-• good day to be a princess •-

Taranya Singh Chauhan

The jet lands in Seoul, South Korea on the runway of Incheon International airport at 11:30 pm. The temperature is low around 3° and I, along with my remaining tripmates, have my butt freezing off due to the insane cold. While I'm immune to freezing cold winters, my brothers and Shourya are definitely not. Especially Shourya. He's shaking and trembling as we get out of the jet, and leaves no time entering the black KIA waiting for him.

"What the fuck." I hear Agastya swear under his breath the moment we settle inside the car waiting for us. I'm sandwiched between the twins while our elder brother has made himself comfortable on the passenger seat, warming himself up with the heater. "I didn't know it'd be this cold here." He mutters disappointedly.

"I knew." I sniffle, hugging my jacket close. "I've watched too many dramas to know the weather conditions here."

"Good for you." Arush says sarcastically. "Honestly, this time I wanted to vacation in a warm country."

"Same." Agastya grumbles. "Short stuff, if I knew it'd be this cold here, I'd have never let you choose." He shoots me a glare from the rear view mirror.

"Not my fault you're so sensitive to cold. Winters are wonderful. I love them. So this suits me." I declare.

"It's going to get colder in coming days." The driver says as we finally exit the airport. I glance over my shoulder to check whether Shourya's car is following us. It is.

"God, no!" Agastya groans and slams his head back on the seat. "How are we going to enjoy the vacation if the weather remains this cold?"

"It's not even that cold!" I snort. "In London, the temperature goes as low as -6. Stop complaining."

"You've lived in London for sixteen years, haven't you, Princess?" The driver asks. My brows shoot up in surprise at his up to date persona. Now that I notice, he's too young, prim and proper to be just a driver.

"Yes, I have. I've seen snowfall, played in it, built snowmen, it was fun. So I'm really hyped to see the snow here."

"The weather forecast predicted one later this week. But snowfall here typically last from November to February, rarely in March, and almost never in April so it might just be a false alarm."

"I hope not. Please," I clasp my hands together.

"You speak very good English." Agastya frowns.

"Agastya, that's rude!" I hiss slapping him on the arm.

He winces.

The driver laughs.

"I meant, for a driver he speaks very good English." Agastya shrugs, seeing nothing wrong in his statement. I glare at him, but since he's sitting on the front seat, he doesn't notice. I wish to hit him upside down on his head. But it's empty so there's no point in shaking up the air.

"I'm not a driver." The man chuckles. "I'm the secretary of Director Jung Seo-Joon of Atlas Group. We dwell in the travel and hotel industry." He glances at Agastya.

"Oh," is my brother's smart reply. At least apologise, duffer. "Sorry, my bad." Good.

"That's fine. I didn't mind." He waves off with a charming smile.

He's so damn hot.

"Tara!" My three brothers groan in synchrony.

I slap a hand on my mouth the moment the man of my compliment bursts out laughing, his cheeks heating up the slightest. "Thank you, princess, but I'm already committed." He shows off the ring on his finger.

"Did I say that aloud?" I sink in my seat, whispering to Ayush. He nods, not looking happy with my words.

I suck my lips in and cover my face with my hands, embarrased beyond belief. It's hard to ignore the appeal when you come across a handsome man. And it's happening with me from the time I flew down to India to settle with my new family. Handsome men and boys strut around me like sparkling candies. What am I supposed to do? Pretend I don't see the allure? It's the only time when I see these kinds of masterpieces that I don't regret being straight. Otherwise what do boys have if not their looks and butts to make up for their shitty attitude? Only a few of them were nice. Like Rohit, who had absolutely zero interest in me because I'm definitely way younger than him. Not that I'd go along if he made a pass at me. That'd just criminalise him in my eyes. Then Atharva, oh, he was charming alright, unfortunately, just not my type. And then came vaulting into my life like Thor's mjolnir, Mr. Mystery man. The biggest douche bag off all, but the sexiest indeed. I would not even count Shourya. Post accident he has began to grow on me, but not so much to consider his looks more than his past. He was creepy and obsessed and I'd like to keep my distance from him as much as I can.

