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Aadarsh reached his room to find Ruhaani in bed. She was engrossed in reading a book. Her hair tied up in a bun wearing her navy blue pullover. Perhapsit was her favorite, she wore it so often. The weather had suddenly become cold again after two days of unexpected rainfall. He quietly observed her for a few seconds. Generally when he came back home in the evenings, Ruhaani would be in the kitchen or with the kids in the flex room. She would either be busy making Pari write alphabets or looking into what the twins were studying.

Today, for a change, she was in their bedroom in silence, engrossed in the story she was reading. A hint of a smile on ghosted around her lips. What was she reading? He wondered. Pari and Mukti were with their colouring books in the living hall while Nirvan and Abhi were at a video game. His gaze followed the motion of her hand and his lips parted in realization. She had a hot water bag placed on her lap. Periods, of course.

He walked in and she finally looked up at him. "Hi," she said, immediately pulling up the bed covers over her lap.

"Hi," he repeated, placing his briefcase on the table and walking to the bed. Perching on the bed, he raised his one foot and removed the sock and then did the same for the other. "What are you reading?" He asked. Small talk, he tried his best to have that with her. It was getting better with time, easier.

"eBook!" Ruhaani deadpanned staring at his back.

He rolled his eyes and then turned around to look at her. She never spoke like that to anyone under the roof but him. It was almost rude. He couldn't complain because he also was like that at times. It was easier being direct, sarcastic or mocking than sweet and formal. She seemed to be of the same page about that, because she didn't hesitate to answer back or talk like she was doing a favor talking to him. He assumed she was giving him a taste of his own medicine. Come to think of it, he didn't actually mind it. If anything, he had begun to get accustomed to it.

"Could have been more civil, no?" He commented. "Maybe it's your hormones, I guess." He said turning to the front.

Ruhaani blinked. "How do you know?" She asked ignoring his comment.

"Know what?" He asked, undoing the button at the end of the sleeve of his full sleeve white shirt. When she didn't respond immediately, he added, "that you're on periods?" He turned back to look at her.

She just stared at him.

"I saw the hot water bag." He answered and then after a brief pause he added, "All okay?"

"Yeah, just cramps." She answered, quickly dismissing his query. It was weird when he switched from annoying to suddenly caring.

He nodded and turned to the front. He didn't know what else to say to her. He never spoke to Ashvi about these things. The only girl he was comfortable to talk about these stuff was Siddhi. In fact, it was Siddhi who spoke about it. It had started back in ninth grade when they had to stay back in school for sports practice. Unfortunately, Siddhi's white skirt had got a stain that he had spotted. He had assumed she sat on spilled ketchup but late realized how wrong he was when she panicked and told him what it was. Since then, it had been fairly easy to talk about topic.

However in front of his sister he could never even say the word period. If they ever spoke about it, it would be in indicative terms. For instance, 'do you have cramps?', 'is it that time of the month?'

"Let me know if you need anything," he said, glancing at her very briefly almost as quick as lightning before walking to the wardrobe.

Ruhaani stared at him dumbfounded. Aadarsh Sehgal was the most mercurial person she had ever come across. In one minute he would be cold, distant, arrogant and smug and in the next he would be a perfect gentleman. If she didn't know better she would assume they were twins.

Ten days back he had run to a different city to avoid her and then had returned a changed man. He was not distant and cold but he was still arrogant, rudely sarcastic and smug at most times.

Odd enough she preferred him to stay that way then give her his 'attention', make awkward conversation or behave like a fine gentleman confusing her.

"By the way," she heard him say, a little while later as he walked out of the wardrobe dressed in black joggers and sky blue round-neck t-shirt that fitted so well that it highlighted his broad shoulders and well sculpted muscles beneath. The short sleeves that ended around the bicep showed off his strong arms. She blinked realizing her eyes were noticing way too much. Perhaps her mind was under the influence of the romantic scene in the book she was reading. Or just the hormones doing their thing.

