THIRD PERSON'S POV:

"I’m sorry, Begum!"

The morning sun shone brightly, almost too cheerfully for the chaos unfolding nearby. As Manhaar strolled through the garden, the sound of a couple bickering over a phone pierced the serene atmosphere.

What a delightful way to start the day! She thought, rolling her eyes. "Who needs peace and quiet when you can have a front-row seat to someone else’s drama?"

The bodyguard’s voice rose above the flowers. "Try to understand! I can't get any leave now, or else I would have come!"

"Right, because the universe revolves around your work schedule." she muttered under her breath, amused by the absurdity. It was clear they hadn’t mastered the art of quiet conflict resolution.

As she walked on, she couldn’t help but shake her head. Welcome to her new life, filled with six older brothers. She had barely settled in and was already wondering how many more melodramas she’d have to endure.

Suddenly, a tall figure stepped into view, leaning against a tree with an air of cool detachment. He was striking, but the way he observed her felt more like an interrogation than a friendly greeting.

"You must be Manhaar" he said, his tone flat and uninviting.

"Great! Another outsider," she shot back, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be lurking in the shadows or something?"

Before he could retort, another brother dashed into the scene, his cheerful demeanor lighting up the otherwise tense atmosphere. "Akveer bhai! There you are! What are you doing out here?"

"Oh, lovely. An audience." Akveer replied, his sarcasm cutting through the air like a knife.

Reyansh turned to Manhaar, beaming. "Don’t mind him. He’s just a bit prickly sometimes. He is Akveer bhai our brother, not some random stranger."

"Prickly? More like ice-cold," she quipped, shooting Akveer a teasing glance. "But I suppose every family needs its resident iceberg."

Akveer smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "Well, if I’m the iceberg, consider yourself the sunshine. This should be an interesting dynamic."

"Challenge accepted," she said with a grin.

As they made their way to the dining room, the aroma of breakfast filled the air—freshly baked bread, sizzling gam, and something deliciously spiced wafting from the kitchen. The brothers gathered around the large table, each taking their seats with casual familiarity.

Akveer, the sharp-eyed strategist of the family, glanced at Manhaar as she settled in. "So, what were you doing in the garden?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

Manhaar smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, just walking around, you know, taking in the sights."

Akveer raised an eyebrow. "Walking? More like inspecting."

"You can say so!" Was her reply

"What did you find out?" He leaned forward

The room fell silent, all eyes on her, a mix of curiosity and anticipation in the air.

Manhaar leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial. "Well, I couldn’t help but notice that the bodyguard arguing with his dear wife is completely head over heels for her."

"Ah, a classic love story," Shivyansh mused, raising an eyebrow.

"But here’s the twist," she continued, relishing the attention. "She’s cheating on him."

Akveer crossed his arms, asked with his serious demeanor "You’ve certainly been busy in the garden, haven’t you?"

"Just gathering intel," she replied cheekily. "You know, in case I need to save any of you from impending doom."

The brothers exchanged glances, their expressions a blend of admiration and disbelief. Little did they know that what Manhaar is saying might be true too!

MANHAAR'S POV:

I was walking upstairs after breakfast, my mind still buzzing with the morning’s chaos.

Gosh, I have one more brother! Woah, that's just a lot to take in. Imagine living with your newfound brothers as strangers.

Akveer—he seems different from the other brothers. I feel like I've seen him somewhere before, but then there's my goldfish memory that refuses to remember where. Maybe it's from somewhere in my childhood, or a random encounter. He has this certain vibe, like he's been a part of my life in some way. It's strange!

I just can't shake the feeling that there's more to his story, and I want to figure out where our paths crossed before.

I felt a rush of satisfaction and curiosity. But as I flopped onto my bed, my thoughts turned dark!

I was feeling sleepy, yet I couldn’t fall asleep. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had a good slumber; I usually just took naps every couple of days because I was so tired. But today wasn’t one of those days.

