Vansh laughed out loud and said in between " Beautiful! nothing is wrong with him, he only wants everything, to be perfect and we all know how special today event is, and no one fears him, we all respect him."
"Huhh, as if I do not see him barking orders on everyone, compelling them to do work in his way, firing anyone he wishes and, you never take my side when it comes to your dearest brother" she taunts him giving utmost importance to 'dearest'.
She spoke up again before he could voice out anything" And Why don't you shift permanently with your dearest brother! You no longer will have to trouble yourself to come for your things anymore".
"No way! I am only living with him for the days you are here. I am not a mad person to live with a control freak."
"Ofcourse who would live with someone who drinks a lot!" Shanaya completed his sentence with an expression he did not understand.
"He does not drink a lot! he only drinks when he is in a bad mood or stress."
"He is in stress every day!" she again completed his sentence and arched her brows in the expressions 'I am telling you!'.
"He just drinks 4-5 times a month, Shana!"
"4-5 times a month is a lot of Vanshu! someone will assume him as a drunken man if he continues to do so!"
"This much care for him, hmmm, should I keep an eye on both of you to witness something interesting?" he chuckled and pulled her cheeks.
"Shut up! I am least interested in him and, I do not care about him so stop assuming things!!" hitting hard at his hand that was pulling her cheeks, she glared at him while rubbing her cheeks to ease the pain.
Smiling innocently, he spoke arrogantly to divert her mind" By the way you should consider yourself lucky that I allowed you to stay in my room. You should know this that no one enters my room, be it, anyone."
"Aww! my baby! Best friends should have such privileges, right?" pulling his cheeks, she walked toward him and placed her hand in his extending hand.
Taking her hand, he stood up and together they walked out.
...........................................
Standing in the stairs of the back door of the Rathore mansion, Shanaya strokes her left arm with the right hand, when she felt a cool breeze touching it, reminding her of the upcoming winters.
Standing alone, she looked in awe, at the beauty that was in front of her.
She saw the sky full of stars which seemed to be illuminated by the waxing gibbous moon and, noticed the lamps and lights used to decorate the spacious, verdant, tree-shaded and well-maintained backyard of Rathore's Mansion was eliminating the slight darkness of the night.
At the centre of the backyard was a big fountain, its wave ascending high to reach the height of the sky and falling back to meet its origin, acting as the confluence of the Earth, Water and Sky.
Looking around, she descends the stairs when she saw a group of women dressed elegantly, to reach them.
"How's everything?" smiling, she enquired.
"Oh, dear, everything is perfect! From decor to the foodservice, everything is excellent, just like, expected from a Rathore family" beaming, one of the women, in her 50's with a chubby face, answered.
"Thank you, please enjoy it" saying it, she moved to others.
The backyard was full of people of all the generation, people who were Rathore family's relatives, their business partners, and from the media.
'The Rathore' was not a common name or the surname. It was a Brand, known to everyone. They were in almost all kind of business and had dominated them all. They were in the top 3 companies and were among the wealthiest people.
After fifteen minutes, she had made sure everything was fine with the group of men who were drinking wine, champagne and were seriously discussing Cricket, Politics and sharemarket, to the children who were playing hide and seek, and all the members present.
Tired, she sat down on the sofa chair near the fountain and had picked the juice glass when a waiter passed through her.
"Have you served to all?" she asked him with authority.
"Yes, mam" he speaks with respect in his tone.
"Good, make sure everyone's need is fulfilled, and pay more attention to the business delegates. Inform others to make sure no one's glass get empty and their needs unheeded," commanding, Shanaya stood up while taking the juice glass with her and walk toward the group of youth she had been observing for a while.
Away from all seniors and elders, sitting on the chairs on the wooden path on one side of the yard, they were talking excitedly. But, one of them, a boy in '20s wearing denim jeans and, the shirt was arguing something with the waiter who might have been serving to them.
He was still arguing when he heard a feminine voice, full of authority but sweet with a foreign accent asking him" Any problem here?".
"And you are?" The boy questioned her, his tone suggesting his newly formed interest in her.
The girl responded professionally" I am the one who is supervising this event".
"Oh," the boy exclaimed but could not say more.
The girl arched her brows at his reply and looked at her watch, seeming to be in a hurry.
"I told him to bring me the vodka, but he refused" the boy complained.
Smiling professionally, she speaks "I am sorry, but, Mr Vihaan instructs not to give alcohol to the youths".
"Oh, I am sorry, I did not know it before, please do not mind " the boy immediately speak out.
Moving away from them, meeting other helpers on her way, she mentally exclaimed" Wow! 'HIM' the feared one is quite helpful" and began instructing something to them when her phone beeped, informing her of the call.
She stopped in midway and asked the workers to leave for their respective work and picked up the phone, only to say loudly" What" in disbelief. She was still trying to understand and, tackle the situation when she felt someone's presence.
Deep down she prayed for that someone not to be HIM but, her hopes shattered when the person spoke up in an angered and, rude tone" What the hell you did not, understand??".
