• vihaan's pov •

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in," I say, shifting Mayura from my lap to beside me. Rohit walks in, holding three boxes in his hands.

"The shoes, sir." He says, putting them on the ground. Mayura looks at him in curiosity. This is their first meet, after all.

"Rohit, this is my wife, Mayura." I introduce, her face turning red in an instant. "Jaan, this is Rohit, my secretary."

"Good evening, madam." Rohit wishes politely and she acknowledges it with a shy nod.

Rohit, in reality, is my right-hand man and bodyguard, like Angre is for Vansh. But if I tell her the truth, she'll also have to learn about things that she shouldn't.

"Sir, about --"

I silence him with my hand. Now is not the time to talk about work; I gesture. He nods, sealing his lips.

"You should sit down." Mayura says softly. Rohit glances at me for permission.

If my lady says, you do.

I nod. He settles down on the sofa by the wall. "Which one do you want to wear, doll?" I ask, showing her the different boots.

"Whatever you desire, Vihaan." She whispers, her cheeks flushed red. I pull her close, "I'd rather you be naked right now." I whisper in the low and seductive tone.

Her face bursts in colours, the red and shyness dripping from her embarrassment. She stammers, her body trembling. She pulls away, covering her face with her palms and kicking her legs in the air.

She was very animated.

The redness on her face often reminds of drunkards in intoxication. In her case, I was her intoxication and she was my addict.

I pick the beige leather boots with a low heel and, put them on her feet. Her shy embarrassment changes into a frustrated shyness as she grabs my collar and whispers, "Rohit's here. Control your tongue."

I laugh at her innocence.

That man would leave the room even before I had to order him.

"Vihaan," she pouts and I put my head on her lap, laughing at her cuteness.

Oh dear! Seems like I've got myself an innocent and adorable woman with a pure soul.

She grumbles, playing with my hair.

I want to corrupt her. I want her to dirty her innocence and indulge her in greed. I want her to know power.

My power and influence.

This innocent little woman was surely not made to be with a devil like me. But she is, because I played with her destiny to meet mine.

"Are you ready, bunny?" Vansh asks, leaning by the door. He was wearing a plain black three-piece suit.

"Yes," she smiles. She picks a box, his gift and walks down to him. "This is for you, Rai."

Look at him, smiling so nicely at her. Pretending to be all nice and caring when he's as rotten as me on the inside.

"You really didn't have to, bunny." He says politely. "Your friendship and loyalty is my biggest gift."

She takes back the box slowly, with a saddened expression. "But that doesn't mean I'm rejecting your gift. I'm sure you've got the best gift for me. How about you give it to me in the party?" He suggests.

"But I don't want anyone else to see this gift."

I beckon Rohit to come closer. With cat feet, he stands by my side. "Go to the party with her and look after her. She has injured her ankle so make sure she's not walking around too much. Whatever anyone says or does to her, report it to me immediately. Take action wherever necessary, don't worry about the consequences."

"Yes sir." He says.

I gaze at her in longing.

I wish I was in this party as well. I wish, I was a recognised Rai Singhania as well.

"She's my everything, Rohit. Protect her like you protect me."

"Yes, sir."

"And," I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. "Don't give her such monotonous answers."

"I, I will try my best, sir." He stammers, flustered.

"We'll talk about work once I return home. Now leave."

He bows, and stands beside Mayura in silence. Vansh and she both glance at him and then at me.

I scurry to her side. "Vansh won't be there with you at all times. Take Rohit with you."

"That's fine, I've got Angre." Vansh says.

"He's overworked, brother." I point out, much to his dismay. "Jaan, take Rohit with you. He'll keep you in company."

She looks at me and then, she looks at Rohit. "Do you want to keep me company, Rohit?"

"I would be delighted to do that, madam."

"You're not being forced to do this, right?" She whispers something in his ears and he giggles. "Don't worry, madam. Mein aapke saath apni marzi se aaraha hoon."

