Chapter 24

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(🚨 Long chapter ahead 🚨)

∆~×~∆

"Let's begin the game."

Yuvaan picked up his gun and shot in my direction. He moved his hand so fast that I didn't even get time to react. The bullet flew past my left cheek, passing through some strands of my hair. I moved myself away as soon as I realised what game he was talking about.

"Reyna, today might be your last day. Any last wish?" he asked as he fired near my feet, missing my pinky toe by just a few millimetres.

"I asked you something!" he boomed and shot five rounds in quick succession.

I jumped around in panic, trying to find an escape. I ran towards the door as tears sprang in my eyes, but Yuvaan moved from his seat and blocked my way. He stood in front of the door and sneered.

"Last wish, dear wife." He ran a hand on the muzzle of his gun.

"I am sorry," I cried and ran to the corner of the room.

"What's the use of it now? I brought you here for only one thing, and you couldn't even do that properly. You just had one job-to keep your mouth shut, but..." He shrugged his shoulders. "Not my fault." He moved towards me holding his gun like he was doing an encounter.

Seeing no other way out, I ducked under the table and crawled to the other end. "Please, Yuvaan. I didn't know Grandpa was your client. I am really sorry."

"He is not your Grandpa! Even if you didn't know him, you should have used your brain and not acted like an idiot." He crouched down and grabbed my ankle.

I tried to yank my leg from his hold, but he started dragging me out like I weighed nothing. I pleaded him not to shoot me and wished for his insanity to stop. I clutched one of the table's legs with my hands and shook my head when Yuvaan said that if I didn't oblige, he would shoot me in the leg.

To prove his point, he removed my sandal and put the gun on my right sole. "I am serious, Reyna. I already informed you that today's meeting was really important for me, but I couldn't get the deal because of you. You will have to bear the consequences."

He twisted my ankle and laughed like a maniac. "You know, if I shoot you, the bullet will travel from your leg and pass through your skull."

How was that possible? He was joking, right?

"You don't believe me?" He raised his eyebrows. "Shall we see it ourselves then?" he questioned and smiled.

"Please, no! I promise I won't repeat the mistake. Please, I don't want to die, Yuvaan." I increased my hold on the table's leg-my last bit of support.

"Then how about I kill your brother instead?" He removed the gun from my foot and dragged me out forcefully.

My face paled; I wouldn't let my brother suffer for something I did. I begged Yuvaan to keep his hands off of Arman, but he didn't seem convinced. He kept threatening me that either I would die or my family.

"This is getting boring, let's play another game," he suggested and sat down on the floor in Indian style.

I slithered away and my back touched one of the chairs. Yuvaan warned me not to move as he thought for a moment. After a few minutes, his eyes lit up with a mischievous glint, and he put the gun between us.

He shot me an evil smile and tied his hair in a high ponytail. "Since you didn't say your last wish, I will give you some myself. If you are able to pick that gun before me, I will let you live.

"Moreover, you can even shoot me if you want. That way, you would be able to save your family too. But, if you can't do it, then you will have to shoot yourself and as for your family, I will take care of them in my own way. Sounds fun, right?"

I blinked rapidly at his proposition. I was sure he had completely lost it. He was allowing me to take the gun and shoot him if I was able to grab it before him; he was treating my helplessness like a game.

"What are you waiting for? Take it." He motioned towards the lifeless weapon which had the ability to take lives.

"Clock is ticking, Reyna," Yuvaan teased, knowing himself that I wouldn't be able to outmatch him.

But even if I did, what would be the use? There were no bullets in the gun.

I didn't move my hand and just stared at him with tearful eyes. He was blaming me for everything while I didn't blame him even an ounce for whatever was happening to me. It was my father's fault that I was married to him and mine for trusting him blindly.

"Are you scared, my-" Yuvaan began but a loud knock on the door interrupted him.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"What is it?" Yuvaan yelled in frustration.

"It is urgent!" Heena's voice came from the other end.

"I am busy playing with my wife. Go away!" he shouted back.

"It is Mr. Rickard. He has invited you for a dinner!" Heena answered and banged on the door loudly. "And he has asked to bring Bhabhi along with you."

Yuvaan snapped his eyes at me. "Why is he so interested in you?"

"I don't know." I shook my head vigorously, my eyes darting between him and his gun.

"Looks like you are quite lucky, Reyna Bakshi. Rickard saved you this time, but if you mess it up again, I will continue our game. And then, I won't give you any options," Yuvaan concluded and dragged me up by my elbow.

