CHAPTER – 5.3
"Rana sa might have warned her not to talk about it", Isha said, as that's the only possible explanation she could come up with it.
'Only if you know' Ranveer thought to himself. He cursed himself for letting his sister marry the BEAST. He could have stopped the wedding. He blamed himself for all his sister's miseries since the time she was married and also for the upcoming pain she is gonna get after she gets to know the truth... He doesn't know the truth completely but he now knew it has the power to destroy the carefully built safe haven of his sister and he would never let that happen, he vowed himself. If Abhyansh Singh Ranawat is her peace then he would do anything to keep him in her life, he determined. Gone was the Ranveer Rajput who hated his sister's husband for all the pain he gave her. Now he is someone who would do anything to save his sister's marriage and peace at ANY cost.
"Bhai... what are you thinking ?", she asked looking at him deep in thought...
"Nothing bacha... Don't think much... Just be happy, bhayyu can do anything for your happiness... just know this... I'm so sorry, hurting you was never my intention, but I don't know why I end up doing it...", Ranveer suddenly said
"Bhai ?", she raised her brows in confusion at his sudden words... He hugged her tightly and she felt her brother's tear on her shoulder... "Bhayyu... Please... Bhai... I forgave you... I'm happy for you and Ragini... Don't worry so much... I am not mad at you anymore... Okay ?", she said, she couldn't see her brother in so much distress... She loves him more than anything... well that anything didn't include her husband though. She mentally rolled her eyes at her husband's jealousy.
"Haa... Finally! My drama worked", he said wiping his tear and breaking the hug, while she slapped his arm... she knew it wasn't a drama and he knew she knew but both of them found peace in that silence rather than confronting it.
"Now, introduce Ragini to me and Rana sa officially... In fact, bring her here after Rana sa is back", Isha said and Ranveer raised his brows...
"You do realize that you are younger to me right ?", Ranveer teased his sister...
"Doesn't matter, I'm your sister and I'm married, and adding to it, my husband is older than you, so everything will go as per our will... understood ?", Isha ordered her brother cutely and Ranveer pulled her cheeks...
"Understood my princess Isha Amar Rajput... Will do as per your command", Ranveer said making her smile at the name, her brother loved calling her that, and it's been a while he addressed her with that. She thought her brother casually called her but only Ranveer knew how much he wished her to stay like that, so that whatever the truth was, she wouldn't have suffered so much but now, whether it was her husband who misunderstood her father, or her father actually committed that sin which Abhaynsh accused him of, she would be the one to get hurt.
"Okay it's very late, go and sleep", Isha said pushing her brother and he obliged, wished her 'good night', kissed her forehead, and left from there...
She drifted into sleep thinking about her brother's weird behavior and her husband's probable reaction to Avyan's marriage news.
In the next couple of days, Abhyansh wrapped his immediate things and flew back to his palace, to his solace, his Rani sa. He didn't inform his wife as he wanted to surprise her. He felt the childlike excitement inside him, even imagining meeting his wife after these days made him feel the happiness from within. He knew there was something his wife was hiding, but he decided to hear her version before reacting. He can't afford to stay away from her after this separation. So, he decided not to get mad with his wife to avoid any differences between them. But, will his preparation to stay calm work after hearing the news? He would get to know the answer in a few hours...
His convoy stopped in front of the head door of the Ranawat Main Palace, Bhairav got down and opened Abhyansh's door and he stepped down, making his way inside. He knew it's about dinner time and his wife would be arranging the dining table with his mother. He quickly walked in, as soon as Isha saw him, her face had a wide smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement and happiness. All she wanted is to hug him tightly but she held her emotions...
"Rani sa...", he said and walked away towards their chamber, she understood he wanted her to accompany him...
She turned to Amruta to ask her if she would handle the things there but before she could ask, Amruta nodded asking her to go. Isha instantly speedwalked to their chamber... As soon as she entered, Abhyansh took her in his arms hugging her tightly breathing her scent...
"Damn... I missed this so much...", he said kissing her neck, while Isha tightened her grip on him...
