-• esther •-

Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan is only fooled when he underestimates someone, and in the past months, he had underestimated me greatly. Honestly, if I was in his place, I would have underestimated myself too. What else is a seventeen year old capable of if not lying about her test marks or materialistic needs? But after today, I don't think he'd rely on trusting my young age or innocent face, so when he summons me to his office at ten in the same evening, I knew I could expect the worse.

And he didn't disappoint me.

I fiddle with my fingers, my toes frozen cold, but nervousness makes my pores drip with sweat. He doesn't speak for a whole minute, or maybe two, but the silence makes its own conversation. As his lawyer it speaks for him, and implies who's the man in control.

I look everywhere but him. I can feel his eyes on me, dark and inky, like cold night, it forces you to freeze, both physically and mentally. He doesn't need magic or superpowers to make people bend according to his will, his existence does it for him. If he walks a meter, his name reaches a mile.

A sigh leaves his mouth and my back automatically straightens. Then he walks around the desk, the long, thick fingers toying with the paper weight before he comes to stand in front of me, his waist resting against the desk, and the free hand curls around the edge.

"You still have the chance to tell me the truth," he says, in a tone that convicts me as a liar.

"I've nothing more to share than what Yuvaan told you," I say honestly.

"Is it?" He cocks a brow, his larger than life presence suffocating my little one.

"What do you want to hear?" I question. I've no idea what he expects to hear from me. But if I really know the answers, I'm willing to share them. Not that I've anything to hide anymore. The only secret I was protecting is out in the open.

"Your birthday party," he mentions and my body goes still. "He came, why?"

Would he be angry at the mystery man if he knows the guy came to me instead of revealing the truth to him?

For some reason, the thought unsettles me. The one time ebony-eyed mystery did something for me, and I'll be returning the favour by exposing him. I really don't want to give him a reason to think of me as a bitter memory.

Damnit, my daddy issues.

But maybe he came knowing the risk he's taking? Maybe he came preparing to face the consequences he'd end up bearing if he gets caught?

"Before he came, I was already rethinking my decision of dating Atharva. With his arrival, and the words he told me, made me take the decision quickly."

"What did he say?"

"Exactly what you said at the dinner." I reply. "That Saxenas are not good people. And Atharva's father already knows about me dating his son."

Yuvraaj nods. "I thought you were scared of him?"

"Who?"

"Him,"

"Precisely," I respond. "The reason why he came to me, and not I went to him."

"Are you saying he took a risk of coming to that party, to give you a dating advice?" He tilts his head to the side, sarcasm in his tone.

"He owed it to me,"

"Owed you?" He enunciates each word, as if he fails to believe the sincerity of them.

"We can't deny I helped him back at the Rajawat Estate," more than Agastya, I think I'm fit for law.

Yuvraaj smirks, a mockery. "He never returns favours. He's selfish."

"How would I know that? You know him better." I say pointedly.

"That I do," a curt, side nod, and his lips stretch at the corners. "Perhaps, why it is so hard to believe you."

"Maybe he changed?" I shrug.

"Him?" Yuvraaj chuckles coldly. "He makes change sound like an illusion. He's not very flexible."

I sigh. "You've a lot of questions for me, Bhai, unfortunately, most of them are not about me. So I fail to fathom the reason why you think I'm fit to answer them."

"Because, coincidently, you always happen to be in the centre of them." He replies.

"Have you thought of the fact that maybe I get dragged into situations I'm barely aware of?"

"Or how about the fact that you lying to me about it makes you think you're still liable for my trust?"

"Because I'm innocent."

"Innocent as in the act you put on to fool your brothers?" He remarks.

"No, Bhai, I don't play innocent. Half of the time I don't even know what is happening around me."

"Yet you still find valid reasons to lie about it?" He stops toying with the paper weight. I feel the tension rolling from his huge built in waves, but put on my best shield to mask my fear.

"For the things I lied that don't make sense, we both know I was forced. And for the things I lied willingly, I felt suffocated."