Calming her heart, Shanaya turned herself to the source of the voice and saw Vansh grinning at her and next to him stood the most arrogant man she has ever met. Wearing an Armani Black two-piece with a Black shirt and completing the look by Black formal shoes, a man of 6 foot, rectangle-shaped face with some stubbles on the jaw, side cheeks and nape length black hair gelled up in the backward was looking at her with reddened deep brown eyes. His symmetrical and a boy next door features with his masculine physical traits were making him attractive and handsome at the same time. She tried to withdraw her lustrous gaze from his body swiftly, not to get embarrassed and exchanged glances with Vansh, asking him with her eyes to save her from this situation. Vansh turns his neck in both directions, signalling her' I can't
They all smiled when they saw them and one of the men who seem to be a few years elder than the other one, moved forward and, speak with enthusiasm" Thank all of you who have taken out the time from their busy schedule to share our happiness. We, The Rathores, Thank you for attending my brother's 3oth and my 33rd Wedding Anniversary". Everyone clapped and, youngsters shouted with happiness" Happy anniversaries Uncles and, Aunts". Vihaan, Vansh smiled and waited for their parents to say more. Shanya saw the resemblance between Senior Rathores, and the younger Rathores standing beside her. She could see Vansh's eyes, matching with his father Mr Shiv, the elder one and, smile matching his mother, Mrs Shakti. Even though Mr shiv was the eldest Rathore, Shanaya heard from Vansh that his father was not ready f
Vihaan was busy on a call, away from the clamour of the party. While listening to the other one on the side of the phone, his right hand was busy enjoying the texture of his silky hair.His face looks tensed and, he uttered something sharp in response to the other person."Tell them 'The Rathores' do not need this project on their rules. We are number one on our condition." switching the phone to the left side, holding it with the then free right hand, Vihaan spat.He listened to what another one said and roam his eyes in frustration at the surrounding when he saw Avni going toward a particular direction and following her way, his eyes catch Shanaya who was laughing to something Vansh had said.He continued staring at her, noticing her behaviour, observing how she often uses her hand
And what is that?? If you are curious to know about me, ask me directly." Shanaya needed no help to recognize the owner of the manly and dominating voice. Her body quivered when her back felt the waves of heat radiating from his body and, she presumed, he must have been just, behind her. She gulped the saliva down her throat and moved her right hand in her hair to set the fling back in a beautiful style. "He is just trying to intimidate me!"self-convincing herself, she glanced toward Vansh and, Avni to see them thinking hard to overcome the situation. That was one of the reasons they were her favourite people they knew when to come forward to help her when to step back and when to comfort her. The situation was not something big, but, she could not ever let Vihaan know she was talking about him. She could not
Sitting at the furthermost corner of the lawn, opposite of Shanaya's, Vihaan was drinking vodka with the same man Shana had addressed as 'Hotty'. But, instead of focusing his attention on the man, Vihaan found his eyes on Shanaya, again and again. "Has she caught your attention?" taking a shot of vodka, that man enquired, witnessing Vihaan's actions. "What? Who are you talking about?"enquired Vihaan, though fully knowing what it was all about. "I am talking about the same girl you are glaring at, not to forgot 'within seconds'"emphasizing on seconds, that person chuckled. "Come on, bro, I am not looking or, as you say glaring at any girl"stating it casually, Vihaan took another shot of vodka. But, that person was not someone who could digest it, his experience kn
"Oh, you are back! Where had you been? People were asking for you" Avni exclaimed as soon as Shanaya reached them. "Umm, I got a call from Riya" lying, Shana tried her best not to get trapped in her web. She added,"But, why were people asking for me?" "They wanted to have a chat with you regarding some events" Avni explained and was about to say more when she was interrupted by Vansh. "And, one of them asked us if you are single, as he wanted to suggest his son for you"laughing, Vansh teased her. "Shut up! stop mocking me!"Shanaya faked anger. "He is telling the truth"siding with Vansh, Avni added and flashed a teasing smile at her. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, Avni asked hurriedly"I forgot to a
Smiling with pain, Shanaya nodded to something Vansh said, unaware of the context of it. She was there, physically, mentally but not emotionally. Within a minute, her eyes had lost the shine they had, her heart had lost the happiness she had felt, for some days, her face had lost the smile and, her body had lost the strength of standing. Listening partially to what all were talking about, noticing Vansh and Avni's concerned looks, ignoring Vihaan's gaze, nodding to Saaransh, she just wished to be somewhere alone, somewhere she could overcome and can heal herself. She did not hear Avni asking Saaransh"For how many days you will be here?" or Saaransh answer"For a month" but, her attention shifts to the conversation when she heard Saaransh asking "Are you okay, Shana?". In haste, she spoke,"Ummm? Oh, yes! perfectly fine
A minute passed, with she trying to get free and he trying to restrict her struggle. When she saw him in no mood of uncovering her mouth and, not having any other solution, she bites his palm and, arched her brows when she saw, his eyes looking at her with shock. But to her astonishment, he neither yelp nor he flinches but, for sure he removed his hand. "What the hell are you doing?"she spat as soon as her mouth got uncovered but quickly shut her mouth when she notices how loud she had spoken. Looking at her surrounding to make sure no one heard her, she looked again at him and waited for his reply. "I should ask the same. For god sake, you bite me!"looking at her while hiding his amusement, he whispered. He mentally whispered "She is beautiful" when he saw her face destitute of any makeup but radiating as always, her average-size