-• r in his name stands for red flag •-

"It's not safe."

He slams down my request without even bothering to think about it. Honestly, I didn't expect any different response. The sun will have to rise from the west for Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan to ever let me do anything as per my wish. But I'm going to put my foot down this time. We're siblings. Stubbornness runs in my genes too.

"On what accordance?" I counter. "He put my life above his. If I have to choose the safest place apart from the palace, I'd choose it to be anywhere he is."

With that I summon the scariest, the meanest looking expression on the man's visage. I swear, if he hadn't mastered the poker face, he'd prowl around looking like he's going to burn down the world any second.

"He put your life above his at my command, because he was fetching greater benefits at the expense of taking a bullet for you in the arm. People like him never do anything from the goodness of their heart, they do it because they have an ulterior motive." He states harshly, dwindling my confidence in Rudra with his choice of words. "Your safety was a liability to him. And he had to abide by it because of me. According to him, you were used as a bait to lure out Abhay Saxena. If his priority was your safety, he'd have never suggested this plan."

I frown. "What plan?"

"Who was it that knew about your relationship with Atharva first?"

Realisation dawns on me and it sticks in the tunnel of my mind like a hard pill, clogging every other thought.

"I was against the idea initially, but he knew why he made the plan. If the secret goes out, Abhay Saxena's prime suspect would be you, and also the easiest target to take me down. He let you entertain your relationship, kept it hidden from me, and when he realised Atharva's father is thinking about canceling the plan of sending the kids to States to pan out how things would work out between you both, he sneaked into the party, acted like he did you a favour and suggested you break up."

I feel the little hope in me wither away at his words.

"And how do you think Yuvaan found out you were in that cafe?" He interlaces his hands on the desk, leaning in closer, gouging my face as it paled faster than light. "He manipulates the strongest of technologies, Tara, and you think he can't manipulate you?"

I start feeling humiliated. Like I was watching the world through the red glasses, believing everything is just as it appears to me, until someone shoved me hard and the glasses fell, showing me the the brutal reality.

"Okay, I get it." My words sound shaky to my ears as I turn to leave.

"You're young, Taranya," he adds, stopping me in my place. "I understand the pull. He gets you curious. But not all dark places are safe to hide. What you see is often manipulated by your desire to what you want to see. That doesn't mean it's true."

I nod. "Yeah, sorry to disturb you."

He sighs, pulling away from the desk and relaxing back in the chair. "I've told you before and I'll tell you again, if he tries to approach you, come to me. Let me know."

I should have.

And I will this time.

"I will," I force the words out. "Excuse me now, I've to go to sleep." I say and leave his study, closing the door gently behind me. It takes everything in me to not cry right then and there. I've seen stupid girls around me defend their toxic partners and been there to shake my head at their clownery, and yet here I am, embarrassed and hurt because I did that for someone I've never met in broad daylight, whose name I found out from a third person, and whose face is a stranger to me in the crowd. Show me the bigger clown than me and I'd clap my hands.

Sluggishly, I head back to my room. I don't even notice Agastya until he taps my shoulder, stopping me in the middle of the staircase. "What?" I ask tiredly.

He frowns. "What's wrong?"

I shrug. "What's wrong?"

"You tell me," he shrugs back.

"Did I say something is wrong?" I furrow my brows. I know I'm thinking hundred things a second but was I mumbling aloud? I don't think so. I'd have heard myself, right?

"No, but your face did." He pokes at my forehead. "It says help me in bold."

I click my tongue and swat his hand away. "Go away if you don't have something good to say."

He grabs my wrist, not letting me go my way. "What?" I deadpan looking over my shoulder.

"Come," he starts dragging me downstairs. I stumble after him, almost losing my footing because of his rushed, long strides.

"Agastya, I've been studying the whole day. I need sleep." I groan after him. He doesn't pay any heed to my words, his grip around my wrist tightening in response. We exit the palace from one of the back doors and I shiver as a cool breeze slashes through my open hair, tangling them more. I'm going to cry next morning while combing through them, I just know it. "Agastya, it's cold," I cry out, hugging myself with my free arm, my feet stomping on the ground like a whiny little kid.

He slows down and releases my hand to remove his jacket. Then he puts it over my shoulders and makes me slip my arms through the sleeves, zipping it up until my neck. His body scent and the warmth makes me feel at home. "You good down there, short stuff?" He looks down at me, mirth spilling from his tone, shining in his dark onyx eyes. So similar to certain someone, yet so different.

I stick my tongue out at him. "Just you wait and see until I grow out of my teenage. I'll be taller than you."

"It's not genetically possible but I commend your spirit. Anyhow, all we need is hope to get through this tough world." He ruffles my hair, swinging the same arm around my shoulders before he pulls me close and we resume walking. I don't push him away or try to put distance between us. His body heat keeps me warm and snug and I'm not giving that up because of my ego.

He plugs out the portable radio as we enter the shooting field. Now it's not exclusively the shooting field, but it is where I've seen Yuvaan and Yuvraaj practice on their targets so for easier understanding, I just call it the shooting field. It also has dummy models placed horizontally in a sequence with an individual gun stand at a proper distance for the user's disposal.

