23 | You belong with me.

R E V A N S H

As I sat on the couch, my eyes lingered on the portrait I had created at the age of sixteen, the little girl in the picture, just seven years old and wearing a light-yellow knee-length frock, radiated an enchanting charm.

Her dark brown eyes sparkled with a depth that seemed to hold a universe of dreams and secrets, captivating anyone who dared to gaze into them. Her smile which was invited laughter and love, evoking a sense of comfort and happiness, and have that fucking power to illuminate even the darkest corners of the world. And then there were her cheeks, soft and cherubic, blushing a rosy hue whenever she felt shy or embarrassed. That innocent flush sent butterflies fluttering within me, a sweet reminder of the purity of my childhood love.

The thoughts of my Amaya were disturbed by the knock on the door as I twirled to find my sister, Kiara footing straight at the fore waiting for my permission to enter which I gave, and she came inside. "Can we talk?" I knew what 'talk' she wanted with me, so I nodded my head, "What going between you and Amaya?" Her voice was heated a bit.

I gestured for her to sit which she gladly did, and I put the portrait on the table before leaning back on the couch, "What's going between me and your best friend." A smirk curled my lips as I repeated her question. The anticipation was evident in her eyes when she nodded her head hastily, "Nothing we just slept together." I spoke remembering the moments when my girl was moaning my name.

Kiara's breath hitched for a moment, but she smiled nervously before enunciating, "Bhai, majak mat karo. She is my best friend, and I am serious about her." I frowned hearing her. She is the love of my fucking life, "Why would I joke? and I am way more serious about my girl."

"My-my girl?" She murmured with an unreadable expression on her face, "What's going inside your brain, Bhai? What do you mean by my girl and how could you just have slept with her she was fucking drunk that day." Kiara almost yelled making the rage burst from every single cell of my body.

"Do you think I took the chance of her drunk state?" I gritted and stood up from my place, "B-bhai did you really do this?" I noticed a tear drop from her eyes which clenched my heart, but her question hurt me much. How the fuck she thinks I can do that? Doesn't she believe her own brother? I have never touched a girl without her permission and that's a totally different matter that I always lost control in front of Amaya.

But she wanted that, and whatever things my love wants, she will definitely get.

And she didn't regret it, the fucking fact.

"How the fuck you think that, Kiara? I love her." I shouted. Kiara stood frozen at her place, she doesn't digest the freaking fact that I am so madly in love with her only best friend, "Love? You l-love Amaya, Bhai?" Her stuttered voice caught my ears.

"Yes, I fucking love her from the very first moment my eyes fell on her and from that day she belongs with me, and she is mine." Kiara gulped her dry throat before uttering, "I would be the happiest person if my brother and my best friend were together but... I can't." Her teary eyes met mine as she whispered which was hardly audible to me, "Please leave her, she is going to marry someone else."

There, at that moment, my entire world came to a grinding halt, time seemed to stretch infinitely, each second heavy with the weight of Kiara's words. I can still showily hear the echo of Amaya's voice, shakily yet stumbling, when she said, 'no' that she will not marry.

Kiara doesn't know the whole truth... I know.

"What the hell you are saying, Kia?" She lifted her watery face, "Amaya, messaged me a few minutes ago that she said 'yes' to the marriage." Her gloomy voice reached my ears, Kiara gripped my arm softly as she continued, "Please Bhai, leave her."  

Leave her? Leave the girl who's literally the whole reason for my survival?

My palm instinctively curled into a tight fist, the tension in my hand so intense that my knuckles turned white. The sharp edges of my nails pressed into the soft flesh of my palm, leaving tiny crescent-shaped imprints. Fury coursed through my veins like molten lava, igniting every nerve of my body. My heart raced, pounding against my chest, quickening with each agonizing thought of my Amaya being with any other bastard who was not me.

"Leave, Kiara." I lowly growled which was enough for her to leave my arm and room. I instantly gripped my phone before searching for the number of a single person whom I needed at that time.

"I need all the pieces of information about Ashvin Mehrotra. Let me see who the actual fuck is this guy that my father-in-law and brother-in-law want to marry my girl to."

A M A Y A

It's been five hours since Revansh dropped me home, and now I am sitting in front of my family, waiting for Bhai to answer FaceTime. "Is it important to answer now?" I say while exhaling a deep sigh. Papa's head snapped at me, "We have already given you a long time, and you have to answer now."

At that moment, I heard Bhai's voice as he answered the call but was talking with his personal assistant. "I need Mr. Miller's contract file in the next five minutes," he declared and turned his attention to us. An honest-to-goodness smile played on his lips. "Hello, Amu. How are you?" He tried to talk in an unfaltering voice but inadequately failed.

