69. The Checkup #2
Big mistake. The look he gave me clearly translated to: Don't you dare support him.
My smile disappeared instantly.
God. Why was I always stuck between these two? This was so unfair.
"Put your ass out of my car, Rathore." Yugant said angrily. "I'm not taking you with us. Go back to Rajasthan and find your woman."
Bhai looked offended. "Wow."
"Get out."
"Wowww."
"Samarth."
"Yugant."
"Out."
Bhai crossed his arms and settled deeper into the seat.
"No."
"First of all, rude. Second of all, I am deeply hurt by the lack of respect."
Yugant deadpanned. "I don't respect you."
"See?" Bhai pointed at him before looking at me. "This is exactly why I came. Your husband has anger issues."
I pressed my lips together to stop my smile.
Yugant noticed. "Don't laugh."
My smile disappeared immediately.
Bhai crossed his arms across his chest. "Ohh. So now you're scared of him too?"
"I'm not scared." I said loudly.
"Then tell him I'm coming."
I opened my mouth then looked at Yugant.
The look he gave me promised consequences, and I know exactly what consequences would it be.
Exhaling slowly I also crossed my hand across my chest and looked ahead.
"Dhwani," Bhai called sweetly.
"No."
"Dhwani."
I remained silent.
"Dhwani Rathore."
I sighed.
"Dhwani Raizaada," Yugant corrected instantly.
"She is still my sister."
"No. She's my wife first-"
"Shut up, guys!"
Both of them went silent immediately.
I rubbed my forehead.
"You know what? I genuinely feel like I'm the third wheel in both of your love stories. So you two can go. I'll stay at home."
I reached for the door handle. Before I could open it, both of them grabbed an arm.
"You're not going anywhere." They spoke in perfect union.
I stared at them then at their hands. Then at them again. Unbelievable.
Exhaling loudly, I folded my arms across my chest again. "Alright. Then you're going, Bhai."
"No."
"What? Why?"
"No. Not me either." He settled comfortably into the seat. "I want to come with you and get your reports."
"Reports?"
" Yeah... we are going to hospital for your checkup."
My head immediately snapped towards Yugant. He avoided my gaze.
"So that's where we're going?" He remained focused on the road ahead.
"Maybe."
My eyes narrowed.
Finally he sighed. "Yes."
I blinked. "Thyroid check-up?"
"Full body check-up." His answer came instantly. I went quiet.
"I know you cancelled the last one because of the case." His voice softened slightly. "And I don't want your health taking a backseat because everyone else has problems."
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
I had spent an hour getting dressed.
Matching earrings.
Matching bindi.
Only to end up going to a hospital.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
I looked down at my outfit. What a waste.
"Alright." I sighed. "Then let Bhai come. He's worried about my health too."
Yugant's eyes moved to the rear-view mirror. Samarth Bhai responded with a smug grin.
Oh God. Both of them were impossible.
"Fine," Yugant muttered as he started the car. " Buckle up your seat belt, Dhwani." he said as we came out of the Mansion gate.
I followed his command.
A victorious smile appeared on Bhai's face.
"But you're taking the first flight back to Rajasthan after this."
"I'll stay for a few more days."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Yugant gripped the steering wheel tighter, his eyes fixed on the road as we finally came on the main road.
"I think you should book a hotel room then. In royal families like yours, people probably know better than to overstay at their sister's house."
Bhai actually considered that. "That's true."
I looked at him in shock. Was he serious?
"But fortunately," he continued, "I'm staying at my best friend's house."
Yugant muttered something under his breath that definitely wasn't suitable for civilized conversation.
I looked out of the window to hide my smile. The poor man had probably planned an entire day with me. And now he was stuck with my brother.
"Have you thought about thanking your Mom-" Bhai stopped mid-sentence. Then corrected himself. "I mean, Ms. Arora?"
The smile immediately vanished from my face.
My fingers tightened around my kurti. "I... actually...umm.."
For some reason, I couldn't finish the sentence.
"I'll message her."
"Only a message?" Bhai asked.
I frowned."Yes."
"Don't you think she deserves dinner?"
"No." My answer came immediately. "We're not inviting her here again. She did her job. That's all."
Bhai looked unconvinced.
"A lawyer doesn't hold your face in the middle of a courtroom and call you their child."
The memory hit me instantly.
"Dhwani, I don't know if I'm right or wrong," he continued softly, "but she doesn't seem like a bad person."
I looked away.
I never said she is a bad person. She was just not a good mother. Or maybe she was, before everything shattered.
