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VEERANSH'S POV

I stormed out of the room and made my way to the swimming area. My body felt like it was on fire, not from rage, but from guilt. As I tossed the pillow and blanket aside on the sofa, I ran my hand roughly through my hair.

I had never been fond of drinking; smoking was my only vice. It had become my escape whenever I felt distaste or struggled with decision-making.

Yet, I found myself heading to the bar counter and pouring a hefty shot of vodka. Her words echoed in my mind, her furious red face streaked with tears haunting me, intensifying my anger.

I hadn't realized how tightly I was gripping the glass until it shattered spiking in my hand, the drink spilling onto the floor. But it didn't matter-my expression didn't change at all.

"Why did I get close to her? Why! When I know she feel disgust to my touch... Why can't I accept that she hates me? Why do I lose control every time I see her?" I shouted, venting the guilt that was consuming me, suffocating me from within.

"What must she be thinking of me? My actions have brought tears to her eyes... But how can I tell her that it was never my intention? It's all my fault, I always end up making her uncomfortable without thinking!"

I lost count of how many times I cursed myself, completely unaware that someone was watching me. I looked up when I heard a sound and noticed the window of my room latched shut. In that instant, I caught a glimpse of her shadow behind the curtains, which instantly vanished as she turned off the lights.

"I promise, Nia, I will never try to get close to you again... If that's what you want, then so be it."

. . .

AUTHOR'S POV

Veeransh sprawled carelessly across the sofa, with the blanket tossed on the floor. One of his hands hung loosely in the air, while the other was tucked under his head for support, legs dangled off the edge. Dried blood stained his hand, and a bottle of vodka rolled across the floor due to the gentle cold breeze.

He couldn't sleep a wink that night, as his towering six-foot-two frame made it impossible to find comfort on such a cramped sofa.To add to his discomfort, the mosquitoes kept him on edge and further encouraged him to stay awake.

At last, he finally stirred from sleep in exasperation Rubbing his eyes, his gaze fell upon a familiar figure.

"What are you staring at? Did you see a ghost or something?" Veeransh asked, annoyance visible on his face.

Viaan and Agastya, seated on another sofa, were looking at him with mouths agape and expressions of shock, their hands covering their cheeks as they shook their heads in reply. They had been trying to process the same bizarre scene before them for the past half-hour.

Agastya- "Viaan bhai, kya aap bhi wahi soch rahe ho, jo main soch raha hoon?" He asked, maintaining same composure.

("Viaan bro, are you thinking the same, what I am thinking?")

Viaan- "Haan chhote, kya tu bhi vahi soch raha hai jo main soch raha hun?" He replied mirroring his expressions, their eyes glued to Veeransh.
("Yes bro, are you also thinking the same, I'm thinking of?")

Agastya- "Yes bro I am also..."
Interrupting them between, Veeransh sterned his voice.

Veeransh- "What Rubbish are you guys repeating on? I'm sure you can't come up with something good for me, so tell me! And firstly stop staring at me like that?"

Viaan- "Beta don't try to act over smart. Now let me ask first, Why were you sleeping here?" He was teasingly blinking at him.

Agastya- "C'mon Viaan bhai, Ofcourse he got kicked out from his own room!" Both chuckled, giving each other a high five.

"Oh hlo, No one kicked me out okay! She had insisted me to sleep there only but...."
Veeransh trailed off, pausing for making an excuse, as a spark lit his eyes.

"But, it was such a beautiful night outside that I outright refused and decided I'd sleep out there instead."

Veeransh started styling his hair, feeling a sense of pride for creating such a clever excuse, as he saw them murmuring.

Agastya- "Haan, isiliye yahan machharon ke saath Apni suhaagraat mana rahe the." He mumbled, while Viaan struggled to contain his laughter.

("Hmm that's why the wedding night has been celebrated here with mosquitoes!")

Unwittingly, they were pushing the already agitated Veeransh to the brink of his patience. He was on the verge of snapping at them, but he in the next instant, found himself frozen in place.

"Bhabi Aap?" Agastya exclaimed in surprise, as a strange Panic surged over Veeransh.
("Sister in law, you?")

He immediately turned around, just to notice no one behind.

He realized that his brothers had been poking fun at him, which left him fuming in anger, but neither of them seemed to care.

