Author’s POV
At Raichand Mansion
Both the Singhania's and the Raichands were sitting together, talking and laughing. Aditya and Riya’s friends were also present.
Just then, Aayansh cut his call and was about to join his friends when the doorbell rang.
“Who could it be at this time?” Rekha Raichand wondered.
“I’ll go check,” Aayansh said, walking to the door.
The moment he opened it
“SURPRISEEEE!” a loud scream echoed.
Standing there, drenched in sass, was the same girl from the airport Ruhanika Raichand. She was glaring straight at him.
“What the hell are YOU doing here?!” both shouted in unison.
“Oh, so now you’re following me to blackmail me for more money?” Aayansh sneered.
Ruhanika scoffed. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are? Follow you? Main toh tumhe Instagram pe bhi follow na karu!” {“I wouldn’t even follow you on Instagram!” }
Before their argument could heat up further “Kon aya hai, Aayansh?” Aditya called out, coming with Riya.
But before Aayansh could answer, Ruhanika screamed, “Aduuu!”
She ran and threw herself into Aditya’s arms. He picked her up and hugged her tightly. “I missed you, Hani,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.
Aayansh froze. His eyes darted toward Riya, his sister who stood rooted, glaring furiously at Aditya and the mysterious girl in his arms. Anger flared in Aayansh’s chest too. How dare Aditya, his sister’s soon to be fiancé, hug another girl and call her “Hani”?{but he heard it honey)
The entire Raichand family gathered at the scene, shocked, while the Singhanias and others looked confused.
“Ani” a soft, broken voice cut through the tension.
All eyes turned to Parth, his eyes brimming with tears. The whole Raichand family’s faces mirrored his emotions.
Parth rushed forward, gently taking Ruhanika from Aditya’s arms and crushing her in a hug. “I missed you, Ani.”
“I missed you too, Chikoo,” she whispered back, eyes wet.
Rahul pushed Parth away to hug her next. “I missed you so much, Doll.”
“And I missed you, Rory,” she replied warmly.
Then a soft, rare voice shocked everyone. “Didn’t you miss me, Princess?”
It was Rishabh Raichand, the brother known for his silence and stoicism. His eyes were misty. The sight left everyone speechless.
“How can you say that, Bhai?” Ruhanika pouted before hugging him tightly. “You’re the one I missed the most.”
Parth scoffed. “At least don’t say it in front of us, we already know who your favorite brother is.”
Ruhanika laughed sheepishly, then spread her arms wide. All her brothers hugged her tightly, protectively, as if letting go would mean losing her again.
“If your sibling reunion is done, Princess, maybe you could honor the rest of us too?” Pradeep Raichand her Bade Papa teased.
She instantly rushed to hug him, her Chachu Arjun, Badi Maa Anjali, and Choti Maa Priya.
“Ab toh hum Jaise buddho se koi pyar hi nahi karta” sighed Indrajeet Raichand, her grandfather. {“Now no one loves the old folks like us anymore.”}
“Dadu! How can you even say that?” Ruhanika scolded sweetly, folding her hands. She bent to touch his and Dadi’s feet. Rekha Raichand, her Dadi, pulled her into a hug. “Arrey, mera baccha kitni dubli ho gayi hai tu.”{“Oh my child, you’ve become so skinny.”}
Ruhanika laughed softly.
“Who is she?” asked Gayatri Devi, Aayansh’s grandmother.
Indrajeet proudly introduced her. “Meet the princess of our family Ruhanika Raichand.”
“Abhi yahi khade rahenge kya?{“Are we going to stand here forever?”} Let’s go inside and sit comfortably,” he added.
The Banter Begins
As everyone was settling inside, Ruhanika glanced at Aayansh and called out, “Can you bring my luggage from outside and keep it in my room?”
Aayansh looked behind him in disbelief. “You’re talking to me?”
“Yes, you,” she said flatly.
Everyone’s attention instantly snapped to them.
“It’s fine, Hani. I’ll bring it,” Aditya offered.
“Arrey nahi, Bhai. Let him do it. Waise bhi mujhe aap sabse bohot baate karni hain.”{“Anyway, I have so much to talk to all of you.”}
“It’s fine, Anika. I’ll ask someone else,” Anjali tried to pacify.
“Badi Maa! Why ask someone else when he can do it? Isn’t he Varun Bhai’s appointed bodyguard?”
“Princess, he’s not Varun’s guard,” Rishabh corrected.
“Yes, Princess,” Aayansh mocked. “Why would I work for your Varun Bhai when I can buy his entire team?”
“Don’t call me Princess,” Ruhanika snapped.
“Oh, but why? Aren’t you a Princess who expects me to bow to her?” he smirked.
“Excuse me, you look like a bodyguard,” she shot back.
“From which angle?!” he demanded.
“From every angle,” she said smugly.
He clenched his jaw. “Care to elaborate?”
“Oh, with pleasure.” She raised her finger. “Three reasons. First your body. Bilkul pehlwan jaisi body hai. {“You have a body just like a wrestler.”}
Second look around! Everyone is wearing casual clothes, and you’re in a suit. Comfort nam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai! {“There’s something called comfort, you know!”} Clearly, you’ve never heard of it.”
