Author's note: Check out ogcuphid 's new Abhay book-I think he knows! I'm definite it's going to slay like all her books do! And a dedication for IctXkkr for finally publishing the prologue of her Abhay book yay! Alsooo, how does an enemies to lovers and cricketer x cricketer sound, ive something like that in mind for ANOTHER book on Abhay😭😭

Tanvi scoffed as she watched her distant cousin cling to Abhishek, as she blabbered about how good a cricketer he was and how big a fan of his was she.

What a liar!

She did not even watch cricket!

She shot her cousin a piercing glare, as the ugly feeling of jealousy settled within.

Her gaze flickered towards him, wondering if he was enjoying her company, but the forced smile on his lips and his constant attempts to pull away from her hold told otherwise.

" Didn't Tanvi tell you how big a fan of yours am I? Wait, I s'ppose she didn't even tell you who I am in the first place!" She said in her sickening-ly sweet voice, with a pout on her face that made both Tanvi and Abhay gag.

" She did." Abhay nodded and Tanvi narrowed her eyes at him.
" But I don't deem it important remembering people who ain't important for me." He shrugged and Aisha's jaw dropped as Abhay gently shrugged off her hold.

She blinked back at him, feeling humiliation penetrate through her.

Stomping her foot in anger, she looked at Tanvi's grandparents who managed to bite back their laughs.

Aisha's parents, however, were not happy.

And Tanvi almost cowered under their cold glares shot at her, the flashbacks of the past meddling with her mental peace, her breathing pace fastened as she clutched the railing.

Her guards immediately stepped forward from both sides, shielding her.

Amit swallowed the lump in his throat, his heart shattering at what was about to come.

He failed to understand what got his precious granddaughter's fierce composure to turn into a vulnerable child in his nephew's presence.

For many years, being childless, Ranvijay and Gita insisted on raising her, and Amit and Ragini, reluctantly agreed, thinking the two genuinely had a good intention.

But as they moved into the Kashyap mansion, behind the closed doors, and behind her grandparents' back, they were oblivious to the mental torture that the couple put Tanvi through.

They'd resorted to hitting too, but as Amit began noticing the wounds, and Tanvi's quieter self, they'd been put to a distance once guards for her had been appointed.

Tanvi would cry each time she'd be left alone with them, causing Ragini to worry.

And she finally sent, or in other words, kicked them out.

She couldn't let them stay, not when Tanvi was not okay with them around.

Tanvi let out a shaky sigh, trying her best to not let them see through, and look at her being weak, again.

She locked eyes with her uncle, her gaze colder than always, and her chin tipped high, as if challenging him, try what you want, and see what I do.

The fierce eye battle was interrupted when Abhay walked over to her, and forced her to face him, his hands on her shoulders.

Her tensed shoulders relaxed under his gentle touch, her eyes almost softening.

But she didn't let her vulnerable side out before him, not when they were watching.

" Calm down." He whispered softly, making sure no one apart from her heard him.

" I'm calm." She muttered back before turning towards her grandparents.

" Dadu, Dadi, I've to be at the studio. There's a song recording in fifteen minutes and I need to rush there. Don't wait for me for lunch or dinner, I'll be at the studio, I'll be home late. Bye!" Pressing a chaste kiss to her grandmother's cheek and waving at her grandfather, she walked out of the house, not sparing any glance to her uncle-aunt and cousin.

Abhay trotted after her like a lone puppy to the car, slightly pouting when she did not look at him.

" Hey grumpy bear!" He tugged at her t-shirt and she turned around, shooting him a glare at which he nearly stepped away.

" What do you want?"

" I'll drive you to your studio."

" There's absolutely no need to do that. Go do what you want."

" I want to drive you to the studio. C'mon, I've come to Mumbai after so long, don't I deserve your attention and time?"

Attention and time?

He gave most of it to Aisha when they were at home and now he wanted attention and time?

Bada aaya attention aur time maangne vala!

" Go spend time with Shubman Bhai or something."

Abhay clicked his tongue in denial.

" When Shubi is in Mumbai or London, his time is exclusively scheduled only for Sara Bhabhi and shoots. There's no way he's even sparing me a glance. Besides, it's you who I came for, not to give him company."

" Go meet Yashasvi then."

