Biting her fingernails, she sat still inside the limousine. She tapped her foot in worry when suddenly, the door of the car opened and her brother sat in, ordering the driver to drive.
"So?" She asked anxiously.
"The news is true. Your fiancé is a bastard." He stated plainly and she heaved a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. Now I don't have to marry that annoying man." She said and happily shifted near the window.
"Yeah. He's an asshole. Fucking girls every few weeks." He said rolling his eyes in disgust.
"Bhai, no cursing. We agreed on that." Her brother nodded at her reminder and then looked out of the window. Just then, a thought came in her head and she asked him, "Where are maa and papa?"
He sighed. "You know papa. He's on a mission to coax her after he lost the watch she had gifted him. So they'll be coming in another car." She smiled to herself at her maa and papa's love life. Though they married on an agreement but now both of them-especially her father-are madly in love with each other.
'Would I be able to fall in love like this one day?' She thought to herself and gave out a low squeal, covering her face with her palms. Seeing this sight, her brother shook his head, then, pulled her cheeks.
"Stop daydreaming, Akshu."
"Ai!! Bhai, don't pull my cheeks!" She said shoving away his hand as he chuckled.
•
•
•
The limousine stood in front of a huge building adorned with lights and people were gushing in, excited to witness the daughter of the 2nd influential family of Italy-the Jaiswals. They never introduced their daughter publicly and even the paparazzi were shoved away if they dared to step any close to the building.
Before she could step out, her brother held out a mask for her and gestured her to cover her face. She did as she was told and both of them stepped out of the car, their arms interlocked. The bodyguards and other guests made way for them and murmurs started to rise in the air. She fiddled with the gown with her right hand and her brother seemed to have noticed it. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and an assuring smile as they stepped into the building and disappeared behind the doors of the elevator.
As soon as the elevator tinged and the doors slid open, the princess of Jaiswal family removed her mask and the guests started to gasp at her beauty. She gave a nervous smile and her brother pulled her into a corner where their parents were waiting for them.
"My pudding!" Her stepmother said and pulled her into a tight hug while her brother eye-contacted with his father and his father returned him with a forced smile.
"Maa," she said pulling away from her mother and held her wrists, "where's my birthday gift?" She asked in ecstasy and her mother chuckled.
"Be patient, Akshu. Only then will you get your gift." She gave a little pout at her mother's reply when suddenly she felt a tug on her shoulder.
"He's here." Her brother whispered into her ear and she gave him a nod. Just then, a guy with a sheepish smile walked towards the four of them. Her father quickly gave him a hug and then winked at his daughter. She tried best not to roll her eyes at that. The guy then patted her brother's shoulder and gave an impressed grin.
"I bet you've joined gym, Kevin." He said but got an angry growl in reply. He quickly retreated his hand and ran it through his slick blonde hair. Finally, he turned to her and took her hand in his. Kissing the back of her hand, he looked into her eyes and said, "You're getting beautiful day by day, Akansha."
Akansha tried not to vomit on his face at his honey-coated voice and forced a smile.
"You're looking... Um... Really h-handsome, Carlos." She doubted earlier if she could form the word handsome while looking at this douchebag but now she was confident about her ability to lie. She turned around to face her parents, who were already gone, and her face turned to, her brother, Kevin. Kevin saw the disgust on her face and gave a confident smile. Grabbing her by the elbow, he shoved his sister behind her and threw a diabetic smile at Carlos.
"See you some other time." Saying so, he dragged her away from him and she smiled internally.
"Thank you, bhai." She whispered to him and stopping at a spot, he gave a pat on her head.
"I'm always here for you."
Akansha smiled softly at her brother's words but a frown took over her lips when she saw Kevin's eyes stuck behind her and a shade of crimson taking over his cheeks.
Her brain reminded her of who it might be and she smirked, turning around, not before giving her brother a nudge with her elbow.
"Hey, Iris!" She exclaimed as Kevin's girlfriend moved closer to them and gave a peck on his cheeks after hugging Akansha.
"So good to see you again, Akansha." She replied in her ever-so-sweet voice.
"Yeah. It's been like weeks." Akansha said, hitting her brother on the head to get him out of his trance after Iris kissed him on the cheek. Iris chuckled at this and even leaned down to her ear and whispered something that made her blush. Akansha again hit him on his head; this time, hard. Kevin came back into his posture while rubbing his head and feigning her a glare.
"Why did you hit me now?" He asked while Akansha crossed her arms protectively over her chest and shook her head in disappointment.
"Chee, chee, chee, bhai! Talking dirty in public, huh? Should I tell maa?" She questioned and Kevin gave a pout.
"C'mon, Akshu. One of us needs to be a dirty-talker, right?" He asked raising one of his eyebrows and Akansha stuck out her tongue at him.
Iris laughed looking at them, but suddenly came to a halt. Perhaps, admiring their bond. Or maybe... Planning to destroy it forever.
