TARA
"Princess, are you okay?" Arjun Bhaiya's concern was evident as he entered my room, and I rushed to hug him.
"Bhaiya, why does this always happen to me? Every time I try to be happy, I end up feeling miserable. Why do I always meet people like this? Will I ever find someone who will love me, respect me, and be my world?" I cried into his arms.
"Baccha, don't think like that. Until we know who is bad, we won't know who is good for us. You deserve the best, and I promise, your bhaiya will find the best for you," he assured, wiping away my tears.
"Bhaiya, can you promise me one thing?" I asked, looking up at him. He nodded.
"Promise me that you'll never raise your hand on anyone," I implored, extending my little finger for a pinkie promise. "I know you fought with Mr. Chauhan. I saw the bruise on his face. He may come off as rude, but he's not a bad person. Don't fight with him," I pleaded.
He took my hands gently in his, "Princess, do you love him?" he asked suddenly, taking me by surprise.
"Bhaiya, it's not like that. Mr. Chauhan and I are... we are," I started, but he hugged me before I could finish.
"Baccha, it's okay. You don't need to explain. But I hope you trust me enough to share every little detail of your life. I want to be the first person you think of when you're in trouble, and know that I'll always support you, no matter what, whether you're right or wrong," he reassured me, and a smile formed on my face.
I may not be lucky enough to find my right one, but I know one thing for sure: I am God's favorite child. He took my mom away from me, but he gave me the best brother in the world. My bhaiya is my rock, my support system. He'll always have my back, no matter what. Even if the whole world is against me, my bhaiya will be on my side.
***
"Nani, can I sleep with you both tonight?" I asked, lying on their bed, hugging her.
She caressed my hair, my head on her lap, nodding with a sweet smile.
"Nanu, nani," I said, sitting up, "You're not mad at me, are you?" I asked.
"Beta, why would we be angry? I was so angry at those despicable people. How dare they say such things about my precious child," Nanu scoffed in anger, "And always remember, your nanu nani will never wish anything bad for you," he reassured, and I nodded.
"And look at Aditya beta, such boys are rare these days who respect their elders. The girl who marries him will be very lucky," Nani replied.
I may not know what fate has in store for us, but Nani is right.
But still my anger at him hasn't subsided yet. Why does he need to get so angry over everything? We could have talked it out, but no, he prefer to resort to violence. All men are the same, always fighting!
But out of all the men I've met so far, he's different. The way he cares for me, how gentle he is with me, like when he was calming me down when I was crying. Guys don't usually do that. They don't even care, but he's different from the rest.
For the world, he may be ruthless, arrogant, and cold, but with me, he has a different side that no one else has seen. It's like, even in a crowded room, he only sees me.
He's my new favorite feeling, and only he can make me feel that way.
I wanted him.
I think he wants me too.
We both wanted each other.
But-
ADITYA
"Buy up all the shares of his company without him having a clue. I want to obliterate him in ways he couldn't have imagined. I'll reduce him to such a state that even his descendants will remember the consequences of crossing the Chauhan's." I seethed over the phone to Rudra.
Rudra is that one guy who conducts illegal activities in such a manner that they appear legal to everyone else. He's incredibly astute at it; it takes him just a matter of minutes to dismantle anyone without a trace of evidence left behind.
And after what that bastard did to my jaan, I won't let him off easy. Every tear that fell from her eyes because of him, I'll make him pay for.
"What's going on in your mind? Are you planning to acquire his company behind his back and leave him on the streets?" Rudra's voice was laced with concern.
"I want to show that fucker his place. This is just the beginning. I'll ruin his entire world, and he won't even see it coming," I snapped back.
"Now that you've made up your mind, the deal is on. By the way, there's a little gift for you. Check your phone," he said before ending the call. A notification flashed on my screen, and I opened it eagerly.
A wicked grin spread across my face as I watched the video. That bastard caught red-handed, engaging in illicit activities with his employee in the office. I instructed Rishi to tip the reporters, killing two birds with one stone.
First, shut the mouths of these media vultures, and second, show that fucker what happens when he messes with the wrong person. This is just the beginning; he has no idea what's coming his way.
"Bhai, we're planning a weekend getaway at our farmhouse. It was Ishani Bhabhi's idea; she called and told me that Tara has been distraught since that day, so we've decided to surprise her. You have to bring her to the farmhouse without letting her know anything," Rohan announced abruptly before vanishing into the ether.
***
"Beta, you've arrived? God bless you. I've already packed her bag without her knowing." I greeted Nani as she blessed me. Ishani must have already informed her.
"Alright, beta, I have to go to the market. Please take care of her." she said before leaving me alone.
I reached for my phone to call her, and as it rang, I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around, there she was, descending the stairs. She glanced at me, then at her phone. I looked at her and ended the call.
She made her way down and headed to the kitchen as if she were alone in the house. Someone's still upset, it seems. I trailed after her into the kitchen. She grabbed a glass from the counter, filled it with water, and began drinking without sparing me a glance.
Seizing the opportunity, I spun her around by the elbow and pinned her against the counter. Her lips still touched the glass, but her eyes widened at my sudden move. I closed the distance between us, took the glass from her hand, and drank from the same spot where her lips had been, locking eyes with her with a smirk.
Her face turned crimson at my playful antics, and she averted her eyes, refusing to meet my gaze. I set the glass down and grabbed her waist, pulling her attention towards me.
"When I'm with you, your eyes should only be on me," I uttered with a commanding tone, staring into her deep eyes.
"Such an attention seeker you are!" she retorted, attempting to push me away, but I stood my ground.
Leaning in closer, I whispered huskily, "I don't want the world's attention. Yours is enough," making her blush even more. She pushed me away again, but this time, I let her, unable to contain my laughter at her flustered state.