" Uska 'important' wakt agar Eshanya ke saath kisine interrupt kiya toh aise ghurta hai jaise vahi aankhon se jala daale. The last time, after the paparazzi chaos, Riyan took food for them, if looks could kill, Yashasvi would've buried him a thousand feet underneath. I'm not going to go and interrupt or third-wheel a couple, fake or not."

Tanvi's lips parted to speak, but Abhay's phone rang and she pursed them.

Shubi's Achilles Heel calling...

A soft smile spread over his lips, and he immediately received the call.

" Hi Bhabhi! How are you?"

" Hi! I'm great! How are you? I'm not interrupting your time with Tanvi right? If I did I'm so sorry, I was hoping we all meet over for dinner? I mean you boys get to have your time together, and I'd love to meet Tanvi and Eshanya again, it's been so long since I met them last!"

" Uh...Bhabhi.."

" It's okay if you don't wish to join and want to spend time with her alone, I get it!" She giggled over the other line, making him smile and Tanvi's anger momentarily faded away seeing him smile.

" I'll ask her and get back to you." He told her softly.

" Alright! Take care! Tell Tanvi I said Hi! Buh-bye!" Her chirpy voice echoed over the other line

" Bye!" He said and she hung up, and he slipped his phone in his pocket again.

" What happened?" Tanvi peered curiously.

" It was Sara Bhabhi, she was...um...shewasaskingifwecouldaccompanythemtodinnertonight." He let it out in a go without a pause and her brows furrowed.

" What? Abhay, take a breath."

Inhaling a deep breath, he looked at her again.

" Bhabhi was asking if we could accompany them to dinner, she plans on inviting Eshanya and Yash too, said it's been long since she met you and wants to meet you."

She broke into a wide grin, and he almost let out a breath of relief.

" Meet her over dinner? That's an awesome idea! Of-course we can go!"

" It seems like you're way too eager to see her and her alone." He grumbled, offended over the fact that she wasn't excited about accompanying him.

" I mean aren't you?"

" 'Course I am! It's Sara Bhabhi we're talking about, who ain't eager to meet her? That isn't the point anyway." He shook his head with a sigh.

" Then what is?"

" Nothing. I'll drive you to your studio."

" I'll go by myself." She mumbled, recalling she was supposed to be mad.

" Arey yaar mai sacchi Amritsar chala jaaunga, mai tumhare liye aaya hoon, it doesn't matter to me who else is around, who else is giving me their attention, I'm here for you but you've been ignoring me since I came, then that witch—Alisha—"

" Aisha." Tanvi corrected, beginning to grow amused of his adorable rambling

" Haan haan jo bhi uss chudail ka naam hai, she clung onto me like she was a piece of clothing stitched on me, unwilling to let go! I tried pushing her away but the bitch simply wouldn't budge—"

She let out a small gasp as he cursed, something that he didn't do that often around her.

" What?" He frowned cutely at her and she shook her head.

" Go on."

" I don't want to go on! I want to go back! I'm going back! Bye!" He turned away to leave and she held back a giggle.

" Arey where are you going?"

" Amritsar." He mumbled.

" Abhi?"

" Haan abhi! I'm going to go get my luggage!"

" Arey suno toh!"

" Nahi sunna! Go to your studio, and go to that dinner without me."

" Hey Sunshine!"

" Don't call me that!"

Running to him, she pulled him back as she tugged his t-shirt, demanding his attention, but he refused to look her way, turning the tables.

" Sunshineee!"

" I'm not a sunshine!" He muttered groggily.

" Oh you are. You're the most adorable sunshine I've ever seen!"

" Don't call me that. And don't talk to me."

" Alright, let me talk to my best-friend then."

" Why were you mad?" He asked her, his face blank and she sighed.

" I didn't like how Aisha clung to you. I hated it. It irked me. My behaviour was...unreasonable I get it."

" Were you perhaps..jealous?" He arched a brow and she could see a teasing glint swirl in his eyes as she swatted his arm.

" Shut up! Was not!"

" Oh you so were." He nodded his head with his signature lopsided smirk that had her breath hitch and her heart race.

" Was not!" She stubbornly retorted, nonetheless, a smile on her lips too, and he burst into laughter, one of the prettiest musical sounds she'd ever heard, something she'd always want to listen to on repeat.

Oh, this man was simply ethereal, and she was never going to stop saying that, just, not aloud.