-• game on •-

"Very bold of you to order cupcakes from your favourite bakery and assume I wouldn't notice, Agastya," the corner of his lips tilt just the slightest. "Especially since I was the one to usually take you there after school," he leans back on the chair, poised like a king, commanding, bemused of our little, insignificant deceit.

My jaw goes slack as I snap my eyes toward Agastya.

How dumb do you have to be to order from the bakery that your brother knows about?

"What prompted you both to think you can deceive me and get away with it?" His voice drops lower, all the hint of amusement vanishing into the air. I swallow thickly, shifting my eyes toward him just as he lifts his dark gaze and pins it on me. "Do you never learn your lesson?"

I fidget in my seat.

"It's just cupcakes, Yuvraaj. And you know she was not feeling well the whole day." Dad speaks up in my defense.

"Yeah, she was very exhausted -" Vivaan joins in but shuts up when Yuvraaj warns him with his eyes.

"I judge the situation before making any decisions. Taranya here told me on the phone she's all fine to be treated normally, didn't you, Princess?"

I nod.

"So, is it my fault that lying seems to be your forte?"

I shake my head.

"Words," he commands making me flinch. "When you speak to me, I better hear you. Or did you not learn how to speak in full sentences?"

"I'm sorry,"

"Sorry for what?"

"Fo-For lying to you," I admit meekly.

"What was the lie?"

"That I'm fine,"

"Are you not?"

I look up from my plate, regarding him with a confused look. "Pardon?"

"Are you fine or not?"

"Not really," I whisper.

"Ah," He smirks, raising a brow in my direction, as if he gave me a chance but I blew it off. "Then explain this to me please," he picks up his iPad from the table and turns it in our direction. My eyes turn wide and mouth transforms into a gaping hole punctured by shock when I see myself and Agastya put on a show in the kitchen. From playing pretend with the utensils to throwing around flour and egg shells over the kitchen counter, and not just that, but also Arush dropping off the bag of the cupcakes on the doorside, every little detail of our lie was captured in the frame.

There was another camera in the room we weren't aware of.

My eyes move toward Agastya and Arush who both look paler than before. Great, when the delinquents are in horror of the consequences, I'm still a new pea in the pod.

"Not too fine to go through with your punishment but definitely enough to put on this great show for us, yeah?" He looks at me coldly.

I panic, the more I try to sweep my mess clean, the more I spill it.

I look at Dad in need of help but he avoids meeting my eyes. Great, I'm on my own now. Where did that fatherly love that was so oozing out of you this afternoon go, Dad?

"He forced me!" I blurt out, pointing at Agastya who looks at me with eyes wide like saucers.

"Explain," Yuvraaj offers.

"So, uhm, when the maid came to inform us about the kitchen being ready for use, lying to you was not in my mind. In fact, I was mentally preparing myself to bake with this disaster of a human when all of a sudden he came up with this idea. And he threatened me, you know? He manipulated me so well I couldn't think of anything else. And this!" I point at the video still playing on the iPad. "This was his idea as well! He said let's play pretend so Bhai doesn't suspect foul play. I swear!" I pinch my throat. "And you said that these cupcakes are from his favourite bakery, right? Because he ordered them. He did everything! I was just playing along because I'm just so scared of him. I thought if I don't go along with his plan, he'll not co-operate. I mean, it's team work, how am I supposed to get anything done if an important team member backtracks?"

"Point," Yuvaan votes for my story.

I smile gratefully at him.

"Yeah, Agastya Bhai is capable of that," Ayush nods as well.

"Bhai, you believe me too, right?" I look at Vivaan vulnerably. We might have met only a few days ago, but I know he has a massive soft spot for me. And I'm going to use it to my advantage.

Vivaan hums in agreement.

"Dad?" I look at our father.

"Of course, I believe you, my little star."

"What the fuck!?" Agastya bellows in disbelief and gets up from his chair. "Bhai, she's straight up lying to your face!" He accuses with his finger stabbed in my direction.

