Rags To Royals (Royal #1: Book 1) | ✔

48

-• despair •-

Yuvaan neither looks disappointed, nor furious, he simply stands still, tilting his head to the side, gripping the leash of his dog tighter as though he was holding back the mutt from pouncing at us through the window. I feel the fear impale me cold, and blood rushes to my head, my heart pounding so hard the sound reaches my eardrums through the veins, blocking the lively chatters of people surrounding us. I grab Atharva's wrist, and Yuvaan's eyes fall to catch the action before he looks up at me.

"Go," I whisper to the statued boy. His body kickstarts into action and he flees the cafe in next instant.

Yuvaan's presence turns ten time stronger when he walks in through the small door. As he stretches to his full height, multiple heads tilt.

"Excuse me, dogs are not allowed -" the cafe owner stops short at the sight of my brother. His head automatically bows in respect. "Your Highness,"

Yuvaan shoves the free hand in his pocket. "Let me see your CCTV footage of this hour." It isn't a request, it's a command.

"Yes, this way," the man motions.

I occupy the previous spot to finish the rest of my coffee, a useless attempt to calm my twisted nerves. Yuvaan returns five minutes later, calm as ever, an ease before the storm, the devastating silence that screams louder in my head, ringing the countless alarm bells. He settles down on the seat across from mine, Perry stations himself behind his master on his hind legs. If the dog didn't look like a literal ball of sunshine, the two cannot be considered any less than Hades and Cereberus of mortal world; the flesh devouring, voracious devotee of the Underworld ruler.

He slides the usb drive towards me on the table. "A proof of your deception."

I eye the red pendrive with hatred.

"I had them delete the footage."

I wasn't caught doing anything indecent or scandalous in public. But the way he says it, makes me feel like I was.

"Let me hear your side before I take this matter to Yuvraaj Bhai,"

"Will hearing my side change anything?"

"Possibly, no," he states.

"Then I'd rather not waste my time here,"I get up from the seat.

He stands up, eyeing me intensely before grabbing Perry's leash and walking out of the cafe. I follow his lead until we reach his car. The silence is overwhelming, it chokes up my throat, blocking my lungs and I fidget restlessly in the seat during the whole drive back to the palace.

When the car comes to a smooth halt, he cuts off the engine and steps out along with his dog. The guard rushes forward to open the door for me. I thank him and head inside.

My feet halt abruptly in confusion when Yuvaan takes the stairs instead of taking the route to Yuvraaj's office. It's seven thirty in the evening. I left the house under the pretext of group studying at four. Yuvraaj usually comes back around this time. That means, he has to be in the palace right now.

"Tara?" Agastya's voice bounce against the quiet walls. "Did you bring her home?" My eyes shift upstairs, at the face off currently happening between the two brothers. A tired sigh leaves my mouth.

"Yes," Yuvaan answers nonchalantly.

"Why? I was going to bring her back home from Saxena house at eight."

"Only that she wasn't at Saxena house when I found her a few minutes ago," Yuvaan shrugs. "Looks like you aren't that responsible either," he pats the latter's shoulder in fake sympathy before strolling upstairs.