~• Author's pov • ~

“No bhabhiiii.” Aarushi whined, realising that her pleas were getting more unheard than earlier.

"No Aaru, it's final that you'll stay in care of Sona maa and Siddharth in their home.” Aaradhna declared tapping her hand on Aarushi's shoulder with a face of finality with no cross talking tone.

"But bhabhi, try to understand. I...how can I live there ?" Aarushi again spoke, trying her best to try her luck again.

Aaradhna sighed gazing at the reluctance in Aarushi's eyes. She cupped her face with utmost love, sisterly care and warmth she had for her and said, " Bacche just believe your bhabhi maa. Mai hoon naa"

Aarushi took a long deep breath and nodded reluctantly, feeling the weight of Aradhna's words. She still wanted to deny her words. But the decision was taken by Aaradhna and she knows no one in the family would support her against Aaradhna, because internally she herself too knows why she's being emphasising on not living on her own.

Aaradhna has been extra cautious with every little detail related to Aarushi. After learning about Aarushi's departure to Delhi in just two days. Aaradhna has strictly ordered her that she had to live in Siddharth's house with his family as any city is not safe for girls of any age if they are alone. This is the harsh truth of society.

As an independent journalist, she has made many enemies already and many new ones are about to be made with her further work in journalism. Therefore living in Delhi all alone for almost more than 2 months or more is not at all safe for her .

All Aaradhna needed was Aarushi's acceptance, because she knew her best friend would never deny her wish. And as expected Siddharth agreed in a blink. No questions asked. Just a silent promise given to take care of Aarushi in his city.

~• Aarushi's pov • ~

Tomorrow morning I am flying to Delhi, for more than two months or so. The problem is not moving to Delhi but to live there in a person's house with his whole family. A family almost as big as mine. But the problem is not the family either. I know I'll get comfortable with them too but living in a house where Sidharth Oberoi himself lives ?!

The man who made my blood boil in our first meeting and took my heart in less than a month and half of it .

In these four years , I have known him enough. Siddharth Oberoi, the name itself vibrates strength and power . He's known as the devil of the business world, but above all this he's the man who loves Aaradhna bhabhi more than his own life .

He and bhabhi have been best friends since they were four . She is like his sister more than his best friend and the love he showers on bhabhi and Adhi, bhabhi’s daughter is like the next level. He loves that little chuhiya a little too much.

Can I get jealous of my own niece?

Of course not.

But still I'm. He doesn't even talk to me, if not about his doll, this little chuhiya!

The problem is living in the same house as him.I am scared… what if all these buried emotions of mine come jumping off from my heart through my tongue and actions resulting in messing up everything. All these years, we both were just mutual relatives of Aaradhna bhabhi, the only conversations we had were to annoy the hell out of each other and eat each other's head through our sassy , sarcastic comments. But not that I am lucky enough to enjoy it daily. Not that I even have guts to come in front of him every other day when he's here in Lucknow.

During bhabhi’s pregnancy, he spent most of his time here, pampering her and now he comes here for his little princess.

I sighed, stretching my body to relax so I laid down snuggling inside my comforter. Turning the air conditioner to my preferable temperature.This is me and my overthinking brain. So rather than overthinking about tomorrow here I am, reading another book written by my bhabhi. Books…they make everything sorted, keeps my mind in check, away from overthinking and glides me to the fictional world.

'Jag jaaa kumbhkaran ki chacheri behen . Kab tak soegi chudail . Sleeping chudail jag bhi jaaaa.'

'Jag jaaa kumbhkaran ki chacheri behen . Kab tak soegi chudail . Sleeping chudail jag bhi jaaaa.'

'Jag jaaa kumbhkaran ki chacheri behen . Kab tak soegi chudail . Sleeping chudail jag bhi jaaaa.'

'Jag jaaa kumbhkaran ki chacheri behen . Kab tak soegi chudail . Sleeping chudail jag bhi jaaaa.'

My sleep broke due to my alarm's sound, which is actually my own voice, scolding me to wake up.

As I checked the time it was 5 in the morning. Though I am a very lazy kind of person, at least I never miss my morning walk . As I had very little energy in my body this morning because of not eating properly yesterday night's dinner , I came back downstairs early just after some ten minutes of walking on the terrace in the cold morning breeze already feeling a little tired.