"Uh," he walked up and sat on the edge of the bed on her side. "I think you should speak to Mukti about it. Periods. I mean she's ten and you know..." his voice trailed letting his point be understood.

Ruhaani could only nod in response. She was still reeling back from her troublesome thoughts about the fitting of his t-shirt. She had no businesses thinking about how well his clothes fitted him.

He apparently went to gym after work almost everyday. She wondered if he had well developed abs, like a six pack or something. She had never seen that on a real person. Although she had read about it a lot, from four-pack abs to eight-pack. Almost every other romance book out there had a man who was a Greek God.

Her choice in books was something she wasn't entirely proud of. On some days, she'd want to hide herself for her choice in books. Her preference also had drastic swings on some days. On some days she preferred pure fluff, on others she was reading a dark romance where two toxic people were having mind-blowing sex that didn't seem real in any way.

"And.."

"Hmm," she hummed realizing she was zoning out of the conversation. Why was she thinking about sex scenes? How did she even reach there? Wasn't she thinking about the material of his t-shirt? She blinked.

"Have you ever spoken to Ashvi about.... you know girl stuff like this and ... that." He gave her those eyes that said— you know what I am talking about. Although she wasn't entire sure what his 'that' referred to.

"You mean," she sat up straight. Don't say the word sex, her mind warned. It would get very awkward. The last thing she wanted was more awkwardness. She took a different tangent. "About having a boyfriend?"

Ashvi had spoken to her about it. Apparently she wasn't allowed to date. Another 'unsaid rule' of the Sehgal house. One night when they had been in her room seeing her new purchases, she had complained about how her brothers would never let her date a boy. Poor girl feared the worst would await if they got to know she was seeing a guy, so she never even thought of doing it in secret.

Ostensibly, it had started when a boy had asked her to be his girlfriend in tenth grade. She had been so elated at the prospect that she had sang her happiness to her brothers who had immediately disapproved bringing the 'don't-date' rule into existence. Seemingly, even Abhi didn't quite welcome the idea.

Somehow everyone in the house was very scared of upsetting Aadarsh. As far as possible, no one ever attempted to make him unhappy. It was still a bit hard to digest, Aadarsh was always so soft with them. The only times she had seen him be angry, was with Abhi, first for bringing his father home on their engagement and the other for not informing him that Nirvan was sick. However the tension didn't last more than two days.

"She has one?" Aadarsh asked curiously. He knew there was something Ashvi and Ruhaani spoke about and never told anyone of them. Not even Abhi. If it was a boyfriend that was just the beginning of another chapter of worry for him.

"You think she would, after you've threatened her to not?" She questioned back.

"I haven't threatened her. She's just not allowed to have one." He tried to say it instead of snapping.

"You're such a hypocrite!" Ruhaani accused him. Ashvi had begged her to talk to her bother and change his mind about it. Frankly, Ruhaani knew the topic could explode if she tried to say anything in favor of Ashvi so she never bothered to trigger an explosion by bringing this up before Aadarsh, no matter how much Ashvi begged. However now that the topic and presented itself, and she saw a window of opportunity and she jumped at it.

"She's too young and naive." He justified.

"And you weren't? You dated in high school when you weren't even eighteen. She's over twenty and in college. If she doesn't date now, when will she?"

Aadarsh stared at her. He hated when she called him out. Like right now, for his hypocrisy.

"It's different. She's a girl. And she's my sister. And she's too...young and naive." He repeated unable to find better words.

Ruhaani's jaw dropped. That was clear bias. "And you dated a guy?" She asked mockingly.

Aadarsh narrowed his eyes at her. "This topic is over."

"No. It's not. You know, she could have gone against your wishes. But she didn't. I think you should cut her some slack. If she likes someone it's completely fine..."

"No," he interrupted. "It's not fine."

