Salaam everyone. How are you all?? About time I showed up my face even if it is a short update. So here I am.

Happy reading.

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Dedicated to: @Sweetymitu

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It was one of those days when Ayushi was not at her best and say she is vulnerable to fight as she is in one of the most difficult parts of the month. Seeing her weak posture on the ground, her fellow classmate came up to her and started his usual taunting saying she is head strong because her father is the secretary of a powerful politician. But she gave him a deaf ear as she is not in a position either to slash him verbally or physically. So she sat silent thinking she will get a chance very soon for doing the both things she thought earlier. But Pawan who is passing by the ground to the library heard this conversation and came up to the scene only to see Ayushi hunching over her shoulders and the bully is taunting her. Pawan gave Ayushi his sister's place. He cannot just go away when his sister is being bullied or taunted. She is tying rakhi for him for her protection, right? So he jumped into the scene only to see the person who is taunting Ayushi to back away from him. If he thought he can escape, then there is another thing coming from Pawan. Pawan dragged him to the corner of the playground and said in a very respectable way that not to disturb his sister again or else the consequences will not be nice. Ayushi maybe a girl, she has the strength to defend herself and she would have given him the dose of whatever he needed if she is in perfect condition. But no, the guy has to abuse her only when he saw when she is sitting all by herself and mulling over her weakness. Saying this Pawan left the boy to his own devices and went to help Ayushi for reaching home. He didn't take any arguments saying she is fine and all. So she accepted reluctantly saying he has complete all her pending works. Pawan smiled when she is blabbering like an idiot but kept quiet saying he will do all her works and more of the future works too. Ayushi who is enjoying his pampering didn't say a word when he very carefully let her to the car and get into that. After seeing off Ayushi to the home, he went back to his class.

The same evening when Pawan came back Ayushi is no where to be seen. When he asked his mother who is in kitchen, she said she is sleeping and her mother is with Arjun's mother in the living room. So he made a mad dash to the living room only to see both mothers laughing at some lame joke. Here his sister is suffering and these mothers are laughing like nothing happened to her. And so for the first time in his life, be screamed at both of them saying his sister is sick and she should be taken care of and they are laughing here. If they didn't take care of Ayushi, he will do that. Saying this he was about to leave the place, but turned back when Sweta called him. Then she explained that Ayushi is not sick but it is very natural for the girls of her age to be sick sometimes in a month. It is easy for some of them but difficult to most of them. When he asked about what the disease is that makes girls sick, both the mothers laughed to their hearts content and said it is not a disease but a natural thing that makes girls to know about their puberty. Pawan made a face that he understood everything where in he didn't understand a bit of what they are saying. So Sweta went on to explain the process of adoscelents reaching their puberty and by the end of it, he was red faced and ran from there saying he has some home work to do. Both the mothers laughed again seeing his retreating form. They know it will take him some time to sync the information to hi mind, so they resumed their talks of the upcoming charity event that is being hosted by them.

Pawan was unable to face Ayushi after that fateful day which Ayushi found to be bizarre and went to him to get the clarification on the matter which Pawan dodged easily saying he is fine and left the place saying he has some work in library. If Ayushi found his behavior odd, she didn't give it a thought consoling herself by saying Pawan is always like this when it came to studies. So she left for her class.

When Ayushi discussed this matter with her mother, Sweta said the exact reason of Pawan's odd behavior. Ayushi thought it to be childish for Pawan to behave as if she is infected with plague, so she thought to clear the air by talking to him the next day. And she did so, saying Pawan it is okay for him to touch her like he did earlier. Arjun who is sitting in the front seat of the car didn't understand a bit of what they are talking, so he took his textbook to study the upcoming portion of his syllabus.

Pawan thought Ayushi is joking when she said she is okay with his touch but the mothers explained to him that the girls take every touch differently at this time. Based on Ayushi's words, he wrapped up his mind to protect her even more fiercely from now on as she is sensitive on certain days of the month. And from there the easy comradeship between them has regained it's full force.

