Ishaan was in his room, staring at his reflection in the mirror. With a sigh, he shook his head and discarded the shirt he was wearing, tossing it onto the growing pile of clothes on the couch in his closet. It had been a week since he had last met Pari directly, and not a single message had been exchanged between them. Though he had secretly caught glimpses of her, just like he always did, the ache of waiting to meet her again gnawed at him. For once, he didn’t want to make the first move. This time, he wanted her to.
It was Ayaan’s birthday, and as always, the family had planned a grand party. Pari would never miss his birthday, that much Ishaan was sure of.
“I can’t wait to see you. God, I wish we could spend some time together,” he muttered, glancing at the mess in his closet. “Why does my wardrobe look like a disaster today?”
Standing bare-chested, he rested one hand on his hip and ruffled his hair with the other, shaking his head with a helpless smile.
“My baby would love me in anything… so why am I making a mess out of nothing?”
With that, he picked a random shirt and began to get ready. Soon, he stood before the mirror, smirking at his reflection. Dressed in a black bomber jacket layered over a white tee, paired with black denim and matching sneakers, he looked effortlessly handsome. After setting his hair, he paced the room impatiently, his heart racing at the thought of seeing Pari.
When he arrived at the ballroom of the manor, most of the guests, Ayaan’s friends included were already there. Ishaan stood between Ishika and Adhvika, but his eyes remained glued to the door.
“Why do the men in our family have to be so hopelessly romantic? Look at him, Our elder brother can’t stop staring at the door, and the birthday boy is still busy romancing his girlfriend.” Adhvika teased, rolling her eyes.
Ishaan chuckled at her words, but his gaze kept darting to the entrance. His heart began to beat in that familiar rhythm it always did around Pari. Then, at last, the door opened. His legs moved of their own accord, carrying him forward—until he froze.
There she was.
Pari looked ethereal in a white mini dress, paired with a black bomber jacket that matched his own. Her curled hair framed her face beautifully, while long earrings and white sneakers completed her look. Ishaan pressed his palm against his chest, grinning at the unplanned coordination of their outfits.
Mithun and Kajal walked beside her, patting his cheek playfully as they passed, but his attention remained fixed only on Pari.
Pari froze when she noticed their matching outfits. She had missed him badly, checking her phone every now and then, hoping for a message from him. After a week of waiting, seeing the handsome hunk standing before her made her heart skip a beat.
She lifted her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, while Ishaan rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes immediately catching the absence of the ring on her finger. As if understanding the silent cue, he gave a small nod. Pari smiled faintly and walked past him to join Ishika and Adhvika. The slight brush of their arms as she passed sent shivers down his body, making every hair stand on end.
Mithun pushed Ishaan’s chin up to close his open mouth and muttered, “Like father, like son. Do you want me to remind you of my presence, Ishu?”
Ishaan chuckled, hugging his mamu before guiding him toward the table where his parents were seated. Then, without hesitation, he slipped away to Pari’s table and gestured to Adhvika to swap seats.
“Men will always be men… and men in love are a pain in the dash,” Adhvika grumbled, earning a soft chuckle from Ishaan as he took the seat beside Pari.
“Why does my heart beat like I’m some teenager in love?” he wondered, stealing a glance at her.
“Hi, Ishaan,” Pari said softly.
The sound of her voice melted him like ice. He bobbed his head, trying to look calm and composed, but inside he was fighting an impossible battle with his emotions.
He noticed the way she fidgeted with her fingers and bit her lip. The faint blush coating her ears was proof enough of the effect he had on her. A little push was all it would take to have her in his arms. He groaned inwardly and cursed his mind to stay in control.
Just then, Zara’s parents, Jothi and Lakshman, greeted everyone warmly before taking their seats at their table, waiting for Ayaan.
Finally, the door opened, and Ayaan walked in with Zara by his side, their hands intertwined. All heads turned toward them, and Reyansh rolled his eyes.
“I believe he mistook his birthday for his engagement,” he muttered, earning a chuckle from Vaishu, who rose to her feet.
Ayaan was immediately engulfed in hugs, first from his family, then from his friends. A huge cake was brought in, and everyone gathered around him.
He cut the cake and was about to feed Vaishu first, but she gently stopped him and gestured toward Zara, who was blushing deeply. Ayaan grinned, kissed Vaishu on the cheek, and fed Zara before offering cake to the others. He was showered with gifts, and Ishaan’s sharp eyes caught the new ring on his finger, instantly guessing it was Zara’s gift.
