As I informed my family about how I had been sleeping for now, they left, but within a few moments, Dhanraj bhaiya returned and knocked at the door.

"Yes, bhaiya!" I asked, he must have forgotten something.

"Kaahe ro rahe the?"

"Why were you weeping?"

He enquired, making me bite my lips since I was caught now.

"How did you get to know that?" I asked, lowering my gaze with a kid like pout on my lips.

"I'm not just your brother, but your bestfriend too, so come on tell me. What's happening these days?"

He asked me again, barging into my room and locking it up.

"She doesn't love me. And forget love she doesn't even like me."

I exclaimed, my eyes pooling up with tears again.

"And why would she do so? There is not a single reason for her to love you, but there are innumerable reasons to hate you."

He elucidated me, making me sit on the bed and perching beside me.

"Should I call Arjun?" He mumbled, and I flared in anger.

"Us harami se kehna apni zindagi chahta hai to samne na aye mere!"

"Don't call that bastard here if you want him alive."

I yelped in anger, straightening up with a jolt, but I instantly realised that I should not have reacted like this before bhaiya, who was gawking at me with stern and astonished expressions.

"But why?"

He asked immediately, sucking on his lower lip.

"You did something, and he tried to cover it up, but it got messed up, right?"

He blurted out, standing up. I lowered my head, flickering here and there like a little kid, and he shook his head, clutching his palm over my shoulder.

"What the fuck did you do Jai?"

He asked angrily, and I deciphered that he was quite serious.

"I.....I stalked her, by placing.....umm.....cameras in her room."

I informed him, my voice shook a little.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, JAI? Do you even have an idea of how sensible this relationship is?"

He bellowed at me. God! His voice turns dangerous when he gets angry.

"What if she tells all this to her brother?"

He continued, and I bit on my lower lip, staying silent.

"This is got the state, Jai. Don't make it personal. And to be honest, forget her. Don't fall in love with someone who is not destined for you. You and her are two entirely different beings. Narayan has created boundaries between you, that you shouldn't think of crossing."

His voice turned a little softer as he started explaining to me, patting my back lovingly.

"Not Narayan, the humans created the boundary. Narayan doesn't know boundaries, He dissolves it."

I stated blankly, getting irritated of this 'boundary' shit. I love her, and that's enough. I mean, I 'loved' her.

"Don't worry, I will divorce her once the state becomes peaceful again."

I blurted out, making bhaiya frown. He was certainly not expecting this from me, even though I had never thought of giving up on her, but I just couldn't force her.

'ring ring'

Bhaiya's phone rang, and he picked it up. Balraj bhaiya was on the other side.

"Yes, bhaiya?"

He asked, but his eyes widened suddenly.

"What the fu-"

He cursed under his breath before cutting the call.

"What happened?" I asked him, getting a little worried.

"Amjad divorced Nafisa aunty! And he has asked Armaan and Inayat to leave his Haveli."

He informed me, and I felt numb. Oh my God! She must be broken. Nafisa aunty didn't deserve it at all. I see her like my mother. She is so sweet. How could Amjad do that?

"We should visit them!" I exclaimed, and bhaiya nodded. We, alongwith with ma, went to the Ahmed's Amrood kothi, a kind of penthouse that was gifted to Armaan by his maternal grandfather. I know this place because we used to mock him that he received a haunted place as gift.

Such beautiful days those were!

I smiled gazing at the sky from the back seat of Dhanraj bhaiya's gypsy.

When we reached there, Ma instantly rushed into Aunty's room to console her while we brothers began helping Armaan arranging the belongings into this new place. I was engrossed with a few men of his when she arrived

"Chhote thakur!" She called me out in a low insignificant voice.

Yes! My baby begum!

I wanted to turn around and say these words to her kissing her soft pink cheeks passionately, but she had ruined it all.

"Chhote thakur!" She muttered again, but this time a little louder than before. I can't resist her if she keeps calling me like that so to avoid myself from melting, I walked away from there leaving her all alone.

I didn't turn back so I don't know how may have reacted, but I think she doesn't care.

After a few minutes, I heard her again behind me.

"Chhote thakur, hume baat karni hai."

"Chhote thakur, I want to talk."

She quavered a little, and I sucked on my lips. I just couldn't resist her anymore.

"Ji Inayat ji!"

I groaned, pivoting my head into her direction, trying my best to maintain stern expressions.

"Um...I am sorry for the way I spoke to you in the noon."

She mumbled, fidgeting her fingers and gazing downwards. Why the hell was she behaving like that? What happened to her suddenly? Stay stiff, Jai! Don't melt for her.

"No! You were right. We are not supposed to love each other, and I am a pervert."

I blurted out, shifting my gaze opposite to her.

"Yeah! I mean we shouldn't fall in love, but I should not have insulted you like that, but it was just a reflex. I..... I got angry when I got to know that you stalked me."