Viaan- "Arey dekho toh, kuch der pehle kaise lambi lambi fenk raha tha..Aur Nia ka naam sunte hi kaise iski Hawaiian udd gyi!"

("Just a while ago he was boasting big, and now as soon as he heard Nia's name, See how his Charm fled away!")

As started looking around, to hide their amused faces.

Veeransh- "Don't you think you've been a bit too free-spirited since Nia has came? And just so you know, Veeransh Raghuvanshi not scared of her, or anyone!"
His burning eyes, staring at them.

Watching him getting angry they quickly stood up, adopting a serious composure.

Viaan- "Arey gussa kyun ho raha hai! Hum toh mzaak kar rahe the, Tu toh sher hai humara!" He replied patting his shoulder, taking him in a side hug.

("Hey, why are you getting upset? We were just joking around! You're our lion!")

Agastya- "Woh baat alag hai ki bhabi ke samne yeh sher kam aur circus ke sher jyada lagte hain" He mumbled, trying not to meet his gaze, where Viaan who had heard him was trying his best to remain still.

("But in front of bhabi, this lion appears more like a lion from circus!")

Veeransh passing them his cold look, a gloomy expression crossed his face. He stood there, tucking his hands inside his pants's pocket.

Veeransh- "Hey Dad! You arrived?"

Upon Hearing those words Viaan and Agastya's cheerful face were flushed scared. They couldn't believe his words as they exchanged a nervous glance. The moment they turned around, their eyes found no one. Before they could ask anything, Veeransh shoved them in pool.

Viaan- "What kind of mischief is this?"

Agastya- "I had come all set for colledge, Now I have to get ready again!" He was almost on the verge of crying, being trapped in such helpless condition.

Veeransh- "Aur tum sale jo kabse meri firki liye ja rahe the, pehle nahin soch sakte the ki mujhse bhidne ka anjaam Kya hoga!"

("You two who have been messing with me for ages; couldn't you have thought about the consequences of challenging me?")

Viaan- "Then who pushes someone into pool on such a small matter!"

Veeransh- "Tum logon ne kya mujhko chomu samjh rakha hai? Main nahin jaanta ki kal raat wali harkat tum dono ki thi!"

They couldn't believe their ears, but all they could see was the person glaring at them with an intense stare. They realized that lying was futile now, as Viaan had spilled everything in a single breath, fearing Veeransh's wrath

Viaan- Veer M...Maine toh sirf decoration karwai thi, yeh sara plan toh iska tha!
("Veer I... I just set up the decorations; the whole plan was his!")

Earning his finger directed towards himself Agastya fired back.
Agastya- "Bhai Yeh jhooth bol rahe hain, main toh sirf plan ka hissa tha, yeh sab toh Daadi aur Ananya ka khurafati idea tha!"

("Bhai he is lying! I was just part of the plan; this whole scheme was Grandma and Ananya's brilliant idea!")

Veeransh, his expression still cold, appeared unaffected by their revelations, almost as if he had known all along.

He crouched slightly and staring straight into their eyes, warning in his normal stern tone.

"This is the last time, I'm letting you go, but if I hear your names in any trouble again.... I'm sure you know me well!"

They knew it very well, that whatever Veeransh did before was all in good fun, but when he said warning, It is the warning. His words has an underlying gravity to his caution that demanded their attention, not even in their imagination. Whether it was a call for consideration, or a reminder of the possible consequences, they couldn't afford to take his words lightly.

Veeransh walked away, leaving them to apologize profusely behind him, but he didn't bother to turn around.

__________________________________

Veeransh's Room...

In the dark room, Nia had fallen asleep while sitting on the floor, her back propped against the edge of the bed. Her head swayed slightly in the air, an unconscious rhythm reflecting her exhaustion. Suddenly, the peace of the moment was shattered by the shrill sound of an alarm blaring insistently.

Startled, Nia's eyes shot open, and she quickly scanned her surroundings, her eyes wandering to see the only face, as she had thought that he might have come to the room late night, but noticing room's condition she had realised that he slept outside only.

Nia's angelic face lacked the vibrant glow it once had. The remnants of tears traced down her cheeks, while her once-bright eyes were now a deep, pained red, with dark circles that spoke of sleepless hours and the weight of sorrow.

