🎵 Song: Raataan Lambiyan – Instrumental Version

"Some battles aren't fought with words...

They're fought with stolen glances...

Hidden smiles...

And one shameless boy who simply refuses to stop teasing."

The dining hall of the farmhouse glowed with warm golden lights.

Outside...

The chilly Shimla breeze gently brushed against the large glass windows.

Inside...

The long wooden dining table had been beautifully decorated.

Hot rotis.

Paneer.

Dal.

Rice.

Soup.

And several homemade desserts filled the table.

Everyone slowly took their seats.

Vikram sat beside Rajeev.

Meera sat beside Nandini.

Kabir and Anaya immediately occupied the seats next to each other.

As always.

Only two seats remained.

One on each side of the table.

Directly...

Facing each other.

Kabir looked at Anaya.

Anaya looked at Kabir.

Both of them smiled secretly.

"Perfect..."

Meera smiled warmly.

"Aarohi beta..."

"You sit here."

Before Aarohi could even look around...

She found herself sitting down.

Then...

She looked up.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Directly opposite her...

Sat Reyansh.

Already looking at her.

Already smiling.

Already smirking.

"Oh no..."

"Not again..."

Reyansh rested his chin lightly on one hand.

"Good choice."

Aarohi looked confused.

"What?"

"This seat."

She immediately understood what he meant.

"I didn't choose it."

"I know."

"But I'm still happy."

Aarohi quickly picked up her glass of water.

Anything...

Just to avoid looking at him.

Dinner began.

The adults talked happily.

Rajeev and Vikram discussed tomorrow's sightseeing plans.

Meera and Nandini spoke about shopping in Mall Road.

Kabir and Anaya argued about who would get the front seat in the SUV.

Everything felt lively.

Except...

Aarohi couldn't focus on a single conversation.

Because every time she looked up...

She found Reyansh already looking at her.

With that same irritating...

Confident...

Smirk.

"Why is he staring?"

"Can't he just eat?"

She lowered her head and quietly started eating.

A few seconds later...

She looked up again.

He was still looking.

Still smiling.

She mouthed silently—

"What?"

Reyansh simply shrugged.

"Nothing."

Then...

He smiled even wider.

"He's doing this on purpose!"

Aarohi immediately looked back at her plate.

Trying very hard not to blush.

Across the table...

Reyansh was enjoying every second of it.

Watching his Ocean become flustered had somehow become his favorite hobby.

Kabir noticed everything.

He leaned slightly toward Anaya.

"Look."

Anaya followed his gaze.

She immediately saw Reyansh staring.

And Aarohi refusing to lift her head.

She covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

Kabir whispered,

"Bhai has forgotten food exists."

Anaya nodded.

"He's having dinner with his eyes."

The two silently giggled.

Meanwhile...

Meera placed another serving of paneer into Aarohi's plate.

"Beta..."

"You've become weak after the fever."

"Eat properly."

Aarohi smiled politely.

"Thank you, Aunty."

Just as she looked up to thank her...

She accidentally met Reyansh's gaze again.

He smiled.

As if saying—

"Good girl."

She almost dropped her spoon.

"Can the earth please swallow me right now?"

"Anywhere..."

"Just not here."

Trying to distract herself...

She reached for the basket of rotis.

At the exact same moment...

Reyansh reached for it too.

Their fingers brushed lightly.

Aarohi immediately pulled her hand back.

"S-Sorry."

He looked amused.

"I touched your hand."

"Not electricity."

She looked away instantly.

Reyansh casually picked up the basket.

Then placed it gently in front of her.

"Ladies first."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure..."

He smiled.

"...Ocean."

Her cheeks turned pink again.

Kabir quietly counted on his fingers.

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three..."

Anaya whispered,

"What are you doing?"

"Counting."

"Counting what?"

"How many times Didi blushes because of Bhai."

Anaya laughed silently.

"What's the score?"

"Twelve."

"We're only halfway through dinner."

The adults continued chatting, completely unaware of the silent conversation happening between the two teenagers.

A few minutes later...

Dessert was served.

Chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream.

Kabir happily started eating.

"This is amazing!"

Anaya nodded.

"I agree."

Reyansh looked across the table once more.

A tiny bit of chocolate had unknowingly remained on the corner of Aarohi's lips.

She hadn't noticed.

He smiled.

She looked up.

"What?"

He gestured toward his own lips.

"Here."

She looked confused.

"Huh?"

He pointed again.

"Chocolate."

Embarrassed...

She quickly wiped the wrong side of her mouth.

He shook his head.

"Other side."

She wiped again.

Still wrong.

Reyansh couldn't help laughing.

"You missed again."

Aarohi sighed dramatically.

"This is embarrassing."

"It is."

"Then stop laughing."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because my Ocean is adorable."

She immediately covered her face with one hand.

"Please..."

"Someone save me..."

"Or let the earth open beneath my chair."

Across the table...

Reyansh leaned back comfortably.

Watching her reactions.

Completely entertained.

Completely shameless.

Kabir looked at Anaya and whispered,

"I've never seen Bhai smile this much."

Anaya smiled proudly.

"Our mission deserves an award."

Kabir nodded seriously.

"It really does."

The dinner finally came to an end.

Everyone slowly stood up.

Aarohi secretly sighed in relief.

"I survived."

But just as she turned to leave...

She heard a familiar whisper from across the table.

"Good night, Ocean."

She looked back.

Reyansh gave her the tiniest wink.

Her face turned pink...

For what felt like the hundredth time that evening.

She quickly hurried upstairs.

Leaving behind one very satisfied Reyansh Malhotra.

Who had enjoyed every single second of making his Ocean blush.

End of Chapter 46 🌊❤️🍽️