"I am fine, but you are not looking fine. What happened?" I frowned, "It's nothing just company's tension." Hearing the company words my father's facial expression changed like a shot.

"What happened with the company, Shaurya?" Disquietness was brimming in his tone. Papa loves us but one thing I have noticed till now is we were never on his priority list, it was always 'UnityPulse'.

My brain strikes the overthinking, what if I didn't agree to this marriage, will my words mean anything? Or would he think about himself and his company? and forces me to marry Ashvin Mehrotra?

"Nothing we just lost Mr. Miller's deal," Bhai's low hoarse voice waved my thoughts. The room was silenced only our breath could be heard, and no one dared to speak anything, I moved my gaze to Mumma who was trying to calm Papa's fury, "This must have been a huge loss." Papa's menacing vocalizes and slices the unspecified silence.

"Yes," Bhai spoke like it was nothing. "By the way, what's your answer, Amu?" As I sat frozen for a moment, my mind felt like an empty canvas. The echoes of an earlier conversation with Revansh haunted me. I had refused to accept the marriage proposal. But now, the recent loss of company crashed me like a thunderstorm, and if I say 'no,' it will cause a massive issue.

"Amaya, beta?" Mumma spoke, my head twirled to find a concerned impression on her face, "You are going to marry him, right?" Papa's question demanded 'yes' as an answer, the same as Bhai's expression.

They love me so much that they are unknowingly pressurizing me to get married.

"Y-yes, I will." I faked a smile, but the smiles formed on Mumma, Papa, and Bhai's were genuine. "Oh my god, excellent decision, Amu." My forced smile doesn't budge a bit.

"I will call Uday right away and tell him to come within the next hour to fix the date of marriage and engagement." Gaadi kuch jaldi aage nahi bhaag gayi? "It's already seven o'clock Papa. Tells them to come tomorrow." Papa nodded negatively at my words.

The fuck, shaadi ke liye ha karwa diya woh kam nahi tha jo ab ye bhi baat nahi sunte?

"We have to do everything quickly." I scowled, and my voice came being a little annoyed, "Bhai is also not here." When Mumma felt like, I was getting annoyed she interrupted taking Papa's side.

"He will be back till your engagement. Let us fix the date at least." Her hand reached my back as she started to rub it to calm me down, but it didn't help when I heard Papa's statement, "I have talked with Uday, and he said they will be here in twenty minutes."

My eyes shifted to my laptop from which I had called Bhai, he had already cut the call... A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I made my way toward my room, "Where are you going, Amaya." That was Papa's voice, "To my room," I mumbled without facing him I am in no fucking mood to do this and surge my anger.

"We will call you when they are here," Mumma spoke, and I nodded. And besides, what else can I do? Will anyone listen to me?

Shutting my lips, I straight stride to my room and feebly push the door open. The first thing that caught my eye was a picture of our family which was just in front of the door hanging on the wall. I entered the room and made sure to close the door properly at least, at this time, no one had come to trouble me and make me agree with their own statements.

I flump on the bed, and my body bounces a little because of the soft mattress. Even though I didn't want a single tear to roll down my eyes, my body steadily leaned on the bed, and practically, I was lying on the bed. My emotions were so high that the tears were not stopping and constantly staining my cheeks.

My eyes started to feel heavy, and I don't know when the sleep consumed me, but it didn't last long as I heard the door knocking sound which made me flinch, and instantly my eyes opened, shanti se so bhi nahi sakti ab iss ghar mein.

I descended from the bed and sauntered to open the door, "Amaya, they are here. Chalo mere saath." Mumma's expeditious voice came before I opened the door, "Arey, ye kya haal bana rakha hai." She again spoke when her eyes gazed at my worn-out face.

Aap logo ki hi meharbaani hai meri ye halat.

"Fresh ho kar aati hu tab tak aap log baatein karo," I left for the bathroom before giving her time to speak. Now, what the fuck is left to listen?

My eyes scrutinize myself in front of the bathroom mirror. Doesn't my mother see my red eyes? If she saw she should have asked me about it. Now, where is her so-called love?

Sighing for the nth time, I splashed the water on my face and squeezed some amount of face wash on my palm making loath of it before applying it to my face again I splashed the water and cleaned it properly. Taking the spray toner from the cabinet I spritz it over my face, and then I take out my favorite glow serum ahead of applying it to the specific corner of my face. After completing my skin routine which ended with facial moisturizers, I sauntered outside the bathroom to check if my dress was okay or not.

Some people might think a time ago she was crying that her parents didn't listen to her and now she is so eager to meet her soon-to-be fiancés family that she is doing her skincare and checking her outfit. So let me tell you, I clearly know what my family did, but I am way more concerned about my skin than choosing a fiancé for me and about my dress, I am literally not going to change it, I don't know what got in my head that after getting back from Revansh's mansion I changed into dark blue Anarkali suit.

