𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒊 𝑫𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝑻𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒊 [Raina one shot series]

Naina moved around the kitchen in a rush, her hands working swiftly as the aroma of parathas filled the air. She wanted everything ready before her daughters stepped out for the day. The mornings were always busy in the Shikhawat household — especially with her youngest still in high school and the elder in college.

Or so she thought.

She called out without looking up, “Devi, hurry up and take these parathas to the dining table. Then go and wake up Ahana and Aditi.”

Their maid, Devi, paused for a moment, her eyes wide with uncertainty. “Madam,” she said cautiously, “how can I wake up Ahana di?”

Naina stopped mid-motion, frowning at the seemingly silly question. “Why not?” she asked, annoyed.

Devi looked at her with a mix of concern and pity. “Madam... did you forget? Ahana di is at her husband’s house now.”

The spatula slipped slightly from Naina’s grasp.

Of course. How could she forget?

Last night had been nothing short of chaos. Ahana — her nineteen-year-old daughter, her bright, sensitive firstborn — had eloped with her college professor. A man Naina had never been able to accept. He wasn’t a bad person, but he was ten years older than Ahana, and that alone made Naina deeply uncomfortable. In her eyes, he was too mature, too settled — too far ahead in life for her still-growing daughter. It wasn’t what she had envisioned for Ahana, and that difference had built an unspoken wall between them.

There had been shouting, tears, slammed doors. Naina had told Ahana she was dead to her. She had said words she now wished she could take back.

But now, in the silence of the morning, reality hit her like a wave.

Ahana wasn’t in her room anymore. She wasn’t under the same roof. She wasn’t even just a student anymore — she was someone’s wife.

And Naina was still her mother.

Her heart clenched as the image of her daughter’s tear-streaked face flashed in her mind. Was she okay? Was that man treating her well? Was she safe?

Without another word, she handed the spatula to Devi, her hands trembling slightly. Then, she hurried out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron as she rushed to her bedroom.

She needed to hear her daughter’s voice.

She needed to know that Ahana was okay.

Even if she had sworn not to speak to her again, her mother’s heart wouldn’t rest until it did.

Naina unplugged her phone and stared at Ahana’s name on the screen. Her finger hovered just above the call button. It was still early — would it be okay to call her newlywed daughter at this hour?

Then a thought crept into her mind... What if Ahana and her much older husband were already being all lovey-dovey?

That made her frown all over again.

She was still glaring at her screen, lost in thought, when suddenly someone tugged at the pallu of her saree. Startled, she turned — only to find Rajveer lying in bed, looking up at her with sleepy eyes and a mischievous smile.

“Rajveer!” she frowned. “Why are you pulling on my saree this early in the morning?”

He grinned lazily. “Do you really not understand the meaning behind that? That was my romantic signal,” he teased, giving her a playful wink.

“You and your signals,” Naina muttered, placing a hand on her hip. “How are you always in such a romantic mood? Don’t you ever get tired?”

Rajveer stretched lazily like a cat and replied, “What can I say... when a man has such a beautiful, sexy wife, how can he not stay in the mood?”

Naina rolled her eyes. “Have some shame, Colonel Shikhawat. One of your daughters is already married, and the other is a teenager. I think it’s time you controlled your romantic urges. You’re not exactly young anymore.”

Rajveer gasped, pretending to be offended. Rajveer gasped, scandalized. “Excuse me? Old? Me? I’ll have you know we still have plenty of energy to give our daughters a younger sibling or two.”

Before she could respond, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. Naina stumbled forward, landing on his chest with a surprised yelp.

“Rajveer!” she protested, trying to push herself up.

But he held her tightly and began planting kisses all over her face and neck, grinning like a boy who had just won a prize.

“Stop it!” she said, giggling despite herself. “What are you doing?”

“Just loving my wife,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck.

Naina tried to glare at him, but her laughter betrayed her. No matter how upset she was, this man always knew how to melt her heart.