"Why would I lie?" I look back at Yuvraaj. "Everytime I lie, you catch me. I've learned my lesson, Bhai. Don't you remember the last time I lied? Vivaan Bhai supported me but I still told you the truth." I stare at him with a convincing look on my face. "Do you really think I've it in me to deceive you like this, especially with him as my partner in crime? He hates me. I'll always be scared he'll expose me. So why would I walk in the lion's den on my own? Trust me, Bhai, I've nothing to do with this. I was just doing whatever he told me to do. If you want, I can go to the kitchen right now and bake something for you all. I don't mind."

Yuvraaj looks me in the eyes for a long moment, but when I don't waver or cower away, he sighs and nods in response. I almost force myself to not cheer out aloud.

"Bhai?" Agastya gapes at our elder brother in disbelief.

"Was this your idea?"

"I didn't force her-"

"Was this your idea or not? To deceive me? To deceive everyone?" He repeats sternly.

Agastya opens his mouth to speak in his defense since no one else is but poor guy can't even help himself. He better not choose law as his profession. He'll make a horrible attorney.

I look down at my lap to hide my smirk. That's what you get for making me run seven laps on the field.

"I asked you something," Yuvraaj snaps.

"Yes." Agastya submits in defeat. "It was my idea. But Bhai, trust me, I didn't force her or anything. Why would I? It doesn't even make sense."

"It does to me." Yuvaan nods.

Agastya closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before opening his eyes once again to glare at Yuvaan. "You've nothing to do with this so shut up."

"Just stating my opinion," Yuvaan shrugged.

"No one asked you. Go back to your mud hole and let me handle my own things." He grits out angrily.

"It's clay," Yuvaan looks up at Agastya feigning a pitiful look. "You really need to study better. If you don't know the basic difference between mud and clay, you've a lot of unused brain up there," he taps the side of his head, referring to the empty top floor of Agastya's body.

"Can you shut up, please!? I've a lot more pressing matters to focus on than to play clay vs mud debate with you!" He rolls his eyes.

Yuvaan shrugs and takes another casual bite out of his cupcake. "Hmm, this is indeed good. You need scolding, Agastya. How can you keep Hannah's Bakery a secret from the rest of us?" He feigns a disappointed tone. "Oh right, so you can lie to Bhai about you making them on your own. Pretty bold of you I must say. My boy can't even boil a glass of water and still is brash enough to think he can convince people of his nonexistent cooking skills."

Agastya grips his head in torment and frustration.

I quickly pick up a tissue paper to press it against my mouth so I don't snicker aloud accidentally. Yuvraaj's eyes dart toward me and I pretend to wipe the corners of my mouth. He looks back at the scene unfolding in front of us, much to his dismay. I mean, if I was in his place, I would have enjoyed it to the brim. Not that I need to be in his place to do that, because fuck, I'm already enjoying the drama.

"Can you guys stop cornering him?" Arush speaks up, finally rising over his fear of getting his black card confiscated. "And Bhai, Ayush, are you guys really believing her over us? She came a few days ago. But we've been with you guys for more than sixteen years! Like c'mon!"

"Exactly the reason why we can't believe you," Yuvaan snorts. "Because we know you both, inside out."

"Alright, what's my punishment?" Agastya lifts his head and looks at Yuvraaj.

"You finally have a lawyer, Agastya," Yuvaan smirks in the direction of Arush. "Yeah, he's dumb but he has got the spirit. Are you really going to give up just like that?" He taunts with a slow tilt of his head.

"Will you shut up for a moment?" Agastya growls, looking fed up. "Tell me my punishment so we can get over with this," he meets Yuvraaj's eyes.

Everyone waits patiently. Not me, I'm curious as fuck. He'll finally get the taste of his own medicine. He threw me under the bus using the river incident with Tarun as a leverage, now it's my turn.

"Put your wallets down along with the car keys." Yuvraaj commands. "You can get them back when school re-opens."

Yes!

"Bha- Bhai," Agastya stutters.

"And your entry in sports hall is revoked until the end of this week."

"What!?" Arush yells.