Soon, Ayaan pulled Zara to the dance floor, and they danced wildly, surrounded by his friends, laughter filling the hall.
Panting from the excitement, Zara excused herself from the dance floor, and Ayaan immediately followed her.
Ishaan sipped his wine, his gaze drifting back to Pari—only to find her already looking at him.
“Did you invite him to today’s party?” he asked in a low voice.
Pari shook her head. “He doesn’t belong among us… and he definitely doesn’t deserve to be here.”
A proud smile curved Ishaan’s lips as he slipped his hand under the table to hold hers. His thumb caressed her bare ring finger, sending shivers up her spine, but he remained outwardly casual, lifting his glass for another sip of wine.
Zara’s phone started ringing, and she excused herself to answer it since the music in the room was blasting too loudly. Ayaan instinctively moved to follow her, but she stopped him with a gentle hand.
“Stop being clingy and stay with your friends. I don’t want them blaming me for you ignoring them. I’ll be back soon. Love you,” she whispered in his ear before walking out of the room.
Ayaan tried to keep up a casual conversation with his friends, but his eyes kept darting toward the direction Zara had left. Minutes ticked by. When ten minutes passed with no sign of her return, his patience snapped, and he went to look for her.
He reached the corridor and glanced around, but she was nowhere in sight. He stopped a guard and enquired about Zara. The guard told him she had gone toward the washroom. Wasting no time, Ayaan headed there.
As he approached, faint muffled noises came from inside. Alarm prickled through him. He knocked sharply on the door.
“Zara, are you okay?”
There was no reply, only those muffled sounds. His chest tightened. Something was wrong. With a burst of rage, he kicked the door open and froze, his blood boiling at the sight before him.
Zara was on the floor, struggling, while one of his so-called friends loomed over her. Fury exploded through Ayaan. With a roar, he kicked the man off her and yanked Zara to his side, shielding her. Then, with savage force, he launched himself at the attacker, raining blows like a beast unleashed.
The commotion drew the guards, and soon Reyansh was informed. Within moments, the family arrived, only to witness Ayaan thrashing the man mercilessly.
Vaishu and Jothi rushed to Zara, pulling her close. Their hearts ached as they saw the red marks on her neck and arms.
Pari understood immediately what had happened, but she flinched at the sight of Ayaan. The ever-cheerful, sweet, easygoing boy she knew was gone, replaced by a furious, terrifying force.
Reyansh finally stepped in, grabbing Ayaan and trying to pull him back, but Ayaan’s fists refused to stop. His eyes blazed with vengeance, and he wasn’t ready to let the man go.
“You need to check on Zara,” Reyansh said firmly.
At the sound of her name, Ayaan froze. Breathing heavily, he turned to where Zara was sobbing in her mother’s embrace. Without hesitation, he rushed to her. The moment she saw him, Zara broke free from Jothi’s hold and clung to him.
Ayaan’s arms wrapped around her instantly, his hand caressing her hair as he whispered soft words. The beast melted away, replaced by the tender lover.
Pari’s eyes widened in shock at how quickly he shifted—ferocity against her attacker one second, gentleness toward Zara the next.
Reyansh exchanged a knowing look with the guards, and they took the cue. Without delay, they dragged the disgraced man out of the washroom.
Ayaan walked out with Zara, and Ishaan quietly instructed his PA to wind up the party. Soon, everyone retreated to their rooms in the manor.
Inside Ayaan’s room, Zara insisted she should leave, but Ayaan refused to let her go. Instead, he handed her one of his shirts to change into and gently laid her down on his bed, pulling her close in his arms. He never left her side, caressing her hair until she drifted into sleep.
Later that night, Ayaan’s phone pinged with a message. He carefully slipped out of bed, locked the door behind him, and walked into the corridor.
Meanwhile, Pari couldn’t sleep. She paced restlessly in her room, her thoughts tangled in everything that had happened. The door opened quietly, and Kajal stepped in, holding a glass of warm milk.
“I knew you’d be awake. Drink this and try to get some rest,” Kajal said softly.
She was about to leave, but Pari stopped her. They sat together on the couch in silence for a few moments before Pari spoke, her voice low and heavy.
“Zara doesn’t deserve this.”
Kajal simply hummed, waiting patiently for her daughter to continue.
“Ayaan… he looked scary today. I always thought he was the sweet chocolate boy, always smiling, being romantic, bickering with everyone. But what I saw… it shocked me.”
Kajal realized it was time her daughter opened her eyes to the reality of the men in their family. She reached out and held Pari’s hand firmly.