“Excuse me, I know what comfort is!” he glared.
What is the third reason Arav asked, to which he got a glare from Ayansh.
Ruhanika pointed towards the entrance, at which everyone’s attention shifted to the entrance, where Varun was coming towards them with all his glory, carrying Ruhanika’s luggage in his hands.
He came towards them, stopped next to Aayansh, and asked why all of you were looking at me like this.
Nothing, Bhai, just clearing someone’s doubt. Ruhanika replied.
What, Varun asked.
Bhai, wait,
Where we were. Yeah, the third reason, right? So look, Ruhanika said, pointing at Ayansh and Varun. See the white tshirt, black jacket, and black pants. The only missing thing is a tie, which he is not wearing. She said this by pointing at Aayansh.
The room burst into laughter. Everyone except Aayansh (furious) and Varun (confused).
“What’s so funny?” Varun asked, baffled.
“Nothing, Bhai. I’ll tell you later,” Ruhanika whispered, though Aayansh’s glare followed her.
She brushed it off, telling Varun to rest since he had to come when he was on leave. He smiled, said goodbye, and left.
Still, the laughter lingered, and finally, Aayansh snapped. “ENOUGH!” His voice thundered.
The room fell silent. Everyone grew tense, especially Rishabh, who knew Ruhanika was about to face Aayansh’s infamous temper.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you? To take revenge on me?” Aayansh accused.
“What revenge? You wanted reasons, I gave you. The world doesn’t revolve around you, Mr Akdu ,” she muttered.
His eyes narrowed. “What did you just call me? Say it again.”
I’m sorry mai to bhul he gayi thi ki tumehe thoda kam sunai deta he. { “I’m sorry, I completely forgot that you hear a little less.” }
she said sweetly.
“AKDU?! Tumne mujhe Akdu kese kaha?” {“AKDU?! How did you dare call me Akdu?!”}
“Haan! Mere muh se A.K.D U!” {“Yes! From my own mouth A.K.D.U!”} she declared proudly.
“If I’m Akdu, then you’re Jangli Billi.” {wild cat}
Kis angel se me tumhe jangli billi dikhai de rahi hu {“From which angle do I look like a wild cat to you?” } she asked angrily.
Har angle se thoda elaborate karu,are ruko kar he deta hu. Jo ye apni choti choti billiyo jesi annkhen badi badi kar ke jo mujhe ghoor rahi ho taki jese he tumhe moka mile to tum apne in lambe lambe nakhun se mujh par zapata mar kar mera munh noch lo. Or ese to bas ek Jangli billi he karti he.
{ “From every angle. Should I elaborate? Fine, let me explain.
The way your little cat like eyes go all wide and you glare at me as if you’re just waiting for a chance to scratch my face with those long claws of yours.
And only a wild cat behaves like that.”}
Me jangli bili toh toh tum bhi angry bird. {“If I’m a wild cat, then you’re an angry bird too.”}
Pehlehe decide karlo Akdu ya Angry Bird. {“First decide Akdu or Angry Bird.”}
Tum to dono ho. Akdu kyuki hamesha akad dhikhate rehete ho or angry bird kuyki apni in badi badi annkhon se sabko ghoor te rehte ho.{ You’re both. Akdu, because you’re always showing attitude,and Angry Bird because you keep glaring at everyone with those big eyes of yours.” }
Par angry birds or billiyan to cute hoti he, {“But angry birds and cats are supposed to be cute.”} Arav said softly but was heard by everyone.
Shut up, both Aayansh and Ruhanika said at the same time while glaring at Arav, then again glared at each other.
Rekha finally interrupted. “Bas! Stop fighting like children.”
Vahi to bache bhi ese nahi ladte or ulta mujh jese bhole bhale bache par he chillaa diya humm.{“Exactly! Even kids don’t fight like this, and instead, they yelled at innocent, naive kids like me.” } Arav said this while pouting. But got smacked by Kabir. Why did you hit me, he asked?
“Enough now,” Gayatri Devi said firmly. “We’re here for a reason. Let’s focus on that.”
Everyone agreed and sat down.
Rahul suddenly asked, “By the way, what revenge were you two talking about?”
“Not now, Rahul,” Anjali warned.
“It’s fine, Badi Maa,” Ruhanika said. She explained their airport encounter, ending with, “I really thought he was a bodyguard” She looked guilty.
Seema smiled kindly. “It’s fine, beta. Misunderstandings happen. Now both of you clear it and let it go.”
“Go get fresh, Ruhanika,” Rekha said. “Dinner is waiting.”
She nodded and left for her room.
Later, when she joined them for dinner, everyone tried to lighten the mood except Aayansh, who sat simmering quietly.
“This is all your fault,” he hissed at Arav.
“What did I do now?” Arav cried.
“If you hadn’t called me to the airport, none of this would’ve happened!”
“Enough!” Seema scolded.
The evening carried on, but the sparks between Akdu and Jangli Billi were far from over.
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