Since I got here in my brother's house, I hadn’t slept at all. Last night, I spent the entire night stalking their security team, their business associates, and everyone my brothers had connections with.

I was digging for information, but the deeper I went, the messier everything seemed. As Rishi used to say, Ameer log ke raaste jitne saaf dikhte hain, unke neeche utni hi zyada gandagi chhupi hoti hai.

(Translation The paths of wealthy people may seem clean, but beneath them, a lot of dirt is hidden.)

Rishi—he had been my only friend. 
My dance partner. Although he is older than me,
Rishi had always been my confidant, the one person I trusted in this tangled world.

When I moved to Nigeria at nine, I shared everything with him—my ties to the Nigerian mafia, the nuances of our lifestyle, the players involved. I thought we were building a bond based on trust and shared ambition, especially as we competed together. But in hindsight, I was naive.

What I didn’t realize was that Rishi was feeding information to his father, who was deeply entrenched in the Irish mafia. The irony twisted in my gut. Here I was, divulging the inner workings of the Nigerian underworld, believing I was forming a friendship, while Rishi used my trust to help his father gain an advantage over us.

When I finally discovered his betrayal, it felt like a punch to the gut. I had opened up about everything, believing he understood my world. Instead, he was playing both sides, manipulating me for his own gain. It shattered something in me.

Once I caught on, I pulled back, guarding my words. I started sharing only the information I knew would be harmless, just enough to keep Rishi interested without revealing anything substantial. “Hey, I heard the Nigerians are planning a big deal,” I’d casually drop, knowing he’d run to his father with whatever scraps I gave him.

I also knew his father must already have some knowledge of the information I provided. I just loved annoying people, and Rishi's father was easily irritated because I wasn’t giving him anything worthwhile.

And oh how I love that feeling, When someone is irritated because me! 

It was a game of cat and mouse, and I was determined not to be the mouse. Rishi might think he could use me, but I would turn the tables. I would give him enough to keep him satisfied while I worked to stay one step ahead of both him and his father.

I couldn’t help but still feel a mixture of anger and disappointment. Rishi had always seemed supportive, yet it was all an act. I was just another pawn in a game I hadn’t wanted to play. His father’s ambitions could easily become my downfall if I wasn’t careful.

Taking a deep breath, I resolved to keep my guard up. I needed to navigate this treacherous landscape carefully, I could sense the danger lurking beneath the surface of our chaotic lives.

Glancing out the window at the garden below, peaceful and inviting, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.

The game was just beginning, and I was ready to play it my way, unyielding and sharp, amidst the deceit that threatened to entangle me.

It was time to fully embrace my role in this unpredictable game and take control. I had lost so many people, but I refused to lose myself.

---

"Damn, shit, fuck it!"

Very mindful language, I must say!

I wanted to sleep, but here I am, sandwiched between Shivyansh and Aditya.

"Don't they know how to drive?! If not, then why are they here on the highway?!" said the most careful driver of the age, Reyansh.

We've been sitting in the car for over half an hour, and he's been cursing everyone who comes into sight since then!

"You’re driving like we have nine extra lives with us!" Vyom, who is sitting in the passenger seat, added.

"Brother, do all of us a favor and give the driving seat to Vyom bhai!" Shivyansh practically begged him.

"You’re all making it sound like I'm a bad driver. Manhaar, you say I drive nicely, right? They're just making it a big deal." Look at the audacity of this creature.

"Yes, yes! You are the nicest driver I’ve ever seen," I said with the most sarcastic smile ever.

"Jaise tum driving kar rahe ho, us hisaab se to hum khana khane nahi, par baaki log humari teravi ki kheer khane ayenge!" And I’m praying to every god that this never happens.

(Translation: According to the way you're driving, it seems like we won't be eating food, but other people will come to have the 'kheer' from our mourning ceremony!)