He dusted my shoulders and hair. I stood like a statue as he continued straightening my clothes. He rested his hands on my waist and tilted his head, his eyes boring into mine.

"Remember to smile when you meet him again but only answer when someone asks you something. Don't act foolish like you did earlier," he advised, and I nodded my head.

"Good," he said and grabbed my wrist.

He opened the door and took us outside in the lobby where others were waiting. Heena wrapped me in a hug as soon as she saw me and dragged me away from Yuvaan. Shaurya shot me a worried look while Advait was staring at me with emotionless eyes.

"Are you okay, Bhabhi?" Heena asked as she turned me around to check if I was hurt anywhere.

"She is not dead," Yuvaan deadpanned, and Heena gave him a murderous glare.

"Don't look at me like that, Monkey," he scolded.

"I am not your Monkey. My name is Heena Jaffar, your P.A. and I would prefer if you call me that," she huffed.

Yuvaan gave her a surprised look. "What got into you, Monkey?"

"Heena Jaffar, it is for you, Mr. Yuvaan Raichand. Did you forget that we are in office?" She raised her voice a little, making everyone stun with her sharp tongue.

"Heena, don't talk to him like-" Advait started, but Heena shut him up with a glance.

She took my hand and pulled me closer. "We are leaving. And don't worry, she is my responsibility. I will teach her everything and dress her up according to your 'standards', so you can get that fucking deal!"

She took something from her bag and pushed it in Yuvaan's hand. It was his fidget spinner; I still wondered why she carried it with her and why she gave that white coloured bottle to Yuvaan earlier.

"We should leave now, Bhabhi. We have a lot of work to do." She smiled and took me with her, leaving three shocked guys behind.

The time passed by in a blur, and I was standing outside in front of Heena's car, ready to leave for the party. I was still shocked by the morning's incident; Yuvaan's continous mood swings sent shivers through me, but I made sure to pay attention to everything Heena taught me.

I checked my reflection for the last time in the car's window and sighed in relief when Heena came beside me. She told me that I looked good and she would keep me safe if my husband tried to hurt me again.

I gave her a genuine smile and complimented her; she was looking gorgeous in her dark green one shoulder ruffle hem dress. My dress was also pretty-a grey floor length chiffon gown with plain skirt and decorations on the blouse.

(Heena's dress👆)

(Reyna's dress👆)

But I was still jealous of Heena. Not because she was looking so beautiful, but because she was so confident of herself in whatever she wore. I also wanted to wear the dress she had; I wished I wasn't so insecure about my body.

After admiring her for a minute, we got inside the car and reached the venue. The drive took us just ten minutes to get to the grand white and grey hotel which was sporting a big lawn outside and luxurious cars in its parking lot.

As I was busy admiring the humongous structure decorated like a birthday cake, a hand circled my waist from behind, and I was pulled in a side embrace. I glanced up at Yuvaan who was smiling at me like he didn't almost shoot me dead in the morning.

"You dressed up really nice, wifey. We are matching." He smirked and glanced between his grey suit and my dress.

I stared at him like he was some alien. He took me inside, and I noticed Shaurya following behind in a black suit with a small briefcase in his hand while Advait, clad in a dark blue suit was trying to talk to Heena.

(Yuvaan's outfit👆)

(Shaurya's outfit👆)

(Advait's outfit👆)

My eyes widened when I took in the scene in front of me. Around a hundred people were roaming on the marbled floor with flutes of champagne or some other drink in their hands; men dressed in most of the expensive suits and women in dresses and jewelry costing a fortune.

Small round tables covered in silk clothes and flower decorations were spread in corners with four to five chairs around them as a huge space was left in the middle of the hall where few couples were dancing to slow music.

"There he is," Shaurya said as he pointed towards Mr. Rickard standing in a corner with a few men.

"You remember what I told you?" Yuvaan asked me.

"Yes," I replied, and we went to meet his client.

"Mr. Rickard," my husband called his name, turning the attention of the people on our small entourage.

The moment Rickard landed his eyes on us, his face lit up with a bright smile and he took my right hand in his. He patted my palm with his left hand and kept smiling at me.

"You are looking lovely, my kid," he beamed.

"Thank you." I gave him a small smile, trying not to go overboard.

Yuvaan cleared his throat to divert Rickard's attention who told him that he already noticed him. He wanted to talk to me as he wouldn't be able to meet me again; he was leaving for Australia the next morning.

I noticed Yuvaan stiffen a bit at the new found information, and he exchanged a look with Shaurya who nodded his head a little, assuring his best friend that everything would be okay.