It was at that very moment — mid-kiss attack and giggles — that their bedroom door swung open, and in walked Aditi, their sixteen-year-old daughter.

She froze.

Then gasped.

And then dramatically spun around with one hand over her eyes like she’d just witnessed a crime scene.

“Oh my god! I didn’t realize this was the Romance Room! Sorry, sorry!” she squeaked, trying (and failing) to hold back a cheeky giggle.

Naina yelped and immediately smacked Rajveer on the chest. “This is all your fault!” she hissed as she scrambled out of his arms. Rajveer let out a disappointed sigh like someone had paused his favorite movie.

“Aditi!” Naina snapped, flustered and red in the face. “What kind of manners is this? Didn’t I teach you to knock before barging into our room?”

“I thought you were in the kitchen making breakfast!” Aditi shot back, peeking through her fingers. “How was I supposed to know you were in here... playing ‘hug-hug’ with Papa? And seriously, why wasn’t the door closed?”

Rajveer chuckled under his breath. “Hug-hug? That’s a new one.”

“Don’t encourage her!” Naina glared at him before turning the full force of her embarrassment onto their daughter. “And you! What kind of argument is that? If we kept the door closed every time your father turned romantic, we’d be living in a bunker.”

Rajveer coughed dramatically, clearly enjoying himself way too much.

Aditi shrugged innocently. “Well maybe you should keep the door closed! What if I walked in with a video call on? Imagine traumatizing my friends like that.”

Naina shot a warning glare at her daughter — then turned her glare on Rajveer. Yep, all this mess was definitely because of this shameless man.

She snatched the corner of her pallu back into place, and stormed toward the door. “Both of you, to the dining room. Now!” she barked, clearly done with both her flirtatious husband and her sarcastic teenager.

Aditi stared after her mother, then turned to her father with a playful pout. “Papa, why did you marry such an angry woman?”

Rajveer let out a soft chuckle as he got up from the bed and stretched. “Is that why you barged in here at 7 a.m.? To question my life choices?” he teased.

Aditi grinned. “No! I have a science project due, and I need money for materials.”

“Ah, now the truth comes out.” Rajveer pulled out his wallet and handed her a thousand-rupee note. “Will this cover your big experiment?”

Aditi took the money with a bright smile. “Perfect. Thanks, Papa!” Then she narrowed her eyes. “But you still didn’t answer me. Why did you marry mom?”

Rajveer paused for a moment, then smiled — not the teasing one, but a softer, more thoughtful smile.

“Because she was everything I wasn’t,” he said. “She’s fierce, passionate, and fearless — and I fell for that fire the first time I saw it.”

Aditi blinked, not expecting such a poetic answer.

“She challenges me, keeps me grounded, and never lets me get away with nonsense,” he continued, folding his arms. “If we were both calm and quiet, life would’ve been boring. And if we were both hot-headed, this house would’ve burned down by now.”

Aditi giggled at the thought.

Rajveer smiled gently. “Love isn’t always about perfection, sweetheart. It’s about balance. She’s the storm, I’m the anchor. That’s why we work.”

Aditi tilted her head. “Wow. That was... actually kind of romantic.”

Rajveer raised an eyebrow. ”Kind of? Excuse me, I should get full credit for being poetic before breakfast.”

“Okay, okay, you’re very romantic.” Aditi laughed. “I’ll go finish my project before Mom thinks I’ve joined your drama club.”

As she left the room, Rajveer looked toward the door Naina had just walked out of and smiled to himself.

No matter how loud the thunder got, he would always choose his storm.

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A/N: So, what did you think of this one-shot?

Did Rajveer and Naina’s chaotic, romantic morning bring a smile to your face? I absolutely loved writing this playful yet emotional glimpse into their family life — from unexpected kisses to sassy daughters and quiet confessions of love.

Your feedback keeps me motivated and helps me create more one-shots featuring our favorite couple, Rajveer and Naina.

More fluff, drama, and fun coming soon — stay tuned!