"..at least listen to me." She reprimanded almost gritting her teeth. She hated how he dismissed her valid points like nonsense every time they discussed anything. Discuss may be a lighter word for argument on some occasions. "Let her understand the world her way, even if that involves potential heartbreaks. Let her figure it out on her own. How long will you protect her? She deserves to make her choices. It's her life. Hers to decide what she wants and what she doesn't."

"Are you so dense? Guys these days date to get laid. That's the 'trend'. And I am not letting any guy as much as lay a finger on my sister."

"Why are you so sure that your sister will chose a guy like that? You are very judgemental. All I am saying his just let her date, if she wants to. You can always tell her what's not acceptable when she's dating. But if you're going to be so close minded then either she's going to start hating and blaming you for that or she'll figure out a way to date anyway going around your back."

"Fine. Picture this. I do allow it. She dates some douche and one thing leads to another. Do you have any idea how many ways this could blow up?"

"What if she dates and is happy? What if she dates, breaks-up but comes to a realization of what she wants? What if she finds love? What if she finds a soul mate? What if she finds that person who makes her world better? And if you and Abhi are allowed to date, why not her? Because she was born a girl? That's unfair."

"This is going no where. You don't understand the gravity." He said firmly, getting on his feet and turned to walk away.

"Just think about it. She's old enough to take care of herself and chose what's best for herself. The last thing you'd want for her is to not date now and years later marry a stranger who is a bigger douche."

He stopped and turned to cast a blazing gaze at her as though demanding an explanation for what she said. Ruhaani shrugged. "If she doesn't date now, then she will have to eventually settle for an arranged marriage either because it's too late to date or all good men are taken."

His eyes were focused like a lion eyeing a gazelle. It was like she was silently, calling out their marriage, their relationship. Did she think that badly of their relationship, of him? He simply turned ahead and walked out of the room. He hated how her arguments actually forced him to reconsider the matter.

***

Ruhaani devoured the scrumptious onion bhajis that Dai Jaan had made. The weather was cold and just right to feast on some greasy food. When Dai jaan had asked her if she'd like to eat bhajis she had jumped to the opportunity. Currently, she Abhi, DJ and Ashvi were seated around the kitchen island enjoying their appetizers before dinner. At first Ashvi was only looking but she gave in after seeing Abhi and her Bhabhi eat the snack like it was the best thing in the world.

They were still talking about the variety that made the best evening snack in winters when Aadarsh walked into the kitchen with his water bottle. He looked at them surprised.

"Bhaiya, right time!" Abhi exclaimed. "DJ has made her world famous bhajis."

He walked over to them, drawn to the plate of the golden brown crispy bhajis. "Why wasn't I invited?" He asked cross and picked one piece of the plate. He drew closer to the bowl of the chutney when both Abhi and Ruhaani exclaimed the same thing.

"It's spicy!"

He looked at his brother and then at Ruhaani. She had coated her piece with chutney like it was the best thing in the world.

"Is there any without green chillies?" He asked, turning to Dai Jaan. He loved coriander and mint chutney. Dai Jaan knew it more than anyone else. "Of course there is!" The woman said hurriedly moving the counter behind. She returned with a bowl of chutney for him.

He sat on the stool that was free between his sister and wife. The others quietly watched him.

"What?" He threw around a gaze.

"Nothing," Abhi shrugged.

"Why did you guys stop talking?" He asked, his gaze going around, for hints.

Dai Jaan excused herself out of the kitchen leaving the four of them.

"Actually," his sister spoke up. "Bhabs, had something to ask you." She looked at her Bhabhi with pleading eyes.

Aadarsh turned to Ruhaani. Her eyes went wide as she shook he read looking at his sister, her mouth stuffed, a bit of the chutney on her lips. He pulled a few tissues from the holder in the centre and passed it to her.

She took them, still looking at his sister then pressed the tissue against mouth. He turned back to look at his sister. Something was definitely going on. He was more curious now. He turned back to Ruhaani who was hurriedly chewing and swallowing whatever was in her mouth. "Abhi wanted to actually," she said.

