51
It had been a beautiful, chaotic, unforgettable week in Gujarat. Swarna bhabhi was officially Mrs. Swarna Dyan Choudhury now - yes, finally! And what a wedding it had been.
From the colorful haldi where Dyan bhaiya ended up with more turmeric than anyone else... to the sangeet where Swarna bhabhi owned the stage and bhaiya couldn't stop blushing like a schoolboy - every moment had been magical.
But the wedding day? Oh, the wedding!
Dyan bhaiya - the same wild, temper-flying, chaos-unleashing mafia don - actually cried when he saw his bride. His eyes turned red, lips trembling, and the way he looked at Swarna bhabhi in her blood-red lehenga as she walked down the aisle... like she hung the moon and stars just for him.
Bhabhi had to keep wiping his tears through half the pheras while also balancing her heavy dupatta and bridal bangles. I caught Datta whispering, "Drama king," under his breath, and I had to hide my laugh behind the puja plate.
But now, the festivities had come to an end, and it was time to head home.
We all boarded Gyan bhaiya's private jet. The couples settled into their cozy seats: Bhairava bhaiya was already feeding Arya bhabhi cut fruit, Dyan bhaiya and Swarna bhabhi were curled up whispering secrets like newlyweds should, and Gyan bhaiya was rubbing Adya's feet like a love-struck puppy.
Only poor Utsav was sitting with Sheraa - though Sheraa did have his head in Utsav's lap and was clearly living his best life.
I leaned on Datta's chest, snuggling into him as the plane took off, the soft vibration of the engine soothing.
His fingers lazily drew circles on my waist under the pallu of my saree, and he dipped his head to whisper in my ear, voice deep, playful, and sinful as always.
"You keep leaning like that, Mrs. Agnivanshi, I might just forget we're in a jet with our entire family."
I smiled, already knowing where this was going. "Hmm? And what would the mighty Chief Minister do then?"
He leaned in closer, lips grazing the shell of my ear. "I'd take you right here in this seat and show everyone why you can't walk straight for two days after every night with me."
I gasped, swatted his arm, my cheeks flooding with heat. "Datta!"
But he just grinned, smug and unbothered. "What? I was just stating facts. You started it when you kissed my cheek, sunshine."
I tried to pout, but it was hopeless. I ended up laughing, hiding my burning face in his chest.
This man. This deadly, tattooed, silent mafia king, ruthless Chief Minister... was also the biggest flirt I'd ever met.
This Chief Minister, I tell you... I thought fondly, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek again.
He immediately turned, caught my face in his hands, and whispered with that same smirk, "Try that again and I'll carry you to the bathroom. Pilot won't stop me."
I turned away quickly, pretending to watch clouds. "Behave, Datta."
"No promises," he said, placing a warm kiss on my shoulder.
God help me, I married a beast. But he was my beast. And I wouldn't trade him for the world.
We had finally landed in Rajasthan. The week-long Gujju wedding fiesta had drained every drop of energy out of us - even the mafia kings looked like deflated balloons as we stepped out of the jet.
We all stretched lazily, trying to work the kinks out of our backs. My heels were in my hand, Sheraa yawned like he had carried the family on his back, and even the always-polished Arya bhabhi had a sleepy bun mess going on.
"Waa dyan bhaiya... Bhairava bhaiya... wicket down," I teased, eyes sparkling as I looked at the two lovestruck newlyweds who were barely walking straight.
"It's only Gyan bhaiya now," I added with a smirk.
Everyone burst out laughing, including Papa, who shook his head fondly. Gyan bhaiya and Adya turned the cutest shade of tomato red.
"Bas karo, Katha," Gyan bhaiya groaned, rubbing his neck.
Adya hid her face in his arm, muttering, "Why do you always do this to me?"
But just then... my phone rang.
The screen flashed a name that sent an actual shiver down my spine.
TRIPTHI BAJWA
My blood went cold for a second.
Datta saw my expression shift and immediately straightened beside me, protective instincts rising. "What happened?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing." But all my brothers turned alert. They knew.
Bracing myself, I answered the call.
"Katha, I want that asset. I don't care what you do, just get me that property. And don't you dare drag me to India," came the flat, deadpan voice of Tripthi.
Yup. Still the same ice block.
"The same property you filed the case on, right?" I asked.
"Hmm," she hummed. A sound that said she would blow up five cities if I delayed it.
I shivered.
"Tripthi, thoda toh haske baat kar le. Teri awaaz sookhi hai, pata hi nahi chalta ki tu meri bestie hai," I said sarcastically.
( "Tripthi, at least talk with a smile yaar. Your voice is so dry, no one would guess you're my bestie.")
"Shut up, Katha. Kaam khatam kar," she snapped and hung up.
I stared at the phone. "My best friend is rude," I muttered.
Everyone around me laughed.
"When was she ever soft?" Bhairava bhaiya said, pulling me into a one-armed hug.
Arya bhabhi, Swarna bhabhi, Adya, and even Datta looked stunned.
"Wait," Arya bhabhi said, blinking. "Tripthi Bajwa?"
"The Tripthi Bajwa?" Swarna asked slowly.