"My lovely twin, let me lay it out for you in simpler terms. It means, no basketball for you and no baseball for him." Ayush smiles sweetly at him. He is deriving all the fun he can get through this situation. Well, I don't blame him.

"Bhai, not this please." Agastya whispers, and I almost feel bad for him. Almost. "You know I can't live without holding my bat at least once a day."

Yuvaan snickers.

Agastya glares at him.

"Sorry," he says, but he doesn't mean it. When he notices the disappointed looks he's getting from Dad and Vivaan, he shrugs. "I mean, c'mon, let's not pretend I'm the only one whose head went on a completely different tangent hearing that. Especially when we know we can't put it past him."

"Yuvaan," Dad warns in a low voice, flicking his gaze in Yuvraaj's direction to remind him about the man in command.

"Alright, sorry," he raises his hands in surrender.

"I never knew you could be so inconsiderate," Agastya grits out.

"Look who's talking," Yuvaan rolls his eyes.

Agastya sighs but doesn't say anything in return, instead focusing back on Yuvraaj. "You can take the wallet and car keys, but not my game." He drops the wallet and car keys on the table, hoping for some leniency.

But we all know he's not getting any.

"Too bad, I don't negotiate when it comes to punishments." Yuvraaj states in a hard tone.

"Bhai,"

"Let's resume dinner," he ignores the desperate eyes pinned on him and picks up his fork and spoon.

We all do the same.

I know I shouldn't feel guilty for doing this, but conscience is such a bitch. What about the things he did and said to me, about me? Called me a bastard child, referred to my dead mother as a mistress, ended my friendship out of petty hatred and because of him Tarun is being sent off to the boarding school. If he hadn't grassed on me to Bhai, maybe Tarun and I would have still been good friends.

With that justification reassuring my mind, I focus on finishing my dinner. No matter the reason to bring the cupcakes in the house, they're really good. Especially the chocolate filling in middle of each. I don't know how he thought I'm skilled enough to make such amazing cupcakes. Because if this hadn't come to light now, it would have sometime later in the future when I really put my baking skills to use. It was inevitable.

"Bhai," I start softly.

"Hmm?" He looks up from his iPad.

"Can I make the cupcakes alone tomorrow? I don't trust him to mess up my recipe," I say with my lips pursed together.

I hear Agastya scoff out aloud in disbelief.

Well, if you can act, so can I. And better than you.

"No," Yuvraaj shakes his head. "But Ayush will be in the kitchen with you. He'll keep an eye on him." He says and shifts his attention to his phone.

I nod. "Okay, thanks." I look at Agastya, smirking openly at him. He glares back so sharp if his eyes were a sword, it would have snapped me in two halves. But I just wink and take a bite of the cupcake, smiling at him impressively. Maybe not a good vocabulary, but my unwanted half brother definitely has a good taste when it comes to sweets.

His teeth gnash together before he tears his eyes off me.

Before I can cast my eyes off him, they accidentally meet Yuvaan's and he shoots me a lopsided grin. My brows rise in surprise. I've rarely seen him smile, and in my opinion, he should do it more often. Janet would have shrieked and fanned herself if she was here to witness it. The second man on her hot list is finally smiling.

I can't help but smile back at him. His smile is so contagious.

He nods and lifts the cupcake slightly in the air, as though raising a toast. I do the same and we take another bite of our cupcakes at the same time.

I don't think anyone more than us can be happy about Agastya finally tripping in his 'I'm mighty and impenetrable' obnoxious aura. From what I gathered in my few days of stay here, and throughout this dinner when he couldn't stop pouring fuel into the fire, he can't stand Agastya either. Good for me.

After dinner, Dad and Yuvraaj depart to their own rooms while Vivaan goes back to hospital for his night duty. I walk with Ayush. As usual he's busy on his phone but now he doesn't consider me stranger enough to walk alone when we've the same last stop.

"Tara," someone calls out and I turn. Yuvaan climbs the stairs instead of heading to his own room and comes to stop in front of me.

"What is it?"

"Dad said you're a painter?" He shoves his hands in his pockets.

I nod. "Not a professional though. It's just a hobby."