"I think you're missing something. Something important, Dhwani."
"No. She did her job because we paid her."
"Oh?" Bhai raised a brow.
Before he could speak again, Yugant joined in.
"So when you told her about Dhrithika and Ruben, we paid extra for that too?"
I froze. "No."
"Then maybe she demanded extra money afterward?"
"No." Because she absolutely didn't.
"Or maybe she's going to send us a massive bill later?"
"I have no idea about that either.
The word came out louder than intended.
Both men went silent.
Yugant glanced at me briefly. "But I thought you said she did everything for money."
I hated this conversation.
Arghh.... Hated it a lot. Because every question forced me to think about things I had spent years avoiding.
The way she recognized me immediately.
The way she stood beside me in court.
The way she kept her promise.
And then...
Dad.
He hadn't even recognized me even when I was right there in front of his eyes.
A lump formed in my throat.
Why?
Why had they separated?
What happened between them?
How did a man who once looked at her like she was his entire world end up building a life with someone else? And why did it feel like I was missing half the story?
"Okay." The word left my mouth before I could stop it. Both men glanced at me once. "We'll invite her."
A smile appeared on Bhai's face.
"Only her?"
I rolled my eyes. "No. Her family too."
"Good." He leaned back happily. "I wanted this meeting." Then he pointed towards Yugant. "You'll invite them."
"Sure." Yugant nodded. "Tomorrow night."
The rest of the ride stayed peaceful, filled with random conversations and occasional arguments between Bhai and Yugant, until the car suddenly slowed down and stopped outside a large shop.
"Why are we here?" Bhai asked, reading the name written on the board.
It was a bangle shop.
Before I could say anything, Yugant unbuckled his seatbelt and turned around.
"Keep your ass glued to this seat," he said, pointing a finger at Bhai. "And don't you dare come out and ruin our mood."
Bhai didn't even bother looking at him. He simply pulled out his phone and acted as if we didn't exist.
I smiled. He knows how to behave at least.
Yugant came around the car and opened my door before offering me his hand. The moment I stepped inside the shop, I understood why we had stopped.
Rows and rows of colorful bangles covered the walls.
A few minutes later, I found myself sitting while the shopkeeper brought out dozens of designs.
Cherry red.
Ruby red.
Deep maroon.
Glass bangles with tiny golden detailing.
Yugant rejected half of them before finally choosing the perfect plane set.
When he carefully slid them over my wrist, the soft clinking sound made me smile.
I never thought I could love something as simple as bangles this much. But seeing them on my hand... They looked beautiful.
"Like it?" he asked, holding my wrist.
I looked down at the cherry-red glass bangles shining against my skin. "Love it."
The smile that appeared on his face was worth more than the bangles themselves.
He lifted my hand and pressed a soft kiss against my wrist.
The gesture was so natural, so effortless, that my heart melted all over again.
As if that wasn't enough, he ended up buying more.
Pastel green.
Mustard yellow.
Royal blue.
Every color prettier than the last.
"Yugant, that's enough."
"No."
"I already have bangles."
"Not these ones."
"There is no difference."
"There is."
I sighed.
The man clearly had no intention of listening.
After what felt like forever, we finally left the shop and continued towards the hospital.
The colorful boxes sat safely on my lap before Yugant hand them to bhai to keep them safe while my eyes remained fixed on the red bangles decorating my wrists.
Every small movement created a soft tinkling sound. And somehow that made me smile even more.
But the best part came later.
Halfway through the drive, Yugant sweetly picked up my hand and settled it beneath his on gear. His fingers wrapped over mine naturally.
As if that was exactly where my hand belonged.
Heat spread through my chest.
I looked out of the window immediately so neither of them could see my smile.
God.
I was embarrassingly happy.
The simple feeling of being cared for.
Sometimes happiness wasn't grand. Sometimes it was just a pair of red bangles and the man you loved refusing to let go of your hand.
As we reached the hospital, I got out of the car with Bhai while Yugant went to park it.
The hospital was surprisingly quiet for a weekday morning.
We walked towards the consultation floor and settled outside the doctor's cabin.
" Bhai... why do you find reasons to piss Yugant?"
" Because I enjoy it, and the bastard knows it, so chill."
I shook my head. I am actually the third wheel between them.
A few minutes later, Yugant finally arrived.
I stood up but Bhai remained seated.
"Aren't you coming?" I asked.
He shook his head. "You both go inside. I'll wait here."
"But you came for the reports."
"Exactly." He nodded. "Reports. Not the checkup."
I frowned.