~

"Mhm. This is yummy." Araavi said eating her choco-chip ice cream, everybody nodded their heads agreeing with her.

Whereas Abhimanyu stood leaning on his cars bonet busy in eating his fruit cream with very less sugar, as he is very strict towards his diet which he had not been able to follow from the past some days because of the wedding.

"Guys, kisi ka itna jaldi ghar jane ka mann hai kya? Mera toh bilkul nahi hai!" Karan said crunching his nose up at the last words he spoke.

"Yar mera bhi nahi hai par kya kar sakte hai bhai ko bola na toh vo hume kacha chaba jayege." Radhika said in a whisper so her brother who is busy in his own world enjoying his ice cream while scrolling on his phone, working.

"long drive par chale?" Araavi asked them with a slight smirk on her face. The eyes of the kids widened.

"Bhabhi maa hum toh ready hai, par bhai–" Preeti said fearing her brother. Ruvaan all the while was standing listening to them eating his mint icencream as he was ready with whatever they all will choose; going back home or going on a long drive.

"Don't worry about that. Tumhare bhai saa ko mai sambhal lungi." Araavi said feeling bold. Everybody agreed easily and felt happy.

They all finished their ice creams and rushed towards Abhimanyu who was waiting for them.

Araavi signaled the kids to go inside the car as she will take care of their and her wish.

As the kids were inside she looked at Abhimanyu and said, "uhm, Abhi vo i was thinking that if we can go on a long drive." She said feeling nervous seeing his eyes turn dark.

"No way, Raavi. They have their school and college starting tommorow and I have to go office, so I'm sorry but no." He said sternly.

Araavi didn't back off. She gave him her soft puppy eyes which he always falls head over heels for.

"Please...."—"No!"

"Pretty pleaseee! I promise just one hour. Please!" She said while making a pout with her puppy eyes still on display.

"Fuck!" He muttered under his breath but was loud enough as araavi heard him and her heart did a little jiggle-wiggle knowing that she won.

"Fine! But just one more hour." He said sternly and araavi jumped on her place happily and said, "thanku, Abhi you're the best," and sat inside the car leaving a smiling abhimanyu alone.

The car started. 5 minutes passed,10 minutes passed, slowly 17 minute passed. Passengers now started looking at each other figuring out that who will ask abhimanyu to know where he is taking them to. 25 damn minute passed but no one spoke. Now the patience of Araavi blowed off.

hum jaa kaha rahe hai?" She asked.

"Long drive par."

She sighed not wanting to loose her sanity, "han vo ik, par kaha?" She asked again.

"kahi nhi, bas ek long drive then
back to palace." He said and Araavi's patience broke, she was feeling like killing someone. Her anger issues making it worse.

"Veer please, yar...." She said in an unbelievable tone.

Abhimanyu felt his heart dancing as he heard her calling him 'veer' for the first time as always he hears is 'abhi' from her mouth. Although, he loves that 'abhi' more as only she's the one who has called him by that name as everybody in his family calls him as veer from the time he was born.

"kya ? Aapne hi toh kaha tha
night drive par chalna hai, and now we are here driving at night." He said in an unbothered tone. While all the youngsters huffed knowing their brother damn well.

But guess they failed to know their sister-in-law, who was more fucked up than their brother.

"Stop the car!" She said in a stern tone and everybody's eyes widened.

"What?"

"STOP THE CAR NOW, ABHI!" She slightly shouted feeling irritated.

Abhimanyu sighed and stopped the car at one side of the road knowing damn well that he cannot disobey his queen.

Araavi went out and walked to Abhimanyu's side opening his door, taking him to her side, making him sit and then taking his seat. She started the car.

"So, guys where do you all want to
go?" She asked excited.

Everybody just looked at her pale in shock like how did she do this! But who were they kidding, if their brother was the king then she was too the queen.

The youngsters first looked at each other then at their brother and at last at araavi but then started
telling her different locations.

Abhimanyu was still confused what happened and then his siblings suggesting took him to wild.

Karan : bhabhi movie!

Radhika : bhabhi fair!

Preeti : bhabhi long drive and loud music!

Ruvaan : bhabhi dhabha!

"Well, kids we only had an hour as I promised to your brother and because of him we have wasted our..." She looked at her watch–"total 37 minutes, so we're left with less than 30 minutes only. So I think we should go on with Radhi's idea. What say?" Araavi asked and everybody nodded except an uninterested Abhimanyu.

●●●●●●●●●

Their long drive to the fair and coming back to the palace went amazing. Abhimanyu won many plushies, soft toys and toy guns for everyone in the fair eventhough he wasn't interested but one look from his wife and he was on his knees for her.

They all had fun and now were tired. So coming in the palace they all without wasting a second rushed to their rooms for a well-good night sleep.

Araavi went inside her chamber alone because abhimanyu was in his home office as he had some work.

Few minutes back~

Araavi and abhimanyu were walking in their room after making sure the kids had safely went to their respective rooms.

All the elders had already been asleep as it was 20 past 11 at night.

Abhimanyu and araavi exchanged look cluchting each others hand and interwining their fingers, they climbed the stairs. On climbing the first stair abhimanyu's mobile rang driving both their attention towards it.

Abhimanyu mouthed a sorry to araavi and she just smiled and told him to take the call as it must be important.

