We reach Anika's grandparents house around 1pm. We entered the house and were welcomed by her younger brother.
"Di!!." He exclaimed happily. "Dadi, Bhaiya di is here." He yelled out before engulfing her in a big hug. I have never seen her smile this big. Her whole face lights up like a christmas tree. "I miss you so much. You don't even come here anymore." He whined. I'm feeling awkward standing there, they completely forget about me.
"Aww, I miss you more, my chipmunk." She ruffled his hair. It was funny seeing how her 5 '6 self ruffled his hair, he is almost a foot taller than her.
"Di come on yaar don't mess up my hair." He started fixing it when I cleared my throat to let them know about my presence. As if realising they were not alone they both turned to me.
Kshitij sheepishly stepped forward. "Hi Jiju, good to see you here." He hugged.
"How are you Kshitij?" I patted his back and broke the hug. Before he could answer her elder brother Utkarsh came with a huge smile on his face.
"Ani, my gudiya. How are you?" He engulfed her in a bear hug.
"I'm good Bhaiya, how are you?" She pulled back and looked at him like he hung the moon and the stars.
"I'm good, gudiya." He replied and turned towards me and narrowed his eyes at me. We haven't had the best relationship since the beginning and now after the whole Mahira fiasco he doesn't like me at all. "Hello, Kartavya." He greeted curtly.
I nodded my head and held my hand out. I don't want to have any bad blood between us. He is my Anika's brother and I know he means a lot to her. "Good to see you again." I said with a slightly friendly tone.
"Come don't just stand there Dadi and Dadu are waiting for us." Utkarsh said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder while walking to the living room.
I was walking slightly behind them when Kshitij whispered something in Anika's ear. Her body immediately went rigid. I frowned but didn't question it further as we reached the living room where her grandparents were present. As I stood beside her, her grandparents stood up with the same huge smiles Kshitij and Utkarsh had.
"Arrey Anika, Kartavya c'mon we were waiting for you." Her Dadi moved towards her and. "How are you Anika?" Dadi kissed her forehead.
"Kartavya." I heard Anika's, Dadu's authoritative voice. I turned to him and saw him looking at me with a small smile playing on his lips.
"Mr. Rajvansh, sir" I bent down and touched his feet for blessings. I respected this man just as I respected my grandfather because of his morals and ethics. And how he ran his business with an iron fist, come what may in his way.
"Don't be so formal, beta. You're family. And I already told you, you can call me Dadu, just like Anika if you like." He patted my shoulder. I nodded and smiled at him.
Her grandmother turned towards me. "Kartavya, how are you my dear?"
"I'm good Dadi, how are you?" I touched her feet too.
"I'm great, now my Ani is here." She caressed Anika's hair.
"Why are you standing? Sit, sit." Dadu ushered to the nearby couch. I sat on the couch waiting for Anika to sit next to me. She talked about something with her brother for a few seconds and with a frown she came and sat next to me.
"What happened?" I whispered. She turned towards me and shook her head with a small smile. I decided to ask her later.
"Kartavya, How is everyone at home bache?" Dadi asked.
"They are good. Dadi, they just left for Udaipur this morning." I answered. After that we just talked about random things. Kshitij and Anika were bickering like little kids and Utkarsh was supporting her no matter what. It was hilarious to watch Kshitij get frustrated when they gang up on him.
While we were talking we heard footsteps coming from the foyer.I turned to see who it was and it was her uncle and aunt along with their children. They walked into the living room with an air of smugness as if everyone was beneath them. The younger guy walked in first and greeted his grandparents and cousins. The rest of them turned towards me with a surprised expression as if they were shocked I was here.
"Kartavya, you are here." Her aunt looked shocked to see me.
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Why wouldn't I be here?"
"Oh you know you never came with her. That's why." I forced a smile and turned towards Anika.
"Anika, How are you beta?" Her aunt asked with a sickly sweetened smile. Which anyone can say is fake. Anika forced a smile and told her that she is fine. Then her aunt started making small talk with her. While her uncle just stood there without saying anything. I noticed how Anika was fidgeting and playing with her finger. She only does that when she is uncomfortable. I placed my hand on hers and held her hand. She turned her head and gave me a relieved smile.
