Mihir's face darkened, and he shoved Maira back, his voice rising in anger. "Stay away from me!" The sudden outburst left Maira stunned, her eyes wide with shock.
Mihir's words were laced with disdain. "You think you can play games with me? Reveal some shocking secret and expect me to be okay with it? Think again."
Maira's expression was one of confusion and annoyance. "Mihir sir what's wrong —"
But Mihir cut her off, his voice cold and detached. "I don't want any drama or secrets in my life. Just keep your distance and do your job."
With that, Mihir turned and stormed away, leaving Maira standing alone on the terrace of the Kashyap mansion, looking puzzled and wondering what had just happened. Mihir's reaction seemed out of proportion to her revelation, and Maira couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his outburst than met the eye.
Meanwhile downstairs
Uma approached Teju with a gentle smile. "Teju, can you help me search for the rings? We need to find them before the ceremony continues."
Teju nodded, and together they began searching the area, their eyes scanning every inch. As they searched, Teju couldn't shake off a growing sense of frustration. She wondered why she felt this way, and her mind began to wander.
"Am I... jealous?" Teju asked herself, the thought catching her off guard. She quickly dismissed the idea. "No, it's not possible. Why would I be jealous of Ruby and Sahir sir's engagement?"
Despite her denial, the feeling lingered, and Teju couldn't help but feel a pang of... something. She pushed the thought aside and focused on the search, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of the missing rings.
Teju's eyes scanned the area near the stairs, almost catching a glimmer of something shiny near the flower arrangement. However, her gaze slipped past it, and instead, she spotted the missing ring nestled among the petals of another flower vase nearby.
Teju's eyes widened as she reached out to pick up the ring. "Uma Aunty , I think I found it!" she exclaimed, holding up the ring in triumph.
Uma's face lit up with relief as she hurried over to Teju. "Oh, thank goodness! Let's get it to Ruby and Sahir before the ceremony gets any more delayed."
Maira walked down the corridor, her mind replaying Mihir's strange reaction to her revelation. She suddenly remembered that she had left her locket with him, and she decided to retrieve it. "I'll just grab it from him," she thought, making her way to Mihir's room.
*Mihir's Turmoil*
Meanwhile, Mihir stood in front of a mirror in his room, his eyes fixed on his reflection. He couldn't shake off the memory of his heart fluttering when Maira was close. The realization infuriated him.
With a sudden burst of anger, Mihir slammed his fist into the mirror, shattering the glass. His eyes turned crimson red as he glared at his own reflection, now broken and distorted.
"My heart is made of stone," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "And no one will ever melt it. No one."
Maira entered the room, her eyes widening as she took in the shattered mirror and Mihir's angry demeanor. "Why?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Mihir's eyes, which had been burning with anger, slowly returned to normal. He turned to face Maira, his expression still dark. "What are you doing in my room?" he demanded, his tone harsh.
Maira stood her ground, her eyes locked on Mihir's. "I came to ask you the same thing," she said, her voice firm. "Why did you behave so rudely with me earlier? What's going on with you?"
Mihir's expression didn't soften, and he continued to glare at Maira. "You shouldn't be in here," he repeated, his voice cold. "Just leave."
Maira's eyes flashed with determination. "I won't leave without saying my piece," she said, her voice firm. "You said so many harsh words earlier, about 'antics of girls like me'. What exactly do you mean by that?"
Mihir's expression remained unyielding. "I don't have time for your lectures," he said, attempting to brush past her.
But Maira was not deterred. She reached out and pulled him back, her grip firm. "I'm not done," she said, her eyes locked on his. "You owe me an explanation for your behavior."
Mihir's face twisted in anger. "The explanation is simple," he growled. "Just stay the fuck away from me."
Maira's eyes widened in surprise at Mihir's crude language. "Do you think I'm trying to woo you?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement and incredulity.
Mihir's expression didn't change, but a flicker of something crossed his eyes. "Don't play dumb," he said, his voice still harsh. "I know what I'm talking about."
Maira's amusement turned into a laugh. "No, you don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice dripping with confidence. "If you think I'd try to woo you, you're sadly mistaken."
Mihir's ego seemed to take a hit, and he raised an eyebrow. "I'm every girl's type," he said, his voice laced with arrogance.
Maira's smile grew wider. "Every girl, not mine," she said, her tone dismissive. "I have a type, and you aren't it."
Maira's eyes sparkled with amusement as she began to list the qualities of her dream man, ticking them off on her fingers. "My type is someone who's kind, humble, and genuine. Someone who values honesty and integrity, and isn't afraid to show their emotions. Someone who's a good listener, and can make me laugh without trying too hard."
She smiled, her tone playful. "You know, the kind of guy who checks all the green flags – respectful, empathetic, and genuinely interested in getting to know the other person."
Mihir's expression darkened, his ego clearly bruised by Maira's candid assessment.
Maira's words cut through the air like a knife, each one a precise strike to Mihir's ego. "You're not that kind of guy," she declared, her voice laced with disdain. "You're a toxic storm, ravaging everything in your path. Arrogance oozes from every pore, and your playboy antics are legendary. You're a master flirt, using your charm to manipulate and control."
Her eyes blazed with intensity as she delivered the final blow. "And worst of all, you trample on people's feelings, showing no respect, no empathy, no humanity. You're a red flag waving wildly, warning everyone to stay away."
Mihir's face twisted in anger, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity as he struggled to contain his fury.
Maira's smile grew wider as she taunted Mihir. "Why are you getting angry?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "You have a problem if I were to like you, and now that I'm telling you there's no chance of it, you're burning in anger."
Mihir's face twisted in a scowl. "I'm not burning in anger," he growled. "I don't care what kind of guy you want or not, just suit yourself."
Maira chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Of course, I will," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I'll make sure to add 'not liking arrogant, toxic guys' to my list of priorities."
Maira's smile was triumphant as she said, "So, be rest assured that I have no interest in you whatsoever." Mihir's response was immediate and scathing. "Good riddance," he spat.
Maira's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Great, so please return it back," she said, stretching her hand forward expectantly.
Mihir's brow furrowed in confusion. "What?" he asked, his tone short.
"My locket," Maira replied, her hand still outstretched. Mihir's eyes widened as he recalled intentionally keeping the locket in his pocket yesterday.
"Okay," he muttered, getting up to retrieve the locket from his drawer. He handed it over to Maira, who took it with a smile. As she fastened the locket around her neck, Mihir's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
With a bold smile, Maira turned around and walked out of the room, leaving Mihir seething behind her.