"Suffocation of what?" His voice comes out harsh. "Not having the freedom to wear what you like? Go where you want? Meet the people you love having around? Not letting you speak your mind? Not bending to your demands? Suffocation of what, Taranya?" He demands. "Am I like your Anagha's father? One who plays nice on the face and bounds you to a stranger so I can marry you off when you're of legal age for the sake of my business? Or like the Chairman? Who is willing to flip the world upside down for his unworthy grandson but has no idea, neither does he care where his granddaughter is, if she is even alive or not? What exactly suffocates you? That Agastya hates the thought of someone looking at his sister the wrong way? That Yuvaan can't stand someone taking advantage of his little one? That Vivaan is constantly worried about you falling for a guy who's not worthy of you? That I-" He halts, words to justify himself lodging themselves in his throat, hesitance holding them back.

"That you?" I step closer. "That you what, Bhai?" I whisper, taking another step closer until I was standing right in front of him.

He bends his head and cups my cheek, his rough, calloused hand exuding a fatherly warmth. "That I'm insane enough to lit the whole world on fire, and watch it burn to ashes, if it even thinks of hurting you."

I let myself melt in the warmth of his strong embrace, the preceding conversation lost on me, as were his accusations. He freezes at the unexpected action, and his arms drop to the side, hanging awkwardly. But then slowly one of them raises, and pats my head lightly. I sigh against his broad chest, it's hard like a headboard but feels comfortable enough to spend an eternity in.

"I agree I'm in the wrong," I murmur, and his hand stops on my head. "But as heartfelt as your protectiveness sound in words, it's just as hard to bear in actions." I extend my words to a limit so they don't offend him. "If you let me breath in my space, I don't think I'd go as far as lying to your face."

He cups the back of my head and pulls me closer in his arms. "World is ruthless, Taranya."

"And I know I can turn to you if it targets me," I lift my head to look at him.

His arms drop to the side and he recoils slightly. I realise it's time to back away, so I do. "You don't trust me,"

"I don't trust the world."

"The question is, do you trust yourself? Do you think something wrong can happen to me as long as I'm under your care?"

He scoffs out a chuckle. "Life is never guaranteed, Taranya. The enemies I've made, knows that if they hurt you or any of your brothers, I'll wipe their existence from the face of the earth. But they also know, that I'd be incapable of everything but destruction, myself included. So if you want to watch the entire Chauhan Empire crumble to the ground, go ahead, give the world a chance to stand against me. I won't disappoint you."

A shudder rakes down my spine at his words.

"The world is not always out to ruin you, Bhai. You deserve to breath in peace once in a while." I still try to convince him of my point.

"You don't unsheath the sword in the middle of the war, Taranya, you wield it naked before the war starts."

I give up.

"I surmise I shouldn't expect any leniency for the mistake I made?"

He nods. "You shouldn't."

"So I'm forced to betray my own friend?" I smile mirthlessly.

"Consequences," he shrugs, as though he's as helpless as me.

"Why are you like this?" I question genuinely.

"Nothing is above my own blood," his response is clear and firm.

I slowly shake my head and take a step back. "If nothing was above your own blood, the fact that Chairman couldn't give a dime about his granddaughter's whereabouts wouldn't have bothered you."

His face drains off the nonchalance and appears blank as a canvas, pale as the sheet.

"I'm expected to obey one rule, is that right?"

He composes himself. "Don't surround yourself with the boys I don't approve of."

I nod. "Understood. Good night, Bhai."

He quickly walks to his desk and settles down, his hands shuffling the documents, eyes switching through them, uneasiness reflecting in his graceful movements. "Please close the door when you leave."

I do as he says and retreat to my room, ready to call it a night.

School, a place where I could actually let loose and have a little bit of fun from my daily life, felt like it was blocking my head with thoughts and possibilities of the inevitable. I couldn't face Anagha openly, not only because of what I'm forced to do with her, but also because I broke her brother's heart. Thus, for lunch, I opt for the secluded option, which turns out to be the swimming pool atrium.

I sit on the recliner to open my tiffin box. I only have twenty minutes to finish my lunch and return to the classroom. The moment I unpack my tiffin, a body emerges from the swimming pool like a fucking dolphin, splashing water all over my food.

