Randeep's pov

A groan of pain escapes my mouth as I try to pull off my shirt. Guess I'm not so tough after all. Saurabh really used me like a punching bag, that bastard he didn't even stop when the bell rang on the first round, of course knowing I won't tell his sister and he is right, I didn't. And don't get me wrong but I don't like the guy, even a bit. I shrug the shirt anyhow and lay in my bed.

Its 4 in the evening and I have my reception to attend to at 7, plus Alisha and Sid are here. Alisha hasn't stopped talking from the moment she entered my office, like she will ever ask for permission, so after barging in, she took me home to decide for Ashi's dress which in the end I was able to avoid, thankfully.

As for Ashi, her smiles are widened from that day three days ago, but she is never happy with me. Any day anytime she would pop out of nowhere for my meds and meals, yesterday my secretary came in the meeting hall with them on her instruction. But her smiles are limited like something is stopping her to be happy, this time I wont bother even asking, I have really had enough, I have bruises for god sakes, what more can I do, die?

"Randeep" I hear and groan, this time annoyed at the voice. This girl is everywhere isn't she?

"is it time?" I ask referring to meds and not bothering to get up, I hear the click of door locking and open my eyes to see her smiling face.

"no I just came to see if you need something and tell you Sid is calling for you if you are ready" so why did she lock the door?

"how about some peace?" I asked seriously and her fake smile vanished in an instant, I would've felt bad but my meds are keeping me numb so I really don't feel anything, well not for long given I had them in the morning.

She nods going to the door, "I will wake you after an hour, and inform Sid" and left the room, I heard the door close so I closed my eyes and slept but that's not how it works, not for me at least.

"bhai, bhai, bhaai" came Sid's voice as he barged 30 minutes later in the room, I curse silently and get up as normally as I could with the pain. Then I see Sid in the room with horror on his face, like seeing his worst nightmare. His points at my chest and I look down realizing I have no shirt and that all of my body is blue with bruises. I look up and he starts retreating "ill call for help" I rush and cover his mouth closing the door. Now I know why Ashi locked it in the first place.

I know how will Alisha react on this and so I decided not to tell anyone and Ashi didn't object, not that she can. Other than role play she cannot tell me what I do or not. "I don't need help" I say sternly when he starts wriggling himself free, I cannot hold long so I make him sit on the bed but he looks worried.

"who did this?" he asks in a whisper, his look is that of fear. Well this is new, Sid is not someone to be afraid and a few petty bruises can never do that or can they?

"it was a challenge, I won but he gave a tough fight" I explain and he looks like he can cry. "hey, its fine. I'm better plus your bhabhi is always by me. Look" I put his hand on one of them, though it hurt a bit but for him to smile, anything. "see? Nothing" I say and nods almost not believing.

"why did you fight?" he is angry now, someone is moody today.

"nothing that should bother you" I get up to put on something, shouldn't let him see anymore but he follows me

"what in the world can"

"kiddo" I cut his sentence "its fine, I'm okay. Plus why are you not ready? Its my reception" I ask putting a tee on, I still have time.

"I came to call you, and- does di know?" he suddenly asked referring to Alisha.

"no and you are not saying this to anyone"

"but-"

"Not. A. Word. You hear me?" I say seriously and he nods obediently, not arguing this time. His face falls so I go to him patting him on the back "just a bruise on bhai and you start crying" I tease and he shrugs my hand off

"I wasn't crying, just never.... Saw you beaten up" he says, I know he looks up to me for things so of course this is a letdown, no likes to see their mentor failing, I suppose.

"hey! I aren't beaten up" I defend "I didn't lose that fight, plus injuries are given in a fight, now lighten up please" technically I did win, it was Saurabh who bowed not me as he had to talk to her in the end.

"you should stop fighting, if you cannot take it" he says tapping once on my side which hurt badly, I have the biggest one there. Trying my best to hide it I walk after him.

"okay I will, now why are you here? Didn't your bhabhi tell you -"

"that you are resting? Yeah she did but I couldn't let you" he smiled sweetly "I mean even I didn't get any rest – ow" I captured him with my arm and then threw him on the bed which caused my whole upper body to ache.

"so I shouldn't what logic is that?" I finished laying down on my side of bed and sighed. Kiddo is getting bigger and heavy I realized.

He was quietly looking at me definitely his gears are rolling in that head so I raised my eyebrow "what?"

"you should rest, I will be going" he got up saying.

"sleep, your bhabhi will come to wake us anyway, and you said you didn't get rest" I closed my eyes, and after a minute or so felt the bed dip so I exhaled letting the sleep engulf me.

*

I was woken up by someone talking, "he wasn't hurt right?" I heard and groaning I tried to turn away to sleep but felt hands on me so I opened my eyes and saw Ashi holding me but was looking somewhere else "you sure?" she asked while turning me so I lie on my back, I am confused and then looked at me "oh, you are up?" now she notices?

"yes" I try to get up so she helps me, which I don't know is why but then I see Sid sitting on the foot of the bed with sleepy eyes and bed hair getting that she is role playing "what time is it?"

