✨surprise✨ ROR shuru hone ki khushi mein

-• a trouble magnet •-

"What!?" I hiss through clenched teeth as he drags me back upstairs and slams the door shut. I wrench my arm from his chain like grip, rubbing the sore spot with a wince. "What's your problem?"

"What's my-" he lowers his voice abruptly and spares a glance behind us before glaring at me. "What's my problem? What the fuck were you doing down there!?" He demands roughly.

I roll my eyes. "I heard something."

"So?" He deadpans.

"So, I went there to check!" I reply with a shrug. It's obvious at this point what I was doing. Agreed, I roll into troubles like my feet have wheels, but this is an orphanage. What worse than a rebellious child can a locked room hide inside?

He places a hand on his hip, and rakes another through his tousled dense black hair. "Tara, you don't enter the locked rooms of every building you visit."

"This is an orphanage your family runs."

"Right. So I own it. Hence, I don't want to see you roaming around the building aimlessly. And I definitely don't want you to poke your head inside every room. Do you get it?" He commands.

I cross my arms on my chest. "Are you done?"

"Taranya," he grits out.

"Duh, fine." I throw my hands in the air and saunter past him. If my mood had a temperature, it'd be hotter than sahara right now. Just because his family owns the building doesn't mean he has a free pass to order me around. I was just curious.

To my dismay, he follows me.

"What are you doing here?" I ask and then immediately regret it. "Don't answer that. It was a stupid question."

"You know you're staying the night here, right?" That stops me abruptly. I stare up at him, shocked at the new piece of information. I was not informed about this. Yes, the kids here are great and all, but this place is creepy, Miss. Rose looks two faced woman, the orphanage is owned by the Rajawats and now that Shourya is here, it ultimately means he's staying the night too. And I can't even sleep in new places. I'm a house rat. Does God love to test my patience?

"And you're not?" I try my luck despite the low chances.

"Of course, I am. Why else would I come here?" He shrugs.

I groan and stomp down the corridor, still looking for a place to wash off the stain on my dress. I don't even remember what direction I came from. Why am I so shitty at geography!? "Where's the damn washroom!?" I spin around on my heels, my arms splayed to the side, frustration evident on my face.

Shourya sighs. "Follow me."

I oblige half-heartedly.

He opens a door for me and I peek inside, spotting a wash basin and a mirror. "Don't leave. I won't be able to find my way back."

"As you wish, Esther." He nods, looking exhausted. I don't remember throwing tantrums.

Snorting, I step inside the bathroom and slam the door close on his face. Then regret it immediately. Did that offend him? Did he leave? Shit. "Are you there?"

I hear him chuckle. "Yes, go and do your business."

With a sigh of relief, I step closer to the wash basin and turn on the tap. Since the stain is on the hem of my dress, I've to lift it completely until my waist and bunch the spot to wash off the color under the water. The tap is very weird. It's a little loose and keeps spraying water from the edges.

I rise on my tip toes and lean closer, struggling to keep the water off the clean area. I can't walk around with a wet white dress. I can just imagine my brothers' reaction if that happened. Yuvraaj might have a heart attack and Agastya would definitely turn into a gorilla. I pity their future women. They'll have cavemen as their life partners.

Accidentally, I loose my footing and slip forward, having to grip the tap to support myself straight. But it backfires on me when the tap is plucked out from the pipe and the water bursts out like a fountain, drenching me from head to toe. I do what's expected of me. Scream like a banshee.

Shourya doesn't waste time entering the bathroom. "What the hell, Tara!?" He grunts and walks through the powerful force of the water to slap his hand on the broken tap, successfully blocking the pressure. "What did you do!?" He turns his head, but I don't even have the time to look at him. My dress is now a complete see through.

"Don't look!" I cover my chest hastily.

He turns his head away then swears and looks down. "Wait outside."

I feel the guilt seep deeper. I'm seriously such a trouble magnet. "Do you need help?"

He huffs out a tired breath. "No. Just go and wait outside. And please, stay there. You're not a child, don't act like one."

I clamp my lips shut, resisting myself from giving him a befitted reply. I made a mess, the least I can do is not act haughty. "Okay," I say softly and step out of the bathroom, the water drips from my clothes, spoiling the floor. Honestly, I'm nothing but a nuisance. Even for me.

As I wait there shivering and trembling, with my arms around my body, covering my front from no one, Shourya is probably fighting with the tap to stop the water. Finally, almost fifteen minutes later, he steps out of the bathroom, all wet.

