CHAPTER – 6
"Where are you going ?", she asked her husband when she returned from the closet after changing
"Study", he said without turning to her...
"In the chamber or...", she started but he walked away before she completed... "Or the main one?", she said to herself... Her eyes welled up at his ignorance but she knew she deserved it. His anger is justified but she wasn't wrong either... She was put in a spot, she couldn't wait for him to arrive in India, and neither could she tell him on the phone.
She tried to sleep but couldn't, she took her husband's shawl and covered herself. She made coffee for him as she knew he needed it, she was about to take it to him but realized he might not want to see her, so she sent it through a servant and went for a walk in the garden after that.
Ranveer saw his sister taking a walk in the garden and looking at her face, he understood her distress. He felt like killing Abhyansh for upsetting her.
"Hm... here...", Isha heard her brother... she turned and looked at him, two glasses of chocolate milkshake in his hands... "Take it or I'll have both", Ranveer warned, but Isha didn't react, she was looking at her brother lost in her thoughts, hundreds of questions running through her eyes... "One....two...thre...", he stretched the number 3 without completely saying it, a small smile made on Isha's face before she snatched both the tumblers from her brother's hands...
"Both are mine...", she screamed smiling widely...
"Ishu... Bacha, that's cheating...", Ranveer whined...
"Hahahaha, What will you do bhai...", Isha said sipping from both the tumblers...
"Ishu... Ishu monster... I'll not leave you...", Ranveer started chasing her, while she ran giggling around taking occasional sips from both the tumblers.
"Haha bhayyu... you can't catch me...", she said running and Ranveer chased her, purposely running a little slow to make her win, like he used to do in their childhood.
And like in their childhood, she couldn't run anymore, so she took a pause and took deep breaths...
"Okay... compromise, take this", Isha said forwarding one tumbler in her left hand... "Wait, not this, take this...", she said forwarding the right one realizing it had a lesser quantity.
"Ishu, you cheater... I don't want this... I want that", he said leaning towards the tumbler in her left hand...
"Take this or nothing", Isha said, Ranveer glared at her but snatched the milkshake in her right hand with an angry pout...
"Bhayyu... you are such a kid...", she said and he glared at her...
"You don't have the right to call me a kid, look at yourself", he said and she laughed...
"I don't mind... I got more", she said sipping her milkshake with a big grin, Ranveer's face filled with a wide smile looking at her smile...
"This is why I'm alive... To see you smile...", Ranveer said cupping her cheek and kissing her forehead...
Her eyes are filled with tears looking at the overwhelming love and affection for her in her brother's eyes...
"Bhai... can we sit here for some time ?", Isha asked hopefully...
"It's cold here bacha... we can go inside...", he suggested...
"Please bhayyu...", she pleaded and he nodded... Both of them settled on the grass sipping their milkshakes...
"Why is my little Ishu upset ?", he asked softly...
"Bhai... I'm such a disappointment na ? I can't do anything properly... Rana sa left trusting me with responsibilities and what did I do ? I messed up everything", she said, his tone doubtful of her actions.
"No Ishu... You didn't... you handled everything perfectly and Ranawat knows this fact and acknowledges it too... He is just mad and it's justified, but that doesn't mean you are wrong... Your situation made you take that step... Don't blame yourself", Ranveer said and Isha nodded but still there was some part of her that blamed her for disappointing her husband.
"This is why I don't like him, he always hurts you", Ranveer said
"Bhai... he didn't hurt me, just now you were defending him saying his reaction was justified and now you say...", she started but soon her brother cut her off.
"I said his anger was justified but that doesn't mean I'm okay with it Ishu... I hate your husband and that's a fact", Ranveer said seriously...
"Why bhai ?", she asked, 'Hate' is a very strong word, she knew her brother equally cared for and respected Abhyansh but he also hated him. Her brother's ambiguous feelings towards her husband always confused her.
"You know why", Ranveer said huffing, if he started telling his reasons, his sister would start defending Abhyansh and that would lead to an argument between them which he didn't want.
"I want to hear it from you bhai... trust me, I won't say a word in his defense even if I have a point, today, I'll just hear you", she said and he looked at her with surprise. That's a very strong move by his sister, knowing how hard it was for her to listen to something against her husband.
