Arjun's POV

"She is Rehan's daughter and the reason I married her is completely different from what you and Mariam know." I gave her the truth because Sam is my family and she deserves to know the truth.

She stood, shocked and colour drained from her face," You mean Rehan Mishra?!"

"Yes, I mean Rehan Mishra." I pressed each word.

"Bhai, this is so..." She fell short of words," I don't know what to say. I tremble even when I hear that bastard's name and to think of what he did to aunt Martha..." Tears welled in her eyes.

I wiped her tears and pulled her in a hug," Its okay, it's over now." I consoled her.

She pulled her face out of my chest," But Radhika is so good, Bhai."

I looked at her intently," Doesn't change the fact that she is his daughter."

"Its not her fault that he gave birth to her and she is a pure soul, you know that." She defended her.

"I don't want to talk about it." I silenced her.

"Bhai, I asked her so many times but she did not tell me that you were so abusive to her. She didn't wanted to create a rift between us and she even took the efforts to hide the bruise on her face."

I didn't wanted to hear what I already knew because it tampers with my whole agenda of marrying her. It's like a slap in my face when I see and notice all this things about Radhika which are a telltale that she is in Sam's words, pure soul!

"Enough! Sam, I don't want to hear anymore."

"Bhai, can't you be a little nice to her?! I know it's difficult for you to forget that she is your enemy's daughter but if you just look at her as Radhika, just Radhika, not Rehan's daughter. You will see the exceptional person that she is, it takes a lot of courage and patience to lie to the world that you are happy and nothing is wrong in your life. If you would not have told me today, I would have never been able to learn the truth because she never ousted you in front of your family."

Sam's words hit me hard and I was rendered speechless at the way Sam perceived Radhika.

"I'll try." I said half-heartedly because forgetting that Radhika was Rehan's daughter was hard for me.

"She is good, Bhai and I believe you should give her and this relationship a chance."

"Sam, I don't hate her it's just..." I paused," It makes me feel guilty when I care for her and I have grown to care for her but...."

She breaks in on me," But you feel guilty that you are betraying your mother by allowing yourself to care for her."

I nodded in affirmation. I never knew that Sam could understand me or even express the feelings that I, myself didn't had the courage to acknowledge.

She continued," You feel scared that she will take advantage of you and she will betray you."

"She better not because I will kill her if she does then." I said in an unflinching tone.

"Bhai, Radhika is not like that. She is nothing like her father and I have never met that man but the way you described him, he must be a vile man but Radhika is such a sweet thing, it's hard to even believe that she is his daughter."

"But she is." I say with disdain.

"Bhai, think about this in a way that if you make her hate her father, then will it not be the best possible way to avenge aunt Martha?!"

"Rehan loves her the most." I confess.

"That's the point! He loves her the most and if she hates him and tells him that she hates him then just think about what he will go through. In this way you are not punishing Radhika for something she is not guilty of and she also serves the purpose of breaking her father."

She has a point though but I don't know.

"Bhai, you want revenge and you are getting it. Mark my words, you can't bend a man like Rehan without Radhika. Only she can bring him on his knees and only she can hurt him where it hurts the most. When her love for her father will turn into sheer hatred then only he will wish for death and you should not give him an easy death. He should live with the truth that his beloved daughter now hates him! You can break his bones, you can break his body but you can't break and crush his heart! Only Radhika can!"

Wow! I never thought about this and I am pleasantly surprised by my little sister who I believe has truly grown up now. Radhika does resent her dad but I know in some corner of her heart, she still loves him because love cannot be erased so easily specially the love between a father and daughter. I think I was so consumed by my own anger and my hatred for Rehan that I didn't think about all this in the way Sam did.

"Bhai, don't punish Radhika for something she is not guilty of and as far as I know even aunt Martha would not have approved of your treatment of her."

"I did many things my mother would not have approved of." I said deadpanned.

"Bhai please not for her but for you, even you need to stop being so recluse." She persisted.

"Sam, I do talk to you guys...."

"But not like old times, you are always there for us but when we want to be there for you, you push us away!" She said, teareyed.

"Sam, my dear please don't cry..." I wiped her tears but she broke out in full sobs and wept," You never tell me anything, bhai. You think it doesn't hurt us to see you like this, to see how broken you are."

"Baby, I am not broken, I am fine in fact I am more than fine. I achieved my greatest dream..."

"You can't hide things from me, the truth is that your never really moved on after that night, you are still trapped here and by your own choice...."

"How one moves on from his mother's....." I paused choking on my own words and I felt exposed as my tears were close and I don't fucking like to cry!

She touched my cheek,"Aunt Martha would have wanted you to be happy and now that you have a little family of yours, I think you were right, maybe in your case a baby will do both of you a lot of good. It will bring you closer...."

