16.

NAINA
I was sitting in my office, catching up on work, when I heard a knock on the door. "Come in," called out, granting permission to whoever was on the other side.

That was my mistake.

Dhruv walked in, ready to test my patience. "Mujhe to bhul hi gai tum," he said, taking a seat on the sofa like it was his own house. "Jaise aap mujse milne mar rahe ho," l retorted, my eyes glued to the computer screen.

["you have forgotten me"]

["like you are dying to meet me everyday"]

"Isliye to milne aya ho," he replied, making me roll my eyes "Kya kaam hai?" finally asked, irritation evident in my voice. "Behen, behen, shaanti. Take a deep breath. Mai bas apni shaadi ka invite dene aya tha," he explained

["Then why else am I here?"]

["What do you need?"]

["Calm down Calm down I just wanted to invite you to my weeding"]

I was about to respond when a trembling Kainaat came into view, tears streaming down her pale face. Her entire body was shaking. I hastily got up and moved towards her

"Kainaat, bacche, kya hua?" | asked, pulling her into an embrace. Her loud cries echoed in the room, concern clear on our faces.

["Dear what happened?"]

"Kainaat, please tell me kya hua?" | asked softly, caressing her hair. "D-di v-vo," her shaky voice struggled to form words. "Okay, first calm down. Come, sit here,"

["What happened?"]

gently guided her to the couch. Dhruv passed her a glass of water, which she chugged down in one go.
After a little while, she calmed down, her breathing returning to normal. "Di, Mr. Tanwar, h-he tried t-to touch me," she revealed, and I felt anger rising within me.

I softly stroked her hair. "Don't worry, baccha. Go inside and take rest. I'll handle him," I assured her in a calm voice, though I was anything but calm inside.

She nodded, and Dhruv helped her get inside. "Get me the CCTV footage from every camera," I demanded on the phone, my voice sharp enough to make Dhruv flinch.

"Dhruv, stay here with Kainaat. I'll be back," | ordered sternly. He nodded, and I stormed out of the cabin.

I burst into Tanwar's office. "Who the hell is it!!?" His annoying scream grated on my ears His eyes widened in shock when he saw me. I marched towards him, my eyes blazing with anger. Slapping him hard across the face, his head jerked to the side from the force.

"How dare you, bitch!" he spat, and I slapped him even harder, making his lips bleed. "How dare you lay your filthy eyes on my sister!" I thundered.
This time, his eyes widened even more.

"N-no, I didn't mean—" he stammered. I grabbed him by the collar, his figure shaking. "Then what did you mean, bastard!?" I roared again.
"I-I am sorry," he whimpered.

"I am not the one you should be apologizing to," I snapped. I kicked the back of his knee, and he fell on the floor.

"Walk like this to my cabin," I commanded sternly. Trembling, with tears streaming down his face, he began to walk. All the employees watched with their mouths agape.

We reached my cabin, where Kainaat was sitting on the sofa. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. "Apologize," I ordered, my voice dominant and stern.

"I-I am sorry, Kainaat," he pleaded. I grabbed a fistful of his hair. "It's Ms.Malhotra for you, bastard," I corrected him.

"I-I am sorry, Ms. Malhotra," he stammered. Mihir entered, his face showing amusement.
"What is happening here?" he asked.

"Take him to my basement. Dhruv, go with him," I instructed. Dhruv, who had been watching the scene, glaring daggers at Tanwar, stepped forward.

"Can I punch him?" Dhruv asked, reaching me.

"Break his jaw," I permitted.

"As you order, Ma'am," he responded, landing a strong punch on Tanwar's face. I turn my heels going towards Kainaat "go slap him" I tell her in a calm voice she fists her hand before marching towards him and landing a slap across his face. My urge to hoot for my sister.

Satisfaction runs down my spine, "slap him all you want Kainaat and you!-" I point my finger at him with a stern voice I command "your apologies should echo with every slap"

slap

"I-I am sorry"

slap

"I-I am sorry"

slap

"I am sorry!!!"

Just then Aarav enters inside his face was shining with a smile but it immediately falls seeing the scene. "What is happening here!?" His stern voice comes out.

He looks at Kainaat his eyes soften seeing her tear stricken face. He marches to her and her in his embrace softly stroking her hair.

"What happened here Mrs.Singhania" Aarav asks facing me his voice sharp, I tell him everything and without a second thought he punches him right on the nose his nose starts to bleed.

"Take him" I order Dhruv and Mihir and they walk out with him. Both Kainaat and Aarav settle on the couch while I sit in my desk, oh heck my head pains. Bloody assholes.

"Are you okay Kainaat?" I ask her my voice was calm, "it feels good di thanks" she says in a slow voice, "no need to thank me it was your right" I answer her.

Aarav who was looking at her with soft eyes embraces her tightly, guilt and tears evident in his eyes, I pass him a  assuring smile. "I-I am sorry Kainaat I should have been there" his guilt full voice come out.

"It's okay Aarav it wasn't your fault" she tells him in a soft voice, "Aarav she must be tired, you both can take the bedroom inside" I tell them, he passes me a soft smile before moving inside.

After a few hours I was done with my work when my phone rings, Reyansh name flashing on the screen. "Kaha ho madam?" He asks me in a cheerful voice.

["Where are you miss?"]

Ah this is what I needed to hear after a long day his voice all my tiredness flew away. "Apne dusre pati ke saath" I answer him a soft chuckle leaves his mouth "arey mujhe invite to karti shaddi me" he says.

["With my second husband"]

["you didn't consider inviting me?"]

I smile at his words "I am standing outside Jaldi aao" he says ending the call. I collect my stuff checking on Aarav and Kainaat who were peacefully sleeping in each other embrace a soft smile adores my lips seeing them.

When my thoughts drift back to today's incident. What if the same thing would have happened again is Kainaat didn't leave earlier? History would have repeated itself?

I shrug off my thoughts and move down to see Reyansh standing leaning on his car he looks at me as I walk towards him, he opens the passenger seat and I settle inside making our way out.

"You look tensed is everything okay?" He asks me his voice full of concern. "It was just a hectic day" I answer him.

"Wanna have ice cream?" He asks me with soft voice, I turn my face towards him "stop the car" my voice was dominant he looks me confused before stopping the car in a corner.

Before he could process any thing I slam my lips on his, he looked taken aback for a second but responded back immediately, slowly lifting me from my seat he settles me on his lap my back touching the steering wheel.

He breaks apart joining our forehead our breath mingling with each others. And as usual I again hug him closes and very tightly this time.

"Naina are you sure you are okay?" He again asks me with a gentle yet concerned filled voice. "I am okay Meri jaan Chalo now treat me an ice cream" I tell him moving back to my seat. He softly pecks my forehead "I am there with you always"

His soft and sweet voice melts my heart a soft smile adores my face, he ignites the car and we make our way towards the ice cream shop.

Thank you for coming in my life Reyansh.