She muttered, in a low voice gazing here and there. Well, she was right. She doesn't love me so she would react like that only.

"I'm so sorry for that. Intruding in your privacy was a sin that I committed, and I felt guilty for it that is why I apologised to you. Actually I had fallen for you, but today you opened my eyes. We have a huge boundary between us that should not and cannot be crossed so I will personally take care of it now. Even God cannot unite us now. We will get divorced once situation pacified in the state."

I declared, gawking at her sternly. Her countenance was indiscernible.

Allah knows what's wrong with this man? Why is he being so rude towards me? He deserved those words still I'm apologising because I don't talk to people like this, and here he is, behaving like a jerk.

He just went away after saying those words, while I kept standing numb. He was absolutely right, we cannot love each other, but I was somewhere missing his old version. The way he used to call me baby begum was something I am missing too. I found it cringe in the morning, but now I wanted it.

What the hell is happening to me? I am not even on periods then why am I getting such mood swings?

I think I should adjust with this version of him. Atleast he won't trouble me now, but he is not even smiling at me. Oh my God! I need to come out of his thoughts.

I started walking to my Ammi's room where his mother was also present at this moment. Knocking it lightly, I strolled inside, and my eyes instantly turned teary gazing at my mother's condition.

She had hugged his mother tightly, crying her heart loud. Thank God, she isn't dazed anymore. I ran to her, sitting beside his mother, who caressed my head lovingly.

She is so angelic. How can her sons be so nasty? I am very well aware of Dhanraj Singh Thakur's older version, when he was known to be the most notorious man in the entire city. The brothels, the bars, the gambling spots, the drug dealers - everyone knew him. Allah knows what magic was sprinkled upon him by his wife that he changed completely.

But the youngest one was a definitely a gone case, and nobody could change him. Some people are meant to be queer, and he was one such being.

Honestly, I did not like the way he talked to me today. He could have smiled atleast, but he preferred looking away, as if my gaze would burn him to ashes. I was somewhere missing his previous behaviour with me. I did not want it earlier, but now I am missing it.

"The priest told me that you both will have lots of quarrels, but it would eventually sort out on a lovely or perhaps passionate note."

She smirked a little uttering these words. Maybe she did so to lighten up our pissed off mood. My ammi smiled at her before saying

"Ek baar ko to hum bhi is nikaah ke khilaf ho sakte the lekin hamare shauhar jis tarah hume talaaq diya hai sirf Inayat ke rishte ki wajah se, hum chahte ye nikaah mukammal ho. Dono abaad rahe. Aradhya ji, hum nahi chahte hamare bacho ka kabhi talaaq ho."

"I could have also gone against this marriage, but my husband has divorced me only because Inayat is getting married to a Hindu, so I want this marriage to become successful. May they get blessed. Aradhya ji, I don't want our children to get divorced."

These words shocked me internally. We are getting married for the state, not for ourselves. I don't want to stay with him forever. I had eavesdropped bhai jaan where he told his men that chhote thakur is into brothels. That's disgusting!

I want someone like my brother - gentle, who has saved himself for his woman and understanding, not a jerk like him. He is such a mess. Though he looks hot, but I can't compromise with his habits.

"Ammi...." I was about mutter my feelings, when his mother spoke.

"Even I want the same. Inayat is such a pure soul. I will love to have a daughter like her."

Oh my God! She is sweeter than jaggery, but I can't settle with his son. I just can't! Why are our mothers craving for this relationship. I hope he will leave me as soon as circumstances become tolerable in the state.

"I'm glad that their nikaah is just two days away now, and it will take place over here only - in my father's kothi. You know Inu, your nanu is coming too."

Ammi chirped happily, and that is when I realised how massive these celebrations were going to be. My nanu (maternal grandfather) stays in Dubai, but as per ammi's words, he is coming here to attend this wedding. I think he will save me from this relationship because he is a strict muslim. He won't let this marriage sustain.

His mother and ammi were indulged in talking and now my ammi could smile, so I happily came out of the room. My gaze fell on him, who was standing beside my brother, and suddenly my brother hugged him tightly.

But wait! He was crying while chhote thakur seemed to be consoling him. What the hell? My brother hates him then why was hugging him? Why was he getting consoled by him? Do they know each other? I'm so confused right now.

"They were best friends in school."

I heard a masculine groan from my back, and instantly turned around. SP Arjun Srivastava stood tall before me. My eyes widened with shock when he nodded to confirm what he just said

"Yes, bhabhi! They were best friends once, but were separated because of the so-called religious boundaries. Jai still remembers him and right now, Armaan needs a brother like bestfriend more than anyone else so let them share some nostalgic moments together."

He exclaimed, signalling me to move towards the guava garden.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•

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