Royal with Rebel (Royal #2: Book 2)

24

-• unaffected by you •-

Despite being surrounded by the people he loves and who love him back, Yuvraaj couldn't stop his eyes from straying towards the door, awaiting her arrival with a hope as futile as his unrequited, stubborn feelings. Did she even visit him once? At least out of obligation? Do you not owe gratitude to someone who practically saved you from dying? Was he waiting for her to come and say thank you? No. An apology? God, no. Was he waiting for her just for her presence next to him? Yes. Why is that still a question?

"It's your third trip to the hospital in four months." Taranya grumbles softly.

"It's like your second home now." Agastya jests.

"Third. You can't beat his office." Rudra snorts.

"I don't like you improvising my joke." Agastya twists his lips bitterly.

"And I don't like you not adding me in family groups. Did I complain?" Rudra counters.

"Sounds like you're complaining now." Agastya smirks.

"Please, I'd never want to be a part of that circus." Rudra rolls his eyes.

"That's not what you-" he pinches his wife on the waist, shutting her up with a warning glare. She scoffs and looks away, arms folding across her chest.

"Good, because sister-stealers are not welcomed." Agastya remarks.

"Oh talking about sisters, didn't you have a crush on mine when she was married to your brother?" Rudra teases, smiling provokingly.

Agastya goes red at once. "What- No! I- I didn't! I did not have a crush-"

Yuvaan grabs his shoulder, yanking him around so the two face each other. "Seriously!? You had a crush on Sara Bhabhi?" He asks, mirth shining in his eyes.

"No!" Agastya sputters out feebly.

"Didn't you have a crush on Bhai's secretary too?" Ayush points out.

"That's totally different -"

"How? You have Mommy issues, just accept it." Rudra shrugs.

"I do not!" Agastya shrieks. "I- you- how dare you! This is why I hate you! I-"

"Please, stop. You're so pitiful. It's good that you didn't force him into law." Rudra looks at Yuvraaj who sighs tiredly.

"Who told him!?" Agastya looks around his siblings, bearing the dagger of betrayal right in the centre of his back. "Don't make me repeat myself!" He warns.

Taranya meekly raises her hand.

"Short stuff, you!" Agastya gasps, hand on his chest, he looks at his baby sister with his big eyes popping out dramatically.

"He was hurt you always call him sister-stealer so I just wanted make him feel better." She pouts sheepishly.

"So you sacrifice my honor?" Agastya looks at her in disbelief.

"Honor?" Rudra chuckles. "Nice joke."

"Shut up!"

"Such a classic comeback." Rudra retorts.

"How do you sew that mouth shut!?" Agastya groans.

"Why? Am I hurting your feelings?" Rudra asks in a baby voice.

Agastya scowls in his face. "Don't worry about hurting my feelings, because I guarantee you not one percent of my self-esteem is tied to your acceptance."

"That's so smart. Where did you steal that from again? Pinterest?" Rudra mocks. "I heard you've a history of running your limited brain cells on the comebacks stolen off of someone's intellect."