"Because he had hurt you... he hated you, he married you for revenge, he made you suffer for no fault of yours", Ranveer said
"And ?", Isha asked, she knew there was more to it.
"And he took you away from me Ishu... Trust me, I would have hated any man who would have married you, but I hate Ranawat more", Ranveer said and Isha chuckled
"Bhai... Why do you love me so much ?", Isha asked
"Because you deserve it bacha...", Ranveer answered... "And I know you love me more...", he said and she nodded...
"I do", she answered with a smile...
"You know when you are 9 months old... this small...", Ranveer said showing his hands, and Isha nodded with a smile at her brother who was so cute... "Your aunt and uncle (Nandini and her husband) came to see you... I was sitting beside you playing with you and suddenly your aunt said you are so cute and she would like to take you with her...", Ranveer said, his eyes still holding that fear of someone taking away his sister from him which he had then... "I got so angry and afraid at the same time... I took you in my arms and ran away... bhabhosa, bhabho, your aunt and uncle, my parents, dadi sa, everyone ran behind me afraid I would drop you down and I myself would fall down but I didn't stop, I took you to a nearby room and locked myself inside... I said I wouldn't come out until your aunt and uncle leave from there, and I actually didn't come out until they left", Ranveer said shocking Isha... He pulled his sister into his embrace fearing she would leave him... Isha hugged her brother tightly stopping her tears... "And this continued till you were 5, I never let your aunt and uncle meet you, I used to run inside a room with you and lock it whenever they visited us", he said
"Then ? how did you stop it ? How did you realize that they were just kidding ?", she asked him curiously
"They came for your 5th birthday, and I did the same, our palace was filled with guests who arrived for your birthday party, but I locked both of us in a room, adamant to not come out until they left, then bhabho came inside with a small cake followed by bhabhosa... They said, it's okay if I don't want to share my sister with any of them, then they made me hold your hand and make you cut the cake...", Ranveer said, Isha's eyes welled up...
"Your sister is yours Veer, We will keep her here with us always...", Amar said to Ranveer
"Acha ? then what would you do when she gets married ?", Pallavi asked
"ghar jamayi...(Son-in-law who stays at wife's place)/ No marriage", Amar & Ranveer said simultaneously...
"Butbhabhosa... Why to get Ishu married ? I don't like any boy near my sister", Ranveer told his uncleseriously
"I know Veer... but what can we do, that's the course of nature, and I want my daughter and son to experience that unconditional love which I did", Amar said caressing Ranveer's and Isha's cheeks...
"Hm... But What if the guy didn't agree to stay here ?", Ranveer asked
"Then we will go to his place and stay... whatever it is, We both can't stay away from Ishu, and your bhabho can't stay away without the three of us so she will follow us", Amar said and Ranveer smirked giving a hi-fi to Amar...
All the four laughed...
"Really ? Did baba actually say that ?", Isha asked and Ranveer nodded...
"He did...", Ranveer said kissing Isha's forehead, he felt very bad for his sister who didn't get to live a loving childhood with her parents despite having such loving parents... Losing your parents at such a tender age is the most difficult part of childhood, his situation was much better as he was old enough to handle the bitter truth, but what about her ? And above all that, the struggles she had to face because of his parents, Ranveer felt indescribable fury on his father.
"And then what happened ? Did you take me outside to my birthday party or not ?", Isha asked and Ranveer smiled
"Yes, Bhabhosa and bhabho made me believe that no one is going to take you away, I trusted them and then took you with me outside, but I didn't leave your hand even for a second, I was still scared", Ranveer said and Isha smiled leaning her head on her brother's shoulder and he ruffled her hair gently...
"Sometimes I feel I don't deserve your love bhai...", Isha said
"Idiot!, Don't think that way... Only you deserve bache... and you loved me more than this, you still do... let me remind you if you don't remember... You were just 3 when you saw me getting sick immediately after eating bottle gourd and from then, you used to cry hard whenever you saw it, until it was thrown away, one-time bhabho tried to resist you since your tantrums were getting worse, but you didn't stop crying even after hours and eventually fell sick, bhabhosa and I weren't home, when we returned back, bhabhosa got very upset seeing you like that and he banned bottle gourd in the house", Ranveer said and her brows raised in surprise...