"Alright," she gives in. "I'll see you after the party, Vihaan."

Giving me a quick hug, she leaves the room with Vansh. "Report everything." I remind Rohit as he steps out to follow her. "And keep some distance from her."

"I will keep that in mind, sir."

Rohit leaves and I, locking the door, flop down on the bed.

So tired.

I move up on the bed, and hold the pillow, my doll was sleeping on, close to me. The pillow has the floral fragrance of her shampoo.

I smile, delving in her memories.

✎

• vansh's pov •

"Are you sure, Rai?" Mayura asks as we descend the stairs.

"Ofcourse, darling. I want you to give me my gift in the party."

"But," she trails off, biting her lower lip. Her gaze follows the movements of the servants carrying exquisite and extravagant gift boxes wrapped in flashy colours to the party hall.

She looks at her own gift - wrapped in a neat and beautiful cover, yet smaller in comparison to the rest.

Her spirits drop.

"I want you to have it now, Rai." She insists. "I don't want others to see my gift."

Wrong. You don't want your gift to feel inferior compared to the rest.

"Yes, but I want everyone to see it. Afterall, my precious bunny picked it for me." I reassure, patting her cheek.

She smiles a bit.

"I will meet you in a while." I say and turn towards Rohit, Vihaan's right-hand man. "The party hall is towards the end of the corridor."

"Yes, sir." He says and turns to Mayura, carefully leading her to the hall.

I disappear into the darkness of my own home.

✎

"You have something to say, Vihaan?"

He smirks, placing a property deed on the wooden table between us. Taking it, I lean against the railing and glance at the party hall down.

Mayura and Rohit occupied a seat by the pool, chatting away in whispers. No one around them was bothered by their presence; because they chose to ignore them.

"You really wanted her to stand out, didn't you?" Vihaan muses, stepping beside me.

"She's special, brother. She needs to acknowledge it." I remark. In a party dress coded in black, she was the only blue - a pretty and calming blue.

"The other's don't need to know that, though. Especially, not the enemies."

"I made a grave mistake in the process of making her stand out." I grieve.

I was short sighted.

"Don't worry. Rohit's with her at the moment. Nothing will go wrong."

I nod, turning my attention to the property deed. Twenty hectares of fertile land - an agricultural land - producing a variety of medicinal herbs, and fruits was registered under my name.

"This land generates an income of 300 crores a month. Mayura spent all her savings on getting this land for me. Treat it with care!"

"Why does it bear my name then, brother?" I ask.

He smiles wistfully, leaning back on the glass with his arms crossed against his chest. "I'm just a shadow, brother. And a shadow has neither identity nor property."

I clench my jaw, gripping the papers tightly in my palm. I push the papers in his hands, his eyes wide in surprise.

"You are not a shadow." I say through clenched teeth. "You are a deserving Rai Singhania. And I will make sure the world knows it too."

Moving away, I turn around and leave the room, slamming the door shut behind me.

✎

An anticipatory silence falls on the hall.

Mayura shifts in her seat, feeling uncomfortable. I turn my gaze away from her and towards the pile of gifts lying in front of me.

From property deeds to lavish objects of opulence - the gifts were bribes. To accept any of these in public would be a silent conveyance of favourability and bias.

Among these flashy gift wraps and leather bound property papers, my eyes fall on the small gift box that sat silently in the pile.

It wasn't attractive, compared to the rest and was stacked away in the pile, far beyond everyone's eye of interest.

But I find it attractive. Because it is neither demanding nor greedy; it just waits in silence for me to assess it's worth.

I carefully unwrap it, wounding the decorative ribbon on my index finger. I stop, looking at Mayura for a moment. She was trying to hide away in a corner, trying to not be seen, kept fidgeting with her dress.

As I turn back to the gift, I find everyone's gaze falling on her. They know she's the owner of this gift, their lips twisted in scorn and disgrace.

