Aratrika's pov 

I was so busy adjusting my dupatta that I didn't notice someone coming on my way. .

I bumped on that person.

"Ouch" 

I tried to balance myself but couldn't due to the impact. I was about to fall when the person caught me by  my elbows to stop myself from falling. My hand caught his biceps to balance myself.

My eyes were closed tightly due to fear.

"I am so sorry." Hearing the manly voice ,I opened my eyes to see Akash's cousin.

I immediately left his hand and he followed my lead. I stood creating a decent distance between us.

"Are you okay?" He asked me. I nodded with a small smile. 

"Thank you for saving me." I thanked him and he nodded. I turned around to go away from there.

I didn't want to stay there as I wasn't very used to talking to strangers…..especially male.

"By the way, I am Priyansh, Akash's cousin."  Hearing him I turned towards him .

I folded my hand on my chest in order to do Namaskar and said ,"I am Aratrika, Kanika's elder sister." 

"Excuse me." Saying this  ,I left before he could say anything. 
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"So you started your mission here as well." 

I was passing by a pillar near a room when this line caught my attention . I turned towards my left to see the man on whom I accidentally spilled coffee on the first day itself.

"What...what do...do you mean?" Unknowingly I started to stutter. The aura of danger and dominance was radiating from him. His eyes looked cold and lips held a mocking smirk. 

I won't deny the fact that he makes me very uncomfortable. 

"Oh !! How can I forget that you are very innocent ." His voice was laced with mockery.

He continued, "Let me explain to you in detail. I have seen you with Priyansh… how you were being all touchy touchy with him. You like it , Don't you? 
To trap a man with your beauty ,isn't that what you like to do? 

You deliberately spilled the coffee on me that day to get a reaction from me . 

But when you say that I didn't give a damn about you, you targeted Priyansh.. 

Am I right?" He said to me coldly.  

"Oh !!! Now you will squeeze out some fake tears. Trying to gain sympathy, are we?" He mocked me once again.

The venom and loathe were evident in his tone. Hearing his accusations, unknowingly my eyes filled with tears. 

I have heard this kind of accusation before as well and like every time, I couldn't control myself from crying.

What's his problem?  Why is he saying this? 

"You are getting me wrong ." I said to him meekly.

He opened his mouth to say something but immediately was interrupted by Anu. 

"Di, you are here. Your brother is searching for you." Anu said.

I quickly nodded and left from there, wiping my tears on the way.

The rest of the evening passed smoothly.  We had a very tasty dinner along with all. 

Throughout the evening,  I didn't dare to meet that man's eyes. I could feel his heated gaze on me. But still I didn't lift my eyes to see the man who insulted me without any reason.
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"They are really nice people ,aren't they?" Jethu said to Baba.

"Yes… I am sure my Kanika will be staying there without any tension." Baba said little emotionally as he patted Kanika's head who was smiling softly at him. 

Right now we are at our house.  We came back a few minutes ago.

"Let's go to sleep now. From tomorrow we have to get busy with the preparation for the Aashirwad ceremony. " Jethi ma said.

We all nodded and went to our respective rooms.

I changed into my clothes and freshened up. After setting my alarm, I laid down on my bed. 

For half an hour ,I tossed and turned around my bed but sleep was far away from my eyes. Everytime I closed my eyes , the words of that man was ringing in my ears. 

How could he think something like this about me? 

In fact he didn't know me as well. Still he judged me. 

After that incident this is what I am facing daily. I am hearing all these from society, from relatives ….even my own family didn't spare me.

The judgements, derogatory comments on my character,  cursing me as a bad omen everything has shattered my soul .

People will not understand how much these kinds of words can affect a person's mind and heart. 

Unknowingly a tear rolled down from the corner of my eye.

"Don't let his words occupy your mind ,Aru." I said to myself and closed my eyes to catch some sleep.
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Saptarshi's pov 

I was talking with Akash and Priyansh when Priyansh's phone vibrated in his hand. Akash peeked at his phone.

"Oh ho… Boudi r phone je. (A call from Sister in law)" Akash teased him in a whisper. 

I looked at Priyansh with a teasing smile . 

"You guys are impossible. " He said, rolling his eyes but still we didn't miss the small smile which was playing on his lips. 

He shook his head and walked away from there as Me and Akash laughed. 

