18.

REYANSH

Naina was peacefully sleeping with her head on my lap while I sat on the bed, resting my head on the headboard. I softly caressed her hair, admiring her features: her chubby cheeks that rarely blush, her button nose now red from a cold. Her long lashes rested gently on her cheeks. Even in sleep, she took my breath away with her beauty.

Saying I was lucky to have her would be an understatement. My mind drifted back to the first time I met her. Though it was high school for her, it was the time I always remembered. The story from my side, which she doesn't know, revealed how clueless I had been back then. I couldn't recognize her for who she was. You can blame me for that.

I remember the day vividly: the hustle of students, the indistinct chatter, and then there she was, talking with her a few friends of hers there was a huge smile on her lips, the way she was all lively and the most chaotic one among them.

Back then, I was too absorbed in my own world, too busy with friends and the chaos of adolescence to really notice her. The fact she was even at the Singhania mansion for my 16TH birthday but I don't remember seeing her..? Or let's I was too far from her.

As we started talking, the connection was instant, as if some unseen force had finally pushed us together. It was then that I realized how foolish I had been not to notice her back in school.

Our conversations flowed effortlessly, and for the first time in a long while, I felt completely at ease.

Now, watching her sleep, I can't help but marvel at how fate brought us together. She's my anchor, my calm in the storm. The thought of not having her in my life is unbearable.

She doesn't know the full extent of my feelings, how deeply I care for her. I'm determined to show her every day how much she means to me, to make up for all the lost time.

With a soft sigh, I lean down and place a gentle kiss on her forehead. She stirs slightly, a small smile playing on her lips even in sleep.

I smile too, knowing that whatever challenges come our way, we'll face them together. For now, I'm content to simply hold her, cherishing this quiet moment with the woman who unknowingly captured my heart all those years ago.

She slowly opens her eyes, a lazy smile on her lips a soft smile makes it way on my face. "Feeling better?" I ask her in a gentle voice she hums in response.

She gets up sitting on the bed, " I am hungry" her voice comes out horse and raw "wait here let me get something for you" I get up from bed, when she holds my wrist.

"Let me come with you I can't stay in bed the entire day" she says in a slow voice, I nod my head and she comes with me.

Reaching downstairs I find Mumma and Chachi sitting on the sofa talking about something, spotting us mumma comes towards Naina.

"Are you feeling better?" She asks Naina in a gentle voice. Naina nods her head with a small smile. Chachi comes forward.

"Naina I have something for you come" Chachi says Naina nods along following her. Me and mumma were sitting on the table when Aarav comes.

"Hi bhai, where is Bhabi?" He asks looking around. "She went with Chachi in her room" I answer him. His face was tensed with anger and tiredness in them.

"All good?" I ask him in a concerned manner. He was about to answer when Naina comes he turns to her "are you feeling better Bhabi?" He asks checking her temperature.

"Ya I am good" she answers him with a soft smile, "vo Bhabi what do we have to do with him? like you are not well so me and Mihir will handle it"
Aarav says making me confuse. Why are they talking about??

"Nai it's okay I'll come with you" she tells him in a stern voice "you want me to call Kainaat over??" He asks Naina.

Chal kya raha hai Idhar?? Wait a min is she talking about what she told me last night?? "No don't call her she won't be able go handle it" she tells him who nods his head.

They both take a seat on the either sides of me, "are you talking about what you told me last night?" I ask Naina and she nods her head.

Ah so she has him in her basement, mere ko bhi Jana to padhega. We were peacefully having our lunch and that didn't set well with Kabir and Dhruv.

And here they enter mere sukoon Gaya pani me chappak. "Heyy" Kabir says getting in and sitting in front of me. "Hi Bhabi" he says to Naina who greets him back.

"He is Kabir Mehra my best friend, and Kabir this is Naina my wife" I introduce them to each other. "You have friends?" Naina asks looking at me with the most innocent face while rest of them burst into laughter.

"Heyyy" we hear a voice and look at Dhruv who hands Naina a flower bouquet. "Felling better?" He asks taking a seat beside Kabir. "I am fine and thanks for these" she answers him before getting up and keeping her plate inside.

"Now that you both are here Chalo sab chalte hai" Aarav says their brows frown in confusions. "Kidhar?" Dhruv asks.

[let's go together"]

["where?"]

"You'll see" Aarav says leaving 3 of us. "Jiju kuch hoa hai kya??" Dhruv asks me in a concerned tone followed by Kabir "ya even I feel something so wrong cause Aarav looked way serious and he didn't even attack me as soon I came"

[" did something happen?"]

"It's related to Kainaat their girlfriend and sister" I answer them not knowing if I should tell the story of not. I can see anger and realisation on Dhruv face maybe he mows?Even though I am a calm person but after what Naina told me last night anger bubbled inside me.

"Let's go guys"Naina says I move my gaze towards her, she comes wearing a The outfit features a sophisticated, tailored ensemble.

It consists of a fitted gray plaid jumpsuit with large black buttons running down the front, paired with a classic white button-down shirt underneath. The jumpsuit has a structured design with a strapless neckline, fitted waist, and flared pants, creating a sleek and polished look.

