Vansh's Pov

My eyes opened when my entire room was filled with the burning red chili smoke in the air which I sniffed, sleeping peacefully. My eyes wouldn't open due to the burning sensation of red chili in the air.

I rubbed my eyes abruptly, finding my mother, grasping the red chili in her hands to warden off evil eyes from me.

I scrunched my eyebrows, with annoyance, “Not again, Maa.”

She ignored me with no response as she tightened her grip on the chilis, moving her palm in a circular motion to cover my body from head to toe.

She did that thrice and placed those chilis in the charcoal pot to burn them.

She gave a signal with her palm to Neelu (our maid), to take the pot outside of the house.

She placed her fingers on my chin tightly, tilting my head right and then left checking my wounds, “With whom, did you fight?” She inquires angrily.

I shrug off her fingers lightly, freeing myself, “It's nothing, I argued with Deepak.”

She carelessly shrugs her shoulders, “Oh, then it's nothing important. If Deepak has done this then it must be your fault.” She declared.

“Are you my mother or his?” I inquired, irritatingly.

“Both!” She replies.

She clutched my one of ears tightly, twisting it deliberately, “I heard you came back earlier from Mumbai for a girl.”

“Ahhh” I hissed in pain, “Who told you that?” I asked making myself free from her hold.

I rubbed my ear gently to which she replied, “There is only one person, who can tell me.”

And, I understood, who it was, “Is Kabir back?” I inquired, in annoyance to which she nodded positively.

“Kabir!” I yelled from the top of my lungs.

Kabir is my younger brother, he studies in Mumbai. He is 24 right now.

Kabir, hearing his name in my mouth, came rushing to my room.

“Jii, Bhai!” He replies, entering the room.

“What did you say to Maa?” I snapped angrily.

He being scared, rushes to hide behind Maa. Well, not fully as he is 5'7 and my Maa is 5'2.

“I didn't say anything about you.” He lowers his head, speaking softly to hide himself behind Maa.

“Maa, pehle aap isse puche. Apko pata hai yeh college se nikala gaya hai issiliye yaha vapas aagaya hai.” (Maa, ask him first. He has been kicked out of the college and so he came back here.) I complaint.

Maa, clenched his one ear and twisted it, like she did with me, asking, “Is it true?”

“Maa, Bhai ap ko apni baaton mein uljha rahe hai, aap ladki ka toh puche.” (Maa, Bhai is making you entangled with his words. You should ask about the girl.) He steers Maa's attention towards me.

“Who is the girl?” Maa asked, bluntly.

“When did you guys come back from the vacation? I didn't notice.” I tried to ignore her question with another question.

“We came late at night.” She replied, forgetting about her question.

“Maa, ladki ke baare mein puche na?” (Maa, ask about the girl) Kabir made Maa, realized that I dodged her question.

I rushed out of bed, squeezing my mother's shoulder gently, “Maa, I am late.” I placed a gentle kiss on her cheeks before making my way to the washroom.

Before entering the washroom, I yelled, “Kabir, as you have been kicked out of the college. Find a good college in the city and report back to me in the office as an intern.” to which my Maa, chuckled softly Kabir frowned, complaining to Maa, “Maa, I don't wanna go to the office.”

*******

I got ready and made my way downstairs to have breakfast. I couldn't find my watch which I had worn yesterday. I must have dropped it somewhere last night, fighting with Mayank.

I noticed everyone was present at the table for breakfast. I sat on my chair, greeting everyone, “Good morning.” to which everyone replied with a smile 'Good morning.'

My elder brother, Yuvraj Raizada sat on the chair of the head of the family as our father died due to a heart attack, a few years back. From that moment, Bhai is the head of the family.

Maa sat on the chair right next to my brother and was followed by my Disha Bhabhi and their kids, Ankit and Daisy. The two kids are twins and they are six years old.

I sat on the chair left to my brother and was followed by Kabir (Younger brother), Archie (Younger sister), Archie's husband (Shivaay Rajput), and my friend Ronit.

My dadi (Grandmother) has gone to Amritsar to seek blessings.

“Mr. Mittal called me yesterday asking if my brother was ready for the marriage.” Yuvraj Bhai spoke, flipping the pages of the newspaper.

“I told you, I am not getting married to her daughter.” I shrugged in annoyance, having my breakfast.

“But she is beautiful.” He arches his eyebrows to which Bhabhi interrupts in her irritated tone, “Beautiful?”

“I am talking about his marriage. Why are you bringing me in between?” Bhai explains innocently.

“You should never call anyone beautiful other than your wife,” Bhabhi spoke in a deadly serious tone.

“I'll remember that.” He smiled at her, “By the way, you look beautiful today.” He adds to which Maa chuckles softly.

“That's like a good boy.” Bhabhi laughs.

Kabir clears his throat to let everyone focus on my wedding.

“Bhai, you should get married now. You will soon turn 28. After a while, no girl will approach you.” Kabir frowned.

