Typed On - 01/10/2018

Chapter 2 -World War Three

"Iaaa" He glides his old fingers on her picture. Touching her photo feels like touching his wife, making him feel closer to her. "Jaave." He swallows a thick and heavy big lump.

It's a special day for our Jaanvi Ishaani. Your wish will come true. It will come true today.

"Bhai?" He heard his younger brother's voice. They lived together. His younger brother Sunil suggested him to get married again, after all he was young, handsome and rich but thinking about another women was a crime for him. (Brother)

How could he? He promised to not let go of Ishaani until his last breath. He was enough to raise their daughter. His Ishaani was the only women he ever loved. And will always love.

"Suul" He mumbles putting his wife's photo frame away. Standing up he winces at the strange pain aching in his thighs, ignoring that he walks to his brother keeping that signature kind smile on his face. The smile that could light up the whole house.

"Bhai," He places a hand on Ansh's shoulder, "H—how can you smile? After everything you've been through? You lost her, the girl you loved. And today you'll lose Jaanvi too." He shook his head, incapable of pin-pointing at how his brother could be so selfless and positive at the same time. (Brother)

"Nhhh." Ansh forwards to his cupboard, opening it up he brought his wife's wedding dress. Showing it to a befuddle Sunil he points at the dress with misty eyes.

"Yes, I understand she'll get married but she'll be far from you." Sunil answers.

The vibrant man rests his hand on his chest, "Jaave" He said soothingly, eyes closed but lips curve slightly, hand on his heart.

His brother sighs, unaware of how possibly he could take some of his elder brother's pain away. "You're too strong. Sometimes it hurts Bhai." (Brother)

He shrugs putting the bridal wear away like the praise meant nothing. "Ansh Ji, Sunil Ji come down! They are here!" Both the brother's heard Juhi's voice from downstairs, yelling for their attention. Hearing her they hurried downstairs in eagerness to greet the Rajput family.

"Ansh." Roshni, Kiaan's mother and Ishaani's best friend smiles big hugging him. They all went to the same collage. Their friendship was too old to be forgotten. "How are you? It's been so long?" He put his hands up gesturing he's fine. The incredibly productive grin gently lays on his lips like always.

Ansh later greets Roshni's husband Raj. The two men hug cheerfully, both their faces sparkling remembering their college days. Walking inside they all sit on the couch. Ansh points at Kiaan asking if he's the oldest one. He was sure it is Kiaan—the one his wife played with before dying—but wanted to be hundred percent correct.

"Yes uncle. I'm Kiaan, the guy your daughter hates." He jokes making everyone chuckle delightfully. He was as lively and charismatic as before. Ansh circles his finger and moves it around his head saying, 'she's crazy.' "She is!" Kiaan laughs agreeing full heartedly.

Kiaan was twenty-seven years old. A tall young man around six feet tall. He was lean with short black hair and brown eyes and a jawline to ogle at.

"She's just honest." His younger brother Dhruv comment.

"A bit too honest." Their sister whispers arrogantly.

Dhruv really liked her personality. She was honest, bold, chatty and very stubborn. A complete competition to his brother which he loved. Dhruv never witness any other girl—woman get inside his brothers head and turn him speechless like Jaanvi did.

He admired that. And perhaps still will. He reckons she's still the same.

Rashi walks out of the kitchen with a tray of snacks and tea like a typical Indian young woman would do if the groom's family had come to see her for wedding proposal. She smiles warmly at the Rajput family but her smile turns extra sweet—sugary—once her eyes land on the—now—twenty-five year old Dhruv.

He looks even hotter than before to her with his fresh shaven face and unselfish eyes. His mysterious nature—the kindness—adds a bonus. He feels her eyes on her so he looks up. Dhruv didn't want to come across rude so he smiles before averting his eyes from her, Rashi blushes. He smiled back.

"This is my daughter Rashi" Juhi said smiling at everyone. Pride lingers thickly like a thick cake batter.

Their sister's voice takes the attention in the room, "Wow, you've lost weight. Nice." Kajal points out rudely. She doesn't like Rashi from childhood. Kajal has noticed the way Rashi looked—and still does—at her brother, Dhruv, as if he's a piece of meat and not a human being.

