“I am glad how everything turned out” I mutter, enjoying the silence of night. I still can’t believe that my brother is married now.

I take a deep breath as a cool gust of wind brushes against my face while we walk through the corridor of the palace. The moonlight spills down the open passageway, casting soft glow on the marble floor.

“You must be tired” Lucas says softly, walking along with me.

I nod, tilting my head to ease the ache in my neck. Everyone has already retired to their rooms for the night, it’s past 2 a.m after all. We are supposed to leave for Mumbai tomorrow for the reception so tonight is the only rest we can get.

“I could just let the bed eat me right now” I say with a dramatic sigh, making him chuckle. “That’s quite the imagination” he teases.

I glance up at him, trying to gauge his expression. During the ceremony, I barely got a chance to talk to him or anyone else. Because of the endless post-wedding rituals and then making sure the guests were well treated and fed. The countless pictures.

“You wanted to talk to me, right?” I ask carefully, watching him. His earlier behavior hinted that whatever he wanted to say was serious.

A moment of silence stretches between us until he suddenly stops walking. I turn to face him, my heart picking up speed.

He takes a deep breath, as if bracing himself. “The three weeks have come to an end…” he trails off, his voice hesitant. “I was wondering, what happens now?”

Oh right

He was only staying here for three weeks, until the reception. After that, he, Liam, and Stella would be leaving. I can’t believe how quickly time has flown — graduation, coming home, wedding all of it happened too quickly 

“What are you thinking?” I ask softly, wanting his opinion on the matter. Part of me wants to tell him about my plans for further studies, but nothing is confirmed yet and I don’t want to give him false hope.

“I do want to stay close to you” he admits, his gaze on me, “but I can’t stay here and you can’t come back with me right now. Long distance would be tough, especially since we just started dating” He exhales slowly “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to continue. I am saying this because I am going to miss you. A lot”

A smile appears on my lips, feeling the bittersweetness of the situation “oh I will miss you too, I know it would be hard especially as we didn't get much time together and it's our first relationship"

He slowly looks at me, his expression softens. “I have been thinking…” I start slowly, my heart suddenly starts racing “I wanted to pursue my master’s before joining my brother. I talked him about it and he said he will talk to papa, if he agrees then i will be coming with you too”

His eyes widen in surprise. He takes a step closer “Wait! really?”

I nod while grinning “Yeah. You will be stuck with me for two more years.”

He lets out a chuckle, the tension leaving his shoulders "I wouldn't mind that” he mutters, taking my hand in his “If you wanna continue then i will support you at each step”

“Thank you” I whisper, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him. He exhales softly, his chin resting on my head. “I also had something to say” I mumble against his chest.

He nods, urging me to continue. I pull back slightly, his hands lowered to rest on my lower back “It’s about kavya” I say, the guilt forming in my chest. “You were right about her, I cant believe that I didn't see the signs sooner and I am very sorry”

He frowns slightly “What happened?”

I let out a sigh “Bhai told me that when I was in Sydney, she was trying to pursue him. And even after the marriage announcement, she didn’t stop. At the sangeet, she deliberately sent those girls to tease you in the name of a prank. She was planning to do the same with Liam and Nikhil too. It was all just a cover so she could approach Bhai. If she got caught, she would claim it was a harmless prank and have the other girls back her up”

His eyes widen in disbelief before a scowl takes over his expressions “How low can someone go?” he mutters, shaking his head. “I don’t think the tea incident was an accident”

“What do you mean?”

He glances down at his bandaged hand. The doctor was called quickly the next day for his burnt hand to be treated. However, he said that it might leave a scar. That filled me with heavy guilt as he did it trying to protect me and damaged his skin.

“The tea was hotter than everyone else’s. She stumbled but only the cup moved, not her whole body. I think she meant to spill it on you” he says quietly. My expression flatters down, a wave dread washing over me “She wanted to burn me” It’s not a question. The sick feeling in my stomach confirms it.

“I am gonna talk to her after all the ceremonies end—”

A sudden crash echoes through the place, making me yelp.

Both of us freeze.

Lucas steps forward, gripping the railing. “Is that, is that your brother?”

My eyes snap at the direction he is pointing his finger at. My eyes widens seeing Veer, Nikhil and Kabir there, picking up a flower pot that was knocked over.

By a football?

“What are they doing here?” I mutter to myself. Seeing Kabir and Nikhil there isn't a surprise, even after all the exhausting activities, Nikhil would be the only person who would need his ‘nikill’ time before sleeping and he might have dragged Kabir too

But why is Veer here when he is supposed to be with Mira?!

“Come with me” I say, gesturing to Lucas to follow me as I start rushing down the stairs towards the garden. A lot of questions are brewing inside me. I hope any guests didn't see them, atleast Veer or else it starts unnecessary drama as what is the groom doing here on his wedding night!

