-• rings and promises •-

Taranya

"Letter for you, Princess Taranya!"

Hearing the announcement, I leap from my bed and hurry downstairs, flicking the slit of my skirt open to avoid stumbling. Juyi stands at the end of the staircase, holding a white envelope in her hand, smiling up at me. I apply brakes to my feet at the last stair, holding the wooden railing, my lips splitting in a huge grin. I breathe harshly, throat dry, but I'm doused in excitement from head to toe. "Who is it from?" I ask nervously, nibbling on the inside of my lower lip. She flips over the envelope to read the mailer's name. I hope it's not any brand or social media influencer requesting for a collaboration. I've had enough of those false alarms in the last two days.

"Bharat Times."

"Open it," I whisper, my heart racing a mile a minute.

She tears open an end and tilts the envelope. A letter slips out. After putting the envelope inside her apron pocket, she opens the letter and snaps it straight. "Dear, Taranya," she glances at me. I lean in expectantly. Her face drops and so does my stomach.

"What's wrong? Am I rejected?"

A slow smile grows on her face. "Dear Taranya, we are pleased to inform you-" I shriek, startling her hard enough to drop the letter. I take that as an opportunity to hug her tightly. She yelps, holding onto me feebly as I jump in her arms. Then I pull away and snatch the letter from the floor, skipping upstairs and heading straight to Yuvaan's room. I knock aggressively, waiting impatiently for him to open the door. When he doesn't, I slam my hands violently, so much that the frame shakes. I hear the scratching of feet from the other side. It must be Perry.

The door is pulled open.

"Another minute and I'd have ripped it open!" I exclaim, flinging myself in his open arms. He stumbles back in surprise but saves us from falling by taking the support of the wall behind. Perry bounds around us, tail wagging, tongue flopping, he's desperate to include himself in the little moment of unexpected celebration.

"Wha-What happened?"

I pull away and he releases me gently. My feet touch the floor. I step back and show him the letter. He looks at it, then at me, before slowly taking the letter from my hands and opening it to read. A grin replaces the frown on his face. He meets my eyes, unfiltered pride and joy shining in his dark eyes. "Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!"

I giggle.

"C'mon here, give me another hug." His arms open willingly this time. I embrace him fiercely. "Damn, you'll be on TV now!" He beams at me.

I nod.

"What time will it be?"

I shrug. "I don't know. Initially, I was planning to start with weather forecasting. But not anymore, I don't want to waste my time. I want to start as a news anchor straight away. It's a big network company, so I'll have to be a little patient. Maybe not a prime time slot, but I'll make do with what I get for now. Then I'll work my way up."

He looks at me, and his eyes convey appreciation and wonder. "You've it all sorted."

I take the letter from his hands and fold it again, fiddling with it as I nod my head. "I do. From a really long time. I've it all planned."

"That's incredible." He whispers, in awe of me. I feel my chest swell with pride. There's nothing more beautiful than having the people you look up to, looking at you with enormous respect and admiration. "You're no longer the annoying sixteen year old we met five years ago." He cups my cheek.

My smile broadens. "I'm not. I've grown up."

He nods, "You have, and how marvellously."

"Thank you." I murmur.

He shakes his head. "No, thank you. In our attempt to make sure you grew up to become an independent, responsible woman, you helped us six brooding men become kinder and sensitive. We really lacked a female's touch in our life. You filled that absence."

I sniffle softly. "Finally you admitted."

He chuckles. "I'm sure you're dying to share the good news with your favourite brothers?"

"You're my favourite too!" I enunciate.

"Chal jhooti."

I muffle my chuckle. "They earned it, okay."

He rolls his eyes. "Go now, Agastya must be in his room and I'm sure Vivaan Bhai will be back in an hour or so."

"I don't get any gift?" I ask dramatically. "I gave you one of my adored paintings when you opened your own gallery."

He sighs and takes out his wallet. I clasp my hands together on my chest, swaying on my feet excitedly, thrilled at the idea of spending my brother's money on the least needed expenses.

"There you go,"

"This one has a limit." I narrow my eyes. "I want that one!" I point at the black AMEX.

He sighs again, this time a longer one, but submits to my stubbornness.

I grab the card the moment he takes it out, giving him no chance to think over and change his mind. "Eek! Thank you! You're the best brother in the world." With a sloppy kiss on his stubbled jaw, I bolt out of the room celebrating my double success. As I skip upstairs, I hear the skidding of feet follow me. With a glance over my shoulder, I notice Perry right behind me.

"Here to take back your dad's card, Perry?" I slow down, walking backward and flaunting the black card in my hand. He pants, running around himself in circles, his tail wagging eagerly.

