Note - This part is unedited, so read at your own risk. This is purely fictional and no characters or names are inspired by real life, if at all there is a match, it's pure coincidence.

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Isha made the coffee, she was in a mood to tease her husband, the child in her didn't want to let go of this opportunity, for some strange reason, she didn't fear her husband or thought he would punish her for that. And she is not a fool to tease him directly, she would do that innocently without letting him know that she is teasing...

She messaged her brother-in-law to know if he was still in her husband's office. She doesn't want to do anything in front of Avyan, what if her husband realizes and bursts out on her furiously  ?? That would embarrass her in front of her brother-in-law, also at the bottom of her heart, she only wants herself to do all these things to her husband, though she didn't encourage that part much... 

Avyan replied in a 'Yes', she sighed deeply... She messaged him to let her know after he leaves... He wanted to ask her 'Why' but before he could type, Abhyansh's voice interrupted his typing...

"Put that damn thing away before I throw it out along with you", Abhyansh said in his usual tone but that coldness is enough to make Avyan put his phone away without a second glance...

"You need to go to Saudi, for a week, to coordinate the project", Abhyansh ordered, usually, it's him who goes to Saudi or any other country with which the Ranawats have very good business relations or billions worth of businesses in those countries. When Abhyansh asked Avyan to go to Saudi, Avyan is surprised, but he knew better than to question his brother...

"Ji bhai sa", Avyan responded looking down...

"First, the prince will come here to finalize things in the next week and invite us there, then you can go", Abhyansh said and Avyan again nodded...

"Any questions ??", Abhyansh asked and that's his cue to have his doubts clarified if he had any, and Avyan decided to ask the one question that's in his mind...

"Yes bhai sa, um... Not questioning your decision, but, usually, it's you who deal with the Saudi's, since they are very important to us, but now...", Avyan trailed...

Now how could he tell his brother that he doesn't want to leave his wife and go? And the reason Abhyansh always kept Avyan away from some nations is to keep him safe, not just because they are crucial and very important. Well, that's a reason as well, Abhyansh trusts no one's capabilities as much as he does his... He doesn't want his brother to mess up things, he knew Avyan is good at maintaining diplomatic relations and is also a very clever businessman and efficient in what he does, but he lacks in some things which are crucial to deal with people like they deal with. Cruelty, courage, Risk-taking mentality, etc because of which Abhyansh kept his brother from involving directly in some projects with some countries.

"You are not a baby to have you protected always, learn to deal with dangerous and difficult people... It's time you handle tasks that exceed our basic business. It's not like I won't be involved, I'll be supervising everything and the final decision will be mine", The beast said and Avyan nodded obediently...

"Anything else ??", Abhyansh asked looking into his files and Avyan knew it was his cue to leave...

"No Bhai sa, I'll take your leave", Avyan said, stood up, bowed his down once, and left from there and Abhyansh took a heavy breath and held his head. 

"Where the hell is my coffee ??", Abhyansh cursed and he decided to call his wife, but controlled reminding himself about the 'ignore wife' mission.

Avyan, as soon as he stepped out of the BEAST's office, texted his sister-in-law that he is done... She quickly heated the coffee and took this to her husband's office but then she cursed her for her stupidity. 

How could she forget, her husband wouldn't allow her inside, huh... She should have gone when Avyan is inside only, her husband wouldn't stop her from entering in front of her brother-in-law if she got it correctly, she cursed her brain for not thinking that before...

Now tossing all her plans, she decided to hand the coffee tray to Ramlal asking him to give it to the king, but she decided to try one last time... And to her shock, Abhyansh allowed her, she thought he is desperate for coffee since she got late. She knew he needs his coffee instantly when he asks it and maybe he allowed her to punish her. That thought flew all her thoughts of teasing her husband. 

"Huh, why do you have to think of teasing that emotionless BEAST ?? Have you gone crazy ?? Really ?? Him ?? Is he your friend ?? or leave that, did that man ever talk to you like a normal human being, what went wrong with your brain Isha ??", she muttered to herself walking inside his office, but surprisingly looking at him, all her fears flew away... 