"Prince Agastya this side, turn on the floodlights and bring two beginner's set on the site. Over." He says through the transceiver.

"Copy that." A gruff response comes.

In less than a second, insanely bright lights flood the field, making me feel like I'm standing in a stadium.

"Are we shooting?" I ask excitedly, my eyes wide in disbelief. He shoots me a smile, nodding in response. A gasp leaves my mouth in shock, failing to believe he's actually letting me do this considering the feat he threw when I wanted to try horse riding. "Oh, wow, I can't wait!" I rub my hands together, looking through the targets and choosing the second one. "I wanna hit this one." I point at it.

"Sure," he says, and then we get distracted by a buff man dressed in all black coming our way with two briefcases in his hands. Agastya takes them from him and commands him to guard the entrance. He puts the briefcases on the stands and unlatches one of them. I stand aside patiently as he straps the black leather holster on his white tee, stuffs the radio in the gun holder and beckons me closer.

I rush closer with baby steps, practically holding myself back from doing little jumps of ecstasy. I've never been this thrilled before. It's an exciting experience. Agastya opens the second briefcase and makes me wear the glasses and headphones.

Then Agastya explains me the basic of the semi-automatic pistol, the two steps of loading/unloading, how to open the action, easiest way to remove the magazine, followed by the cartridge from the chamber, what to expect when you shoot, how much recoil will I be hit back with when I fire at the aim, my hand positions and the ease of the second shot once I make it past the first one without hurting myself.

"Ready?" He has already got me in the perfect position, my feet shoulders width apart, and both of my hands holding the grip. He corrects me when I automatically cross my thumbs in a web on the back of the gun. Apparently, that position is prone to cuts when the slide rolls back during cycling. He makes my support hand move on the same side as my dominant hand, then stands behind me, holding my shoulders lightly and tells me to aim the best I can.

When I fire, recoil energy moves me backward, in the opposite direction of the bullet's travel. A loud bang echoes in my ears even through the barrier of headphones and I automatically flinch. "Woah!" I know I accidentally hit Agastya's chest with my shoulder but he doesn't even acknowledge that. "That almost propelled me back," I quickly turn around, the gun in my hand, my index finger curled around the trigger.

"Taranya!" He shouts, pushing my arm away to the other side. "Keep the gun away!"

I chuckle. "Chill, I'm not going to shoot you. Don't I need to load it everytime I shoot?"

"No." He states firmly. "To put some of that recoil energy to good use, it is utilised to extract the spent case, re-cocks the pistol and loads a new cartridge into the magazine."

"Nifty, huh," I say, impressed with the engineering.

"The gun, yes. You need more practice." He says and whips me around to look at the results of my first shot. Turns out, I did not only miss the mark, I missed the whole target. I wonder where did the bullet go. Not that I'm concerned about it hitting anyone. The field has a metallic bulletproof fencing.

"Is there a room to improve?" I say in a jesting manner.

"In my opinion, which honestly cannot be deferred, there's an entire auditorium to improve." He nods.

I laugh and shift into my initial position. This time, he takes the charge of my arms, giving me tips on how I can improve my aim. Then he lets go of my arms and I pull the trigger. The recoil impact is controlled this time, maybe it's because my body was prepared to resist it. I put the gun down and to my surprise, it hit the target in the shoulder. "Ooh, I'm getting better."

He chuckles and swiftly moves to his target. I never imagined him with a gun since Dad said it was only Yuvaan and Yuvraaj spending their free time practicing on their targets, but Agastya doesn't look anything less than a professional when he picks up the gun with one hand, curls his index around the trigger and presses it backward. His arm barely even flinches from the impact. I look at the target and the bullet hit it in the center of the dummy's forehead, not an inch away.

My mouth falls agape in shock. "Wow, that was awesome!" Is my unfiltered, unintended reaction to his skilled shot.

He smirks, boasting like a proud peacock. I can't even call him out on it because he really deserved that compliment.

We take turns in emptying our guns. He helps me load the cartridge before we try again. His target has fewer holes, considering he only aims at forehead or chest and goes through with it, while I, no matter where I aim, the bullet hits where it wants to, so I end up with the target filled with holes everywhere. Even the corners.

We return to the palace when my arm starts to hurt. I walk alongside him, his arm wrapped around my shoulders as it turned colder.

"Very smart of you to teach our sixteen year old sister how to shoot," a familiar voice remarks sarcastically.

"For clear evidence, I'm seventeen." I raise my hand.

Yuvaan ignores me, regarding Agastya with a disappointed look. "She went through a life-threatening situation just recently and you think teaching her shooting is your best bait to distract her?"

"Well, it worked." I shrug.

He sighs. "Am I talking to you?" He eyes me in annoyance.

"No. But you're talking about me." I counter. "Don't try to use me in your petty arguments. Find a valid reason and you'll find me quiet in a corner."

"Taranya, go to your room." He commands.

I grab Agastya's wrist and drag him along with him.

"Not him, just you. He'll be answering Yuvraaj bhai for what he did."

"And what exactly did he do?" I look up at Yuvaan sternly.

"I'm not obligated to answer you." He scoffs out.

