Hello to all you beautiful readers! I am back. Did you guys miss me and this book? I hope you did. Also, hoping you guys are fine and remember the story as well because it has been a while.

Jumping right into the story now without further delay  <3

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Bani opened her eyes in panic and then closed them back shut due to the sudden bright light. She groaned. Veer, who had been sitting next to her sprang to action and put on the blinds. He also switched off all the lights save the small lamp.

V: Sweetheart? Are you okay? Ab koshish kro ankhe kholne ki..It is not as bright anymore.

Bani opened her eyes slowly again and let them adjust. She studied the worry lines on her husband's face, dark circles underneath his eyes and his unruly hair. It felt like he had just come back from a trip to hell.

B: Veer? You don't look okay...

V: Ye tum bol rahi hoo...Agar tumhe kuch ho jata toh mai khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kr pata..

Bani cupped his face.

B: I am fine Veeranshu. It wasn't your fault. Please smile for me, it looks like you have aged years overnight.

Veer gave her a vague smile and pulled her into a hug.

V: Bani what had happened to you in there?

B: It is all in the past now. What happened of those men though? I remember running and then falling. I don't remember getting saved....

V: Like you said, it is all in the past. Don't worry, he will never come back to bother you..

B: What?! Did you....?

V: No, I did not taint my hands in his blood. If that is what you are asking.

B: Then?

V: He received a lawful punishment. Now no more talks of them...come, I need to get you fed so that you take your medicines on time.

Bani nodded slowly and got up. Before she could even take a single step forward, she was scooped up by Veer in his arms.

B: Veeranshu!

V: Gharwali...You don't know me at all if you think I will let walk around on your own for a few days now, probably weeks..

Bani whined and hid her face in the crook of his neck. To her embarrassment, he didn't listen to any of her pleas and carried her downstairs. He made her comfortable on the couch as he thought it would be better than a chair and fed her food. He also had Daksh call in the doctor so that she can confirm that Bani was fine indeed. Bani complained that it was unnecessary but Veer was on a really over protective mode.

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It had been three days now. Three whole days since Veer had switched his over-protective bear mode on. He would snap easily and get agitated quickly if Bani wasn't in his arms reach. Bani initially thought it was cute but was getting irritated by his constant need to touch and feel her near him. She couldn't even be in the shower for more than five minutes without causing him panic.

On the fourth day, Balwant and Tara explained it to him to let Bani move normally and not micro manage her routine. To Bani's delight, he understood and apologized to her for his cave-man ways. He promised to not behave like an ogre if she wasn't around but asked her to never head outside the house alone, even for a while. Bani understood that the wounds in his mind were still fresh and agreed to not go outside the house alone. For now, she was happy to move around the house without eyes constantly following her.

She helped the staff with breakfast and made small talks. She then took a long shower in the guest bathroom as their shower wasn't working properly. All this while, her big baby was in the study going over some files. She came out and began dressing.

Bani was wearing a silver-sh sequence saari. She was still new at wearing saaris and it took her time. However, she realized Veer really adored her in a saari and if it made him happy, it was worth the effort.

Her husband had just finished reviewing the files and sending his feedbacks. He had a meeting post lunch and decided to spend some time with her till then. He was moving towards his room when he saw Jai peeping around the corner. Veer would have ignored Jai, like he usually did but his lust-filled eyes made Veer curious.

Veer moved towards Jai to enquire when he saw Bani from the gap in the door and saw Jai's gaze fixated on her navel. His nose flared as he realized what Jai was looking at. He stormed towards Jai and held him by his collar. The nag was flabbergasted. One minute he was staring at Bani's smooth belly button and the very next minute he was seeing his angry step brother eye to eye. He gulped as he saw fire blazing in his glare. Veer clenched his jaw and hit Jai hard on the mouth with his head.

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Bani had just set the pleat properly. Finally! She applied sindoor and touched her nuptial chain. The delicate piece was resting on her neck. She smiled and headed out but stopped on her tracks. Laying on the floor, near her feet was Jai with blood pouring out of his mouth and standing above the sorry excuse of a man was her husband.

B: Veeranshu!?..ye sb?

The moment Jai realized Bani was outside, he began crying out in pain. He held his nose and coughed up blood.

B: Oh my god! Bhaiya aap thik hai na?

V: Koi thik nahi hai..rakshas hai ye...tum bhaiya bulati ho isse aur ye...chi!

Balwant, Daksh and Ponky came their rushing along with a few staff members. Chandrakala had gone to her maternal home as Chandini was creating a ruckus there and she felt that she should be physically present with them to explain the situation to her brother.

Bal: kya hua hai...ye Jai aise?

J: Aaah....dad..

Balwant cringed at being referred to as 'dad' by a nag.

J: Veer ne..mujhe...meri maa nahi hai yahan to sbne do minute nahi lagaye sautela behaviour krne me...

V: Chuze! Ek naag ko ghar me rakha hai na, vo bohot hai...ab apnapan bhi chahiye tujhe? Aur tu jo kr raha tha vo sahi hai?

Bal: Veer tu kyu ladta hai...

D: Badepapa aap pehle bhai ki baat sun lo...ye nag bohot chant hai. Sbke samne khud ko bechara banakr apni galti pr parda kr deta hai..

Jai cut in before Veer could speak further.

