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Mythili's POV -

I couldn't have been more grateful for the fact that whoever was standing in front of me did not attempt to snatch away my solitude because eventually, I heard a phone go off and the footsteps traced away from me. Even then, for some reason I did not dare to open my eyes for a long time.

" Excuse me ma'am." I heard a voice and I finally opened my voice to find a waiter with a plate of food on it as I looked at him, confused.

" This is your dinner. I was told that you have not eaten anything." He handed me over the plate and before I could ask him anything, he walked away.

" I am not hungry." I talked to myself and kept the plate of food on the swing next to mine. I was desperately waiting to get home. These parties bore me out senseless. I sat there for a long time, enjoying the cool breeze caressing my face as I then, for my comfort, rested my head at the chain of the swing.

For some extremely weird reason, the dance proximity with Mr. Rathore was still bothering me very much. I could still feel the jitters on my waist where he had held me.

" Mythili I really think you need a psychiatrist because you are clearly losing your mind." I scolded myself and then, once again my eyes went to the food which was kept near me.

" Who bothered to notice enough to know that I didn't eat anything like I always do in these parties?" I asked myself. Yes, I had this weird habit of talking to myself since others won't.

" I did." I heard a female voice which made me stand up and turn around to see. It was Mrs. Malini Rathore who was standing there in all her glory. Her face did not throw away any emotions but I could see her eyes softened ever since I came back after dancing with her son.

" Mrs. Rathore umm....thank you so much." I was completely caught off guard as I thanked her. She said nothing, just picked the plate of food kept next to me and gave it to me. I obviously had no other option than to take it.

" You should eat. It is not healthy to stay hungry for such a long time." She looked at the food and then towards me.

All I could do was give her a slight nod with a smile as I took a bite of butter naan with Mushroom Masala reluctantly.

" Thank you." I said once again as she was walking back inside. I never got a reply but for some reason, the warmth I felt from her was more than I ever felt from my own mother.

" Why do people have to be so weird?" I said as finished eating and walked back inside to dispose off the plate where my father called for me. Rajveer had fallen asleep in his arms.

" Yes dad?" I asked him. He gave my brother in my arms all of a sudden and since he was not a boy fit to be sleeping in anyone's arms at this age because of this height and weight, I stumbled back.

" Careful." He hissed at me angrily, making sure that the golden child was alright. I, on the other hand was sure that my back was going to give me lot's of trouble later because I could feel a spasm coming.

" I am sorry." I muttered, balancing myself properly.

" Take him home and put him to bed. The driver will take you." He instructed me before walking away.

I was somehow managing to walk with him in my arms and the dress was of no help either.

" He is a grown up boy. You shouldn't be the one carrying him." I heard a deep, husky voice from the dance floor. I peeked a little to find Shivaay Singh Rathore standing in front of me as he managed to take Rajveer from my arms to him and while in the process, his fingers brushed my wrist, sending shivers down my spine.

" He is my brother Mr. Rathore, I can carry him." I replied, meekly but my hand automatically went to my lower back because of the discomfort and a building spasm.

He didn't say anything to my response. Instead, he started walking out of the banquet and I followed him. He didn't try to make any conversation and neither did I.

Our driver say us and immediately brought the car near the pick up spot and opened the door of the backseat as Mr. Rathore gently placed Rajveer there and then held the door open for me to slip inside.

" Thank you." I said, looking at him. All he did was give me a nod before closing the gate of the car and took a few steps away. I had taken my eyes away from him but I could still feel his digging holes towards my face. Unknowingly and unwillingly, a blush crept up my cheeks and I was very thankful for the dark or I would have made a fool out of myself in front of him.

Today was a completely confusing day and I most certainly needed a good night's sleep to just be myself. I tucked Rajveer to sleep and then made my way towards my own. The first thing I did was to throw the ridiculous dress away and get into my pyjamas.

Falling asleep was not something that gave me trouble tonight, it was the thought of getting married right now that kept me awaking. Every time I fell asleep, I was dressed as a bride in my nightmares and then all of a sudden, my life started to flash in front of my eyes if I get married now. All I would do is take care after my husband's house, look after his kids and most definitely, I'd never be able to build a life for myself that I had always dreamed of.