My throat runs dry at the glorious sight. He shakes his head to get rid of the water, and the action is suddenly slowed down, I've no idea why. As though he's filming some shampoo commercial. Then he removes his black blazer, and my jaw totally drops. He's wearing a white shirt underneath. Very convenient, I must say. It's completely drenched. I can see the outline of his abs and the dark nipples poking through the wet fabric.

He's hot. Hotter than any of the deserts in the world. How did I not notice it before? Maybe I did. I just didn't want to acknowledge it. I still don't. So I quickly look away, pretending his body doesn't interest me.

It does. It so fucking does.

Am I a hoe?

Maybe I am. And I don't mind it.

I'm not going to be ashamed of staring at a literal masterpiece. I won't just admit it out aloud.

"Here," he stretches his arm forward, the blazer hanging from his index finger.

"Huh?" I play dumb. Is he offering it to me? When did he turn into a gentleman?

"Wear it." He instructs.

Reluctantly, I take the jacket from him and wear it, hugging it close so my chest is covered from any pair of naked eyes. "Thank you."

He nods, dragging a hand down his face and shaking it to the side before he undoes the cufflinks and rolls his sleeves to his elbow. "Let's go," he takes the lead. I meekly follow.

Halfway, we meet my family. Vivaan and Agastya walk up to me looking concerned. While Yuvraaj stands back, glaring at Shourya. Dad looks a little surprised, not at the sight of me, rather focused on Shourya.

"What happened? Did he do this?" Agastya demands, his eyes straying towards Shourya furiously.

"No, I accidentally broke the tap. He helped me." I reply timidly.

Agastya removes his leather jacket, and I know it's a queue for me to return Shourya's blazer. He zips the jacket until my neck, shaking his head at me. "It was an accident!" I defend myself pathetically.

"Of course, it was." He rolls his eyes. "C'mon, you need to change before you catch a cold." He holds my hand in his. My shriveled up skin soaks the warmth coming from his touch. "Are our bags in the room?" He looks up at the second eldest.

Vivaan nods. "She's getting her own room. It's beside yours."

Agastya hums and leads me back inside the building. I look over my shoulder one last time, frowning when I find my father standing close to Shourya, his hand on the young boy's shoulder. Vivaan also gravitates towards them, his face softening. My frown deepens. What happened to them? I thought they all hated him? Only Yuvraaj looks like he's tolerating Shourya's presence.

"Where's Yuvaan Bhai and twins?" I look up at Agastya.

"Twins are in their room. Yuvaan Bhai went back to the palace. He had a meeting with a curator."

"Oh," I murmur.

As we begin to climb the stairs, the wet dress slides back and forth between my thighs. The stickiness makes me scrunch my nose in disgust. I can't wait to get out of these clothes and change into something comfortable and warm.

"Why did no one tell me we'll be staying the night here?" I demand hoarsely, my voice a little throaty because of the water I snorted through my nose.

"It's not really a news." We reach the first floor and he takes me down the left of the corridor. The wooden floor creaks beneath my feet. One cannot even think of sneaking out here. I don't want to imagine the noise it'll make in the middle of the night. "Here you go," he opens the door, revealing a decent room. Though it's devoid of any colors and the walls have darkened over the years, it's just as big as my room back in London. "Ugh," is Agastya's first reaction. I slap him on the chest.

"Don't. Some people don't even have a roof over their heads." I chastise.

He sighs, dragging himself inside and flopping down on my bed. "Can't relate. I've better options." He folds his arms beneath his head.

I roll my eyes. Opening the zip of my backpack, I take out the extra pair of clothes I brought in case my clumsy ass slips into some kind of mess. And it did. "I'd have brought something more comfortable if I knew we're staying here." I grumble as I hug the jeans and crop top to my chest.

"I guess we forgot." He yawns. "I can get you my clothes if you want."

"No, thanks. Your sweats won't fit me."

"My hoodie?" He offers.

I beam. "Yes, please!"

He nods and walks out of the room, returning a minute later with a black hoodie. I thank him and head inside the bathroom. It has no place to protect my clothes from getting wet so I drape them on top of shower stall and quickly strip off my dress and undies. Putting on the fresh ones, I wear the jeans and easily slip through the hoodie. It falls until my thighs. But it's warm. And it smells like him.

"Tada!" I open the door to the empty room. My smile fades. "Did he go back to his room?" I scratch my head.

