Aaliya's Pov

I wanted Baba to know about Mayank. I know, I seem to be harsh but I am his daughter and he should know, what's going on in my life. I am not asking too much just a single question from him 'How am I doing?'

After Baba left the living room in anger, Bhabhi also left, sending a disappointed gaze towards me.

Vansh stood up from the sofa and made his way towards me.

"Do you also want to scold me?" I asked with an annoyed gaze.

He sat beside me, where Bhabhi sat earlier. He let down a deep sigh, "I am not gonna scold you." calmly spoke, "But, You should realize that you were wrong here."

I gulped, parting my lips to speak but stopped when he uttered, "If you want baba to know what happened last night. You can always have a calm face-to-face conversation with him."

I frowned, "Like, he would understand?" he quirks his eyebrows, speaking softly, "You are her daughter, he would understand."

I leaned myself forward, resting my elbow on the table, "If he could understand, then he would never make me feel left out."

He was intrigued, perplexed, "When did he make you feel left out?"

I countered, "He never likes to stay in the room, I'm in." to which he blinked, inquiring, "A few minutes back, weren't you and Baba in the living room?"

"That was because he didn't notice that I was here," I replied, averting my eyes to everywhere except him.

"Are you sure? Because, if he didn't notice you then why did he listen to your so-called headline, you were pretending to read?"

"Then why doesn't he talk to me like every father does to his daughter?" I fumed, raising my voice. "Why does he always have to order me rather than having a father-daughter conversation?" tears filled my eyelids.

"Am I that bad?" I sobbed, crying.

He grasps my hand, giving a comforting squeeze to it, "Don't cry!"

******

Vansh's Pov

Glancing at my princess crying was tearing my heart apart. I haven't seen her cry for a very long time. I remember the last time she cried was when Baba was punishing Deepak because he went against his decision and gave permission to the princess to take the design courses.

She cried hard that time, blaming herself for getting her brother scolded for such a small thing. She was helpless at that time because she couldn't defend her brother and in the end, I talked to Baba regarding her admission to the College of Design.

After that, she stopped asking for anything from her brother so that Deepak wouldn't get punished because of her.

Seeing her cry after a very long time, I couldn't hold myself, and I grasped her hand gently and gave a comforting squeeze to it.

She cried for a while, letting her heart out. Later she calmed herself and wiped her tears. Till then I held her hand gently.

"You should give Baba some time and I am sure he will understand you," I said to calm herself, letting her hand free.

"Aren't you taking, baba's side too much?" I quirk my eyebrows, listening to her, "Am I?"

She nodded positively to which I smiled, "Kya Karu aadat hai." (What can I do, it's a habit.)

She is making her face, annoyingly, "Tumhari issi aadat se mujhe bahut chid hai." (I am very annoyed by this habit of yours.)

I said sweetly, smiling, "Toh phir mein yeh aadat chod deta hu aur tumhari side le leta hu." (Then I should give up on this habit and start to take your side.)

She excitedly uttered, "That sounds good."

"Aur tum, yeh bachkana harkate karna chod do." (And you, stop doing these childish things.) I said with a stern face. She was perplexed, inquiring, "What did I do?"

"Oh really? You are asking me what I did." I parted my lips in surprise, asking.

I add, reminding the mischievous things she does, "Yeh jo tum harr din naye naye tareeke le aati ho baba ko pareshaan karne ke liye, yeh sab band kardo. Kissi din baba gussa ho gaye n tumse toh kabhi baat nahi karenge." (The new things, you do every day to trouble him. Stop doing that. Some day, baba gets angry with you, and he will never talk to you.)

She gets irritated by my words, "Vaise bhi voh konsa baat karte hai. Humesha bass apni baat keh kar chale jaate hai. Aur meine kaha n unki side mat lo." (When does he talk? He always leaves after saying his words. And I said don't take his side.)

I gave her a reality check, "You are not going to understand. You are just like him, stubborn."

She snaps, rudely, "I have no interest in your lectures. And, If I am being stubborn so be it. And anyway, I do all these things for his attention."

She adds, sternly in a cold voice, "I am just asking for his two minutes. Nothing more, nothing less. And, I think, I deserve that much."

