Aadarsh had excused himself and walked out into the lawn minutes after Ruhaani and her cousin had walked away. He had no clue how Ruhaani tolerated her father's brother. A minute more of listening to his praises for his daughter and showing off how she did exceedingly well than Ruhaani at everything, and he would have snapped throwing the man out of his house.

He walked to the side, towards the swing looking at the kids. Abhi was teaching them how to draw water into the pichkaari.

Ashvi who had been standing on the side, noticed him and walked up to him.

"Bhaiya, I will leave."

"Did you eat?"

"Yes. I ate. I have my water bottle and pepper spray in my bag. My phone's charge is ninety five. Anything else?"

"Be safe," Aadarsh spoke.

"And have fun," Abhi added, joining them, his hand rubbing blue colour on her cheeks.

"Bhai," she whined. "I just washed up."

"That's why it's more fun," Abhi grinned.

Aadarsh shook his head, the hint of a smile on his lips.

"Bhaiya, tell him something!" Ashvi complained smacking Abhi's bicep.

"Complain box. You know what Bhai is right, you're still a baby."

"Bhaiya!"

"Abhi, stop annoying her." Aadarsh said looking at his brother.

"Tell her to grow a brain and a spine." Abhi smirked, putting some colour on her nose too.

"I hate you, ugh!" Ashvi stomped on his shoe and stormed away.

"I love you too, Chipmunk." Abhi laughed.

"Why do you keep annoying her?"

Abhi turned to his brother. "Because I love her. Who else will I go annoy, if not you and her? Haven't you heard Badi Bua say, those two who fight more, love most."

Aadarsh absorbed the words quietly.

"It's fun annoying her." Abhi smiled.

Aadarsh's ringing phone diverted his attention away from Abhi's words. "I need to take this," he said and Abhi nodded sprinting back to the kids.

"Yes, tell me," Aadarsh spoke, his gaze on his brother as he picked up Pari in his arms and ran behind Mukti and Nirvan. "Careful, Abhi!" He shouted.

"Oh, I see you're babysitting!" The voice on the other end of the line spoke.

Aadarsh took a deep breath. "What is it DV?"

"I had some news. Time sensitive as always."

"Go on,"

"We might not win the bid. Raja might get the tender. Coz he's dating an influential MLA's daughter."

"Doesn't seem like a problem you can't handle." Aadarsh spoke turning as Ashvi returned.

"I will see you later, bye." She said giving him a quick side hug.

"Well, there are only two possibilities if a woman resist's my charm. One, she is not into men. Two she's very seriously committed to another man. It seems to be reason two here."

"Or three, you give yourself too much credit than you are worthy off."

"Fine, I will send you her details, you can go charm her pants off her. We'll see." Devashish countered.

"I am married. I guess you're forgetting that. Talking seriously, how bad is it?"

"Very bad. We need to get this tender. It will lay the foundation of our presence in the area and boost our government projects portfolio."

"I know that. I am talking of the solution."

"Well, there's an easy way out. Raja and that girl have kept it a secret and guess what is their kink, hooking up in basement parking. We have all the dirt we need in video. IPhone quality video."

"No. No blackmail, Devashish. Delete that video permanently." Aadarsh spoke, looking around. He started walking away from the crowd and towards the house.

"I will take care of it. Everything end to end. Your name doesn't come up as usual."

"No."

"Fine. I have a few pictures... the kind that can safely get printed in newspapers and also expose the relationship. I can leak it in to the media. All the people participating in the bid will know it. A pressure may be created. May is the keyword. Although, I really think the first option is better."

"Let's go for the second. Let's keep it as clean as possible. Going on war is not what we do, Devashish."

"There's another option."

Aadarsh took a thoughtful pause and settled on the steps leading up to the back door of the house that they never used. "Let's hear it."

"Raja's brother has an affair going on with his friend's wife. We could used that as leverage and make him back out of the bid."

"No. Don't drag his family into this."

"His brother is a scumbag."

"I don't care, DV. We don't drag family into business. Next time, don't even bother telling me this is an option."

"Fine. Option two it is then. This is on you."

"Very well. I need you to get me the bids of the top three bidders. We'll make sure our offer is the best."

"So, cheating is okay, but blackmail is not? Do you have a guide book to the ways of Aadarsh Sehgal? If yes, I would like to buy one."