Which was indeed true.She had been awake throughout the night, manifesting in fitful sobs that had stolen her rest, she had barely managed to find sleep for just a few fleeting moments before the alarm's insistent ringing pulled her abruptly back from sleep.

Nia finally turned her attention to the clock on the the wall. With a swift but deliberate motion, she composed herself, wiping her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand and made her way to the washroom.

After a few minutes, she stepped outside, hurriedly getting ready, because her Sunidhi had strictly instructed her to do her first Aarti with HIM. She had put on just a touch of makeup to cover her tired face and dark circles; after applying some vermilion, she exited the room.

. . .

He made his way to his room, but his lack of courage caused his hand to pause before the doorknob. He hesitated, worrying about how he would confront her if she were inside, burdened by the guilt he felt.

Jerked back to reality, he finally mustered some confidence and stepped inside. To his relief, she wasn't there. Ensuring she was truly absent, he checked the bathroom, walking wardrobe, and balcony before heading directly to the shower.

After an hour...

In all black business suit, walking down the stairs, he descended into the hall. While he was wearing his watch, when his gaze naturally landed on a familiar figure.Nia.

With slow but firm steps Veeransh approached the Mandir Area, but his focus remained solely on her. She, who stood with her eyes closed before the enormous idol of Mahadev, Maa Parvati and Little Ganesh ji; Was dressed in a stunning banarasi saree. The red fabric contrasted beautifully with her milky skin, grabbing his attention to her flawless curves.

Her long black hair kissing her waist, adorned with vermilion in the parting. She wore their traditional bangles on her wrists, with a mangalsutra around her neck looking more like sparkling diamond pendant.

The kajal enhancing her large eyes and the rosy plump tint on her lips was prompting his heart to race involuntarily.

"Look, Veeransh has arrived! Let's do the Aarti together!"

As soon as Sumitra ji's voice reached her, Nia opened her eyes, and their gazes briefly met. He quickly averted his eyes and moved on to participate in the Aarti. But In that fleeting contact, Veeransh' s sharp gaze had noticed something.

Throughout the Aarti, neither of them dared to glance at each other despite standing so close. His hand rested beneath hers as they held the Plate, underscoring their unwanted yet palpable proximity.

After finishing the Aarti, Nia began distributed prasad to everyone, while touching elders feet following Veeransh, who was just quite all the time.

And Now it was HIM standing before her to receive prasad. Nia who only was looking at him, where he stood there with his gaze lowered. God knows what was going on in her mind as Finally she placed the prasad in his hand.

Instead of leaving ,with a sly smirk, she offered him a blessing of jyot with her hands.

Her surprising gesture had elicited wide smiles from those around her.

Even Veeransh himself, who was standing quite for before her from past few minutes, swifty lifted his gaze, intrigued by her sudden reaction.

Yet, her expression remained utterly unreadable, a perfect blank canvas akin to his own. Their gazes intense on each other, each bearing the weight of unarticulated thoughts and feelings. Behind their composed facades, concealed an ocean of unspoken mysteries, leaving an electrifying tension that hung heavily in the space between them. Both trying to peek into other's mind.

Breaking the contact, she stepped closure to his ear and what he whispered next, didn't changed his expressions but left a mark into his heart.

"Mahadev karein aur apko meri umar bhi lag jaye....Akhir abhi apko bahut kuch dekhna hai PATIDEV!"

("May Mahadev grant you my age as well... After all, you still have so much to see, HUBBY!")

Dinning Area...

"Where is Dad?" Veeransh inquired, his voice laced with concern.

Nia, her hands abruptly paused in the act of serving food, as she glanced at him briefly before retreating to the kitchen.

"He is out of town for the launch party of our new project!"
Vijay ji replied, his gaze distractedly glued to the newspaper before him.

"God! How could I have forgotten this? But he should have informed me!" Veeransh exclaimed in disbelief.

"Veeransh, it's okay! Since you weren't feeling well, so he handled it. Now no more discussions, just finish your breakfast!"

Vijay ji's stern tone was always like an order to him, one that couldn't be disregarded.

It wasn't like Veeransh fear him or his father, but it was his upbringing-taught by his mother to always show respect to elders, regardless to the fact who is wrong or right.

