Ashaas knew something was off the moment her cousin Meera walked in with that smile.
Too wide. Too sweet. The kind that didn't reach the eyes.
"Oh wow," Meera said, looking around their living room. "You've done… well for yourself."
Ashaas exchanged a quick glance with Arjun, then smiled politely. "Come in."
Meera sat down like she owned the couch, eyes roaming—from the framed photos on the wall to Arjun setting down glasses of water.
"So this is the Arjun," Meera said, looking him up and down. "You never told us he was so… put together."
Arjun chuckled awkwardly. "I try."
Ashaas felt it then. Not anger. Not worry. Just mild amusement.
Meera leaned closer. "Marriage suits you," she said to Ashaas. "You look… different."
Ashaas nodded. "Happy?"
Meera laughed lightly. "Sure. That too."
Throughout the evening, Meera found reasons to direct every question at Arjun. His work. His travels. His hobbies. Ashaas watched quietly, sipping her tea.
At one point, Meera sighed dramatically. "Some people are just lucky, I guess."
Ashaas set her cup down. "Lucky?"
"Meeting the right person," Meera said. "Some of us try and try."
Arjun shifted, uncomfortable. Ashaas placed her hand on his knee, calm and steady.
"It's not luck," Ashaas said gently. "It's choice."
Meera's smile tightened.
Later, in the kitchen, Meera whispered, "You don't even realize how easy you have it."
Ashaas turned to her. "Easy doesn't mean effortless."
That night, after Meera left, Arjun let out a long breath. "Was that… weird?"
Ashaas laughed. "A little."
"She doesn't like me, does she?"
"She doesn't like that I'm okay without trying to impress anyone."
He wrapped an arm around her. "For what it's worth, you handled that like a pro."
She leaned into him. "I don't need to compete. I already won."
He raised an eyebrow. "Wow."
She smiled. "Too much?"
"No," he said, kissing her forehead. "Perfect amount."
From the window, the city lights blinked on one by one. Somewhere, Meera was probably replaying the evening in her head.
Ashaas wasn't.
She had learned something simple—jealousy only makes noise when you stop listening to your own peace.
And she had plenty of that now.