CHAPTER – 3.3
"What just happened?? Why did Maharaj scream like that?? And is that Yuvraj Ranveer Rajput who took him away?? Must say that man has got some guts", Ragini said praising Ranveer even in her confused state...
"Won't he get angry if you say he and his wife are getting a divorce??", Reetu said, and Isha glared at her...
"What I said... wait what??", Ragini asked, realizing what Reetu meant, she looked at Isha for confirmation and Isha nodded...
"Rana sa is my husband, Ragini...", Isha said
"What?? Are you kidding me??", Ragini asked with shock and Isha shook her head
"I'm so sorry, I wanted to tell you this many times, but you know everything about my relationship with him... and you didn't like my husband much... but you have great respect for Rana sa, I don't want you to think...", Isha started but Ragini interrupted...
"How could you hide such a big thing from me Isha?? Didn't you trust me??", Ragini asked getting hurt...
"Ragini, it's not that... at first, I was afraid your behaviour would change once you get to know the truth... also you know the initial days of marriage are very rough and I don't want to associate myself with him... and when it got better, I wanted to tell you, but seeing you all seeing the king and queen as the people from mars, I got afraid... and when bhai came at our boutique that day... the way you treated him like a VIP made me more afraid... you see them as people far away from you... and I don't want to become one, I want to remain your family always, sorry Ragini... I got selfish... forgive me... I know I hurt you...", Isha said and Ragini melted at that cute sorry and how much her friend loves her...
Ragini hugged Isha tightly, Isha smiled widely, and Reetu joined the hug...
"Oh no! I just hope Maharaj won't kill me for what I said", Ragini said suddenly panicking...
"No... don't worry, Rana sa isn't like that...", Isha said
"Rana sa... oho...", Ragini and Reetu teased her to which Isha blushed...
"Ishu... why don't you introduce Ragini to Maharaj, and that way she can ask forgiveness from him?? You know, without that, it's impossible for Ragini to encounter him in the meeting, it would be awkward for him and terror for Ragini...", Reetu said, Isha wanted to deny as she doesn't want to meet her husband in the office as his wife but what Reetu said made sense, she knew her husband must be furious with her best friend and its better to clear the air...
"Where are the others??", Isha asked
"Why?? Don't tell me, you are planning to introduce everyone to Maharaj", Reetu asked
"Sh... Of course, not...", Isha said...
"They are eating in the cafeteria", Ragini said, and Isha nodded...
"Okay, then let me find someone who can take us to Rana sa... I hope he is free now...", Isha said and started walking to move out of the alley when Avyan rushed to her...
"Bhabhi sa... are you okay?? I heard Mr. Chaudhri grilled you in the presentation??", Avyan expressed his concern holding Isha by her shoulders... Ragini and Reetu kept staring at Avyan with surprise... they only saw him in magazines and newspapers... he is much more handsome in person, both of them thought...
"Avyan... I'm fine... don't worry...", Isha said looking at her brother-in-law and then at her friends. Avyan realized what blunder he did, as per him, only Reetu knew who Isha is... he quickly moved away from Isha, didn't understand how to correct his mistake, he is now afraid of how his brother would react after knowing he revealed his wife's identity against her wish. He knew his Bhabhi sa is always there to protect him but up to what extent??
"Avyan relax, Ragini already knows, I just told her...", Isha said calming her brother-in-law...
"Huh... thank god, for a second, I got afraid that bhai sa would kill me for this...", Avyan said, and Isha glared
"Stop portraying your brother as a scary villain", Isha scolded him
"Acha Sorry Bhabhi sa... one extra chocolate today", Avyan said, and Isha smiled agreeing to her brother-in-law's sweet deal...
"Let me introduce my friends to you, this is Ragini my best friend as well my boss, and this is Reetu, Ragini, Reetu, this is my brother-in-law Avyan", Isha introduced
"Hello ma'am, nice to meet you both", Avyan politely greeted... his soft voice and smile melted them more...
