3rd Party POV

During the next week the happy family, remained just that - Happy and oblivious to Reyansh's plan.

Reyansh planned to go overseas to 'help' out his clients and known associates with their various conundrums, and not because he magically turned pure of heart, no. He needed solid rock hard cash and he needed it sooner than later.

Playing house had given him the peace of mind and happiness that was missing in his life. But that didn't mean, that he had forgotten about the promise, he had made on his parents grave to seek revenge against the Oberoi's by taking over their business and destroying their family.

After all a leopard's spots never change.

To achieve his goals he needed money, and a lot of it to buy the additional shares of the empire, needed to put him in control of the majority stake.

The profits his intelligent, clever and beautiful wife was earning him through the expansion of his business was also a huge sum, but he didn't feel it appropriate to use the money she was making to further purchase shares in her company. Surprise, surprise... he had a moral compass after all, albeit a twisted one.

Over breakfast, one morning he brought up the topic of his departure to his unsuspecting wife and brother.

Reyansh said, "I am travelling overseas for work, I'll be gone for a few weeks and I'm leaving today afternoon."

[SMH. He's a sharpshooter, no beating around the bush with this one.]

Kyra's spoon fell against her plate with a clang. She was completely blindsided and shocked. Krish was mildly shocked, he was used to his brother's tactless behaviour.

Kyra sarcastically said, "Wow, thank you for the advance notice my dear husband." With that she pushed her chair back, got up and made a swift exit.

Reyansh sat there for a second then resumed eating, he knew he'd get some form of pushback but he didn't expect her to seem so upset and angry?

[Guess he isn't fully in tune with her emotions after all....Men.]

Krish had never seen the newly wed couple be unpleasant or upset with each other in his presence, so he wasn't relaxed anymore. He grabbed his brother's arm and said, "Bhaiya, what are you doing? Stop eating and go after bhabhi. She's clearly upset and wants you to cajole her."

Reyansh scoffed and said, "From when are you so in-tuned with a woman's emotion, after I'm back we're going to have a serious talk about the status of your relationship with your girlfriend. I will not allow child marriage."

But he still heeded his little bro's advice and got up.

Krish being Krish had to comment and not let Reyansh have the last word.

He muttered, "Bhaiya, I know not from experience, but because I have eyes and a beating heart. Not everyone is a robot who can't sense emotions. Also, I'm not a child and neither is she."

[Risky behaviour. Looks like someone is in a bratty mood.]

Reyansh stopped in his tracks and turned to Krish and said, "What did you say? I dare you to repeat that louder, again."

Krish, thankfully chose to keep quiet and focus on his breakfast.

Reyansh took that as submissive behaviour and said, "That's what I thought." With that he was off to find his darling wife.

......

Kyra sat on the couch playing and cuddling with her precious baby - Romeo, the one man who would never betray her or randomly announce over breakfast one morning, that he was going to be travelling abroad for a few weeks.

Lily sat there eyeing the pair sceptically and almost judgmentally, as though without even knowing the issue she chose her dad's side and she felt that Kyra was overreacting.

[What??? You don't believe me, but Cat's have crazy expressive eyes and reactions/expressions and it's totally plausible that she conveyed those feelings.]

Reyansh walked into the room and Lily practically lit up and let out the most adorable and girly meow to get her father's attention. The tactic worked and Reyansh walked over to the cat area and bent over (damn that ass) to retrieve his baby before going over to sit near his furious wife and step son.

He said, "Kyra, why are you upset? It's not like I'm going on a holiday. It's for work, I'm sure you'll understand that."

[Wrong thing to say buddy.]

Kyra scoffed and said, "Why am I upset? Do you seriously have the audacity to ask me that? How would you react if I had randomly announced over breakfast on the day off, that I was going away for a few weeks? Would you be completely chill with it and not react adversely?"

Reyansh said jokingly, "So you admit you're acting adversely?"

[Oof. Not the time to make jokes.]

Kyra was angry now (like any other woman would be in her position). She said, "If you're not going to take this seriously, then forget it Reyansh." She was on the verge of getting up.

When He acquiesced and said, "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. I won't joke. Please tell me how I can make it better. I don't want you to be upset with me, before I leave."

She took a deep breath and tried to relax.

Kyra said, "Okay, for starters tell me why didn't you inform me prior, and when exactly is your flight?"

He said, "I was really enjoying our schedule and time these past few weeks and I didn't want the news of my imminent departure to ruin our happiness and moreover the exact date of departure wasn't confirmed until very recently. Also, my flight leaves at 3 pm."

She shot him a look and said, "You are leaving home in 3 hours?"