He looked at the caller id and it was his secretary, he answered it and before he could say anything he heard something from the other side which makes his expressions hard and eyes dark.

Araavi noticed this and feels that somethings off but doesn't say anything not to intertwine in his professional life.

"Okay. Let me re-check the file and I'll inform you if I find anything suspicious towards it." He said and cut the call.

"Raavi aap chaliye hum aate hai, i have something important which needs my attention at this moment." He said placing his hand on her cheek, looking at araavi with guilt ridden eyes as he thought that they would spend some time together and that she was already happy about the same.

Araavi didn't say anything. She placed her hand on his, which was on her cheek caressing it.

Abhimanyu leaned in and kisses her forehead and then left to his office which was on ground floor near the lounge area.

End~

She sighed and wen inside the closet to change into her night wear.

She walked out after 15 minutes but still didn't find her husband in the room.

She decided to hop in bed and wait some more maybe he'll be coming.

Time passed smothly and it was already one at night and araavi was not able to sleep as abhimanyu still hadn't entered the room.

She decided to check on him. She walked down and went towards his office, only to hear him screaming like a insane person on someone.

"Listen I don't give a single fuck about the things you'll try. I want results, fucking results! I want all the damned news about her- removed and you have time till today morning otherwise if you fail, I promise myself, you'll won't be able to see the night for sure." He screams and cut the call in pure anguish.

Araavi felt a little scared and thought what might be happening which had him this worried.

She wide opened the office door and her eyes widened seeing not only abhimanyu but his father, chote baba and adhrav too with him present inside the office.

Nobody noticed araavi as they were standing near the king's desk while their back was facing the way where araavi was standing.

She entered his cabin and her eyes widened in awe. The room was an opulent display of luxury, adorned with exquisite and expensive furniture. The centerpiece of the cabin was a grand mahogany desk, its polished surface reflecting the soft glow of the crystal chandelier above. The chair behind the desk was where Abhimanyu was currently sitting.

Her gaze shifted towards the plush
couches that lined one side of the
room, their rich velvet fabric inviting her to sink into their embrace. The coffee table in front of the couches was a work of art, made from rare marble with intricate patterns swirling across its surface which was occupied by a lot of files and papers.

Araavi's eyes wandered to the bookshelves that adorned the walls, filled with leather-bound classics and antique volumes. On a side table, an elegant vase held a bouquet of exotic orchids, their vibrant colors adding a touch of natural beauty to the space.

This was a place where power and
elegance intertwined, a sanctuary
where Abhimanyu's wealth and success were on full display.

Araavi~

"You're all still up?" I asked,grabbing all their attention.

Abhi's eyes immediately rose to meet mine as he heard my voice and he stood up from his chair, adharv bhai followed the movement.

"Yes, Aru. Duty calls." Baba replied and I nodded, walking towards him.

"You should be off to bed Raavi. It is
late." Abhi's voice stopped me from
sitting down.

"You all are up too. Besides, I'm not
sleepy anyway so maybe I can help?"
I asked,shrugging my shoulders being stubborn this mere time and
saw those three sharing looks.

"We were just winding up, Bhabhi. Bhai, why don't you take her back? Dad and I wil handle the rest." Adharv bhai said, sounded in a panic.

"There is obviously something you're
hiding out with it. I am done being
kept in the dark." I crashed on the
sofa, looking at the three of them but
they looked hesitant.

"There is no secret, Raavi. This is just
something you shouldn't be bothering yourself with." Abhi said as he got to me and extended his hand for me to take it but I knew for a fact that this was a distraction.

I, in the pretext of taking that hand,
immediately grabbed one of the
papers kept on the coffee table.

"Raavi, don't..." abhi tried to take it away from me but I had already read it.

ARAAVI CHAUHAN, a silly girl with many ambitions or a manipulative woman with a lot of resources?

But before I could read the whole
article, the paper was snatched away from my hands and I couldn't help but laugh.

This was what you were hiding from
me?" I asked, still laughing, looking
at them and those three looked
extremely concerned.

" I knew this would happen Abhi.
I expected it. It was just a matter of
when and I don't care what
they print. You shouldn't too." I said,
standing up and now giving my hand in his.

But bhabhi this damages your
reputation, which you have built by so much hardwork." Bhai said and I shook my head in a no.

"It really doesn't Bhai. These are all
stupid four page gossips. I am not letting you all have sleepless nights over this stupidity. Besides, Abhi doesn't you have a PR department to handle this?" I asked, directing the last part at him.

"They are all on it as we speak." He
replied, trying to assure me.

"Great then, we'll let them go home and give them tomorrow off, alright. No one deserves to lose their sleep over some gossips that does not bother anyone...atleast not me. I'm going back. Y'all get come soon." I assured them, withdrawing my hand and turning around to walk away, completely aware about the concerned gazes following me around.

But honestly, none of it mattered to
me. All what did matter was things
were starting to look brighter and
better for all of us.

These gossips? Yahi gossips Kal headlines par hongi aur parso tak kisi ko farak bhi nahi padhega aur agr padha bhi toh who cares? I don't!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

So, this is all for today. Ik,ik quite short chapter but please manage for today as I'm having some problems because of some things and need some time to myself.

I hope ya'll will understand

Thankuu♡

Love
Author~