"around 6, you are late, sorry I forgot to wake you" she leaves me standing up and Sid lays back while Ashi tsks "Sid, get up we have to get ready" and goes to shake him gently.

I smile at the sight when kiddo whines "5 more minutes" and she sighs.

"after that I don't want you on bed" she says and turns to me pulling my blanket putting it on for him forgetting I'm the injured one "you want something?"

"water please" she nods and gets it for me "thank you"

"you should get ready"

I nod "I will wake him"

She smiles at him "let him sleep for 10 minutes, I am going to get ready"

One thing good about always angry Ashi, is she never involves family in our contract, I found out. Though I also found out, they have one weird sibling bond I mean one minute they are angry, other they are not even bothered and then all happy. I guess mood swings runs in family.

*

It took real effort to get ready but Sid helped me and also entire time I was reminding him not to mention the bruises in front of anyone, but he looked so dull. It is really not new for me, after any exams he is worn out and this was 11 mid terms, he has taken science stream, just like me.

We left the room quarter to 7 and as always Ashi was not ready, instead of waiting I went to sitting area and sat down to work, I haven't worked because it is light time here in India but I need to go to London soon, for things there will be coming up in a month or so.

Alisha and all others have already reached and I'm late, well I should be I'm the groom, only Sid is here with me who will leave with us but as always Ayesha refuses to leave her.

Click of heels came what feels like after an hour but I know who it is so I don't bother looking but then a nudge from Sid forced me to. As I looked up I couldn't move a muscle, frozen at the place, she looks so .... I don't know beautiful just doesn't cover it, I mean what can I say to describe it? Her dress flowed in frills from the waist but what clung to her body gave her slightly voluptuous figure best cover showing of her curves, her waist looked so perfect. I was still in the trance when Ayesha blocked my view, holding her hand she twirled Ashi whistling on it, who obeyed clearly uncomfortable, but when she turned I found her dress almost backless only two straps crossed and hair in a side bun, skin that can put silk to shame on view, looked as if she has worn the moonlight, dim mansion lights were no help. Her innocent face in all added to her look.

"babes looking fabulous" Ayesha said breaking my trance and I finally blinked. I tried to shake off the emotions and kept my face neutral. Then Ayesha turned to me "jeeks, take care no one takes her"

"don't worry, she is not leaving my side like that" I smiled and she turned back to Ashi

"there will be bloodshed tonight, darling" Ashi's eyes changed color to dark brown so I suppose Ayesha winked at her. "ill meet you there" She left after that and I looked at my side, Sid was nowhere. Of course left to give us time.

I slowly walked to her, her posture stiffing as she folds her arms, it is so clear she is not at all comfortable in this dress and now scared even. Standing in front of her, I looked directly in her eyes "you can pull this off?"

"its not a choice" she said annoyed

"lets go then, Mrs. Raichand" I hate the name but I'm to use it as their son, if I could I will be without a surname.

Her eyes changed color again turning into the burning wood as her face became neutral "after you Mr. Raichand"

We set off her behind me, outside I opened the door for her as she sat inside the car, I nodded to Dave and the car before ours left the compound of mansion in which Sid is there, as I sat inside mine we left the place.

I stand behind the double doors as we are to make a (what they called grand and I call outdated) appearance. Ashi is sprawled on the seats next to me not bothering with her dress. I sit taking out my mobile, my eyes on mobile on my hand and focus on her, she is carelessly tapping away and then it ringed, she picks it with most bored expression "ho compagnia" she said in Italian. Clearly doesn't want me to know but I do know Italian, it means 'I have company'. Her expression changed as the man said on the other side said "we got nothing?" I'm not going to translate every sentence.

"then get something, I'm going to be there sooner than you know" she continued in Italian, the other side said something as she replied "it has been months ....... Doesn't matter" what she said next got my attention "siete tutti portatori di inferno" meaning 'you all are hell bearers' what does this mean. She switched to English after this "D, I'm already pissed and you slack. Since when? ... I don't know, love how about a nice old bullet" this was a threat I can guess. She hung up and got up leaving. I didn't bother to follow, her boyfriend should be her own problem.

A minute later, I heard a grunt from the bathroom, I get up and sigh, I have to check on her. Going in the bathroom I saw a whole glass rack is broken and her hand has blood from a cut I suppose "what did you do now?" I ask bored, I'm so used to her tantrums in past month it doesn't even worry me anymore and she turns, this Ashi looks nothing like the one I know, eyes blazing and breathing heavy, well her getup is intact.

"ill be out in a minute" she says coldly and I nod going out. Now she has a cut on her hand, let her brother see it and then ill ask. I don't know why but her talking to that D or whosoever he was brought me on fire, she is good at acting, for a minute I thought he was a subordinate but this act says otherwise.

She came a minute later, hands clean and you cannot even make out she has a cut, she covered it or what? Her hand looks normal, she came beside me and at the same time the door opens, I wasn't ready but she looped her arm in mine and we walked out to the party filled with people. "please welcome the new daughter of Raichand family – Ashi" she smiles and looks around. I look at her and others in the room and instantly know Ayesha was right there will be bloodshed, only I didn't know it will be literal.

*****