She didn't get to see bottle gourd in her home until her parents passed away, even after that, whenever her aunt asked her to cook bottle gourd, she used to feel very uneasy and unexplainable dislike towards that vegetable and after she got married and she got the right to cook according to her will, she refrained from cooking it. But, now she understood the reason...
"I still don't like it bhai, and till now, I couldn't figure out the reason, thanks for telling me", Isha said and Ranveer chuckled
"Pagal(mad)", he said flicking her forehead...
"You are mad", Isha said flicking her brother...
"Well, you both are", Abhyansh said from behind startling the siblings...
"From how long are you standing there ?", Ranveer asked while Isha avoided looking at her husband... She was somewhat hurt at the same time was afraid to see the disappointment in his eyes, she felt she was thinking too much but she couldn't help her thoughts after his 'mess up' statement...
"Long enough to support my statement", he said, waiting for his wife to look at him, he knew he might have upset her, he was afraid that she might have cried because of his behavior. He was mad, extremely mad, he left from their room to avoid saying something that could hurt his wife but he eventually did.
"We are not mad", Ranveer said offended by his brother-in-law's accusation...
"Sure, delusion is a substitute for sleeping pill", Abhyansh said making Ranveer fume...
"Ranawat... Don't irritate me, I'm already mad that...", Ranveer started, he wanted to say he was mad at him for hurting his sister and Abhyansh got it.
"Yes, this is exactly what I'm saying, you are mad", Abhyansh said interrupting Ranveer.
Isha looked at her husband in disbelief, he is arguing with them, specifically her brother, like a proper argument, no order or bossing around in his cold tone... what's wrong with him ?
"Bhai... Rana sa... It's late, let's go inside", she spoke after a long time... she didn't want to show their differences... So, she tried to behave normal...
"Rajput... take an off tomorrow, we are going to Anshi's place", Abhyansh announced and turned to leave...
"What ? Why should I come to your brother's marriage talks ?", Ranveer asked, he knew his BEAST of a brother-in-law is taking him to make him a scapegoat, how, he didn't know but he sensed something wild with his behavior...
"Because you are family", Abhyansh said, Isha smiled at her husband and then turned to her brother...
"Ha bhai... Please come, Avyan will feel good, and I'll also have some support... please", Isha requested and Ranveer nodded...
"Thank you bhai...", Isha hugged her brother...
"Ishu... go inside bacha... I need to talk to Ranawat about something", Ranveer said, Isha nodded and walked inside... "Ranawat, now tell me, why do you want me to come", Ranveer asked
"Since you are the one who lead this drama in my absence, how can I put a pause to it in your absence ?", Abhyansh asked
"Lead ? I haven't lead anything, this conspiracy is acted and directed by your brother and wife... I have nothing to do with it, instead, I tried to keep them away from truth", Ranveer said
"I know, but you failed at it, and that is why, I need you to come with me tomorrow", Abhyansh said walking away.
"Monster... God, why did you give him as my brother-in-law, that too when I have never asked for one...", Ranveer complained looking at the sky...
"You have given enough evidence for your mental instability, I don't need more, so come inside", Abhyansh said walking away, without turning back...
"You are mad, not me", Ranveer said stomping in... How dare that BEAST call him unstable?
Ranveer walked to the guest chamber while Abhyansh went to his. He saw his wife in the kitchen... As soon as he passed from there, she walked out of the kitchen...
"Will you have something to drink ? You didn't have your dinner properly", she asked softly.
"No...", he said looking at her waiting for her to make an eye contact with him but she kept avoiding his eyes...
"I'll make some dry fruit shake for you ? Hm ?", she said hopefully turning to walk inside the kitchen taking his silence as approval.
He followed her to the kitchen and hugged her from behind placing his chin on her shoulder, startling her...
"Rana sa...", she said when he held her arms tightly making it impossible for her to move her hands.
"Why are you not looking at me properly ?", he asked placing a kiss on her cheek from behind.
"Rana sa... there's nothing like that... Please leave me, it's very late, let me prepare this, and then I'll have to sleep", she said trying to free herself.
"Look at me", he said turning her to face him... She avoided his gaze... "I said look at me Rani sa", he said and she raised her eyes to look at her stubborn husband who wouldn't leave her without it.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean when I said that... You did mess up regarding Avyan but I realized how wrong I was, I criticized you for the one mishap you did but never appreciated you for the hundred other things you handled so well, I knew how much effort you might have put into making everything run smoothly... I expressed my discontent but failed to tell you how proud I was of you for successfully handling your responsibilities as a queen that you are. I'm really sorry", he said looking at the sorrow her eyes held.
