"Mr Khanna you need to stop being so confusing with your words.", Facing him, I rolled my eyes. Always being a weird man. His hand went up from my waist to my back, tracing the laces of the dress ever so lightly.

He pulled me closer, his masculine cologne hitting me like a fresh wave of air."Wouldn't want to explain my words before our wedding now would I?", he smirked and it was not his usual smirk. It was a devilish notorious and playful smirk.

Devil's son!

"You butth-", before I could curse him, I heard a voice and guilt overwhelmed my senses.

"Sir, we have done the required arrangements for your departure but before that, you should talk to Mr Nicolas.", his bodyguard's voice was as cold as ever. My heart ached thinking about the pain he went through because of me and Arlan who was my father, thanks to my amazing fate. Mr Khanna walked to him and giving me a soft look, he made his way out of the door.

James turned on his heels ready to follow him but I stopped him. My guilt overpowered my senses. I know how it feels to lose someone you love." James.", I called out and his feet visibly froze.

He turned to me. His eyes were perfectly masked behind the black shades that both the twins wore. "I-I'm sorry James. That night... because of Arlan you lost Charles and I know my sorry would never bring him back but I promise", my eyes leaked, how pathetic I am, always destroying everyone's peace."I promise I'll not let his sacrifice go in vain. He'll get his justice."

He didn't say anything, just stared at me. His face didn't give any glimpses of what he was thinking. I sighed, wish I could just go back to that night and turn everything back to how they were. I never knew I'd get so attached to the bodyguards who scared me the most at the start.

"Miss Mehta, Come on we need to go.", Mr Khanna's voice boomed from the living room." I'm sorry James.", I mumbled to him and headed to the door.

"You're right for him.", James whispered stopping me dead in my track but before I could react he had disappeared.

I was right for him?

Did he mean I was right for Mr Khanna?

A huge weight lifted off my shoulders thinking he doesn't blame me for his twin's death.

"Miss Mehta.", Mr Khanna snapped me out of my thoughts. His eyebrows furrowed in suspicion and worry. I gave him a small smile and creased out his eyebrows erasing those frowning lines off his forehead. "Let's go.", I took his hand in mine and we walked to the living room together.

Reece and Ivan were already standing there absolutely ready to go and I saw Liza coming out of her room, looking as gorgeous as ever but what caught my eyes were a certain pair of eyes. Reece's eyes to be specific who had a soft smile on his face, his face hooked to Liza who was muttering curses adjusting her messy bun. Her blue hairs were back in their natural black colour, apparantly ,Reece used a temporary dye to give her a heart attack.

"Wow you guys look like...", she paused, her eyes fixed on Reece." sh*t."

Reece scowled at her words and she turned to me but I couldn't help but notice how his eyes were set on Liza.

Interesting!

"Damn woman you look hot", I chuckled at her words. This girl was one of a kind.

Her eyes went to Mr Khanna who was as always dressed in a black tuxedo, looking as elegant as ever. God that man was going to take the breaths of all women there but the thought alone that only I had right over this man made my heart bloom with happiness. Only I had the right over him and his love.

"You, my dear cousin better keep a watch on your behaviour and don't burn with jealousy when men ask her out today.", she bluntly stated and I mentally laughed. Mr Khanna didn't seem to be amused by her jokes because he had an icy look in his eyes.

"And why do you think I shall possess such ridiculous emotion Liza, Those f*ckers can ask her out, but jokes on them they can't get her because she's my...woman.", his dark eyes set on me as he spoke the last words. I don't know why but my heart grew warm listening to him. Stars that bastard makes me fall for him harder every time he speaks about me.

Surprisingly Liza patted Mr Khanna's head and he fixed her with a glare, "What in God's name are you doing?"

"I feel proud.", she swatted a fake tear from under her eye and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her dramatics.

"Liza I advise you to grow up and behave like a mature noble lady."

"Ha, why don't you start by tapping people's phones just like a few gentlemen do.", I stated sarcastically wanting to get on Mr Khanna's nerves."What do you say Mr Khanna?", I smiled at him, but instead of throwing his icy glares he had an amused smirk on his face.

He pinched my waist making me stomp on his feet. Liza turned announcing it was time to leave, she practically dragged them out with her. "It's time to go lovebirds. We will wait outside but for heaven's sake don't start doing something gross."

My cheeks flamed and I was literally three seconds away from running behind her but of course, Mr Khanna pulled me to face him, "Be safe.", he kissed my forehead while his right hand rubbed the area he pinched me.

'It's declared he's one cute son of a bachelor.'

'And he was mine.'

I smiled and kissed his cheek."You too."

"Any problem and you're calling me.", he ordered and I nodded at him.

"Words Miss Mehta.", he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear."I need to make sure you remember your words."

"I will.", I whispered."Any problem and I'm calling your arse.", I chuckled brushing my nose with his moving away.

"You need to stay away from Liza.", he grumbled.

