like it's an insult."

I turned toward the window again, pretending to be annoyed — though my pulse had other plans.
Outside, the rain had slowed. Inside, my heartbeat hadn't.

                                                                  ✨ ☕ ✨

Nishant's Pov

She didn't speak for the next few minutes. Probably embarrassed. Or mad.
But every now and then, I saw her reflection on the window — that slight pout, the way she bit her lip, like she was trying not to smile.

God, she made silence feel like a challenge.

I wanted to tease her again — maybe say something reckless — but instead, I just said softly, "You okay?"

She looked at me, eyes a little softer this time. "Yeah... thanks."

And for once, she meant it.

Meera's Pov

The rain, which had started off like a cinematic drizzle, was now turning into full-blown chaos.
Wipers struggled against the downpour, and even the headlights looked useless against the white curtain of water outside.

"Uh... Nishant?" I said, tightening my seatbelt. "Is it just me, or are those cars stopped?"

He slowed down, jaw tightening slightly as we came to a long, unmoving line of vehicles.
"Yeah," he said after a pause. "Looks like the highway's flooded up ahead."

{ 💌 💬 UH OH 👀 what do you think happens next? 

Stranded chaos... or something romantic?}

I stared at him. "Flooded? As in— we can't go through?"

"Exactly that."

"Are you kidding me? Nishant, we have to reach home before the pooja—"

He cut me off with a calm smile. "Relax, drama queen. The pooja's tomorrow at nine. We'll be there way before that."

I frowned, grabbing my phone. "Still! What if the roads don't clear? What if—"

"What if you stop worrying for five minutes?"
He threw me a sideways look, one corner of his mouth lifting. "I promise, we won't be doing the pooja here on the highway."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "You're way too calm for someone who's stranded in the middle of nowhere."

He shrugged. "Because panicking won't make the rain stop, sweetheart."

And then, as if the universe wanted to mock me, the thunder cracked — loud and dramatic.

"Okay, fine!" I said, crossing my arms. "What now, Mr. Calm-and-Collected?"

He smiled faintly. "Relax. We'll find a place nearby, wait out the storm, and leave at sunrise."

{ 💌ONE ROOM TROPE incoming?! 😳
Are you ready for what's about to happen next? }

Before I could argue, he nodded toward my phone. "Call your mom. She'll panic if we just vanish."

He wasn't wrong.
I dialed Mumma's number and put the phone on speaker.

"Hello, Mumma?"

"Meera! Where are you, beta?  Did you leave the highway?"

I swallowed. "We did, but the main road is blocked. It's really bad. We thought we'd stop nearby for the night."

"Oh no," she said, her tone full of worry. "Is there a hotel close by?"

Nishant leaned in slightly and spoke up, "Yes, Aunty. We found one just a few kilometers back. It's clean and safe — I'll make sure Meera's comfortable. We'll head back as soon as the roads clear."

"Oh, Nishant!" she exclaimed, relief clear in her voice. "I'm so glad you're with her. Please, you both stay nearby — don't try driving in this weather. I'll tell your uncle you're safe."

"Of course, Aunty," he said smoothly. "Promise I'll take good care of her."

I slapped his arm. Hard.

"Careful," I hissed, covering the phone. "You make it sound like I need supervision."

He grinned. "You do. Someone has to stop you from punching hotel managers."

"Maa, we'll call you again in the morning," I said quickly before she could pick up on the background banter. "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, beta. Nishant, take care of her!"

"Always do," he said with a wink.

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👀 And now it gets interesting... one night, one room, and a storm outside.

💬 Are you ready for their "stuck together" era?
👉  What do you think happens at the hotel?
👉 Will this bring them closer... or make things messier? 😏

❤️ Vote if you felt the chemistry and tension!
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