“Jii Bhai, Kabir Bhai sahi keh rahe hai, aap jald shaadi kar le, taki hume naye kapde lene ka mauka mile.” (Yes brother, Kabir Bhai is right, you should get married soon, so that we get a chance to buy new clothes.) Archie eyes flicker as she speaks, “Heavy jewelry, new haircuts, and most importantly to get makeup done for functions. So wholesome!” She hissed as she felt chills around her skin.

“You are urging me to marry so that you can wear new clothes and jewelry?” I arched up my eyebrows in a quirky way, “Are you serious?” I whined.

The moment I was done speaking, I heard another carefree voice, “You forgot about the dance.” My brother-in-law (Shivaay) reminds my sister, of what she says, face palming, “Oh my god, how could I forget that? We also have to hire a choreographer to teach us to dance.”

'Are they for real? Sab ke sab pagal hai, Yaha mujhe darr hai ki princess kabhi shaadi ke liye haa nahi karegi aur ye dresses, jewellery or dance par pahunch gaye hai.' (Are they for real? Everyone is crazy, here I am worrying that the princess will never agree to marry me and they are talking about dresses, jewelry, and dance.) I sighed upsetting.

“Neelu!” I yelled in frustration.

“Jii, bhaiya!” She came running towards the breakfast table.

“How many times have I told you that the fork should be kept on the left and the knife should be kept on the right? Why do you always make a mistake?” I shouted and everyone narrowed their eyes downwards except Mother and Yuvraj Bhai.

“You know, he has OCD, he likes to keep things in order.” Mother explains to Neelu, who is currently bowing her head downwards.

She nods slightly and Bhai speaks, “Neelu, you go and do your work.”

And then he gazed at me, “Why are you shouting at her? She is a human, mistakes happen.”

“I am done, I am going to the office.” I made my way to the car park.

'Fuck, I shouldn't have yelled.' I sighed, cursing myself beneath my breath regretting that I should have calmed myself.

“Vansh!” I heard a voice, and footsteps approaching me.

I turned following the voice and saw Ronit (My friend).

“Have it!” He offers a sandwich covered in foil paper.

I grasp it, “You should learn to control your anger. She has been working here for a few years now.” He speaks.

I shrugged, “That's the issue, she has been working here for a few years now. She should know how I like things.”

“She is not your wife. If you want things to be kept in your way, find a wife.” I grimace at his words, annoyed, “Don't start now, please.”

“Okay, then I will come straight to the point. After the incident last night, how is Bhabhi now?” I sighed at his question, “I don't know, I haven't talked to her yet.”

Ronit and I first met in college, we were in the same class. From that day to today, we are close friends. Ronit lives with us. His parents died in a plane crash a few years back. My mother loves him like a son so she urged him to stay with us. Also, he works for me in the company and I have shared many things with him that I haven't shared with Deepak yet. Just like, I like Aaliya and Ronit know about this but Deepak doesn't. I also mentioned last night's incident to him including that Deepak is upset.

“Have you decided, what will you do now as Deepak is upset with you?” He inquired, worried.

“I don't know yet but first I need to see her and make sure that she is okay.” He squeezed one of my shoulders in comfort, “You should tell her about your feelings, otherwise, it will be too late.” I exhaled sharply with his words.

********

Aaliya's Pov

It's 8 in the morning. I am lying on the bed, my eyes fixed on the open window, peeking at the view outside. It's summertime and the sun should be at its peak, blowing the heat waves but it's cool and breezy today, unlike the summer days. I think god is also not happy today like me.

I have been awake since midnight. I couldn't get sleep from then onwards. I remember I woke up when I asked for water from my bhabhi. And, she told me everything that happened last night. She also mentioned that Vansh was the one who saved me and he was the first one who noticed that I had been missing from the hall.

If he hadn't noticed that I was missing then I don't know what would have happened to me. It's terrifying to even have mere thoughts about If, he didn't search me last night. I would have been dead from inside. I don't know how I would have handled the consequences or how I would have faced everyone. How would I have faced my baba and Bhai for the rest of my life?

The thought is still giving me goosebumps and a scared feeling is lingering in my heart from the last night. My bhabhi also told me that Vansh almost killed Mayank last night. A different feeling hit me last night when I imagined him beating Mayank. Vansh and I have, not been on talking terms for the past few years as I have been holding a grudge against him regarding Baba loving him like his son. But, last night keeping things aside, he helped me like a gentleman when he dealt with my panic attack outside the hotel and then when he saved me from Mayank.

I feel that I have judged him wrong. I feel that my jealousy has made me think that Vansh is the villain in my life but I am afraid to accept the truth that it's all my baba who doesn't want me in his life and is adamant about marrying me off.

I have been restless for the whole night as I seem to remember something surprising. I don't know if that is reality or a dream but it gave a different feeling regarding Vansh. A different point of view hit my mind regarding him.

When I was drugged at the party, I was struggling to stay awake so that Mayank couldn't take advantage of me. I went unconscious when I saw Vansh removing Mayank from me and calling me by the name 'princess'.

I stopped struggling with my eyes when I felt a sense of security, finding Vansh near me. But this was not all, last night I also heard Vansh confessing his feelings for me that he likes me and he wants me to become the same Aaliya I was when we were children. But, I am confused. I don't know if this all happened or if I was dreaming due to drugs.