"I don't have a risk appetite, DV."

"Cheating is petty, blackmail is well, more thrilling."

"It's not cheating. It's just making sure you have the upper hand by hook or crook. We already have sources in each of our competition's homes. Get chatty, that's it. No law breaking involved. At least not any that will put you behind bars. You just have to play smart, not show off."

"Remind me, why do I work for a wuss like you?"

Aadarsh rolled his eyes. "If you're done, I have other things to do."

"Yeah, like babysitting Abhi. Does he play games on your phone now?"

"DV, he's my brother."

"Yeah, surprises me always. Anyways I will leave you to take care of him. Give my compliments to Mrs. Sehgal, boss."

Aadarsh's jaw tightened. It was a bait. He shouldn't take it. It was just his way of knowing if Ruhaani was his weakness, just like the rest of his family.

"I will see you in office." Saying that he ended the call. "Bloody Idiot!" He muttered. Putting up with the man was a task, especially when all he wanted was too punch that smug face of his. Like right now.

He got off the steps and walked towards the front lawn of the house where everybody was.

Ruhaani had immersed herself in conversations with the guests and others. She did all she could to just stop thinking about him. Or his girlfriend. Or of their love story.

Her mind was just messed up with the revelation of Aadarsh's past. His past love life to be specific. That's it. Maybe she was over thinking. Like she always did when it came to him.

She had vowed to give herself time before jumping to conclusions.

She turned around only to groan when Abhi coloured her face for the third time since the morning. Every time she washed her face, he'd come out of nowhere and rub colour on her entire face.

"Abhi, you're dead!" She muttered, and Abhi ran. "Abhi, my eyes!" She groaned when she couldn't open her eyes to see. "Abhi!"

She felt a hold on her hand. It must be Abhi, was her first thought. But that hold was different. "This way," she heard two words over the music. Rang Barse remix version was playing for the second time.

Abhi and Aadarsh had similar voices. But Aadarsh's words were always limited and void of emotion. Abhi on the other hand, either spoke in paragraphs or expressed himself in his tone.

It had to be Aadarsh. The heat she felt was enough proof. Then there was his peculiar preference of holding her wrist, right above her pulse point.

"Bend forward," Aadarsh instructed, picking up the pipe of clean water. Ruhaani did as she was told. "Put your hands forward," he said.

"I have the pipe in my hand." He added and she immediately joined her hands to collect the water.

He angled the pipe such that the water fell on her hands. She briefly washed her hands before taking scoops of water and splashing it onto the top portion of her face.

Aadarsh's free hand reached out to her braid on her shoulder and pushed it to her back. "Are you okay?"

"My eyes," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. When she had washed her face thoroughly, he dropped the pipe onto the grass and turned off the water. Turning towards her, he took a step closer to her.

"Don't rub your eyes, that will worsen it," he said holding both her wrists pulling her hands down, off her face, to stop her from rubbing.

Ruhaani blinked uneasily, looking at him. He stepped still closer, invading her personal space. His thumb reached below her right eye. His dark eyes looking at hers closely. "They're red," he whispered. Then slowly he angled his lips up and blew air.

Ruhaani gulped the lump forming her throat and closed her eyes, sucking in a long breath. His warmth engulfed her like a loved one's embrace. The scent he wore, was in every breath she took, filling her airways. Her heartbeat was more powerful.

"Open your eyes, Ruhaani," he said, rubbing the pink coloured droplets off her face. The way her name rolled off his tongue, left a sweet ache in her chest.

Ruhaani slowly parted her eyelids and looked at him through the length of her eyelashes, that still fluttered. Her eyes felt better. He used his thumb to gently tug at the skin below her eyes, to open them wider and blew over them.

"Better?" He asked. His voice a smooth rasp.

She nodded. He then went on to give the same care to the other eye.

Aadarsh was suddenly carried away. He looked at her, as they stood close to each other, their toes almost touching. Her brown eyes glowed like chocolate in sunlight. His fingers on a whim, reached to the wet lock of hair that stuck to the left side of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

Their gazes met again. His gaze slowly lowering to her lips.

A clearing of throat made them both turn to the side. It was Abhi. Their gazes flew back to each other, realizing how close they were. The both instinctively stepped back creating more than a foot's distance between them. Both their cheeks flushed with heat.

