-• now this is a pleasant surprise •-

Akansha might not have self respect, but she has pride. Don't confuse the two to be same. Self respect would never allow her to make her whole personality about a man and degrade other women for him, and pride would never allow her to kneel before me because in some sick, twisted way, she thinks because she's a legitimate child, she's above me.

I know rumours about me spread the moment I was introduced to the world as Jaigarh's only princess. Some of them didn't believe I wasn't born out of wedlock and they had fair share of hints backing that conclusion even without evidence. But nobody came up to me with that bullshit on my face. Nobody.

She is first, and I'll be damned if I don't make sure she's last.

"What's wrong?" I step closer, looking down at her in contempt. Leaning in, I whisper in her ear. "Don't want to kneel before a mistress' daughter?"

She steps back with a flinch, her bloodshot eyes staring up at me brokenly.

"My mother won't be able to handle the shock of it." She tries the emotional card.

I scoff and look away, noticing everyone in the cafeteria has started to murmur among themselves. I put my hands on her bony shoulders and whip her around, pulling her closer to me as I bend until my chin is a few inches away from settling on her shoulder.

"Do you see these people, Akansha?" I ask her softly. "They pity you right now." I squeeze her arms. She stiffens. "You know why?" I turn her back around, my eyes narrowed in slit. "Because I'm a Chauhan. You're a nobody."

She swallows.

"And that's all they can offer you. Pity." I state. "So make use of it, and kneel. Force me to change my mind." I step back.

Pity is a powerful weapon. People often associate it with weakness. But that's not true. If used correctly, it can be the most important tool in manipulation. People like her, people in the lower level of hierarchy need it. I would know. I was once one among her, I was once below her.

She looks one last time at Shourya with hope. I follow her gaze, my jaw clenching in annoyance when I find his eyes fixed on me. Her chin trembles realising he really doesn't care enough to dirty his hands with her problems.

"Tara, people are watching." Arush comes to my side, growing impatient the more situation takes a turn for worse.

I don't care. She humiliated me in the corner, I'll humiliate her in front of the world. She'll learn who she's standing against better.

When it's clear I'm not going back on my word, Akansha slowly lowers herself to the floor, her knees hit the level of my feet. And I smile.

My eyes drift to Janet who winks at me. I look back at Akansha, the smile on my face transforming into a cruel smirk. "Now beg."

She brings her trembling hands forward to join. "I- I was in the wrong. I shouldn't have said all those things to you. I'm sorry. Please don't do this. My family will break apart."

I let the smile on my face fall and sigh, leaning over to hold her shoulders as I bring her back to her feet. I fix her messy hair, tuck the loose ends behind her ear and stretch my right hand for tissues. Janet gives them to me. "You know why I did this?" I murmur as I wipe the tears from her cheeks. "Because you disrespected my mother. We're very possessive about our family, Akansha. If anyone of my brothers get the inkling of what you said to me that night in the club, your family, along with its next six generations will have to live with the consequences of your one silly mistake." I crush the tissues in my fist. "I'm sure you don't want that?" She timidly shakes her head. "Oh, and one more thing," I lean in, meeting her frightened eyes, and my smirk widens. "It's not me opening my legs for your man," I thrust the tissues in her cleavage. She flinches. "It's him." I pick my purse from the side, grab my burger and nod at my best friend.

"Let's go," she says to the twins, picking her order along with the glass of my milkshake.

I glance at Shourya, not surprised to find him already watching me, a heated look flashing through his eyes. The corner of his lips tilt, and I don't know if he's a sadist to see his fiancee get humiliated in front of so many people, or because he's shameless enough to be impressed by me.

I don't stay there to feed the useless thought. The group of girls huddled near the entrance shuffle away, lowering their heads nervously as I walk past them.

"That was hot!" Janet gushes when we reach the parking lot, her hand stretched forward to return the glass of milkshake to me.

I chuckle and take a sip from the straw.

"What did she do?" Ayush asks, his brows furrowed together in confusion.

"She called Tara-" I hold Janet's wrist, shaking my head at her. "But why? Now it's all sorted. You put her in her place. We can tell them." She mutters.

"I'm sure this will come up during dinner later. You'll find out soon." I glance at Ayush.

He sighs, but gives in with a nod, opening the door for us. I thank him softly and slide in, Janet follows me shortly after. He closes the door and gets inside the passenger seat while Arush turns on the engine and pulls the car out of the parking spot.

I stare out of the window, suddenly missing my mother. I hope she's not disappointed with what I did. She always wanted me to stay as her kind, little girl. But there are limits you can't cross with me. And disrespecting my mother is one of them, it's first of them.

