Aadheesh was sitting in his room. It was night.

He sat in his balcony, gulping down the bitter drink.

His mind drifted to the old days.

~Aadheesh's POV~

(Past)

~7 years back.~

My family had moved back to our old ancestral house, in Rajasthan.

I was not at all excited. I mean, who would be interested to leave their life and move to have a different one altogether.

I had to leave my friends, college everything and move to a new place. Thankfully, I had my best friend, Alok, my cousin beside me.

As we reached the place, I saw the house.No, the Mahal. Yeah.

Goenka's were a business brand. Started by my baba. But it had it's base in Mumbai. But now that baba decided that we are moving the base to Rajasthan,so my whole family had to move back here.

It was after 15-16  years that I moved back to Rajasthan. Yeah, I was born there, but then my whole family moved to Mumbai in just a year after my birth.

And phir,though the family used to visit during festivals and stuff but I always used to stay in Mumbai. Something or the other would always come out and prevented me from being there.

The last time that I came here was when I was nearly some 6-7 years old and I don't even remember anything from that trip.

It was our neighbors, who took care of our villa there. Though we had people employed there, par we have got some really good neighbors. "The Rathore family. "

When we moved back, the elders of the Rathores were there to welcome us.

They had not just made the whole house ready but also invited us to their house for food.Though, thankfully,my grandpa,said that we would visit them later.

We, as in I and Alok spent the rest of the day, setting our room.

~At night~

I was sitting in my room, when Alok came with a scotch bottle.

Yeh banda marwayega kisi din.

("This boy, will be my death someday! ")

"Kya hai! ", I asked.

" Bhaii! Kal se sab naya. Naya College, Naye log.

I hope hum yaha bhi Mumbai ki tarah hi, stars of the college bane rahe.

Tu bas, yaha, ladkiyo ko thoda bhav de diyiyo. "He said as he started filling the glass with the branded scotch.

(" What is it? ")

(" Bhai, everything's new from tomorrow! New college, new people

I hope we'll be the stars of the college here, as we were in Mumbai!

You just, give some attention to the girls! ")

" You know it very well, I am not interested in relationships. ", I said as I gulped the drink down.

" Relationship na kar, one night stands toh kar le!

Saale, Tu bhi virgin marega, aur mhuje bhi virgin hi marwayega dekhna! ", he complained. This guyyy!!

" One night stand karle! ", I mimicked him as I continued, " Hum Goenka's hai, aise hi kisi aire gehre ko apni virginity thode de denge. She must be someone special to baffle us. ", I said.

Yes! I truly believed what I just said.

I mean, come on, I could certainly not sleep around with every girl who wishes to be with me.

" Someone special! ", he mimicked me now.

(" Don't do relationships! Atleast have an one night stand!

You'll die virgin and make me die as a virgin aswell! "

"Do one night stand!!

We are Goenka's! We won't go about giving our virginity to anyone like that.

She must be someone special to baffle us! ")

Then we talked. He told me about all the gossips he gathered from all around.

This was it. He is my guy. It's certainly a blessing to have a cousin of your same age and that too someone who's not a snake.

We slept, anticipating for the next day, as we were going to enter the new college.

__________ ____________________ ____________

~Next day~

We parked our car and walked towards the dean's office.

Damn! Everyone was looking at us like we are some aliens. And I am pretty sure this boy next to me, was enjoying every bit of attention that we were receiving right now.  Bloody moron. My moron though.

The college. It's big. Corridors hi corridors. Ab dean ko kaha hi dhunde.

Alok asked a group of students who were probably gup- shuping.

But.. The gang stared us for a whole two minutes. In silence.

"New admission? ", one among them asked.

Alok nodded.

I stood there. Totally not interested.

Just then, the boy shouted, " Ritzz! ".

And from amoung the gang emerged, her.

Her.

In a bright yellow knee length frock, white slippers, her hair tied in a improper bun, with few strands adoring her face, which.. Which was so angelic.

I continued watching her, her eyes, those honey brown eyes, they were so enchanting. Her hair, I soo wanted to put those strands behind her ear, that were disturbing her sight. Can she just let those black locks free?  Please.

Her face, damnn!! It was so divine. But the thing that hooked my eyes was the mole just at the side of her right cheek.

I watched her, like a lost soul. It was only when Alok shook me, that I gained my senses back.

She raised her eyebrows to the guy who called her.

"Newbies! ", he motioned.

With that she had a visible smirk on her face. Damnnn! She looked soo good with that.

She walked to us. As she took steps towards us, I was hit by her smell. Just like her eyes, hazelnut and vanilla.

Yuhhh!!! My heart. It's racing.

What is happening to me? Control Aadheesh control.

And then she opened her mouth to speak. I eyed those rosy lips.