"Want this?" I wave the card in his face.

He stomps on his front legs.

"Want it!?" I ask again, this time using the baby voice that gets him more excited. "Go catch it!" I hurl my hand forward, feigning to throw. He takes the fake bait and turns, about to go catch the card, belatedly realising it was just an act. I burst out laughing and run upstairs. He barks, chasing me again. We stop at Agastya's door and I knock twice, looking over my shoulder at Perry, but the grin on my face fades when I see him backing up until he was at least five meters away from the door and then sits down on his hind legs.

Before I can ask him what's wrong, Agastya opens the door and grimaces at the sight of Perry. The fluffy ears go down and the poor mutt lowers his head to the ground.

"Did you bring him here?" There's evident contempt in his voice that I don't miss.

"We were just playing around." I mumble. "It's been years, Agastya, and why would you hold it against him? He didn't do anything -"

"What are you here for? Hungry?" He cuts me off.

"No, I-"

"Then leave me alone-"

"Arey!" I slap my hand on the door frame, holding it open against the resisting force.

"Tara, I'm busy-"

"Doing what? Watching porn?" I snap.

He sighs and let's go of the knob. "What is it?"

"You tell me. What's wrong? You've been reclusive ever since we returned home."

His jaw clicks. "Let's not start-"

"No, let's start here, right away!" I emphasize.

"You want to get married, Taranya!" He blows up, startling me slightly. "Does that make sense to you? Because it doesn't to me. How old are you? 23?" He snorts. "And who do you want to marry? That Shourya of all people! You want to go into that family? They're murderers! They killed our father! I just- I'm so pissed off. So, leave, please. I might say something hurtful and we both will regret it later."

"No, say it. C'mon, say it. Don't hold yourself back. Say whatever you want to." I prompt him.

He shakes his head in disbelief and steps back to close the door.

"I got a reply from the broadcasting company. They're offering me the position of news anchor." I blurt out.

He stops, blinks, and narrows his eyes. "Really?"

I nod.

"So you're joining soon?"

I nod again. "Very soon."

"That means you're not getting married?"

"I am, but-" he slams the door close. I suck a deep, calming breath. It doesn't help. So I kick at his door. "I wish you slip on your soap in the shower, you asswipe!"

"I use bodywash!" Comes his cocky reply.

"I use bodywash." I mock him. Turning around, I stop abruptly realising Perry is still waiting for me. "I hate him." He barks, most possibly agreeing with me. "You hate him too, right?" He barks again. "I know. He's not lovable. C'mon, let's go to my room. We'll watch The Lion King." Hearing me, he barks again, this time definitely in affirmation. Together, we head to my room.

I set up my laptop on the bed and help him climb too. Hitting play on the screen, I scoot backward until my shoulder blades are touching the headboard and then yank a bolster to support my lower back. He snuggles next to me. I put the AC to its lowest temperature and pull a comforter over us. As he gets busy watching the movie, I caress his fur with one hand and use my phone with the other.

Janet must be busy getting productive. It's 12:30 PM in London right now. If she's writing, her phone will be on do not disturb. And if she's traveling, she must be listening to music. I compose a text to her.

Me: Call me when you're free. I've a good news to share.

I hit send and put the phone away, kissing Perry's head as he moans sadly, mourning King Mufasa's death. It's hilarious how the movie, in span of fifteen minutes after Simba losing his father, skips to him singing Hakuna Matata with his two recently found friends.

My phone pings, alerting me of a notification. I quickly unlock it to see. My hope crates reading the sender's name.

Shourya: Did you get the job? You had a interview last week.

I leave him on the seen and focus back on the movie.

The phone vibrates again.

I unlock it.

Shourya: The chairman will respond to your brother's dinner request tonight. I'm looking forward to it. Are you?

I roll my eyes.

Another message pops up beneath.

Shourya: Is it that hard to reply?

"No. I just don't want to." I scoff.

Shourya: You accepted me as Rudra. You wanted me as him. When he was all lies. Never told you my name, never showed you my face. But you always run away from me when I'm Shourya. Why, Tara?

I bite on my lower lip, unable to answer, neither to him, nor to myself. I'd blame it on my sixteen year old naive self. She changed for the better. Anyone in their sane mind won't do what she did. And she regretted it every day for the last five years.

Shourya: Fine, I give up.

I frown.

Shourya: On this conversation. I'm still marrying you.

Shaking my head, I toss the phone away, looking back at the screen only to notice we're already at the climax. I grit my teeth, shooting daggers at my phone, hoping they transform into laser beams, pass through the screen and hit him directly in the eyes. Alas, that's not possible. So, I lay my chin on top of Perry's head and enjoy the last of the movie.