The girl who I knew was Anika's cousin, I don't really remember her name, flopped down beside me, a little too close for my liking. I tried my best to hide my annoyance but Anika noticed and passed me a teasing smile. I rolled my eyes." I hope you remember me. I'm Amaira Ani's cousin." Ah, now I remembered her name. I saw her with Kavya and Khushi. The way she said Ani rubbed me the wrong way.
"I do, good to see you too." I muttered politely. Her aunt was still going on about how she should be a good wife and always listen to her husband and in-laws and never disobey them. I shook my head at that.
"So Kartavya, how is the business going?" Her uncle Sanjay asked.
"It's going good." I replied.
"You know I was thinking about this for sometime now and now I got the opportunity to say it. Maybe we can do business sometime. We are family now and we can definitely do good business. In Fact we are starting an amazing project we sh-" Sanjay's rant was interrupted by Utkarsh.
"Bade papa, they are not here to talk about business. So refrain from doing so." Utkarsh growled. Is there something wrong between them? First Anika was uncomfortable talking to them and now Utakarsh was looking at his uncle and aunt as if he wanted to strangle them.
"What is the problem, Utkarsh? I'm just suggesting that he should join our new project and there is no harm in talking now. I don't think Kartavya has a problem with discussing business now. Do you, Kartavya?" He muttered smugly as if he knew he was right and I wanted to talk business with him. I internally rolled my eyes. This guy who couldn't even distinguish between right and wrong when it came to people. He was doing business with Neel and I won't associate with people who are connected to Neel.
"Actually, Mr. Sanjay I don't talk business while I'm with my wife and especially not when we are spending time with her family. So don't mind that I don't want to talk about business now." I gave him a forced smile. He frowned, turning red with embarrassment and left from there.
"Don't mind him, he is always like this, he only wants to talk about business." Amaira placed her hand on my forearm and moved closer to me. No one noticed her behaviour as everyone was busy looking where Sanjay stormed of. I removed her hand from mine and moved a little closer to Anika to make some distance between us. "You know Me, Kavya, and Khushi are best friends. We do everything together."
Anika turned towards me and noticed how her cousin was getting handsy with me. She narrowed her eyes. "Hi Anika, I wasn't able to greet you earlier. Kartavya seemed lonely while you were busy talking with others, so I decided to give him company."
Anika rolled her eyes. "I don't think he needed company, especially not from you. What were you going to talk to him anyway?"
"Why are you behaving like that Anika? You don't have to feel insecure about me. You know Kartavya, she was always like that since we were kids and she was always jealous of me." She cackled as if she was saying the best joke.
"I don't think you have anything that she would be jealous or insecure about. She is the most beautiful, kind, and perfect woman. She is incomparable to anyone I've ever met, and I'm lucky to have her as my wife." After hearing me praise Anika, Amiara looked embarrassed and turned to her mother with a huff.
"Thank you for backing me up but I could have handled her myself." She squeezed my hand. She was blushing hard and bit her lip.
"I know you can handle her baby. But I was just setting things straight by stating facts." she smiled shyly at me.
"Do you really think I'm incomparable?"
"I don't think baby. I know you are." I brought her hand up to my lips and kissed her knuckles.
"Kartavya, Anika c'mon the lunch is served." Dadi announced. We stood up and went to the dining table. I waited for them to move in front of us and held Anika's hand, stopping her. She turned and looked at me. I wanted to ask her why she has been off since her uncle's family has arrived.
"What happened? Why are you silent, you haven't said anything since they came." I gestured to her aunt and uncle.
"It's nothing." She tried to convince me with a smile. But it wasn't working. Her Dadi called us again.
"We will talk about this later." I sighed and we moved towards the dining table. We settled down and started eating.
"Jiju, when are you guys going to Udaipur?" Kshitij asked.
"We are going on Sunday night." I answered.