There wasn't a ounce of makeup on her face.

Then, I heard, her angelic musical voice, "What are your names? ", she asked.

I didn't answer. I was lost.

" Alok Goenka! ", Alok said, extending his hand.

She rolled her eyes. Damn! My heart. She looked so hot.

" Sing us your name! ", she commanded. Damn! The confidence.

" Huh? ", Alok was confused.

"Sing, idiot! ", she further said.

Okay, my lady is ragging us.

" Myyy... Name...

Alok was singing when she stopped him being all irritated.

"Never sing again! ", she blurted out to Alok.

Uhh! Offended my boy in the first go.

Bad move, Tara.

Tara, yeah a star. That's what she is!

You don't even know her name! Aadheesh!!!

Aur nickname de diye, Saale! Ho kya gaya hai tujhe.

" Failed! ...

Ab kuch dusra karne ko kehna padega, right guys! ", she said in a duhh tone.

(" Failed!..

Now I have to give you'll some other task. Right guys! ")

" Goenka's never fail. " I had to show her.

"Essay likhe hai? ", she asked.

Alok was confused. Nevertheless, he nodded.

" Okay great! Now talk about "Your Favourite Animal" for the next three minutes.

Your time, starts now! ", she said as she walked back to her place.

Alok was going to argue, I could see, he had it enough.

I showed him my hand as I started.

" My favorite animal..

As I started I visibly spotted her gulping down a lump. That... That means, I affected her as much as she affected me. Right!!! Bhagwaan ji!!!!

"My favorite animal is.. Lizard", as I said taking steps towards her. With the word lizard, I could see the change of expression on her face. Irritation and disgust.

I smirked.

Taking steps towards her I continued, " Lizard is a very pretty animal. It has two big expressive eyes. Her body.. Wobbly and sticky. ", I could see her close her eyes. So, my girl hates lizards. Great.

I was too close to her now. Her vanilla- hazelnut essence hitting me hard as I continued.

" Lizards have a perfectly shaped body..

"Ewwwww!!! " She chided, as she stumbled over me.

Death of me! That's what she would be. Damn! So cute! Her hands landed on my chest. Bhagwaan jii, I can't breathe. Please.

"Stop it.. Just stop! ", she said.

We stayed like that for minutes.

After a while, she finally opened her eyes. Her honey brown orbs matched mine. There we were, lost again.

" Lizard kise pasand hoti hai! ", she said in a soft voice as she started distancing herself from me. (" Who likes lizards! ")

" Mhuje hai! ", I said as I pulled her more towards me. (" I do! ")

A yelp left her mouth.

" I think, I am your senior, Tara! And it's bad to rag, in general.Senior ko rag karna is toh...too bad! ", I said huskily, as a tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

I called her Tara! I did. Damn. She said nothing. Was it so much of organic thing?

" Senior? ", she asked, her eyes again meeting mine.

"Yes! Senior. ", I said as I left her.

She looked everywhere, rather than my eyes.

" Dean's office? ", I asked.

" That way! ", she pointed as I saw her and her gang turning their heels and walking away.

I watched her. Just watched her. Until Alok shook me away.

" For fuck sake, she ragged us, Aadhi.

Tu..! ", I Lightly slapped his shoulder and started walking to the Dean's office.

Spent the rest of the day, in classes.

The college was good.

But what had me spellbound was her. Tara.

(His Tara's attire)

______________ ________________ ___________

~Next day~

It was Sunday. Today both, the Goenka and the Rathore family was spending time together.

We were sitting in the hall, as both the families catched up, when I saw her. Again. But it felt like the first time.

Her.

Two girls were walking downstairs.

One clad in some kurti and the other one,My Tara, in a blue knee length frock.

She is certainly an angel.

But wait, what is she doing here?

They both walked down, to the families while I continued watching her.

The girls greeted us. That's when my eyes locked with her. She recognised me. But wait! There's fear in her eyes.

Is my Tara, scared of the fact that we might reveal her ragging thing here. Cute.

"Yeh humare ghar ki betiyaan. Nishita and Rishita. ",Rajnish grandpa said.

(" These are our daughters, Nishita and Rishita! ")

Rishita! An angelic name for my Tara. My star!

She is my neighbor!!! Thank you! Thank you bhagwaan.

Hhhhuhhh! What was I even thinking. I shook my head as we introduced ourselves.

She continued boring her eyes at us. Scarred kitten. Huh!

I looked at Alok. Damn! He was up to mischief now. I could tell.

" Arey.. Tum.. ", he was saying when I interrupted him with a cough. Thank god, he understood. I felt her releasing a sigh.

" Baacho, go, you all spent some time together. ",Ridhi aunty said.

We followed.