We stay in my room until dinner. Janet doesn't call me in those two hours. She has been acting distant ever since we parted ways in London. She calls it adulting. I call it falling apart. It is so sudden. I'm not prepared yet. I get that she's busy all the time, handling her scattered family, trying to convince her mother to forgive her, hoping she can cut off her toxic father forever from their lives, and struggling to find a publishing house that is willing to consider her manuscript. It didn't work out with the last publisher. They were offering her only twenty-five percent royalty. She wants it fifty-fifty. I don't see the problem. She's the original owner. She deserves equal profit. But the incident pushed her confidence to a new low.

Perry's movement brings me back to the present. I close the laptop and help him down the bed. He quickly takes off. It's well over his usual dinner time.

I'm no longer as enthusiastic and excited as I was when telling Yuvaan about the good news. Courtesy: Agastya's attitude, Shourya's text messages, and Janet's distant behaviour. The universe is seriously conspiring against me this time. How come so many bad things are happening to me all at the same time?

I walk into the dining hall. The empty chair next to mine pinches a chord in my heart. He's no longer there to pull my chair for me, and I no longer can thank him sweetly for the beautiful gesture. I didn't realise how much it mattered until I walked in here on my first night and nobody pulled the chair for me.

My throat closes up and tears well up in my eyes. I sniffle, blinking a few times to clear my sight. "Good evening," I smile at the occupants while sitting down in my chair. A few faces smile, a few don't. The latter few being Yuvraaj and Agastya. The usual.

"I heard you've a good news to share?" Vivaan leans in, smiling at me kindly.

I glance at Yuvaan. He shares the smile with our elder brother.

"Yeah," I look back at Vivaan. "I got the job."

He beams. "That's my girl!" Scraping the chair back, he gets up and comes around the table to my side. I shift on my chair, facing him, and his arms lift me up, into his arms, where I strangely break down sobbing heavily.

"Tara?" He whispers, shocked and frozen to his spot.

"I love you," I pull him impossibly closer, my face buried on his shoulder. "Thank you. Thank you for being who you are. God, I love you." He hugs me back tighter, running a soothing hand down my back and pressing countless kisses to my head and temple. "You're proud of me, right?" I pull away, sniffling softly, my static hair clinging to his fleecy sweatshirt. I push them back and wipe away the tears. "You are, right?"

He nods. "I am. I'm so so so proud of you."

"It was a blind interview." I smile shakily. "They had this set up of curtains. They didn't know who I was. I didn't know who they were. Yet they still selected me. I did it on my own."

"Of course, you did, little star. No one is undermining your efforts."

"You sound so much like Dad," I cup his face. For the first time, seeing him so up close, I find myself looking at the younger version of my father.

Vivaan stiffens.

"He'll be proud of me."

He nods.

"He will be." My lower lip trembles. I feel the hot tears pour out of my eyes, rolling down my flushed cheek. The salty taste lingers in my mouth. I use the back of my hand to wipe them away. He plucks out a few tissues to help me. I blow my nose and crumple the tissue, smiling up at him so huge my eyes crinkle.

"Congratulations, Tara." I hear Ayush say. I look past my shoulder and thank him.

"All the best for your job!" Arush exclaims. I nod in gratitude. "Did you tell Shourya?" He asks curiously.

The smile on my face fades.

The remaining men go stiff.

Arush clears his throat. "He was worried about it..... Anyway, all the best again."

"C'mon now, sit down." Vivaan pulls the chair for me. I stare at him fondly as he flips over my plate and serves me the food. Just like Dad would. I don't even stop him when he folds the roti in my plate. "Eat."

I nod and look down at my plate.

"When are you joining?"

I look at my eldest brother. "I'm yet to decide that. There are still a few things pending. My University documents will arrive next week. And the meeting with Rajawats is yet to happen."

"Well, he called me this evening. I've invited the Rajawats for dinner tomorrow night. I expect no misbehaviour." His eyes zero on Agastya.

"Why are you looking at me?" The latter snaps back.

"I'm warning you. Don't create a scene tomorrow." Yuvraaj says sternly.

"How about I don't leave my room at all?" He offers snidely, "Oh, right. That way I'll be ruining our perfect family picture. So not happening in Chauhan household."

Yuvraaj's jaw clenches.

"What? Thinking I was better off in London?"

"Stop putting words in my mouth."

"Then stop supporting every ridiculous decision she makes!" He points at me. I sigh tiredly. "Are we going to repeat the same mistake? Don't you remember how horrible things were when you married Sara Bhabhi!?"