"Rana sa...", Isha let out and her tone expressed her emotions... he broke the hug and took her lips into an intense kiss nibbling her petals with his, chewing and biting them. She hissed in pain and he gently soothed them with his tongue... He reluctantly left her when he sensed her breathlessness...
No one uttered a 'I miss you' but they knew how much they missed each other. Every minute was like hell for the both of them...
"Do you have to leave again ?", she asked with tear-filled her eyes... The thought that he would leave again snatched her peace.
"Sh... there is still some time for it...", He said wiping her tears...
"I'm not ready to stay away from you...", she said
"I know bacha... I know...", he said pulling her into his arms... "Where is my favorite shirt ?", he asked and she smiled nuzzling into his neck...
"I'll make it your most favorite shirt by wearing it tonight", she whispered into his ear, lightly kissing his earlobe...
"Damn... You are very dangerous for my sanity Rani sa", he said and she giggled...
"Freshen up in 5 minutes and come down for dinner", she said moving away from him...
"I don't understand your obsession with 5 minutes", he groaned, he can't freshen up in 5 minutes and walk all the way down to the dining hall.
"It's just a phrase... By 5 minutes, I meant do it as soon as you could", she said and walked away...
He chuckled, freshened up, and walked downstairs. Everyone knew Abhyansh had no idea of Avyan's marriage so they left it for Isha to disclose it to him. Isha decided to tell him after their night, she didn't know what would be his reaction and she wouldn't want to spoil her husband's plan, she knew he needed her more than anything now, and her husband was insatiable for her.
"Welcome back Ranawat...", Ranveer said with a smirk...
"Rajput... You are relieved from your duties from now", Abhyansh said
"That's such a relief Ranawat", Ranveer said faking a relieved sigh...
"Bhai...", Isha said slapping her brother's arm so as not to irritate her husband...
"What ?", Ranveer whisper-yelled at his sister.
"He just returned from a tiresome journey, stop irking him", she said
"Tiresome and he ?", Ranveer said shaking his head. Abhyansh smirked at his brother-in-law but frowned at how Isha talked to him. He understood she forgave him and that didn't go well with him. He decided to show his displeasure to his wife that night.
Everyone soon gathered for dinner... Isha served her husband and then sat for dinner. She sighed in disappointment, if she had known, she would have prepared all her husband's favorite food and he understood her. He signaled her with his eyes that it was okay.
"So... How are the trip and things in Europe ?", Pratap asked shocking everyone...
"Look at your audacity to question me ?", Abhyansh said coldly... How dare he question him ? Everyone in the family shivered hearing that tone...
"Pratap... Eat silently", Devyani Devi said sternly, she understood her son's plan, but he was stupid and didn't know he was calling for his doom by doing this. Avyan visibly shivered hearing his father's next words...
"I just asked you a question maharaj, and you are getting offended, I wonder how would you react if you knew your wife had fixed your brother's marriage without even consulting you", Pratap said
Isha's and Ranveer's eyes widened while Amruta looked at her husband with tears... Why is he doing all this? Just to avenge for what Isha did to him...
Isha didn't even look at her husband as she was scared of his reaction.
"Rani sa...", Abhyansh said, Isha looked up thinking he was calling her, but his eyes were pinned on his father who was now trying hard to hide his shivering form. "You will address my wife as Rani sa and my brother as Yuvraj...", Abhyansh said calmly in contrast to the emotions that are running inside him. How could she do that ? Why did she do that in the first place ? He knew his wife wouldn't do anything just like that. His inner beast was screaming for a burst out but he is taming him reminding him of the promise he made himself. To stay calm and hear her out completely, he chanted inside.
Pratap's eyes widened at Abhyansh's cool reaction, this wasn't what he was expecting. He was expecting his son to blast at his wife in front of everyone and that would be a tit-for-tat to Isha for insulting him but his plan failed.
"Does that mean you don't find any problem with this ?", Pratap asked
"I am not answerable to you...", Abhyansh said "Bhairav...", Abhyansh called and Bhairav instantly rushed there. "Get the arrangements done for Pratap Singh Ranawat to stay in the back palace. I'll train him personally every day from now on", Abhyansh said, everyone was stunned.