"Stop spreading misinformation about me. And find a good drive-thru nearby," he said, looking at his driving skills. Right now, I’d wish for a hospital nearby instead of a drive-thru.

"Why a drive-thru? We decided to go to a restaurant. And if Akveer finds out about it, he’ll eat all of us raw without thinking twice!" Wait, Vyom said 'Akveer,' which means Akveer is younger than him. But the triplets call him 'Bhai'—oh, so he is the third elder brother.

"But Aditya wanted a long drive so we could all just eat in the car while driving," suggested our beloved driver.

"Manbir bhai will probably get so angry if we even think about eating in his car," said the one who wanted to go on a long drive since the afternoon, and because of him, here I am instead of laying in my comfy bed.

"Then why the hell, Vyom bhai, did you bring his car? Couldn't you have brought yours with us?" Reyansh had no chill right now.

"My car is out for service, and I didn’t know the driver sibling of ours wanted to drive today. Otherwise, I would have never brought Manbir bhai's car with us!" Sarcasm was clearly evident in Vyom's voice.

"Take the right turn after this signal!" I said because they were all just a move away from throwing their hands at each other.

"What?!" Our driver left his brain at home, I guess.

"Map is saying there’s a drive-thru after that turn."

And now, everyone is sitting quietly for God's sake.

THIRD PERSON'S POV:

Vyom, Aditya, and Shivyansh were waiting in the car, tapping their fingers on the dashboard, barely holding back their impatience.

Reyansh and Manhaar had gone for the drive-thru, but it was taking longer than expected.Aditya leaned back in his seat, glancing out of the window. "I swear, if they take any longer, I’m eating this dashboard."

Vyom snickered. "At least you’ll get your 'food' on time."

Shivyansh groaned. "I’m starving, man. What’s taking them so long?"

"I think they’re messing with us," Aditya added. "They just want to eat the food themselves."

Meanwhile, Reyansh and Manhaar were at the drive-thru window, placing their order when a screeching sound interrupted them. The van screeched to a halt right behind them. Before either of them could react, two men jumped out, wearing masks and holding guns.

"Get back!" one of the robbers barked, pushing them away from the window.

Reyansh instinctively stepped in front of Manhaar, trying to shield her. "What do you want?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The second robber, his voice harsh, added, "Give us your wallets. Now."

Reyansh quickly looked at Manhaar, who seemed eerily calm. He whispered to her, "Get him anything he wants."

Manhaar’s eyes flickered with a mix of calculation and mischief, but she didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she was watching the robbers carefully.

"Move," the first robber growled, his gun aimed directly at Reyansh.

Manhaar made a quick decision. She pushed Reyansh just enough to get some distance, then turned back toward the robbers. With a soft but confident voice, she spoke up.

"Alright, listen to me. I’m going to count to three. On three, anyone can do whatever they want. But, if you’re not careful, you might miss your chance."

Reyansh blinked, confused, but he was too late to stop her. The robbers, unsure of what she meant, glanced at each other nervously, as if trying to figure out what she was up to.

Manhaar flashed a grin. "One..."

The robbers hesitated, clearly unsure of what was going on.

"Two..."

Reyansh did not fully understand. His heart raced as the robbers’ attention remained fixed on her, uncertain of what she was doing.

"Three!" Manhaar shouted suddenly, and without waiting for the robbers to react, she grabbed Reyansh’s arm and bolted.

"Run!" she yelled as they sprinted down the alleyway, the robbers quickly recovering and shouting after them.

"Hey! Get back here!" one of the robbers yelled, but they were already too far ahead.

Manhaar and Reyansh ran like they’d never run before, weaving through narrow streets and alleyways. The sound of heavy footsteps behind them made Reyansh’s pulse race.

"Manhaar!" he shouted, trying to keep up with her. "Where are we going? We can’t just keep running!"

She didn’t answer. Her focus was ahead, eyes darting from side to side as she searched for an escape.