Abhi chuckled, "I would have said get a room,"

Aadarsh glanced at Ruhaani who was looking everywhere but towards him or Abhi.

"...but right now, Badi Bua is calling you both. Vasant uncle is here."

Ruhaani immediately turned to look at Aadarsh hearing that name. She saw his stoic mask curtain down on his visage. His fingers that had been touching her with gentleness drew into a hard fist.

"Where are they?" He asked. The softness his voice held seconds ago was gone as soon as it came.

"In the hall, all..." Aadarsh briskly walked away without hearing him completely. .."okay?" Abhi's voice trailed off.

"Come on," Ruhaani said apprehensively, following Aadarsh's trail. Having been a witness to the last interaction between the men, she knew this could be bad.

"Ah, there he is." Badi Bua said with a smile, noticing Aadarsh walk in hurriedly.

"Aadarsh," The other Sehgal smiled. "So good to see you,"

"How dare you?" Aadarsh hollered angrily.

"Aadi," Shelly Bua who stood next Badi Bua exclaimed alarmed. While others looked on shocked.

"What the hell do you think you are doing here?" Aadarsh's anger erupted.

"I was invited," he spoke turning to Badi Bua.

"I invited him Aadarsh," Badi Bua spoke up puzzled. "He was in town, it had been long..."

"Get out," Aadarsh ordered the man not waiting for his aunt to complete whatever she was saying.

"Aadarsh, come on. You're better than this. Your Bua invited me..."

"This is my house, I decide who stays here who doesn't. You're never invited here. No matter who says what."

Ruhaani blanched as she saw Badi Bua lower her gaze, looking hurt. Everyone looked on shocked. Aadarsh was like a live wire, no one in their sane mind would dare to touch.

"Aadarsh, is this the way to talk?" Shelly Bua spoke up shocked.

"Let it be Shelly. Kids who grow up without parents turn out to be just like this."

"Enough!" Aadarsh grabbed the man by his collar. "A word more from your mouth and I will forget that we share the same family name."

"Bro, what the fuck?" Vasant's son, Laksh who was simply standing aside stepped in and pushed Aadarsh off his father.

An angry Aadarsh grabbed his collar in both his hands. He pulled him close and stared into his eyes, "Get out and take your sad excuse for a father out with you."

An equally agitated Laksh raised his hand to hit Aadarsh but Abhi jumped in right in time to separate the men who were ready to get down into a nasty physical fight.

"Bhai, calm down." Abhi muttered, standing as a shield before his brother. "What is this about?"

"This shitty piece.." Aadarsh began only to be interrupted.

"Aye, mind your tongue." Laksh raised his voice, glaring at Aadarsh, pointing his forefinger at him.

"I will say what I want, do as I please. This is my house. You're standing under my roof. What are you going to do about it huh?" Aadarsh shoved Abhi aside walking towards the man. Laksh stepped back lowering his hand.

"Bhai, just calm down," Abhi muttered holding him back again.

"Yeah, perhaps you need to be where your father is." Laksh taunted.

"Enough." It was Abhi who shouted this time, throwing a glare at Laksh and then Vasant. "Don't drag our parents into this."

"What's the problem, Bhai?" He asked turning to his brother, calmer in a blink.

"This man here, has moved to court, claiming that he has share in our company and other few assets, family assets as he claims that to be." Aadarsh uttered.

Everyone looked up, shocked, between Vasant and Aadarsh.

"That's not it." Aadarsh began to further add. "This double faced man also had the audacity to threaten me, us; when we ran into him the other day at the wedding reception. And now he has the guts to show up here as a guest." Aadarsh spoke aggressively.

"We have a rightful claim, Aadarsh. The company belonged to my grandfather as much as yours. It is unfair that you get to keep it all. We are here today out of goodwill to settle this matter out of court and preserve the respect of our family." Laksh spoke up.

"Shut the fuck up." Aadarsh muttered annoyed. "Everyone here knows that your father took half of it from my father years back. I won't be surprised if you all lost it gambling."

"Oh, now that you mention your father," Vasant Sehgal spoke up. "I paid him a visit the other day." He stepped forward and stood right in front of Aadarsh. Abhi stood between them, on the side, just close enough to jump into prevent any physical assault from either side.