Ranveer and Avyan thought Abhyansh was punishing him for cross-questioning him and tried instigating him against the queen. But they didn't understand why he announced such a heavy punishment for his handicapped father. But Amruta, Isha, Rajmata, and Pratap himself understood that it was more because of the act he committed more than a week ago by slapping Amruta.
"Ji Hukum... (Yes Your Royal Highness)", Bhairav said bowing down and left after Abhyansh dismissed him.
"Pl... Please don't...", Pratap started gulping, his face filled with sweat... He had an idea of how cruel his son gets in the back palace, and the punishments there are crueler. And now he not only has one reason but two, Pratap slapped Amruta and now he tried instigating Abhyansh against Isha.
"You were so offended that my wife punished you... Reach the back palace now, the king himself will punish you satisfying your ego", Abhyansh said, his tone so low yet the pin-drop silence made it audible to everyone and the base of his tone scared the hell out of him.
Avyan and Ranveer frowned not understanding why Isha punished Pratap neither did they dare to ask her in front of the Beast who sounded so scary right then.
"Abhyansh... He is handica...", Amruta started but couldn't complete her sentence feeling her son's glare at her. She didn't look up as she wasn't that brave to look at her son when he was so angry.
"Yes, he is handicapped, and it's time his disabilities are fixed", Abhyansh said with finality. Everyone understood he was not talking just about physical disabilities.
After that no one spoke a word, Abhyansh finished what was on his plate, Isha was about to serve him more but he showed his palm stopping her, and got up from his seat. He walked away from there and everyone took a breath as if they felt even the air stopped circulating afraid of the beast's burst out. Only two people know they have heavy consequences to face now. Pratap and Isha looked at each other. Pratap looked at her with something that almost felt like pleading her to save him, and Isha looked at him with pity and anger. He not only doomed himself but also her.
Isha quickly finished whatever was left on her plate and got up to leave to face her husband who was extremely mad at her but even in that rage he didn't say anything offending or disrespectful to her in front of an audience. He could have at least questioned why the hell did she decide without consulting him, but he didn't, on the contrary, he defended her and Avyan. As much as she i happy about it, she knows that won't be the case in their chamber.
"Bhabhi ma... I'll also come", Avyan said
"No... Stay here, I'll call you when needed", Isha said, he could sense worry in her tone.
"Bacha... Don't...", Ranveer said, he knew his sister was gonna take the whole blame on her head.
"Bhai... It's fine... I'm sure he will listen to me before reacting", Isha whispered to her brother before walking to her chamber... She is sure the hall of her chamber must be a disaster by now, if she delays more their whole chamber would be destroyed.
She entered their chamber only to see what she imagined, the whole Mahagony hall of their chamber was now shapeless. Someone should award her for knowing her husband so well. She chided herself for thinking all this when she was in serious trouble.
"Rana sa... ", she shrieked when she saw he was about to destroy the whole antique shelf with his anger...
He paused for a second but pushed it nonetheless destroying the whole shelf startling her...
"Close the door...", he said and she obliged and manually locked it as well. "Stay there...", he said walking towards her pushing the glass shreds and other pieces away on his way with his shoe clad feet... "Hold my hand", he ordered and she did... He directed her towards their room making sure she was not hurt anywhere...
"Why to destroy everything and now be extra cautious about it", she muttered to herself as his cold aura didn't give her enough confidence to say it out aloud.
He made her settle on the couch in their room and he took the seat in front of her...
"I'm waiting Isha...", he said startling her... even his small moments are causing her shivers now...
"Rana sa... you can get angry with me... shout at me, but please don't be so calm, I'm scared of your silence more than anything... first, scold me, shout at me, after you let it all out, I'll tell you the whole thing, I want you to listen to me with a calm mind", she said everything in a single breath...
He got up and sat beside her taking her into his arms.
"I can never be calm after hurting you even if it's for your fault, so come on, now tell me...", he said
"Okay then, stay this close to me... I'm scared of you if you be so away", she said and a small smile formed on his lips, people are usually scared of him with his reduced proximity to them and here his wife is scared of him when he is far from her...
