“Toh bataya kyu nhi kisi ko? Agar tere peeche bodyguard na bheja hota maine, toh pata hi nhi chalta mujhe.”

(Why did you not tell anyone? Had I not sent a bodyguard after you, I wouldn’t have known about this.)

She gasped and gave him a pointed look.

“Mere mana krne ke baad bhi bodyguard bheja aapne!”

(You sent a bodyguard even after I denied!)

“Mai maarunga Himani. Ek toh kisi ko bataya nhi, upar se faaltu baatein. Papa ko nhi pata hai abhi. I'll not save you from his wrath.”

(I will slap you. First you did not inform anyone and now you’re talking nonsense. Papa doesn’t know yet.)

Her eyes widened in fear and she held his hand in pleading.

“Nhi nhi nhi! Please! Mere pyaare bhaiya ho na? Aisa thodi na karoge mere saath! Please bhaiya please! Ye masoom se bachi kaise sahegi papa ka prakop?”

(No no no! please! You are my sweet brother, right? You will not do this to me! Please bhaiya please! How will this innocent child bear papa’s wrath?)

She whined when her brother didn't budge and Arjun chuckled at her drama.

She turned her head towards him sharply and glared at him.

“Don't laugh! This is a serious matter! You don't know my father! He is very scary!”

She exclaimed and then cried before her brother. Rihaan, although, didn't pay attention to her now. His focus has shifted to Arjun.

He accessed him with sharp eyes. A warning clear in them. Stay clear of his sister. But Arjun wasn't from those who backed down easily. His demeanour made Rihaan realise something.

Something was going on between him and his sister. He then looked at Himani sternly and she frowned at the sudden shift of his emotions.

“Who is he?”

She turned to see Arjun smiling at her and closed her eyes. How could she forget that her brother was a very sharp businessman.

“Uhh…wo…bhaiya…he is…ummm…”

“Himani!”

His voice held a warning. She bit her lip and lowered her head.

“We’ve been sharing this room for almost 5 days now and I…we…we like each other.”

She confessed in a small voice and Arjun froze. Did she just confess her feelings for him? In front of her brother? Her glaring brother to be precise. Why did his heart skip a beat at that? 

Rihaan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

“Are you even hearing yourself? 5 days! You’ve not even known him for 5 full days and you claim to like him! That’s the most stupid thing I have ever heard you say or do Himani!”

Himani twisted her lips and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Oh! his audacity!

“Achaa? How much did you know bhabhi before you started dating her?”

(Really?)

Mic drop! He stared at her without a word. But she didn’t stop. She went on to give him a reality check. Because if he was smart, then she too was his sister.

“Do baar mile the aap unse for a few hours before you decided to give it a try. Aap kro toh sahi, mai kru toh stupid. At least I have been with him for 5 days instead of hours.”

(You met her twice for a few hours before you decided to give it a try. It’s ok if you do it, but stupid when I do it.)

Arjun bit his lip to control his laughter because the look on Rihaan’s face was almost comical. He looked ready to blow steam out of his ears.

“Hamari baat alag hai-”

(We were different-)

He started only to be cut off by her harshly.

“Oh achha! Aur wo kaise? Kyunki aapko sab krne ki azaadi hai pr mujhe nhi?!”

(Oh really! How so? Because you are allowed to do everything and I am not?)

She snapped and he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Nhi. Kyunki mujhe duniya ki samajh hai aur tujhe nhi. You’re too naive and I am not. I know men’s intentions and I don’t trust them.”

(No. Because I understand the world politics and you do not.)

“Har koi ek jaisa nhi hota!”

(Not everyone is alike!)

Arjun could see things getting out of hand. Himani was fuming. Her chest heaved and he knew she was too angry.

“Himani, calm down. It’s ok.”

He whispered softly and she relaxed a little. Rihaan’s eyes snapped to him sharply and he gave him a pointed look.

“You don’t tell her what to do or what not to!”

He warned and Himani glared at him.

“And you don’t tell him what to say to me or what not to!”

Rihaan was pissed. She was in a mood to fight with him. First, she did not tell him about her injury. And now, she was fighting for a stranger.

“Stop behaving like a kid, Himani!”

“Then stop treating me like one!”

He stared at her and she gave him a pissed look.

“I am tired of being treated like a glass doll. Ki zara sa haath lagte hi tut jaaungi. I am not a child anymore bhaiya and it’s about damn time that you realise it.”

(That I will break if held tightly.)

Rihaan sighed and then spoke.

“I can’t deal with you. Ab papa hi handle krenge tujhe. He doesn’t even know about your injury yet.”

(Papa will handle you now.)

“Darti nhi hu mai unse! Dara kisse rhe ho?”

(I am not scared of him! Who are you scaring?)

Himani snapped and turned her face away. Rihaan raised his eyebrow and waited. Himani slowly turned her head and looked at him from the corner of her eyes.

“Did you tell him yet?”

“Ummhmm.”

She gasped and held his hand and pleaded.

“Nhi please! Bhaiya! Papa bhut gussa krenge!”

(No please! Bhaiya! Papa will be too angry!)

Arjun chuckled. She truly was one of a kind. They were siblings in a true sense. Teasing and fighting with one another like tom and jerry.

“Don’t laugh! Tumhare liye lad rhi hu mai.”

(I am fighting for you.)

She pouted at Arjun who smiled softly at her. Every move of hers tugged his heart. She was just so sweet and irresistible.

“Stop fucking staring at her!”

Rihaan snapped again and Himani hit his arm.

“Stop cursing at him!”

Rihaan looked at her for a moment, before looking back at Arjun.

“You know what! I think we should have a conversation now. Man to man!”

Rihaan said and crossed the room to reach his side. He saw Himani looking at him with laser focus. He drew the curtain, not letting her see them. He heard her gasp and controlled his snicker.

“Bhaiya! Don’t you dare hit him! Mai…mai kabhi baat nhi krungi aapse! Are you listening to me! Bhaiya!”

(I…I will never talk to you!)

“Chup kr Himani! I am not going to kill him. Stop overreacting.”

(Shut up Himani!)

She got quiet and leaned forward, straining her ears to listen to their conversation. He knew she would be doing that so he didn’t speak for some time.

“Mann mai baat kr rhe ho kya?”

(Are you talking in mind?)

He heard her and she this time, he did chuckle. Arjun too chuckled but Rihaan glared at him. He raised his eyebrow not getting intimidated or backing down from the glares.