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Isha's POV
I stormed into my room, shutting the door with more force than necessary. My frustration bubbled over, and i paced the room like a caged animal. "Why does everything have to happen at once?" i muttered to myself, my hands tangling in my hair.
Prisha and Ishika trailed behind, silent, exchanging hesitant glances. I knew they wanted to say something, to calm me down, but I wasn't ready to hear it. Not yet.
The banter with Ishika had started out lighthearted, but it had left me on edge. Then came the simmerin argument with HIM-his cold, arrogant, sarcastic remarks had struck a nerve. I'd given it back to him, of course, but that only made things worse. He was infuriatingly arrogant, and now, to top it all off, he was downstairs, in my house.
" What the hell was that?!" I shouted, spinning on my heel to face them. "How dare he!" My voice cracked as my emotions bubbled over, a chaotic mix of anger, frustration, and embarrassment.
I ripped my formal coat off my shoulders and flung it onto the bed. The room was suffocating, too small to contain the storm brewing inside me.
Prisha sat on the edge of the bed, her hands folded neatly in her lap, watching me with a mix of concern and caution. Ishika leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Isha," Prisha began softly, her voice a fragile thread. "Maybe you should just lis-"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" I snapped, cutting her off. My voice was louder than I intended, and I immediately regretted it. But I couldn't stop myself.
I sat on the edge of my bed, my mind racing. How had this day spiraled so wildly out of control? Just as i started to replay my argument with HIM.
I really want to wile that smirk from his face and i know one day i will.
" What's wrong with you?Until today, you never got this angry with me after a fight." Ishika asked, plopping onto the bed beside prisha and scrolling on her phone.
"What do you mean, what's wrong? Everything! And mostly because of you!" I snapped. "Why are you on your phone? Can't you see I'm losing my mind?"
Ishika didn't look up. "Relax, I'm reading something important."
I narrowed her eyes. "What could possibly be more important than my mental breakdown right now?"
Ishika turned the screen toward her, her expression serious. "Did you know they're royal?"
"What?" i and prisha both shout together and blinked.
" He is The Shivansh and Shivansh and his family. They're royals. He's the king of Jaipur. Look." Ishika showed her an article with Shivansh's photo, looking impossibly regal.
I froze, my breath and words caught in my throat. Prisha asked ishika "You're joking."
"Nope. This article's legit," Ishika said.
I heart sank as the realization hit me. "A king? He's going to be a king?"
"Well, technically, he is a king already. " Ishika said, smirking.
Prisha, meanwhile, was staring at the phone in shock. "And he was just... here? Like, in our house? What does he even want?"
"Mummy and papa know them, right? What if they are those people from Jaipur, the ones mom and dad went to visit three weeks ago." I said in a shocking tone.
I stared at the screen, my stomach twisting. The man with whom i'd just argued with, the same one who had looked at me with such disdain, was a king. My mind reeled, trying to process the sheer absurdity of it.
"This... this can't be real," i said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh, it's real," Ishika said, her tone matter-of-fact.
Isha groaned, pulling a pillow over her face. "Why is this my life?"
"Well, you better figure out what to say to them," Ishika said, standing. "Because they're waiting for us downstairs. And trust me, they're probably already talking about you."
"It means you knew all along, yet you didn't stop me when I was fighting with him." I said while narrowing my eyes.
"No, I didn't know at that time, but when I saw Shivansh's aunt, that's when I realized." Ishika said like that's nothing important .
"Aunt? That means you know his entire family." I said in the frustrating tone.
"Oh, Dr. Shree Abhiman Raghuvanshi is Shivansh's aunt, and I work at her hospital which is in delhi, yaar. Good Life Hospital is hers." Ishika said and we both nodded.
"Yaar, this was so embarrassing! I fought with a king, and that too in front of his whole family. Yaar, I don't want to go downstairs." I said thinking about what I did down stairs.
"Aree, calm down, nothing's going to happen. And didn't you see? Besides, you handled it fine. Shivansh's grandmother even seemed to like you." Ishika said in teasing tone.
Like bro seriously, yaha main soch rahee nuche jayu ya nhi or yeh madam mujhe chida rahee h.
"Oh, wonderful," I shot back. "I'm sure the Rajmata thinks I'm so graceful after I fight with her grand son. "
Prisha sighed, sitting on the edge of my bed. "You're overthinking this. They're just people, you know?"
"Royal people," Ishika reminded her,i shot a glare to her and pacing the room. "And now I have to go back down there and pretend like I'm not ready to crawl into a hole and disappear."
"Just be yourself," Prisha said with a small smile. "You've got this."
"Fine," I muttered, grabbing my hairbrush and running it through my tangled locks. "But if this gets any worse, I'm blaming both of you."
They laughed, though I could still see the nervousness in their eyes. I wasn't the only one feeling the pressure
"I need to compose myself," i muttered. And headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. The reflection in the mirror stared back at her, wide-eyed and pale.
A king. I had argued with a king.
