Riya was just about to sit down for dinner with her parents when her phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, she saw Dev's name flash across the display. A surge of confusion ran through her. They hadn't spoken much since their awkward dinner the other night, and now, suddenly, he was calling?
She hesitated for a moment, then answered. "Hello?"
There was a brief pause on the other end before Dev's deep voice came through, calm but with a touch of hesitation. "Riya, it's Dev."
Riya held the phone tighter, standing still by the dining table. "Yes, I know. What's up?"
Dev cleared his throat. "I thought… well, we should talk about this alliance. Our families are pushing us together, and I think it's important we get to know each other better. Don't you think?"
Riya hadn't expected Dev to be so direct. Her hand instinctively clenched the edge of the table as she processed his words. It felt odd. She was used to cold, detached conversations in her business world, but this felt personal. More personal than she was prepared for. Still, she didn't want to seem rude.
"I suppose you're right," she said cautiously, not entirely sure where this was going.
Dev hesitated again, his tone shifting slightly, as if he was trying to lighten the mood. "So, what do you do when you're not working? You must have some hobbies."
Riya blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. Hobbies? Was he seriously trying to make small talk? The image of the aloof, businesslike Dev didn't quite fit with this version of him, awkwardly trying to engage her in casual conversation.
"I read," she said simply, unsure of how much she wanted to reveal. "And sometimes I write. It's relaxing."
"Writing? That's interesting," Dev said, a slight warmth creeping into his voice. "What do you write?"
Riya paused. This was new. She wasn't used to people being curious about her outside of her professional life. "Just stories. For myself, mostly."
There was a brief silence, and then, to her surprise, Dev attempted to shift gears. "You know, I've always thought creative women were…" He trailed off, his voice dropping slightly, "…quite fascinating."
Riya's eyebrows shot up. Was he… was Dev Kapoor trying to flirt?
She didn't know whether to laugh or be concerned. There was something almost endearing in his effort, but it felt so out of place coming from someone who had been so cold and distant before. She stayed silent, unsure of how to respond.
On the other end, Dev seemed to realize how awkward the moment had become. After a few seconds of tense silence, he sighed, clearly embarrassed. "Right… well, I suppose you didn't have dinner?" his voice was deep and composed hiding the embarrassment under the rug.
Riya still didn't know what to say. This entire conversation felt surreal. Before she could respond, Dev quickly cut in.
"I'm sorry for calling you at this hour, have a good night sleep." His tone was exasperated, and she could almost picture him running a hand through his hair, trying to figure out what to say next. "I'll call you later."
Without waiting for her response, Dev hung up abruptly, leaving Riya standing in her dining room, her phone still pressed to her ear. She blinked, dumbfounded, staring at the screen as the call ended.
Did that just happen? She wasn't sure if she should feel amused or uncomfortable.
Her mother called out to her from the dining table, "Riya, are you joining us?"
Shaking her head slightly, Riya put her phone down and walked over to the table, still processing what had just happened. Her parents were already sitting, plates laid out with their evening meal.
"Who was that on the phone?" her father asked casually as Riya sat down.
"Dev," she said, keeping her tone neutral.
Both her parents exchanged a glance but didn't push further. They were used to Riya's quiet, reserved nature when it came to personal matters, and for now, they respected her boundaries. As they began eating, the conversation drifted to lighter topics, and slowly, Riya pushed thoughts of Dev aside—at least for the moment.
Meanwhile, across town, Dev sat in his office, staring at his phone in disbelief. He couldn't believe how badly he had just handled that conversation. He leaned back in his chair, groaning as he slapped his forehead in frustration.
"What were you thinking, Kapoor?" he muttered under his breath.
Flirting? With Riya? What had possessed him to think that was a good idea? He wasn't the smooth-talking type, and he certainly wasn't the kind of guy who tried to charm his way through situations. He was used to being in control, not fumbling through conversations like a nervous teenager.
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. This whole marriage thing was new territory for him, and he didn't like feeling out of his depth. It wasn't that Riya was intimidating—well, not exactly—but she was different. She wasn't the type of woman who was impressed by his wealth or status. In fact, she seemed indifferent, and that only made him more curious about her.
With this on mind he left the company, to his house. He gave a day off for his driver and hence he drove himself to his house. His house was nothing less than a Magestic mansion.
It was past 9 pm when he entered his house. Upon seeing him enter his grandma walked practically running towards him, holding her phone. Dev paused hint of curiosity, almost imperceptible, passed on his face, since how longng has it been she smiled like this? His heart warmed as she came near him. Dev straightened, trying to compose himself.
"Dev, I was just speaking with Riya's parents," his grandmother said, her voice warm but firm. "We've been discussing the engagement and wedding dates."
Dev raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And?"
"They're very eager to move things along
quickly," she said with a knowing smile. "But they suggested you and Riya spend more time together before the engagement. Get to know each other better."
Dev nodded thoughtfully. His grandmother had always been wise when it came to family matters. "That sounds reasonable."
His grandmother placed her hand gently on his shoulder, her touch affectionate. "We've decided that you and Riya will join both families for Ganesh Chaturthi this year. It's a good opportunity for everyone to bond."
Dev crooked his lips as a slight smile was visible, placing his hand over hers. "I think that's a great idea, Dadi."
His grandmother nodded, her face lighting up. "I'll leave the details to you two. But Dev, remember, this isn't just a formality. You should take this time to really connect with her."
As she turned to leave, Dev continued walking towards his room. This wasn't just about the marriage. If they were going to spend their lives together, he needed to figure out who Riya truly was, beyond the surface-level facts he had gathered about her.
His mind wandered back to the awkward phone call earlier, and he found himself chuckling softly. He had a lot to learn, but one thing was certain—Riya Mehta was going to keep him on his toes.
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share your opinions guys….how's Dev and Riya's chemistry?