chapter 20 part-2 #3
(I didn't come with elder brother. I came looking for you. I thought we'd have a meal together.)
He looked at her from head to toe.
Then his smile disappeared.
"Par yahan toh humari chuhiya ne khud ko baarish ke hawale kar diya."
(But it seems me mice has completely surrendered herself to the rain.)
Ashnoor lowered her eyes.
"Gauri bhi toh mere saath thi."
(Gauri was with me too.)
Gauri immediately pointed at herself.
"Main? Jiji Maine toh sirf-"
(Me? Sister I only-)
Karandev gave her a look.
"Gauri."
She stopped.
"Ji..."
(Yes...)
Harshvardhan folded his arms.
"Achha, toh dono ki milibhagat thi."
(Oh, so you two were in this together.)
Ashnoor couldn't stop herself from smiling.
Karandev noticed her smile and tried very hard not to smile himself.
Instead, he gently placed a hand on her head.
"Haso mat. Kal subah agar bukhaar aa gaya toh?"
(Don't laugh. What if you develop a fever tomorrow morning?)
Ashnoor's smile faded slightly.
"Main theek hoon bhaisa..."
(I'm fine elder brother.)
"Abhi ho."
Karandev's voice softened.
"Par aapko pata hai na baache, aapki tabiyat zara si bhi kharab hoti hai toh hum sab kitni pareshaan hote hain?"
(But you know, don't you ? Even if you fall slightly ill, how worried we all becomes?)
Harshvardhan stepped closer and added in a deliberately serious tone,
"Maa sa se pehle aaj hum dono ,tum dono ki class lenge."
(Before Mother even gets to scold you, the two of us will lecture both of you )
Ashnoor looked between them.
"Donon?"
(Both of you?)
"Bilkul." Harshvardhan replied.
(Absolutely.)
Gauri tried to quietly slip away.
Harshvardhan immediately caught her long hair braid.
"Aur tum bhi."
(And you too.)
Gauri groaned.
"Bhaisa.... Jane de na.. !"
(Brother... Let me go..!)
Karandev shook his head.
"Chalo. Andar."
(Come on. Inside.)
"But-"
"No."
Karandev didn't let her finish.
He pull off his shawl from shoulder and gently dep up on Ashnoor and took her by the shoulder and started leading toward the palace.
Harshvardhan followed beside them, continuing his affectionate scolding.
"Khane ke waqt dhoondh raha tha tumhe . Socha tha aaj shanti se saath baithenge."
(I was looking for you during mealtime. I thought we'd sit together and have a peaceful meal today.)
Ashnoor smiled.
"Toh ab saath mein khayenge."
(Then we'll eat together now.)
Harshvardhan looked at her wet clothes.
"Abhi? Isi haalat mein?"
(Now? In this condition?)
Ashnoor gave him an innocent look.
"Kapde badal lungi."
(I'll change my clothes.)
Harshvardhan sighed.
"Is kaniya se koi jeet nahi sakta."
(No one can ever win against this girl.)
Gauri laughed.
"Bilkul shi jiji"
(Absolutely right sister)
He immediately looked at her.
"Tum bhi kam nhi , Gauri."
(You are not any less, Gauri.)
All four siblings laughed as they disappeared toward the palace.
Meanwhile...
Behind the enormous tree, Abhimaan had watched everything.
He had seen the way Karandev had immediately caught Ashnoor when she slipped.
The way Harshvardhan had joined him.
The way both brothers scolded her without ever raising their voices.
There was no harshness in their words.
Only affection.
Protection.
Family
Abhimaan's eyes remained fixed on the palace entrance through which Ashnoor had disappeared.
For a strange moment, he found himself wondering what it would feel like to have someone about him like that.
He immediately pushed the thought away.
His expression hardened again.
He had stayed long enough.
He glanced once more toward the palace.
Then toward the darkening sky.
That gives Abhimaan an important realization.
?Getting close to Ashnoor won't be easy. She's constantly surrounded by people.
She had brothers who watched over her.
And if he wanted to get anywhere near the scroll...
He would have to move carefully.
Very carefully.
Abhimaan stepped away from the tree and disappeared into the rain-soaked shadows of the garden.
But before leaving the palace grounds, he looked back one final time.
His eyes settled on the doorway where Ashnoor had vanished.
He knew it.
Somewhere deep inside, he wanted to see her again.