He sheepishly said, "Yes, but let's make the most of the time we have now. We have 180 mins or 10,800 seconds and that's a lot if you think about it."

She said furiously, "Reyansh I swear to god- one more nonsensical joke and I'm going to ask Romeo to bite you."

He muttered under his breath, "My Lily will protect me."

She asked warningly, "What did you say?"

He muttered, "Nothing."

[Karma, sooner or later it gets you. In Reyansh's case it was very soon.]

Kyra said after a minute, "What work is so important that you need to go and it can't be done remotely, who is this client? Also, where are you going exactly?"

Reyansh answered now cautiously, "Princess, I've shared most of my work with you, but there are still some grey areas and confidential things. Revealing it will implicate and malign you, so I won't be doing that. I have some confidential clients who require my unique skills and have solicited my services and discretion for the same. But rest assured I need you to trust me. My journey starts from Russia. I may not be able to tell you much, but I will always tell you in which city or country I am in and that's a promise."

[No more the meek husband, he spoke as a morally grey business with a lot to hide.]

Kyra now had softened up and spoke in 1 breathe, "Will you be alright? It sounds like it may be dangerous work, I don't want you to get hurt. I'm gonna miss you, I mean I just started caring about you and..and I can't lose you dammit!"

She looked panicked after she realised what she just admitted.

Reyansh completely unprepared to hear her confession, but also wanting to ease her, said smirkingly with a hand on his chest , "You care about me, don't want to lose me and will miss me?, I'm touched."

She pretend laughed and said, "Cut the drama, you know what I mean I just got married, I don't want to lose a husband so soon. Also I meant Krish will miss and worry about you."

He said knowingly, "That's true, you are too young to be a widow and that's the only reason you want me to be safe, I get it, that makes sense. Moreover, Don't you worry about Krish he's stronger than he looks he'll manage just fine without me constantly breathing down his neck."

Krish chose that moment to make an entrance and he said cockily, "I hope all is good, I mean I would hate to choose sides but I choose bhabhi."

Reyansh said, "Speak about the devil and he shall appear."

Krish went and sat next to his bhabhi and said, "That's why I chose her, Bhaiya. She's nice to me and doesn't throw such mean barbs at me and hurt my feelings."

[He then proceeds to dramatically lay his head on Kyra's shoulder.]

Reyansh scoffs and says, "Oh please, don't pretend to be a delicate doll. Your bhabhi is soon going to have 2 very spoiled  and over-coddled boys to look after, with the way she over pampers you and that orange menace."

Krish immediately responded, "Like you'll have a very spoilt and uppity girl on your hands with the way you treat Lily."

Reyansh retorted, "Is that any way to speak about your niece?"

Krish said, "Bhaiya, both my niece and nephew know how much I love them, but I'm just calling a spade a spade."

Reyansh answered, "You have truly become very bold, ever since I married Kyra. I remember a time where you would fear me and not dare to taunt me."

Before Krish could say anything else which would result in further retorts, she interjected.

"Reyansh, none of my boys are spoilt or over pampered. I just love and care about them a lot. So don't you worry about it. Also, Krish let's not antagonise your brother, he's leaving in a few short hours. We should make plans on how much fun we're going to have and what all we'll do."

Krish laughed and they high-fived each other. Reyansh sent a thankful look to Kyra, to which he smiled sweetly at him.

Reyansh then cleared his throat and said, "Just because I'm not going to be here, that doesn't mean that I'm going to be unaware of what's happening, so be careful and make smart choices. Don't forget I have eyes everywhere."

Kyra said, "My god Reyansh that is creepy, please don't say stuff like that."

Krish as usual took his bhabhi's side and said, "I agree, that's very weird and creepy."

Reyansh then removed his phone from his pocket and sent a couple of messages on the family WhatsApp group.

He said, "I've sent a list of do's and don't's, an emergency contact and a to-do list. Also Kyra I've sent you a couple of emails today morning, regarding some office matters, please look it into it and reply at your earliest convenience. Krish your exams are coming up in a week, I want you to focus on them, you can party after that, also send me your projects after you complete them. Lastly, take care of my Lily."

In unison, Kyra and Krish saluted Reyansh and said, "Aye Aye Boss."

Reyansh then got up from the sofa, kissed the sleeping Lily softly on the forehead and put her Lily in her bed, and pointed to his eyes and then pointed to Kyra and Krish, in a 'I'm watching you way'. With that he left the room.

Krish and Kyra let out a laugh, before putting the sleeping Romeo near his sister and heading to Reyansh's room to pester/help him before he left very soon.