" No use tossing and turning anymore." I finally threw myself out of the bed at 6 in the morning when I couldn't take it anymore. I freshened up and washed my face before sitting to finish up with the history assignment that I was supposed to turn in today. As I fired up my laptop, I saw a few current affairs pop-ups that I had subscribed for myself. I went through them before working on my research paper.

As I was reading about the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 which took place in the United States against the imposition of tax on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government during the presidency of George Washington, the door to my bedroom was flung open by a maid.

" Good morning ma'am. You are to get ready and meet your father for breakfast downstairs. He has requested your presence." She said moulding into polite words but I how could she fool me. My father never requests me presence, he commands it.

" I will be there soon." I replied to her and then keeping my laptop aside, went for a bath and put on a yellow sleeveless kurti with straight pants for the day as I made my way to the dining room.

" Good morning." I made my presence known and mom asked me to take a seat which I did.

" Even though you clearly defied your father yesterday by not making any attempt to present yourself as a perfect candidate for being Shivaay's wife, it's all forgiven because at the end of the day, she did notice you and I think this dinner tonight is one step closer to you being betrothed to him. You will be polite and welcoming tonight and show your interest in getting married to him, unlike yesterday. Anymore disobedience will not we tolerated Mythili. You have a duty towards your family and this is how you will fulfil it." Mom made the family's stand clear before I could even take a bite of breakfast and just like that, all my appetite was gone.

" Yes mom, dad." I replied giving them a nod.

" I don't want any issues tonight." Dad remarked without looking at me but everyone knew who he was talking to.

" Yes dad. May I please be excused now?" I asked, dropping my spoon back to the plate.

" Yes. Your outfit for tonight will be sent to your room." Mom replied and suddenly, once again, I felt sick to my stomach, getting up and walked away from them.

Later during the day, I tried my best to not think about tonight's dinner but my mind was just drifting there once and again then when my friends walked into my room.

" Here's your cake, as promised." Viraj said as they all sat around, familiar with the room. My parents are usually not home all day and my brother was at school and this is the usual time for them to come.

" Thank you!" I took a bite and as we fell into conversations, here and there.

" Finished with the assignment?" Amrita asked and I nodded, forwarding my document to them so that they put it in the paraphrasing tool.

" Lovely you are...also, we are not just here for the assignment." Hritik said and I looked him confused.

" What is it?" I asked, looking at the playfulness on their faces.

" We are sneaking you out of your house for a few hours right now. We are going out to have lunch and then for an ice-cream. This Rapunzel will not stay locked up in her castle all day." Viraj said pulling me up from the bed and before I could object, Amrita threw a bag at me.

" Get changed and no, we are not hearing any excuses." She said as they walked out of my room to let to get ready.

" You guys will be the death of me, you know." I shouted for them to hear and instead heard a few snorts. But to be honest, I wanted to do this. To be wild and live for myself. Anyway my parents are tying me to a marriage this evening so why not just forget everything now?

Mythili's Look -

When I heard their plan of jumping out the window, I knew that I was just as unhinged as them because it did not take me more than half a second to say yes to that madness. Hritik was the first to jump, following by Viraj and then Amrita jumped too.

" Come on Mythili. It was damn fun." Amrita said and I just closed me eyes, took a deep breath and without thinking one other thing, just jumped.

And yes, I was alive.

" Let's go." Hritik took Amrita's hand and Viraj and I followed them.

" Let the madness begin!" Amu roared as we finally were in Hritik's car and he started to drive.

" Once my parents find out that I have sneaked out, I am screwed." I said.

" Screw them and just enjoy." Viraj said and I nodded.

We had lunch, went out for an ice-cream and then we also went for a movie. I had left my phone at home so that I couldn't be tracked at all.

" This Rapunzel needs to lock herself back into the castle now." I told them as they gave me a sad smile as they dropped me in front of the main gate.

" Thank you for today guys. I love you." I thanked them before walking inside through the main gate because there was no way to sneak inside in.

" Mythili you are in a big, big trouble." One of the maids who saw me making way inside gave me a look of pity.

" Where were you Mythili Kapoor?" I heard dad ask me as I stepped into the living room and saw Mrs. Rathore sitting there too with her son who had nothing but an expression of amusement on his face, maybe expecting the drama to unfold here.

His eyes still as cold and emotionally devoid, I once again couldn't hold his gaze and decided to look at my mother instead who was looking absolutely furious.

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