She shook her head tightening her hold on his palm...
"No Rana sa... You have to neither apologize nor appreciate me... everything I did is a part of my responsibilities, and regarding Avyan, I know you are disappointed in me, you think I should have informed you, but I did what I felt right at that moment... You remember, you said right or wrong depends on how you perceive things when I called you from Anshi's place, I feel the same now... You also said whatever the thing is, you are with me, now is the time to prove it", she said handing him his dry fruit shake and left from there to their room...
He sighed deeply and walked to their room after finishing his shake, he lay beside her pulling her into his arms.
"This is bliss, I missed you so much my bacha...", he said kissing her hair multiple times fluttering her heart...
"I missed you too Ansh...", she said snuggling into his chest.
"Am I forgiven ?", he asked gently ruffling her hair
"There is nothing to forgive Rana sa... Your anger is justified, in fact I was expecting much worse", she said but he knew his 'Mess' word did hurt his wife.
"Hurting you was the last thing I wanted... I am sorry", he said but she shushed him with her palm and soon replaced her palm with her lips, and that's it, the fire and se*ual tension Abhyansh was trying to ignore from the time he arrived took over his senses and he instead took over the kiss dominating her...
He kissed her passionately chewing and biting her lips, relishing her as if he was hungry for years... She tapped on his chest in dire need of oxygen and he left her mouth groaning heavily.
"Forgive me, please", he asked pecking her lips...
"I am sorry too... I know you are upset with my decision, but please forgive me Rana sa", she said
"Answer me first...", he said hovering over her...
"Haa baba, I forgave you long back...", she said cupping his face and he looked at her expectantly hearing her, for once he thought she forgave him for all those things he did to her in the starting of their marriage and she understood the impending question in his eyes... "For today", she added, and a wave of disappointment flashed in his eyes before it got replaced with a sign of understanding. "Now you answer me...", she asked though she knew his answer.
"Ask me again after we meet the girl and her family", he told her.
"You might have already received the information from Bhairav, tell me based on that ? How did you feel about her and her family ?", she asked him with anticipation.
"Yeah, it's clean but I can't judge her nature with the file Bhairav got, I need to meet her for it", he said and she sighed deeply.
"Okay... But I am sure you wouldn't break the word your wife and brother gave to her family", she said...
"I won't, and I can't, that would be disrespecting you in front of the world which I could never do, and this is why I am madder at you", he said and she kissed his cheek tightly.
"I love you Rana sa", she said half laying on him snuggling into him closely. His desires raised to another level with the proximity...
"I need you... ", he groaned and expected a 'No' in return, he thought she doesn't want to have s*x with him since there is an ongoing fight but her response made his heartbeat raise with anticipation of his desires getting fulfilled.
"Who is stopping you?", she asked and the very next second, he was hovering her pulling her into an intense kiss followed by an intense make out session.
The next morning, after breakfast, Abhyansh informed the whole family to be ready by 5 in the evening as they all would be going to Anshi's place. Before Pratap could take a sigh in relief thinking he was saved for the day, Abhyansh opened his mouth.
"Pratap Singh Ranawat will meet me in the back palace after we return", Abhyansh announced and left from there.
Isha looked at Pratap with a 'I pity you but you deserve it' kind of look and walked away to get ready to leave for her work as she has to return early to take care of the arrangements.
Abhyansh restricted from informing Anshi's family about their visit. Isha and Avyan badly wanted to but couldn't go against Abhyansh. So they gathered in cafeteria of 1st floor to discuss a wayout with Ranveer.
"Bhai... Suggest some way out please, we want to let Anshi's family know but we shouldn't go against Rana sa", Isha said
"Bacha... Your husband had made all types of attempts to murder me for helping you and this idiot brother-in-law of yours... If by chance he missed using any type, he would do it now...", Ranveer said, Isha and Avyan glared at him but he ignored them, and they also couldn't say a word as they knew he wasn't joking, that's what actually happened with him.
"Bhabhi ma... What should we do now ?", Avyan asked
"Avi...", Isha started but Ranveer interrupted
"Do one thing, take your brother's pistol and shoot me", Ranveer suddenly said Isha and Avyan looked at him strangely "You kill me or your actions, doesn't make a difference", Ranveer answered.
