Past:
Ishaan stood in the school parking lot, leaning casually against his car, chatting with his friends while waiting for Ishika and Pari to join him so they could head home.
But his attention wasn’t really on the conversation—it was fixed on the corridor.
His attention was on them. His twin sister Ishika… and his angel. His Pari.
The corners of his lips lifted instinctively. His fingers raked through his hair as his gaze drank her in. She looked radiant, her presence lighting up the dull corridor like she carried the sun in her smile.
But his admiration froze in midair when a voice beside him spoke.
“Wow, look at Pari,” one of the boys said, his tone dripping with something Ishaan didn’t like. “She’s got the curves perfect in place—”
The words had barely left the boy’s mouth when Ishaan’s entire body stiffened. His smile vanished, replaced by a dangerous stillness in his expression.
“What the fuck did you just say?” Ishaan’s voice was ice, low and deadly as he gripped the boy’s collar.
The boy raised his palms quickly. “Relax, Ishaan. I wasn’t talking about your sister. I meant Pari. Just look at her… she’s got a killer body. She’s going to be the death of every man when she grows up. Honestly, I think I should propose to her now and—”
The sentence never finished. Ishaan’s fist connected with the boy’s jaw in a brutal punch.
A commotion erupted instantly. Ishika and Pari rushed over, startled by the sound of the scuffle. Their eyes widened in horror at the sight before them—Ishaan, straddling the boy, punching him over and over, his rage completely unleashed.
“How dare you speak about my Pari like that? You don’t get to talk about her that way. Do you hear me, bastard? She is my Pari!” Ishaan roared, his voice reverberating with possession.
The claim—raw and unfiltered—hit Pari like a shockwave. Her breath caught, her heart racing. She had never seen him like this before. The sheer intensity in his eyes terrified her. Tears welled up instantly, spilling down her cheeks as her small frame trembled uncontrollably.
“Ishu, stop ” Ishika screamed, her voice breaking. “Get away from him now!”
Ishaan finally looked up… and froze. Pari was pressed into Ishika’s side, shaking, her tear-streaked face pale.
And then she stepped back. Away from him. As if he was the danger. The rejection stung sharper than any blow he had ever taken.
His jaw tightened. He got to his feet slowly, taking a step toward them— Only for Pari to retreat further.
He clenched his teeth and looked away, trying to rein in his temper. The teachers arrived, breaking apart the crowd, and dragged all the boys to the principal’s office.
Meanwhile, Kajal was informed of the incident. She arrived at school in record time, she dropped Ishika off at Rey’s manor before driving Pari home.
Pari hadn’t stopped crying the entire way. Kajal kept trying to soothe her, but nothing seemed to work.
As soon as they reached home, Mithun—who had rushed back upon hearing the news—was there waiting. His heart broke at the sight of his daughter’s tear-streaked face. She ran into his arms without hesitation.
“Papa, I hate him!” she burst out, her voice shaking with raw emotion. “He always fights… and he says I belong to him. But I don’t! I don’t belong to him “
Mithun exhaled slowly, running his hand over her hair in comfort. “I know, princess. And I promise I’ll talk to him. I know he was wrong today… I know he scared you. But trust me, what he did… he did because he cares for you. May be too much. He was only trying to protect you, even if it came out all wrong.”
Pari shook her head stubbornly. “I don’t care. I don’t want him near me.”
“One day, you’ll understand that he only ever wanted to keep you safe. But for now… I’ll make sure he doesn’t upset my princess again. Go to your room, rest.” Mithun said softly.
Pari nodded faintly and retreated to her room.
Mithun straightened, pulling his phone from his pocket. He called Reyansh, who had just stepped out of the principal’s office.
“If you’re calling to defend him, Mithun, don’t,” Reyansh said curtly before Mithun could speak. “I’ll handle him and he will learn his lesson.”
“I know he was impulsive, Rey, But remember, he did it to protect Pari. Just… don’t unleash your full temper on him.” Mithun replied evenly.
Reyansh huffed in frustration. “We’ll talk later.”
And with that, he ended the call, already walking toward his car, his jaw set.
At Rey’s manor, Vaishnavi sat comfortably in her home office, her attention buried in a stack of important files. The quiet hum of the air conditioner filled the room until the soft creak of the door drew her eyes up.