“What do you expect a man to do when his woman is teased or harassed, Pari? Any man with blood in his veins would react. Ayaan is Rey uncle’s son. That trait runs deep in their blood. Men in our family wouldn’t think twice before destroying someone who dares to lay eyes on the women they love.”
Pari’s eyes widened in disbelief.
” Amma… Papa and Rey uncle would never do such a thing. They are the most kind and humble men I have ever seen. “
Kajal shook her head slowly.
“You’re wrong, Pari. The man today wasn’t the first to shed blood in Rey’s manor. I still remember the first time I met your father, your Rey uncle, and Vaishu aunty. She was just like you, so kind, so soft, like a doll. Back then, I was engaged to someone else, and I had come here as a guest, accompanying your grandfather for a business deal.
Your Rey uncle wasn’t ready to agree to the deal initially. But then… the man I was engaged to harassed Vaishu. That day, I saw Rey transform into an angry alpha… no he was a beast. Your father wasn’t any less. They dragged that man and thrashed him mercilessly. I’ll never forget the sight of Rey, sitting like a king with his shoe pressed against that bastard’s throat.
Your grandfather begged Rey to let the man go, but Rey uncle struck a deal, he agreed to all of your grandfather’s terms in exchange for that man. Two days later, the bastard was found dead in a car in Delhi. That was the day I fell in love with your father… and the day I became friends with Rey and Vaishu.
And Pari… he wasn’t the last. Men in this family fight for the women they love. Always. That’s the same thing Ishaan did at school, he hit those boys who were throwing nasty comments about you behind your back.”
Pari was shocked to learn that the men in her family were capable of killing. Kajal gently caressed her daughter’s hair, and Pari lay down on the couch, resting her head on her mother’s lap.
“Be honest with me, Pari,” Kajal said softly. “What do you expect a man to do when someone harasses the woman he loves? My Ishu… he has been in love with you even before he understood what love truly was. He was terrified of losing you. I’ve seen him cry in your papa’s arms every time you misunderstood him. Years of pain and patience snapped in him when he heard those rumors. What he did was wrong—nothing can justify that—but you have to understand, he lost everything that night when he was sent away.
I still remember it clearly. You had everyone by your side to console you, because you deserved it. But he… he was completely alone. Even Vaishu refused to speak to him. Mithun was the one who dropped him at the airport. And for the first time, I saw your papa cry when he came back home. Ishu and Ishi have been like his own children ever since they were born. He helped raise them with Vaishu and Rey. They’ve always held a special place in his heart. Your papa even learned how to change diapers just to take care of them. He is a wonderful father now because he had already been a father figure to Ishu and Ishi long before I met him.”
Pari’s sobs grew harder as Kajal wiped her tears.
“Don’t fool yourself anymore, Pari. We all know you love Ishu. True love is embracing a person with his flaws, and our Ishu is a perfect gentleman, with his own flaws. He has waited too long, Pari. Don’t regret it when you lose him forever,” Kajal said before finally leaving her alone, giving her space to think.
Pari cried her heart out, realizing her mother was right that she had always shut Ishaan out and never given him a chance to explain his side. She had cruelly shut her heart from reaching out to him.
A few minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. Pari rushed out, and her heart stopped at the sight before her. Ayaan and Ishaan were walking side by side, their sleeves rolled up. Ayaan was drenched in blood, and Ishaan looked terrifying. Their eyes met for the briefest second before Ishaan walked past her into his room, which was right beside hers.
Pari’s eyes followed Ishika as she entered Ishaan’s room. Standing at the threshold, she watched Ishaan sitting on the couch while Ishika knelt on the floor, gently cleaning his bloodied knuckles. Ishaan’s eyes were fixed straight ahead, but Pari caught a glimpse of something in them, something that pierced her soul.
He lowered his head, and as Pari stepped inside, Ishika silently slipped out, leaving the two of them alone.
Ishaan’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, the weight of hopelessness heavy on him. He knew he had lost the one last chance he had to win her back. Looking at him now, she would never spare a glance at him anymore.
“Sorry,” he whispered hoarsely. “I know I don’t deserve you. Please forgive me for not being the man of your dreams. I know you must hate me even more now. I’ll never come before you again, if that’s what you want. I won’t disturb you but I can’t sit back and watch some bastard harass the woman from my family “
He started to rise, but suddenly felt her hand clutching his wrist, then, before he could process it, she hugged him tightly from behind.
Ishaan froze in shock at her reaction. Slowly, almost in disbelief, he turned to face her. Pari was crying against his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt.
“I’m sorry, Ishu,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
******************************
A/N:
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