He looked exasperated and moved his gaze across the kitchen island and settled it on his brother.

"Me?" Abhi reacted, throwing disappointed gazes at both the ladies. "Why am I always thrown under the bus?" He muttered only to be recipient of a glare from his elder brother. Perhaps his sweet elder brother took the words on face value and thought he was comparing him to a bus.

"Abhi?" Aadarsh's demanding gaze pinned on his brother.

"We were wondering, by we I mean...all adults present here," he shot a gaze to his sister and then one at his sister-in-law, "if we all should... I mean not like we need permission but we thought asking would be nice.... can we go out clubbing?"

Pin drop silence.

Three gazes were zoomed on Aadarsh's face.

"Clubbing?" Aadarsh repeated as though to confirm if he had heard right. His voice uncannily even.

Abhi bobbed his head up and down. The situation might have been challenging for Abhi but Ruhaani found it funny. She lowered her gaze to hide her amusement. She absolutely loved how the usually mighty Abhi was reduced to a kid in front of his elder brother. Her gaze drifted towards the plate of the bhajis that were now ignored. Perhaps she should take just one more.

"No." It was laser sharp, the Senior Sehgal's voice. It made Ruhaani flinch and abort her mission to grab a bhaji and look at him.

"Why not?" Abhi countered immediately.

"Why would you want to take..." his eyes moved to the left and then right. Letting the rest be understood.

"Bhaiya, please. I am almost twenty one." Ashvi said. Ruhaani wondered if this was her cue to add her age. If they were going by age then she should be the one in command not Aadarsh. She could imagine Aadarsh scowl if she voiced her logic.

Ruhaani finally pulled the plate filled with few bhajis towards her, decidingto leave the discussion to the siblings. She was about to pick one when the plate was drawn away. She gasped as she realized Aadarsh had pulled the plate towards himself, while he still was looking at Abhi disappointedly.

"No means no." It was almost like he was denying Ruhaani from eating a bhaji. But Ruhaani knew that it only seemed that what in her head. "No one is going nowhere," he added further.

"I am in, Abhi!" Ruhaani said surprising the three siblings. Defying Aadarsh was an altogether different feeling of satisfaction.

"And what about Pari and the twins?" he asked turning to her, clearly displeased with her speaking up.

"You can take care of them, I believe you want to be home." She smiled brightly at him, pulling the plate of bhajis towards herself.

"Bhaiya, please. Even I want to go. And I will be going with Bhai, and Bhabhi. It's not like I am going with my friends."

"I agree." Abhi said.

"I second." Ruhaani chipped in. She was finally going to reward herself with a bhaji when Aadarsh pulled the plate towards himself, again, this time way out of reach from Ruhaani.

"Whose plan was this?" He asked, throwing a glare at Ruhaani, pissing her off.

The three of them exchanged looks amongst themselves.

"Ours!" The three of them said in unison.

"Bhai, please." Abhi said. "With a cherry on the top. We won't force you to come along, promise." Abhi did his best to say that sincerely. There was no way in the world his brother would leave the two women to his care in a club.

Aadarsh stared at him, it was a deadly gaze. Ruhaani watched him with a keen eye. The man had to learn how to tone down his looks of disapproval, disappointment and anger.

"Bhaiya, please. It's women's day special night. And it's on a weekend. And Dai Jaan said she was okay to be with the kids. Just us. No outsiders, no friends."

"Aadarsh," Ruhaani spoke up, her hand reaching to his arm. He turned to look at her over his shoulder, briefly noticing her fingers settling on his arm. "Please." She said swallowing her pride. It was only for Abhi and Ashvi. "You can come along too. To make sure we are not up to mischief." There was a glint of humor in her eyes.

Abhi tried to stifle his chuckles but failed, making a weird sound.