"Hello Yuvraj... pleasure is all ours...", Ragini said
"Finally, we get to meet that sweet brother-in-law of Isha, she always talks about you and your mother", Reetu said
"She talks about you guys all the time at home... my mother badly wants to meet you both...", Avyan said flattering the two ladies who are already crushing on him...
"Oh! we are eagerly waiting to meet her and your other family members...", Ragini said politely as Reetu couldn't stop gushing...
"Avyan... is your brother free??", Isha asked
"Don't know Bhabhi sa, why?? I could find out if you want??", Avyan said and Isha nodded, Avyan called Bharat and got to know that Abhyansh cancelled his appointments for the next two hours and asked John to fetchRani sa... Avyan informed Bharat that there's no need for John to come, as he will be bringing his Bhabhi sa. Bharat said he would inform the same to John. Avyan hung up and informed the same to Isha...
"Okay then, take the three of us to your brother's cabin", Isha said
"Three of you?? Bhabhi sa... you better ask bhai sa before taking them to his cabin, he won't normally allow anyone to his cabin", Avyan said taking Isha aside...
"Don't worry, first I'll go inside, and after calming his temper, I'll take them inside...", she said, and Avyan nodded...
All of them got into the elevator, Isha closed her eyes holding Ragini's hand tightly...
"Oh no! I forgot you are scared of elevators", Ragini said comforting Isha...
Abhyansh purposely made them allot the first-floor conference room for the presentation so that his wife need not use elevators... he asked John to fetch Isha to a room on the first floor itself, that too after half an hour, but Avyan didn't know this...
"Bhabhi sa, you are scared of elevators??", Avyan asked looking at Isha with horror... looking at Isha's scared face, sweating profusely, and taking deep breaths... Avyan panicked...
"Bhabhi sa... are you fine... I didn't know... I'm sorry... take deep breaths...", Avyan said rubbing Isha's palms... he is about to stop the elevator and get down, but Isha stopped him saying it's fine.
"Baby... look at me... it's nothing... this space isn't closed, look there, how people are running here and there... by the way... why didn't you tell me your husband is the king, I wouldn't have made such big mistake if I knew... now what if I die in his hands, what about my dream??", Ragini said and Isha slapped Ragini's arm for spurting nonsense...
Reetu too started talking nonsense and they reached the top floor... Abhyansh and Ranveer are standing anxiously just outside the elevator... Abhyansh wanted to kill his brother when John informed him that he is bringing her to the top floor...
Isha got out of the elevator and fell into Abhyansh's arms who is just at the door...
" Isha... Isha... are you fine?? Are you okay?? AVYAN SINGH RANAWAT ,you are dead", Abhyansh screamed looking at his wife's condition, who is taking deep breaths... everyone is startled, Ragini and Reetu jerked at the loud scream scaring the sh*t out of them...
"Rana sa... I... I'm fine", Isha said trying to move away from her husband's arms, but he didn't allow it...
"Why did you take the elevator when you know you will suffer?? You should have called me down if you want to see me...", Abhyansh said softly, shocking Ragini, Reetu, John, and the very few staff that are present in the top floor, John immediately vacated the floor, as he knew they would be punished for witnessing the soft side of the ruthless king if they are present there for one more minute...
Now, no one is present except for the six of them...
"Avyan...you tail around your bhabhi sa the whole day, don't you even know that she is claustrophobic??", Abhyansh shouted again startling Isha...
"Sorry bhai sa... I... I’m sorry", Avyan said already imaginingin his head how his brother would kill him...
"Ranawat... calm down... first take her to the room...", Ranveer came to Avyan's rescue...
"Rajput... you...", Abhyansh started but Isha interrupted him, moving away from him...
"I'm fine Rana sa... it's not Avyan's fault, don't say anything to him...", Isha said, her throat dry...
"Bacha... first have some water...", Ranveer said giving her some water... Abhyansh took her to his cabin and the rest of them followed after getting the king's approval of course, except for Ranveer and Avyan who has the approval to enter the cabin already...
"Feeling better now??", Abhyansh asked her softly sitting beside her, Ranveer sat on her other side...