"Don't say the impossible."

~~~

"Finally Miss Mehta graced us with her presence.", Liza threw her hands in the air. "Let's go people."

Reece and Liza got in a car and Ivan gestured me to a shining Genesis G90. I followed him and he opened the front door like a gentleman but what surprised me was he kept his palm above my head when I was going to settle in my seat and it gave me a sense of déjà vu. He was the one who did that while they were playing all this kidnapping sh*t.

Once he was inside I gave him a questioning look to which he just shrugged.

Three Sedans roared ahead of us and we followed them, Liza and Reece's vehicle behind, followed by another three.

The silence in the car was making me awkward. I looked at Ivan who was nervously tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. All of a sudden he chuckled, "I just remembered how I used those cheesy pickup lines on you in the last ball ."

I laughed."Do you have a bandage?", I mimicked him."Cause I scraped my knees falling for you.", he completed.

And then we laughed again together.

"I'm happy that Neil found someone like you Avni.", he said, a smile playing on his face," That bastard seriously needed someone who could break his icy facade.", he stared in front, but I knew he was always concerned for Mr Khanna. I'm happy he got such trustworthy friends."Seeing you I'm sure he'll stop being a piece of ice.", he looked at me and gave me a soft smile."Trust me when I say that he's been keeping happy recently which I've never seen him."

"How long you've been friends?"

"For ten years. When his.", he stopped and for the first time, I saw rage in Ivan's eyes. He was always smiling, cheerful and happy. I never saw anger on his face but today it was there, visible and as clear as crystal." It's not my story to tell you Avni but just know you can't blame a person for his doings if he never saw what is right."

His words left a huge question in my mind.

You can't blame a person for his doings if he never saw what is right.

I always burdened Mr Khanna with my problems, my enemies, my miseries. How could I be so selfish, I never tried to see the real him. I never asked if he was okay... if he was happy.

"We are here ", Ivan unbuckled his seatbelt and came out, I did the same.

"Let's go, m'lady, shall we?", he stretched his elbow and I smiled at his playful nature.

"We shall kind sir."

The place was glimmering with lights. A beautiful melody of piano and guitars swarmed the air. I looked to my side and the view made me shock yet smile. For once Liza and Reece weren't fighting. Liza had a deep blush on her cheeks. The bada*s girl who can make even Mr Khanna shut was blushing like a crazy teen girl who just got her first handshake with her crush. What did I miss man?

I looked at Reece and he was smirking as if he was proud of something.

Something sure did happen in the car.

We showed our passes and entered the mansion. My heart raced with all possible negative thoughts.

"Arielle my child.", Mrs Brown pulled me in a sudden hug as soon as she saw me. Mr Brown rolled his grey eyes at his wife."You can let her go woman."

"Geez old man, who got a stick up your arse?", she complained.

"Avni who is this absolutely amazing cool woman?", Liza butted in, apparently she looked impressed by Mrs Brown's Queen behaviour.

"Ari?", Mr Brown questioned and I let out a nervous chuckle.

"aha. these Mr Brown.. these are my friends from India and well Avni is my nickname."

"Yes of course.", Liza smiled biting her tongue.

"And here I thought you were with a special friend as in a boyfriend. Such a buzz killer.", Mrs Brown frowned.

"Only if she knew.", Ivan whispered to Liza and Reece and I glared at him earning a chuckle.

"Did you say, something son?", Mr Brown said to him and before he could say anything I interrupted.

"Where's your grandson, Mr and Mrs Brown?"

"Probably at the food counter.", she smiled, her eyes visibly brightening at the mention of her grandson."Oh look he's over there.", she gestured for him to come.

0 minutes and twenty-one seconds, a man walked to us and kissed Mrs Brown's cheek."Wassup gorgeous?"

"Son meet my daughter Ari, the sweet girl from India I told you about.", my heart filled with warmth, she just called me her daughter that my own father never did.

The man turned to me, he had green eyes, his hair were styled in a classic manner. He had worn a black tuxedo and what amused me was a cookie in his hand. He pulled out his hand for me to shake but instead stretched the one that had the cookie ."Oops sorry, Miss Arielle I get nervous seeing beautiful women."

I heard a cough behind me and my eyes literally widened seeing the death glares Mr Khanna's little gang was throwing at Mrs Brown's grandson. He didn't seem to notice them though and hence he continued.

He quickly stretched his other hand for me to shake."Hi, myself A.D.H. Alerk D Harold."

I shook his hand."Arielle Summers."

He took my hand and brought it to his lips to kiss it making me tense, but before he could, a certain voice made us snap our hands to the entrance.

"Mr Harold."

"Oh, Mr Khanna finally you're here. I'm so glad you could make it.", Mr Harold left my hand and walked to Mr Khanna.

He shook his hand and talked for a brief second and within a moment both of them were near us.

"Mr Khanna meet my gorgeous grandma and cool grandpa Adam Brown and Emma Brown.", Mr Khanna greeted Mr and Mrs Brown respectfully and Mrs Emma being her cheery self pulled Mr Khanna into a hug who as always reciprocated it awkwardly because in his words-"I don't do hugs."

'Liar liar pants on fire.'

"And this Mr Khanna is Miss Arielle and her friends.", Mr Harold continued.

Mr Khanna surprising me stretched his hand." Neil Khanna.", I took his hand to shake but the next moment he brought it to his lips and kissed it gently.

I smiled awkwardly, "Arielle Summers. Nice to meet you, Mr Khanna."

"Always a pleasure.", Mr Khanna winked at me and his lips curled into a smirk. Behind me, I heard coughs again. For heaven's sake, we were surrounded by people. The f*ck is he doing?

And wait did Mr I don't do emotions just wink?

F*cking wink!

***

Guess what! It's the two days when I hate my existence. Curse Aunty Red for that. I'd zero motivation to study today so I thought to surprise y'all by an update. I've opened Wattpad after like 20 whole days and I missed you guys so much.

BTW Term 1 for the 12th is starting on the 3rd of December. CBSE being generous, that's a first lol.

Love love

Aapki seva mein sadev tatpar