He sat, looking at his files, but his hand forwarded towards her, for a second, she thought he was calling her to come to him, and just like that, she sighed sarcastically for even thinking about him giving her some affection. And why does she want it in the first place? Cursing her head more than required, she forwarded the cup and he took the sip almost desperately. She felt bad for keeping him waiting for his coffee, all for what, for her impossible, utterly stupid plans.

"Maharaj... Apologies, for d...delay...", Isha said and he looked at her, making her quickly look down...

'Ah! idiot, why do you have to remind him of your presence, you could have quickly escaped...', she thought to herself. A small smirk appeared on his face before he masked it with his usual cold face. By looking at her face, he knew she thought he allowed her because of the coffee, yes, she is actually that stupid. If he wanted coffee, he would have asked Ramlal to just collect the coffee and ask her to go away but he didn't. Seeing her, after so many days, his heart got greedy and wanted to have one more look at her, and when the chance presented itself, he grabbed it. 

"Want some punishment ??", he asked casually, but the shiver he saw, made him hate himself... He scarred her for life... With that anger, he put the cup on the table with a little bit of force and she jumped in fear and he cursed again inwardly.

"Puni...Punishment ?? Fo...Forgive me for this time", Isha said tears spilling her eyes, remembering how he stuck the hot watch on her wrist, she slowly looked at the scar... The pain she felt that time was a lot, it literally burned her skin completely but he didn't let her remove the watch sticking it to her skin... He followed her gaze and looked at her wrist which made him fist his palms...

"I won't hurt you", Abhyansh said before he could stop himself, his tone going softer, for the first time in a decade and a half, he wanted to assure her that he wouldn't hurt her. But, how ?? 

"You wouldn't ??", Isha instantly raised her head, looking into his eyes and questioning with so much hope at the same time, disbelief, he won't hurt her anymore ?? Is that true ?? No, that's too good to be true... 

The disbelief, vulnerability, pain, and hope caused so much distress to him. His eyes are filled with pain and regret but he soon masked them, instead, he continued staring into her eyes, that feeling is bliss, her eyes have something in them that keeps his gaze paralyzed there. 

Her hazel eyes stared into his deep blue ones, she couldn't see any emotions in them except for coldness, but still, those orbs attracted her a lot. They are the most beautiful eyes she ever saw, and every time, she looked at his face, she finds herself staring at him, she couldn't take off her eyes, her husband is a very attractive man, if she has the ability to rank the most attractive men, he would top the list, but it's not his beauty that attracted her, his emotionless eyes which wanted to convey a lot of things but unable to do it that intrigued her, and glue her to them. How would he look if he smiles ?? Woah, that's a dream that would never come true. She is sure of it. She warned her brain to have some realistic dreams from now on. 

"I won't hurt you again", he repeated, this time looking into her eyes, that sounded like a promise filled with determination, and she instantly trusted him, he didn't give any option to her, looking at his eyes, all she felt his belief and trust, even after what he did to her in the past. 

He kept staring at her but she averted her eyes suddenly feeling awkward, and shy as well and that shocked her. She is shying from her BEAST husband. No way in the hell could she have any kind of romantic feelings for this man... No, even the thought scared her. He couldn't stop staring at her, not after he saw extreme trust and belief in her eyes for him. She trusted his words, despite what he did to her. He shifted on her legs getting uncomfortable now and he thought she is having aches in her legs from standing for long. Huh, expect Abhyansh Singh Ranawat to understand emotions...

"Sit down", he said and she looked at him in his eyes again with confusion and shock, she can't stay in his presence anymore, her eyes are tempting to look at his blue orbs, those addictive eyes, and attractive face but she is refraining from it. What if he caught her staring ?? That would be so embarrassing. 

"Huh ??", she asked looking at him...

"I said sit down", his voice is back to cold, it's difficult to maintain a soft tone, he never had one, until now. 

"On the floor ??", She asked, she remembered him saying, she is his slave and could never use the things that would make her equal to him or even near to him. So, she didn't think he would ask her to sit on the chair... Hearing her, again his fury raised, before he could respond, clearing her doubts, she again spoke...