"I'm fine...", she said holding her husband's hand with one hand and her brother's in another, she knew her brother isn't showing his worry but he is terrified too...
"Bacha... don't take elevators from next time, okay??", Ranveer said
"Bhai... I'm fine... how would I go down now?? It's fine...", she said, and Abhyansh fumed thinking she has to go down in the elevator again... he glared at his brother for his stupidity killing him with his glares
"Avyan... you are...", Abhyansh started but Isha cut him off shocking Ragini and Reetu... this is the second time she is interrupting the king, and he didn't say a word.
"Avyan, don't you have work, go and do it, I'm fine, don't worry, okay??", Isha said signing Avyan to leave calmly...
"Ji Bhabhi sa... Bhai sa...", Avyan said bowing his head and turned to leave...
"Kaha jaa rahe hai Yuvraj (Where are you going Prince) hear your punishment before you leave", Abhyansh said in his cold tone scaring not only Avyan but Ragini and Reetu too...
"Okay, I'm equally responsible, in fact more fault is mine as I know I'm claustrophobic, he didn't even know, so I'll take the same punishment you give Avyan", Isha said
" Rani sa... ", Abhyansh sighed
"It should be fair Rana sa...", Isha said, and Abhyansh shook his head at his wife's stubbornness...
"Fine then, both of you, listen to your punishments", Abhyansh started shocking Isha... she didn't think her husband would punish her...
"It's my fault alone Bhai sa... punish me alone", Avyan said trying to save his sister-in-law...
Ragini and Reetu loved how Isha and Avyan tried saving each other... Ranveer suspected his brother-in-law looking at the smirk in his eyes...
"Rani sa will cook lunch for a week, while Yuvraj will make dinner, sounds fair right??", Abhyansh said shocking Isha and Avyan. It is a fair punishment but only they knew how unfair it is.
"That's unfair, I already cook everything, it's what I do, but for Avyan it's really a punishment, Rana sa...", Isha whined...
"It's a fair and equal punishment, don't argue further...", Abhyansh said sternly... Avyan sighed in relief as it's way lesser than what he imagined... though cooking all those dishes seemed very difficult, he decided to practice well so he could feed his family a decent meal for the next one week, he pitied his family including his brother who are gonna suffer from eating his bland food for the next one week. But he didn't know his brother is really gonna make his life difficult through this punishment.
"I'll be back, take care", Abhyansh said and went to the study attached to his cabin to make a call to John to come back and settle at their desks.
"Bhai... help me save Avyan...", Isha whined to Ranveer...
"Ishu... don't you think Avyan got away with a way lesser punishment, do you want to spoil that??", Ranveer asked
"Bhabhi sa, Ranveer is right... leave it now... I'm really sorry, I didn't know", Avyan apologized
"Avyan, it’s not your fault, I'm sorry, you are getting punished because of me...", Isha said, Avyan widened his eyes looking here and there if his brother heard her asking sorry from him...
Ranveer cupped his sister's mouth hitting her head with the other hand...
"Are you trying to get that poor soul killed, if your beast of a husband heard you apologizing to Avyan, do you think he would let him live??", Ranveer said, Isha took his hand away and hit his head pulling his hair...
"Didn't I tell you not to call him that??", Isha said still not leaving his hair...
"Ishu... leave my hair, you will cry if I start pulling your hair... I'm warning you", Ranveer said
The fight amused Ragini and Reetu... they initially felt that these people are so far from them, but they seem very similar... Isha slowly left her brother's hair...
Abhyansh returned...
"Bhai sa... shall I leave now??", Avyan asked, and Abhyansh nodded... Avyan bowed his head and left from there...
"How are you feeling?? I ordered lemon water, have some...", Abhyansh said softly... she nodded, and suddenly she looked at her friends who stood there awkwardly. She slapped herself mentally for forgetting about them...
"Ragini, Reetu... I'm so sorry...", saying this she suddenly stood up which made her feel dizzy... all four rushed to her... Ranveer who is just beside her is the first one to hold her...
"Ishu... bacha... calm down... slowly...", Ranveer said holding her...