"Come to my floor tomorrow. I'll send a maid to get you. I've something you'll like. Good night." He says and descends the stairs, disappearing into the corridor.

Astonished, I look at Ayush with my lips apart. He chuckles and taps my chin close. "Congratulations, you've officially made into Yuvaan Chauhan's friend list."

"Really?"

Ayush nods with a smile. "Trust me on this, when it comes to Yuvaan Chauhan, you'll always want him as your ally. Never an enemy."

"And how come he considers me as his ally now?" I lean against the railing.

"Because you've the same enemy," he smirks, tilting his head to the downward left, referring to Agastya and Arush who are just coming up.

I can't help but bask in my glorious victory.

"So Ayush, in today's episode of Princess diaries, who won? The principal or the bully?"

"I'd say neither but the victim, sis." Ayush answers in amusement.

"Ah, right," I hold my hand up and we both hi-fi.

Agastya stops right in front of us, heaving a deep sigh before he turns his head to glare at me. His molars grind together and jaw visibly ticks as he steps closer, breaching the safe distance between us. I resist the urge to swallow nervously.

"Lies and manipulation seems to run in your genes," he remarks, indirectly issuing another disgusting, derogatory and unwarranted opinion about my mother.

"And coercion in yours," I push on his chest.

From what I heard through Dad, I don't have a great opinion about his mother either.

"We've the power," he shrugs smugly.

"Guess we've the beauty," I smirk. "And brains," I whisper like it's a secret. "Oh, and a news for you," I dip my head to the side.
"Now power as well."

His eyes gleam with something I can't point out but to my disappointment, he smiles. As if my words don't affect him at all.

"What?" I deadpan.

"Nothing," he chuckles with a shake of his head. "It's just that, now, in true sense, the game's on." He ruffles my hair and steps back, taking me aback as I watch him saunter upstairs with my mouth agape.

"What's his damn problem!?" I grumble under my breath as I make an attempt to fix my hair.

"He's impressed." Ayush mumbles.

"What?"

He nods at me. "Frankly speaking, when I first met you, I was slightly worried for you." He gently touches my elbow as a signal to start walking. I oblige.

"Why?"

"I just thought you won't fit in. Especially given how nervous you were. You know you were practically shaking like a leaf when we first met?"

I shrug. "You got hurt because of me. And to be honest, out of all I was hoping to befriend you."

"Really?" He looks at me baffled.

I nod. "You're the only one my age. And Dad had already warned me about Arush and Agastya. He wasn't wrong. So I was afraid I spoilt your first impression of me."

He laughs a bit. "I mean, I wouldn't say I'm fond of how we met the first time. But no, I did not think worse of you."

"Well, thank you, I guess?"

"Uhm, you're welcome, I guess?" He copies.

We both end up laughing.

"No but honestly, I was worried you would be demanding to go back after you figure out the life in the palace. Even before you came, it was clear Agastya Bhai doesn't want you here, so we all were slightly tensed. Because getting on his bad side when you don't even know each other, it's like a horror movie coming alive." He shudders. "But seeing how you handle him, I don't have to worry for you."

"Really now?" I say playfully.

"Yes," he chortles. "You're a Chauhan through and through."

I can't help but laugh.

We separate upon reaching the third floor and bid each other good night. Closing the door to my room, I videocall Janet to relay the details of dinner to her.

"No way! Damn bitch, good job putting that asshole in his place!"

I tug at my invisible collars proudly. "You know Janet, his face was worth watching! He just couldn't believe how things flipped toward him. And no one took his side. Absolutely, no one."

"Really?"

"Yeah, so Yuvaan, the second hottest in your list?" She hums. "He doesn't like Agastya either. I swear I see their faces turn sour at the sight of each other. So he did not only take my side, but he also constantly added fuel to the fire. Then is Ayush, he's on the same boat as Yuvaan. Vivaan has this huge soft spot for me he just couldn't resist my puppy eyes. Then Dad, I mean it was obvious he'll take my side. And also my past record helped a bit in trying to convince Yuvraaj. Like I've been caught twice now, there's no way any sane person would make the same mistake third time."