"The fuck!?" My eyes switch to the culprit, but the sight of him freezes my tongue in my mouth.

Shourya flips his hair back, revealing his shiny forehead. The water that slides down from his locks, crosses the bridge of his nose, settling on the seam of his lips. He drags the same hand down his face, and shakes his head to shake off the water. Unlike Agastya who reminded me of a drenched dog, Shourya's image is enough to lit up each memory of indecent scenes of movies and shows that I've giggled watching with my best friend.

"Fancy seeing you here, Chauhan," he grabs the metal bars and heaves himself out of the pool with a suave of a man that knows of his effect on girls. The water slides down the hard contours of his body like a rollercoaster.

"Wish I could say the same, Rajawat." I roll my eyes and focus them on my ruined food.

"Oops, did I spoil your date with yourself?"

"If my food could talk, it'd call you an asshole." I look up at him in annoyance.

He picks up the towel from the chair and saunters to my side, peering into my tiffin and clicking his tongue in a feigned disappointment. "I apologise for that. But I bet I helped your diet schedule."

"Weren't you taught to not make comments on people's weight? Not very cool, Rajawat." I seethe. "And I'm not fat. Even if I was, that's none of your business!"

He bends over and picks up a sliced cucumber from my salad, tossing it in his mouth as he eyes me from underneath his wet locks. "I wasn't trying to be cool. I was trying to offend you. I see it worked." He winks before standing straight.

"I'm not really fan of your approach, how about I see your departure? Maybe I'll find something bearable that concerns you."

He chuckles, scratching the end of his left brow with his pinky. "What did I say about using up your entire vocabulary, Esther?" And then he walks off.

"What did she name the princess?"

"Esther,"

"Wait!" I scramble to my feet and rush up to him, my hand wrapping itself around his bicep without our consent. He whirls around to face me, his body inches away from mine. "What did you just call me?" I demand, my voice breathless, considering the lack of distance between us.

"What?" He pulls away from me like our proximity burnt him.

"You just called me Esther!"

"So?" He frowns.

"Why?"

His face twists in confusion. "Do you have a copyright on the name?" His tone reeks of sarcasm.

"No, that's not what I mean. Why specifically Esther?"

"Why not?" He counters.

"Maybe because when someone uses endearments they go for basic ones!?" I snap.

"Basic ones as in?"

"As in, sweetheart, cupcake, darling -"

"So you'd like it if I call you darling?" He smirks, his light brown eyes sparkling in mirth.

"No." I state without blinking.

"Then I think Esther fits," he shrugs and strolls off.

"But why Esther!?" I demand hoarsely.

"I like to think out of the box!" He shouts back over his shoulder. "Sorry about your lunch, by the way!" The doors slam shut with his exit.

Did he really call me Esther without knowing the context behind it? It's not like the name is common among the endearments. How come he just thought of it and said it, to me of all people? It doesn't make any sense to me. But he sounded honest and honestly clueless about it. Maybe I'm just worrying over nothing. I didn't even know him before coming here.

Much to my disbelief, the bell signalling the end of lunch break rings loud and clear. I breathe out in frustration and walk back sluggishly to pack my tiffin. I throw the wet food in the wet garbage bin and head up to my classroom.

My annoyance spikes up at the sight of Shourya as he sits unbothered in his seat by the window. He catches my gaze and a smirk appears on his lips.

I clench my jaw, looking away from him before my blood pressure goes on a roller coaster ride.

"Taranya," a hand holds me around the wrist. I lift my gaze and find myself staring into Anagha's dark brown eyes. "Are you ignoring me because of my brother?"

I feel helpless and guilty.

"It's not my fault that he broke up with you." She says, rendering me speechless.

"What?"

She nods. "He told me about it. I'm sorry, Taranya. I know how much you liked him. But don't punish me for what he did. I know it'll be awkward for you to stay around me but don't worry, from now onwards, we'll plan every outing at your place. I'll make sure you don't get uncomfortable because of my brother."

I open my mouth to clear her misunderstanding when the teacher walks in. "Get back to your seats everyone. Tara, you too."