"Why do you have to stand?? Sit down and talk calmly... your friends aren't running away", Abhyansh scolded her scaring Ragini and Reetu, they thought he would punish them as well for this...
"I'm fine Rana sa... I told Ragini about you, I brought her here to formally introduce you to each other", she said, Abhyansh glared at Ragini...
"Why would you think we will be getting a divorce??", Abhyansh asked scaring Ragini...
"Rana sa... I'll tell you everything later... let it go for now, please... she misunderstood some things, that's all...", Isha said rubbing her husband's palm and that calmed him to some extent...
"I'm sorry Maharaj... it's really my fault to think that way... won't happen again", Ragini said... "I thought you don't treat my friend well, but after witnessing today's incidents, I regret thinking about you like that... please accept my sincere apology", Ragini said slightly bowing her head... Ranveer appreciated her guts to say that she did think he doesn't treat her friend well even after knowing who her friend's husband is...
"I appreciate your genuine concern for your friend, but this is a one-time thing, hope you will be careful next time before saying something that involves me and my wife", Abhyansh said in his usual cold tone...
"Rana sa...", Isha tried to stop her husband, but Ragini assured her it's fine...
"Like I said before to her", Abhyansh said pointing to Reetu... "I invite you to have a meal with us at the main palace as my wife's best friends... letRani saknow in prior whenever you decide to come", he said before getting back to his chair and start working...
Ragini is surprised, did he just invite them to the main palace?? The very same palace where even powerful people across the globe aren't allowed...
"Ishu... won't you introduce your friends to me??", Ranveer asked
"Do that going outside my cabin", Abhyansh said showing the door...
"Ranawat... don't be like that... I'm your brother-in-law... I gave you my sister, show some respect at least sometimes...", Ranveer said
"Be grateful to your sister that you are still alive, don't expect anything more from me...", Abhyansh said in his cold tone working on his Mac...
"Ranawat...", Ranveer started...
"OUT Rajput", Abhyansh said in his cold tone, and that made Isha glare at her husband... feeling his wife's glare, he looked up, and seeing the anger in her eyes, he sighed...
"You can stay as long as you want", Abhyansh said in his bitter tone making Isha smile at her husband's cute gestures... how he does even the things he hates the most, for her...
"I'm going in... drink the lemonade when it comes... take care, don't go down yet, I'll come with you, okay??", Abhyansh said and Isha nodded with a smile, he left to his study...
"See, he is sweet, why do you irritate him so much...", Isha asked her brother...
"That's my favourite thing to do...", Ranveer said with a smile and that smile made Ragini's heart flutter... the Ranveer Rajput she met at the boutique is a lot different from this one, today, he seemed someone close to her... a man of same stature, approachable, just a normal person, not some prince, though that day too, he didn't behave like a prince, still she treated him like one but today he is just her best friend's brother...
"Okay, let me introduce them, this is Ragini, and this is Reetu... and he is my brother, Ranveer", Isha introduced turning to her friends...
"Hello Yuvraj...", Reetu greeted him excitedly...
"Hello... nice to meet you...", he said and turned to Ragini...
"Hi Mr. Rajput, we meet again", Ragini said with a smile surprising Ranveer, she didn't call him 'Yuvraj', and by her tone, she isn't treating him like a prince like she did the other day and for some strange reason, he liked it.
"Hi Ragini... yeah we meet again, and I'm glad we are meeting through my sister, not as a customer and owner...", Ranveer said shaking her hands...
Reetu looked suspiciously at the both of them whereas Isha is clueless like always...
"More like a commoner and a prince", Ragini said and Ranveer shook his head slightly...
"I'm not a prince, at least character-wise, I'm not, I'm more inclined towards commoner", Ranveer said reluctantly leaving her hand as not to make his sister suspicious... he is clearly attracted to Ragini but can't let anyone know about it until he figures out if it's just an infatuation or something could actually brew between them...
"Yeah... nice to see that... ", Ragini said...
All four chatted for a while before Ranveer, Ragini, and Reetu went down, whereas Isha went in to see her husband...