"Bhai... Be serious", Isha said glaring at her brother and walked to the counter to pay the bill.
"I was serious", Ranveer muttered to Avyan who chuckled seeing Ranveer's expressions, despite the serious situation.
Isha returned and after talking for some time they left to their respective work places.
That afternoon around 3ish, Isha returned from work with Avyan as Abhyansh said he would reach the palace in an hour and asked Avyan to take Isha to the palace as she had to look over the arrangements.
After an hour, Isha and Amruta were done with the arrangements, Isha asked the staff to keep all the goodies in the cars and then walked to their chamber to get ready. She asked Avyan to go and get ready as well.
The family was ready and were waiting for Abhyansh including Ranveer who was sulking at a corner about being forcefully dragged there. He sensed the promise to make him suffer in his brother-in-law's eyes for letting all this happen behind his back and also for trying to hide it from him by hiding their locations.
Abhyansh arrived there and everyone stood up so that they could leave for Anshi's place...
"You are not coming", Abhyansh announced looking at Avyan...
At first, Avyan didn't understand who he is referring to, but when he saw his sister-in-law's wide eyes and constant stares at him, he understood it.
"Bh... Bhai sa...", Avyan started gulping his fear, for the first time he was about to ask his brother to reconsider his decision, so his heartbeat doubled with fear obviously.
All the family members too stood in surprise looking at Avyan...
"Let's go", Abhyansh said and turned without waiting for Avyan to finish...
"Bhai sa... Please allow me to come with you", Avyan finished with great difficulty yet determination. He was afraid of his brother's intentions, he was capable of doing everything to make this marriage not happen without making their promises break and he didn't want to take that risk.
"Come again", Abhyansh said, his tone turned cold and that caused literal shivers to everyone there... Isha quickly intervened before the things worsened...
"Avyan... We are going, you are staying at home, just as Rana sa wants", Isha declared with authority but assuring Avyan with her eyes that she would do anything for this marriage to happen.
"Ji bhabhi ma(yes bhabhi ma), bhai sa...", Avyan said and bowed his head a little to the king and queen before leaving to his chamber.
After calming himself down and thinking with a serene mind, he understood Rajmata's words on Isha birthday.
'She needs to quickly learn to protect you because you don't cease to stop doing stupidities'
His sister in law did just that, protected him from the blunder he just did. Now, He hoped there won't be any disturbances in the marriage plan. He really liked Anshi and wanted to marry her.
Abhyansh and Isha sat in Abhyansh's car.
"Well played Rani sa... You just saved your brother-in-law from his brother's fury, hope you keep succeeding like this in the future", Abhyansh said
"Rana sa... What are you planning ?", Isha asked him seriously
He didn't say anything but didn't deny her as well, that meant he was actually planning something, she tried to decode him but was highly unsuccessful at it.
Before the car moved, Ranveer knocked on the window...
"What ?", Abhyansh asked sliding the window...
"I just realised, its your responsibility to take me there in your car since you are the one who insisted I join you people in meeting your brother's potential bride's family", Ranveer said stressing on particular words irking Abhyansh.
"Get in", Abhyansh said, Ranveer smirked but soon it's wiped out seeing the smug look on Abhyansh's face.
Ranveer silently got in and Bhairav asked the driver to start the car. Soon they reached Anshi's place, Bhairav got out, asked his right hand man to inform Anshi's parents about the Royal Family's arrival. He returned after informing and Bhairav opened the door for the king and the queen.
Ranveer, Isha, and Abhyansh walked in screaming royalty. They were followed by Rajmata, Amruta and Pratap. Abhyansh stopped at the doorstep and looked behind him, on spotting Rajmata, he signed her to come beside him. She nodded and walked to his right, Abhyansh leaned and spoke something in her ear which only she could hear.
"What do you think ?", Abhyansh asked Rajmata Devyani Devi's opinion after detailing her something, he asked her opinion which surprised her as well as everyone.
"How can you say something wrong Abhyansh ?", she said with her unwavering confidence on his decision, addressing him by his name after almost 20 years.
He nodded and walked in... Anshi's family rushed to them to welcome them and made all of them seated. Anshi's parents apologized for any probable inconvenience that was caused there. Isha politely smiled at them shaking her head to ease their worries but nothing seemed to work. Abhyansh's presence is itself causing them fear.