I can tolerate anything as long as it's not someone targetting my family with bad intentions. I know each one of them have suffered the cruelty of their past, and just the thought of someone inflicting new scar on their soul sets me off.

She's lucky I didn't take this to my brothers like a whiny little girl. None of them can handle tears in my eyes. I wasn't bluffing when I said her family would have suffered the consequences of her stupid mistake. If anything, I saved her from a much worse fate.

I startle feeling a soft hand cup the back of mine resting on my lap. Janet looks tenderly at me when our eyes meet. "Are you feeling guilty?"

"I'm just wondering whether mom's disappointed with me," I mumble.

She sighs and wraps the same arm around my shoulder, bringing me closer. "If I was your mother, I'd have been proud of you."

I chuckle. "Yeah, because you're Janet. You know how Mom was."

"Yeah, Gandhi types." She mocks.

I shove her on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. People like her need to be subdued with power. Because they will never understand kindness, Tara. And she started it. Not you."

I bite my lower lip. "Is she really at fault though?"

"What do you mean?" Janet frowns.

"Who wouldn't be insecure if their fiance chases another woman so openly?" I shrug. "She knows Shourya and I are not just family friends." I add in a whisper.

"And?" Janet cocks a brow. "She should confront her fiance then. Not you. Especially when she doesn't know your side of story."

"But-"

"Tara, you had no idea Shourya was engaged.

"And the moment you did, you stopped bothering with him. He was the one to come running behind you like a salivating dog. Don't blame yourself." She shakes her head. "If anything, she should be blaming and accusing that good for nothing fiance of hers, not reinforcing your position in his life."

"What are you girls whispering about?" Arush squints his eyes at us through the rearview mirror.

"Focus on the road." Janet deadpans.

He snorts but looks away.

We reach the palace in next thirty minutes. I'm already exhausted by the thought of having to drive forty minutes every day to University once the semester starts. And then there's my part-time job. I haven't been able to convince even one of my brothers. And for some reason, going against them unsettles me. But I'm not giving up on my decision. I'll make them say yes, either by hook or by crook.

Janet and I part on the ground floor. The twins accompany me upstairs.

"I'm surprised Shourya didn't say a word when you did all that with his fiancee." Arush shoves his hands in his pockets.

"I know right?" The other twin adds. "I was surprised as well. I mean, any sane man will stand up for his girlfriend. Dude watched the whole fiasco but didn't even budge."

"Do you think the alliance is of convenience like it was with Bhai and Sara Bhabhi?" Arush muses thoughtfully.

"I'm just entertaining her innocent notion that she can become my fiancee before the official merge is through."

Shourya's words return to me like an echo. Was he serious when he said she's never becoming his wife and it's all for the sake of business? He's a psycho. How dare he thinks I'll ever agree to marry him?

A twist knots into my stomach. For the last two years, I had regretted walking away from him that night. But it's true when they say all that happens is for a reason. I can't imagine the heights of craziness he would have reached if I had stayed that night.

Why are hot men either jerks or crazy motherfuckers or both?

I stop thinking about him after I enter my room. While I change into something comfortable, the lunch is served. I don't touch what I won't be eating so it doesn't go to waste. My stomach is already half-full because of the milkshake and burger.

Until the time of dinner, I stay in my room, downloading the academic book of my university and reading through it carefully.

At eight thirty, I'm called for the dinner. I follow Juyi to the dining hall, greet my family when I enter the room and thank Dad after he pulls the chair for me.

Janet and I share a stressed glance. There's a tense silence in the room, and I've a hunch what it's about.

"You made Mohan Singh's daughter kneel and beg to you in the middle of a cafeteria, is that true?" Yuvraaj inquires, and hearing him, Yuvaan coughs out aloud in shock.

"Yes," I flip over the plate.

Vivaan's elbow slips from the edge of the table. Dad turns to me stunned.

"Hear that?" Yuvraaj looks at Vivaan accusingly. "My sources are reliable."

"And that's your concern!?" Vivaan glares at our eldest.

"You questioned the credibility of my sources." Yuvraaj states.

Vivaan sighs.

"Why did you do that?" Dad cups my hand worriedly.

"She called me a slut and my mother a mistress." I shrug, looking up at my brothers after I serve myself.

"The bitch called you what?" Agastya growls.

"Slut." I repeat. "She said I open my legs for committed men." I chuckle humorlessly. Her audacity still baffles me. I'd never open my legs for a commited man. That's just not me.

Yuvraaj gets up from the chair and slips his phone out, attempting to walk away as he dials a number. I grab his hand, stopping him abruptly. He looks down at me, blind rage evident in his eyes. "Bhai, no, I put her in her place. It's over."

"Princess, kneeling and begging should be the beginning of it, not the end." He grits out, his jaw working tightly.