Vasant kept talking. "Imagine the surprise he had on his face when I told him that he doesn't own anything. Not the company, not the house. His bank account now a box where you deposit pocket money for him."

Aadarsh's face hardened. "He has a neurological disorder. Mental confusion, inability to make new memories, cognitive and behavioural impairment. In short, early onset of dementia."

"But he was perfectly fine when you took over, wasn't he? Shockingly he remembers giving you only a power of attorney not the company." Vasant replied. He then smiled. "What did you make your father sign Aadarsh? Did you cheat your father huh? Or wait... wasn't it also the time when your father was an alcoholic. Right after your mother's death? Did he even sign it when he was sober?

You know the other day, I read in the newspaper that a son declared his own father mentally unsound to take over his wealth. He was giving him drugs to induce his symptoms. You didn't do anything like, did you?"

Aadarsh lurched forward, but was held by Abhi's strong arm.

"Enough uncle. You should leave." Abhi spoke up.

"Come on Abhi, you tell me. Were you there when the papers were signed? Did you know what was written on them? Oh wait, you were not there. You were barely a teenager. The witnesses were two Desais and one lawyer " He turned to Badi Bua.

"Were you there? Or did you sign the papers after Kamlesh had signed it?" He laughed, as he noticed Badi Bua look away.

"Anyways, we should get going. Talking is off the table after all the insult, Aadarsh. You've already had a trailer of what happens in court, my dear boy. Good luck saving your ship. A storm is afoot." Patting his shoulder, Vasant Sehgal stormed past him with his son trailing close behind him.

"And oh Aadarsh, please don't cause inconvenience at my daughter's wedding. Let's play in a level field, yaa? Oh and for those of you who are lost at that, Aadarsh had threatened to destroy Smriti's upcoming wedding. I believe it's nothing new for a man like him." Having said that he sailed out.

Ruhaani blinked and then cast her gaze around the room at all faces. Ultimately her gaze settled back on Aadarsh. It was plain that he was pissed. His body was stiff, hands rolled into fists and jaw muscles tightened.

"He was lying, right Bhai?" Abhi spoke up, his voice low and doubtful. "About that and ...you wouldn't threaten ...it must have been Devashish right?"

"That man is a liar. He's not allowed anywhere near this house." Aadarsh spoke up referring to Vasant, and began moving towards the stairs that led up to his room, not answering Abhi's question.

"Bhai, wait," Abhi blocked his way. "I trust you, but I need to know from you that whatever that man said about dad was a lie. Dad transferred the company to you, right? We all have equal share in everything, right? Dad did that? He made you the guardian for us, right?"

Aadarsh wore his lips into a thin line. His eyes had a layer of sheen. For the first time in years he saw Abhi doubting him. Vasant Sehgal had chosen to defame him in front of his family. He wasn't going to spare that man.

"Don't let that man get into your head Abhi." He stepped aside, and took two long strides towards the steps.

"Why are you dodging it Bhai? Just say the words and I will believe it. Please." Abhi pleaded, his decibels a notch higher.

Aadarsh looked up at the staircase containing the tears in his eyes. He sunk his teeth into his lower lip.

"Bhai, please. I need to know." Abhi stood facing his brother's back.

Aadarsh closed his eyes.

"Just give me an answer in yes or no. Was it Dad's decision?"

"No." Aadarsh replied not bothering to turn. He couldn't meet Abhi's eyes.

"Did you force him to sign?" Abhi shot his next question.

Aadarsh gulped. He couldn't lie. Abhi did not deserve that. "No. He thought it was something else."

"You told him it was something else?"

"Yes," Aadarsh answered, his voice reduced to a meek mumble, a tear rolling down his cheek. "I had to do it. He had stopped attending to work. The company was headed to its ruin."

"Why didn't you tell me Aadarsh?" Badi Bua spoke. "You made me sign it?" She asked with uncertainty.

Aadarsh raised his hands, quickly wiping his tears.

"It wasn't necessary." Another voice echoed and Phupha Ji stood at the door with carrier covers. Badi Bua turned to her husband with shock. "I knew it. I bought that document to you for signatures. He didn't. It was what we had to do."