Abhyansh looked at Isha and she nodded her head in affirmation understanding what her husband wanted, before turning to them.
"As I already told you, We are here to ask for Anshi for our Avyan", Isha said and looked at her husband waiting for him to add something but he stayed silent observing everything with his eagle eyes. Isha is tensed about his reaction. Anshi's parents expressed how delighted they were to have them in their house and all that but still neither Abhyansh said anything nor Rajmata. Ranveer was carefully gauging Abhyansh's expressions. Anshi's parents started getting worried seeing the silence.
"Rana sa...", Isha nudged her husband, seeing the worried glances of Anshi's father and almost tears of Anshi's mother.
"I would want to talk to your daughter alone", Abhyansh said and stood up...
"Yes Maharaj...", Anshi's father Mahesh nodded leading him to a confined place while Anshi's mother Subhadra went inside to inform Anshi and take her there.
Isha looked worriedly at Ranveer who calmed his sister but he himself was concerned. Even Anshi's parents are fretting about all this but they didn't have enough courage to question the king so they did what he asked them to.
Anshi walked in, she was literally shivering even in the presence of the beast.
"Sit...", Abhyansh said before she could announce her presence... She couldn't sit in front of the king, she wanted to say that to him but she couldn't form any words.
"Sit", he repeated again, and this time she had to speak... Otherwise, it was a clear disrespect to the king which she couldn't dare to do.
"I am fine Maharaj... Thank you", she said without fumbling and that did surprise Abhyansh.
Abhyansh waited for some time watching her reaction, as he thought of calling Isha or Rajmata inside if he felt she was uncomfortable in being alone with him, but she seemed fine so he directly came to the point. All he wanted was clarity that she wasn't in love with some other person while getting married to his brother. One woman with a broken heart destroyed his family and herself enough, he didn't want another woman to do the same to his brother and his family.
Abhyansh came to the point directly, he asked about her relationship with her ex-fiance. His question perplexed her but it didn't take her a second to start answering his question, and that's a testament that she wasn't emotionally attached to that person because if she was, she would have prepared herself mentally before answering him. She told him how it was arranged and she agreed to it. She had hardly spoken to him twice or thrice.
With a little discussion, Abhyansh got the clarity he required. He had one last question in his head which he asked her.
"Why did you agree to marry Prince Avyan Singh Ranawat ?", Abhyansh asked
"For Respect Maharaj...", Anshi answered without any hesitation... "My parents had faced a lot of disrespect in the past few months, I want to regain it", she added, her honest answer impressed Abhyansh.
She didn't worry that Abhyansh would think her reason to be selfish, she wanted to be truthful and she would do that no matter what. Abhyansh nodded at her and walked out.
Rajmata and Isha looked at Abhyansh with anticipation, his facial expressions gave them his answer, Isha sighed in relief.
"We'll do the Roka in the coming month", Abhyansh announced, Mahesh and Subhadra smiled widely with happiness. "And the marriage will happen 2 years later", he declared, their smiles dimmed, 2 years were too long to wait...
Isha looked at her husband with wide eyes, so this was his plan, he wanted to delay the wedding. As on cue, Rajmata opened her mouth to defend why they wanted it 2 years later, and after her logical explanation and the strength in her tone didn't let anyone question her. So, this was what the grandmother-grandson planned, Isha thought to herself. Ranveer glared at Abhyansh for using him...
After finalizing things, all of them left from there. Avyan paced to & fro waiting for his family's return. They walked in and Avyan rushed to his mother and Isha to know about it. Abhyansh cleared his throat, glaring at his brother for his excitement. Looking at the sad faces of Amruta and Isha, he imagined the worse, he contained his curiosity feeling his brother's sharp gaze.
"Sorry bhai sa...", Avyan muttered...
"Avyan... your marriage is finalized with Anshi... We'll do 'Roka' in the coming month and...", Isha trailed, Avyan got so happy, if his brother wasn't present there, he would have jumped in happiness. Abhyansh understood this and walked away from there...
"Thank you bhabhi ma, and ma...", Avyan said hugging Isha and Amruta...