"Okay now tell me, what's all this ?", he asked
"Anshi's marriage was called off, and her fiance and his family blamed her just because of one mishap caused by Avyan... Avyan decided to take the whole responsibility of her life and happiness, so I found a way for it...", she said
"And what is it ?", he asked his tone turning serious... Her hands which are wounded around his waist fisted his shirt tightly in fear at his question... He very well knew what was going to be her answer but he waited for her to utter those words.
"So, I went to their place to ask for their daughter's hand for Avyan", Isha said closing her eyes tightly, her hold tightening on his body.
He slowly detached from her and sat in his previous seat that is in front of her.
"Is that all ?", he asked and she nodded.
"Do you think I am a fool to believe your vague story ?", he asked her sternly
"No Rana sa... This is what happened...", she started
"I know my wife and what she can and can't, so stop wasting mine as well as your time", he said seriously...
She understood she can't hide things now as it would only create more trouble for her and Avyan, so she narrated everything that happened and he listened to her patiently.
"What if I say 'No' to this marriage Rani sa ?", Abhyansh asked
"I would try to convince you till you agree Rana sa...", Isha said
"Avyan is still childish, he didn't get enough maturity to handle a marriage, I was thinking of handing him a key position in the company and the Board as well but he... I know how he is... But what disappointed me is how you reacted to it... You could have waited till I arrived or at least spoke to me before asking for their daughter's hand for Avyan... I don't understand why is he so eager to marry now... You both are idiots...", Abhyansh scolded his wife, she cocooned herself laying her head on her knees and arms in fear of her husband.
"He likes her Rana sa", Isha said meekly...
"Shut up... Don't open your mouth... I trusted you to handle things and all you created is a mess", he shouted, tears welled up in her eyes and soon they slipped out.
All these days she worked round the clock to handle things so that her husband would be proud of her but here all she got to hear was this, she didn't complain though, he was right at his place, she did mess up.
On the other hand, he regretted it as soon as those words left his mouth, he didn't think like that, in fact, he was proud of how she handled things in his absence except for this one thing where she almost got his brother's alliance fixed with a girl who he doesn't know anything about except for her name.
He quickly called Bhairav asking him to find out everything about Anshi and her family.
"Isha, you do understand what might be the consequences of your act, don't you? You want Avyan to marry a girl who was already engaged ?", he asked.
Abhyansh sympathized with what happened to Anshi. He mentally noted to teach the groom and his family a lesson for what they did to the poor girl. But for that, he wouldn't want his brother to marry her and suffer for himself and her for life.
"How could you say that Rana sa ?", she asked him
"Why shouldn't I say it Rani sa ? Avyan is my brother and his every little pain concerns me, she was previously engaged, she might have imagined her whole life with that man and now if she gets married to Avyan and is unable to adjust with him, both of them will suffer, their marriage would become catastrophic. And seeing Avyan suffer, will you be at peace, and will I ever be able to be in peace knowing my wife and brother are suffering so much ?", he asked and she looked down. Even she is worried about something like that happening.
"Even I thought of all this Rana sa... But I know Anshi is a very kind soul, she would definitely understand the situation and move on from the past", Isha said trying to sound confident...
"Will you be able to move on from me if something happens to me ?", he asked her
"Abhyansh... Have you gone mad? What kind of a question is that? I know what you are trying to do but your example is so absurd... I am married to you, you and that idiot who broke marriage with Anshi are poles apart. Any girl should move on from an a**h*le like him who thinks girls are just toys he could play with..."
Isha said angrily, surprising him with her language. He mentally noted to teach that person a lesson for life who taught his wife that cuss word.
"Isha...", he sighed, he didn't know how to explain his concerns for his brother's life.
"Okay... Let's wait for Bhairav to get back with the information. After that we can decide on a course of action", she said
"We ? From now on, I will decide what will happen and you and Avyan will just be spectators...", he said...
She knew no matter how much he hated it, he would never go back on the word his wife and brother gave to Anshi's family.
Until and unless this marriage happens, she is okay with anything, so she nodded. But only if she knew her husband.