"You slayed!" She claps sounding impressed.

I bow my head humbly.

"So the second hottest personally invited you to his floor tomorrow?"

I nod in excitement.

"Well, well, look who's gelling with her new family so smoothly," she teases with a playful smile.

"He said he'll send a maid to get me tomorrow. Dad told me he's into pottery. I can't wait to see his collection."

"I've seen them on internet. They're beautiful. He even had a few international exhibitions in the last four years. But Tara, don't break anything when you go there okay. The world knows you're a klutz but no need to prove it."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." I reassure her.

I'm not really a klutz. I just bump around a few times in a day and end up knocking over things.

We hang up early since I've to go for a run tomorrow morning at five thirty. Switching off the lights, I slide under the duvet and drape an arm across my face, falling asleep after a few minutes of imagining future scenarios with the nonexistent love of my life.

Pounding of fists wake me up before the break of the dawn. I bury my face in the pillow and ignore the obvious monster out to steal my peace.

"Tara, stop prolonging this!" He bellows.

I drag myself off the bed and yank the door open. "Do I get the time to wear something suitable for the run and fix my hair, Your Highness?"

"Be quick. I'll be downstairs." He turns around and marches in the direction of the elevator.

I quickly change into a pair of leggings and a tank top before tossing my hair in a high pony. Grabbing my card key, I slam the door close and go downstairs using the elevator.

We reach the same field that we were on yesterday and he sticks his arm out in my direction. I link my arm with his before we start.

This time we take a pause after the fourth lap. I sit on the ground, massaging my aching muscles while he flexes his biceps, triceps and whatever else to the maids working around, scraping off the last few minutes left of their night duty.

"She isn't even looking at you." I deadpan. It's embarrassing to watch the man that's supposedly your brother try so hard for female attention.

He clicks his tongue. "She is. Watch this." He lifts his shirt to wipe the sweat on his forehead, revealing his six pack abs and sure enough the maid steals a glance at him, blushes and walks away hurriedly. "She looked, didn't she?"

"Yeah,"

He smirks.

"Got horrified and left." I add and much to my amusement, his lips fall flat. "Poor girl is traumatized for the rest of her life."

He kicks me on the thigh. "Enough of lazing around, get up now."

I force myself to stand and he drags me for another four laps of the field. After the last, I remove my arm through his and lie on the ground, watching the morning sky come alive with flocks of birds and their sweet chirpy sound.

Coming back to my bedroom after the vigorous run has to be the best part of my new morning routine. I quickly take a shower, get changed and eat the breakfast served to me in the bedroom.

It is when I decide to watch a movie that a maid appears on my doorstep.

"Yeah?"

"Prince Yuvaan sent me to escort you to his art room," she says softly.

Oh, right.

God, I'm nervous.

"Let's go," I get off the bed and wear my slippers. She takes me to the west wing of the second floor. We pass a few corridors and multiple rooms before coming face to face with a large mahogany brown door.

"You can wait inside." She informs and leaves after a polite bow.

I grab the handle, twist it and unlock the door. It opens to a brightly lit room brimming with sunshine coming from the open windows. Rows of shelves fill the room on either side, leaving an open space right in the middle where a wooden stool is placed behind the wheel. I walk in, marvelling at each fragile piece made of different types of clays. They are absolutely beautiful. There's even a few pieces made of metals and glasses. His skills doesn't stop at clay alone.

I pick one kept on the desk. It's a shiny white bowl made of ceramic and there's an art of cherry blossoms painted on it. I hold it in my palms. It's so lightweight and delicate.

I go to put it down when a golden retriever comes scrambling out of the connecting door. My eyes go wide in shock and before I can register what's happening, the bowl in my hand gets thrown into the air before smashing to the floor with a loud clang.

The dog and I, we both freeze.

That's when the door opens and Yuvaan walks in.

Well, fuck my life.

Taranya on her way to pack her shit, change countries, and then settle down with a new identity lmao.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter? Don't forget to vote and comment. Makes my day.