Rhea POV

Seriously… what problem do these people have with kitchen?

I stood near the stove, stirring tea slowly while the servant was literally standing right next to me doing nothing.

Matlab main yaha kaam karu toh problem… na karu toh bhi problem… exactly chahte kya hai ye log?

Yesterday also—

“Don’t go to kitchen.”

“Servants are there.”

“Sit properly.”

“Behave properly.”

Arre bhai, manual de do na ek proper— Malhotra Family Rule Book.

I almost smiled at my own thought.

Then immediately stopped.

Because smiling here also sometimes feels illegal.

I sighed softly and poured tea into cups.

Aur sabse funny part? Jab main kitchen mein hoti hu tab problem… aur jab bahar jaati hu tab bhi problem.

Nice.

Very nice.

Kitchen – Morning Continues

"Bhabhi, today tea better ho na… kal wali thodi emotional thi."

I blinked.

"Emotional?"

Rohan took the cup and nodded seriously.

"Haan, thodi salty thi… like heartbreak wali."

Anjali burst out laughing.

"Idiot!"

I couldn’t stop my smile this time.

"Salt sugar mein daal diya hoga galti se…"

Rohan pointed dramatically.

"Confession!"

I shook my head.

"Nahi… bas tum zyada drama karte ho."

"Oyeee."

Anjali clapped.

"Bhabhi roasting Rohan!"

For a second, it felt… light.

Normal.

Like I wasn’t being watched every second.

Like I could just… exist.

And then—

Of course.

Perfect timing.

Entry – Karthik

"Kya ho raha hai yahan?"

Instant silence.

Aur aa gaye Mr. Mood Spoiler.

I didn’t look up immediately.

Because I already knew that tone.

Cold.

Sharp.

Annoyed… for no reason.

Anjali jumped down from counter.

"Nothing bhai, just tea—"

"Kitchen is not for gossip."

Oh wow. New rule added.

I kept the cup on tray quietly.

Note kar leti hu… kitchen = no gossip zone.

Rohan leaned back.

"Toh kya kare? Silent meditation?"

Karthik ignored him and looked at me.

"How long does it take to make tea?"

I answered softly,

"Ho gaya… bas—"

"Then serve it instead of standing."

I nodded.

"Okay…"

Matlab main hawa mein disappear ho jaun kya jab tak serve na karu?

I picked the tray and moved past him.

Without looking.

Because eye contact = more questions.

And honestly…

I was too tired for that.

Rhea POV (while walking)

Pehle bolte hai kitchen mat jao… phir bolte hai fast kaam karo… phir bolte hai stand mat karo…

Bhai ek baar decide kar lo… main robot hu ya insaan?

I almost laughed.

Almost.

But controlled.

Because this house doesn’t understand quiet laughter.

Only loud mistakes.

Hall – Serving Tea

I gave tea to Ayesha first.

Then others.

Routine.

Same pattern.

Same silence.

When I reached Karthik, I placed the cup carefully.

Our fingers didn’t touch this time.

Good. Less complication.

But he still spoke.

"Next time, be quicker."

I paused.

Just for a second.

Then nodded.

"Hmm."

Next time stopwatch leke aaungi.

I moved ahead.

Rohan watched everything.

Too carefully.

Too quietly.

And that meant—

He was about to say something.

Comedy + Trigger

"Bhai, relax na… itni strict timing toh flights mein bhi nahi hoti."

Anjali laughed.

Even I smiled slightly.

But Karthik didn’t.

"This is not funny."

Rohan shrugged.

"Toh serious banne ki kya zarurat hai har time?"

Silence.

Tension.

Again.

Same pattern.

I stepped back slowly.

Aur main phir se background character ban gayi.

Small Shift

I turned to go back to kitchen.

But suddenly—

"Kahan ja rahi ho?"

I stopped.

"Kitchen…"

"Sit."

I froze.

Abhi toh bola gossip mat karo… ab bol rahe ho sit…

I slowly sat on the edge.

Not comfortable.

Not relaxed.

Just… sitting.

Karthik looked at me for a second.

Like he wanted to say something.

But didn’t.

And I didn’t ask.

Because asking here always leads to more confusion.

Rhea POV (final)

Sach bolu toh… mujhe samajh hi nahi aata…

Inhe problem mujhse hai… ya meri existence se…

I looked down at my hands.

Calm.

Still.

But inside—

too many thoughts.

Too many questions.

No answers.

Chalo… jo bhi hai… adjust karna hi padega.

Because that’s what I’ve been doing from day one.

Adjusting.

Silently.

Author POV

What Karthik didn’t know…

was that Rhea had started talking.

Not out loud.

But inside her mind.

And sometimes…

those silent thoughts become stronger than spoken words.

Because once a person starts questioning silently…

one day they stop staying silently.

How was the chp !??

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