dedicated to @MONEYBUYBOOKS who lost her battle against cancer. Thank you for being my reader. Rest in peace, sweet angel.

-• to see you again •-

Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan

"She's coming to the hospital to see you."

The words render me incapable of a rational response. "What?"

"She's coming to the hospital." He repeats.

"Why?" I whisper.

"What do you mean why?" He sounds frustrated. "You unethically acquired the deal we were initially supposed to sign. She's pissed. Deal with her. And you're also going to pay her half the penalty amount. We didn't sign any papers but I trust word of mouth and I'm not about to let people spread any misinformation of me being an unprofessional, egoistic, pretentious businessman. Make sure she gives you her word that her people won't talk ill about me." He hangs up on my face.

I put the phone away. His concern is valid. I didn't expect to be the one dealing with it though. I don't want to talk to that woman, especially now, in a setting where I'm stuck to bed in these boring hospital outfits of outdated fashion. I haven't showered since yesterday. I can't meet the woman looking like this, looking nothing like the Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan is supposed to. I've an image to uphold.

"Zoya!?" I call out to see whether the woman is outside. Chances are low. I pressured her into taking care of my schedule at the office. "Zoya?"

The door opens and one of my guards peek inside. "She's at the headquarters, your majesty."

I sigh in defeat. "You come in." I beckon him inside. He speaks to his partner at the door before heeding to my words. "There's a bag inside that cupboard," I point to his right "get me that." As he follows my instructions, I blow a breath in my palm to check if my mouth stinks. It doesn't. I brushed this morning but I also ate lunch just an hour ago. You can't be too sure about your hygiene.

He brings over the blue bag and I sit up, folding my legs before I unzip it and take out the necessary things.

A handheld mirror, comb, toner, cleanser, and moisturizer. I tell him to put the bag away and proceed to clean my face. He helps me towards the bathroom to wash my face, then holds up the mirror as I apply moisturizer and brush a comb through my dark hair. "Do you have a chapstick?" I look up at him.

He blinks at me, looking stunned.

"Chapstick?"

He hurriedly shakes his head.

Sighing exasperatedly, I rub a finger over my lips to get rid of the dead skin before licking them so they look shiny and red. "Get me a book from the shelf." I command him.

"Which- Which one?" He asks.

"Any. Does matter. Just bring it."

He turns around and grabs a random book from the shelf. "Here you go, your majesty."

I take the book from him, dismiss him with a wave of my hand and lean back on the reclining bed with the book opened in my hands. "Listen," I stop him before he can step outside the room. He stands still to hear me further. "If a woman dressed in white comes to visit me, let her in, okay? But knock twice before opening the door." He bows his head, stepping out and closing door after him.

I breathe out softly.

Now I'm prepared to meet her.

Eventually, I start to lose my posture. I'm just too exhausted, both physically and mentally to sit in a position that's more fashionable than comfortable. But then two knocks appear and I'm almost knocked out my breathe in surprise. Fixing my posture, I wear my round glasses and open the book at a random page, clearing my throat before answering, "Come in."

I don't look up even when the door opens and a sight in white becomes visible in my peripheral vision. Her heels go click-clack on the marble floor as she makes her way to my bedside. I read the random, barely coherent garbage of words written in long paragraphs on the pages. What fucking language is this!?

"What's your problem, Yuvraaj?"

I make a show of looking up in surprise. "You?"

"Yes, me." She states, arms crossed on her chest. Dressed in a white bodycon, she has her blazer draped over her shoulders, the delicacy of her features overshadowed by the nasty glares she has the habit of throwing my way. "What's your problem with me? Why can't you just let me be!?"

"I'm unaware of the context of your anger. What's the issue?"

"The issue is you. You're my issue!" She snaps.

I blink. "Me?" I point at myself. "What did I do?"

Her jaw falls slack. "What in the hell is wrong with you, man!? Stop meddling in my affairs. Stop acting petty. Be a man that you've always prided yourself of being and leave me the fuck alone."

"Don't swear." I warn her.

She rolls her eyes.

"If you've nothing sane to say, do not speak to me. The door's that way." I jut my chin to help her figure out the exit.

"Muse was in talks with Rudra regarding his first exclusive interview. You had no right stealing him from us."

"Steal?" I shake my head. "I offered him a better deal and he accepted it."

"He told me you blackmailed him!"

That motherfucker.

I shrug. "We're family. He chose me over you. Get over it."

"Family!?" She exclaims in disbelief. "You're so selfish! Now what am I supposed to do, Yuvraaj? We already posted promotional videos and edits on our social media handle. We can't just take them down! Do you have any idea of the losses we'll incur!?"

"And that's my fault?" I look up at her, pinning her with my steely gaze. "Did he sign a contract with you? You did all that just because he gave you his word? Is that how you do business?" I scoff out an amused, sardonic chuckle. "C'mon, Sara, and here I thought I'm in a competition with someone of my level. You overestimate yourself too much. Go and do some damage control instead of whining here like an immature juvenile." Looking down at the book, I flip a page.