Ishaan stepped in, a tray in his hands, and set it gently on her massive mahogany desk. He offered her a warm smile before moving behind her chair, placing his hands on her head to massage her scalp.
She caught his wrists immediately, gently pulling his hands away.
“Ishu, you know, I won’t interfere when your appa decides to discipline you. I love you, your sisters, and your brother more than anything… but that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by you in everything you do.” she said softly but firmly.
“Maa,” Ishaan murmured, guilt flashing in his eyes, “I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t want it to happen. I just… lost myself in the heat of the moment.”
Her brows lifted slightly. “How old are you, Ishu?”
“Seventeen.”
“Seventeen,” she repeated, her tone calm but pointed. “Do you think you can decide everything on your own? Don’t you think you should have come to us with the problem? We elders would have handled it.”
“I agree with whatever you say,” he admitted, “and I’ll accept any punishment. But… just this once, please help me, Maa. I’m honestly terrified to face appa.”
“Oh, I see, And when you sneak out at night for long drives, you’re not scared then?” Vaishu said, narrowing her eyes just slightly.
He gave a half-smile that quickly vanished. ” Maa, appa is the best father in the world… but he’s also an angry alpha when he’s mad. Last time, when I got into a fight with a boy, he grounded me for a week. God knows what he’ll do this time.”
She leaned back, studying his face. “You still haven’t told me why, Ishu. Never mind—save it for your father. You should’ve spent your time thinking of ways to cool his anger instead of making me hot chocolate.”
He groaned in defeat and shuffled out of the room.
Ishaan dropped onto the living room couch, gnawing at his nails, his eyes flicking toward the front door every few seconds.
An hour later, the sound of the main door opening made his stomach twist. Reyansh walked in, his presence commanding the space instantly. Ishaan sprang to his feet, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor. Reyansh’s eyes briefly flicked to the pile of Ishaan’s gadgets neatly arranged on the coffee table.
“Follow me,” Reyansh said simply.
The man rolled up his sleeves as he led the way to his study. Ishaan’s throat went dry at the sight—never a good sign. Inside, Ishaan shut the door behind them, even locking it, as if trying to contain the storm that was about to hit.
“Care to explain,” Reyansh began, voice low but dangerous, “why you hit the boys, Ishaan?”
That name—his full name—made Ishaan’s chest tighten. No muffin. No Ishu. No prince. Just cold, unadorned Ishaan.
“I’m sorry, Paa,” he said quietly.
“I’m not your principal or the boys’ parent to accept a simple sorry, I want the reason. And think carefully before you spin a story. ” Reyansh replied sharply.
Ishaan swallowed hard. ” He teased Pari… and was planning to propose to her. I couldn’t just stand there and watch. I lost it, and I hit them.”
“You’re his age, Ishaan. You should have come to us. We would’ve handled them. Who gave you the right to raise your hand? Haven’t I made it clear that I will not tolerate this attitude?”
“Appa…” Ishaan hesitated before blurting it out. “I like Pari. I can’t see her with someone else.”
Reyansh froze for a moment, then cleared his throat. “Like… in what sense?”
“Like you love Amma,” Ishaan said simply.
Reyansh’s eyes softened, but his voice stayed firm. “You’re still in school. Do you even know what love is? Liking someone and fighting the world for them isn’t love, Ishu. If you truly love someone, you first become their best friend. You make sure you’re the reason they smile, not the reason they cry. You never scare them. You become their safe place—their home. And one day, if she feels the same, you’ll be hers too.
“But if, after all that, she chooses someone else… you let her go. You can love her, but you can’t force her to love you back. And what you did today? You frightened her. She saw your rage, and it scared her. This isn’t a movie where you beat up some boys and the girl falls in love with you. My baby was scared because of you, Ishu and for that alone, I wanted to punish you.”
“I know I’m too young to understand love,” Ishaan admitted. “But hitting them for teasing her wasn’t wrong. I’d do it if they teased Ishi, Amma, or Aadvi too. You would’ve done the same.”
Reyansh’s lips curved faintly. “Of course. But I would’ve done it as an adult—not as a schoolboy. Until you’re grown, it’s our responsibility to handle these things. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Paa. I’m sorry. I understand. And I promise never to make Pari uncomfortable with my actions. “
That made Reyansh smile. Ishaan didn’t hesitate, he stepped forward and hugged his father tightly. Reyansh chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair.
