Keyur looked at his wife who is walking around their room with ease. Adwait informed him that Srida met Sevya today during lunch at their house. He raced back home to see this. She did not acknowledge , greet nor look at him atleast. He wanted call her name but who knows what will be her reaction.

For the first time, Sevya could see fear in her husband's eyes. He was too careful for her liking. It has been 10 days since she left him to control her anger.

Keyur knew she wrapped him around her finger this time. Her slightly elevated cheek bones looked full indicating she has relaxed well.

"When was the last time you looked at me?." Keyur questioned making her halt infront of his walk in closet. She didn't try to glance at him.

" When was the last time, you decided to see your husband?." Keyur asked as Sevya rolled her eyes. Ofcourse she loves to look at him.

" You." He said holding her neck from back not giving her a chance to look at him now.

" Have made a grave mistake." He continued.

" Of leaving me." He finished turning her towards him. Facing her husband Sevya looked into his eyes, she could see his desperation. Looseing his hold on her, Keyur stepped close enough to hear her heartbeat. Adjusting her hair, he kissed Sevya on cheek smiling a bit.

" I bought chocolates and lays packet for you. Freshen up, rest a bit and don't roam around like this." He said shocking her.

" I am fine!." She shouted.

" Of course you are. You are on periods why won't you be fine? This is normal. " He stated with an amused smile.

" I don't need your validation!." Sevya shouted again.

" Okay." He replied trying to control his chuckle. Sevya pushed him back. She stomped on his foot making him groan in pain.

" Does that hurt? That's what I feel everytime people talk shit about me! Do you all say same to helpers around here?." Sevya blasted.

" What are you talking about?." He spoke.

" Do you ? Make fun of people who are not capable to your level of work?." She questioned him.

" You know very well I am not like my parents Sevya." He said in a warning tone.

" Maybe you are not, the way you are so calm about this makes me question my place in this house. " Sevya shouted.

" You know we live in an Era where women are given equal importance as men of the family. They are given part of their property, called man of the House. Where women with right education consider sharing men's work to lessen their burden but in your household you people look at us as a machine for sex and child birth. Pleasure for a moment and under pressure forever. That's the definition of being a maharani at Toshniwal household!." She shouted hitting him hard on his chest.

" Sevya....". Keyur tried to control her but he knew her mood swings are making his wife talk truth in a very raw way.

" I think you would be this calm doing nothing just like that plant on balcony taking up sun feeding on source of energy, living like a decorative item when men in your office comment the same about me. I guess they comment too looking at the way your parents pass taunts on me." Sevya spoke in a very low tone facing away from him.

When she looked back, Keyur was walking away from her silently fisting his palms tightly.

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Srida stood in the institute looking at different sections. Now she doesn't have any interest in carrying out the task of managing it especially after she saw what value women of this house have. Unless she's pregnant or extremely rich or has connections she will not be recognized for her work.

What's the point of doing this charity when this is all for publicity to maintain the name Toshniwal household?

Walking to her dance studio she prayed before Bhagwan Nataraja before starting her warm up. Loosening her kurta a bit she started moving her feet, with no music her body could perform well as different emotions played inside her body.

Sitting on the floor, she looked up to see two girls of age around 13 to 15 years standing there along with a boy slightly younger to them. Smiling at their faces, she gestured them to come inside.

"I am here to learn dance." The boy spoke making Srida happy. She looked at the girls who did not meet her eyes.

"What would you like to learn? Girls?." She asked them.

"Whatever you are dancing that! And disco too." The boy replied dancing in a funny way.

"Girls?." She asked again. They didn't respond.

"Ammi said Girls need to stay at home, learn girly things I don't know what that meant. But they came anyway since my jiji is going to get married soon. I don't like that person he's too old. Doesn't play with me too." The young boy blabbered hitting a nerve which Srida didn't expect. Those girls smiled at their brother who couldn't stop talking.

How can these people kill innocence? Is this what we call women empowerment? Building schools, providing facilities for free, taking education about personal growth. These all seem to fail as families like these kids still follow toxic traditions.

" Come here. We have stretch our legs and hands to learn any form of dance. Before that will you remove your shoes ? Make a bow to Mahadev ? Girls introduce yourself please." Srida spoke as she was always taught children are form of God who come into our lives to show a direction.

" Ankita, elder one. She is my sister Barkha and he's my brother Abhilash." The eldest one spoke making Srida smile.

" Let's warm up ok?." She started showing them how to do not in back of her recent incidents and this one created a havoc. Srida couldn't belive this is how royalties live. For she knew how forward Maharaja of Jaipur was during their times and how backward this household is basing on ideologies of people who couldn't come out of 1800s .

Hey mahadev! You witness everything yet you are so quite!