I cut her off," Trust me, Sam we are already unbelievably closer and by closer you know what...."

She shushed me," Bhai! I meant emotionally and I think it will strengthen your marriage."

I don't really know if I should just take her advice or leave it. It's true that I care for Radhika because she resembles the old me, she reminds me of that boy who was good although she is far too innocent than I was.

"Think about what I said and now I will meet you at the dining table in half an hour." She took to her heel leaving me thrown off-guard by our exchange.

I leaned against the wall, my mind thinking, thinking and thinking until I feel I should put a stop to all these churning of thoughts because it will drive me crazy.

Radhika flashed in front of me and there was fear and worry on her face! I reached out to her in concern. I don't think so I have done anything to upset her since morning!

"Sam." She asked in a worrisome tone,"

I am actually truly awestruck by the way they have come so close in such a short period of time. Sam had never really taken to any girl she has seen me with, it's not like I dated anyone in the past. It was always no strings attached for me.

"She is in her room." I answered her.

She looked at me, doubtfully," Did you hit her?!"

How dare she?! How dare she insinuate that I will hit Sam! I have never raised a hand on my sister and she thinks I have hurt Sam!

I gave her a dirty look," I have never raised a hand on my little sister. Don't dare to ask me this question next time!"

"I thought..."

I cut her off,"You thought if I can hit you then I can hit her too."

She nodded.

I actually don't blame her for thinking so but I don't function that way.

"You are my wife and I have a unquestionable right on you. She is different and she is my sister." I tell her as a matter of fact.

It's not like I get off on hitting Radhika, she just made me so mad that I lost control over myself and I slapped her!

"Is she okay?!" She asked in a worried tone.

I wasn't telling her that I and Sam didn't fight because I don't want her to know what I told Sam. I don't feel confident in telling her anything yet.

"Why don't you go and see her in her room and see for yourself since you both have become best of friends now."

It is beyond me to understand how these two became so close in such a short period of time!

I continued,"She will get over it. We always fight and make up. Don't worry about her, she is one tough girl and she is tenacious!"

Sam is tough as nails if only she will refrain from her some girly tendencies.

Radhika's face was a clear giveaway that she was thinking, why I didn't praise Sam on her face?!

"What's the fun in that?! I do what I do for her own good. I am preparing her for life, she is going to run an empire one day and I want her to be unbelievably strong." I said firmly.

Sam is strong, not yet there where I want her to be but she has it in her to lead one day. She has the brains and the hard heart that a woman needs to control the reins without sitting on the throne.

"You love her very much." Radhika pointed out.

I still remember the day when I and mother had gone to see Mariam in the hospital when she went in labor. I couldn't express in words how enchanting that little baby looked that day and when my mother placed her in my arms, I got cold feet as I thought I will hurt her, I didn't even know to hold a baby. When she opened her eyes to me and stared at me with those big black sparkling eyes, I knew in that very moment that I could do anything for her, be anything, go through any pain just for her.

Radhika frowned seeing me in trance as I been quiet for some time. I wasn't telling her that I and Sam didn't fight because I don't want her to know what I told Sam. I don't feel confident in telling her anything yet. I came clean in front of Sam because I didn't wanted her to find it out through someone else. She would have felt betrayed by me had that been the case so I feel a bit light knowing that I at least shared something with my sister because there are many thing she is not privy to but I only hide things to protect her and Mariam.

"Of course I do. She is more dear to me than my own life." I said with conviction in my tone.

"If you expect Sam to rule then why do you don't want daughters if you..."

I have my own reasons for not wanting daughters because Sam and all the women in the family were my weakness and by all, I even meant Radhika. I kept Sam and Mariam away from me for a long, long time for their own safety and I only asked them to stay here when I was in power. Women means weakness because even when I had to avenge my mother, I targeted a girl Rehan loved and even he targeted my mother years back. No one can bend me at any cost except if they have my family then and only then can they bend me!

Also a woman always has to be dependent on a man to get the things done in our world. Women who are not related to a powerful man are not even treated nicely in our world and I have seen this.

I looked at Radhika who looked confused to me,"She can rule but will she sit on the throne?! No she won't and she can't. Rules here don't allow women to sit on the throne." I continued," In case you forgot her last name is not Mehra. She is my maternal sister and not paternal. She is respected by my people not accepted there is a difference in respect and acceptance."

Whatever I shared just now with Radhika is only the truth, I have not minced my words today.

She smiled,"But you are big hearted to let her rule."

Big hearted and me?! That's the stupidest thing I heard since a long time.

"Really?! Think about that statement once again." I gave her a smug smile.

She frowned,"But you said..."

I cut her off,"I said she will run an empire one day I never said anything about this one. As much as I love her but I am not going to share with her something that she has no right over. I was concieved to be the next king and you have no clue what I went through to get my crown back."