But that day had some surprises stored for the brother-sister duo. The boy who bullied Ayushi has gone and complained to the Principal saying Pawan threatened him for a physical threat when all he did is talk to Ayushi. The boy who knew Ayushi's condition, when he bullied her, through the videos he had watched hiding them from their parents thought Ayushi will not open her mouth exposing her vulnerability to the male Principal and so does Pawan who is seen away from Ayushi these days. He smirked when both of them entered the office room. When the Principal is in the process of awarding detention of seven working days to Pawan, Ayushi stepped forward and explained all what happened that day and it is now her time to smirk when the boy paled to the shade of a paper. The Principal did award the detention but to the boy who bullied Ayushi and came to him with a false complaint and also informed him to bring his parents when he is coming back to school from detention.

When they are out of ear shot, Ayushi smacked Pawan for not opening his mouth in front of the Principal. What he said after made her respect him more, he didn't want her to bow her head in shame in front of anyone till he lived and he promised her to protect her no matter what. Now she understood that talking about puberty in public especially when it comes to female gender is considered to be a sin. So she did what she knew best to make Pawan feel good, she hugged him and after a minute of pondering to hug her back or not, Pawan reciprocated the hug.

Pawan broke the hug with Radhika when doctor entered the waiting room saying Arjun has regained his consciousness and they can meet him after a while as he was being shifted to casual room from operation theatre. They thanked the doctor who left the place after murmering that he had done his duty.

After the doctor left the place, Radhika was fuming as she remembered the reason why they were all here. She knew Arjun has a life threat what with his profession and his sincerity to perform his duties with honesty. But she didn't the person who is behind all this and from the looks on the faces of her three brothers, she understood they know the person but not willing to share it with her. But now, it is time for her husband to get an ear full for driving the car without a seat belt. So she entered the room in a full force followed by Pawan, Vikas and Hitesh respectively. But when she saw Arjun her ire to scold him did evaporate to thin air? No, besides she is thinking of some expletives to fire at him for his negligence. When Arjun saw all of them, he smiled a small smile expecting the same in return but what he didn't expect the fear on their faces. But it cannot be for him because he is fine except for a few scratches here and there and a big bandage to his head. When he signed what's-the-matter with his eyes, all the three of them turned their eyes to Radhika who is fuming red that she saw red everywhere. She took her first plunge when Arjun turned to her with a same fear reflecting in his eyes that were present in the three guys' eyes earlier.

'What do you think of yourself?' screamed Radhika barely containing her anger.

The nurse who is allotted for Arjun didn't expect this screaming all of a sudden and threw the hand rub solution bottle on the floor as she was preparing her hands to insert another cannula to Arjun. The solution barely made contact with Hitesh who is standing a safe distance from Radhika but not safe distance from the nurse who jumped in her place and into his hands.

'Um... Um... Your husband.' answered Arjun thinking that she will leave the matter if he used his charms of husband on her.

But Radhika is Radhika, you see. She will not fall prey to any charms when she wants to make her point.

'That's why you are still alive, Mr. Husband. If not, I would have killed you myself for giving me a heart attack by pulling this stunt.'

Arjun has really got the guts to smile sheepishly at her that time which only irked her more and gave a reason to throw anything that came into contact with her hand. But she didn't do it as she knew she will get that time in future and he is not in a position to take any more pain as of now.

'Why are you smiling like an idiot, Mr. Prince. Didn't I tell you to stay safe when I called you. You promised me, you oaf. But here you are, on the hospital bed giving us one good reason to thrash the person who did this. And by the way, who is the person who did this?'

Arjun turned towards Pawan and Vikas for help but none of them are taking his hint and instead they are looking anywhere but him. What is with these people, they are acting as if they saw a ghost not their sister. He gulped hard when Radhika is walking towards him with hands clenched to fists on either side. If she beats him now, there is no way his respect will be reconstructed. So he is pleading her with his eyes not to do any more physical damage than he already endured.

When Hitesh saw that the matter is getting out of the hands, he actually saw what is in his hands. A frightened female and she is watching the scene as if she is watching a WWF game. He would have laughed on her face if his sister is not taking dangerous steps to his brother-in-law. So he brought the nurse to the front and shouted on her.