"There were better ways of doing it!" Abhi argued, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Abhi, Bhaisaab had refused to give up. He was hardly ever sober to take care of you all, forget thinking about his business. Someone had to step in."

"Wow." Abhi uttered scoffing. "is that why you never visit him, Bhai? Is that why you sent him away? Because you were guilty?" Abhi screamed.

Aadarsh wore his mask of indifference and turned around. "He was not a good father, Abhi."

"No. He was. You were not a good son. You gave up on him." Abhi accused his brother.

"A good father doesn't refuse to accept his own offspring." Aadarsh spoke, his voice sharp as he took steps towards Abhi. "A good father doesn't get drunk and lock himself away when his children lose their mother. A good father doesn't..." he pressed his lips together. "He wasn't a good father, Abhi."

Abhi stated at him with disappointment. "You're wrong. He loved us and still loves us."

"He doesn't Abhi. Get over it."

Abhi wiped the tears off his cheeks. "You made him bad. You gave up on him. You were not a good son. I guess that's why you try to run around acting like a father. To lie to yourself. To tell yourself you're better. That you can fill his place. You don't."

Aadarsh stared at his brother. It took every ounce of courage to not collapse. He had complaints too. He had been hurt too. He was upset too. But he was the elder one. He had to deal with it. "He was not a good father."

"No." Abhi denied. "Stop saying that." He shouted.

"Abhi, the sooner you open your eyes to reality, the better it is going to be. He didn't love us. He doesn't love us. He was never a good father."

Abhi shook his head, as tears streamed down his cheeks. Ruhaani's heart squeezed to see the brothers like that. Aadarsh's voice was cold, like he was talking about some stranger not his won father.

"He is a good father. You just don't understand him." Abhi continued to argue.

"No, Abhi. You are wrong there."

"Stop it. You never liked him." Abhi accused.

Aadarsh swallowed the lump in his throat. Keeping his eyes from watering.

"He was a good father. You don't know what it is to be a good father. My father was a good father and no one can convince me otherwise." Abhi emphasized.

Aadarsh nodded, he quietly moved across the room. "I need the car keys," he requested his uncle.

"Aadarsh, I don't think you should..."

"Please,"

Phupha Ji handed him the keys.

"Did you threaten to hinder Smriti's wedding?" Abhi's voice was loud in the silence of the room.

Aadarsh turned around to look at his brother from across the hall, "Abhi, I said..."

"Yes or no?" Abhi asked, his bloodshot yes staring at his brother.

Aadarsh swallowed the lump in his throat. "I had good reason.."

"No reason is good enough, Bhai. We look up to you. Apparently, we've been blind to your ways of getting things done."

"Abhi, it's..."

"Don't. Please." Abhi muttered looking at him hurt. "I didn't go to see dad today because I thought it'd make you upset." He stepped back, trying to fight his tears. He looked aside and then quietly went up the stairs.

Aadarsh turned around and left the house.

Ruhaani finally took a deep breath. Her heart was still beating hard. She noticed Dai Jaan make her way up the stairs following Abhi. She had never seen him so vulnerable. She was reminded of Nirvan, seeing him cry helplessly.

Her gaze drifted to Badi Bua as she slumped on to the sofa. Phupha Ji was beside her, asking what had happened. Her heart squeezed seeing tears in the woman's eyes. Badi Bua was the definition of strength. Seeing her collapse was like a blow to the heart.

But somehow her heart cried for Aadarsh. She knew how much his siblings, his Badi Bua meant to him. He might be cold hearted and insensitive but he was still human. In fact, more human than she had ever imagined him to be if she took that box of memories from earlier to be evidence.

Everything summed up to be chaos. Her feelings were all over the place. A storm had come and wrecked havoc. Suddenly she knew too much from Aadarsh's past. It was messing up her mind.

But she didn't have time for herself now. She had to be there for the family, her family. She quickly walked to the kitchen to fetch Badi Bua some water.

He was a walking red flag, she had chosen him anyway. He was anything but what she had wished for, still here she was feeling for him more deeply than she should. She shouldn't be thinking about what he must be feeling but her mind wouldn't stop.

She couldn't possibly be in love with a man like him. No. It couldn't be love. How could it?

• — • — •

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Looking forward to read your thoughts on it.

Next : Friday

Don't forget to vote ☆ on the chapters.

—Anami!♡