"Don't make Shourya feel like a stranger. Keep him company if your brothers fail to. He deserves this break."

"Uh, okay."

"Promise me."

Hearing those words from Vivaan of all, was literally a shock to me. For a second, I couldn't believe he asked me to promise him something like that. But I had no way out despite my annoyance towards Shourya. I don't like to go against or question Vivaan's words. He's the one who would never feign kindness for an ulterior motive or to keep up his image as the second Prince of Jaigarh. He has always been real, and so I trust his judgement. If he thinks Shourya deserves a nice treatment during this trip, then he does. And I'm not going to disappoint my brother by casting our guest aside. That's one and only reason why I've been so friendly and hospitable towards Shourya throughout the journey.

I lower my hands to my lap and feel the embarrassment creep in back again. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to say that aloud."

He chuckles. "Don't worry. As a thirty six year old man, I was flattered."

"Thirty six?" I gasp. "You don't look a day over 24! Are all Korean men as hot as they show in dramas?" I blurt out.

Agastya sucks in a sharp breath. His patience is hanging on one end of a thin thread and I'm dangling on the other. As of now, I'm winning.

"No, that's not the case. We're clearly generalised. But yes, physical beauty matters here. You will see women, sometimes even men, wearing makeup and flaunting trendy clothes. There's a reason Korea tops the list for plastic surgeries. But that doesn't mean every other South Korean that you come across is a copy of, add any popular actor's name. Don't perceive everything here to be the same as you watch in dramas. They're fictional and far from reality. As a foreigner, I'd even advise you to keep your distance from men here. Of course there are genuine guys around, but as any other place in the world, they're hard to find."

"You're a nice guy." I say to him.

He grins. "Thank you, again."

Agastya turns his head over his shoulder and pulls an imaginary zip over his lips, indirectly telling me to shut up. I roll my eyes but decide to listen him for my sake. I can't keep humiliating myself in front of a clearly older man, older than my eldest brother actually. God, I should be condemned for even finding him hot. I'm definitely rotting in hell after my death.

"I did some research before coming here," Ayush begins catching our attention. "And found there's not many vegetarian options here."

"Well, as long as you come back to our hotel for your meal, you'll not be disappointed. We serve vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food for all three meals." He replies. "There are also a few local restaurants that serve vegetarian food, but yes, meat has been a prominent part of our diet, so it's hard to find a vegetarian place here. There are not many vegetarian street food options either."

"Don't worry, it's a metropolitan city. I'm sure there are high end restuarants that serve vegetarian options." I whisper to my crestfallen brother.

"So no junk food for next two weeks?" His lower lip puckers out in disappointment.

I shrug helplessly. Ayush is a big fan of burgers, pizzas and most importantly, Indian junk food. Samosas, Vada Pav, Pav Bhaji, Kachori, Chaat and all that masala stuff. Yeah, I've finally learned the names. I had to if I wanted to eat them again. I can't just describe the taste and expect the cook to understand me. Chaat and Pav Bhaji is my all time favourite. God, I already miss my food. I've also learned a few quick dishes in order to appease my midnight cravings. I've a hunch I'll be polishing my cooking skills in London often.

When we reach the Atlas Hotel, I didn't expect the level of hospitalization we received. It's like, we're of utmost importance to them and they're afraid offending us would cost them their jobs.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the title I carry before my name. It stands like the most important part of my introduction, even more than my name.

But it also feels good to be important.

To be known and acknowledged.

"Your rooms are ready and the keys are with me. Please follow me." The secretary says, leading us past the posh and modern lobby and towards the bank of private elevators.

I slow down so Shourya isn't left behind. For a boy who grew up in wealth and luxury, he looks very innocent admiring the beauty of the hotel. As though he has never seen something like this before. I hadn't too, but used to see it from outside, and experienced it more than often after I became a part of Chauhan family.