Despite the immense reputation of the Raghuvanshi family for their dominance and terror in the region, the one trait universally appreciated was their respect for women, their values, and their royal demeanor.

The Veeransh Raghuvanshi: A true embodiment of his Family's Values. There was a reason behind 'The' in his name.
Because,
His name alone was enough synonymous with strength and power, but it also reflected his respectful attitude towards women, his regal charm, and the sophistication of a gentleman that any girl would wish for. This admiration made him deeply cherished by the people, second only to his grandfather
(Even than his Father.)

However, having been raised under his mother's nurturing care, away from the rough environment of Rajasthan, he had developed a softer side. He was a boy who cared for his loved ones, felt pain when hurt, and the boy longed for love and affection after his mother. Although his family adored him dearly, he never felt close enough to share his true emotions.
And that gentle side got buried deep within him.

Before they could begin their breakfast, Sumitra ji announced
"Today was Nia's First Rasoi, and she prepared all of this! I'm sure she did a great job, but even if anyone doesn't like it, we all need to respond positively!"

As everyone simply nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing Nia's anklets, they fell silent as Sumitra ji began talking with Rashmi. While Sunidhi was busy admiring their cute little attempts, for her daughter.

As soon as they took their first bites, the halwa melted in their mouths, leaving a sweet taste on their tongues, and their eyes widened in surprise.

But there was something else going on in her mind. Nia looked at them with confusion, scratching her temple, she muttered to herself,

"Kahin inhone dusre wala halwa toh nahin chakh lia? Pura parivaar hi pagal hai!"

Snapping her back to reality, Sumitra ji called out, "Nia, come here!"

"Ji!" she replied.

"We didn't know you possessed magic in your hands! This is truly delicious!" Sumitra ji smiled, kissing her hands.

Meanwhile, Veeransh, who had been quietly noticing all their interactions, rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath,
"Hunh! Pati ki taraf toh ek nazar dekhti bhi nahin, aur inke sath dekho kaise muskura rahi hai! Agar maine aisa kuch kiya hota, toh shayad abb tak yamraj ke charano mein milta!"

("Hunh! She won't even look at her husband, but look how she's smiling with them! If I had done something like that, I'd probably be on the verge of death by now!")

Viaan sitting to his left and overhearing everything, whispered in his ear,
"Don't worry Boss! Har kutte *Cough* I...I mean har aadmi ka din aata hai!"

("Don't worry Boss! Every dog *Cough* I...I mean man has his day!")

Veeransh shot him a death glare while Agastya, seated on his other side, added
"Kismat ka koi bhrosa nahi bhai, Ab pehli hi raat ko kamre se nikal diya, kahin aage chalke pata chala bhai banvaas kaat te fir rahe hain!"

("You can never trust fate, my brother; she kicks you out of the room on your first night. Who knows-you might end up in eternal exile down the road!")

Agastya and Viaan both burst into laughter, drawing everyone's annoyed glares. Ignoring their banter, the family continued praising Nia's cooking skills, except for Sandhya, who hadn't even tried it, enjoying her special smoothie and toast instead.

"Nia, Veeransh's plate is empty, serve him too!" Sunidhi said.

Nia beamed and approached Veeransh with a bowl in hand.

Leaning down slightly, she began to serve the halwa onto his plate, regardless to the fact that she was actually standing very close to him. His gaze lingered on her face, the distance diminished mere inches away. He could smell her sweet perfume, which quickly summoned memories of last night. As soon as their eyes met, he snapped back to reality. She quickly stepped away.

"Nia! Come sit and eat with us!" Sumitra ji said, where he turned his attention back to his plate.

Nia took a seat beside him. The moment he took the first spoonful of halwa, everyone's eyes fixed on him, eager to witness his reaction. Feeling their collective gaze, he once glanced at Nia, who was already smiling while eating.

Understanding the unspoken tension, Veeransh smiled too and declared,
"Hmmm... it's really sweet!"

Hearing such praise, everyone rejoiced, but Nia's smile faded instantly.

Veeransh's eyes brimmed with water, his face flushed with heat. His lips felt like they were on fire, but he beautifully masked his reaction, chewing in silence. His red face, dug in the plate was making it difficult for Nia to notice anything.