I get up and remove the phone from his fist, placing it on the table before I look back at him. "I don't want you to waste your time on such petty things. I was enough for her. Your time is important." I say to him and stir him back to the head chair. As I stand straight, I look at my brothers. "It's over, guys. So chill out and forget about it. I explained you the situation so you understand why I did what I did. I don't know if I was unreasonable -"

"You weren't." Vivaan cancels the notion. "I don't believe in using one's status and power to demean those below us, but that changes the moment they think they can step over us and we'll let them. You did what was right."

"I know my daughter." Dad looks up at me fondly. "I know you'd have never done this if she hadn't dragged Scarlett into the conversation. It was because she disrespected your mother, wasn't it?" He asks softly.

"Well, that's when she crossed the line." I shrug.

"Yeah, let's forget about it. She got what she deserved." Ayush says.

"Come and have dinner," Janet grabs my hand, pulling me back to the chair. I let her.

"I don't know why I'm so proud of you." Agastya smiles at me.

I smile back.

"Oh, you should have been there when it all happened." Arush mutters. "Now that we know the whole thing, it's all so satisfying. The look she had on her face when she kneeled in front of Tara while everyone watched. Damn."

"Was Shourya not there?" Agastya raises a brow.

"He was. But he didn't say anything. He only watched." Ayush answers.

"What?" Agastya frowns.

"He knows better than to stand against us for a temporary alliance." Yuvraaj says stiffly.

"Smart guy," Agastya nods. "Though I really thought he liked her."

"If Rajawats can beat the world in something, then its pretense. They know how to act." Vivaan snorts.

"Shourya is different." Dad says softly.

"The taste of power is changing him." That's Yuvraaj. I glance at him, and notice the distant, calculative look in his eyes, as if he's deciding what to do with the increasing threat. "Anyway, the date of the party is fixed. It'll be on Saturday. Tomorrow we'll send out the invitations." He informs us.

"I need a dress." My priority. "Janet too!" I add, ignoring the way she looks at me in a warning. I know she feels uncomfortable asking for favours from my family considering she's already living with us. But the sooner she understands that she's a part of us, the better.

"You wardrobe is overflowing with clothes." Yuvaan looks at me in disapproval.

I squint my eyes at him. "And? Are you jealous? Should I lend you some?" I ask sarcastically.

He scoffs and looks back down at his plate.

"Please?" I make puppy eyes at Yuvraaj, since money is coming from his pocket. If he denies, I'll have to shift to Vivaan or Dad.

He removes his wallet from the sweat pockets and fishes out the Amex black card, offering it to me.

"I love you. You're the best!" I send him a flying kiss.

He rolls his eyes at my drama, focusing back on his food.

"You sure your salary at the cafe will be enough to handle your extravagant expenses?" Vivaan jabs.

My face turns sour. He's not letting it go, is he?

"Will you stop?" I request.

"Why? Is he wrong?" Yuvaan looks up too. I sigh tiredly. "If you're working just to show the world that you don't care you're privileged, then you're stupid. Because all they'll think is that you snatched someone's right to entertain one of your rich girl fantasies. Working as a normal person doesn't make you one of them."

His words hit me hard.

Am I really snatching someone's rightful place because of my craze to prove that I can be independent?

"Yuvaan." Dad interrupts sternly. "She's not snatching someone's place if she earned it through honest, sincere means."

"Yeah, and they took her in not because they're afraid of offending her, but because no one can wipe tables like she can, right?" Yuvaan counters. "Let's not pretend being a waitress is a very high skilled job, Dad. Everyone here knows someone needy was denied of the position because Miss. Princess here is desperate to play independence independence for a month or two." He snorts.

"Alright, stop, you're being too harsh." Agastya grunts, glaring at Yuvaan.

"I didn't know being honest was equivalent to being harsh." Yuvaan scowls.

"Yeah, right, as if honesty is your forte." Agastya deadpans.

"Are you seriously picking a fight with me right now?"

"Trust me, picking fights with you is the least of my likes."

"Then shut up and eat your dinner."

"You don't tell me what to do." Agastya seethes.

"How about heeding to your own advice then!?"

"I just told you to stop being so rude to-"

"Enough!" Yuvraaj snaps. "Either focus on your dinner or get out. Not a word more."

The two sigh but drop the argument. I breathe out in relief.

After dinner, we all depart to our own rooms to sleep the night away. Today was honestly so exhausting. I can't wait to finally succumb to the seduction of my bed.

Putting on some soft music, I get inside the sheets and turn off the lamp, burying my face in the pillow as I wait for the sleep to embrace me.