To my surprise, she rips off the book from my hands and throws it on the visitor's chair. "It's Russian. You don't even understand the language, dumbass!" She hisses at me. "This is the last time I'm excusing your petty behaviour, Yuvraaj," she points an index at me, her jaw clenched tightly. Aureate eyes ablaze in rage. "The next time you pull a stunt like this, it'll be you versus me."

I smirk and cross my arms on the chest, leaning back with my chin aloft. "It was always you versus me, little rebel. I'm sorry you realised that just now."

She grits her teeth, then whips around and storms out of the hospital room, slamming the door shut on her way. When I'm sure she's not returning back to swear some more from that uncouth mouth of hers, I lean over to pick my phone from the bedside table and dial my secretary's number.

"Yes, boss."

"Fix a meeting with the Chief Editor of Muse and reach a settlement. I don't want this to escalate any further. Pay them if need be." I tell her.

"Okay, but when should I set up the meeting? You're still in the hospital."

"Take Arush along for the sake of formality but you take care of it personally. Just make sure Rudra's reputation isn't harmed in the midst of this, am I clear?"

"Yes, sir. Don't worry, I'll take care of it." I hang up and put the phone away, lifting my head when a nurse walks inside the room.

"Dr. Vivaan has added a few more tests to your prescription." She informs me. "We need you on the second floor for ultrasound and PET scan in fifteen minutes. Should I help you, your majesty?" She offers politely.

"No, it's fine, I can manage on my own. Just get this off me." I say, referring to the IV attached to my hand. She nods, putting away her pad to pull out the plastic, tube-shaped catheter out of my vein. Then I follow her out of the room, my guards join me and we head down to the second floor.

I go through all the tests and scans scheduled for me. It's futile. I know I'm perfectly healthy. But my siblings are on tenterhooks regarding everyone's health ever since we lost our father to cancer. I'm wasting my time doing this but if it reassures their needless fears then I'm willing to go through more inconveniences.

I'm sent back to my room in the late evening.

Taranya drops by with homemade dinner. She also calls Vivaan to my room and forces us to share the food as she sits and reads a random magazine, like a strict warden on watch to make sure naughty kids don't make any mistakes. Who knew this once sixteen-year-old girl will grow up to become a mature, responsible, and the most beautiful woman alive. I still remember her first memory of mine. She had fallen unconscious before she even saw me at the doorstep of her class in England. Before meeting her, I was actually, for the first time in my life, nervous. It wasn't easy. I knew my father has been cowardly hiding his mistakes for all his life, but I didn't expect one of them to be his own daughter.

Yes, I considered Taranya his mistake. Perhaps, one of the biggest ones.

Then I saw her fall unconscious and my heart lurched forward, with fear holding me hostage during the whole drive to hospital. And I knew she was no mistake. She was about to become my most treasured weakness, and for a man who knew no fear, it was the first time I felt so powerless in front an existence that I once considered insignificant.

I love and care for all my siblings equally. But if things go wrong, I know, and my brothers know, we'll choose to protect her first, even at the cost of each other's lives, let alone our own.

"You should go home now." I say as Vivaan washes the tiffin in the bathroom.

She shakes her head. "I'm staying the night."

"Taranya -"

"No. Yuvaan Bhai was supposed to stay with you last night but you sent him away. Not me. I'm staying." She says stubbornly.

"The couch will be uncomfortable, Princess."

"It's okay. I'll be fine."

"Taranya -"

"When my mother was a nurse, I used to sleep on those hard and sturdy metal chairs the entire night. This is still a six seater sofa." She bounces on the sofa to prove her point. "I'll be fine." She reassures me.

"Just let her take care of you, Bhai. You know how stubborn she is." Vivaan comes out of the bathroom.

"And what about it?" She asks him, as if challenging him to counter her.

"Nothing." Vivaan says in the same, low pitched tone, laughing when she makes an offended face. He packs the clean tiffin and puts it on the coffee table, leaning over to kiss her forehead. She closes her eyes. I watch the exchange fondly. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Good night, little star."

She beams at him. "Good night, my sunshine!"

I clear my throat to hide the uplift of my lips and scroll mindlessly through my phone. It settles my uneasy heart when I see my siblings love each other so freely. They'd be fine even if I'm no more. I don't feel happy about the fact that I'll be forgotten easily, just like my presence is, but that's okay. I'll be more at peace knowing they have each other to lean on.

Upon his departure, Taranya tries to convince me to play board games with her.

"Chess."

"Snake and ladder!"

"Sudoku."

"Ludo."

"Go."

"Where?" She frowns.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. The more I love her EQ, the less I appreciate her IQ. "It's a game."

"Oh," she whispers. "UNO!"

"I'm not playing the games of luck with you."

"Bhai, please!" She whines.

"No-"

"We're playing Ludo!" She declares.

In the end, she wins. Both the argument and the game. But that's because I play halfheartedly. And also, my luck is shit. While she gets all sixes, I'm stuck with a constant ones and twos.

