45. It won't take long
I went into the temple and offered my prayers. I took Kumkum from Pandit Ji and applied it to my hairline. I spoke to him for some time and left after asking him to give Prashad to Daram and the remaining guards. I came out of the temple and got into the car waiting for me. The driver took my mobile and drove to the destination.
I got down from the car when we reached the godown and he tied my hands and literally dragged me in. I walked in and saw the man whom I never wanted to see in my life standing there with his hands in his pockets.
"Raman?" I called out and he turned around smiling like a creep. I could feel my heartbeat race seeing the demon of my life. But I have to be strong for my family, Abhigya, Abhinav, and most importantly for myself.
"I am glad you still remember me, doll!" He said and tried to touch my cheeks but I squinted away from his reach, his endearment adding fuel to my burning anger. I loathe him with my everything.
"Fiesty, I see!" He commented smiling in amusement.
"Why did you call me here?" I came straight to the point. I managed not to stutter and show my weakness in front of him.
"Well, I thought your good-for-nothing husband would leave you once my man accuses you of being behind his sisters' molestation and kidnapping but he didn't believe it and started getting closer to you. How can I let someone come close to you when you belong to me?" He asked in his sick tone making me cringe. But, wait, someone accused me and Nav didn't even inform me about it?
"Watch your mouth while talking about my husband and I belong only to him, no one else!" I roared and he looked quite pissed. Good, I don't care!
"You belong to me. ME!" He barked like a dog. What the hell is wrong with this man? What does he even eat that he's barking so much? There was a time when I used to get scared of his barking but now when I have to save my family from another scandal, all I feel is anger.
"That we will see. But why did you involve my sister-in-law in this?" I asked knowing very well that this man who was obsessed with me would answer every question of mine.
"I didn't involve her. It was that bitch Manjiri. It was her plan. I just paid the man in the custody to lie about your involvement." He said. At least we both agree on something that too Manjiri being a bitch.
"And those pics and videos?" I again enquired. Let us do some time pass before sending him to jail. But will he reach jail or will be killed in the middle? That I don't know.
"Oh, Manjiri sent me those and asked me to blackmail you to come out of the palace and even I want to take you away. So, I gladly took them." He replied. That snake! I will kill her one day.
"What if I say you can't move me an inch from here?" I asked in a challenging tone. He looked amused and smiled mockingly.
"You trust your husband too much doll! He is not here! Manjiri sent him away on purpose!" He said laughing like a maniac.
"But he still managed to save me from her men. And right now, I am not talking about my husband." I said and he frowned at my statement. Why does he think only sending Nav away would make me weak?
"1...2...3..." I counted and there he entered dressed in black-shirt and grey blazer and looking handsome as ever. He waved at me and I smiled at him.
"Sorry, Princess! A little traffic on the way." He said taking off his shades and engulfing me in a hug.
"That's okay, Dad!" I replied hugging him back. Obviously, my first hero, my dad is here. He has been protecting me since birth and this idiot forgot about my dad before trying to attack me, like seriously dude?
"This punk is back again?" He asked throwing a disgusting look at Raman making me laugh.
"I don't want him back again, ever!" I said looking at him with pure disgust. I regained my strength in real looking at my dad. Now, I don't need to fear anymore. All those therapy sessions Bhai and Nav forced me to take really helped till now.
"Did you guys seriously think about having fun without me?" I heard the whining voice of my brother. Ahh, I can understand about forgetting Dad but he forgot about my brother too. He literally beat the shit out of you at the age of 17 dude!
"It is not our fault that you are late son!" Dad scoffed. These men! They had to bicker in these situations.
"Unlike you, I had to get hold of those pics and videos too, Dad!" Bhai reasoned.
"They are all gone and no one can recover them now." He informed us and we heaved a sigh of relief.
"Then princess, you rest here while we handle those punks, what say?" Dad asked and I nodded at them.
"Don't worry Ishu. It won't take long." Bhai assured me.
"Oye, what family drama is going on here? And what do you guys think of me?" Raman yelled frustrated.
"He is too loud, Ishaan!" Dad exclaimed.
