The Royal Deal

10.

She was strong enough,
to stare challenge dead in the
eye and give it a wink.
-Unknown

*****

Singhania Residence,
New Delhi.
3:45 PM

"What. Was. That?" A very angry Arjun seethed and Shaina turned around surprised, most definitely looked like she didn't care.

He stomped all his way downstairs fuming in anger and wanted to rip Shaina's head apart for putting up the show he didn't want her to.

He wanted a yes.

"Something that you were supposed to do." She taunted and slipped her feet back into her sandals that she collected on her way back to her room

"I was supposed to gamble my own reputation?" He stalked closer to her, his voice raised by a few decibels and Shaina chuckled softly. Her older sister and mother ran to her to stop the showdown between the duo

"No, you were simply not supposed to gamble me." Shaina matched his glare, her sense of respect for her father dissolved somewhere in the back of her head overpowered by his betrayal.

"You were not supposed to bring Aryahi into this to get me here!" Shaina voice raised as well her throat strained with the anger that pulsated through her

Nayana felt her head getting light with tension, a feeling of dizziness occurred in her chest and she held onto Amulya for support

"She's JUST A CHILD! I told you, I warned you." She seethed while the veins on her forehead popped out. Her body shook with the intensity of her anger

"If you go after her, I'll come after you." She snarled and grabbed her file she wanted to fetch before she left the house. It felt suffocating to even breathe the same air as the people who back stabbed her twice in a row

"Just for that little girl you're doing this to your own father?" His words stopped her from taking another step ahead and she looked at her mother.

"That little girl is my child. You do not play with her mental health. I'm not an object of your greed dad. I'll never be." She wasn't someone who could be manipulated easily and she saw through her father's facade.

She gave him a last look before she was all set to leave but something tugged her coat in the hallway and she knew Aryahi was awake

"Are you leaving me?" Aryahi's question caught Shaina off guard. Her face muscles relaxed and she crouched down to Aryahi's level

We tried calling, Mr. Arjun Shekhawat on her insistence and he answered saying that you'll be here soon.

The words echoed in her ears and she closed her eyes to keep her emotions to herself before she opened them and collected Aryahi in her arms

"No, in fact I am planning to take you along today. Wanna come with me?" For the first time in last forty five minutes her tone came down to the softest possible and a smile etched to her face

"Yes." Aryahi nodded enthusiastically

"Perfect, wash your face, fetch your school bag and I'll pack something for you to eat, you must be hungry." Shaina kissed Aryahi on both of her cheeks before she motioned her to run back to her room

Shaina's smile dropped as soon as Aryahi was out of her sight and her anger resurfaced but not wanting another argument she simply moved to the kitchen and packed Aryahi's lunch for her to eat on the way back