"Oh, Khushi invited me to the wedding in Udaipur. I heard you guys are flying with your own jet. Maybe I can come with you guys." Amaira smiled and jumped squeaked excitedly. Why is this girl so fucking loud?
"Yeah that's a good idea. Kartavya can you guys take her with you?" Her mother suggested.
"I don't think that's possible Badi Maa. We are already full. We are all family and she will be uncomfortable with us because she doesn't know anyone." I don't think we will have any problem with having her there but she looks like the type of girl who will create unnecessary drama. Thank god Anika rejected her. I don't want her anywhere in my jet. She is annoying as fuck and I want this trip to be as smooth as possible.
"Anika, what are you saying? Aise Kaise apne behen ko mana kar sakti ho? Woh tumhare sath chalegi tho problem kya hai." Mrs. Netra scolded her. "Kartavya aap bolo beta, le jaoge na Amaira ko? I will be assured she will be safe if she is with you" She smiled at me.
(How can you say no to you sister. What's the problem if she comes with you?)
(Kartavya, you say dear, you will take Amaira right?)
"As my wife said Mrs. Netra, I can't accommodate your daughter sorry." I informed her.
"It's okay mom, don't worry, I will go on the commercial flight." Amaira muttered with a sad frown.
"Good." Anika mumbled under breath, but everyone heard it. I smirked seeing her Aunt's angered red face.
"Are they always like this?" I whispered in her ear.
"Yes. They are annoying. I don't like them." This is news to me. The way they behaved during the wedding so lovingly with her must be all for show. I nodded and continued eating.
After lunch we were sitting in the living room, Dadu, Vivaan and Sanjay were sitting with me while Anika and her Dadi and brothers were still in the kitchen doing god knows what. Vivaan sat next to me and started talking non stop. I tried to catch Anika's eye while she was out of the kitchen briefly, so she could come sit with me but she was busy talking and laughing with her brothers.
Is it okay to be jealous of her own family?
Anika's grandfather called my name who was sitting in the armchair beside mine, Thank God at least I didn't have to listen to the guy next to me. I turned towards him and we both started talking about the latest deal their company signed. He told me about how they are hoping to do business with me some time soon. I wouldn't mind that at all.
"Jiju." Kshitij interrupted our conversation and sat next to me with a bowl of rasmalai in it. "Dadu the business talk can wait please. Here jiju, have this." He passed me the bowl. I smiled seeing how he reminded me so much of Anika.
Not wanting to disappoint him I take a small bite. I don't eat a lot of sweets because of my diet but this is good. "Do you like it?"
"Yes I like it." I smiled at him. I could hear Anika laughing so I turned to look at her. She was so engrossed in whatever Utkarsh was saying, she didn't notice her surroundings. I huffed and focused my attention on the sweet.
"Yeah I can understand jiju, they are always like this. In fact I get jealous of them sometimes." He chuckled. Utkarsh came out of the kitchen and cleared his throat standing in front of me.
"Kartavya, can we talk?" He muttered. I raised an eyebrow at him. We were always in the same circle but we were just acquaintances. I wonder what he wants to talk to me about. I stood up and gestured to him to lead the way.
We stood in his study which was just like mine. I was looking around waiting for him to talk. "So did you call me to just stare out of the window." He scoffed and turned around.
"I don't like you, you know." He pointed a finger at me. "You took my sister away from us." I smirked seeing his frustration.
"And what about it?" I riled him up more.
"She seems happier than she did the last time she came here. I hope you are treating her well. She said she liked you and that is the reason why I'm not persuading her to leave you."
"What the fuck? Why would you do that, asshole?" I stood up from the chair, my anger rising. "I will not let that happen, do you understand. I will ruin you if you try to take my wife away from me." He smirked, slapping my shoulder lightly.
"We will see, If you ever hurt my sister knowingly or unknowingly I'm going to bring her back and you will never get to see or talk to her ever again." He walked to the couch and sat down and motioned me to sit. "Oh and welcome to the family Raichand."
Fucker! He was just testing me.
******
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