"And you! You were supposed to protect her. Phir aise kaise tumhare bina chali gyi ye? What were you doing?"
He questioned Rishi who stood facing ahead.
"Sorry sir. I failed to fulfill my duty properly. I'm ready for whatever consequences my actions hold."
Prisha shook her head from her brother's embrace and spoke.
"It's not his fault papa. I-I told him to go and sleep saying ki mujhe neend aa rhi hai. Uski galti nhi-"
"Not a word Prisha!"
Her lips wobbled at his tone. Her father had never used such cold and harsh tone with her.
"You're going to stay outside her door to make sure this doesn't happen. For all week."
Priyansh knew the punishment was too much but didn't say anything for the time being because he also knew his father wouldn't listen to anyone right now. Rishi just nodded and Prisha looked at brother with a crying face.
"I'll handle everything tomorrow. Abhi apne room mai jaao."
She nodded and started walking ahead with Rishi following her.
"I-I am sorry about everything."
"Go inside!"
He spoke in a stern tone and she bit her lip.
"Mai-mai kisi ko nhi bataungi ki tum yaha nhi the. Please go and have some sleep. I promise I'll -"
"Just go inside!"
"Rishi please-"
"You think all this is a joke? Mazak lag raha hai tumhe? Do you have any idea ki agar mai ek second bhi aur late ho jaata toh wo aadmi tumhe goli maar deta? Your idea of having fun could have proven deadly."
He finally burst out and whisper yelled at her. She bit her lip from stop her cries.
"Mujhe-mujhe pata nhi tha ki-ki wo threats abhi bhi-"
"Agar threats nhi hoti toh mai bhi nhi hota yaha. Itni si baat samajh mai nhi aati tumhe? You know what? Just go inside and don't even dare to step out subha se pehle."
He turned his back to her and she ran inside and slumped on the bed crying heavily. It was all her fault. Everyone was suffering because of her.
The next morning she went out of her room and saw Rishi still standing there. The exhaustion was visible on his face. He saw her and followed her out to the living room. He stood at a distance from everyone else.
Prisha looked at her father who was having his breakfast. Her eyes were red due to crying all night. He saw her approach and got up wiping his face.
"I'm done. Mai office jaa raha hu."
He said and Prisha felt like crying again. Priyansh looked at her and sighed.
"It's okay papa. Jaane do ab. She won't do it again."
"Mujhe-mujhe nhi pata tha aise kuch ho jaayega papa. I'm sorry."
She whispered in a crying tone and bowed her head when he showed no reaction. A few seconds later, he heard a sigh and was pulled in a protective embrace.
"I'm sorry papa!"
She burst into cries and hid her face in his chest. How could he stay angry at his princess?
"Meri jaan basti hai tujhme. You have no idea how scared I was yesterday. Anand Maheshwari ko koi bhi nhi dara saka kabhi. But when I heard about that car blast, I felt like I couldn't breathe. Agar tujhe kuch ho gaya toh mar jaaunga princess."
