Bella's PoV
"Pranam Aunty...Pranam Uncle.." Mahir greets my parents.

Right now he's at Sharma Mansion to pick us up to their house. It's New Year eve today and we Sharmas are invited to Singhania Mansion for the night. And I have no idea how I'll excuse myself from this torture.

"Bless you, dear...please sit." Pappa asks him to sit.

I see his eyes wander around and gets fixed at mine. It has been a week since the picnic incident and the best thing is neither Him nor Veer has caused any disturb to us since then. Not even when I went for the second supposedly date with Abhishek a few days back.  Looks like finally got on the right track😏.

I avert my eyes from him and get down the stairs. I have no wish to see him. Not today🥺.

"Is Everyone ready, uncle???" Mahir asks while most of my family members gather to the hall being all set for the party.

"Yes dear...we're almost ready..." Mummy smiles him then she turns to me, "Bella, you didn't get ready yet?? And where's Bani?" she looks irritated at the lack of our punctuality.

"Umm....Mummy... wo...she's in her room." I skip the first question.

"Hey Bhagwan...🤦‍♀ one still in her room and the other one didn't get ready yet!! What will I do with you two...?" Mummy sighs, "...you go, get ready. Bani!!!!" she calls her.

My sister has locked her room after lunch and now it's dusk. I wonder if she is even planing to open her door today.

"Bani!!!! Jaldi beta!!!" Mummy calls again.

Finally I hear the unlock sound of door. Bani comes to the corridor, "Yes Mummy...you called me?" Crap!! she's in her nightwear😳.

"You didn't get ready yet!!!" Mummy frowns at her.

"No..." Bani replies boldly.

"What do you mean by 'No', Bani. You know that we've been invited by the Abhishek's family today, right?" Shit!!! Mummy is angry😑.

"You people go. I'm not going." Bani turns back to head towards her room.  I wish I could be as brave as her...

"Bani!!!" Mummy almost angrily calls her making her turn back. But before she can scold her any farther Pappa interrupts her.

"Mohini...calm down." then he goes near Bani, "...My doll, I never forced you for anything. Aj bhi nhi karungi. Par ekbar soch ke dekho....wo log Bella ki honewali sasuralwale hein. Mahir khud aya hein hume le jane. Ab agar hum mei se koyi na gaya to...khas kar ke agar tum na gayi to unhe bura lage ga na... Unki invitation ka apman hoga na..." Pappa says caressing her hair softly.

No matter how hard-head Bani is... She never disrespects our elders....specially our Pappa.

Bani sighs lowering her gaze, "Fine...I'll get ready in a minute." then she looks at me. I nod and head upstairs with her.

After a bit we both come down.

Mahir is gaping at me open mouth. Someone Please tell that stupid that my family is here too.🙄

"Hi, Mahir. It's nice to meet you too😏" giving a hard glare, Bani breaks his haze forwarding her hand to him for handshake.

"Umm...hi Bani...🙊 looking good." Mahir hesitantly takes her only to yelp that he manages to turn into a loud lifeless laugh.🤭

Godd bless his hand today😂.  Should I feel sorry for him😒??? Well, I Don't 😂

We head for the Singhania Mansion. Mahir keeps glancing at me through rear view mirror while I glare back occasionally only to see him smiling. Moron!!!😐

"Mahir, I can give you another handshake. Should you wish so?😏" Bani smiles at him though her eyes says everything.

Mahir gulps hard and without farther glance drives straight on.

After we reach Singhania Mansion, we greet the Singhanias. I and Bani take blessings from our elders. The whole house is decorated with colourful lights, moon-shaped pinata, star ornaments, glitter Balloons and all. To anyone's eye, it's an amazing environment to celebrate New Year.... But for me all these decorations remind me of that day. New Year has never been happy for us after that day. I look at Mahir.  And it's all because of you two.🥺

Mishty: Wow...Bella...Bani...you guys are looking gorgeous!!!

"Yeah...thanks Mishty Bhabi...you guys are looking very pretty too.🙂" I smile at Mishty and Ahana, then look at Bani to see her emotionless eyes searching for someone. Most probably she didn’t even hear Mishty.

It’s hard for both of us to put up with acting today. At home we would just excuse ourselves saying that we're busy. But looks like this marriage is gonna give me this freight every year from now on.

"The one you are searching for is not at home. In fact it's possible that he might not come home today." Mahir says in a law voice to Bani.

"Who told you that I'm searching for Veer, huh??" Bani hisses at him.

"You yourself said that just now, Bani. Did I utter anyone’s name??😏" Mahir smirks at her while Bani glares at him.

"Where is Abhishek and Veer, Radha behen?" Mummy asks Radha Aunty.