"You do all these things to get your baba's attention, so do I also have to do all that to get your attention?" I mumble in an inaudible voice to which she notices my lips talking and she asks, curiously, "What?"

I shake my head, blurting, "Nothing!"

She hesitantly uttered, playing with her hand, "I heard that you almost killed Mayank last night."

"Usne kaam hi maar khane wala Kiya tha. Yeh toh Deepak ne rok liya varna aaj hum sab uske antim yatra par gaye hote." (He had committed a murderous act. Deepak stopped me, otherwise, we all would have gone to his funeral today.) He spoke nonchalantly.

The moment, she took Mayank's name, my blood started boiling. My mind was filled with all the visions from last night. I swear, I would have killed him. How could he even have a mere thought of touching her?

I got angry but my mind went too easy in a few seconds, the moment I glanced at her. To my surprise, she was staring at me, intensely. I felt like her eyes were studying me.

I asked, calmly, "What are you staring at?"

She blinked, wetting her lips, hesitating to say, "Umm.. When you found me in the room. You removed Mayank over me." She gulped, taking a long pause.

I spoke bluntly, "Why are you twisting the words? Just say what you have to say."

"After you, soon my brother came to the room. It wasn't like my brother couldn't beat Mayank. But why were you so knee or so desperate to beat him?" She blurted out in one go as if her breath was hitched.

Before, I had kept my distance from her because I always felt that I needed to wait till she got ready for marriage. I had made myself to be in control. But, when I found out she had agreed to see Mayank. I felt a different feeling in my heart like I might lose her in the name of waiting.

And, soon when Mayank tried to force himself on her. I lost my control. I lost it all last night. I couldn't control my emotions and the anger whirled out of me.

"I..." I was figuring out what to say to her.

'Should I tell her that I like her? I don't know how she will react. What if she rejects me? I might not be able to take that.' I exhaled sharply in my thoughts when I was interrupted by a sharp and taunting voice.

"He won't tell you." Deepak's voice echoes in the living room. He walked forward to us and I and the princess stood in their position, glancing at him. "He doesn't dare to speak up."

*******

Aaliya's Pov

I heard a sharp voice coming from behind and when I turned I saw Bhai standing behind us.

"He won't tell you. He doesn't dare to tell you." Bhai spoke, in his stern cold voice, growling at Vansh.

"Bhai, what are you talking about?" I asked, perplexed.

"The question you asked him, that why was he so desperate to kill Mayank. He won't tell you." He replied, still growling at him.

"Is there something wrong between you two?" I asked as I noticed some tension between them.

"Have you guys fought?" I asked curiously, glancing at them back and forth.

Vansh's expressions were like he was caught and Bhai was seeming angry about something to Vansh.

The way Bhai was growling Vansh. It was like something big had happened.

"Oh my god, I need to note today's date." I excitedly, chuckled to which they both got perplexed, wondering what had gotten into me.

"It's a historic moment," I shouted. They both were still figuring out. "This is the first time you guys have fought. I need to write today's date. I am sure it will be asked in 2050 in the history of MCQ's question, when did Vansh and Deepak fight?" I laughed.

Bhai smiled and Vansh gave a stern look as usual.

"By the way, why did you guys fight?" I asked, nonchalantly.

"Batao!" (Say!) Bhai gave a stern look to Vansh to which he averted his eyes everywhere except Bhai.

"Agar aaj tumne isse nahi bataya toh phir..." (If today, you didn't tell her then it will be...) Bhai spoke, building curiosity in Vansh.

"Toh phir?" (Then, what?) He asked, perplexed.

"She's already 23 and I am planning to marry her off to Dev," Bhai replied, smirking.

"What?" Vansh narrowed his eyes, parting his lips in surprise.

And I was blank, understanding what the hell was happening.

"But Bhai, dev toh..." I was interrupted by Bhai, "Jab do bade baat kar rahe ho toh beech mein nahi bolna chahiye." (When two elders are talking, you should not interrupt.) He shushes me.

'Are they playing a prank on me?' I had a thought because everyone knows Dev is my friend and nothing else. It was difficult to analyze the situation.

"Tum baata rahe ho ki mein bata du?" (Will you speak or should I say?) Bhai asked Vansh, making him nervous.