"Avyan... I'm so sorry, Your marriage will be done after 2 years", Isha said
"What ? Why ?", Avyan asked, if everything was finalized then why to wait for 2 years ? "What's the reason bhabhi ma ?", Avyan asked
"I'm the reason", Ranveer said glaring at his brother-in-law's back who already reached the top of the stairs, walking towards his study...
"Huh ?", Avyan gave a confused look... Rajmata shook her head and left from there followed by Pratap.
"Your brother is so good at hitting 2 birds with a stone", Ranveer said clenching his teeth...
"In this case, it's 3 birds Bhai... You, me and Avyan", Isha said and Ranveer nodded...
"Your brother made me the reason for the delay in your marriage so that I feel guilty of it, that's my punishment for trying to save you both, hiding your location, while the delay in the marriage is yours and your bhabhi ma's punishment for taking this decision", Ranveer said
Isha explained how Rajmata cleverly told him that Ranveer was older to Avyan and also was next-in-line for marriage in the family, and even career-wise, there was a lot of improvement for Avyan and only when he achieves it, he would get married, and that takes a minimum of 2 years. Age was also a major factor, and according to the royal family, Avyan was too young to marry, so they needed to wait.
"I get it, bhai sa might have made you the reason for this as your punishment but he delayed the wedding solely for me", Avyan said, though he was very disappointed with the decision, he trusted his brother, he would never do something that's bad for him...
"I agree with Avyan...", Isha said
"Of course, an idiot can agree only with another idiot", Ranveer said and walked away...
"Bhabhi ma... They must be very frightened hearing 2 years...", Avyan expressed his concerns for Anshi and her family.
"Don't worry, I spoke to her parents and assured them... but I didn't assure Anshi, maybe you would want to do it yourself...", Isha said opening her phone... "I forwarded you something, check it", she said and Avyan opened his phone and smiled widely...
"Bhabhi ma... you are the best...", Avyan said gleefully, Isha smiled and walked away... While Avyan saved Anshi's contact.
At night, after dinner, Isha spoke to Amruta and assured her about Anshi and her family.
"Okay ma... Go to your chamber now, I think he(Pratap) will need your assistance today", Isha said and Amruta nodded with a worried sigh... As soon as they came from Anshi's place, Abhyansh asked Bhairav to bring Pratap to the back palace and Abhyansh spent some good amount of time teaching a lesson to his father making him do all kinds of strenuous activities tiring him to the core making him regret his every attempt plotting against his wife, brother and ill-treating his mother all these years.
"Isha, why don't you talk to Abhyansh about it beta ? Your father-in-law cannot bear all that in this age", Amruta said with a worry-etched face
"Ma... If he couldn't bear it, Rana sa wouldn't have punished him in that way in the first place... and honestly this won't stop until he changes his ways ma... I'm sorry but I'm not capable of stopping Rana sa this time", Isha said, it's true she wasn't capable of stopping her husband when he decides something firmly...
Amruta nodded and left to her chamber while Isha left to hers. Isha got changed, then made some coffee for Abhyansh as he was immersed in his work and she knew he needed her coffee at this time badly. She kept his coffee on his side of the bed and settled on the bed on the other side turning her back to him, she failed to fall asleep, so she laid her head in his lap and closed her eyes.
"Are you mad at me ?", he asked her, she didn't say a word from the time they came back from Anshi's place... She opened her eyes and looked at him...
"Should I be honest ?", she asked, he nodded... "Yes... but I understand you... Avyan understands you too...", she said and he nodded...
"After Roka, Anshi will go to the States for her masters", he said, Isha sat straight hearing him...
"Masters ?? Is that her dream ?", Isha asked and Abhyansh nodded...
"It was, that bas**rd's family didn't want her to study anymore, so she dropped out... I got her enrolled in that course now... I'll ask Bhairav to give all the details to Avyan, let Avyan know, he will explain everything to Anshi and her family", Abhyansh said, Isha smiled widely at her thoughtful husband...
Abhyansh knew how much Avyan liked Anshi, or maybe loved her, and with his little talk with Anshi, he understood she needed some space and something concrete to trust Avyan, what better could it be than letting her fulfill her dreams and giving her wings to fly, freedom to choose what she wants.
"Is that why you postponed marriage for 2 years ?", Isha asked
"Well, that was just one reason, I have many... Avyan isn't ready now, he needs some time", Abhyansh said and Isha nodded...