I have given my everything to this throne. When I use to see kids my age having fun, I use to be tagging along with my father to his meetings and I was just seven that time! He wanted me to watch and learn but taking me to his meetings after school was a step too far. My life's whole purpose was this throne and I don't think so I ever had a choice now I am not going to play the victim and say I never wanted this life because I did want this life from a very young age, I just didn't know that this crown takes more than it gives!

"I thought..."

I touched her cheek,"Darling, you think too much and do you take me for a fool?! I want her to marry into a family like ours and that's how she will be in power."

She nodded so perhaps she was getting my point now.

I touched her stomach," The one who will rule by my side and also after me when I am retired is yet to be born."

If I were to be honest, Radhika being pregnant with a child works fine for me as it is we have to have a child in a year or two.

I palmed her face," Give me a boy soon." I tried to kiss her but she backed off," What if it's a girl the first time?!"

So what if it's a girl?! She will get everything she wants except for the permission to date! I will choose her husband and he will stay with us, there is no way I am giving away any child of mine!

"Then we will keep having children till we have a boy." I said in a firm tone and captured her lips.

"We have about half an hour before we have dinner with the family. Let's make use of this precious time."

Her mouth gasped open at my suggestion.

"Why the shock?!" I asked smirked.

"I just..." She fumbled with words but I closed up to her to her and she stopped talking," You know how I love the effect I have on you."

I love the way her breath hitches and her face grows red. I can bet her heart i
I could never get tired of hearing the sound of her bated breath and the racing of her heart," This never gets old for me." I said as I placed my hand on the left side of her chest.

"What?!" Her brows furrowed in curiosity.

I answered her with a kiss," Nothing forget what I said."

"But..." I kept kissing her to keep her from talking,"Are you going to walk to our room or I have to carry you?!" It wasn't a question actually, I was just making my intentions clear and she knew it.

As if cat got her tongue, she stood silent, wideeyed!

I winked," So carry it is then." I bent over to carry her but she was completely appalled by my suggestion," Fine! I will walk you don't have to take the trouble of carrying me."

Trouble?! Why would I feel any trouble in carrying my own wife?!

"Trouble?! I don't even feel anything when I lift you. You are very lightweight." I told her as a matter of fact.

"You mean to say I am skinny?!" She asked.

"No you have flesh in the right places but you are too thin and I would like you to put on some weight." I suggested.

I didn't know I had put my foot in my mouth until now but she strongly took an exception to my comment!

"You are so crass to comment on my weight."

She was so mad at me and I don't know why?!

" No I am not. What's wrong in me having an opinion about my wife's body?!"

"You have an opinion because you compare me to other women you have had in your bed!" She accused me.

Compare?! Like seriously?! Who does she think she is?! I have had more prettier women in my bed and she is giving me shit about comparison when I have never ranked her in them. What sets her apart from other women is that she is pure and I didn't mean that because she was a virgin but she is pure in her thoughts or the way she conducts herself. I love the way she concerns herself with my family's welfare. What I admire and envy at the same time is her character and I have never in my life come across a girl with a character like that.

The nerve of her to inculpate me of comparing her to others! She is not just insulting me but her ownself and that is what makes irks me.

"Don't you think you have grown a bitchy mouth?!" I grabbed her by her neck not in a vice grip but just enough to make her understand that she can't talk to me in an insolent manner.

"I will not have you compare me to other women, I don't like it!" She snapped back.

As soon as the words flew out of her mouth, it dawned upon me that she was green with envy!

I was almost amused by now, because it seemed as if she was jealous. I had to actually bite my cheek to stop myself from smiling because the way her face had turned pink in jealousy was very humorous.

"What makes you think I am comparing you to those women?!" I asked her in a challenging tone.

I was of course playing with her, I wanted to see till what extent will she go to express her displeasure about other women who I have had sex with.

"You have a type and you said that I am too thin for your liking." She said angrily but what I didn't liked was the sadness in those eyes So I decided to explain myself which I rarely do in front of people.

"I do have a type in women but what I meant was you should put on some healthy weight. You should eat more."

Her eyes popped out in shock at my confession. She was in shock that I actually cared about her health though I did show her that I care in the morning too if she were to remember but of course she conveniently forgot that, didn't she?!

"So you never compare...."

I cut her off,"I never compared you to other women and if you forgot then let me remind you that." I held her wedding necklace," You are wearing this not them! You are mine not them!" I told her harshly.

She nodded but I held her face tight," I never want to hear you putting yourself in the same category as them, do you get that?!" I asked her, glaring at her.

She nodded frantically and I claimed her lips the very next second, I kissed her roughly biting her lips drawing out blood and she tried to push me but I kept her still.

To be continued....