I huff softly. "I'll talk to you later." I whisper to Anagha. She nods at me, responding to my words with a relieved smile.

The next four hours pass painfully slow. I spend most of my time copying the notes from the board. We don't even get a minute break between the lectures before the next teacher takes over the class. Hence, I fail to talk to Anagha. After the final bell rings, she's forced out of the classroom by Kusum and Revathi. They've a new local cafe to visit and I can't join because of my extra lectures. They simply wish me bye over their shoulders. Anagha looks at me with apparent guilt but I wave her off with a genuine smile.

Gathering my books, I stuff them in the backpack and swing it over my shoulders. Ayush accompanies me out of the classroom. On my way downstairs, I feel a familiar presence looming behind me and glance over my shoulder. Shourya is a few steps behind, his attention absorbed by his phone. I focus ahead.

"I'll see you at six," Ayush waves at me and walks off to his club.

I enter the library, Shourya enters right behind me. The thought of him drowns out of my mind at the sight of Atharva issuing books at the checkout. I pick up my pace.

He turns around and goes still upon coming face to face with me.

"I need to talk to you," I grab his wrist and drag him upstairs, to where he first asked me out on a date. He follows without putting any struggle. Once we reach between the shelves, I turn around to face him. "What did you tell Anagha?"

He frowns.

"That you broke up with me?" I point between us.

His face releases the frown, realisation takes over instead.

"I don't appreciate you lying to Anagha for my sake, Atharva. I've hurt you enough. Don't give me more reasons to feel shitty about myself, please." I beg him. "If you don't tell her truth tonight, I'll do it." I say and make a move to walk past him.

He grabs my wrist, stopping me in place. My phone vibrates in my pocket.

I ignore it and step back in front of Atharva.

He snatches a pencil from his pocket and scribbles something on the front page of the book. "Don't."

"Why?"

"She's protective about me. She'll hate you if she finds out you broke up with me so abruptly."

"That should be enough reason to not deceive her if I've any shame left in me." I reply.

He grows frustrated and writes again.

"I can't stand the probability of someone hating you. Especially her."

"Why?"

"Because I still have hope for us."

My eyes turn wide at his response.

He continues the conversation through sign language, and if not anything else, I clearly understand what he's trying to say this time. Because it was the first phrase I learned through Google after getting into a relationship with him.

"I love you."

"Atharva," my face crumbles and tone becomes vulnerable.

He places his hands on his ears, stepping back as he shakes his head, unwilling to hear my rejection. Then he lowers his hand and writes in the book.

"I'll wait. As long as I'm capable of. I want to wait." With that said, he leaves, leaving me speechless, causing me to wallow in more regrets and guilt.

I sigh tiredly and leave the floor, fishing out my phone to know why it vibrated. The message freezes me in the middle of the staircase.

M: Did you break up with him?
sent 5 minutes ago.

Me: you should know

I enter the room while waiting for his reply. It never comes. So I sit down on my chair and focus on the lesson, blissfully ignoring the presence beside me.

At six, the teacher leaves the room and I begin to thrust my belongings in my backpack.

"You seem distracted lately,"

"I was focused."

"So you're usually this dumb?"

"Are you usually this infuriating?" I snap back.

He chuckles. "Looks like the little rendezvous with your secret boyfriend didn't end on a good note."

"How did you know?" I stop abruptly.

"You dragged him to the second floor like you own him. What was I supposed to think? That you went there to count the number of books in the shelves?" He offers like I'm stupid to not realise.

"Stay out of my business." I warn him before storming out of the room.

I meet my brothers on the ground floor and we head to Agastya's car. My phone chimes on our way back home. I take it out of my backpack.

M: I wouldn't be asking you if I did.

I roll my eyes.

Me: yeah, I broke up with him. Didn't my brother tell you?

M: He did. But I rather hear it from you.

Me: why?

M: Because I still don't believe you.

Me: then what's the point of asking?

M: So if you stand in my way in the future and I've to get rid of you, I'd not hesitate.

I almost scoff at his audacity.

Me: how romantic

M: I try.

My man showed no mercy when saying that.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment. Makes my day.