Nia's plan had backfired; she had added chili powder to his halwa to punish him for his actions of previous night, but getting no desired response, she stormed off in frustration.

Noticing her departure, Veeransh quickly finished his breakfast and left with Viaan.

After breakfast.....

"Call Nia!" Sumitra ji instructed one of the maids standing nearby and signaled another one.

After a few moments, Nia arrived, looking around in surprise.
"Did you call me?"

Sumitra ji smiled as the maid approached with a large platter covered in red cloth.

She unveiled the plate and looked at Nia. "This is a gift from all of us for your first cooking!"

Initially confused, Nia stared at her in amazement and protested, "But was this really necessary? It seems like too much."

She gazed at the jewelry sets alongside some sarees on the platter, realizing that if Sumitra ji was personally giving them to her, they must be incredibly valuable. However, Sumitra ji insisted on giving them to her whether she wanted them or not.

Sugandha, eyeing Nia with disdain, stood up and making a sarcastic remark before leaving.
"Saanpon ko dudh nahin pilaya karte Maa Sa, warna ek din yeh aap hi ko dass lete hain!"

("You shouldn't feed milk to snakes, Maa sa; otherwise, one day they will definitely sting back!")

Already exhausted Nia, who was hardly trying to cooperate since day one, just because his mother, Fueled up today.
She tightly clenched her fists, on the verge of exploding, until her eyes met Sunidhi's, who silently warned her not to cause a scene. Frustrated, Nia forced a smile, grabbed the plate from Sumitra ji's hands, and started to walk away when Sumitra ji interjected.

"On their behalf, we apologize..." Before she could finish, Nia replied without bothering to turn back.

"It's okay, Dadi sa *Sigh* But I cannot give you any false hopes. I am tied to this marriage against my will, and the only reason I am still holding it is just because of Maa. But please don't expect any relationship from me," she said before walking away.

"Rukiye!" Sumitra ji's stern voice echoed.
("Stop!")

"I feel sorry for whatever Veeransh had done to you, but you can't escape the fact that you are now married to him.
Which means you are now the daughter-in-law of Raghuvanshi Family, and that's what matter for me! I would never like to hear such words from your mouth again!"

Without waiting for any response, she was gone.

Sumitra ji, whom Nia had always witnessed to be a kind and generous woman, left her shocked with this unexpected behavior.

This was undeniably true; although she loved her family above all else, But ultimately, she was an uncrowned empress at the end.
The monarch system may had been demolished, but the kind of Royalty, Respect, Authority they held in people's hearts, they were not devoted less than King.
Unless it doesn't harm her family our their honor, she never mess up or,
If anything threatened to their pride , she would not hesitate to defend, regardless of who stood in her way or what sacrifices she had to make to restore it.

__________________________________

Sunidhi ji was upset with Nia, because of the scene she caused in morning. Without meeting her she had left for their haveli with Ayaan, while Agastya and Ananya visited the Mandir with Rakesh and Ridhima.

Sumitra ji was sitting in the hall, watching the news on television when Nia, clad in formal brown suit, pairing with white heels, open hair, mangalsutra in her neck and wearing small earstuds, found her there alone as she walked over to her.

Nia: "Dadi sa"

Sumitra ji- "Come sit! Everything alright?"
She replied, her gaze remained on TV.

Finding her acting normally, Nia felt it inappropriate to bring up the morning incident again, as she got straight to the point.

Nia- "Actually, I have a meeting with a client today. Since I can't go to Manali for some time, I was thinking working from here till then."

Sumitra ji- "Is there any need to ask? You can go wherever you want, whenever you want! Tell me if you want any help."

Nia: "Thanks for asking, but I'll manage! I'm off now... bye!"

As she was about to leave , thinking something her steps halted.
"Thank you Dadi sa, And I'm sorry".

Sumitra ji remained calm, maintaining the same composure as she looked at her and said.
"You are no longer Nia Singh only; Now The Raghuvanshis title is associated with your name, and I trust you will uphold its honor!"

Upon her statement Nia simply smiled and quickly touched her feet before heading to her meeting, while Sumitra ji called out after her.

"Take Raghu with you; he will drop you off in the car!"