"Not funny, Ruhaani." Aadarsh mumbled, turning to his brother.

"Please," both Abhi and Ashvi said in unison. He sighed. "Fine, only this one time." He said and got off the stool, his hand moving to pick up the plate. "And I am coming along. And you," he turned to Ashvi, "are not drinking anything that has even a drop of alcohol in it."

Ashvi gave him a soldier's salute. "As you wish!"

He made his way out carrying the plate of bhajis with him.

"I can't believe he agreed." Ashvi remarked.

"I think it was Bhabhi's soft please that worked," Abhi grinned.

"Forget all that, he took all the bhajis, yaa!" Ruhaani muttered only to widen her eyes and shift back as a hand moved past her, right before her eyes. Then her husband appeared in her peripheral vision and then in front of her eyes, glaring at her. He took the bowl of chutney and walked away not forgetting to pin her with a piercing gaze.

Ashvi and Abhi laughed at her expense. Ruhaani sighed.

"You guys are adorable!" Abhi muttered getting off the stool.

He then added, "I am going to go book those VIP passes right now."

Ruhaani stared at Abhi, as he left. Adorable how? The man was like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at the drop of a hat. Not to forget that he got some sadistic pleasure out of annoying her. Any decent husband would care to offer his wife some food. But Aadarsh Sehgal had taken the whole plate away. So what, if she had already eaten half of that plate and he one piece. It didn't give him the license to be so rude.

"And me and Bhabs are going shopping tomorrow!" Ashvi announced.

Ruhaani smiled while internally she wanted to disappear into thin air. She had gone shopping with Ashvi, a total of three times now and each time it had taken half her day and the death of all her brain cells. Ashvi was a very choosy shopper. She would see a thousand pieces before buying one. It was frustrating. She hated to admit it to herself but she would rather be in a silent confined place with Aadarsh, for that matter even arguing with hi was bearable than going shopping with Ashvi. Seemingly, she didn't have a choice.

* * *

Aadarsh usually didn't do late-night business calls. However he had to take on an important one. It wasn't business per say. It was a call with his lawyer. His father's first cousin, Vasant Sehgal wanted a share in their company.

His grandfather and his brother had started the company together. They had always been equal share holders. Things changed after both the men passed away. Vasant Sehgal and his father, Kamlesh Sehgal had divided the company and gone their own ways. Vasant Sehgal had rebranded his half of the company, unfortunately the company did miserably until it died earlier last year. Now Vasant Sehgal and his son Laksh had moved to the court to claim their share in the present Sehgal & Sons Co. The case should have been rejected but somehow they had cooked up a story to prove that the company was never divided as splitting inheritance but strategically divided as per plan and that he still had a fifty percent right on the current company just like his late father had in the one that collapsed.

Since the past week this matter had flared up. Their lawyer had even sending them notices. They had gone as far as to include his current home in the list of assets they claimed. Vasant Sehgal had always been the one to manage finances and his father the one to get clients and contracts. Vasant had details of everything about the cash flow and contracts. And seemingly more old papers than them to prove that he had never been given a share of the assets.

Aadarsh was beginning to get troubled by the matter. He hated how lax his father had been when it came to the matters of running the company.

He traced his steps back to his room but halted by the door when he heard Ruhaani's voice talking to Pari.

"Pari, mummy's stomach is hurting baba, please don't jump," he heard Ruhaani's voice. Aadarsh assumed she was still on her period. Yesterday she had been stuffing fried bhajis, the day previous to that she was having hot chocolate on their bed which she had spilled on the bedsheet, which had ensued an argument between them. Today, she had been feasting on cupcakes she had brought for everyone at home. He didn't get one piece because it was over. He wouldn't put it past her to make it her way to settle the score for the bhajis. He assumed she ate extra on her periods. As for her non sophisticated eating habits, they were a regular occurrence he now knew.

