Dare to Hope | Heir & Heiress #2 | ✓

2.46 We Are Players

Posted on: November 24th, 2019

Randeep

          The party is in full swing - every corner of the ballroom gushing with people. With gossips. Rumors. Wondering if Aarush Rawal really did survive the massacre and spent the last decade in hiding. As I pass through the double doors, entering, I flash back to the past. The eerie quiet which this same room had been surrounded in when I came back that night after I couldn't find Aarush anywhere in his usual places. The limp bodies on the floor, staining the tiles the color of ruby. Splashes along the walls and the pillars.

A gruesome scene that'll often haunt my sleep.

Even years of therapy couldn't change that. Even if I didn't see the slaughter happening with my own eyes, the bloody occurrences painted an ugly picture.

My features stiffen as my eyes befall my parents. The lot who were too busy with their rich parties and extravagant lifestyle to care for raising me. No, I don't really hold grudges. I had my uncle and aunt. My grandparents. Aarush. Barkha. I created my own version of my happy family.

They walk towards me, Raghuveer and Triveni Chauhan, embodying grace and portraying themselves as the perfect couple in the eyes of the world. Perfect, my ass. In private, they can barely tolerate each other's company. They would rather kill themselves than say a word to each other. How in the world do they sell their act? And how does the world even fall for it?

He is the first to speak, "Randeep. How are you? Haven't come by the house lately."

"Oh? I thought I was home," I hint that the place where they live never really was my home. I was exactly where I wanted to be. If that offended them, oh well. Should have thought about that and put in more effort as parents.

Shut up, I don't hold grudges. But, maybe, I am petty... now and again. I never claimed to be perfect and noble, all right? Now, quit judging.

My mother, with a forced smile for others to see, warns me while looking around. "Randeep, you will not speak to your father that way."

I scoff at the hypocrisy, not caring to play along with her pretenses and enraged for jumping to his defense as if there is any affection in her heart towards him, "It's a little too late to be disciplining me, mother."

He comments, "Right. Then, perhaps, I should be scolding your dear bhai sa. He clearly failed."

I open my mouth, stepping up for he should not have involved Aarush in this conversation, but before I could say a word, I feel a presence beside me with a hand on my forearm. Turning my head sideways, I find Arshiya smiling back at me, "There you are! I was looking everywhere for you. I..." She then pretends as if she just realizes she had walked into the middle of a conversation. "Oh, excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt, but if it's alright with you, can I steal him for a moment? I'd like him to meet someone."

Ofcourse, my parents wouldn't dare show their impolite self in public. Even if they didn't appreciate the disturbance, they smile and nod.

With that, she pulls me away to a quiet corner. "Who do you want me to meet?"

"Randeep, meet your anger," she casually replies leaving my arm and turning about to stand in front of me.

"Arshiya." My features turn rigid. This is not the time for her antics - however little I know of them.

She rolls her eyes, least fazed by my glare, "You looked ready to chew their head off. It's a good thing I walked in when I did."

"I had it handled."