'Is this not a hospital? Is it not a rule not to shout or talk loudly whilst the people are in the hospital?'

Seeing his words made its effect on nurse's mind, he moved away from her as if her touch scalded him. He actually saw disappointment in the nurse's eyes. What is with the female population now a days! He thought to himself and turned towards Arjun. Arjun thanked him with his eyes and turned to the nurse.

The nurse breathed in and out several times as if she is going to a battle and opened her eyes to give piece of mind to Radhika. But before she can utter a word, Radhika took the lead.

'If you have finished eyeing my brother and my husband, you can continue your work, Ms. Nurse.' sneered Radhika. When the nurse opened her mouth again, 'Oh! You thought I didn't see the look on your face when my brother released you from his grip? Then, to your kind information, I did see the scene and it will not be good if you see them again.' after giving it thought, she continued, 'but why am I stopping you from drooling over my brother! You can drool on him as much as you want. But NOT my husband.' finished Radhika with a stony expression on her face.

Hitesh who was drinking water spit it out listening to the words of his sister. Vikas, Pawan and Arjun are trying hard controlling their laughter and smirks that threatening to release from the grips. The nurse had got the audacity to blush when Radhika said those words. Why is his sister always against him being single! Now she took the form of matchmaker too, God help him with this situation. He turned to give cold looks to all of the people in the room only to make them laugh harder.

The nurse finished up her work and left the room. Hitesh who had some explanations to give to the nurse ran after her followed by Pawan and Vikas who are laughing all the way.

When the trio left the room, Radhika went near to Arjun and touched his cheeks softly.

'I said to you to take care, Arjun. Why am I seeing you here now? Who is responsible for this?' asked Radhika in a cajoling voice.

Her voice brought out the emotions that were dormant all these years. He thought he will cry if she uses that voice one more time. He was not thinking about crying in front of her now, but the person who is responsible for the accident. He was in and out of his consciousness after the accident, when he was being taken to the hospital, he listened to the conversation between Pawan and Hitesh and learnt that the civil supplies minister is responsible for this condition of his.

'Who is that, Arjun?' asked Radhika once again breaking into his thoughts haze.

He knew there is no hiding from her after this incident. So he explained everything from the media house take over to planting an informer after civil supplies minister.

Radhika took it all in and was thinking of a way to punish the minister in her way. Arjun who understood this from her expressions turned her to him and said...

'Doll, I know you want to punish him in your way but please listen to me this once. We have already riled him up when he attended the dinner in our house. Remember that?' upon getting her nod, he continued, 'so now is the time he gets his punishment legally' when he saw Radhika is about to protest, he raised his hand to stop her from whatever she wants to say and said, 'I know the legal proceedings will take a life time, but we have all the evidence that proves him guilty of many dark acts that even you don't know. So I know the minister will get his punishment in no time. So, now give me a hug and a kiss to know I didn't lose my wife and she is here for real.' finished Arjun.

It took about two minutes for Radhika to process what Arjun has said to her in the last. She jumped on him carefully not to touch any of his injuries and kissed him on the cheek. When he is watching her in confusion, she said that he will get his share of more kisses when he returns home. Both the husband and wife are in each other's embrace not knowing what is happening in the outdoors of their room.

Hitesh followed the nurse and said that he is not interested to take either girlfriend or a wife as his sister said to her in the room. She listened to all he has to say and left from the place assuring him that she understood the message. Hitesh breathed a sigh of relief when she left the place. Vikas and Pawan were still laughing watching him. He scowled at them and left them to their maniac laughter for fetching a coffee to himself. After all that he had been through, he needs a strong coffee.

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End of the twenty-third chapter. I don't know if it is short or long as I am typing this on mobile but please excuse me if you feel it is short or you find any mistakes on the go as this chapter is not proof-read. My life has been hectic for the past few weeks what with my studies and my tours.
I think the issues discussed here will not raise an uproar. If you want to discuss anything, you can just PM me.

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Till next time, Sayonara and love you all.