"You must be hungry, let's go and eat first," Rickard suggested and took me to a big vacant table, and just as my spouse had instructed me, I didn't say anything in protest.

After making everyone sit according to his own preference, Rickard ordered a waiter to bring in the dishes which he had already decided. No one argued and let the old man do whatever he wanted.

I picked up the big napkin from the table and spread it on my thighs and rested my hands on it. I kept my back straight, and Heena gave me a small thumbs up from under the table; I was glad she was beside me.

Soon, a lot of delicious looking dishes arrived on our table and everyone was served Spaghetti. To make sure I had learned right, I first observed how the others ate and then began myself.

Fortunately, I was able to eat without making a mess. All the time, I could feel Yuvaan's scrutinizing stare on me which was completely opposite to the warm gaze of Rickard who kept telling me to eat more.

But I kept my fork down after one serving and moved on to the soup; I was doing well if I said so myself. At least Yuvaan wasn't looking at me like he would murder me.

I was blowing on my spoon to cool down the temperature before consuming it when I noticed a hilarious sight which made me burst out laughing, resulting in the soup splattering around.

Rickard stopped eating when he saw me laughing at him. A few strands of Spaghetti were hanging from his moustache and he wasn't even aware of it. I tried to stop myself when I sensed others looking at me like I had lost my mind, but I couldn't help it.

"Care to tell us what's the joke?" Rickard questioned, and my laughter doubled up when the noodles moved along with his jaw.

Heena put her hand on my thigh, signalling me not to say anything. I clasped a hand on my mouth, but the tears didn't stop. Rickard still didn't know, and he was glancing around at everyone to tell him what was the matter.

"Sir, please ignore my rudeness, but you have some food stuck to your moustache," Shaurya announced in a low voice after throwing a curious glance at me. I could see his lips twitch as he tried to control laughing himself.

Rickard took a napkin and cleaned his lustrous hair, nodding his head a little at Shaurya.

"You found it funny?" he asked, taking a serious expression. Everyone went silent.

"I am... I... Sorry, I didn't... mean to be disrespectful," I apologized as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"It is okay," he replied and began eating again.

I glimpsed at Yuvaan who was clutching the small knife in his hand tightly. I could feel the tension in his bones. Honestly, I had already given up. I knew no matter how much I tried, I would never match to his expectations; his world.

If he wanted to continue that game, I would take that gun and shoot myself without any complaints. At least that way, he would have no reason to touch my brother and would not need to go to jail for homicide.

"Do I look okay now?" Rickard's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I turned my head to the front and went into a second laughing fit; I was surely going to die today. Rickard had stuck two long strands of noodles to the hair above his lips and was talking like Master Shifu from Kung Fu Panda.

(Master Shifu👆)

After a few seconds, he also joined me, and we were guffawing like idiots. I told him to stop it, but he told me that I had been frowning since I came, and he just wanted me to enjoy.

"Come on guys, laugh a bit. It won't hurt your busy asses," he taunted, and after a few seconds, everyone broke out chuckling-except one person.

After everyone was done eating, Rickard asked me for a dance which I gladly accepted. I loved dancing. He took me to the centre of the floor, and we matched steps to a classical song with soft beats.

"Thank you for coming, Reyna," Rickard said with a longfull look in his eyes.

"I should be thanking you, Mr. Rickard." I smiled.

"Mr. Rickard? I don't like you calling me that," he pouted. "I prefer something like Dadaji or Grandpa."

I praised him for not ruining the pronunciation of the Hindi word. "Are you sure? Yuvaan told me not to treat you like one," I reasoned.

"Who cares what he says? I am telling you, you can call me Grandpa or anything you prefer. Are you going to disobey an elderly?"

"No, Grandpa," I replied, making him smile in return.

We danced and laughed for quite a good time before Yuvaan took me from him and told him to rest. Grandpa Rickard patted his shoulder lightly and went back to the table where Shaurya conversed with him casually.

"I told you to be friendly, Reyna, but I have noticed you seem to bend my words according to your own preference," he stated as he swirled me around and caught me in a swift motion.

"I am sorry," I said as I stopped myself from stomping on his feet.

"You should be, every man is looking at you since you came here," he growled, tightening his hold on my waist.

Was that my fault too?

I didn't reply and kept my eyes low. I sensed him looking at me with narrowed eyes because he rotated me aside with a jerk while holding my right hand and pulled me back in a snap, my chest colliding with his as a result.

He wrapped his hands around me and bent his head down to my eye level. He told me to raise my head which I did against my wishes, and he darted his eyes

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