I clench my teeth, looking back at the box. I lift the lid, finding a brooch seated in the velvet box. Taking it out, I place the box on the table.

It had a design of flowers, white and with droopy bell shaped petals and small green leaves.

Lily of the valley.

'I want to see a Lily of the valley, at least once in my life, Mayura.'

She still remembers. How sweet!

Placing the ribbon inside the box, I close the lid and pack it neatly. Holding the brooch between my fingers, I admire it under the evening lights.

My lips, betraying me, curve into a smile. Straightening my lapel, I pin the brooch on it.

"Such a cheap gift," someone in the crowd whispers. I decide to ignore it temporarily. Although, a few people scoff and giggle at the comment. I glare at everyone in the room, making them turn white in fear.

"Put them in my room." I tell the servants and they carry the gifts away. The hall gets back to chattering, although now it less noisy.

No one dares to look down on Mayura anymore.

They all know she's special.

I move from my seat and sit beside her. Rohit leaves us for a moment, going to fetch her a glass of juice and a plate of snacks.

"You remembered?"

"I never forgot," she smiles.

"Thank you. I will forever cherish this priceless gift."

She nods, fidgeting with the skirt of her dress, anxious. A bead of sweat rolls down the side of her head and down to her neck. I place on palm over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

She keeps staring at the ground, unable to lift her head up.

Interesting. Very interesting.

"Darling,"

"Shall we go outside for a while, madam?" Rohit suggests, interrupting me. He is holding a tray of food which he drops on the table to assist Mayura.

"Are you okay, bunny?"

"Yes, don't worry." She manages to smile. Telling me not to worry. "I just need some fresh air."

Another sweat bead rolls down her face, her lips trembling to maintain her smile. Her body trembles, her gaze unable to meet anyone's. Her stance was weak and she was often tripping over her own feet.

Fear.

"Good evening, Mr Rai Singhania." Mr Mehta greets with a pleased smile.

It's as if Mayura's absence lifted an unknown tension in the room.

"Happy Birthday," he wishes and I barely nod. "This is my son, Aakash Mehta. He will be taking over my company over I retire."

Mr Mehta keeps rambling for a long time and I barely acknowledge his words, playing with the ring on my finger.

Such a bore.

Following his footsteps, more people begin to crowd around me, taking endlessly while I ignore them.

Their desperate acts of licking my shoes doesn't convince me even a bit. I don't want to be associated with people that lack self-respect.

"Bhai, dadi is calling." Aryan walks over. Without excusing myself, I join him, knowing well that he lied to get me out of there.

"Your guests are weird." He comments. He clicks his tongue. "How desperate can they get that they get jealous of someone completely harmless."

Chuckling, he continues. "Deranged people picking on an innocent woman. Their children are another level of deranged, Bhai. I swear, if you listen to the words they've used your ears will bleed."

Bastards. Every one of them.

"Don't worry, Bhai. Dadi isn't going to let you marry their children."

What?

"Oh, come on, Ishani. Leave Dadi, Bhai wasn't even listening to them when they were praising their trophy daughters. Just look at how confused he is." Aryan laughs, giving her a high five.

"Stop troubling Vansh Bhai." Siya says, hugging me. I hug her back, patting her head. She giggles, going back to fight with Aryan and Ishani.

"Mr Rai Singhania," Aakash approaches me.

"He's the one. He's the one that spoke shit about Mayura di." Aryan whispers.

"Leave," I order.

Anupriya Ma approaches us, concerned. "The party is over, Ma. Tell everyone to leave. Now."

"Okay. But first you calm down. Go outside and get some fresh air. Siya, baccha, get some water for Vansh."

Anupriya Ma tells the servants to start sending the guests off. I hate them. Every one of them.

Outside. I need to go out.

Without another word, I leave the room and head towards the garden.

Silly girl, why do you always torment yourself?