"Thank you for offering Maharaj, but I'm fine standing here", she said with her kind and soft voice...

He looked at her to look into her eyes or see for any pain, surprisingly, the amateur he is in understanding emotions becomes an expert when he stares into her eyes, it's as if he could understand all that her eyes are trying to convey. 

Now, since she believed that he could never hurt her as he did before, her confidence doubled and her idea to tease her husband surfaced again.

"Ignoring ??", She said after a while, and his eyes widened, and she stifled her smile... 

"What ??", he asked in his cold tone but his expressions weren't cold, though they are emotionless...

"R...Ragini, my boss, was ignoring me for three days, she is angry with me", Isha blabbered looking here and there... At first, he thought she is being real, and he wanted to solve the problem, no one dares to ignore his wife and get away with it... But when he saw her slightly playful eyes while looking here and there, he understood his wife was talking about him. 

He is surprised that she understood he is ignoring her, he corrected himself for calling her stupid earlier, she is smart, thought he. 

"You want me to kill her, so that she couldn't stay angry with not only you but anyone", he said in his usual cold tone, her eyes widened hearing statement...

"WHAT ??", She screamed, immediately cupping her mouth, she knew he wouldn't like someone raising their tone or speaking in a louder tone. 

"S...Sorry Maharaj, she... She is very nice, She is my friend, We will sort it out... Now I will leave...", Isha blabbered and turned to leave, but instantly remembered that she wasn't supposed to leave without his permission. She slapped her head for messing things. 

Well, she can't be blamed, when the BEAST talks what you can call slightly normal, and tells you he won't hurt you, people are expected to go crazy, and his wife is no exception. 

"Forgive me Maharaj, I forgot to ask you, won't happen again, C...Can I leave, with your permission ??", Isha asked bowing her head...

He hated himself for her behavior, he wanted to free her from this 'slave' thing he started, but then, what if she decides to leave him ?? He never gave her a reason to stay in the marriage, he knew she is staying only for the word she gave him. That 'word' is the reason she is rejecting her brother's every plan to take her away from him. Abhyansh decided, he would free her from this when she is ready to stay as his wife but will she ever be ready after how he treated her ?? Is he ready to treat her as a wife ?? Does he actually know how to maintain a relationship ?? He never self-doubted before, why is he doing it now ?? And Does he want to become her husband is the main and actual question, and that's the first step. Is it what he wanted ?? He wants to stay close to her, he can never let her go, he is clear till there but as a husband ?? He is not sure...

"Maharaj ??", She called again after a while, afraid of disturbing his deep thoughts, looking at him, she understood he is thinking about something very important, but she is not aware that it's about her. Avyan said his brother never zoned out but she saw him in that state many times, not knowing that it happens only with her or when he is in her thoughts.

"Yes, You can...", He said and she left, taking his now empty coffee cup, and he sighed deeply before getting back to his work.

Isha walked to the king's chamber and to her room, she lay on the floor as there was still some time for dinner. Usually, she would be passing time by chitchatting with her mother-in-law at this time, but today, she needed some time after what has happened with her husband. It wasn't less than a miracle. She got so happy remembering their discussion and a wide smile formed on her face, when she remembered, he said that he would kill Ragini to solve her problem. She felt his need to end all her worries and problems. He actually cared ?? He would kill for her ?? She didn't want him to do any sort but the thought that he could go to that extent for her, surprised her, but the next minute, she chided herself, he would never do that for her. She warned her brain sternly to not think about these stupid things and to stop reading too much between the lines. Abhyansh Singh Ranawat could never do something like that for her, she thought, without knowing he already did and he would do it in the future too...

She prepared the dinner and went to call him, she thought, after their discussion, he wouldn't avoid her anymore, but she is so wrong, he is back to ignoring her, he even made Ramlal tell her that if she needs anything, just text him, and not come there again and again. Huh... So much for not hurting her, she thought. But, she too knew that he had no idea that he affects her so much. 

