Aradhya couldn't sleep the whole night. Not because of what Vihaan said or what he did. She couldn't sleep mainly because he had thrown himself on her.
He was knocked out the moment he asked Aradhya why he liked him. Aradhya had to pull every muscle in her body to yank him to the bed.
Aradhya woke up after getting the most minimal amount of sleep she ever had in her life. She wiped the sweat off of her neck. She snuggled around trying to get off the bed but she was a bit taken aback but not exactly surprised by Vihaan's arm around her waist holding her down. She sighed.
Aradhya peeked at him to see him sleeping soundly with his still red face from all the drinking he did the day before. She scoffed. How was he able to hold her down even he was asleep?
Aradhya looked out the window and the sun was on the brink of emerging. She tried her best to get up and yet, no luck. She let out a defeated sigh and flopped back on the bed beside Vihaan who instinctively jerked closer.
Now, it was weird to Aradhya. It was making her nervous a bit. Their proximity was way too much. Aradhya felt Vihaan's breath on her neck the whole night which -just the thought- made her shiver. Aradhya pushed Vihaan away with the littlest of force. Enough for him, to wake up.
Vihaan almost immediately jerked away to the other end of the bed when he realised what the situation was.
"What in the world?!" He exclaimed.
"Yes, what in the world is a pretty accurate question." Aradhya retorted getting out of the bed.
"What were you doing on my side of the bed."
"Excuse me, I was okay sleeping on the ground rather than next to you. You were the one who did not let me get even an hour of sleep last night."
"Stop lying, Aradhya. I did not know you were like this."
"What? This is all my fault now? You were the one who was acting crazy after getting drunk yesterday."
"That has never happened. Stop blaming me. I didn't get drunk. Do you have any evidence?"
"No, but -"
"Exactly. How can you be so bold?"
Aradhya went through a whole panic attack trying to prove to him that she wants the one who did all that but she could not even blame him for not remembering. He was drunk.
"Are you serious? I didn't even know you would be here." Aradhya explained herself as Vihaan walked up to her furiously, "I promise, it was not-"
Vihaan stood dangerously close to her with a sly smirk on his face. He chuckled at her. He cupped her face and scooted back.
"I'm just messing with you. I remember everything."
.  .  .  .
Everyone had gathered at the royal gardens for some family time at the palace. Vihaan was almost going crazy with Darsh and his cute antics. He found every single quirk of his fascinating. Rajmata, Sadhana and Tamasvini were in a world of their own. Rihit and Nandini tried to seem as though they were having a good friendly conversation but they went in with their relationship's foolish charm.
On the other hand, Aradhya looked over the whole scene from the view of her balcony. She was good where she was. She felt the safest where she was.
Within the walls of her room. Just as she was in Shiladhika. She saw Tamasvini pulling her evil charm on Rajmata. Through Sadhana looked unconvinced, she was uncomfortable.
She looked around and found Vihaan staring at her with concerned eyes. He handed Darsh to Nandini and Rihit. He raised her new at her to which Aradhya replied with just a side nod. She turned away and walked into her room.
She scavenged a book for herself and sat on the sill. Within minutes Vihaan walked into the room. He stood before her.
"Come on. Don't be a lone wolf." He said pulling Aradhya down from the sill. Aradhya stopped.
"I'm not willing to be anywhere near Tamasvini. I don't feel good. I can't stand her."
"I think you should stop now, Aradhya. How long are you going to hold onto a grudge? She is not that bad of a person. She is the most humble, kind and happy person I have ever seen."
Aradhya's urge to tell him the truth right that second. The fact that Vihaan was already in the Tamasvini's webs was now her fear. She felt more insecure than she ever had felt. Just the thought of Vihaan with Tamasvini provided a feeling in her that was unsettling.
"Come-" Vihaan was cut off by Aradhya.
"Go ahead. I'll be right behind."
Vihaan shot her a suspicious look and walked out of the room with somewhat of a disappointed look plastered on his face. Aradhya tried her hardest to start over with Tamasvini but she couldn't. Not after the hell, Tamasvini had put her through.
Aradhya timidly walked into the gardens and was directly greeted by the scowling face of Rajmata. She decided to look past it and walked over to where Rihit and Nandini were.
"Rihit, come with me for a second." She asked and almost immediately Rihit abandoned Nandini and went with Aradhya.
"What is the matter? Is everything fine?" He asked.
"Everything is fine but did anyone mention me here? Like anyone? Rajmata or Tamasvini?"
"Yes, actually. When Vihaan went to get you Rajmata was a bit upset. And Tamasvini was also telling her about her past with you."
Aradhya knew, for a fact that Tamasvini would have put the biggest rumour on her name.
"Thank you. And be careful. Everyone is here. Don't get too personal with Nandini."
.  .  .  .
Some hours had passed since Aradhya had come. Rajmata and Tamasvini almost evidently ignored her. Vihaan was too engaged with his little son that nothing else seemed of importance to him.
"Tamasvini turned everything on you. She literally told Rajmata everything she did to you but she took the role of the victim." Sadhana informed Aradhya. Now Aradhya was sure, the best she could do was not touch a single matter and walk out of there. Never run into those two ever again.
She stood in the hallway catching her breath after strutting out of the garden. She heard a sly laugh and turned around.
"I guess, you know now what I am capable of," Tamasvini spoke.
"I do. You are only capable of doing the most shameless things in the world."
"Say whatever you might, Aradhya. I am going to take over this whole kingdom."
"You are acting like a child. Not a queen. I would not trust you with a blade let alone a kingdom."
"Your opinion doesn't matter. I think you know about that now. I've already got Rajmata under with wing. I'll get everyone sooner or later."
"Like I'll ever let that happen. I won't let you live as you used to before here."
"But what is my fault. You were the one who is always victimising me."
"Watch your mouth. I don't care if you are my sister or my stepmother's daughter. Stay as away from me as you can. I, am not the same person I used to be now."
Aradhya turned around to leave when she felt Tamasvini pull her into the most genuine seeming hug she had ever seen her give.
"Please Aradhya...understand," Tamasvini dipped down to whisper in Aradhya's ear, "Once I have got Vihaan in my control. Once I've made him fall so hopelessly in love with me. Once he puts me over you, I will show you every form of hell. Anyways, I have Vihaan already."
That brought more insecurity to Aradhya's heart than before. Aradhya ripped Tamasvini from the embrace and out of the blue, her temper got to her. Aradhya swung her hand across Tamasvini's face.
Though Tamasvini winced in pain, a smile of sheer joy played on her lips. She made her victory evident as Rajmata and Vihaan with everyone else following behind.
Aradhya knew she had just lost.
"What are you doing, Aradhya? Are you out of your mind?" Rajmata bellowed while putting a supporting arm around Tamasvini.
"Why would you hit your own sister when you are the one in the wrong." Vihaan also spoke. Aradhya's heart all but dropped.
"What?..." She trembled.
"Don't play dumb. We know what you did to her when you were in Shiladhika. You know you were the one who made her go through so much." Rajmata retorted.
Rihit, Nandini and Sadhana stood there with concerned looks on their face. They showed total belief in Aradhya and evident dismay in Vihaan. Vihaan looked at her with the most disgust and disbelief.
"No, please, believe me. I haven't done anything of that sort. Please believe me." Aradhya pleaded.
"Why should we? Do you have any proof?" Rajmata spoke.
A sudden rush of self-worth pushed through Aradhya. She was done proving herself. She would now stand for herself rather than begging. She squared her shoulders and spoke with unimaginable morale.
"Did you ask her the proof for what she told you? Then what makes you think that you have the right to ask me the proof of what is."
Everyone including Rajmata gasped at her words. It was rare to find someone who spoke like that to a royal. Vihaan widened his eyes. He was unable to calm his nerves down.
"How can you talk to her like that?" Vihaan held Aradhya by her shoulder with a sickening grip. Aradhya was disappointed in him too.
"How can you question me when you didn't question Tamasvini's false accusation of me?" Aradhya replied the certainty strengthing her with each word.
"She is my mother, Aradhya. Don't you dare speak to her like that"
Aradhya scoffed. She met his eyes and put every hope she had in her heart out. She, with great ease, freed herself from Vihaan's grip and turned around and walked away after throwing a sickening look at all of them standing there.
.  .  .  .
Vihaan and Aradhya avoided each other for days after that had happened. They didn't even talk about the other. Both of them had egos bigger than the other. They wouldn't even talk to each other even if they ran into each other. Even if Nandini and Rihit tried to bring them together, it was useless.
Aradhya didn't try to even meet Vihaan's eyes as he walked into the room. He seemed infuriated. Vihaan stopped himself at the doorway and shook his head. Aradhya looked away too. Vihaan turned around and sauntered in the direction of Tamasvini's room.
A heavy aura filled the room. Aradhya's mind suddenly brought the picture of Vikram before her. Her eyes almost automatically filled up.
"You think you are right in every situation? Don't be this confident, Aradhya. This is just called having a big ego. Yes, you don't have to prove yourself but sometimes you will have to let your self-respect go away to hold onto a relationship that means the most to you. It's okay to be vulnerable before the person you are certain would understand."
"So you're telling me that I should go and apologise to him?"
"Yes. You won't lose anything if you just apologise to him. Your relationship is more important in this situation than yourself."
As Vikram's words ran around her head, Aradhya drew a deep breath. She nodded.
"Okay, I will go and apologise to Vihaan."
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Hey again. I don't have much to say in this chapter. So I going to keep this short.
Tell me how you like the chapter. And also I would like to know what you think of Rihit and Nandini's relationship. Are you into it or do you not like it as much.
And don't forget to vote and also drop a comment if you have any suggestions or opinions.
That is all.
Until next time.
With love.
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