𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐫 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Akshara POV
It had been a strange month, a whirlwind of emotions, I still couldn’t make sense of. The rhythm of my regular life had returned—managing Sweet Bite, brainstorming new recipes with Nikhil and Nitya, and spending time with my family—but something felt off. The echo of that day in the stadium lingered like an unfinished conversation.
I absentmindedly touched my wrist, still feeling his hold on it. The memory flashed vividly in my mind. The crowd's cheer, the adrenaline of the match, and the unexpected accident. Shubman had been there, unexpectedly attentive, his concern breaking through the awkwardness that usually lingered between us.
But after that day, silence.
I couldn’t decide what had unsettled me more—his unexpected kindness or his words on our first phone call. We hadn’t spoken since, and when our paths crossed at one family gathering, we exchanged polite smiles, which maybe forced by him but nothing more.
I sighed, leaning against the counter of café. I hated unresolved things, and this—whatever this was—was the epitome of it. I had tried to brush it off, focusing on work and spending time with my family and friends.
The trip to Dharamshala had been a temporary escape, a reminder of how liberating it felt to be myself without expectations or labels. But now, back in Mumbai, reality loomed larger than ever.
My phone buzzed, pulling out of my thoughts. It was a message from mom.
Mumma💕
"Beta, Shubman’s family invited us for dinner this weekend. I think it’ll be nice for you two to spend time together."
I frowned, feeling the familiar weight of expectation settle on my shoulders. It wasn’t that I disliked Shubman. He was polite, respectful, even thoughtful in unexpected ways. But there was something guarded about him, something I couldn’t quite penetrate. And truthfully, I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
Aditi walked in, interrupting my thoughts. “You’re still brooding?” she teased, plopping onto a stool.
“I’m not brooding,” I shot back, though the tone of my voice betrayed me.
“You’ve been distracted ever since Dharamshala—and since someone showed up at the stadium.” Aditi's smirk was impossible to miss.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like that.”
“Sure it isn’t.” Aditi leaned closer, her tone softening. “But maybe you should figure out what it is. You can’t avoid it forever.”
I sighed, knowing she was right. Avoidance wasn’t solving anything. I needed clarity—not just about Shubman, but about what I wanted from this engagement and from my life.
For now, though, I had a café to run and a life to piece together. Maybe dinner this weekend would bring some answers. Or maybe it would just raise more questions. Either way, she was done running from it.
🍂
The café door clicked shut behind as I turned the key in the lock, letting out a long sigh of relief. The day had been busy but fulfilling, with a steady stream of customers that kept us on our toes. I glanced back at the café, its warm lights glowing softly in the evening air.
“Nikhil, don’t forget to prepare the brownie batter before leaving tomorrow,” I reminded, my voice firm but kind.
“Yes, boss,” Nikhil replied with a playful salute.
Nitya adjusted her scarf as she stood beside Nikhil. “And don’t overwork yourself, Akshara Di. We can handle things too, you know.”
I smiled, my exhaustion easing at the care in her gentle reminder. “I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight, you two.”
“Goodnight!” chorused Nikhil and Nitya as they walked off into the night.
Turning to Aditi, who was finishing up the last bit of arrengeing the accounts, I walked to her, “let's move, we are getting late.”
We both walked out of cafe, and sat in my car. I drove in the direction of her home, which is merely 10 minutes away. Throughout the way, atmosphere was in comfortable silence as I was enjoying the car ride as well as she.
It's actually relaxing, after buzzing day this calmness bring back the peace which our mind deserves.
Soon I stopped the car infront of her house,“bye” I waved at her. “I will see you tomorrow!” Aditi replied, waving as she headed out.
I took a deep breath and began drove away home. The crisp evening air nipped at my face as I navigated the familiar streets. By the time I reached the gate of home, the sound of laughter and conversation spilled out, a warm contrast to the chilly evening.
Stepping inside, I was greeted by the lively atmosphere of my home. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the hum of voices. I could hear dad's deep voice in the living room, talking animatedly with Anika.
Kicking off my shoes by the entrance, I walked into the living room and found bhai sprawled out on the couch. His tie was loosened, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up, suggesting he had arrived home not long before me.
“Long day?” I asked, plopping down beside him.
“You have no idea,” bhai muttered, rubbing his temples. “Work’s been crazy lately. How about you? How’s the café?”
