Aadya paced to and fro in the living room while fidgeting with her fingers, her forehead adorned with frowns and heart beating fast as she now and then kept glancing at the main door, waiting for her brother to return back.

On one side she was worried and scared for her brother, while on the other side, she was feeling something giddy and creepy about that unknown man whose eyes were speaking danger and the smirk that screamed threat. His intense eyes were not leaving Aadya’s mind and an unknown fear was creeping into her heart.

Hearing the main door unlock, Aadya turned around and ran towards her brother who limped into the house with difficulty. Supporting his heavy figure with her delicate ones', Aadya helped her brother to sit on the sofa before rushing into the kitchen and getting a glass of water for him.

Aadya was thankful that her mother had went for some grocery shopping to the market and her father was yet to return from bank, or else it would have been difficult for her and Ishaan to explain about Ishaan's condition.

"Brother, how are you now? I think we should go to doctor and get your check-up done. The wounds and bruises on your face are too bad.", Aadya said worriedly and Ishaan winced before yelling at her, "No need of going to the doctor. And Aadya I told you not to get involved into this. Yet you were arguing with that man in middle of the road. Do you even know what could have been the consequences of your that stupidity."

"But brother, they were beating you mercilessly. How can I just stand aside and watch you getting beaten by them!? And why they were beating you?", Aadya asked equally frustrated and Ishaan got up limping on his legs and said, "Aadya , I will look into my matters on my own and you don't have to interfere in my matters. And never ever try to tell about this to mom-dad."

"Brother--", Aadya tried speaking more but Ishaan showed his palm on her face and said, "Aadya , I hope you know about dad's condition."

Aadya sighed worriedly looking at her brother entering his room hobbling on his legs. She just want to help her brother and lessen his and well as her parents worries.

"Aadya , when did you come back?", Aadya heard her mother ask her and she immediately wiped her unshed tears before turning around with a faint smile as she helped her mother to keep the groceries into the kitchen.

"Just few minutes back.", Aadya replied and lick her dry lips reluctantly as she kept thinking of whether she should tell her mother about whatever happened today, or not.

"Mumma, Did brother ever talked to you about--", Aadya tried talking to her mother who was busy arranging the groceries in the storage, but did not say anything further.

Aadya kept quiet as she knew that her brother is right. Her father is a heart patient. She cannot tell her parents about what happened today or else her father will get angry with her brother and this can lead to some serious problems into the family.

"What were you saying?", Nirali asked turning and Aadya gave a weak smile before nodding in 'no' and said, "Mumma, I will be in my room."

Glancing at the closed door of her brother's room, Aadya climbed upstairs to her room and sat on the bed thinking about what her brother is upto.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bathroom Glass partition misted under the hot steam, and he stood under the hot water cascading down his well-built physique, eyes closed, hands pushing his wet hairs back, and a devilish smile playing on his lips as he tried recollecting her each and every feature at the back of his mind.

Her beautiful hairs open with side braids and ending just little above her waist, smudged kohl under beautiful doe-shaped dark black eyes, cheeks puffed and tinted into a natural blush, face devoid of any heavy make-up and plumped lips into the shade of light pink, inviting him to kiss her the moment his eyes landed on her. Amidst her eyes filled with terror, breathings heavy and tears flowing down her red cheeks, yet she looked the most beautiful to him.

Wearing a beautiful Indian traditional dress into his favorite color, red; small daggling earrings in her ears and a small golden chain with a pendant of butterfly resting between her collarbone. A beautiful bracelet in her right hand and a golden watch resting on her left hand wrist. Wearing a good heightened heels, and yet not reaching past his shoulders, their height difference was the another thing taking his heart. Because, may be this way he can have a very good look of her.

"Uff-- What are you doing to me, Aadya !?", Atharva asked himself opening his eyes with a wide smile and saw her reflection on the glass tiles in front of him.

Swiftly turning around, he looked here and there to find her but she was nowhere to be seen. Chuckling at his own escalating madness by each passing second, Atharva shake his head in disbelief and turned off the shower before wrapping a towel around his waist, and walked out of the bathroom while wearing his air pods and connected them to his cellphone as he dialed the number of his most trusted man.

"Jaiveer, I am sending you a address. Get me the details about each and every person living in that house.", Atharva ordered walking out of the walk-in-closet in a bathrobe and threw himself on a huge sofa in his bedroom.

"Mike.", Atharva called out and his guard who was just standing outside his room, swiftly came into the room, stood in attention and Atharva  ordered him, "Send Ishaan Iyer 's address to Jaiveer. Right now."

Just few minutes later, his cellphone pinged with a message and he opened the folder shared by Jaiveer.