Shrugging, I walk to my backpack and take out my phone, settling against the headboard with my legs stretched on the bed. I wish I had other friends except Janet. After Anagha left the school, my connection with Kusum and Revathi severed since she was the link bridging us together. And I can't call Janet because she's busy with her studies. I can't disturb her for the sole purpose of getting rid of my boredom.

The slamming of door flinches me. I look behind, wondering who's on the other side of the wall. Is it Agastya? Vivaan did say my room is beside his. Putting the phone away, I get down the bed and wear the slippers before exiting the room. I walk to the left of my room and knock on the door next to mine.

The one who opens the door is not my brother because from a sister's perspective, Agastya looks like a gremlin and this right here, is a fucking Greek god.

"I didn't know you'd be staying right next to my room." I tear my eyes off his bare chest and fix it on his light brown ones.

He leans on the door jamb. I swear his body is a work of art. Or maybe I'm just horny. Because he suddenly looks so fucking sexy to me. "Well, now you know."

I nod frantically. "Do you have a brother?" I blurt out. There has to be some connection between Shourya and Rudra. Bodywise, they're quiet similar.

"Why do you want to know?" He tilts his head to the opposite side.

"Just curious." I shrug. "Are you really seventeen?" I ask, since his birthday passed by when he was in coma.

"Do you want to see my birth certificate?"

I try to throw off the awkwardness with a smile. "No, I'm just kidding."

He licks his lips, raising a lazy hand to scratch the side of his neck. "For someone who annoys you, you're being very friendly to me today."

"I know right." I chuckle. "I wonder what changed?"

"What changed?" His voice drops lower.

My tongue paralyses in my mouth. "I - I-" what the fuck, Tara, why are you acting like a thirsty hoe? You are, but he doesn't need to know that. That elicits a fake scoff from me. "Get down your high horse. I just came to thank you." I step back, so his proximity doesn't confuse me.

He hums, nodding slowly.

"Thank you." I force out. "And now fuck off!" I mutter and storm back to my room, slamming the door close before I turn around and hit my head on the doorframe.

Ouch.

That hurt.

"I swear I'm such a embarrassment." Grumbling under my breath, I spread on the bed and don't come down until someone knocks on my door.

The dinner is arranged in the common hall again. I never had to stand in the queue before to get the food served. But it's a new experience.

"Where's Yuvraaj Bhai, Vivaan Bhai and Dad?" I ask as I take a look around the huge hall.

"They went home. I'll drive us back to the palace tomorrow morning."

My face automatically saddens.

"Don't. We've a few journalist around." He says in a whisper. So I plaster a big smile on my face. Can't afford someone misinterpreting my sadness for disgust or dislike for the sake of creating a gossip, staining Yuvraaj's hard-earned reputation. He'll eat me alive if that happened.

I reach the end of the queue and get surprised at the sight of Shourya serving the kids. He nods at me, smiling behind the transperant mask, wearing a white cap on his head. I forward my plate to him.

He picks up the rotis with his gloved hand and folds it on the side. Just as I take a step to move ahead, he adds another roti to my plate. I look at him bewildered. He simply stares back with a handsome smile.

Agastya clears his throat behind me. I quickly scurry forward while Shourya looks down and resumes his work.

We find empty seats among the kids. Agastya occupies the spot beside me and the twins settle down opposite to me. I look around the hall, smiling at the sight of the familiar faces. A few girls wave at me with a grin. I chuckle and wave back. Strangely, I fail to find Meera among the kids. Did she not come for dinner? Is she okay? But she looked fine to me this morning. Then again, she takes vitamins. Maybe she has some body deficiency.

I shrug off the ominous feeling and eat my dinner.

We stay up late playing games with the kids. But then around ten pm, Miss. Rose ventures into the garden with a strict face and taps her watch. "Way past bedtime, kids." She says sternly and all the kids make a line as they head back inside the orphanage. Her tones softens when speaking to us and she requests us to go to our rooms.

I close the door shut and settle on my bed, my eyes stark open, unable to give up in the face of exhaustion. I'm tired as fuck but I still can't find it in me to find a comfortable position to sleep. Though when all the lights turn down, I'm forced to switch off mine as well.

Phone keeps me occupied way past midnight. But then my network starts to act up and I walk to the window, leaning in before startling at what I see.