Taking a deep breath, i changed into a fresh white anarkali, brushed my hair again, and straightened my shoulders. Apply small black bindi. I couldn't avoid going downstairs forever.
"Go, you too change prisha." I said to her while brushing my hair.
Prisha said "But I don't have any clothes."
"Aree, your clothes are here. Now, Go change and come back quickly, we still need to go downstairs." Ishika said and again dug in her phone.
After some minutes she came wearing a beautiful pink kurti and ishika is already in a yellow suit we made our way downstairs.
With my nerves somewhat under control, i descended the stairs.
The room fell quiet as i entered, but i kept my gaze firmly ahead, avoiding Shivansh's piercing stare. I could feel his eyes on me, but i refused to look at him.
Ishika and prisha came behind me while talking to each other about them.
The elders chatted warmly while the younger ones exchanged glances.
My mother was the first to speak. "Isha, beta, meet everyone properly. They've come such a long way to visit us."
I forced a polite smile, greeting everyone. "Namaste," i said softly, avoiding Shivansh's piercing gaze.
Isha swallowed hard, her nerves jangling as she made her way to an empty seat with ishika and prisha behind. Shivansh, who had been lounging in a chair near the window, gave her a small, knowing smirk as she passed.
Shivansh's grandmother smiled warmly at her. "We've heard so much about you, Isha. You have a lovely home."
"Thank you, Dadi-ji," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
Prisha and Ishika stood beside her, offering nervous smiles. "You have such a beautiful family," Ishika said, trying to lighten the mood.
One of Shivansh's cousins chuckled. "And here we were, wondering if we'd overwhelmed you all with our big group."
Shivansh's mother asked me "Isha beta, how do you know shivansh, did you guys meet each other before. "
I know everyone after ishika showed me a photo of them i got to know every relation of them to shivansh.
" Umm, On the way here, Shivansh ji hit his car with mine." I said with a forced smile While eyeing shivansh. In return he narrows his eyes.
Before anyone could reply, My mother said to them. "Lunch is served! Aayiye, aap log lunch kar lijiye," she announced warmly.
( Please come, you all can have lunch.)
" Isha," her mother cut in gently, giving her a warning look. "Why don't you help me with the lunch?"
"Of course," Isha said through gritted teeth, standing abruptly. As she left the room, she could hear Prisha whispering to Ishika, "I think Isha might kill him before the day is over."
The group made their way to the dining area. I stood up at the farthest corner of the table, hoping to stay out of Shivansh's line of sight. Despite my efforts, i could still feel his presence, and every now and then, my eyes betrayed me, catching fleeting glances of him.
Lunch passed with polite conversation, though I mostly stayed quiet. Shivansh's grandmother and mother and aunt occasionally asked me questions about my studies, work and hobbies, and I answered as calmly as i could, all the while wondering how surreal this entire situation was.
I don't know why they asked me such questions but maybe last time, I didn't go with my mummy and papa, so maybe they want to know about me.
As the afternoon turned into evening, shree aunty said gathered everyone attention in the living room. "There's a beautiful temple nearby," she said. "Let's go there for a while. It's very peaceful."
Yehh, shree aunty, she is very sweet, calm and cut and on the other hand her son is totally opposite of her.
The elders nodded in agreement, preparing to leave. I and my friends stood up as well, ready to join them.
"Isha, beta," mummy said, stopping me. "You, ishika and prisha stay here. Look after the house and make sure everything is ready when we get back, okay?"
I hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Okay, Mummy."
As the elders left for the temple, the younger group settled back in the living room. "What should we do now?" Prisha asked, stretching her arms.
"Let's watch a movie," one of Shivansh's cousins suggested. I guess he is aviyansh.
Isha exchanged a look with Prisha and Ishika. "Why don't we start making dinner instead? It'll save time, and we can surprise everyone with something special."
Prisha groaned but nodded. "Fine, but only if you don't do anything there." i pout but okay she is right if i do something then we have ordered the food.
"You guys watch the movie, Arjun whatever is saying, put it on. We're all in the kitchen. If you want something, just let me know." I said and turned to go to them but he stopped me.
" You and the kitchen?" Arjun asked in a shock tone.
" Yeah---" "why, can't she go to the kitchen?" I was saying but cut by the great Shivansh Raghuvanshi.
" Arjun--" I was trying to hint at him to not say but he will cause he is donkey.
"Let him speak." Ishika said in a teasing tone and i gave her death glare.
Please, not right now. This is so embarrassing; he'll definitely tease me about it.
" You know what? Di and the kitchen-- are two different poles whenever Di goes into the kitchen, the whole place becomes a mess. Remember last time, when Di was cooking, the utensils got so black that we all had to clean them. They were useless after that." Arjun said everyone is laughing even prisha and ishika join him.
" Arjun---" I tried but again someone cut me. And this time, she is my dear friend Ishika. Ishu let them go i will see you.
" Prisha!" I hissed, though she couldn't help but stifle me a laugh.
" let him talk. But it's not that Ishu doesn't know how to cook. She makes Maggi and ramen really well." Ishika said in a dramatic and teasing tone. I gave her a glare but she continues. So, i left but I could hear her.
