Sacred Games Of Twisted Fate {18+}

*a family breakfast*

***author's pov***

The next morning, the Oberoi mansion was buzzing with activity as everyone gathered in the grand dining hall for breakfast. The long dining table was filled with an array of dishes, from fresh fruits to traditional Indian breakfasts. The chandeliers above cast a soft glow, illuminating the room with elegance.

Arjun was the first to take his seat, his face expressionless as he sipped his black coffee. He was already dressed sharply in a tailored suit, ready for another day of work. His eyes briefly glanced toward the head of the table where his father, Mahesh, sat, reading the newspaper.

Rudra strolled in next, his face showing mild irritation. He greeted his father with a nod but said nothing as he sat down. Daksh followed shortly, his usual smug smile plastered across his face, clearly in a playful mood as he slid into his seat, making a joke about how the house felt more crowded than usual. His comment was obviously directed at their stepmother Meera and stepsister Mehak, who arrived next.

Meera, adorned in heavy jewelry and an overly ornate saree, gave a fake smile to the brothers, her eyes scanning them for any hint of acknowledgement. Mehak, dressed in a flashy outfit that did little to hide her figure, immediately made her way toward Daksh, trying to charm him with a coy smile.

Just as everyone started to serve themselves, Aayara quietly walked in, her eyes downcast. She wore a simple salwar suit, her face pale from the events of the previous night. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to sit, before finally settling into a seat farthest from Arjun, hoping to go unnoticed.

But Arjun's sharp gaze caught her. He watched her for a moment, smirking to himself, knowing that only he was aware of the torment she had silently endured. His expression remained stoic, though the power dynamic was clear between them.

Mahesh finally looked up from his newspaper, clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. "I hope all of you are ready for today," he said, his voice filled with authority. "Meera and Mehak have a few things planned for the day. I trust you'll all make time for them."

The brothers exchanged irritated glances, none of them willing to entertain the idea of spending time with their stepmother and stepsister.

Meera smiled, but there was a tension in the room that couldn’t be ignored. Mehak looked around, trying to gauge the reactions, but her eyes were primarily on Daksh, trying to engage him in light conversation.

As the quiet tension lingered around the breakfast table, Arjun suddenly patted the chair next to him and, with a smirk, said, "Aayara... sit here."

Everyone paused for a moment. All eyes shifted toward Aayara, who froze in her seat, wide-eyed and visibly uncomfortable. She could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on her, especially Arjun's commanding presence.

Aayara hesitated, her heart racing. She glanced at Rudra, who looked at her with a hint of concern, and then at Daksh, who raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the discomfort. Meera and Mehak exchanged quick glances, sensing something unusual between Arjun and Aayara.

Arjun's smirk deepened. "Don't make me repeat myself," he said, his tone calm but carrying an underlying threat.

Aayara reluctantly stood up, her legs feeling like lead as she moved slowly to the chair beside Arjun. As she sat down, she kept her gaze down, avoiding eye contact with him. She could feel his eyes on her, the tension palpable.

"Good girl," Arjun murmured under his breath, leaning slightly toward her, his voice low enough for only her to hear. His words sent a shiver down her spine, reminding her of the contract she had signed the night before.

Meera's gaze shifted toward Aayara, her eyes narrowing with a cold, calculating look. She placed her fork down delicately and asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "And who might this be, Arjun? A new... employee?"

Her question was more of an accusation, thinly veiled under polite words. The tension in the room heightened as everyone turned their attention to Arjun and Aayara.

Arjun leaned back in his chair, his expression unfazed. He met Meera's gaze with a smirk, casually responding, "Aayara... she's my personal responsibility now."

Meera’s eyes flickered with disdain, and she looked at Aayara, inspecting her from head to toe. "Your responsibility? How interesting," she said coldly, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

Aayara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes cast downward, avoiding Meera’s icy stare. She could feel the judgment and suspicion weighing heavily on her, but she remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

Mehak, sitting across the table, giggled softly, clearly enjoying the discomfort in the room. "Quite the mystery, this girl," she muttered under her breath.

Arjun, still smirking, ignored Mehak’s comment and leaned slightly closer to Aayara, as if to assert his control over the situation. "She's staying. That's all you need to know."

Meera's jaw tightened at his response, but she said nothing further, clearly displeased.

Meera chuckled awkwardly, trying to break the tension but only adding to the discomfort in the room. "Arjun, dear, don't you think it's about time you started calling me 'Mummy'?" she said, her voice laced with a forced sweetness.

Arjun's jaw clenched slightly, but his expression remained stoic. Without looking at her, he replied, his voice flat, "That title belongs to only one person, Meera, and you're not her."

The room fell into an uneasy silence, Meera’s smile fading as she realized her attempt to assert herself had backfired. A subtle tension lingered, and everyone at the table seemed to feel it.

Mehak shifted uncomfortably in her seat, while Rudra and Daksh exchanged glances but said nothing, knowing better than to intervene when Arjun was in one of his moods.

Meera, trying to maintain her composure, forced a smile and replied, "Well, I suppose some things take time." But the coldness in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

Meera chukleed..  trying to hide her embarrassed state .. she said ... "Daksh beta ... Take mehak with u to ur college..  she will study there ... Like a good bhai" .

Daksh’s expression faltered for a second, clearly not thrilled by the idea. He forced a smirk, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. "College, huh? Sure, Mehak can tag along... if she can keep up."

Mehak beamed, clearly excited, completely missing the sarcasm in Daksh's voice. "Thank you, bhai!" she chirped, batting her eyelashes as if trying to win him over.

Rudra, watching the exchange, rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, “This should be fun.”

Arjun, sitting calmly at the head of the table, took a sip of his coffee, his gaze moving from Daksh to Mehak. "Just don't cause trouble, Mehak. The last thing we need is more chaos."

Meera chuckled again, her tone still awkward but trying to remain cheerful. "Oh, Arjun, Mehak is a good girl. I'm sure Daksh will take care of her, won’t you, beta?"

Daksh simply smirked, his mind already calculating how he could avoid spending any more time with Mehak than necessary.