"What the fuck?" I hide behind the curtain, poking my head out to see what's going on outside. Considering my room overlooks the gate, the white ambulance of Mankind Medicare stands out prominently in the driveway. Then I see Miss. Rose descend the stairs of the porch. She steps inside the back of ambulance and waves someone over. My eyes widen in shock when two men drag an unconscious Meera inside. The ambulance door shut close, engine revs to life and the wheels screech off the gravely road, disappearing out of the gates.

I rush out of my room and head downstairs, stopping directly at the gates as I see the tail lights of the ambulance drive off in distance. My eyes move to the guard who's asleep in the chair.

Is he serious!?

I walk up to him, then realise he isn't asleep, he's knocked out unconscious. I quickly look at the CCTV nearby. As expected, they're not working either.

Something is very fishy.

I can't do anything right now. I'm freaking helpless. Turning around, I return to my room and stay up until the sun rises. On our way out, Miss. Rose sees us out along with the kids. I can't help myself from asking.

"Where's Meera?"

Her face is impassive. Nothing betrays her thoughts. "Why do you ask?" She smiles tightly.

"I haven't seen her around since last night." I reply.

She hums. "She's in the hospital."

My brows shoot up. "Oh, is she? What's wrong with her?"

"She's malnourished. She often faints."

I nod slowly. "Alright, wish her get well soon from me." I force a smile on my face.

"I will." Miss. Rose smiles back. Just as fake as me.

Agastya calls out for me when our car arrives, ending the conversation. I wave at the kids. They give me flying kisses. My eyes move to Shourya, he's standing on the sideline, watching me. I give him a nod. He nods back. Turning around, I get inside the car and put on the seatbelt.

The moment we touch the threshold of Jaigarh, my eyes quickly shift to the sign that directs the way to Mankind Medicare hospital. I feel skittish, unable to shrug off the last night's events.

"Agastya, can you drop me at the hospital?"

"Why?" He looks at me in confusion.

"I'm missing Vivaan Bhai," I reply sheepishly.

"Tara, I've practice at ten. I'm already late." He clicks his tongue.

"It's okay, you can drop me off at the signal there. I'll catch a cab." I point ahead.

He frowns, seeming worried. "But-"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be safe."

"No, it's been only a week-"

"Yeah, and Bhai caught the culprit. Don't worry. The hospital is a few miles from here. I'll call you the moment I reach."

He shakes his head. "I'll drop you." Just as he says that, his phone rings, and he sighs in frustration.

"Agastya, trust me. I'm fine. Abhay Saxena is already behind the bars." I assure him.

"Any of you free to join her?" He looks at the twins through the rearview, answered in complete silence.

He breaths out defeatedly and stops the car at the side of the road. I quickly get out and walk past the bonnet. "Here," he hands me a backpack.

I frown. "What is this?"

"Just keep it with you. If you find yourself in danger, open the backpack."

I roll my eyes. "That's not happening."

"I know. But it's better to take the precautions."

"Okay, I'll go now."

"It also has money on the front pocket to pay the driver." He tells me.

"Alright!" I shout back and fetch a cab to go to the hospital. He drives off after seeing me settle inside and put on my seatbelt. I think he even noted down the number plate. "To Mankind Medicare hospital, please." The driver nods and starts the car.

We reach the hospital in less than twenty minutes. "Wait here. I'll return in five minutes." I tell him and rush inside the hospital. If she's admitted, then I'll have nothing to worry. And if she isn't, then something is definitely very wrong.

I stop at the reception. "Hi, is there any patient named Meera Shastri here?"

The woman checks through the records and shakes her head.

My heart drops. "She was brought here last night. At around 1:00 am in the morning."

She checks again. "Nope."

I feel my jaw clench in indescribable anger. Where did they take her? I'm hundred percent sure the ambulance belonged to this hospital. If she wasn't brought here, then where the hell did she go?

Upon coming out, I find the driver smoking a cigarette along with some guards. "Excuse me!" I shout past the noisy crowd. He quickly crushes the cigarette and walks back to the car.

"Where to next, Ma'am?"

"Chauhan palace." I buckle up.

The engine growls to life, driving out of the iron gates. And it's not long before I see the driver panicking like his life is in a chokehold of death as he frantically kicks at the brakes.

"Wha-What's wrong?"

"The- The brakes! The brakes are not working!"

"What!?" I shout back in disbelief.

That's what you get for acting on your impulse, Tara.

We're closer to the end of Rags To Royals. Probably five more chapters. Sorry to those I promised seventy five. We'll be done early.

And yeah, I know. This cannot be the final end, obviously. There's going to be a sequel. Two actually.

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