Taking a good relaxing shower and after washing my hair I came out in a simple yellow kurti with beautiful floral thread work done in white colour with matching white palazzo pants, considering the comfort in the flight and the visit to the temple in my mind too.

Leaving my wet hair open to let them dry by air on its own. I applied my moisturizer, lipbalm, kajal small bindi and added my favourite lotus designed oxidised jhumkis. All done with the dressing up part, I came downstairs where my whole family was sitting with Siddharth chatting with him .

As soon as they saw me they gestured for me to settle beside them on the sofa . Sitting next to Ved bhai I leaned on his shoulder. Ved bhai is my cousin but he has always loved me a little more than anyone in this house, even more than Abhiyansh bhai sometimes. Not that Abhi bhai doesn't love me or something, but he was always busy in fulfilling the duty of the elder son to make up for Papa's death.

After Papa's death, everything was complicated. Maa and bhai were busy. Maa in making my and bhai's future brighter and bhai in helping maa in common chores and me so that she doesn't stress herself. Ved bhai was always that sunshiney person in my life .

I'll miss all of them , it's my first time going somewhere leaving my whole family for so long.

I moved upstairs towards and entered Siya bhabhi's room silently, making sure to not make any sound to wake up little Adhi or bhabhi. Closing the distance from the door to the bed, I softly kissed Adhi’s forehead I again came downstairs where after receiving tons of hugs, blessings, advices and good wishes from the family, I stepped outside my home ' The Khanna Mansion ' moving towards the car with Siddharth accompanying me. I sat inside the car and gave a last wave to my family and soon we were at the airport.

It is so troublesome travelling in an airplane. Just imagine, sitting cross legged on a train's window seat, relaxing feeling the cold breeze with constant chattering of vendors for chai, snacks and other items and reading a book or listening to some soft music or maybe making friends with the passengers on the opposite seat for the time being till the destination.

But here I am sitting with this sadu aadmi in his private jet. Yup, a freaking private jet! How rich is this man? And the reason to call him sadu,I mean just look at him, here also he's literally working on his laptop and I am getting all worked up about the taking off. As I mentioned earlier I never travelled anywhere away from my family and even if I did I personally preferred trains for no reason. And this thing in which I'm traveling is going to fly up in the sky. It's my first time of course I'm all worked up!

My chain of thoughts again broke hearing his sudden voice.

"Close your eyes, keep this phone aside and sleep.”

His face stoic, as if we were in some kind of war. Checking my seat belt again , I closed my eyes , not having any energy to argue with his भावनाहीन मुखड़ा (emotionless face )

Because I had woken up early and slept late, I didn’t take long to doze off again.

Feeling some light tapping on my shoulder, I opened my eyes slowly. The position I was in made me almost blank. My head rested comfortably on his shoulder while I was holding his right bicep with both of my hands .

I abruptly corrected my position and sat up straight. “I am sorry. You could have woken me up. I am really sorry Mr Oberoi." I soon completed my not-so-good apology and saw something flicker in his eyes, maybe hurt ? Of course not! Why would he be hurt? I am over reading him, and finding things which don't even exist.

Stop over reading his expressions Aaru!

"It's okay Miss Khanna." He murmured softly, his face still like a blank canvas with no emotions.

Bro, what kind of human is he? Is he some robot in the skin of a human?

Saying so he got up from his place , clearing up the non-existing creases of his coat and that was the moment I actually saw myself properly. A soft warmth was hugging my body — the blanket. My breath hitched.

Does he…care?

Again aghh

Again I am reading between the lines. I am his responsibility.

JUST HIS RESPONSIBILITY.

I blinked off the moisture which threatened to come out through my eyes and followed him.

DON'T BE AN EMOTIONAL FOOL AARU.

YOU'VE GOT THIS!

As I followed him out of the jet, a lot of bodyguards stood there all in the same kind of outfit. Their aura… just like their boss…unreadable.

As he directed me to his car, opened the door for me. He has always been a gentleman. I'll give him that. As I sat in the passenger seat while he took the driving one. I opened the camera in my phone to check any remnants of sleep off my face. And for the first time luck was on my side. I looked good…actually beautiful.

I kept the phone in my purse. Then something caught my attention, making me turn to Siddharth. “Wait wait wait. Siddharth. Stop the car.”

********