The next day, Janet and I head out for shopping in the nearest shopping mall. Since my brothers are busy, Yuvraaj assigns a bodyguard with us that follows us everywhere we go, well except the washroom. Thankfully.

"You should learn self defense." Janet says once I stop complaining about the weird looks we receive because of the bodyguard.

"I should." I nod. "I really should."

"Hey, book store!" She says, pointing to the store that reads Reader's Heaven on the board. I follow her inside. She goes through several shelves, looking through different books and gushing at the ones she has already read. "I have this one. But not this edition." She hugs the book to her chest.

"Let's buy it then." I nod.

She squeals. "Thank you!" We put the book in the basket and continue forward. "Oh, I've this series. It has five books. I saw the hype on bookstagram and bought it together. I couldn't get past the second book. Boring as fuck." She scowls. "Money wasted." She laments and moves forward. "This one," she grabs another from the shelf and puts it in the basket I carry. "I've read this one too. Tik tok was raving about it. Instant regret after reading the first page. I swear, these so called book addicts hype anything nowadays. This was the most problematic read of my year that I got just because of booktok. It has dubcon."

I frown. "What's that?"

"Nonconsent that's actually consent?"

I breathe out exasperatedly. "I don't understand people. We are still fighting over a no is a no, and this is what people like to read?"

She shrugs sheepishly. "Kinks."

I shake my head and motion for her to resume. She buys a whole new series along with two other books before we finally checkout.

"Now we need a dress," I say to her and point at the dress store on the other side of the floor.

Upon entering the store, a salesgirl assists us. We get a new dress for Janet first, since she takes so much time to choose. She settles on a black backless gown that has deep v neck.

"Shit, Tara!" Janet exclaims while I'm on my way to try a gown on myself.

"What?" I look over my shoulder.

"When I was grabbing the book series from the shelf, I kept my phone on top of it and then forgot to take it." She looks at me in panic.

"Then go!" I tell her.

"I'll be back! Don't remove your gown until I come back. I want to see how it looks before we decide." She says and dashes out of the store.

I shake my head and enter the changing room. Hanging the dress to the hook, I strip off my current clothes before gently putting on the gown. It's expensive as fuck. I can't accidentally ruin it.

My elbows bend backward to zip the dress but my fingers fall short. I huff, clinching it to my waist to I see how it looks. It's white, with silver crystals all over and has this shimmering look to it. It fits me snug, especially in the bust area. I'm not really a fan of mermaid styles since walking in them is a task, but the side slit on this one makes it easier to move around.

A knock on the door startles me.

"Occupied." I inform aloud.

The knock repeats.

Is it Janet?

I open the door and peek out, gasping when I see Shourya standing outside. "What-" he pushes the door ajar and steps inside, slamming the door close with his foot.

I grow furious. "What the hell are you doing? Do you even understand the meaning of word privacy!? Get out!" I snap.

"I won't be able to do this in front of your guard," he backs me up against the wall.

I lift my hand to slap him across his face. He holds the wrist, an overweening smirk dancing on his plump lips.

"Were you following me?" I glare.

He forces my hand down and clicks his tongue in denial. "I saw you enter the store. Couldn't help myself."

I exhale sharply. "Leave while I'm telling you nicely, Shourya." I warn him.

"You hate me now." He observes.

"That shouldn't be a surprise. I've always hated you."

"But you can't deny the attraction." He flicks my open hair behind my shoulders.

"Stop behaving like a creep." I grit out.

He wraps an arm around my waist and flips me so I face the mirror. Then he steps back, and with a languid brush of his knuckles closes the zip of my dress. I shiver. He notices my reaction and smirks. "And I thought white is a color of everything pure." He leans in, his lips an hairbreadth away from my nape as he looks me in the eyes through reflection. "You make it look like the most tempting sin I'd not mind going to hell for." Then he presses a soft kiss to my neck.

I flinch away from his proximity. Opening the door, I exit the changing room to get away from him. If only it was possible.

"Stop following me around." I hiss, eyeing my guard at the entrance of the store as I stand in front of the full length mirror to look at myself carefully. I know the guard won't stop Shourya unless he crosses a line or I exclusively order him to. We're family friends after all.

"You should buy this." He says, ignoring my words.

I glare at his reflection. "You're shameless, aren't you?"

He gives me a crooked smile. "I'm stealing your first dance by the way."

I scoff. "And I thought you couldn't get anymore delusional."

"I-"

"Tara?" A new, but familiar voice interrupts him.

I whirl around, my eyes meeting the mesmerizing copper ones in surprise. "Atharva?" I gasp.

His gaze rakes down my body, a look of awe settling on his face before his eyes return to my visage, before he smiles. "Now this is a pleasant surprise."

Why did my heart flutter 😭 because I'm a hoe 💀

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