Chapter Seventy-Four: Jealousy Looks Good on Chethan
Three months had passed since the wedding.
Life in the mansion had settled into a comfortable rhythm. Jay and Keifer navigated married life with the same chaotic love that had brought them together. Keiran continued his reign as the tiny king of the household, Rex and Ganesha his loyal subjects. Keigan pretended to be annoyed by all the new people but secretly loved having the house full.
And the India crew had found their groove.
University during the day. Family chaos at night. Weekends filled with adventures, arguments, and the slow, confusing dance between Shreya and Mithun that everyone watched like a sports event.
But today was different.
Today, Chethan was jealous.
---
It started innocently enough.
Akshi had joined a study group for one of her classes. Nothing unusual. She was social, friendly, made friends everywhere.
Chethan knew this.
Chethan had always been fine with this.
Until today.
---
He sat in the living room, staring at his phone, not seeing anything.
Mithun noticed first. "You okay?"
"Fine."
"You've been staring at that same screen for twenty minutes."
"Thinking."
"About?"
"Nothing."
Mithun raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Percy, however, had no such restraint. He bounded into the room, Honey behind him. "CHETHAN! Why do you look like someone ate your last samosa?"
Chethan didn't respond.
Honey looked at Mithun. "What's wrong with him?"
Mithun shrugged. "Won't say."
Percy's eyes lit up. "DRAMA! I LOVE DRAMA!"
---
The door opened.
Akshi walked in, backpack slung over one shoulder, face slightly flushed from the walk home.
She was laughing at something on her phone.
Chethan's jaw tightened.
"Hey everyone!" Akshi called. "Study group was AMAZING! We're going to ACE this exam!"
Percy noticed Chethan's expression. Whispered to Honey: "Something is DEFINITELY wrong."
Akshi flopped onto the couch beside Chethan. "You okay? You look weird."
"Fine."
"You don't seem fine."
"I said I'm fine."
She blinked. "Okay...?"
---
She pulled out her phone, still scrolling. "Oh! Rohan from study group sent me the notes I missed. He's so nice!"
Chethan's head snapped toward her. "Rohan?"
"Yeah, he's in my economics class. Super smart. Helped me understand everything."
"Helped you."
"Yeah. That's what study groups do."
Chethan stood abruptly. "I need air."
He walked out.
Akshi stared after him, confused. "What was THAT about?"
Percy grabbed Honey's arm. "JEALOUSY! CLASSIC JEALOUSY!"
Honey nodded slowly. "He's definitely jealous."
Akshi's eyes went wide. "Jealous? Of what?"
Mithun, calm as always, observed, "Of Rohan. The study group guy. Who's 'so nice.'"
"But Rohan's just a friend! We're studying!"
Percy gestured dramatically. "TRY TELLING THAT TO A JEALOUS MAN!"
---
Akshi found Chethan in the garden.
He was sitting on a bench, staring at nothing.
She sat beside him. "Chethan."
Nothing.
"Chethan, talk to me."
Still nothing.
She reached for his hand. He didn't pull away.
"Are you jealous of Rohan?"
Silence.
Then, quietly: "Maybe."
"Why?"
He finally looked at her. "Because you were smiling at your phone. Because you said he was nice. Because—" He stopped. "Because I'm an idiot."
"You're not an idiot."
"I am. You're allowed to have friends. You're allowed to study with whoever you want. I don't have any claim on you just because we're—" He stopped again. "Just because we're whatever we are."
Akshi was quiet for a moment.
Then: "Chethan, you're my fiancé."
"I know."
"You're the one I'm going to marry."
"I know."
"So why would you be jealous of some random study group guy?"
He looked at her. "Because he gets to see you every day. Because he gets to make you laugh. Because he's there and I'm not always."
She squeezed his hand. "You're the one I come home to. You're the one I chose. You're the one I love."
He stared at her. "You love me?"
"I'm MARRYING you. Of course I love you."
"I know, but—" He shook his head. "I don't know. Sometimes I forget that you actually chose me. Out of everyone."
She cupped his face. "Chethan. Look at me."
He looked.
"I chose you. I keep choosing you. Every day. Rohan is just a study buddy. You're my future."
He was quiet for a long moment.
Then he pulled her close. "I'm sorry. I'm an idiot."
"A cute idiot."
"My cute idiot?"
"Our cute idiot."
He kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too. Now stop being jealous of random boys."
"No promises."
"CHETHAN!"
---
They walked back inside, hand in hand.
The living room was full.
Everyone pretending not to have watched through the window.
Percy whistled innocently. "Oh! You're back! We weren't watching!"
Honey sighed. "Percy, the curtain is still moving."
"It's... wind?"
"There's no wind inside."
"DETAILS!"
C.N. had his notebook out. "Jealousy incident resolved in 17 minutes. New record."
Rakii lowered her camera. "Got the whole reunion. Beautiful."
Mithun smiled slightly. "Good talk?"
Chethan nodded. "Good talk."
Shreya caught Akshi's eye. "He jealous?"
"Very."
"Cute?"
"Very."
---
Jay appeared with Keifer, Keiran on his hip. "What'd we miss?"
Percy launched into a dramatic retelling. "CHETHAN GOT JEALOUS! OF A STUDY GROUP GUY! NAMED ROHAN! HE STORMED OUT! AKSHI FOLLOWED! THEY MADE UP! IT WAS ROMANTIC!"
Keiran's eyes went wide. "UNCLE CHETHAN WAS JEALOUS?"
"VERY JEALOUS!"
"LIKE PAPPA WAS JEALOUS OF ETHAN?"
Keifer choked. "Keiran—"
"YOU REMEMBER! WHEN PAPPA WAS ANGRY AT THE DESK GUY!"
Jay burst out laughing. "He REMEMBERS!"
Keifer buried his face in his hands. "Our son has a better memory than I do."
"Much better."
---
Dinner that night was filled with teasing.
Percy kept making jealous faces at Honey. Honey ignored him.
C.N. calculated the "jealousy probability" of various scenarios.
Rakii created a "jealousy photo album."
Mithun and Shreya exchanged glances across the table—still confused, still uncertain, but watching the drama with interest.
Akshi fed Chethan bites of food. "See? I'm feeding you. Not Rohan."
Chethan blushed. "Akshi—"
"Just making sure you KNOW you're my favorite."
"I'm your ONLY."
"Same thing."
---
Later, as everyone dispersed, Jay found Shreya on the balcony.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Thinking about Mithun?"
Shreya smiled ruefully. "Always."
"Chethan's jealousy today got me thinking. About how obvious it is when someone cares."
"And?"
"And... I don't know. Mithun's never been jealous. Not once. Does that mean he doesn't care?"
Jay considered. "Or does it mean he trusts you completely?"
Shreya was quiet.
"Mithun's not like Chethan. He's not loud or dramatic. He shows love differently."
"How?"
"By being there. Always. By watching over you without you noticing. By knowing what you need before you ask."
Shreya looked at her. "You think he loves me?"
"I think he's been in love with you for years. I think he's just waiting for you to be ready."
Shreya stared at the stars.
Waiting.
For her to be ready.
Maybe she was.
---
End of Chapter Seventy-Four