“Same as usual. Busy but satisfying,” I replied, stretching my legs. “How’s work going for you? Anything interesting happening at the office?”
Bhai chuckled dryly. “Interesting? Not really. Just the same old meetings and deals. Though, there’s a new project that might shake things up a bit.”
“Sounds promising,” I said, offering a small smile. “Just don’t overdo it, okay?”
Bhai gave me a sideways glance. “You’re one to talk.”
We shared a laugh before I excused myself, heading to my room to freshen up.
In my room, I let out another sigh as I closed the door behind me. I slipped out of my work clothes and into a set of comfortable co-ords, relishing the soft fabric against my skin. After splashing water on my face and tying hair into a loose bun, I settled onto bed for a while.
My room was my sanctuary, filled with little touches of my personality—shelves lined with books, a corner dedicated to indoor plants, and fairy lights draped along the window. I spent some time scrolling through my phone, catching up on messages and updates, before finally deciding it was time to head downstairs for dinner.
The dining table was a hub of activity when I arrived. Bhabhi was busy arranging dishes on the table with Maa. Bhabhi caught sight of me and smiled. “Perfect timing! Dinner’s almost ready.”
“Let me help,” I offered, stepping forward.
“No need, beta,” Maa said, gently waving me off. “You’ve been working all day. Sit and relax.”
I obliged, taking a seat at the table where dad was engrossed in a conversation with Anika.
“And then, right at the end, they managed to turn it around!” dad exclaimed, gesturing animatedly. “It was one of the best matches I’ve seen in a long time.”
Anika nodded eagerly. “I know! That final over had me on the edge of my seat. I was screaming so loud, I think I scared the neighbors!”
I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “What match are you talking about?” I asked, pouring myself a glass of water.
“Today’s cricket match,” Anika replied, her eyes lighting up. “It was insane! You should’ve watched it.”
“I’ve had enough excitement at the café for one day,” I said, shaking my head with a smile.
Just then, bhabhi and Maa brought the final dishes to the table, and everyone gathered around for dinner. As they passed plates and shared stories from their day, I felt a sense of comfort settle over me.
The lively chaos of my family was the perfect antidote to the silence I often felt in my own thoughts. It reminded me that no matter how uncertain or complicated my life became, I always had this—a home filled with warmth, laughter, and love.
As the everyone settled into their usual rhythm of eating and chatting, Maa casually brought up a topic that made me pause mid-bite.
“By the way, Akshara,” Maa began, her tone light but deliberate, “we’ve been invited to dinner at the Gills’ house this weekend.”
I blinked, my fork hovering over plate. “The Gills?” I mumbled, trying to sound neutral.
“Yes,” Maa confirmed with a knowing smile. “Keart called me earlier today. She said it’s been a while since we all got together, and she’d love for us to come over.”
Across the table, bhai raised an eyebrow. “Shubman's family invited us for dinner?”
My cheeks grew warm, and I focused intently on my plate. “Yes,” Maa said.
“Sounds fine to me,” Bhabhi chimed in, smiling as she passed the curry. “Keart aunty was lovely when we met. And their food was amazing!”
Anika, ever the curious one, tilted her head. “Are we going because of Shubman?” she asked innocently. “You know, since he’s Akshara’s—”
“Anika!” I interrupted, shooting her a sharp look.
“What?” Anika said, feigning innocence as she stuffed a piece of roti into her mouth.
Bhai smirked. “What’s the big deal? Isn’t this kind of expected, Akshu?”
I groaned, setting my fork down. “Can we not make this into a thing? It’s just a dinner invitation.”
Maa chuckled. “Of course, beta. But you can’t blame us for being curious. After all, we haven’t had the chance to really see how things are between you and Shubman.”
“There’s nothing to see,” I replied quickly. “We’ve barely talked since…well, you know.”
Dad, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. “Maybe this dinner will be a good opportunity to clear the air. It’s important to communicate, Akshara, especially if this is about your future.”
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. I knew they meant well, but the thought of facing Shubman again, especially after the awkward silence that had grown between us, made my stomach twist.
“I guess I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” I said reluctantly.
Maa patted my head reassuringly. “It’s just dinner, beta. And who knows? It might turn out better than you expect.”
I offered a weak smile before focusing on my food again, my mind already racing with what the weekend might bring. I couldn’t help but wonder if Shubman felt the same unease about seeing me again—or if he was looking forward to it.
I don't know