Page 21 of Since You Stole My Heart

Heat crept up her neck as all four of them looked at her in surprise. Kashvi usually avoided saying that aloud, but now that it was out, she lifted a shoulder in a shrug. ‘I happen to like my life the way it is.’

Abhay broke the silence. ‘If you’re sure that’s what you want, then that sounds fair enough.’

‘I am,’ Kashvi said.

Though Swayam didn’t say anything, she could feel his burning gaze on her. His silence was heavy enough to be noticeable.

Luv cleared his throat. ‘Why don’t we play a board game until Siya comes home with dinner?’

Abhay shook his head. ‘We can’t. Siya left us homework.’

He disappeared briefly before returning with a large cardboard box filled with neatly stacked photographs. ‘The photographer dropped these off. Siya wanted us to sort through them for the family album.’

‘Alright, one ground rule,’ Luv declared, pulling out a stack. ‘If I look good in a picture, it’s an automatic yes.’

‘So the album’s going to stay empty,’ Swayam said, earning a soft laugh from her.

‘Jealousy looks good on you,bhai,’ Luv shot back.

Kashvi slid a small pile towards herself and began arranging the glossy prints into neat rows on the coffee table. She smiled softly at the last one. It showed the entire group in all its pure chaotic glory, standing together in front of the mandap, busy reminding each other to behave. The photographer had captured the essence of their group in a single candid shot.

Luv whistled, holding up a photograph. ‘Oh, this one. Abhay looks like he bit into a lemon,’ he said, turning it around to show the captured moment of Abhay glaring at him while Siya laughed.

Raghav snorted. ‘That’s because you were flirting with his wife.’

Luv waved the accusation away. ‘Hey! I was complimenting the bride.’

‘By telling Siya she could do better?’

Abhay shot him a scathing look at the reminder.

‘I mean, c’mon. He didn’t even cry as she walked down the aisle,’ Luv argued.

‘I couldn’t stop smiling because I knew I’d married up,’ Abhay said proudly.

Kashvi let out a quiet laugh as she flipped over another photograph and paused to look at it. It showed her sister bathed in the glow of the sacred fire, sharing a soft smile with her husband. This one definitely belonged in the album.

She passed it to Luv, who studied it for a moment. ‘You know, you two look so happy in love.’

Abhay rolled his eyes. ‘We are married.’

Something almost sombre flickered in his eyes as Luv said, ‘That doesn’t guarantee anything. Love can be… fleeting with the wrong person.’

The comment caught Kashvi off guard, but before she could ask anything, Raghav held up another photo. ‘Kashu, why do you look like you’re about to kill someone?’

‘The photographer kept telling her to smile,’ Swayam answered before she could. He tried to hide it, but his dimple gave away his amusement.

Kashvi flinched as she recalled the constant click of cameras and the photographer’s relentless reminders to smile. It had been unnerving. The only thing that had kept her sane was Swayam’s arm at the small of her back, holding her close.

Trying to push that memory aside, she reached for another stack, but a quick ripple ran up her skin when her arm brushed against Swayam. He’d shifted closer without her noticing.

When she found it difficult to focus, Kashvi stole a glance at him.

Swayam was looking down at a photograph, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Curiosity pulled her in, and she leaned closer to sneak a peek.

Her breath caught when she realised it was a picture of the two of them. Her head was tipped back in laughter, and Swayam was looking at her with something she could almost mistake for reverence.

His smile stirred a restless ache within her, and she fought the urge to trace a finger along his lips.