Then my mind hits something I have to inform Kiara that I said 'yes' otherwise she will chew me raw. I took my phone from the nearby table and opened her WhatsApp chat.

Me: I said 'yes' to the marriage.

I know she will ask me millions of questions why did you say 'yes', now what will happen to your happiness? What's with your future now? Will you ever be happy with that guy? and blah, blah, blah...

Letting all these freaking thoughts off my mind I pulled open the door of my room and descended the stairs. I could hear the laughing sounds, they were happy, and they should be. As I stopped near the couch my eyes fell on three people one was Ashvin whom I had met already and the other two must be his parents.

"Oh Amaya, is here finally." I twirled to find my Mumma who was smiling while enunciating these words as she walked to me and made me sit beside Ashvin. Now, do I have to act like a shy girl jisko ladke dekhne aaye hai? Kyu ki main toh waisi hu hi nahi.

"Thank you for saying yes to this marriage." Ashvin's hoarse voice snapped my pretty little daze as I turned my head to find him smiling crazily at me, dimag ghar pe chhod ke aaya hai kya ye? aise kon hasta hai. "Yeah," What else I can say to him now that no problem I was dying to marry you because you are the nicest guy I have ever met.

HELL NO.

"Amaya, I am Ashvin's mother, Pallavi Mehrotra." She smiled softly, "Namaste, aunty." I spoke.

"Arey, you can call me mom now. Ab to shaadi fix ho hi gayi hai." Her laugh mixes with everyone which makes an artificial smile spread over my lips, "And I am Ashvin's father, Uday Mehrotra." The other male who was sitting beside Ashvin's mother spoke and I greeted him nervously.

"Engagment ki date fix kar le?" My father interrupted between the introduction section to which everyone nodded except me. Bhai, itni bhi kya hi jaldi hai in logo ko.

My eyes fell on the door and out of nowhere Pandit Ji entered the living area. Itni raat mein pandit ji kaha mil gaye inhe aur pandit ji ko abhi baccho ki yaad nahi aarahi ki meri engagment ki date lagane aa pade.

Everyone greeted him so did I and he took a seat before opening some unknown book and started to check something which I definitely didn't know about. After taking some ten minutes, he finally opened his mouth and let those words out from his larynx which I didn't want to hear anytime soon.

"Parso ka mahurat bahut achha hai engagement ke liye," my eyes widened in astonishment, but before I opened my mouth, Mrs. Mehrotra said, "Ye toh kaafi sahi hai aur shaadi ka bataiye Pandit ji?" Pandit Ji again commenced to check something and count on his fingers.

"Are you comfortable for the day after tomorrow?" Ashvin murmured, I gazed at him with melancholy, "I guess..." Before I could utter further the Pandit Ji interrupted.

"Saare subh mahurat iss hi mahine ke hai... aur shaadi ka samaye do hafte baad ka aaraha hai." A huge smile formed on everyone's face and that was genuine, "Toh fir wahi sahi hai hai na, Amaya?" Papa spoke, and I lightly nodded my head giving a bleak smile to everyone.

As Pandit Ji left the mansion with some mithai, the Mehrotra family and my family were led to the dining table. The staff served the dinner to everyone which was beautifully embellished. I glanced at my plate which had garlic mushrooms, paneer butter masala, and some fried rice. Chalo kuch toh achha mila.

After an hour of planning engagement and marriage, the Mehrotra family left not before taking my phone number as Ashvin said "I will call you and if you want anything with your choice in engagement you can tell me." Like seriously, ek toh mujhe ye engagement karni hi nahi hai uper se apne like ki chize batau main, aeh?

"Amaya, you will come with me to buy an engagement outfit, okay?" Mumma said to which I just shook my head and stepped towards the stairs when Papa's voice halted me, "Arey, Kiara ke saath chali jayegi. Meghana aap mere saath guest ko invite karne chaliyega."

"Have you told, Kiara?" Mumma again questioned, "Yeah, when will Bhai come?"

"Tomorrow or on the day of your engagement." Without replying anything further I amble to my room, brooding about the things which are going to occur.

Finally reaching the door of my room, I unlocked it, and the darkness engulfed me. I remembered I left the switch on, so why was it so swarthy? I looped around and locked the door before switching on the lights, and there, my breath thumbed, my eyes widened in trepidation, and words were not reaching out of my throat.

The fucking Revansh Raichand was lying on my bed while both of his hands were tucked under his head, and his eyes were closed which was not a profitable indication. I am in trouble I know that.