They darted through another alley, jumping over some trash cans, leaping over walls, and ducking behind buildings.

Reyansh’s breath was coming in heavy gasps. "You’re insane," he muttered, looking back to see the robbers were still behind them, but losing ground.

"You’ll thank me later," Manhaar said, never slowing down, her voice oddly calm despite the chaos around them.

Finally, they reached a gap in a wall that led to a small backyard. Manhaar ducked through it, pulling Reyansh with her. They kept running, pushing through another set of gates and fences, making their way into a small street.

Reyansh looked around, panting hard. "We’re almost there... to the car."

Without wasting another second, they sprinted toward the parked car just ahead.

Panting heavily, they reached the car, and Reyansh quickly opened the door, slamming it shut as Manhaar slid into the seat.

"That was insane," Reyansh said, trying to catch his breath.

Manhaar leaned back in her seat, looking way too calm for someone who had just outrun armed robbers. "Yeah, I know. But it worked, didn’t it?"

Reyansh just stared at her, still trying to process what had just happened. "You... you seriously counted to three in front of them? And then you 'ran'?"

"Yeah," she shrugged. "They were distracted. The rest was easy."

Reyansh rubbed his face. "You’re crazy. I thought you were going to get us killed!"

She smirked. "Well, you didn’t exactly have a better idea, did you?"

Just then, the sound of the car’s engine starting up interrupted their exchange. Vyom, Aditya, and Shivyansh were staring at them in disbelief.

"What the hell happened?" Shivyansh asked, wide-eyed.

"Did you seriously just outrun robbers?" Aditya asked, his voice tinged with awe.

"Yep," Manhaar said casually. "No big deal."

Reyansh rolled his eyes. "No big deal? Are you serious right now? We almost got killed!"

"Well, we didn’t, did we?" Manhaar shot back, her tone light as ever.

"Alright, alright," Vyom muttered. "But we’re calling Manbir. We need a bodyguard, like, 'now'."

Reyansh pulled out his phone and dialed Manbir’s number quickly. After a few rings, their eldest brother answered.

"Reyansh, what’s going on?" Manbir’s voice was calm, but Reyansh could hear the concern underneath.

"Robbers. They tried to steal from us. We barely got away," Reyansh said, exasperated.

"What?!" Manbir snapped, immediately going into protective mode. "Did you get a bodyguard? Are everyone of you safe?"

Reyansh sighed. "We didn’t have one. We thought we were just grabbing food. But it was close. We need someone to keep an eye on us."

"I’ll send someone. Come home quickly" Manbir ordered.

"Thanks, Bhai" Reyansh said before hanging up.

Once they got back to the house, they were immediately greeted by the stern faces of Manbir, Akveer, and Aviyansh. Their worry was palpable, and it didn’t take long for the questions to come.

"What happened?" Akveer asked, his tone harsh. "Why didn’t you take a bodyguard?"

Reyansh threw his hands up in frustration. "We didn’t know it would turn into a robbery!"

"And what about you?" Aviyansh turned to Manhaar. "You just... ran? Without even thinking?"

Manhaar shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I said to run. Didn’t say who had to run, did I?"

Reyansh shot her an incredulous look. "Manhaar, I thought you were going to get us killed!"

Manbir turned to Reyansh, his expression stern. "Next time, take a bodyguard with you. You have to stop doing this—"

"Look, we got away fine. You can thank Manhaar for that," Reyansh interrupted, trying to calm the situation.

The bipolar of Reyansh is that's the only thought Manhaar was having right now.

Manhaar flashed a grin. "Thank you. I know."

Manbir let out a breath, realizing how close they had come to disaster. "Yeah, well, next time, you can 'count' to five and take a bodyguard with you."

That's all for today!
Heyaa everyone! Hope you all fine!
I hope you liked the chapter!

Love yaa manities!! 🤌🏻🌷🪐🤎
Stay happy and healthy.

🌷🤍🧿