Nia turned and replied with a gentle composure "Sure!"

. . .

Veeransh' s Office.....

There, on the impressive 56th floor of the colossal building, a magnificent sight awaited those who looked up. A sprawling, illuminated sign dominated the entrance were, emblazoned in bold font stating.
"The AS Enterprises"

Veeransh was sprawled on his chair, his blazer tossed over the sofa, some buttons of his shirt unlatched. He was breathing heaving ,loosening his tie from neck.
His face was flushed, a deep crimson hue that spread across his cheeks and forehead, as if he had been standing too close to a roaring fire.
The temperature of the room, extreme low because of Air conditioner , winding a chilling atmosphere in the February month.
His table filled with empty cans of cold drink, Ice cream , chocolates ,milkshakes, and other packs of sweeteners, which seemed to be untouched

Viaan desperately trying to suppress his laughter, was sitting on the couch,next to Veeransh from past one hour, who was constantly making wierdly adorable faces as a result of the chili halwa he had for breakfast.

Unable to hold back any longer, Viaan erupted in laughter.

"Vaise Boss! Aapki jalti huye dekhkar na mujhe toh bada maza aa raha hai! Ruko abhi chhote aur Daadi ko video banake bhejta hoon!

("Boss! Watching you squirm is so much fun, hold on while I send a video to the Agastya and Grandma!")

"Viaan don't you dare to film me. Main tujhe chhodunga nahi!" Veeransh shouted as he dashed towards Viaan to snatch the phone from his hand.
("I won't leave you this time!")

"Try to catch me first, then we'll see if you leave me or not!" Viaan teased, running around the table.

Veeransh's condition was better now. After a few minutes of chasing each other, both of them collapsed onto the sofa, breathing heavily.

They looked at each other and with the another passing minute, both erupted into laughter again.

Viaan felt a wave of endless happiness as he watched Veeransh laughing wholeheartedly for the first time in years. He couldn't recall the last time he had seen him so joyful and carefree. It seemed as if he had lost that Veeransh forever, but ever since Nia had come into their lives, Atleast Veeransh had begun to express himself again. He had started caring for her, finding a reason to live, beneath the depts of his anger, Viaan had started acknowledging his feelings.

After the loss of his mother, Veeransh had mostly worn a mask of anger, immersing himself in work and shutting others out. But today he felt a slightest beam of hope, to get their same Veer back.

Yet, in that moment of joy, Veeransh's laughter faded away, when his expression slipped into something darker. A puzzled Viaan, unable to interpret the sudden shift, asked

"What happened Veer?"

Veeransh remained quiet for a moment, taking a deep breath before he replied,
"I am thinking about Nia. Today, I witnessed the same spark of hatred in her eyes, the one I saw in the club."

"What are you talking about? Everything seems fine to me. Didn't you notice how she's started adjusting with everyone?"

"Meri Nia ko mujhse behtar kaun jaan sakta hai! Woh chup baithne walon mein se nahin hai. Aur Iss baar kuch bada hoga! Bahut bada!"

("Who could know my Nia better than me! She's not someone who would stay quietly in the background. And this time, something big is going to happen! Really big!")

"BUT WHY??" The question struck like a thunderclap in Veeransh's mind.

Viaan felt at a loss for words. He understood Veeransh well enough to know that when he spoke with such conviction, he genuinely meant it, and that realization gnawed at him from within. As he silently wished for everything to work out. Because he couldn't bear the thought of anything bad happening to Veeransh now.

"Then what's the plan now?" Viaan asked

Veeransh was prepared with his response, indicated solely by the enigmatic smirk that curled on his lips.
Although he never disclosed his next move , bound to the constraints of his record, it was challenging to interpret his expressions. However, one thing was clear: his intentions did not appear to be wise.

As for that smile, It barely took Viaan a second to comprehend it,

"THAT THE LION IS READY FOR THE HUNT!"

. . .

"The real game is just beginning! Consider this the calm before the storm!"

The words belonged to, none other than NIA!

Her face contorted into a malevolent smirk, her expression growing more sinister as eyes filled with moisture and fury

*Cheers*

A dark figure sat across from her, raised a glass of wine , passing the same intense smile, revealing their unreal intentions.

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To be continued...

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