I walk through the hallway, the palace is unusually quiet at this hour. Most of the lights are switched off, leaving only the soft golden glow of the lamps.

Pushing open the glass doors, I step out into the garden “What are you guys doing!” I call out, crossing my arms.

They all freeze and turn around, their eyes wide as a deer caught in the headlights. Nikhil is holding a football as he glances at Kabir who is keeping his mouth shut.

Veer's eyes flicker from me to Lucas, who is very much enjoying whatever is going on “Hm actually…”

“It's getting late!” Nikhil blurts out suddenly “I am going to bed! Good night!” He announces and dashes off. Kabir's eyes widens as he looks at Veer and back at Nikhil who is on a marathon propaganda. Before Veer could stop him, he also takes an escape.

What the hell is wrong with them?

“Bhai!” I exclaim, waiting for a good explanation.

He is standing there wearing only his kurta, the expensive sherwani nowhere in sight. His hair is a mess and both his shoes and pants are covered with dirt. The same kind of dirt that was clinging to Kabir and Nikhil’s clothes.

“Are you playing football in your wedding attire on your wedding night?” I ask in shock, trying not to yell right now. Lucas stands behind me, watching the scene silently.

Veer lets out a long sigh and starts walking toward me “Okay, so the situation was kind of like that…” He trails off nervously. It’s honestly the first time I have ever seen him look so awkward.

My eyes narrows “What happened?”

He scratches the back of his neck and glances briefly at Lucas, who immediately looks away like he wants to be no part of this conversation. Veer rolls his eyes at him and then leans closer to me. “Mira kicked me out…” he mumbles the rest under his breath.

I frown, rubbing my ear “What did you say?”

He mumbles again, even quietly

“What!”

“Mira kicked me out by pointing a gun at me!”

Lucas chokes on air

I stare at Veer blankly, my brain buffering. Did he just say gun?

As the realization draws upon me, I gasp loudly in surprise and move forward to grasp his arm and spin him to look for injuries “She did WHAT? Oh god! Are you hurt?” I ask in concern, trying to see if they had a fight or something.

He gently pushes my hand away, freeing himself from my grip, “Nothing like that. It was just to threaten me to get out and not be near her”

I sigh in relief and step back “okay, seems like my sister in law is quite a badass” I nod in approval.

Veer stares at me in disbelief  “you are my sister or her?” he asks, his tone slightly sarcastic.

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly “I just know who is gonna control whom”

Even though I am joking, I am genuinely impressed by the fact that mira pointed a gun at him. Honestly, I understand her, if I was in her position, I would also do it to protect myself. I admire her courage to do it despite the consequences.

“Okay but” I raise an eyebrow suspensionly “Her kicking you out explains why you are here but not why you are playing football?”

He presses his lips together, looking sheepish. “Hm I was quite taken aback and needed to calm my mind. I told the guys that i am just nervous and needed some time as mira slept so they accompanied me”

I let out an exhale, rubbing my temple. I also understand where he is coming from, not everyday beer is held at gun point to not be shaken up “I think you should be resting. You should have gone to another room, what if anyone saw you, you know what things they will make up?”

I could already hear the whatsapp gossip about veer wandering around, more than him people would question mira. They already did after they saw Aryan by her in a few ceremonies and got to know that she is a single mother.

He nods, a look of realization forming on his face “Yeah, I wasn't thinking straight. I made Aryan stay with Sehr and Aditi so Mira gets some time for herself. I cant go back to her and all the rooms are occupied by the guests”

Oh yeah, I forgot that. Until yesterday more than half of the rooms were empty until the guests arrived and we couldn't let them stay far away in a hotel when everything is arranged here.

“You can sleep in my room” Lucas suggests, taking both of us by surprise. Veer’s head snaps in his direction, his eyes squints suspiciously “Where will you sleep then?”

What is he doing

Lucas gives a small shrug, his gaze flickering toward me with a very suggestive glint “Well I can just”

My eyes widens at his hint. Even Veer is quick enough to understand, “Oh you wish” before Veer could pounce himself on Lucas, I step between them and push Veer gently by his chest “Okay stop. Don't wake everyone up” I warn, looking at both of them.

Veer’s shoulders relax a bit but he doesn't take his eyes off Lucas. Looking for a chance to do something

“Bhai, just sleep in his room” Veer looks at me in disbelief, while Lucas smirks like he won a war. I look at him with a fake smile “And lucas, why dont you accompany my brother tonight, he is very scared after today’s incident, plus the room have king size bed, would be enough for you both”

As these words escapes my lips, Lucas’s jaw drops in disbelief and his smirk gets transferred to Veer, “Oh yes, I could definitely use some company" before lucas could protest veer wraps his arm around his neck and pulls him with himself “lets go then” he says while p

ractically dragging him away.

Lucas looks over his shoulder at me with an annoyed gaze.

I chuckles and wave at him, mouthing a ‘goodbye’