J: Daksh. Tu mere chote bhai jaisa hai...tu bhi aisa bolega kya?

Jai looked down as if he was in pain and sad. Bani looked at him give a slight smirk, looking at the floor and realized how sick he was.

B: Veeranshu. Mujhe jaana hai...kya hua tha?

Jai opened his mouth again but Bani cut him off.

B: Please don't mind bhaiya but mujhe apne husband se answers chahiye..

Veer smirked but then a look of disgust crossed his face. He didn't know how to word it properly and not embarrass Bani in front of all.

V: He was trying to peep in the door while you where...um...in there..

Everyone understood what Veer was trying to insinuate. Bani felt creeped out and wanted to smack herself for not ensuring that the gate was shut properly. Jai tried to cover up but no one was falling for his bad acting.

Bal: Jai, bs ab. Tujhe bhi pata hai Veer kitna protective hai Bani ko lekr, specially jo us din hua, uske baad se...so behtar yahi hoga ki tu Bani se door reh

Veer held him by collar again.

V: And kyunki mujhe pata hai zeher ko pyaar hazam nahi hota let me explain in a language you understand. Ek aur baar agar tune Bani ko dekha bhi na, uske pass bhi aya toh mai tujhe maar kr, apne cheelon ko tere tukde khilla dunga....smjha!

Jai felt heat rise on his face due to the insult but he felt even more angry as no one reprimanded Veer for what he said.

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Bani entered the room quietly with a tray of food in her hand.

B: Veeranshu?

She set the food on the table.

B: Please kha lo kuch. Meeting hai and phir pata nahi kb time mille?

V: Bhook nahi hai Bani.

He stood and went to stand in the front of the window. Bani went to him and hugged his back.

B: I am so sorry Veeranshu. I keep worrying you.

She sobbed. Veer turned and cupped her face.

V: Tum ro kyu raho ho sweetheart? And why are you sorry?

B: Vo mai pehle ghar se lake chali gayi, phir kidnap ho gayi aur aaj ye...I keep troubling you.

V: Jo bhi tumne kaha, none of this is your fault...I feel angry at myself for being unable to protect you..

B: None of these things were your fault either Veeranshu..please tum guilty mt feel karo..

V: How can I not? I dragged you into my world and I can't save you from the dangers that come with it...

B: Hmm...I have an idea!

V: Kya?

B: Why don't you teach me self defense?

V: and they will work against a supernatural being? Kuch bhi Bani..

B: Fighting is not always about power, but also about tact. At least it will give me a fighting chance..

V: God forbid you ever need a fighting chance but I get your point. I will feel better if you knew some defense.

B: Done! To kl se meri training shuru...pr usse pehle lunch...

V: gharwali..I have a meeting..

B: You have few minutes to spare but I won't spare you without food. Chalo ab aao..

Bani made him sit and gave him a bite. Veer smiled and ate it. He gave her a bite as well. They fed each other and Veer left for work.

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At night, Balwant's room. He is on phone.

Bal: sb thik hai chanda. Aisa kuch nahi hua tha..tumhare bete ko badha chadha ke kehne ki adat hai..

C:...

Bal: He misbehaved with Bani...and you know how Veer gets.

C:.....

Bal: I think division is the answer.

C:....

Bal: Don't be shocked! It is a shock ki ek nag ke saath hum cheel itne saal kaise reh liye...You are human, I don't expect you to understand the ways of our worlds but your son happens to be what we all dislike.

C:...

Bal: don't you dare accuse me of favoritism. I lost my own son's favor because of yours. Daksh and Ponky will inherit Pawan's assets and Veer is the prince of my clan..

C:...

Bal: arey Cheel rajkumar Jai nahi ban skta ...Nag hai vo...kuch bhi...Veer inherits his mom's assets, this house was in her name as well. ....No, I will not divide Avni's assets but I won't drop him on the road. Other than cash, he can keep the restaurants he runs and a house in Mumbai.

C:...

Bal: My decision is final. Jai will not live in Cheels' mansion. Tum teen din me aa jao. Hum ye baat baachon ko ek saath bata denge...

He cut the phone, feeling frustrated.

Bal: Avni!...I should have realized our child is brave and doesn't need anyone to fill that mother's void. Chandrakala ki help to mai bina shaadi kiye bhi kr deta aur ye nag bhi gale nahi padta...She is good, we are like friends, best of friends but jb baat is nag ki hoti hai...ugh!...ab aur nahi...Veer ki shaadishuda zindagi me koi garbad nahi chahiye mujhe..

He spoke to his first wife's picture for a while and went to sleep. Unknown to him, a snake was hiding under his bed all this while.

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Jai: Ugh!...mujhe ghar se nikalenge!..Aaj bete ne meri insult ki aur baap bhi mujhe ghar se nikalne ki planning kr raha hai....ugh!!!!!!...kyun mera baap koi naag raja nahi tha?? Is cheel rajkumar ke aage humesha chota hi mehsoos hota hai...aur ab, itne saalo baad....ek business aur ghar dekr bye bye bol denge...vo bhi ehsaan jata kr...mai rahunga akele aur ye veer apni biwi ke saath maze karega?...Nahi...mere hote hue tum bhi khushi khushi nahi jee skta Bade bhai...kabhi nahi!..

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What do you think Jai is planning?

xoxo