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Rayaan smiled as he dropped Radha at their house. Promising her to join back in an hour he reached his office where his brothers were waiting for him. The moment Keyur informed him about his parents careless talk, he chose not to speak with them again but the fire burning inside him couldn't be controlled.

After their blissful night Rayaan planned to surprise his wife with a vacation. He didn't want to spoil her excitement and happiness. He knew Sevya will talk about what happened with Radha. But first he needs to hear his brothers again. Slamming Keyur's office door wide he walked inside silently, giving time for his clients to move away. Adwait followed his elder brother, but the younger ones knew what's going to come now. No matter what they say no one can stop Rayaan from bursting out. Keyur took it for granted he's going to slap him right on face for not standing up for his wife as well as bhabi whereas Adwait legs shaked a bit thinking about what Rayaan would do to both of them.

"Adwait!." Rayaan shouted to which he flinched.

" Listen Bhai, leave him out of it. " Keyur spoke walking to him youngest one. Rayaan gave a look but Keyur didn't back off.

" I-" Adwait wanted to say something but Rayaan asked him to shut his mouth.

" Blinds. Lock." He commanded his younger siblings who is intelligent but still new to bussiness.

" I know Keyur, Adwait is my brother too. But I did not expect this from you two!." Rayaan shouted punching the wall beside him. Three of them went silent, only their breathing audible.

" Srida keeps on questioning why don't we stand for what is wrong? Why do we wait for right time and how can we say a word or two when they speak like that instead of standing our ground. I- I can't keep on giving her excuses." Adwait spoke sitting in chair. Both the brothers looked at their younger brother who looked distressed. They were taught to speak half truth not lies. But now things are changing.

" We are slowly becoming our father." Keyur stated sighing a bit.

" I would say.." Rayaan started walking towards his brother.

" I would say, what made you make that blunder?. Radha Toshniwal is my wife, she is innocent but not dumb Keyur! How can you be so irresponsible and careless!??." Rayaan shouted pulling keyur by his collar.

" I was stressed out. Moreover they have transferred our funds to... you know instead of the institute. " Keyur murmured. If his hands could kill, Rayaan would have murdered his own brother.

" I expect you to be present here. If only you were brave enough to firmly give back what you had to go through Sevya wouldn't be leaving you and you my brother Keyur won't be in this state." Rayaan exclaimed. Keyur knew if his brother is using names it is a serious matter. And he fucked up big time.

" How can you just leave like that Adwait?! Is this what you call self respect?!! They insulted Radha! Who supported you to join this bussiness and gave you strength to deal things on your own when me and Keyur were busy stabilizing this company!." Rayaan shouted, if walls weren't sound proof Adwait was sure people two streets away could listen to them.

" I did stand up." He said.

" Was that enough?! I can't believe you are my brothers whom Radha loves like her own!." Rayaan spoke turning away from them.

" We are sorry Bhai. Adwait didn't have much to say as I gestured for him to leave. What I spoke is not enough to defend my bhabi and wife but the way Sevya questioned me today, I.. I can't believe she has started doubting the way I care for her.". Keyur spoke.

" Radha bhabi won't be far from it. Srida too is questioning me. If only you asked gave us permission to tell them then-" Adwait spoke but got interrupted.

" No! It's not safe! I want our wives to be safe! We already exposed them to public due to stupid announcement of the institute by our parents. No matter what happens do not disclose this. Not until it's safe for them to live with us." Rayaan spoke holding his head. Radha already questioned his care on her. He couldn't share with his brothers as he didn't want them to know about their physical relation before they incident . What haunts Rayaan more is not only safety of three ladies but also his brothers whom he loves the most.

" Dealing with parents is not a big problem. Do not hold yourself back from now onwards. After all, without us and our hardwork nothing can be moved in that house." Rayaan said in a low tone thinking about what all he's going do to show them what disrespecting others mean.

Adwait stood silently listening to their brothers. He understood why Rayaan is extremely stressed. Handling their bussiness is different from going through something they are prepared for. Their father is to be blamed but what can his brothers do?

" Rayaan bhai, did bhabi question you already?." Adwait asked sensing something is off.

" She did question Adwait. I am sure after looking at the file which Keyur showed, she will not say a word but dig deep. Now that other two detected something off, we should be extra careful. If works gets done by us , we don't need them to worry right? Moreover, our parents aren't enough Adwait?." Rayaan spoke looking at his brother accusingly.

With suits thrown in a corner, loose ties and tensed faces three brother looked out of their window lost in their own thoughts. But one thought was common among them, How come they never realised the hold their wives have on them? Is this how better half makes us strive for the best?

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Its longest chapter.

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I haven't planned much abt this story, just a basic line up that's all. But somehow I am liking the way its turning up.

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Until next time :)(: