CHAPTER FOUR

       

           I sat down. I'm struggling to keep myself awake. I couldn't sleep during the ride, " Look at me, " Momi softly says. 

      I crack my eyes open and look at her. She tugs my hair behind my ears and then gathers them in the hold of her hand. She makes a tight bun of my hair, " Momi, I'm not a kid." I pout my lips. 

      " Of course, you're. All you want to do is just sleep." She smiles and taps on my nose with her index finger. 

      I smile at her. The chair next to me screeched. I blink as I glance at him. I blink to make him disappear. But nothing. He sits next to me. I can imagine Sim's face now. I'm not looking at her side. It's not my fault if someone is interested in sitting next to me. It may be his aim to get the true side of her. We don't deal with boys every day, it's our brothers and fathers. Boys fear being near us. We are not allowed out of the house without our brothers or mothers and bodyguards. 

          Strange! But it's true. 

      " Achraj, why are you sitting there? Sit next to your future wife. " I glance at the woman. She must be his mother. She's beautiful, a little healthier than my mother. 

       " I've business to do, mom." He softly says to her. It's only him, I'm ignoring not to see at. 

       " I can sit there. You can sit in your usual seat with your father." Simrat says as she gets up. She is truly desperate. He would have sitten if he wanted to. 

      Akash uncle stares at her. He doesn't like it, his look says.

      " No thanks, " Achraj says, " Kala, " He beckons at a giant man. His look is threatening, broad shoulders, long legs, so tall, I'd never go near him. He is a ghost, scary. 

       " Sit down, " Akash uncle says through his clenched jaw. He could say it in a humble voice. That's how they treat their women and daughters. 

       "Kala!" Achraj says out loudly. 

       I shiver in fear. I'm not used to such an angry tone. He's aggravated about something. Momi immediately covers her hand on mine and caresses the back of my hand. I look up at her and smile. My mother is always worried about me. That's the reason my brother has taught me self-defence. No one knows about it except my sisters. 

       I glance at the table to distract myself, " There are non-vegetarian dishes. I'm not eating, Momi, " I say as I softly shove the empty plate away from me. I'm vegetarian. I'll eat anything vegetarian if I'm not getting my favourite dishes. 

       " Shelly! " Momi stares at me as her stare is gonna work. I know her. 

       Someone clears his throat. We swivel to look at him. My eyes meet his dark eyes. He seems like the hero of the novel but at the same time, I felt as It wasn't his true side or he's hiding his true side, his eyes soft, lips curled up in a smile. He's truly handsome. 

       " She's vegetarian." My mother says. 

       " My cousin is also vegetarian." He says and beckons at the lady, standing behind his mother, " You can tell him whatever you want." The lady immediately rushes toward me. 

        She looks at me down with a kind smile. I nervously smile, chewing on my upper lip. I don't understand, what should I eat? Suddenly, my brain feels blank. I gaze behind my mother. My sisters are looking at me. I give them a pleading look to help me, " You want to eat a burger." Sas suggested. 

       That was two days ago. Later I went out with my brother.

       I shake my head and pout my lips as her suggestion isn't helping. 

       I hear the small chuckle of Achraj's mother, " Your daughter is so cute, Jahnavi! '' His mother tells my mother. Momi nods her head with a smile. It's her proud moment, " Ask Rajpreet to cook Cheese Paratha for her." His mother tells the lady. 

      "Yes, ma'am," Rajpreet says and goes into the kitchen. 

      "Don't worry. She cooks only vegetarian dishes. " His mother says assuredly. 

      "Thank you," I couldn't help the small laugh that jumps from my lips. 

       "Till then, " I look at Achraj. He grabs the glass of juice and puts it in front of me. 

        Oh no! Is he offering me his food? Sim must be thinking about killing me right now. She already hates me. She hadn't said it out loud. It's written all over her face. I'm nervous around boys. I don't know how to talk to them. I'm only good at one thing, beating them. My brother is protective of me. He never allows any boy near me, he'll not back up without beating the hell out of them. He's not that old, but his habits, talking way everything resembles me of a mature person. I shake my head. I squeeze my mother's hand to help me. She knows. The presence of boys around me makes me nervous. Though he's a grown man and going to be Sim's husband. My brother will never allow me to talk to him. He holds out his finger before my mother could interfere. It freezes me. First, my father addresses his father as boss and now he's being bossy with my mother. No one can make my mother shut, not even my father, " I'm a coffee person." he pauses, saying with humbleness, " You can ask anyone." He hides his bossy nature under his smile. 

       " Brother is saying right. " A soft voice says. He's sitting next to Sim. His look says. Playboy!  

       Instantly, I glance at the glass. My mother pats my hand as she approves his offer. 

       " Thank you, " I held the glass with both hands. Although I'm not feeling sleepy. I don't wanna spill it on my white dress. 

         

    

             I avoided looking at him. I was still thinking over what happened on the table. I didn't dare to look at Sim. I knew it. I'm just getting hatred. 

      " I thought, after breakfast, you'll feel active." Sas whispers. 

      " I need to sleep. You can sit on the floor. I can put my head in your lap. " I smile at her. 

      " Watch your steps, " Saavi says as we take the steps, " Sas, I'll be back." She says, slipping her hand away from my arm. 

        Sas tightens her arms around me. 

       I glance at Saavi rushing ahead and she slows her feet near Sim. Saavi's expressions aren't looking pleasant, " Are they fighting? " I ask her. 

      " Don't pay attention. You know, Saavi." Sas says. 

       Saavi is a soft-hearted, kind girl. But she'll never tolerate anything wrong around her and the people she cares about. We stop as Kala stops in front of a mirror and white wooden door, " This is your room, ma'am, " Kala says. 

       Proudly, Sim steps forward with an evil smile. Kala blocks her way, extending his arm, " What's this? " She glares at him as she has glared at me many times before. 

       His menacing look frightens me, " Miss Love Kaur, This is your room, ma'am. " My eyes widened at his words. 

      Sas shakes me, "Go," She says smiling at me. She swivels her neck, " Oh cool! Our room, brother! " Sas exclaims. 

      " There, three doors. Pick anyone." He beckons at his right side. 

      " Thanks, " Sas says and reels toward the door leaving me behind. 

      Saavi glances at me, " Can you walk, brain plus beauty?" She asks. I nod immediately, " Do not hit yourself?" Saavi instructs me in her mocking tone. 

      I nod my head. I glance down as I bite my lip. Saavi gives me a confused look, " I don't know. where did I forget my luggage?" I shrug my one shoulder. 

      " I've got it, ma'am," Kala says as he lifts my luggage in one hand as it's a paper bag. He was holding it while going up the stairs and I didn't notice. 

      Sim turns angrily and scoots toward the door with stomping feet, she sees first. She pushes the door and slams it behind her. 

      " Will she ever mend her ways? " Sas frowns at her. 

      " Let me answer! Let me answer! " Saavi giggles, getting excited to answer. 

       Sas and I exchange a gleeful look," Go on! " Sas smiles. 

       Saavi bends ahead and puts her hand on her hip. Her expression is stern, " Never! " She probed out her index finger, fisting her hand, wiggling it left to right, right to left. 

       We three giggle. I don't care if she's steaming sitting behind the door. Jealous and egoistic things are not part of our lives. Three of us stop when we see Kala smiling. He clears his throat, " You luggage, ma'am. " He isn't looking threatening anymore with a smile. He walks into the room and puts my luggage on the floor. Coming out of the room, He strides toward the stairs. 

       " See you later guys, " I walk into the room and close the door behind me. All I can see is the huge king size bed. I drop my hand bag and plop on the velour mattress.