"Tara, go upstairs. I'll go see what Bhai has to say." Agastya cuts in, his voice calm, unlike what I expected. Wait. He's not going to blow up on Yuvaan for ordering him around?

"But it's not your fault. You were just trying to make me feel better." I furrow my brows adamantly. "And what's wrong if you taught me how to use a gun?" I ask rhetorically before looking up at Yuvaan. "Seems like you've a problem with my gender using guns to protect them," I seethe at him.

"Tara, watch your words." He warns me.

"You watch your words. You're being nothing but misogynist. And don't even try to cover up for your orthodox thoughts by saying bullshit like I'm trying to protect you and stuff." I snarl angrily.

"Tara!" I hear Agastya hiss as he grabs my elbow and tries to pull me back. I don't let him, my stare holding up the glare Yuvaan fixes on me.

"Look at you, little one, trying to act like his lawyer, when you were the one-"

I kick him in the shin, stopping him abruptly and he hunches over, gripping his leg tightly, hurt evident on his face. But I don't even care. He shoots me a fierce glare. If it had lasers, I'd be in ashes right now. But since it doesn't, I stare back at him challengingly.

"What's going on here?" A firm voice demands. Our heads turn, locating Yuvraaj at the end of the staircase. "Yuvaan, Taranya, go to your rooms. It's already late. And Agastya you, follow me." He commands.

Agastya glances between us, uncertainty flashing through his onyx swirls before he sighs in defeat and walks away. I heave a breathe of relief, my eyes connecting with the dark ones, fury soaring in them like an inferno.

"What was that!?" He steps closer threateningly.

I move back, leveling him with my eyes. "I get it that you've no loyal bone in your body, I also get it you lack compassion and empathy, but try those flimsy trick on me, and you'll see a different Tara."

His lips quirk at the corner. "Tone down that attitude, little one. You're only amusing me."

"Have fun with it then." I retort. "But don't even think of driving a wedge between me and Agastya. I did that because you manipulated me into thinking I was doing the right thing, and I believe I've already paid for it by giving up on my new friend. If Agastya hates me because of it, I'll never forgive you, Bhai." My voice softens at the end.

So does his eyes.

I turn away and take a step forward.

"I thought we were a team?" He suddenly speaks up. "I thought you chose to be on our side? Not his."

I roll my eyes. "I don't understand why you're always so envious of him."

Yuvaan avoids answering as he pockets his hands and looks away.

"You know something, Bhai? You were right. Agastya acts like a douche. But he's honest. He's real. Whatever he is, he's on the face. If he doesn't like you, he makes sure you know he doesn't like you. And when he does, he tries his hardest to prove it." I explain, hoping I get my point across. "Is that what you're jealous of? His unbothered attitude? His honest way of accepting changes?"

"You don't know anything!" He spits out.

I throw my hands in the air. "There you go. Making that excuse again. You said Agastya can't expect the world to understand him when he acts like a douche on the outside. The same applies to you too, Bhai. You can't expect the world to understand you when you act so cold, so reclusive."

"What happened to the Tara who was acting so nice to me until a few days ago? Why? Are you not sure I'll keep my mouth shut about your involvement in my plan now? Don't want to pretend anymore?" He taunts.

I feel bad for him. For his perspective towards his relationships.

"The day you stop feeling people stay close to you because they are indebted to you, will be the day you'll start appreciating their presence." I tell him softly.

"Get lost." He tears his eyes off me, like I'm discarded.

I walk upstairs to my room. Closing the door, I rest my head on the wooden frame and close my eyes, pausing the thoughts rat racing in my head. I've been through hell and back when my mother died, but never did I think I'd intentionally choose hell again because it appeared like a heaven at the first glance. Am I such a big of a fool?

Did I really think he was a good man? Despite all that he did to me?

Everytime we met, he came to me use me. Even when pretending to help me, he was using me.

I feel tears of embarrassment gather in my eyes. He must have thought of me as a young, naive teenager falling for his charms, and made me twirl on his fingers like a puppet.

It's like a game of chess for him, with everyone as his pawns. He lets them think they've opinions, that they're moving according to their will, when it's him, controlling them, exploiting their weakness, besting his opponent using it. I was one among them, just another pawn, one that he used, and all he had to do was give me a little attention.

God, I've never felt so humiliated before.

Janet was right. I get attracted to whoever gives me slightest of their attention. Because what has he even done to deserve that? I don't even know how he looks. If that's not a major red sign, then I don't know what is. I'm really blind when it comes to romantic feelings.

I wonder at what extent does Yuvraaj know about my feelings. Because the way he insinuated it, I know he has a faint idea of my crush on the mystery man.

Rudra, Tara. Rudra.

He can go to fucking hell. The name's even not that hot now that I think about it. Damien, Aaron and Adrian all the way! I'm never falling for a man whose name starts with R.

Remember, Tara, the R in his name stands for red flag.

My phone suddenly blares in my hand.

When did I change his name in my contacts? Because now that I read it on the screen, my heart suddenly skyrockets in my chest.

Calling
Rudra

Shit. Now what do I do!?

Uhm, pick it up, I guess?

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