“So you’ve forgiven me, right, Paa?”
“Yes,” Reyansh said, “but you’ll still be punished. No gadgets for two weeks. Grounded for one.”
“That’s so unfair, Paa,” Ishaan groaned. “Please… just this once?”
“No,” Reyansh said with finality. “I had to go to your principal and fix the mess you created. The boy has been suspended for two weeks. Now it’s your turn. No going back.”
Ishaan knew the tone. His father wouldn’t change his mind. He trudged off to gather his gadgets, placed them in a drawer, and handed the key to Reyansh.
At the door, he turned with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Paa… how did you make Amma fall in love with you? Give me some tips.”
Reyansh smirked. “How about asking your Mithun mamu for help?”
” Appa, I would. But Pari is his daughter.”
“There’s a long road ahead, Ishu, First, become a man worthy of Pari. Because when the time comes, not only Mithun but even I won’t go easy when it comes to choosing the man for our darling girl. She’s no different from Ishi or Aadvi to me—so beware of me too.”, Reyansh replied, his voice calm but firm.
“That’s not fair, Paa. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Everything is fair in love and war, my dear prince,” Reyansh said with a small smile. “Now… get back to your studies.”
Present:
Reyansh and Vaishnavi arrived at Mithun’s home with Ishika and Adhvika in tow. The air inside was warm with chatter and the faint clink of teacups. Mithun had personally invited Varun and his family over to finalize the engagement details, and the living room already bore the scent of celebration.
Upstairs, Ishika slipped quietly into Pari’s room. The soft hum of a hair dryer filled the air as Pari’s stylist worked through her silky locks. Pari, however, seemed far away her eyes unfocused, her mind clearly somewhere else.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re having second thoughts about your decision?” Ishika asked, arching a brow.
Pari blinked, snapping out of her trance. A small smile curved her lips as she turned toward her cousins.
“I’m not having second thoughts, Ishi,” she replied lightly, though the faint tightness in her tone didn’t go unnoticed.
Adhvika, sprawled lazily on the couch with her phone, didn’t even look up as she scrolled through her feed. “Do you think Papa will invite Ishu bro for the engagement?”
The question dropped into the room like a stone into still water. The smile vanished from Pari’s face instantly. Ishika shot Adhvika a sharp glare before standing. “Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting downstairs.”
By the time they descended, the family had gathered in the plush living room. Pari’s steps slowed when she saw Reyansh and Vaishnavi. She crossed to them with a soft smile, wrapping her arms around them.
“Stay blessed, princess, I can’t believe my little darling is ready to get married. Just remember—love always finds its way. And when it does… it’s time to embrace it.” Reyansh murmured warmly, patting her head.
Something in his words made her hug him tighter. Reyansh chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to her crown before letting her go. She took her seat between Mithun and Kajal.
“You look beautiful, Pari,” Varun said with a warm smile.
Pari returned a polite smile and turned to greet his parents.
Reyansh’s voice soon carried through the room, his words effortlessly commanding attention.
“Our little girl is our everything. We’d bring down the sky or crush the earth if it meant seeing her smile. Now, she’s chosen you, Varun, and we’re happy to welcome you into our family. You’ve been friends for years, but stepping into a relationship is entirely different. So… let’s have the engagement next week. You’ll have time to get to know each other as a couple. When you’re ready for the next step, we’ll plan the wedding. But remember—if at any time either of you feel you’re not meant for each other, never feel guilty to step back. At the end of the day, what matters most is your happiness… and love.”
As always, Rey’s words left no room for argument. Varun’s parents agreed immediately, beaming with approval. Kajal fed sweets to both Pari and Varun, while Mithun stood and embraced Varun warmly.
In the corner, Mithun discreetly ended a call that had been connected the entire time the engagement was discussed.
Miles away, in a high-rise office bathed in golden evening light, Ishaan lowered his phone and let a slow, knowing smirk curl his lips. He moved to stand before the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, the city sprawling endlessly beneath him.
His gaze drifted to the chessboard on the sleek side table. The pieces lay mid-game, the battle poised delicately. With deliberate precision, Ishaan reached forward, moved his rook, and claimed the opponent’s queen.
“Welcome to my world… my dear Queen.”
**************************
A/N:
Please like and comment
Take care and Thank You
1 comment
[…] Chapter 2 […]