"Strict bosses are temporary, Riya. Par ek loyal partner? Jaise ki mera bhai? That's permanent. Did I tell you he once stayed up all night just to help a friend with a legal case? Saccha hero hai."

(But a loyal partner? Like my brother?....He is a true hero.)

"Bhai, please! Woh mera case tha, koi movie nahi chal rahi."

(That was my case, it wasn’t a movie.)

Siya cleared her throat, trying to steer the conversation back to normal.

"Raghav, aap ye starters try kyu nhi krte? The kebabs are getting cold, and you know how much you love to eat when you're... excited."

(Raghav, why don’t you try the starters?)

"Khana toh chalta rahega, Siya! But look at them. I think they need some music. Oye, waiter!"

(Food will keep on coming, Siya!)

Before Siya could stop him, a violinist appeared. Raghav started humming along to a romantic tune, winking at Ishaan.

"Music! Ab banega mahaul. Ishu, beta, ab toh kuch bol de!"

(Now the mood will be set. Ishu, speak something now!)

Ishaan looked like he wanted to dissolve into the floor. Riya, however, started laughing so hard she had to put her napkin over her face.

"Okay, okay! Stop it!"

Riya gasped, looking between her sister and her jiju, who had a very hopeful look on his face.

"Di, Jiju... humein pata hai aap dono kya kar rahe ho. It's so obvious!"

(Di, jiju…we know what you’re doing.)

Ishaan sighed with relief, finally looking at Riya.

"Thank God you said it. Bhai, aapka mahaul humein sharam se maar dalega. We like each other, okay?"

(Your mood will kill us because of embarrassment, bhai.)

Raghav sat back, a triumphant grin on his face as he looked at Siya.

"Dekha? Maine kaha tha na! My strategy worked. Confession ho gaya!"

(See? I told you!....They confessed!)

"Confession unhone awkwardness se bachne ke liye kiya hai, Raghav! You almost gave poor Ishaan a heart attack."

(They confessed to save themselves from the awkwardness, Raghav.)

"Jo bhi ho, result matters! Sunday ki khamoshi cancel. Aur kal subah ki chai... thodi zyada cheeni ke saath, please."

(Whatever, result matters! Sunday’s silence is cancelled. And tomorrow morning’s tea...with extra sugar please.)

Siya rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh as she saw Ishaan and Riya finally talking normally, united by their shared embarrassment of Raghav.

"Theek hai, you won this time."

(Fine, you won this time.)

"Finally you admitted! Ab chalo, kebab khate hain."

(Come on, let’s have kebabs now.)

She shook her head at her husband. She knew he loved immensely and that's why he was always making sure people around him were happy and laughing.

A few months passed, the two were the same, bickering and teasing each other. Raghav flirted with her so heavily that she felt the blush creep up to her bones sometimes.

Right now, the two were at an event. One of Raghav's friends hosted a party for his promotion.

The drive back from the party was quiet, but the air inside the car was heavy with a different kind of energy. 

Siya looked breathtaking in her black netted saree. The delicate fabric clung to her curves, and the sleeveless, deep neck blouse showed off the elegant curve of her neck.

Raghav, usually the one with a joke for every second, was unusually quiet, his gaze flickering toward her every time he shifted gears.

Then, the clouds burst. Within minutes, the road was invisible under a sheet of heavy rain. The wipers couldn't keep up, and the car skidded slightly on a turn.

"Siya, it's too risky to drive all the way back to the house. I can't see the road."

"I know. The weather is getting worse. Kahi ruk jaaye?"

(Shall we stop somewhere?)

"There's a small hotel just a few minutes away. Aaj raat wahi rukte hai."

(Let’s stay there tonight.)

The hotel room was dim, lit only by the golden glow of the bedside lamps. Outside, the thunder rolled, but inside, the sound of the rain against the glass created a strange, intimate cocoon.

Siya stood by the window, her silhouette outlined by the lightning flashes. She felt a sudden warmth behind her.

Raghav was standing just inches away, the scent of his woodsy cologne mixing with the smell of the rain.

"You know, ye saree aur iss saree mai tum...kaafi dangerous combination hai. It's a miracle I didn't drive into a tree earlier."

(You know, this saree and you in this saree…it’s a dangerous combination.)

Siya turned around slowly, her breath hitching. The playful Raghav was gone, in his place was a man whose eyes were dark with admiration.

"I thought you were a pro driver, Mr. Oberoi. Are you saying you were distracted?"

"Distracted is a very small word for what I was feeling, Siya. Tum is saree mein... tumhare paas koi licence hai itna haseen dikhne ka?"

(You in this saree…do you have a license to look this gorgeous?)

Siya smiled, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of her netted pallu.

"Maybe. But mujhe pata nhi tha ki Mr. Invincible Oberoi itni jaldi affect hote hai."

(But I didn’t know Mr. Invincible Oberoi is affected so quickly.)

She tried to tease, though his gaze and his warmth made her giddy and nervous.

Raghav stepped closer, his hand coming up to rest on the wall beside her head, trapping her in his space. He leaned down, his voice dropping to a low, husky whisper.

"I'm human, Siya. And I have a very beautiful wife. Aur jab meri biwi, beech baarish, black saree mai katal dhaa rhi ho, then I do get affected."

(And if my wife, amidst the rain, in black saree is killing it, then I do get affected.)

He reached out, his thumb grazing her lower lip. The touch was electric. Siya's heart was hammering against her ribs, but she didn't pull away.

Instead, she leaned in slightly, her gaze fixed on his.

"Then stop talking, Raghav. For once, just be quiet and act instead."

Raghav didn't need to be told twice. He leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that started slow and soft but quickly deepened into something hungry and desperate. It was the result of months of bickering, secret glances, and growing tension.

The sound of the rain faded into the background. There was only the feeling of her soft lips against his and the way her hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathless. Siya hid her face in the crook of his neck, her cheeks burning with a deep, rosy blush. She could feel the steady, fast beat of his heart against her chest.

Raghav pulled back just enough to look at her, a familiar, wicked glint returning to his eyes, though his voice was still thick with emotion.

"Oho! Mrs. Oberoi, aap toh badi bold nikli. I thought I was the only romantic one here."

(Mrs. Oberoi, you are very bold.)

"Chup rahiye, Raghav! It was the weather... and the rain."

(Shut up, Raghav!)

"The rain? Achha? So if it was sunny, you wouldn't have kissed me like your life depended on it?"

(Really?)

Siya swatted his arm, her blush deepening.

"You are impossible! Mai sone jaa rhi hu."

(I am going to sleep.)

"Sone toh main bhi wala hoon. But don't think you're escaping this easily."

(I am also going to sleep.)

A little later, the lights were off. They were tucked under the heavy duvet, reminiscing the kiss.