He slowly inched closer to the doorway and peeped in. Pari was sitting on her mother's stomach. When her mother complained, she simply fell forward and lay atop her mother. The side of her face pressed against Ruhaani's chest.

"My shona is tired, huh?" Ruhaani's soft voice filled the silence of the room as her finger ran through Pari's soft hair. Her fingers gently moving through the girl's hair.

Pari took her right thumb in her mouth. Something she did when she was tired or sleepy. Ruhaani noticed that and pulled her thumb out of her mouth. "No thumb in mouth, jaan. Doctor aunty told you naa, germs go into your mouth like that." The girl simply hummed.

He didn't know why, he remained at the doorway, watching them. It didn't feel right to interrupt their moment. The moment he would go in, Pari would jump to him asking for a story.

Additionally, he was in no mood to read her story. It had been a long day and he just wanted to sleep. He decided to walk out on the passageway for a while to give them their privacy. But his legs refused the idea so he leaned over the railing and stood in silence thinking about the case.

The case meant a lot of paper trail would come into light. Their company's books were mostly clean as far as a few years. But he didn't know what was there in the pages from decades ago. He had cautiously made sure that at least the books and the bank trails were clean for all deals happening under his name, of not the deals themselves. But he doubted his father had. He had to start looking at all that now.

After a few minutes he walked back to the room to find Pari just as she was, sprawled over her mother. Ruhaani's hand rested on Pari's small back. Pari was fast asleep. But Ruhaani seemed wide awake, perhaps lost in her thoughts, as she looked at the ceiling.

He placed his phone on the nightstand and sat on the bed. The tiny sounds and motion made Ruhaani turn to look at him. She tightened her hold around Pari and prepared to turn so that she could transfer Pari to the mattress.

"Wait," he said, noticing Pari's foot dangling. If Ruhaani turned to her side, she would squash the little girl's foot in the process. He moved a little to her side and gently lifted Pari off her mother. Ruhaani watched as he delicately laid Pari down in the space between them. He adjusted her head on the small pink pillow. He treated her like she was the most delicate human on the planet. It was an endearing sight.

His gaze met hers and he raised a brow wondering why she was looking at him like that. She shook her head, glancing down at Pari. Her hand reached Pari's head just as Aadarsh's reached to caress her. They looked at each other, as his palm rested overs her instead of Pari's hair. He withdrew his hand and instead leaned closer and kissed her forehead.

Ruhaani swallowed the lump in her throat. Aadarsh annoyed her, a lot. He made her question her life choice. He made her want to run away on some days. On certain days, inspired her to plot his murder. But when she saw this doting father avatar all her annoyance and doubts were erased. Her primary reason to marry was a father for Pari and she was almost sure that Pari wouldn't have had a better father. Maybe he was Pari's destiny just as much as he was hers.

"All okay?" She whispered and then when he looked confused she gestured phone call. Aadarsh usually never took calls before them. He excused himself and moved away to take them privately. He also didn't do phone calls that late in the night and never so long.

"Yeah," he answered wondering if his thoughts were reflected on his face.

"Okay," she whispered, unconvinced. "Good night!"

"Good night." He repeated switching off the two lights that were still on. He glanced at the AC. He sighed. Perhaps he must just get used to being in a warm place. He lay on his side keeping his gaze towards the door of the room away from her. She did the same. Looking towards the door of the balcony.

Before he had come in, she was thinking about the what-ifs. She had grown so close the Sehgal family. She now felt like she and Pari were a part of them. The feeling of being an outsider had almost disappeared. However in the confines of their bedroom, when she was alone with him, she still felt like an outsider. Maybe she'd always stay one, given how he was. Or maybe with time he'd be a little less of a stranger. She didn't know how it would turn out to be. Life was meant to be unpredictable and she knew by first hand experience how to deal with the worst, she shouldn't be worried. That's what she told herself, willing herself to stop overthinking. 

• — • — •

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Next : Saturday (hopefully!)

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—Anami!♡