"You'll be in the same suite as us." I tell him in a whisper.

His head jerks in my direction. "Oh,"

"Are you happy with the arrangements?" Because Agastya is clearly not. Even I was set back a little discovering the same. It's not that we don't like him around, but to have him directly in our space, feels a little too much. I wonder if Yuvraaj Bhai is already aware of it. We don't even know who's hosting our stay. Whether it's the Chairman or Bhai. But considering the secretary drove us personally, is trying to be friendly and polite with us, I'd like to believe it was our brother. Even right now the man is trying his hardest to impress Agastya. I hold back a snort.

If only he knew for Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan, if one of his siblings is valid for a trade exchange, then it's this one. Agastya has the least influence on Yuvraaj out of all.

"I don't have a reason to complain."

"Huh?" I frown at Shourya.

He sighs. "You asked me whether I hate the living arrangements?"

I blink. "Oh, right. Sorry, I zoned out for a bit." I admit sheepishly.

He shakes his head, seemingly disappointed with my questionable attention span. It's not my fault. I like to think mile a minute. And conversations with him rarely interest me. If we're not arguing, we're not talking. It's for the sake of promise I made to Vivaan that I'm even bothering to strike a pointless conversation with him.

"That's alright. I shouldn't even question it. You've always struggled with concentration." He nods, shoving his hands in his pockets.

I throw him a glare over my shoulder as we step inside the elevator. Ignoring him, I stand beside Ayush. He can go fuck himself. I'm trying to be civil, and he has the audacity to insult me.

"I don't want to share a room with Arush." Ayush grumbles under his breath, looking heatedly at Agastya's back of head. Clearly someone's not happy with the living arrangements. And shockingly, it isn't Shourya but one of the twins. But I understand him. Sharing your room with the one who irritates you the most will be hard.

"Ask him to share a room. Aren't they buddies?" I add fuel to the fire.

"I know right?" Ayush looks down at me angrily. "He should be the one sharing his room. Not me." His glare goes back to its target.

"Don't start here though. After we reach the room. As a heads-up, I'm in your team." I hold up my fist. He bumps it with his gently.

My room doesn't hold a fucking candle to what the suite has to offer. But then again, it's a suite. It'd be stupid of me to even compare the two. I get used to the gold and white theme fairly easily. It's the same as back in the palace. The interiors and furniture has this royal touch to it, but they're all modern, luxurious and comfortable. I fall in love with the gallery, and the view it has to offer of the city.

The secretary retreats after getting us familiar with the suite, he also notes down the numbers we can reach out to for certain things, like food, extra facilities and or if we need to buy anything from outside but don't want to go outside. We already have a schedule for what we're doing tomorrow and for the rest of the week. A travel guide will take care of it for us so we're just told to rest and take it easy.

"God, it was an exhausting day." Agastya plops down on the couch in the living room.

We also have an open kitchen but the secretary said it's only for a show or if we want a quick self-made coffee. Other than that, guests usually prefer to order from outside.

I watch Shourya grab his stuff from where it was left by the bellboy and head to the room assigned to him. It must be so awkward for him to be around us. Around the boys mostly. At least I'm slightly acquainted with him, even if for less favoured reasons. Vivaan was right. I should be the last person making him feel like an outsider.

"Are you coming out for dinner?" I ask before he can disappear inside his room.

"No, thanks." He says and attempts to close the door.

"But you didn't even eat anything on the flight." I add worriedly.

Agastya looks at me in disapproval, not happy with my observation.

"It's fine. I'll order for myself if I feel hungry." He closes the door shut.

I sigh exasperatedly. He's so hard to get along with.

"Now coming to the living arrangements. I'm not sharing a room with Arush. He snores." Ayush grunts, visibly frustrated. He looks sleep deprived. He was reading a book for the whole flight. Jet lag is inevitable.

"I don't remember it being a decision left for you to make?" Agastya scowls and gets up from the couch, ready to depart to his own room.