✎

• vihaan's pov •

"Report,"

"Sir," he sighs. "I apologise but I cannot do that." I grimace, glaring at him.

He's never gone against me in all these years. But today, after spending some time with Mayura, he's being all rebellious?

"Instead," he pulls out his gloves from his pocket, "I will get you the culprits. Punish them appropriately."

"Their crime?"

"Maligning madam's character." He puts on the gloves, adjusting them neatly.

How dare they!

"Where's Mayura?"

"In the garden."

I dismiss him, heading towards the garden. Everyone, including Vansh, were in the party hall which means the back of the mansion, where she was, is completely empty.

I pant, catching my breath.

Mayura sat against a wall, her knees pulled closed to her chest and head buried in her arms. Either sleeping or crying.

Approaching her slowly, I pull off my jacket. Kneeling beside her, I call her softly. "Jaan."

She immediately holds me, her face pressed against my stomach. I put the jacket on her shoulders, holding her carefully. "Vihaan," she whispers, holding me tightly.

"Come here, doll." I instruct, sitting beside her and pat my lap. She sits quietly, her arms around my torso and her face buried in the crook of my neck.

I hold her the tightest, making sure not to hurt her. She breathes against my skin, her chest rising and falling with every breath.

My cupcake's first ever party. Ruined by those bastards.

I will ruin them.

"I want to go home," she whispers, her voice breaking. A moment later, she says, "I'm hungry."

"What do you want to eat, Jaan?"

"Anything."

Rohit comes back, a distinct smell of blood oozing out of him. He maintains his distance, giving me the privacy to be with her. A victorious smile plays on his lips.

He's done the job.

"Shall we go have some chaat at Titoo's?" I ask, refering to her favourite street food stall. "And then we'll have some ice cream. Two scoops."

"I will fall sick if I eat ice cream at night."

"Why worry when I'm here." I say proudly. "Even if you fall ill, I'll be here to look after you."

"I will take out the car," Rohit says, leaving us.

"See, even Rohit is alright with you eating ice cream at night. Why are you still hesitating?"

"Do you want me to eat ice cream?"

"Ofcourse!"

"Do you want me to fall sick?"

"Yes,"

Atleast then you'd rest.

"Do you want to waste your precious time looking after me?"

"Yes," I say sternly and cup her face. She flinches as I inch my face closer to hers, "Don't you dare call the time I spend with you as a waste."

"S-sorry," she whispers, rubbing her arm.

Seriously. Why does she have such low self-esteem? And who told told her that she wasn't worth the time?

"Bunny," Vansh calls, catching his breath. "Why are you scolding her, Vihaan?" He turns towards me.

"No. How dare you scold her, Vihaan?" He growls, hugging her protectively. "You must be very tired, bunny. Come, let's have dinner and then you can sleep."

I pull her away from him. "She's going home with me."

"What? But--"

"Tomorrow. Talk to her, tomorrow."

"Now! She's staying over with me."

"She's coming home with me."

I hear footsteps. Turning to my right, I find Rohit standing by a tree in the darkness.

The car is here.

"No more arguments. I'll be taking her home with me. You should take care of those guests of yours."

Vansh's emotions are as clear as water to me - he is angry and hurt. Angry at the insults directed towards her. Hurt at her indifference and silence towards them and his inability to apologise.

"I will take her home for the night. You can talk to her tomorrow morning." I say calmly.

Strange. She's been very quiet.

I look down to see her fast asleep. I wrap my jacket on her to keep her warm. How do I stand up now? I don't want anyone else to hold her, but then I won't be able to get up.

Vansh, carefully, holds her for me. I quickly stand, taking her back from him.

Rohit hands him a folded piece of paper, "The guests are here."

"I will be there after tucking her in." I let him know and leave for the car. Rohit walks ahead of me.

She stirs, mumbling something under her breath and falls back asleep.

Should I feed her or no?

[3077]