With a heavy heart, she sent him dinner and everyone continued to have dinner in the dining hall, with a slight talking and relaxed posture since the BEAST is not present. 

A few days passed by, and like every other day, all of them are sitting at the dining table having dinner, after sending the dinner to the king. 

"Amruta, guide your daughter-in-law regarding the upcoming royal dinner", Devyani devi said in her authoritative tone...

"Yes ma sa, will do", Amruta said

"What dinner ??", Isha asked cluelessly

"You didn't know ??", Amruta and Avyan, both are surprised, they expected Abhyansh to already inform her, and order her as he hates anything going wrong in such prestigious events. 

Royal dinners are something that the Sheikhs and Ranawats do very frequently, since both are royal kingdoms, they try to show their wealth, power, and culture, in a very rich manner in these events. When they visit India, Ranawats host them royally, and vice versa when they visit their place. 

Amruta and Avyan, in fact, no one knew that Abhyansh is ignoring his wife. They never expected him to get affected by any human being in the first place, to think of him avoiding his wife because she affects him a lot. 

"No", Isha said, thinking why can't he husband tell her this simple thing? Even if it's as an order, he could have done that but no, he had to continue his stupid 'ignoring' plan. 

"Prince Farhn Al Qasimi, the second-in-line to the throne, is visiting us, We have very good relations with the royal family. It's common for us to hold these Royal Dinners once in a while, before we start something new in the business. These are very prestigious and the king and queen hosts these dinners for the royal family members visiting us", Avyan said giving a brief description of the events.

"The purpose of this dinner now ?? I mean any new venture ??", Isha asked casually

"Yes, actually...", Avyan started but Pratap Singh Ranawat cleared his throat throwing daggers at his son...

"I think that's enough information, She is not trustworthy enough to dilute sensitive information Avyan, you should know better than this...", Pratap said and Isha got hurt. Her father-in-law talked as if she would lay a path for their destruction... huh, that's not her, despite her husband's tortures, she never thought bad for him, then why ??

"But...", Avyan tried to defend his sister-in-law but stopped himself as he doesn't want to prolong the issue, fearing if it reaches his brother, he wouldn't spare his sister-in-law, thought Avyan, if only he knew.

Amruta who is sitting beside Isha, patted her hand under the table as in consoling her. Isha thanked her stars that her husband wasn't there here, if he knew she is trying to know something more about his business which is none of her concerns, he would kill her, but if only she knew, how wrong she is. The new Abhyansh Singh Ranawat would have made his father regret saying those words to her...

"What do I have to do ??", Isha asked politely after composing herself, insults like these are not new to her, she was treated much worse in the Rajput palace, here at least people don't disrespect her, even though they don't trust her but her uncle and aunt used to disrespect her, degrade her and abuse her.

"I'll explain you everything, and in these dinners, we cook all by ourselves, it's as a respect given to the guests if the women of royal families cook. When Abhyansh and Avyan visit them, they do the same thing, the women in the family cook, I'll tell remaining things later", Amruta said and Isha nodded already getting very nervous of this 'Royal Dinner'. What if she messes up ??

After the dinner, Amruta detailed everything, and also assured Isha not to get afraid. The next couple of days went in the preparations, of the welcoming of the Prince. 

"Isha, why don't you take a day off beta ?? You are working a lot in the home for the past few days and at work as well. Today is the dinner, at least stay at home today and look after the preparations calmly instead of stressing of yourself", Amruta said looking at her daughter-in-law hurrying everything, as she has to go to her work after finishing the arrangements...

"Ma, I would have taken a day or two off, but I already had so many leaves due to my accident, don't want to take advantage of Ragini's kindness", Isha said and Amruta sighed, knowing how rightful her daughter-in-law is, if she asks, Ragini would leave her off as she is a very valued resource Ragini has, and she wouldn't let her go, also Ragini is a great friend of Isha, she would understand her but Isha doesn't want to ask her...

"Hm... Okay, you relax, I'll handle the rest, come early in the evening, in fact come in the afternoon itself, you already know the menu we prepared, it's a lavish dinner and takes time in preparing...", Amruta said

"Okay