"Are you not saying something?" Ayush looks accusingly at his twin.

"What? I don't mind sharing a room with you." He shrugs.

"Obviously you don't. You sleep like a fucking log!" Ayush grumbles. "I don't know. I'm not sleeping with him. And you can't decide for us." He points at Agastya.

"But I can. I make the decisions here. I'm the oldest." Agastya steps closer to him threateningly. Despite the clear height and body size difference, my feeble Ayush holds up a tough posture.

"Let's decide with a game!" I barge in to dismiss the thick tension. "Rock paper scissors. Whoever loses, has to share a room with Arush."

"Am I that unwanted as a roommate?" Arush asks innocently.

"Yes!" Agastya and Ayush bark, flinching the poor guy.

"Fine. Keep fighting. I'm off to bed." He snorts and saunters to his room next to Shourya's.

"Alright, let's go four times. Whoever wins the majority of times, gets a room to himself."

Agastya nods.

Ayush grunts out a yes.

"Three two one, go!" I stand as a referee.

Agastya wins the first round.

Ayush wins the second.

Then Agastya wins the third.

"This will decide the winner," I say and snap my hand for them to go.

Ayush wins the last.

"It's a tie!" I declare.

"I'm not doing this again!" Agastya groans. steps back.

"Alright, I've another game in my mind. Who knows who better. I'll ask you questions about him, and you've to answer correctly." I say to Agastya. "And vice versa. Whoever answers majority of them correctly, wins the room. This will be hardest since you both dislike each other."

"I don't dislike him." Ayush rolls his eyes. "I just can't stand him."

"Same here." Agastya scoffs.

"Okay, let's begin." I clap my hands and rub them together. "Starting with you, Ayush, tell me the date on which Agastya played his first game this year?"

"That's so easy!" Agastya snaps.

"Shut up. I'm the host here. Yes, Ayush?" I look back at the twin.

"26th of January."

"Correct! Now coming to you, the date of his first chess competition of this year?"

Ayush smirks.

Agastya blinks. "How- how would I know that? It's not even a public event like-"

"The date!" I demand.

"I don't know." He throws up his hands in the air.

"Coming back to you Ayush, the last girlfriend Agastya had?"

Agastya chuckles coldly. "You're asking him all easy questions! I'm popular in the school. Even the kid from the kindergarten knows what girl I'm entertaining currently!"

"That's not his fault that you've your life open for public scrutiny." I say to him before looking back at Ayush.

He smiles. "Divya?"

"Right! Now the same question to you. Name his last girlfriend."

"You've had a girlfriend?" Agastya looks gobsmacked.

"Answer!" I click my fingers in front of his face.

He groans again. "I don't know."

"Two, zero. Ayush in the lead. The last time Agastya was punished by Yuvraaj Bhai?" I look at the twin.

"Just recently for that whole Shekhawat fiasco." He shrugs.

"The last time Ayush was punished?" I look at Agastya.

He looks defeated. "Never."

"I was. Last year. I stole a book from school library because it was the first edition and I wanted it in my collection." Ayush adds.

Agastya's left eyelid twitches.

"One last question, do you want to try?" I bite my lower lip to stop myself from bursting out in laughter at the face he makes.

"What's even the point!?" He hisses like a snake. "Fuck this!" And he storms in the direction of the room Arush previously went in.

Ayush is the first to laugh and I follow him. We hi-five each other. "Thank you." He says earnestly.

I wink at him. "Let's go now. I'm severely jet lagged."

He hums and takes both of our suitcases like a gentleman that he is.

"Just put it there. I'll unpack it later. Thank you." I point at the corner of the room, near the wardrobe. He puts it down and wishes me good night on his way out.

I close my door after he leaves and fall back on the bed with my arms and legs spread.

The thought of heading directly to London from here scares me, but I'm not letting it ruin my vacation.

Better days, here I come.

I like writing from her pov. It feels more like home.

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