"Okay, for the next game, let's add a prize to make it more interesting."

I nod tiredly. No matter what I say, she gets the last word anyway.

"If you win, I'll give you ten thousand bucks. And if I win, you'll give me fifty thousand bucks. Deal? Deal!"

"That's not a fair deal." I object.

"You're richer than me!" She defends.

"Your husband is rich too." I remind her.

"Hey, I'm no gold digger." She admonishes me. "I didn't marry him for money. It's just a plus point." I look away to hide my smile. "You're convinced. Let's play." I shake my head at the silly girl but go along with her anyway. As I said, she always gets the last word among us. And I weirdly like that.

She wins again. Big surprise.

I continue to play with her until she gives up on her own and retires to the sofa to sleep the rest of the night away. As soon as her head touches the soft leather, she's out like light. Doesn't even have something to cover herself. It's cold in the room. Stupid girl. Always makes me worry for her. I wonder how Rudra handles her. However, he'd be answering me if he ever denied taking care of her, tantrums included. She's a princess and anyone making her feel otherwise will have to suffer at the hands of their worst fate-- Me.

I get off the bed and drape my sheets on her. She snuggles into them. Crouching to her level, I run a hand down the shiny lustre of her raven hair. She hums in her sleep. Leaning in, I press a kiss to her forehead. She smiles, not as bright as she did for Vivaan, but still, it's a smile I cherish.

Then I lay on my bed and wait for the night to fall so I'll be discharged tomorrow.

Waking up next morning, Taranya stays by my side as Vivaan finishes the discharge procedure. At eleven o clock, I'm finally allowed to return home. After a long shower, I get dressed in a brown suit and quickly drive to the studio where Rudra is supposed to be for a photoshoot today.

The editorial department greets me good morning as soon as they spot me. Radhika briefs me about their preparation. Rudra arrives at twelve in the afternoon. He refuses to glance my way so I let the child throw a fit. I just need his face plastered on the cover of my magazine, nothing else.

"Boss," I tear my eyes off the ongoing photoshoot and pay attention to my secretary.

"You were supposed to meet Mr. Sehgal for a lunch meeting two days ago. He willingly postponed it to tomorrow afternoon when he heard you were hospitalized. But it'll be at his mansion. I couldn't say no when he insisted since he's one of our important clients."

"It's okay, I'll meet him tomorrow for lunch."

She sighs in relief and walks away, whipping out her phone to confirm the appointment.

Knowing the editorial department will finish everything neatly here, I head to office so I can finish all the pending work. Zoya and Arush help me shed off the majority of the load, and we spend a night tying the loose ends left for this month before we step into the next.

My chauffeur drives us home. I send Arush upstairs with a pat on his back. "Good work tonight. Get some sleep." He nods and wishes me good night, retreating to his room quietly.

During my shower, I realise we've skipped many family dinners this month. Before resuming my work, I drop a text to my brothers to be present for dinner tomorrow night, then sit down on the chair and turn on the monitor.

Zoya picks me up the next morning at eleven. We head directly to the Sehgal mansion. The man of the house personally attends me at the door along with his brother.

"So glad you could make it at my request."

I force a smile back.

I had to. He recently purchased a plot in Thailand. I want him to choose us again, though I'm confident he will, but unlike certain someone, I don't overestimate myself.

"The issue is you. You're my issue!"

I brush off the flash of amusement before it consumes my head with her thoughts.

"This way,"

I follow his lead inside the mansion, only to falter in my steps as she steps out of a room from the other end. She looks up mid laugh, and stops abruptly, her gold brown eyes acknowledging my presence with surprise.

"Vaidehi, you invited your friend over and didn't tell me?" I tear my eyes off her, glancing towards Mr. Sehgal who looks at his wife in subtle disapproval.

"You didn't tell me you were inviting someone over either." His wife counters, her arm linked around Sara's like they're childhood best friends. I almost snort at the idea of her having a friend. I don't think I ever saw her getting close with another human being after Ms. Leigh Jamison shifted countries. I don't know why I still remember her best friend's name. The thought bothers me.

"Well, Mr. Chauhan here is joining us for lunch. So see your friend out before coming to the dining hall."

"Sara is here for lunch as well." Vaidehi says, not minding the underlying hint in her husband's words. "Do you have any problem with her joining us for lunch, Mr. Chauhan?" She looks at me.

I blink, taken aback for abruptly being put in the spot.

"It's okay, Vaidehi. I'm sure it'll be uncomfortable for him." She glances at me sympathetically. "I'll see you tomorrow."

That sets me off. Because why will I be uncomfortable? I don't care if she's alive or dead, let alone be bothered by her presence.

"I don't have any problem with her joining us for lunch."

What I'm meaning to say is, I can most certainly have a meal with this woman and not be reminded of what a thorn she is in my eyes. I hate her, yes, but if need be, I can also be civil with her for the sake of my well-preserved reputation.

"Then it's sorted," Vaidehi says, "Let's go and have lunch. The food is ready."