My confused mind got a little bit of clarity when I found Vansh's watch on the table, near the bed. The watch's glass seems to be broken. It was clear that Vansh came to my room last night but still, I was not that sure if he literally confessed to me or if it was a dream.

If this is a dream then it's alright but if this is reality then I don't know how to react or what to feel for him. I have never seen Vansh in that way. I have always taken him like someone who I have been holding a grudge against. I don't hate him but I also don't love him.

I am thankful to him and I should do something to let him feel my sincerity rather than bickering with him all this time. But for that, I have to leave the bed. I cannot captive myself in the room like last time. I feel Hotel Nirvana is a bad omen for me. I have visited the hotel twice and both times I have been harassed there.

I am never going to visit there again in my life. Never-ever.

I took a long and steamy shower and got ready wearing a simple purple kurti with coordinating pants.

I made my way downstairs finding, Bhabhi feeding breakfast to Arav and I noticed Vansh and my baba having a conversation, sitting on the sofa. It must be business.

For, the very first time I sent a warm glance toward Vansh, with a smile lingering on my face unknowingly. To which he smiled, gazing back at me.

It was the first time when I was glancing at him differently. Like, I was feeling good, staring at him. I felt that I could stare at him all day without complaining.

I shook my head realizing that I was looking dumb, standing in between the living room, glazing him shamelessly, and smiling like a mad woman.

I made my way to the breakfast table and sat beside Bhabhi.

'Baba doesn't know what happened last night.' I had a thought while tapping my nails on the table.

'I am his daughter. He should know that Mayank is not a good choice for me.' I turned glancing at Baba and found Vansh staring back at me.

I smiled at him to which his expressions were 'What are you planning?' He was gazing with astonishment.

******

Vansh's Pov

When I was driving to the Princess's house, I had a mere thought. Whether I should enter the house or not. As Deepak was pretty upset with me last night. I didn't want to make him more angry but I wanted to check if the Princess was doing fine or not.

So, I came inside and had a conversation with Baba regarding business, and in the meantime, she came down. She was wearing her casual clothes but yet looked mesmerizing. I was worried, she might be upset but she seemed normal to me. Maybe she was hiding her sadness.

To my surprise, I caught her staring at me shamelessly, and that too with a huge smile on her face. At first, I was afraid of asking myself if I had made some mistake but later I realised that her smile was genuine towards me. Maybe she was smiling because I saved her last night.

Although I am not complaining. But, it feels awkward because every time I see her, she always gives an unsatisfied look but this time she was smiling, and that was a genuine smile. It's hard to digest.

Also, I smiled back as I felt the warmth of that same Aaliya from childhood. I wish she becomes the same Aaliya.

She made her way to Bhabhi and sat beside her. She starts swinging her legs under the table, back and forth in a playful manner. She taps her long nails into the wooden table like a song tune. Later, she sends a glance towards Baba, who is busy reading the files. She bit her lower lips hard, having an expression like she was in deep thought. She then caught me glaring at her and she started smiling again.

The smirk, lingering on her face is the same smirk she passed me when she planned to faint. I know her, she is planning something again but what?

“Bhabhi, Aaj na mein aapko paper padh ke sunati hu.” (Bhabhi, today I will read the paper for you.) She spoke loudly as if she wanted us to listen to her.

Bhabhi raises a query, surprisingly, “Tum mujhe paper padh ke kyu sunao gi?” (And, why would you read the paper for me?)

“Aree sun toh le, Aaj bahut hi achii news chappi hai paper mein.” (Aree, listen na, good news has been published today.) She urged, grasping the newspaper in her hand.

She opens the newspaper, “Ek baap ke choti si galti ki vajah se beti ki zindagi kharab ho gayi.” (A father's little mistake ruined the life of his daughter.) She read the headline loudly.

Bhabhi's eyes wide open in surprise, “What are you reading?”

She adds, “There's more to it.”

She utters, loudly, pretending to read the newspaper but having her eyes fixed on Baba but his eyes are fixed on the files, “A father arranged a marriage for her daughter to one of his friend's sons. The daughter didn't want to get married so she politely asked the man to reject the marriage but he didn't agree to it. The daughter couldn't reject the marriage as her father was adamant about letting her marry soon. Later, the man did something disgraceful.” She turns to gaze at Bhabhi from Baba, asking, “Do you know what he did?”

Bhabhi tried to stop her, squeezing her hands lightly, hinting to not let her complete her words, but the princess continued, “He tried to molest her.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, I could hear the sound 'thud' of closing the file in anger. Baba stood up and walked out of the living room without glancing at her.

From the actions of Baba, it seems he understood what the princess was trying to do. I exhaled sharply, face palming, having a deep thought, 'Who says my princess resembles her mother? Ask me, I can assure you that she is more like her father than her mother. The same arrogance, rudeness, anger issues, and stubbornness. She is a carbon copy of Baba. The way Baba talks, she talks. The way Baba deals, she deals.'

To be continued.....

Hello lovely readers, I am very sorry for updating the chapter so late but I will upload the next chapter in a gap of a day. By the way, how is the chapter? Don't forget to vote and comment, if you like the chapter.

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