Chapter 40

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Yuvaan's POV

With all thanks to Monkey and Reyna's friends, my plan worked. I knew she wouldn't have left home or went shopping if I had offered it myself, so I asked Heena if she could manage to get Keerti and Upasana to pay a surprise visit and take their friend along with them.

I didn't show, but I was really happy to see Reyna shocked on arrival of her buddies - she looked like she was dreaming. Monkey wasn't talking to me, but she had agreed to help me when I told her that I wasn't planning anything and just wanted them to have a little fun — especially my Kitten.

After Reyna left with other girls, I completed my remaining work and left for home. I kept receiving updates about their location from Heena, whom I have strictly instructed to keep an eye on my wife and ensure that she was safe every second. Heena was confused at first, but since she knew that I didn't like to waste my time explaining things unnecessarily, she didn't question further and agreed to my terms.

Grace Nana had already prepared dinner for me, but I was missing my wife's cooking. Anyhow, I filled my stomach and watched a soccer match while waiting for Reyna to arrive; the clock had already struck 11pm, and she hadn't yet returned. I was about to call her when I saw her whole gang enter through the doors with tons of shopping bags in their hands.

I switched off the TV and stood up to receive the guests, but Heena shot me a precautionary look which made me wonder what was going to happen next.

"Jeeju!" Keerti squealed and ran so fast that I thought she would crash directly into me.

"Who is Tamannah?" she asked on the top of her voice.

"I already told you that, didn't I?" Heena queried her with a confused look.

"I want to hear it from his mouth," Keerti reasoned.

Upasana and Reyna put their bags on the couch and stood beside Keerti who was investigating me with a frowned expression. I shot a glance at Heena who shrugged her shoulders and mouthed to me that they already met the 'bitch'.

"She is my ex," I answered.

"Then why was she talking about getting back with you? Are you planning on leaving our Reyna and going to her now? Are you cheating on our precious friend? Remember this, Jeeju, you might weigh more than me, but I won't hold back if you ever think of hurting Reyna. You hear me?" Keerti threatened and crushed Reyna in a hug.

"Tamannah is one of my role models, but if she tries to ruin Reyna's life, I promise I would murder her right in front of you," Upasana added and gave me a challenging look.

"Do I also have to say anything?" Heena taunted.

If I said that I wasn't a little bit afraid with all the feminine energy overflowing in the room, I would be fucking lying. Heena, Keerti and Upasana were guarding Reyna like a mother and that image reminded of my own Mom whenever someone troubled me or thought of harming me.

To avoid getting killed on the spot, I assured them that I had no ill intentions and wasn't even aware that Tamannah could have been in the same place as them. Heena helped me, and after a few minutes, Keerti and Upasana understood my point and decided to eat something else instead of my brain cells.

They started leaving with a satisfactory look on their faces, but I stopped Reyna when she was leaving along with them. Unlike her friends, she didn't look affected by the news of Tamannah or asked me about her at all — her face was completely blank of any emotion.

"Did she say something to you?" I enquired.

"She said she wants you back," Reyna replied.

"I am not going back to her."

"Before telling me that, make sure your mind and heart are on the same page."

"I am not lying," I argued.

"Good for you then." She smiled and took her leave.

I saw her going towards her room with her shopping bags, but I knew that even though she wouldn't accept the fact that she wasn't affected, I noticed how her eyes changed focus whenever Tamannah's name came up.

My Kitten thinks she is good at lying — not to me though. Once you learn to read a person's soul, you don't even need to hear their words.

As for Tamannah, I had to think of something to keep that girl out of my life. She was always on the top of my mind even after she left me, and I also wanted to get my fake support back; but now, I don't.

Why depend on someone for your happiness when you can build it with a person who is just like you — totally different, but still the same?

"Yuvi, aren't you tired?" Grace Nana asked after she saw me staring at the blank TV screen.

"I am." I nodded.

"Then why don't you go to your room and sleep? Reyna has also returned."

I took a good look at my Nana and let out a huge breath when I saw her tired face. "I never realised you got old, Nana."

"What did you say?" she scolded.

I chuckled and hugged her. "Sorry for always making you run behind me. If you hadn't been there for me, Mom would have committed suicide years ago."

"Don't say that." She slapped my arm. "Your mother would never give up on you even if the whole world is against you, and nor would I."

"I love you, Nana."

"I love you too, Kid." She kissed my forehead and sent me to my room.

Grace Nana was the only woman, other than my Mom, whom I could remember being there for me ever since I learned that I didn't fit in the society and needed extra attention because of my weird mentality. I was four years old when I first saw Nana's kind face, felt the warmth of her embrace and her smile which made me forget the negative thoughts I had built against myself.

She had gotten old — really old. She needed rest, and now that I had my own wife to take care of me, I thought it best to retire Nana and let her live the rest of her life peacefully. It was the least I could do for her continuous support and endless love for twenty three years.

Once I reached my room, I laid down on my bed and observed the boring surroundings. As Reyna had suggested, I kept the original black theme and other furniture in their old spots, but something was missing.

Reyna, my Kitten... take all the time you want, but soon, you will be next to me. But I can always go to her room, so forget about what I said earlier.

"Good night, Yuvaan," I said to myself and closed my eyes. "I have been a good boy lately, so please no more nightmares this time."