"And an idiot to think about harming our Ishu!" Bhai added raging with anger.
"Arey duffer. You sent her husband away but how did you miss her father and brother? Did you really think that you would blackmail my daughter using my other daughter and I would sit quietly?" Dad scoffed throwing daggers at Raman with his eyes.
"And you dared to scare my sister for a good few minutes. No one gets away after scaring my sister." Bhai roared. His Hulk mode is on. And I know I am going to get an earful from both of them once we are out of here. All this sweetness is not to make my situation worse as they know how much Raman affects me.
"Stop your monologues. I will kill her in front of your eyes and kill myself too!" That idiot uttered like a psycho he was.
"Kill her? I dare you to touch her!" Dad roared. His previous playfulness is all gone.
"Touch her? I dare you to raise your voice at her under my watch!" Bhai roared standing between me and him blocking his view.
"Take her name looking at me and I will let you take her with you!" Bhai challenged in his dangerous tone that made me flinch a little.
"Oye duffer! Don't scare my daughter." Dad said holding me in a protective embrace.
"I am waiting!" Bhai spoke again, his eyes red and fists clenched. I can see Raman shaking in fear with sweat beads forming on his face. Did I forget to mention that he has been scared of my brother from the time he made him reach the hospital that time when he tried to stalk me?
His men started to attack Bhai but my guards reached on time to handle them. Bhai was beating Raman black and blue and I am sure he would die if it continues. I hid my face with my palms unable to see that bloodshed.
"Dad, stop him!" I asked looking at my dad who seemed to enjoy the fight. I was looking at his face with a frown when he pulled me to my right and punched a man who tried to attack me. He looked at me to make sure I was safe and once he was sure I was safe he asked Daram to take me away. I was about to protest but his one look was enough for me to follow Daram silently.
"Am I in trouble?" I muttered to myself glancing at my father and brother who looked like hungry lions.
"In a deep one, I must say," Daram replied opening the door for me to sit, his gaze was filled with worry and accusation that I left without informing him. I sat in quietly. Of course, I am in trouble. I am going to get a good lecture from these three men whom I love the most i.e., my dear father, brother, and husband. They didn't scold me till now because my safety was their priority but once it settles I am going to get some good punishment.
I reached home and Dadi did my aarthi saying it would keep the evil eye away and took me in. Abir and Abhishek ran to me and engulfed me in a tight hug. Abhigya doesn't know anything about this as we don't want her to feel guilty.
"Why didn't you inform me or anyone bhabi maa? Aap ko kuch ho jaatha tho?" Abir asked with tears in his eyes which he blinked back. I looked at Abhishek who was silent but he was not in any better state than Abir.
(What if something happened to you?)
I opened my hands for them and they again hugged me like their life depended on it. I felt them crying on my shoulder and it made me sob along with them. I am really grateful to god for giving me this family.
"We have lost our mother once. We don't want that to happen again!" Abir said making me more emotional. I patted his back and kissed his forehead breaking the hug and shook my head no asking him not to cry.
"I don't want to lose my one sister in saving another sister bhabi maa!" Abhishek spoke with a pout making me chuckle. He is a more mature one but seeing him pout made me chuckle. I opened my other hand for him and he again joined the hug wiping his tears.
I sat there chatting with them assuring them I was fine when the three men entered. Nav dropped his blazer and ran to me. He hugged me so tight as if his life depended on it and I hugged him back with the same force. Those few minutes made me realize how important my family is to me and I can't even imagine my life without them.
"Are you alright?" He asked checking for injuries and I nodded with teary eyes. He wiped away my tears and kissed my forehead.
"Nav..." I was about to say something but he walked away not looking back at me.
Bhai and Dad too did the same. Hugged me, checked for injuries, and left after kissing my forehead and making sure I was fine. Now I have to pacify three of them at once?
"You seem to be in trouble bhabi maa!" Abir whispered in my ear and I nodded at him in a daze. Now, how am I going to pacify all of them? I know it was my fault and I have to do something to get them back into talking terms with me. At least, I didn't have to pacify my brothers-in-law or else it would have become more hectic given how stubborn these men in my family are!