"Kajal." Dhruv warns sternly in her ear. His voice a whisper. Kajal never likes people quickly, not Rashi or Jaanvi for sure. Jaanvi because she would say nasty things to her elder brother, Kiaan.

The families talked for some time before Jaanvi's grandma asked Rashi to call Jaanvi out. Padding towards Jaanvi's room was a big task for Rashi. She knew Jaanvi didn't want to come out. Opening the door she saw her cousin wearing a black kurta and doing her hair.

"Di," she smiles hesitantly, "Come downstairs." (Sister)

"Why? Did they bring more cake?" Jaanvi asks licking her lips imagining the taste of her favourite cake. It was hard to believe she had cake last night. All alone.

An idea popped in Rashi's head, "Yeah, come on! Or else Aditi and Jay will finish it."

"That's why those idiots aren't here." She gritted her teeth walking out her bedroom, "And Aditi told me she's on the phone with her mum." She skips down the stairs, oblivious to the guests sitting in her living room watching her. All she could think of was cake. Her love. First love.

"Where's my cake Rashi?" Jaanvi modestly asks seeing no sight of any cake on the dining table. "Rash—" she spins around. Her voice trails off, her mouth left hanging open in shock and eyes peering at him murderously.

Anyone could tell he was Kiaan. His face hadn't changed much except his features were more defined and stronger now.

"HE!" She points at him but lowers her accused finger as soon as she earns a glare from her chachi. "Oh, it's him, my childhood great friend. Wow." She sarcastically speaks walking towards them trying not to kill him with her bare hands. (Aunty)

"Get it? Friend? As in Enemy" Dhruv laughs whispering to Kiaan. I'm going to love this.

"Mutual feelings." He mumbles back to his brother. His eyes snobbishly narrow at her showing the same level of annoyance. But his heartbeats slowed—they took their time—seeing her.

"Oh Jaanvi, you're so beautiful!" Roshni compliments dearly with a motherly voice. Fresh honey touches her voice. The women has the most fruity and honest voice ever. The one that sounds genuinely pleased with everything. She stands up and hugs her late best friends only child.

Until she opens her mouth. Kiaan thought, rolling his eyes at his mother affectionate behaviour. She would hardly hug him unless if it was his birthday or something big and over here she was hugging his enemy.

"Aunty you're so beautiful too, how did you give birth to a pig." She mutters the last word quietly to herself.

"Birth to who?" Kiaan demands strictly, his immaculate eyebrow shoots up at her.

"Beautiful people." She answered looking at Dhruv and Kajal. The indirect compliment doesn't go unnoticed by Kiaan. But he chose to let it slide, just this one time. "How are you aunty? And Uncle?" She looked at Roshni's husband behind her.

"We're great, Jaanvi. It has been so long, my job kept getting transferred in USA, I'd be caught up in work so we couldn't meet you all. But very soon we'll see you every day!" Raj brightly comments, smiling a fatherly smile at Jaanvi.

Jaanvi's smile drops. She looks at her family members in confusion. The doesn't understand the hint so she glances at her father.

She laughs awkwardly, "You're shifting nearby?" She questions Kiaan's father while making eye contact with her father who lowered his eyes guilty. Her grandma had informed her about the Rajput family shifting to India for good but she wasn't aware they'll shift close to her house.

"No, you're coming with us." Roshni answers in glee.

"See I know I'm a great cook and funny girl aunty bu—"

She was cut off by Kiaan's rude voice "We're getting married." He declares like it's completely okay to be this blunt and joke about their marriage.

"Oh, okay." Jaanvi smiles sighing in relief. That makes sense—"WAIT, WHAT?" She turns to her left to face him. He looks infuriated with her reaction.

"Mom, I'm telling you, if I marry her I'll have to repeat every single sentence twice so it'll fit in her little brain" He states not so kindly.

"Least I don't have a big fat brain like you which is useless, mine works for your kind information." She retorts like an immature little kid.

"Jaave" her dad said standing up. They were fighting once again. Even in the spam of ten years.

"No hero," she pleads, "People start a new life after getting married, we'll start a new life in heaven, or hell for him," she eyed him down in disgust, "We'll murder each other!"

"Nhh" Ansh said pulling her upstairs to control his daughter's outburst.

"She talks too much." Kajal mumbles to her sitting buddy, Dhruv.