"Oh...Abhishek and Veer is still at office. I called Abhi, he said that he'll be here shortly...and about Veer, you cannot be sure untill he comes." Sumitra aunty replies my mother.

"Bella....Bani, why are guys so quiet, dear?? Didn't you like the decorations??" Dhanpratap uncle asks us, concerned.

"Aree...no no...uncle. Your house is very nice. We are just looking around." Bani assures him.

"Mishty....Ahana.... Why don't you guys give them a tour around the house, dear?" Radha aunty says.

"Yeah sure...please come..." they usher us, Sharma girls around the house while Kunal bhai takes our brothers to the outer part.

..............

Bani's PoV
I wander around the house alone. Mishty bhabi and Ahana is busy with Meera bhabi and their to-be new bride. Good for me.

Days like today, I can't bear so many people around me. It suffocates me.... Reminds me of him...of that night. I even skip my own birthday for this reason. Every year I would make excuses on these days and shut myself somewhere to escape from everyone. But did I escape Him??? Even if I escape from him... Can I ever get escape from his memory...? 
The mark he has stamped so many years ago are too bitter to bear still too deep to erase😑.

While thinking all these, I enter into a room unintentionally. I go farther inside the room. The room looks apparently neat and clean with no photos of the owner except for some trophies and meddles. Seems like it's not used regularly.

Yet as soon as the scent hits my smell bud, I immediately recognise whose room it is. That soft yet intoxicating fragrance... I can forget myself...but I'll never forget this smell or its owner.

Closing my eyes, I inhale a lungful of the air relishing the fragrance. His fragrance.

It’s his room.....

"You're right. It’s my room." I jerkily turn back as soon as I hear him.

I see Veer standing, leaning at the open door, folding his hands to his chest....looking at me intently.

"Oh...I didn’t know that it was..umm... your room." I mumble without meeting his eyes.

He laughs, "Well, I just heard you saying, 'it's his room' that too after filling yourself with a good amount of air of this room." he says with a knowing smirk on his face.

Shit!! I said that out loud!!!

Blood rushes through my cheeks. I look up at him once to see his calculating eyes scanning me from top to bottom. After roaming up and down for several times, his eyes stop at my breasts. He keeps his gaze transfixed at them. But I know, he's not staring at my breasts.... His gaze is x-raying there...where it’s inked.

I want to gulp but it's difficult with dry mouth.

"I think I should...leave" I try to get past him but before I can do that he closes the door behind me... caging me between him and the door.

"Not this time." he says fanning me with his breath. Grey eyes looking deeply into black ones. I want to look away, but the magnetic pull of his gaze is too strong for me to bypass. His eyes trails down longingly to my eyes to nose to lips...to my cleavage...to down my bare leg. I can hear the loud thumps of my heart.

Suddenly with no warning he captures my lips to his. He starts chewing them while His one hand around my neck holds me into place and the other one roams over my bare thigh. I want to push him, but my hands feel numb. He bites my lower lip hard to open my mouth but I keep my teeth pressed not allowing him to enter. He looks at me dangerously through our kiss, I shut my eyes still keeping my mouth closed. And the next second he squeezes my left bossom making me gasp. Damn!!! Taking the opportunity he plunges his tongue into my mouth, exploring every nook and crook like a hungry predator. Hot desire runs through my vein. Finally I move my hands up to push him away and end up pulling him more into my mouth. Looks like my brain has no connection with my body except for the sensations. I roll my tongue around his savouring the taste of his mouth. It has been so long!

I don't know after how long, I feel my lungs burning for air. Maybe Veer feels the same too. He leaves my mouth. My hands still over his shoulder giving me support. Both gasping for air, we look into each other. His eyes has turned into darker shades with intense passion and I can't say my ones are showing anything different. Desire has overpowered my logic today. He looks down my breasts and the next moment he does something shocking.  Pulling down my strap he reveals the tattoo. He smiles at it adoringly tracing his thumb over the ink, then blows on it lightly. Ohh my!!! The tingling sensation of his touch makes me shiver. Seeing his effect on me he smirks and then gives a sloppy kiss over my soft flesh biting it softly. Uhh!!! Automatically a moan escapes my mouth while my hand presses him more to my skin.

Just then I hear someone twisting the door knob behind me,

"This is Veer's room. Come I'll show you."

Shit!!! It's Mishty... and no doubt others are here too😳.

Today's update
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Sorry to the Behir readers if you're cursing me for not showing romance between them.
But look it's hard. Bella is the future daughter-in-law of that house, so obviously everyone is more busy with her than Bani or Veer. It's not easy for Mahir to sneak her away from everyone.