Inder walked towards the breakfast table to see his mom, Mehek and Karan in an animated conversation and his dad simply listening to everything.

As soon as he came into their line of vision his mom smiled at him, a shy look entered Mehek's face as opposed to how it had been seconds before and his brother started throwing glances between him and Mehek.

Inder frowned at Karan. Is he also a part of this twisted scheme. He can't put it past Karan. He could have been the one to put such ridiculous ideas into his mother's head.

"Inder. Come sit and have your breakfast" Anupama said and was about to stand up to serve him when Mehek butted in.

"Aunty. You sit. I will serve him" Mehek stood up to serve him much to his dismay and his mother smiled warmly at her.

"After all it's my duty now to take care of your every need" Mehek whispered only for his ears and he sucked in a sharp breath earning a suspicious look from Karan.

"Thank-you. Now go back to your seat" Inder rasped.

Once the breakfast is over Anupama decided to talk about Mehek to Inder.

"Inder. I wanted to talk to you about Mehek before her arrival. But she came early. Anyways, the thing is.. -" she trailed off as Mehek stopped her.

"Anupama aunty. I already talked to Inder about it"

"Oh. That's great. I hope you are okay with my decision, Inder" Anupama asked and before Inder could say anything, Mehek interrupted again.

"He is a little hesitant to take me on aunty," Mehek said with a sad look on her face, making Anupama frown.

"Why?? Inder, I know this is your first time. But I have complete faith in you. I know you won't disappoint me" Anupama said smilingly

"Mom. Do you have any idea how ridiculous this is?? Have you gone crazy??" Inder was breathing very hard due to his agitation

"Inder. Won't you do it for your mom?? It won't be very difficult Inder. I promise. She already has some theoretical knowledge and Ms Rooh had a very high opinion on how good a learner Mehek is. You just have to give her some practical lessons" Anupama said and Inder choked on his own spit

How could his mother talk to him like that??

What has this world come down to??

Mehek came to stand beside him and started patting his back in an attempt to comfort him.

Inder pulled away abruptly as he started feeling those damn tingles again at her mere touch.

"Mom. I don't want to listen to this rubbish anymore. You are going to send her back packing soon" Inder declared and his mother looked at him with a determined face.

"I gave my promise to her mother that she would be a pro when she returns back home. I won't go back on my words, Inder. And you will do as I say. Mehek is your responsibility starting now" Anupama said stubbornly

"I don't care mom" he walked back to his room.

****

Karan pulled a maniacally laughing Mehek to his room and pushed her into the window side loveseat.

"Stop laughing and spill." Karan asked crossing his arms over his chest

"Oh God Karan!!" and she started laughing again.

"Tell me so that I can also laugh" Karan said losing his patience and Mehek spilled everything word by word from the moment she entered Rathore Mansion up until what happened at the breakfast stable.

Karan was gaping at her in disbelief.

"You are joking aren't you?? You really did not do that? " Karan asked though he knows everything she said is true.

"Duh. Didn't you see your brother's reaction?? Do you think he would react like that if I had told him the truth that I have come here to learn sculpting from him" Mehek asked

"Who is Ms Roop??" Karan asked

"A non existent character I created on the spot" Mehek grinned cheekily

"You are crazy"

"I got a little fright when Anupama aunty mentioned my art tutor Ms Rooh. Luckily your brother didn't pay much attention to that. And yes Ms Roop was slightly inspired from the name Ms Rooh. Aren't I brilliant?? " Mehek asked with a smug look.

"Have you wondered what would happen if he decide to take you upon your offer?? " Karan asked and Mehek paled at that

"He wouldn't, would he??" Mehek asked panicking

"Can't be sure. He is a man after all. And you are a very beautiful woman. How could a man resist when a beautiful girl offers herself on a silver platter??" Karan asked, enjoying troubling Mehek.

"But you said your brother is not like that. He had never even looked at a girl."

"There is a first time for everything"

Mehek was panicking

Not because she is scared of Inder Singh Rathore taking advantage of her.

But because she is scared of herself. If he so much as give her a seductive smile, she might even get on her knees begging him to make love to her.

"And have you thought of what would happen if Inder decides to talk it out with mom. Mom would know what you did and she would definitely get on the phone with your mom" Karan said and blood drained from Mehek's face.

"Oh no!! I didn't think of anything other than pranking your brother. God!! Momma would kill me if she came to know about this. She would ground me for life." Mehek started hyperventilating .

Mehek's mom Vasundhara Trivedi and Anupama were bestfriends during their college time and had lost touch after that. They had quite accidentally met each other again a year back during a flight journey and had kept in touch ever since. And Anupama was the one who proposed the idea of Mehek learning sculpting from Inder.

Inder Singh Rathore had never been a teacher, but Anupama had promised that her son would make an exception in Mehek's case.

Inder stood outside the room fuming, after listening to the conversation.