Gathering my courage, gulping the dry lump, I hesitantly spoke, "R-Revansh, w-what are you doing h-here." Catching my voice his eyes got shot open as he turned to meet my fearsome eyes. A smirk curved his lips as he straightened his right hand before gesturing me to come.

With my shaky legs, I reached toward the bed, the bed and I had a few inches of gap when he descended from the mattress and stood frankly in front of me. His big figure concealed my small one as he let his icy fingers skim against my warm cheeks.

"R-Revansh stop," a terrified voice escaped my throat which made a scary chuckle past his lips, "What I am doing, sweetheart?" Dreadful is too small a word to describe its tone because it was way more than that.

"Don't touch me I am going to marry someone," this made his jaw clench, rage filled his eyes, and his fingers slid my nape as they tightly wrapped around it before jerking me towards himself, "Why did you say yes?" He growled making a shiver run down my spine.

His lips were just a few inches away from mine, my clothed breast stuck with his clothed chest and his eyes which were filled with wrath met my startling one. I put both of my hands on his shoulder attempting to push him away but his hold on my nape was so tight that I could do any single shit, "Leave me, Revansh."

"First, tell me why did you say yes to this fucking marriage?" He demanded and there my patience broke. It's not like we are in any kind of relationship, it's just I had a special corner for him in my heart. "Why the fuck do I tell you? Who are you to me?" I let my all anger out and pushed him hard which caused me to stumble.

"You belong with me." He took his dangerous bold steps in my direction causing my feet to move backward until the cold wall touched my backless back, "I am not your property." I spoke which made a smug smile appear on his lips.

He reached in front of me and slid his hand to my waistline tugging me towards himself, "You are my property since the day I saw you," without letting me comprehend his words his lips were pressed onto mine, sucking me like an animal, telling me I am his, only his through this furious, intense, ferocious kiss. His hand didn't stop at the typical place but reached to the dori of my suit and yanked it like a shot.

A gasp left my mouth when he bit my lips, taking a chance his tongue entered my mouth sucking and tasting every single corner of it. As he pulled away from the ardent kiss, his forehead grazed mine, and our snappy breaths mingled with each other.

"Revansh, please don't do this." As my gloomy voice reached his ear, his grip tightened around mine, but I didn't stop, "Please, just think that it was our one-night stand and let me---" He didn't let me complete and again took my lips in a fierce kiss.

"The fuck, do you think that I am not letting you go because of our sex." He gritted his teeth, "I fucking love you, Amaya." My eyes widened hearing his enraged voice. Revansh loves me? My best friend's brother loves me? The questions started to flood inside my brain, and I wanted the answer but before I could say anything he continued.

"I love you from the day I saw you, I tried to control it, but it was not in my hand. The mere thought of not being able to see you, to touch you sends my mind into a frenzy. I love it when you smile when you find joy in the most peculiar things, I love it when you adorably scrunch your nose when your day passes without your beloved fried rice. The way your precious eyes light up at the sight of decadent chocolate pastries and your favorite shakes is a sight I could watch for eternity and my eyes gleam whenever I perceive your innocent fidgeting figure, those nervous gestures that reveal the childishness in you and I am drawn to protect and cherish it. My heart surges with a desire to wrap you in my love, to pamper you in every way possible. I love you so much, Amaya."

I was astonished by the way he explained himself, I couldn't find the word to say, my mind was not comprehending to let me say a single word. I felt his lips brushed on his cheeks as he gently placed a kiss there full of tenderness. Assembling my bravery together, I finally articulated and broke the stillness, "I-I am still getting married." The grip that got loosened when he was explaining his love again got tightened upon hearing my response.

"You want to get married with that fucker?" I hesitantly nodded at his menacing words. His lips curved into a cocky smile making me bewildered as fuck. "Kar lo shaadi main bhi dekhta hu tumhari shaadi mere alawa kisi aur se kaise hoti hai." After placing a kiss on my lips, he strode towards the bed and seated there.

"I am sleepy, baby. Go and change," and my bewilderment increased before I put a question, "Are you going to sleep here?" My tone was brimming with chaos.

"Any problem?" He asked back with his beloved smirk, "How could you sleep with me?" "Like I slept with you last night." Shutting my mouth, I passed him a glare. Didn't he just tell me that 'karlo shaadi... blah blah blah.'

"I tell you because I know whom you are getting marry, my love." Did he just read my mind? "Baby, are you going to change or I will do it on my own, I would seriously love to do it." Blood rushed down my cheeks as I ran towards the closet changing into night comfy clothes in a flash.

I came back to the room and saw him already on the bed he motioned me to come which I did and sat on the bed. "Come here, baby." He pulled me and enveloped his arms tightly around my waist, "You shouldn't touch me like this, I am getting married." Ignoring my words he placed a kiss on my lips and forehead.

"Sleep, baby."

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