"She speaks the truth." Dhruv mumbles making Kajal glare at him, "What? She is right, they'll murder each other. Why waste so much money on a wedding just to get murdered?"

"I need air." Kiaan nicely and smartly excuses himself from the elders by walking outside. Sitting on the bench he sighed heavily. This is going to drain my energy so badly.

____

"Hero no!" She screams, "Not him! You want me gone? This soon?" Her eyes soften seeing her father's sad expressions. "Why hero?"

"Iaa" he raises his voice getting frustrated, "Iaaa!" he yells pointing at his wife's picture making Jaanvi flinch. She never saw this side of her father. He was always calm and collective—super balanced—but today he lost it because of Kiaan. In jaanvi's opinion.

"Mum wanted this?" She guesses. He nods, walking to his daughter he held her hands tenderly. That was the first time he openly cries in front of her. In front of his princess. "Da-dad" She can't see him like this. "D-d—don't c—cry." Her voice broke at the sight of her father tears rolling down his wrinkled cheeks.

He sniffs to control his sobs in front of her, getting a letter out of his pocket he left Jaanvi alone in his room closing the door behind. Taking the hidden signal with a heavy heart she opened the letter,

I'm writing this because I know you'll ask questions.

Roshni, Raj, your mother and I were collage friends. She was your mother's best friends. When Kiaan was born your mother promised Roshni saying, 'if I have a daughter I'd get her married to your son because I know you'll look after her,' and if you're not sure you're a girl.

"Bad timing for a joke." She smiles slightly and wipes her nose from the back of her hand.

What's better than seeing your daughter going into a family we know Jaave? I know you don't like Kiaan, but he's a nice boy. I have seen him from day one. You just need to see that part. Have you were thought why he's always angry and rude with you? Because you're always angry. With us he's sweet and nice. I won't force you because I love you but one day every girl has to get married whether you like it or not. Your mother knew Kiaan was the one for you. And I trust your mother. Her instincts were always proven right.

Crunching up the letter she threw it in the bin.

"But I hate him! How can I marry someone I hate?" Losing her temper she was about to throw a vase at the window until she saw him sitting on the bench all by himself like a loner. "I will teach him a lesson." Putting the vase back to it's spot. She jumps down every two stairs and runs out of the kitchen door which lead to the garden.

"Why are you even here?" She shouts folding her arms.

"To buy your property." He mockingly replies with the same quality of voice she used on him. He stares into her mesmerizing deep brown eyes once she's in front of him.

Fear takes over here. He surely could afford it with his dollars. "What? Why? Our house is old, cho—" She couldn't finish because he interrupts her.

"And then mom says your smart," He smirks standing up, and blows air. "Look here, you stubborn cat, I don't want to marry you. The thought of even sharing a room with you disgust me but I have no choice." He said rudely pouring all his anger out on her.

"Even I don't want to marry a jerk like you. The thought of living with you my whole life grosses me out. Even your kids would be crying calling you their father!" How dare he insult me? She fires back nastily and smiles at her choice of words.

"My kids will cry if you are their mother," he points at her, "Beside I'm hot enough to get any girl I want." He does that major eye roll to empathize how correct he was—is.

"And then my dad says you might have changed. Still the same old attitude right?" He narrows his eyes at her, "Don't worry, I don't make kids cry unlike you." She remembers an incident when he made a five year old cry at school.

"I was being honest, okay? His drawing really did suck."

"Okay, okay." She raises her hands up in surrender. "And now I'm being honest, you're a pig." She snots and wiggles her head sassily in satisfaction.

"You're an immortal cat"

"That's not a thing." She rolls her eyes.

"Exactly, you're not normal, like others." He shoves the word untroubled to hurt her feelings.

"Listen," She tried to calm herself down, "Please tell your parents you can't marry me." She requests hoping he'll agree. Only Jaanvi knew how much it hurts to request in front of him.

He got his phone out making her frown. Opening the camera he says, "Say it again, I don't hear many 'pleases' from you, let me record it for memory." He says with a taunting laugh.

"Kaan I'm serious," she tries again. The anger urging to explode but she controls herself.

"Wait, what did you just called me?" Kiaan asks wriggling his brows.

World war three is about to start. She thought looking at his cold hard face.

Married My Enemy
Edited On – 25/04/2020