We all trail behind her taking a seat in the car, Naina takes the drivers seat while I settle on the passenger seat and the rest 3 at the back.

"Mr. Mehra if I am not wrong you are the son of Rakesh Mehra right?" Naina asks in a cold tone. "Ya that's right and you can call me Kabir" he replies.

"Why did you never tell me you had a friend in the security and IT business?" Naina asks me, I look at her, " umm I forgot i guess" I answer her.

I can feel she is bubbling with anger, ye aurat ko gussa ata bohot kam hai par jab ata hai to you can just pray for your live cause she can do ANYTHING

[" she doesn't get angry easily boy when she does..."]

"Naina is Kainaat okay?" Dhruv asks her, "ya she is don't worry" Naina answers him. "Are we going to him??" Dhruv throws another question at her and she hums in response he sits back understanding the situation.

Angry Naina is not to be messed with. Silence fils in the car until Aarav phone rings he answers the call, "we will be there in 10 mins" he answers in a sharp voice and I can see Dhruv and Kabir shiver at his voice.

Ummmm.......i didn't know my brother was so scary.......

Anyways we reach the destination We all get down from the car, a old building coming in on our frame Naina and Aarav make their way inside and we follow them.

Mihir was already present there doing some sort of torture to him......bhai mere Dono bhaiyo ko mai jitna doodh ka dulha hovs samaj ta tha utne bhi nahi hai vo.

"Thanks Mihir you can move back I'll handle him" Naina says in a dominant voice Mihir nods coming towards us he passes us a huge smile and waves at Kabir and Dhruv who are still trying to process what he happening here

"Naina let me as well" I tell her cause she is my sister as well mere ko bhi gussa hai it's just that I never learned how to vent it out.

"I'll give you the last hits bhai don't worry" Aarav says grabbing two bats he passes one to Naina and keeps one himself.

I get back and sit with the rest I find Mihir munching on chips and relaxing as if he is watching a movie while Kabir and Dhruv were trying to understand the scene unfolding in front of them.

Mihir passes me a soda can which I accept gladly Naina and Aarav were beating him like no tmrw his screams were echoing in the silent dark walls.

"Bhai ye Kon hai?" Kabir asks me his voice filled with amusement I bite the inside of my cheek with a proud smirk on my face I answer "Naina Malhotra the ruthless woman"

["who is she?"]

"Is she the same Naina who couldn't even kill a roach?" Dhruv says his voice filled with astonishment.

"Ye kuch nahi hai bhai I have seen her doing even more dangerous things than this. Ye to iska basic level hai wait till she reaches the bar" Mihir says still munching on his chips.

[" this is nothing"]

A proud smile flashes on my face seeing my Naina and this woman thinks she is weak. I know her now it all makes sense why she got the nightmare. It was because of this trigger.

"Aur Aarav? Ye to Aisa nahi tha?" Kabir asks again. "Kaise rehte ho tum log??" Dhruv asks.

[" and Aarav he wasn't like this??"]

[" how do you live?"]

"Bhai vo mere biwi Aur vo bhai hai" I answer them and Mihir adds on "Mera soocho she is my boss and my Bhabi and he is my brother"

["she is my wife; and he is my brother"]

["think about me she is my boss and my sister-in-law; and he is my brother"]

"It's okay I'll pay for your therapy guys" Mihir says keeping a sympathetic hand on their shoulders.
"Reyansh" I hear Naina voice, I make my way towards her she hands the tools and I beat him till my heart was satisfied.

"One sec" Naina says in a dominant voice and we both move "this was the hand you used to touch my sister right?" She asks him a dangerous voice his eyes widen in fear she allows Aarav to come forward.

He steps on his hand the kneel below digging in his palm his loud screams echo and a devilish smirk platers on Naina face. "I dare you to lay eyes on my woman again and I promise to give you the most painful death known to mankind" Aarav spats on his face.

"Send him to papa hospital, he can't die so easily" Naina orders moving to take a seat. Both Kabir and Dhruv were looking like they just saw a ghost.

With one last kick I move away. "Let's go guys our work is done" Aarav says we move out. "Bhabi mai Aarav bhai, Kabir bhai Aur Dhruv bhai ek car me chalegaige ap log Dono saath chalegao" Mihir says Naina nods at him.

[" Me Aarav and Dhruv can take one car and you both can take the other"]

She slowly pats his head with a small smile she says "good work" Mihir smiles at him she turns to Aarav "now clam down go and spend some time with Kainaat" she tells him softly who nods at her engulfing her in a hug "you are the best Bhabi" he says in a slow voice Naina creases his back softly.

My eyes well up seeing my brother like this he is a very pure soul and loves Kainaat to no extend I can't even imagine what he must have gone through. I made a mental note to spend some time with him which I couldn't earlier cause even Naina wasn't well.

We both settle down I take over the drivers seat. "You are okay?" I ask Naina in a slow voice she nods her head I stop at an ice cream shop to freshen up her mood.

And as I expected a beautiful smile adored her lips making my heart melt. Finally I can sleep with peace and work with peace now. Seeing her like this my mind wasn't able to focus on a single thing.