Datta narrowed his eyes. "The ruthless Black Dog who rules the Russian Mafia?"
I nodded.
They stared at me like I'd just claimed Voldemort was my college roommate.
"She's my best friend," I said with a sigh.
Datta's jaw visibly dropped. "You're best friends with her?"
"Yes. And she's got a little something she wants me to handle legally, but without showing her face in India. And I promised her, so..." I waved my phone. "Here we go again."
Everyone just shook their heads like it was the most Katha-thing ever.
Just then Athira and Garud came toward us, smiling.
"Want us to drop you lovebirds?" Athira asked sweetly.
I smiled at her. "That's so sweet, but I think Datta wants to drive."
Garud and Athira nodded and headed to their car, waving. "Bye! Don't miss us too much!"
I took Sheraa in my arms, his tail wagging as I began my little goodbye round.
"Papa," I said, hugging him tightly.
"My brave girl," Papa whispered, kissing my forehead. "Handle her. But don't let her handle you."
I smiled and turned to Dyan bhaiya, hugging him. "Your wedding was beautiful, Bhaiya."
"And your teasing is exhausting," he replied, hugging me tighter. "Be safe."
Swarna bhabhi pulled me into her arms next. "Come back soon. I want to cook something spicy for you next time!"
I laughed. "Bless you, finally someone understands me."
Then to Gyan bhaiya, who hugged me with a smile. "No stress. Just call if you need help."
"You'll be the first I call," I winked.
Adya hugged me tight. "Take care. And feed that devil Sheraa before he eats Utsav."
Sheraa barked in agreement.
Then came Bhairava bhaiya, who pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.
"Don't let her get to you. You're fire. She's just frost," he murmured.
"Thanks, Bhaiya," I said, holding back a smile.
Arya bhabhi kissed my cheek and smiled. "Come back with more gossip. This time, I want pictures of Russian mafia mess."
"Done," I grinned.
And finally, I turned to my ladla, my Utsav.
He gave me his best puppy-eyed look, hugging Sheraa along with me. "You and jiju better FaceTime me, or I'll hack your phone."
I hugged him tightly. "We'll miss you, hacker boy."
Then, with one last smile to everyone, I walked to the car where Datta was waiting.
He opened the door for me like a true gentleman, his hand resting on my waist protectively.
As we sat inside and the engine roared to life, I leaned my head on his shoulder, eyes closing for a moment.
"I swear, our life is a movie," I whispered.
He chuckled softly, brushing his lips over my hair. "Yeah. A dark, chaotic, mafia-spiced romance."
"And you're the sexy hero."
"I thought I was the villain."
I smiled, looking up. "My favorite kind."
And just like that, we drove off - into another case, another war, and yet another adventure.
I sat in my study room, books and documents scattered everywhere like a battlefield. Sheraa was peacefully gnawing on his meat bone in the corner, tail wagging occasionally, as if mocking the chaos I was surrounded in.
I banged the desk with both hands. "AHHHHH! This case is too complicated. It fucking has a will! A bloody hidden clause that changes everything!" I yelled in frustration, pulling at my hair. "If I tell her, she'll eat me alive-raw! No mercy, just bite and devour!"
Sheraa paused for a second, looked at me, then went right back to chewing. Traitor.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me - calm, composed, with the scent of sandalwood and danger.
Datta.
He walked in like he always does - the storm that always makes my chaos calmer.
"What happened, sunshine?" he murmured, walking over and bending down to kiss my cheek softly, like I wasn't seconds away from setting the room on fire.
I groaned. "This case is insane. The property Tripthi wants has a will attached.
A hidden one, sealed under a dummy trustee name, and the person who wrote it added an insane clause saying that if anyone forces the transfer, it voids automatically.
Do you get what that means? I can't hand it to her legally. "
His brows lifted slightly. "So basically, your best friend - who runs the Russian mafia - is going to murder you if you don't get this done, and the law is standing in the way?"
"Exactly!" I sighed, flopping onto the couch dramatically.
He chuckled, deep and low, that sinful sound that always made my skin tingle. "You know... most people have friendship bracelets. You and Tripthi have international crime syndicates and hidden wills."
I smirked despite my frustration. "That's why you married me, admit it."
"Oh, I married you because you're the only woman who can make global threats look like romantic gestures," he teased, sitting behind me on the couch.
I leaned back into him, letting my head fall against his chest. His arms wrapped around me automatically.
"Your brain needs a break," he whispered, fingers moving to gently massage my scalp, his touch slow and deliberate, tracing small circles that made me melt.
"Mmm," I hummed, eyes fluttering shut. "Don't stop. This is better than therapy."
"I don't intend to stop," he murmured, lips brushing the top of my head. "But after this, you're going to eat something. And sleep. No more yelling about wills or dying. Or being eaten raw."
"But she will eat me," I grumbled sleepily.
"I'll protect you," he whispered. "Even from your best friend."
"Hmm... promise?"
"Always."
Sheraa gave a grunt, probably agreeing, and I chuckled softly, snuggling further into Datta's arms as the pressure in my head began to fade. In his arms, even the law bent a little.