" But on a serious note, she makes sweets very well." She said and I smiled but it was too late. Let them all leave once, then watch what I do to you. I came into the kitchen and sat on the counter.
The tension from earlier started to ease as i thought to stay in the kitchen. Despite the chaos of the day, there was something grounding about cooking together, and for the first time, I thought like i might just get through this evening in one piece. But again i have to face embarrassment.
Then they both came, with an apology face.
I leaned against the kitchen counter, groaning as she ran a hand through her hair. She glanced at Ishika,who was peeling the potatoes like an expert and here she who was trying to peel potatoes but wasn't doing a very good job of it. Finally, Isha couldn't hold back anymore.
" Oh, so both of them have come? Finally! " I said in a sacra tone.
" Uhh- " Prisha was trying to say something but i cut her in the middle.
" Shh, quickly start preparing the food, and I'll make the kheer. Then, we'll join them for the movie." I said and they both nodded and i chuckle at them, they both are looking cute.
After some time, "Tum office isliye hi aayi thi na, batane ke liye ki ghar par guest aane wale hain?" Isha said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at Ishika.
( You came to the office just to tell me that guests are coming home, right?)
Ishika froze, looking guilty. "Haan... par-"
( yes, but--- )
"Phir tum kyun mera saath chilate hue bhaag rahi thi? Bata deti yaar!" Isha's voice rose slightly, her frustration spilling out. "Yeh kitna embarrassing tha, yaar! Dekh na!"
( Then why were you running away shouting after me? You should've just told me! )
( This was so embarrassing, seriously! Look at this! )
Ishika bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "Arre, agar main waha rukti na toh tu mujhe maar deti yrr, or frr main guest ka bhul hi gyi thi jab unki entry dekhi living area se toh mujhe yaad aaya unka or mujhe bhi toh shock lag gaya!"
( God, if I had stayed there, you would've literally killed me! And then, I completely forgot about the guests when I saw their entry from the living area. That's when I remembered who they were-and I was shocked too!)
"Shock? Mujhe toh heart attack hone wala tha!" Isha threw her hands up. "Do you have any idea how awkward it was to face everyone after the way Shivansh and I fought?"
( Shock? I was about to have a heart attack!" Isha threw her hands up. "Do you have any idea how awkward it was to face everyone after the way Shivansh and I fought?)
Prisha snorted. "Well, now you know they're royalty, so maybe tone it down next time."
"Tone it down?" I said with widened eyes. "Do you even hear yourself? I fought with a king, Prisha! A king! Yeh toh bas chhodo, unka poora parivaar mere ghar mein hai!"
"Relax, drama queen," Prisha said with a smirk. "You handled it fine. Besides, they don't seem mad. In fact, Dadi jii seems to like you."
Isha slumped against the counter, covering her face with her hands. "This is too much for one day. Too much."
Prisha patted her shoulder. "Welcome to the circus, my friend. Now, pass me the masala. "
" Okay, so my kheer is ready. I'm going to go ask them if they need anything, and after that, I'll head to the garden." I said to them and prisha nodded and Ishu showed me thumbs up.
I was heading toward the living area, her mind focused on the hand. I was trying to shake off the awkwardness from earlier, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the royal family and the tension between me and Shivansh.
But I ended up bumping into the wall. But how did the wall even come here?
"Ugh!" I gasped, feeling the sudden loss of balance as i stumbled forward. I braced herself for the fall, closing my eyes, waiting to fall but certain it was inevitable.
But then, a firm hand shot out and gripped my waist.
"Careful," Shivansh's voice came, low and controlled, as he steadied her with a single, strong arm.
My heart raced-not just from the near fall, but from the way his touch sent a jolt of warmth through me. I breath caught, and for a second, i forgot to speak. I opened my black eyes only to collide with blue like deep ocean eyes and find him standing close, his expression unreadable but with a slight frown etched on his face.
"Thanks," I mumbled, trying to step away, my face flushing with embarrassment. I straightened up, looking anywhere but at him.
Shivansh didn't let go right away, his hand still resting on my waist, as though waiting for my to regain her balance completely.
"You should pay more attention," he said, his tone oddly soft despite his usual aloofness. There was a hint of concern in his eyes, though he quickly masked it with his usual indifference.
I nodded quickly, brushing myself off. But wait i bump into the wall and there is no wall which means I bump into him "Yeh i know or btw i was about to fall because of you! What are you doing just standing there?" she muttered, finally managing to pull away. She took a deep breath, silently cursing her clumsiness.
"Because of me?" He asked and i nodded.
And asked in a frustrated tone cause whenever i see him i remember the morning scene "Yeah, what are you doing here?"
He said in his neutral tone "Umm, nothing. Where are you going?"
"To the garden." I said and turn to go to the garder cause now i don't want to go in living area. I want fresh air.
"Okay." He said and start following me. Maybe he also wants to go there.
But the memory of his touch lingered, making my heart beat faster than it should have.
But why i never fell like this before than why now.
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