"And she's not to blame." Yuvraaj says curtly. "Our marriage didn't work because of me."

"No, it didn't work because of those cunning Rajawats! Tell me, if she was from some other family, would it still have ended the way it did?"

That shuts up Yuvraaj.

"There. You have your answer. And you're going to put her through the same." He throws the napkin on the table and storms out of the dining hall.

I seize the moment of silence to clear the air. "If it helps, I'm to blame. It's my decision and I hope you guys don't consider it yours. All I want is your blessings. Not your approval."

Yuvraaj looks at me grimly. I school my features blank, fisting my hands so I don't reveal my emotions on my face, especially regret and helplessness.

"I'm done." He pushes his plate away and leaves the room.

Vivaan follows with his eyes, wistful and hopeless.

We force ourselves to sit through the dinner and then retire to our respective rooms, wishing each other good night, internally aware no one's getting good sleep tonight.

On Sunday evening, the palace doors open to welcome the Rajawat family. The Chairman is not on his wheelchair anymore, how unfortunate. I'd have pushed him off the stairs at any given opportunity. Virendra walks on the old man's left, Shourya on his right, and I pick out of the differences that set them apart. Which are a lot. Except for their heights. Everyone in this family is exceptionally tall.

Shourya's eyes find me first. He looks down my figure, stunned at my choice of dressing. I'm wearing a white saree with blue borders. Juyi helped me put it on. I had given up when I failed to do the pleats. But she didn't.

His gait automatically slows down. His eyes don't part ways from me. They cling to my body, akin to how the chiffon fabric of the saree does. I look away, twiddling with the end of my saree nervously.

"Shourya," I hear Virendra say. When I look back at them, Shourya blinks and picks up his pace again. I clear my throat when each of my brothers shoot me a passive aggressive glance. It's not my fault he couldn't stop staring at me.

"This way," Yuvraaj leads the way to the dining hall.

We all sit down. I stop Virendra when he tries occupying the chair next to me. "That's my father's seat."

He smiles awkwardly. "Sorry," he shifts to the other.

"Thank you," I say out of forced politeness.

Shourya sits on my right, where Janet used to sit, adjacent to Yuvraaj and across from Vivaan. I hold in my breath, avoiding looking at my brothers to see their expressions. He could have sat somewhere else. There are tens of chairs still empty.

The dinner is served shortly after everyone settles down. The Rajawat men compliment the food and arrangements. Yuvraaj expresses his gratitude humbly.

Once the food is cleared out, we get served wine and dessert. The chairman clears his throat and our eyes drift to him.

"Five years ago, I wish I had come to your father personally and proposed an alliance between the families. I didn't. And that made my lovely grandson rebel. I had almost lost him." He has everyone's attention at this point. "I don't want to repeat the same mistake again. If he wants to marry the Chauhan princess, and if Taranya has no qualms, we shall go forward with this alliance."

All gazes shift to me. "I wish to be a part of the Rajawat family." I put my agreement subtly.

"Shantanu," he commands.

The royal butler walks over and puts the gold plate, covered with silk scarf in the middle of the table. Then he pinches it in the centre and pulls the purple fabric off, revealing two gold studded Solitaire rings. I stop my jaw from falling. They're glorious. Especially the huge diamonds.

"These rings have been passed down from several generations in our clan. Every hundred years they're melted, moulded, and redesigned to fit the modern taste. I hope you like it, princess Taranya?"

I nod. "They're beautiful."

"Great. Let's officialise the alliance by exchanging the rings." He declares. "Shourya,"

"Aren't we going too fast?" Yuvraaj interrupts.

I flinch when Shourya's hand cups the back of mine. I look at him and he covertly expresses his disapproval towards my eldest brother's suggestion.

Coward.

I slap his hand away and take a deep breath. "I've no problem. The sooner the better."

Yuvraaj glares at me. He wants to kill me. Too bad, he loves me.

"Miya biwi raazi, toh kya hi karega kaazi?" The Chairman chuckles. "Shourya, put the ring on your future wife." He wastes no time acting on the command.

As he takes my hand, he fondly gazes at the ring in my right hand, and then slowly slips the new ring on. I reach out to pluck the other ring and put it on for him. He holds onto my hand before I can pull away. Then he aligns our hands next to each other and smiles, his eyes meeting mine with a rejuvenated hope. I feel a tug at my heart.

The sound of applause breaks us apart. I look ahead, taking in the poker faces of my brothers as they clap, and the guilt grows in deeper.

"Let's start the wedding preparations soon."

Excited?

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