We were talking with each other but unknowingly my eyes were going on that girl who was sitting quietly with her brother. 

Control Rishi !!! 

After some time Priyansh joined us. 

Akash went towards Kanika's father as he was calling him.

"Sosur ebar class nebe. " (Father in law will take class now.) Priyansh joked, making me laugh. 

We were talking about something when all of a sudden Priyansh's phone rang. 

"This HOD. " Priyansh whispered angrily and let out some curses, making me laugh.

"Go ..go..hear him out." I said to him with a teasing smirk. He scowled at me and left from there.

Suddenly I felt a gaze on me . I looked at my right to see Aratrika looking at me. As soon as our eyes met  ,she looked down, breaking  the contact.

I don't know why but my heart fluttered a bit. 

"Saptarshi." Hearing Akash's Dad call, I looked at him and he gestured to me to follow him. 

Giving a last glance towards Aratrika, I left the place.
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"Where were you?" Akash asked me as soon as I joined them in the living room.

"Kaku , I mean your Dad called me inside." I said to him,

He nodded.

Unknowingly my eyes once again went towards the place where Aratrika was sitting. But I frowned when I didn't find her. I looked around but didn't find her either.

"Why are you so curious, Rishi?" My heart asked me. 

"Are you searching for Priyansh?" Hearing Akash's question, I looked at him. That's when I noticed that he wasn't present as well.

"Umm...yeah..yeah… where is he?" I asked him hurriedly. 

" I don't know ,man. " He replied, looking around.

"Let me see then." I said to him and got up to see.
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 I was walking towards Akash's room in search of Priyansh when suddenly two figures caught my eyes .

The very next moment, I clenched my fist in anger when my eyes witnessed the scene.
There Aratrika was almost in the arms of Priyansh. 

"Is she trying to catch attention from Priyansh as well?" My mind said to me which made me livid. I couldn't help but agree.

Does this girl have any shame? Why does she appear in front of my eyes with different guys? 

I closed my eyes to control my anger.

As soon as she came in front of me after sometime I indirectly warned her to stay away from him. .

I was going to say something more but the moment her teary eyes met mine , something moved inside my heart. The anger which was burning inside me washed away immediately. 

Soon Anu came  and took her away . 

I looked at her retreating back and  didn't fail to notice the way she wiped her tears away.

"Saptarshi." I heard Priyansh calling me which broke my trance . I turned towards him.

"Where were you? We were searching for you dude." I said to him.

" That HOD … once again I have to take two extra classes tomorrow. Means once again I will return after 6 pm. This is too much bro." He said to me angrily.

I nodded. 

"Umm...by the way, what was Aratrika doing with you?" I asked him.

"Oh.. I just bumped into her. I was so busy on my phone to notice so that's why. Why ? " He looked at me suspiciously. 

I was stunned. 

Does that mean I have insulted her without any reason? 

But then why was she here?

"Are you sure? But what was she doing here?" I asked him again.

"Yes ..I am sure.  About…." Before he could say anything,  Anu interrupted him.

"Saptarshi Da, DaBhai (Elder brother)  , come fast. Everyone is calling you. Why are you guys still here?" Anu asked us.

"We are coming, Anu. But answer this first,  what was Aratrika doing here?" Priyansh asked her.

"Oh Aru di. She wanted to use the washroom so I took her here. But as Ma was calling Me and Aru di also said that she could manage,  I left from there." Anu said and ran away.

Hearing her,  I let out a sigh and ran my fingers through my hair. I messed up this time. 

" Why do you look so stressed?...?Wait a second...Saptarshi, did you say something to Aratrika?" He asked sternly.

As I said, He and Akash know me like the back of a palm.

I explained everything to him without any filter. As expected he looked really angry and offended. 

"What the fuck ,dude? Are you insane? Without knowing anything, why did you accuse her? 
Akash already told you before not to judge her too soon. 
But still you did." He blasted on me. 

"Moreover you don't have any right to insult her like this.  Why did you do that? You weren't like this… why are you letting your assumptions cloud your rational thinking?" He continued. 

I sighed . I didn't have an answer… to be honest, I didn't want to answer.

He sighed ,seeing me silent.

 "Anyways… what's done is done. You better apologize to her. I know my friend who always respects women. Be that friend of mine. " He said and left from there.

How's the chapter?

Let me know.

See you in the next chapter soon.