He averts his eyes at me, wanting to say something, "I..." He hesitating uttered the very first word but then stopped and was continued by Bhai, "He l.."

This time Bhai was interrupted by Vansh who seemed to be hella nervous but he managed to say, "I like you." He blurts out in a low voice holding his breath for a long time.

They both were glaring at me for my response and I burst out laughing.

"He says what?" Continued the laugh as I thought they were doing some prank on me. Or else why would he say that he likes me?

I was still laughing and saw Bhai smirking at my laugh but Vansh seemed to be serious. His face was pale enough to tell that he was upset and he left in a hurry.

Bhai glanced at him, "I think you have hurt him." He pouts to which I stopped laughing, glaring at the door.

"Wasn't it a prank?" I asked innocently, to which Bhai shook his head in the negative.

"Was he serious?" I asked, perplexed, to which he shook his head positively and the reality hit hard and my face changed into regret in no time.

"Shit.." I cursed myself under my breath, rushing outside.

When I crossed the main door and reached outside the garden area, I saw him, caressing his forehead with his one palm. His eyes were shut tightly and plunged into deep thoughts.

I slowly made my way towards him and hear him mumbling, "Fuck, I don't have control over my emotions. I shouldn't have said it." He punished his subconscious mind.

"Vansh?" I called his name softly, not to scare him.

He opens his eyes, averting towards me, and quickly removes his palm from his forehead and tilts himself to face me. And, parts his lips to speak.

Before he could say anything, I grasped my both ears tightly to apologize, I interrupted him, “Look, I am sorry, I should have not laughed at your confession.” I spoke, digging my head down in regret.

He gulps softly, making me remove my hands from the ears, “You don't have to apologize
It was my fault. I shouldn't have said it.” He fumes, biting his lower lips.

“Are you regretting that you shouldn't have confessed to me?” I asked, calmly.

“It's not about the confession, it's just that I never planned to tell you like this.” He clicks his tongue softly in regret.

He continues, “Look, I know you don't like me, and my confession to you is very sudden right now but I like you.” My heart skipped hearing his words. I didn't even notice, a small smile appeared unknowingly on my face. I had my eyes fixed to his, without blinking. And, he has his eyes bowed down and blurts out every single word that comes first.

“I genuinely like you. I do, It's just I wanted to wait for the right time but it ended up like this, and I am not asking for an answer right now. I just want a chance, a single chance is enough for me and I think I deserve that much.” He was going on and on, without even breathing. I think he forgot to breathe but I replied in between, “Okay.” without realizing that I had already replied he continued talking, “Also you don't have to take any pressure. I will handle Eve.... ” and he stops realizing what I said.

He quirks his eyebrows, fixing his eyes on mine, parting his lips wide open, asking, “What did you say?”

I blinked, “I said, okay.” I replied.

A huge smile appeared on his face, “Are you giving me a chance?” He confirms excitedly.

I shake my head positively. “But, it doesn't mean that I have agreed to your confession. I am just giving you a chance which you deserve.” I spoke softly.

“That's fine, a chance is all I want. And, I assure you that you won't regret it.” Confidence lurks in his words.

I nod slightly, hesitating to ask, “Did you by any chance come last night to my room?”

He swallows, perplexed, asking, “No, why would I come?”

I smiled softly, “You know when I was unconscious, I heard you come into the room, and with the pain in your voice, you confessed to me last night.” He clears his throat and to which I add, “But, now I think it was a dream.”

He chuckled awkwardly, “Yeah, I think, it was a dream.”

“Oh, so, in my dream, you left something in my room.” He widens his eyes, asking, “What?”

I took out his watch from the pocket of my pants and showed him.

“Isn't it yours?” I asked, wavering the watch in the air.

He thinned his eyebrows, “Did you hear everything, I said?” to which I replied, “I did.” He sighs nervously.

He moves his hand to take the watch and I wriggle the watch backwards to not let him touch it.

“You can take it back in the evening?” I replied to his perplexed face.

He nods gently, “Should I drop you off at the college?”

“No, Dev is coming to pick me.” His expression changed as if he was annoyed. “Anushka will also be there,” I added, and he shook his head, smiling.

To be continued.....