Chapter 15 – Flames and Laughter
सुबह की हँसी, शरारती बातें,
हर पल में तेरी यादें साथ लाते।
रसोई की हलचल भी लग रही प्यारी,
तेरे संग हर लम्हा बन गया हमारी।
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the Khanna residence. The house was quieter than usual, the relatives having gone out for errands and casual visits. Trisha stretched on her bed, yawning, feeling unusually light after the previous night's closeness. Her thoughts kept returning to Abhineet—his steady gaze, the warmth of his hand, the gentle brush of his lips on her forehead.
For the first time in her life, she woke with a flutter of excitement instead of anxiety.
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Abhineet appeared at her door, his tall frame framed by the morning light. "Morning," he said softly, a hint of amusement in his deep voice.
"Morning," she replied, smiling shyly.
He stepped inside, holding two cups of steaming cocoa. "Thought you might want something warm before breakfast."
Trisha's lips curved. "You didn't have to."
"I know," he said, placing the cups beside her. "But I wanted to."
There was a moment of silence, the air thick with something unspoken. She noticed the faint tilt of his head, the subtle intensity in his gaze, and the way his presence seemed to fill the room without a word.
---
They moved to the balcony, sipping cocoa as the city hummed softly below. Trisha felt unusually bold. "Do you… ever get tired of… being so serious?"
Abhineet raised an eyebrow. "Serious?"
"Yes. All the time. You're always… composed, calm, protective. Don't you ever… relax?"
A small smirk tugged at his lips. "I relax. Just… not always in front of everyone."
"Hmm," she murmured, amused. "So, I'm the lucky one who gets to see this side of you?"
"You might be," he replied casually, though his dark eyes betrayed a flicker of interest.
Trisha laughed softly, feeling lighter than she had in years. The laughter sparked something between them—a small, playful tension that hadn't been there before.
---
Later, she decided to bake again, this time experimenting with a more complicated chocolate roulade. The kitchen became a battlefield of flour, cocoa, and spilled sugar, with Trisha frantically whisking and Abhineet silently observing.
"You're… dangerously messy again," he teased, leaning against the counter.
"Don't remind me!" she said, laughing as sugar dusted her hair.
He stepped forward, brushing a stray strand from her face. "I'm serious," he said softly. "You could start a storm in here and I wouldn't complain."
Her heart skipped. The tone was teasing but carried an undercurrent of intensity. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the whisk.
"You're making it sound like I'm reckless," she murmured.
"I mean… it's charming," he said, voice low. "And a little distracting."
Trisha laughed, cheeks warming. The light humor softened the tension in the room, but the subtle sparks between them were unmistakable.
---
The roulade came out slightly imperfect, edges a little overcooked, but the taste was divine. Abhineet took a bite, his expression calm but his eyes watching her reaction carefully.
"Not bad," he said, tone neutral.
She frowned. "Not bad?"
He smirked faintly. "Actually… very good. Maybe better than mine."
Her laugh rang out, genuine and bright. The kitchen felt warmer, more intimate, the awkwardness of newlyweds dissolving into playful banter.
---
As the afternoon faded into evening, the rain returned, gentle and rhythmic. Trisha and Abhineet moved to the balcony again, their shoulders brushing lightly as they leaned against the railing. The scent of wet earth and jasmine mingled around them.
"Do you… ever think about us?" Trisha asked softly, voice barely audible.
Abhineet's gaze met hers, intense and unflinching. "All the time," he murmured.
Her chest fluttered. "And…?"
"And I like what I see," he said simply, his hand brushing against hers. "I like the way you laugh, the way you trust me, the way you… are."
The honesty in his words sent a shiver through her. She felt the heat building in her chest again—the same fire from previous nights, now fanned gently by playful humor and shared warmth.
---
A sudden gust of wind blew the umbrella on the balcony slightly, making her stumble. Before she could react, Abhineet caught her, pulling her close. Their foreheads touched lightly, breaths mingling.
"You're like a storm," he murmured softly.
Trisha's lips parted, words failing. Instead, she leaned slightly closer, heart pounding.
He didn't push, didn't demand anything. He simply let the closeness exist, allowing the tension to build naturally. Her fingers brushed his hand again, a tentative touch that he welcomed with subtle intensity.
For the first time, Trisha realized she didn't want to pull away. She wanted this intimacy, this silent acknowledgment of desire and trust.
---
The night deepened. They moved back inside, still sharing quiet touches, lingering glances, and soft laughter. Abhineet rested an arm on the back of her chair as she sipped cocoa, close enough that their breaths mingled, but careful to maintain respect and patience.
The fire between them burned brighter—not reckless, but steady, passionate yet safe. Trisha felt herself leaning into it, slowly letting go of fear, allowing desire and trust to coexist.
Before leaving, he bent down, brushing a light, fleeting kiss on her temple—a tender, intimate gesture that made her shiver.
"Goodnight," he whispered.
"Goodnight," she breathed, heart pounding, realizing that the playful humor, shared warmth, and gentle passion had created a bond deeper than either of them had expected.
हँसी के बीच छुपी थी तन्हाई की लौ,
तेरी नज़रों में मिला सुकून का सौगात।
दिन की शरारतें ढल गईं खामोशी में,
रात ने बाँधी दिलों की बात।
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✨ End of Chapter 15 ✨
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