Surprisingly, I was able to sleep in peace and more surprising was the fact that my prayer was answered and I didn't suffer any night trauma. Whenever I encountered a negative entity in my dreams, I just had to think of Reyna and everything would get crystal clear. Also, my annoying inner voice was taking a break and sulking in the background - I was happy.

I woke up around 8am and got ready for the day. Since it was Sunday, I had to play a lot of games and work out too after stuffing myself with my wife's cooking. I took a quick bath and hopped downstairs with a huge grin on my face when I saw everyone gathered in the dining room.

"Good morning!" I greeted and took my spot on the table after pecking Reyna on her cheek.

"What happened, bro?" Advait asked with curiosity.

"I slept well." I smiled.

He raised his eyebrows and gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Congratulations on your achievement."

"What so great about being able to sleep well?" Shaurya mocked even though he knew the reason.

I rolled my eyes. "Who invited this alien to my house?"

"No fighting on the table," Heena scolded.

"Didi!"

"Didi?" Heena wondered who called her that.

"Reyna Di!"

As soon as Reyna heard her brother's voice, she left all work and stomped towards him.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" she yelled.

Wow, that was a hell of a reaction. I thought she would be happy to see Armaan after so long, but it looked she would bury him alive right there.

"Can't I even come to see my own sister?" he complained. "You have changed, Di."

"Who called you here?" Reyna enquired.

Armaan glanced at me and grinned. "Jeeju did."

I face-plamed myself when Reyna looked over her shoulder, totally pissed off. She gave me murderous glares for what seemed like an eternity and then addressed her brother, who was waving at Keerti and Upasana without any care in the world.

"Now that you are here, leave after having breakfast," Reyna told Armaan and guided him inside the dining room.

He was about to sit beside me, but Reyna stopped him and forcefully made him sit between Upasana and herself. Armaan whined about that but a single look from his sister made him shut up.

"Next time, ask me before calling my brother here," she warned me in a low voice as she served me food.

"Aren't you being over protective? He is eighteen, you know," I grumbled.

"He is my brother." She clenched her hands into fists.

I thought she would punch me if I said anything more, so I nodded and let her relax. I had seen parents getting highly protective of their kids, but I had never seen a person being so sensitive about their sibling. It wasn't like anyone was trying to hurt Armaan, but Reyna was keeping an eye on us like a hawk.

I decided to shift my focus and observe her brother to get any clue. His facial features were similar to that of Reyna's, eye colour was also the same, his smile also resembled hers and also the way his eyes twinkled whenever his favourite topic came up was same.

As I moved my eyes over him while munching on my meal, I observed a black mark on the inside of his right forearm. He had rolled up his sleeves just a few inches above his wrist, so it was difficult to judge if it was a tattoo or—

"How did your hand got burned, Armaan?" Advait questioned him.

I glanced at my best friend who gave me a knowing look — he was also thinking the same thing as me.

"My hand?" Armaan said quizzically and moved his sleeve upwards.

"It was a fire, I guess." He twisted his lips. "Right, Di?"

Reyna glanced over us and patted her brother's head. "Yes, it was a fire, Aru."

"You don't remember anything about it?" Shaurya questioned Reyna's brother.

"He was too young back then," Reyna replied.

"How did it happen?" I queried. "Did you get hurt too?"

Reyna moved her gaze on me and smirked. "No, I didn't."

Of course, she did!

"Yes, you didn't because that's not a scar from a fire but an acid attack," Advait announced.

"Acid attack?" Upasana and Heena expressed their shock.

"I said it was fire." Reyna gave Advait a flat look.

"Is it so, Mrs. Raichand?" Advait challenged. "Since when did we start getting scars like those from fire?"

He pointed towards the black scar, shaped like an elongated crescent moon, running from Armaan's wrist upto his elbow and some similar dots gathered along the outer edges looking like a splashed paint.

"Di, wasn't it a fire like you had told me?" Armaan nudged Reyna in confusion.

"Looks like Reyna herself doesn't remember. Why don't we do this story session later and finish our meals?" Keerti joked and diverted the conversation by bringing up a random topic and rambling over it.

"Yeah, the food is really delicious to ignore, you know," Upasana added and patted Armaan's back.

"My Di is the best cook, right Jeeju?" Armaan beamed.

How could he be so gullible?

I nodded and told him to eat to his heart's content. He thanked me and smiled at his sister, who caressed his cheek and rubbed the scar on his arm with a longfull look. She glanced at Advait, who didn't say anything and kept eating like nothing happened. Then, she glimpsed at Shaurya and Heena who also sported the same expression. At last, she looked at me and narrowed her eyes.

"What did I do?" I retorted.

"I didn't even say anything." She quirked an eyebrow.

"Then why are you looking at me like that?" I shifted away from her.

"Can't I even look at my husband now?" she teased.

I blinked rapidly, and Reyna gave me a tight lipped smile before paying all of her attention to her baby brother, completely ignoring me.

I wouldn't have minded her gazing at me if it was in a romantic way and not like a serial killer who would want my head on his/her plate.

Advait kicked me under the table and told me to look at Shaurya. I did and saw my lawyer friend typing on his phone as if his life depended on it and kept stealing glances at my wife. I took a spoon and threw at him; as expected, he caught it before it hit him on the forehead and shot me a flat look.

"I am doing it for only you, Asshole," he grumbled.

I didn't know what exactly was going on in Shaurya's mind, but one thing was for granted that my best friend would never betray me — even if it would cost him his life.

Thank you for reading 💚


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