( Rishita's attire)

__________ ____________ __________________

" Thank you! ", I heard my angel speak, as we reached the garden.

She was walking right beside me.

As we haulted, her sister introduced herself to us. We too did the same, while my angel. She doesn't need an introduction now.

" Bacha liya na tujhe humne! ", Alok said looking towards her. (" We saved you! ")

She rolled her eyes. Stop doing that Tara.

" Campus tour! ", I said.

She looked at me. But after a while nodded.

" Aap log ek dusre ko jaante hai? ", Nishita, yeah, she asked.

" Yes! ", Alok was saying when Tara interrupted her.

(" You guys know each other? ")

Aadheesh! What's this with Tara! Rishita! That's her name! Idiot.

" Yeah, met in College. My seniors! ", she said.

" Wait a second! You guys are my senior, that's means! ..

In.. In which year you guys are? ", she asked.

" Fourth year! ",Alok replied.

" Ooh! With me! ", her sister said excitedly.

" You? ", I asked her.

" Second! ", she said.

" Waise, how you guys got to know I was a junior? ", she again questioned.

" Experience! ", Alok boosted.

" Idiot! ", she huffed.

" Rishi! Aise nahi kehte! ", her sister scolded her which she royally ignored.

Am I whipped?

Yes I am.

__________________ ___________ ____________

~Author's POV~

~Present~

Aadheesh didn't keep a count. As he continued gulping down the bitter liquid. His throat burnt.

But his heart. It was bleeding. Even today.

He slept in the same position.

________________ ______________ ____________

~Two days later~

~In United Kingdom~

Rishita had spent the whole two days with her sweetheart.

It was time for her to leave for India now.

India. Her home.

The place where she lost her everything.

She had already talked with her sweetheart, about her being away for a month or so. She knew it was difficult for her daughter. So was it for her. She never stayed away from her daughter for more than a day, and here it was for a whole freaking month.

But she had to do it. She made her sweetheart understand. And Aadhira being the good girl she is, understood as well.

But now, Rishita didn't knew, if whether, what she was signing up for, was it really needed. Did she have to do this for real?

But, Destiny wanted her to do it.

Currently she was in front of Matthew and Alex, the eldest grandson of Matthew.

"It's a request old hag! Take care of my sweetheart please!

I know. I know I don't need to tell you this, but I... I just..

" We understand Rishi! ", came the dark voice of Alex.

" Princess is our priority. You don't worry. We all will be there for her. ", Alex said. This man! Even if he speaks calmly and something really simple, it coming from his mouth always make it dark and dangerous.

Matthew came and softly laid his hands over Rishita's shoulders.

" You want to do this? ", he asked.

" Yes,I do! "

"We'll take care of princess! ", Matthew said.

" But! You take care of yourself okay? ", he further added, to which Rishita just nodded her head.

He sighed as he walked away.

" We need to talk. ", Rishita said to Alex.

" After that I'll drop you to airport! ", Alex commanded as he moved to the office room.

" But.. I can go on my own.. ", Rishita said irritatedly as she walked behind him.

~In India~

The whole house was beaming. Their daughter was returning after years. Everyone was excited to meet Rishita.

Preparations were going on in another zeal altogether.

Rajdeep and Reshma both had gone to pick Rishita up from the airport.

The whole house was anticipating their daughter's arrival.

~At the airport~

Rishita came out of the lobby, when she saw them. After 6 years. She saw him. Her bhai. Her brother.

But then, it hit her.

"No! Rishi! Focus! ", she said to herself.

She walked towards them.

Reshma, her bhabhi, engulfed her in a hug.

" Kaisi hai Rishi? Kitni patli ho gayi hai? "Reshma started her trail of questions.

(" How are you Rishi? How thin you have become! ")

Rishita came out of her engulf. This somehow, made Reshma quiet for a moment, but she ignored it.

" Great, so you know and you do remember that everything is not normal! We certainly don't have to pretend anything. Right? ", Rajdeep asked as he saw how Rishita got away from his wife.

Rishita just looked at him for a minute or two.

" We certainly don't have to pretend. ", she said as she got into the car.

Reshma just eyed her husband.

Rajdeep drove the car, to the Rathore villa.

As the distance to the villa got transversed, Rishita's anxiety began resurfacing.

After nearly 30 minutes, they reached the Villa.

Rishita came out of the car. Her heart was in her mouth. Her breathing had become shallow. Her hands were cold. Her mind, numb.

Her whole family, along with the whole Goenka family was standing on the door, to welcome her.

She saw them.

She saw him.

It wasn't supposed to be this difficult.

But.. But it was difficult.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So a lot of things are happening at a moment! I know! 🕊

But it'll all make sense! 🕊

Baki,

I hope the chapter's good enough! 💓

Do vote and comment! 🥰

Love Love ❤