Author POV

Jealousy doesn’t arrive loudly.

It comes quietly…

in small moments…

in unnecessary irritation…

in the way someone’s laugh suddenly feels… wrong.

And Karthik Malhotra, who never cared about anything unnecessary…

was getting irritated.

For no valid reason.

And that annoyed him even more.

Kitchen – Morning

The kitchen was unusually noisy.

Not because of work.

But because of Rohan.

"Bhabhi, if you keep cutting vegetables like this, we will eat dinner in breakfast time."

Rhea tried to hide her smile.

"I’m doing it fast…"

"This is fast?"

He dramatically checked imaginary watch.

"Time has stopped."

Anjali, sitting on the counter again, laughed.

"Rohan, you are jobless."

"Yes, and proud."

Rhea laughed softly this time.

Not forced.

Not scared.

Just… natural.

And that exact moment—

Karthik entered.

He stopped at the door.

Same scene again.

Rhea smiling.

Rohan talking.

Anjali laughing.

Something about it felt… off.

Like he didn’t belong in that moment.

He spoke.

Cold.

"Laughing session over?"

Silence.

Instant.

Rhea’s smile disappeared like it was never there.

Rohan looked at him.

"Good morning to you too."

Karthik ignored him.

"Why are you in kitchen again?"

Rhea answered softly,

"I was helping—"

"I told you, you don’t need to."

"I know…"

"Then stop doing what you know is unnecessary."

Her fingers paused.

Just for a second.

Then continued cutting.

Rohan frowned.

"Bhai, why are you so irritated early morning?"

Karthik looked at him.

"Mind your business."

Rohan smirked.

"This is my entertainment."

Anjali whispered,

"Same."

Karthik picked a glass of water, drank it, but his eyes kept going back to Rhea.

She wasn’t looking at him.

Not once.

And that—

he noticed.

Small Comedy Chaos

Rohan suddenly grabbed a carrot from her plate.

"Bhabhi, quality check."

"Rohan!"

Anjali hit him.

He laughed and took a bite.

Then made a face.

"This is raw."

Rhea blinked.

"It’s supposed to be raw…"

"Oh."

Anjali laughed loudly.

"Idiot."

Karthik exhaled sharply, clearly annoyed.

"This is not a playground."

Rohan replied instantly,

"Then don’t come to playground."

Anjali choked laughing.

Even Rhea couldn’t stop a small smile.

Karthik saw that again.

That same smile.

But not for him.

And this time…

he didn’t ignore it.

Shift – Subtle Tension

"Rhea."

His voice was sharper now.

She immediately looked up.

"Yes…?"

"Bring my file from study."

"Okay…"

She kept the knife down and went.

Rohan watched her go, then looked at Karthik.

"You could’ve asked servant."

Karthik didn’t reply.

"Or you just wanted her to go from here?"

Still no reply.

Rohan leaned closer.

"You don’t like her talking to me?"

That hit.

Karthik looked at him slowly.

"Don’t overestimate yourself."

Rohan smiled.

"Hmm… that means yes."

Karthik walked out without answering.

But that silence said enough.

Study Room

Rhea entered quietly.

She looked around, trying to find the file.

Papers everywhere.

Files stacked.

Nothing organized.

She picked one.

Then another.

"Which one…"

"Left side drawer."

She turned.

Karthik was standing at the door.

She nodded and opened drawer.

Their distance was small again.

Too small for comfort.

She took the file and turned to give him—

Their hands brushed.

Just a second.

But enough to pause both.

She quickly pulled her hand back.

"Here…"

He didn’t take it immediately.

He looked at her.

"You laugh a lot these days."

She got confused.

"What?"

"In kitchen."

"Oh…"

Silence.

She didn’t know what to say.

So she said the safest thing.

"Anjali and Rohan are funny…"

That answer—

he didn’t like.

"Focus on your work."

Her expression changed slightly.

"I was just—"

"I’m not interested in your ‘just’."

That hurt.

She didn’t argue.

Didn’t reply.

Just gave the file and stepped back.

"Anything else?"

Her tone was calm again.

That same calm tone.

Which irritated him more than if she argued.

"No."

She turned to leave.

But he spoke again.

"Don’t get too comfortable."

She stopped.

Slowly turned.

"I’m not."

"For your own good."

That sounded like warning.

Or maybe something else.

She didn’t ask.

She just nodded.

"Okay."

And left.

Author POV

Back in the kitchen, the noise continued.

Rohan was again talking nonsense.

Anjali was again laughing.

Life looked normal.

But something had changed.

Because now—

Karthik wasn’t just watching.

He was reacting.

And Rhea—

was slowly learning how to stay quiet without breaking.

And that combination?

Dangerous.

Because when one starts feeling…

and the other starts pulling away…

the distance doesn’t decrease.

It increases.

Until something big happens.

How was the chp !??

Do you all enjoy 😉.

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Bye!!