"Hm... We have finalized one wedding, one more is left", Isha said leaning her head on Abhyansh's shoulder...
"Ask your brother to bring Ragini home next week", Abhyansh said working in his laptop.
"Really ?", Isha asked excitedly, Abhyansh nodded with a smile kissing her forehead... "Thank you Ansh...", Isha said settling in his lap hiding her head in his chest and he covered both of them with the duvet...
"Hm... now sleep, its very late and these days, you are neglecting your sleep which I'm not at all liking Isha", he said with a grim expression...
"I'm not neglecting my health or sleep for that matter, you are worrying unnecessarily...", she said
"Isha...", he called her sternly...
"Okay baba... I'll take care of it... You should also sleep... the light is irritating me", she said pointing towards his mac... He instantly shut it down, helping her lay down... "Good, now sleep", she said
"Hm...", he hummed dialing John...
"John, Finish the rest, changes at locations 134 & 289", he said and after receiving an affirmation, he hung up settling beside his wife...
"You want him to work at this time ? It's late for John as well Rana sa", she said
"You should worry about your sleep first", he said shutting her up...
"I told you, I'll take care from now on, why do you keep doing this", she asked him with a frown
"We'll see, now sleep", he said
"One last question...", Isha started
"Isha... It's late bacha, sleep...", he told her
"It's you who asked me to ask you after meeting Anshi and her family", she started, she wanted to ask if he forgave her or not but he understood before she completed her sentence.
"I forgave you... and I love you, I know why you did it and I understand you as well... So, stop feeling guilty about it, I'm positive Avyan will be happy in this relationship provided both of them won't mess up", he said and she nodded pecking his lips...
"Of course, they won't mess up, both are mature adults, they will handle things", she defended them...
"Yeah my brother wasn't enough to take your attention off me that his fiance too joined the club, great", he whined and there started another argument before she fell asleep in his arms...
A couple of days later, Abhyansh left for his den in the afternoon from his office.
"Bhairav ?", Abhyansh asked walking inside the den...
"Hukum, Doctor finished all the tests for Kailash Rajput, according to him, he is completely fit now", Bhairav informed Abhyansh...
"What about Sheela Rajput's condition ?", Abhyansh asked
Abhyansh had Sheela and Kailash Rajput with him for a long time and though he hadn't started torturing them yet for all that they had done to his wife, the fear and anticipation has clearly caused mental distress to Sheela leading her to suffer a minor brain stroke, so Abhyansh wanted to make sure that she wouldn't suffer a brain stroke and die... No, she can't die so easily, so basis her condition he wanted to torture her, give her pain, unbearable pain but the kind which wouldn't cause her the brain stroke...
"Doctor is ready with her reports as well, they seem fine, we are good to go Hukum", Bhaiarv said, and Abhyansh nodded.
"Prepare for the big day Bhairav, we would commence this from the day after tomorrow", Abhyansh said entering the den where Sheela and Kailash were held captive...
"Ji Hukum(Yes Your royal highness)", Bhairav said
"You know why I have chosen that date ?", Abhyansh asked looking at Kailash and Sheela...
"Please let us go Maharaj...", Sheela begged but it fell to deaf ears like always...
"It would mark a new beginning in your son's life, and what could be a better day to start your punishment for all the physical and mental torture you put through my wife and the emotional distress your son suffered because of your actions", Abhyansh said
"Don't do this Maharaj... let us go...", Kailash said, Abhaynsh stormed towards him holding his face tightly...
"Every time I look at you, all I wanted to do is give you so much pain that no human has given anyone till now, I despise you that much Kailash... Only I know how have I controlled my urge till now but from day after tomorrow, I'll make sure your life on earth be worse than hell", Abhyansh said and stormed out leaving a shivering Kailash and sobbing Sheela behind.
Ragini is freaking out on knowing about Ranveer's plan of taking her to Ranawat palace.
"How can he do this ? No no... I can't come to your place... I am scared", Ragini muttered anxiously, Isha and Reetu looked at her getting surprised. She wasn't the one to get anxious about things normally.
"Ragini... It's just us... And Rana sa will definitely approve... It's just a formality, calm down", Isha said trying to calm her but Ragini was nowhere to calm down.
"Why can't your brother take the approval alone ?", Ragini said and Isha sighed before dialing her brother, only he can calm her down....