The Royal Beast & His Caged Princess (The Royal Beast #1)

CHAPTER – 26.2

"Oh god! you both are still eating?? Such slow eaters you are, if you had a chance, you would continue eating till tomorrow's breakfast... eat fast, both of you", Amruta reprimanded them...

"Yes ma, sorry", both of them said in chorus and laughed at each other... Amruta shook her head smiling at them... after Isha came, Avyan too started behaving like a naughty child and she actually enjoyed his childishness. Seeing his mother's pain, he too lost his childhood wiping her tears and now after years, he is getting himself back. Isha is really a blessing to her sons. Amruta thought.

"I don't have the patience to stay awake till you both finish your dinner, so I am going to sleep, good night", Amruta said

"Good night ma, I'll clean this up, don't worry", Isha said and Amruta nodded...

"Good night ma", Avyan greeted and she left for her chamber...

Isha and Avyan finished their dinner, and Isha started clearing things up while talking to Avyan. Staff wanted to help her but she dismissed them and they can't disobey their Rani sa, so they stayed back. She felt bad for her husband, she expected him to throw tantrums knowing how he gets so temperamental if he finds any fault with his food but the way he ate whatever she served without any tantrums slightly melted her heart. She is still angry, extremely hurt and upset with his act but felt bad for making him eat the food he disliked. She always believed in feeding good food to everyone, she used to cook it for her aunt and uncle too despite their bad behavior towards her. The servants in the Rajput palace used to call her Maa Annapurna with love. It was her basic urge to feed good food to everyone around her and so she felt bad about what she did to her husband.Hence, she decided to cook his favourite dessert. 'Tiramisu' without egg yolk since they are vegetarians. She saw the Italian chef of their palace make for her husband during her early days of marriage, that night she saw him relishing the dish, but at that time, she wasn't in a state to think about his favourite food but now she wants to.

Abhyansh was waiting for Isha to come to her room so that he could talk to her but she didn't, he couldn't bear the thought that his wife is angry with him. All these feelings are so new to him yet they are beautiful and are making him restless. He walked to the dining hall to see if she is still there, but he didn't find her there. He is about to leave when he heard his wife's laughter coming from the kitchen, when he heard his brother's laugh too, his blood boiled, what the hell is his brother doing in the kitchen with his wife, how does he(Avyan) always end up spending more time with his wife than him, thought Abhyansh with jealousy. Not for once did he doubt them but he didn't like that his wife has time for everyone except for him, and talks freely with everyone except for him, well whose fault is that!! Exclaimed his inner voice which he hated...

He walked towards the kitchen to see his brother whipping the cream in the glass bowl while his wife is mixing the coffee powder with warm water that was necessary for the dessert.

"You seem so kind and innocent, but you are not... you made my poor bhai sa have his not-so-favourite food huh, very bad Bhabhi sa", Avyan teased his sister-in-law...

"Excuse me?? If anyone is poor that's me, you should send all your pity glances and sympathetic words for me not your rude and brooding brother", Isha said and Avyan chuckled, no one has the audacity to curse his brother even in his absence till today.

"Aha... so you don't feel bad for my bhai sa??", Avyan asked doing the work he is given by his Bhabhi sa...

"Not at all", Isha said shrugging...

"Oh really! Then why are we making bhai Sa’s favourite dessert?? Let's stop it and go and sleep, I am already very sleepy", Avyan said drawing a fake yawn...

"Sh... stop with that and do your work, done with whipping the cream or not??", Isha tried to be stern but Avyan laughed at his Bhabhi Sa’s cute act...

"Stop laughing Avyan... ", Isha whined...

"Acha okay fine, agree that you are feeling bad for my brother and that's why you are making this, only then I'll stop", Avyan blackmailed his sister-in-law.

"Fine... I feel bad, a little bit, only a tiny winy bit", Isha said showing a small part of her index finger making Avyan and herself laugh...

Abhyansh who is fuming at the bond between his brother and his wife, smiled seeing her cuteness... he didn't like his wife sharing how she troubled him by making him eat his not-so-favourite food but he controlled his ego. If he wants to win his wife, he needs to control his temper, also he is no more in favour of hurting her anymore as it started hurting him more than her. He detested that thought as well as himself for hurting her.

"Ha ha, stop kidding okay...", Avyan said

"And you start working... now whip this cheese, make it fast, if your bhai sa gets to know that I still didn't reach my room, he would continue what he left in the morning", Isha said working on her dessert... Abhyansh’s heart ached hearing her, though she said it for fun, there is seriousness underlying her words and that terribly pained him, hate filled his heart for himself.

Both started working while talking... finally, the dessert is almost done and Isha put it in the freezer...

"Bhabhi sa, if you give this to bhai sa, he might think that you are not angry with him", Avyan said

"Ha Avyan, I didn't think about this... okay... you will give this to your brother in the morning, okay??", Isha said and Avyan looked at her like she is asking him to sacrifice his life, well going into a lion's den with a lie is not less than that...

"Aap hume bali ka bakra mat banaye(don't make me the sacrificial lamb here)", Avyan said with a scared face...

"Avyan... please... ", Isha requested...

"Bhabhi sa... please no... I will do anything except this... please, bhai sa will eat me raw", Avyan said

"Hush... your bhai sa is a vegetarian, remember, that's why we made eggless tiramisu", Isha said and Avyan looked at her as if he didn't know if he should hug her for her innocence or kill her or himself for the frustration, he is feeling right now...

"What's happening here??", Abhyansh said standing outside the royal kitchen, unable to stand his brother near his wife any longer...

Avyan and Isha's heartbeat stopped hearing his voice...

"We are dead...", both of them whispered to each other…

Both of them slowly turned to face Abhyansh who is having an emotionless face like always...

"I think I asked you something??", Abhyansh's voice again boomed startling the two... Both of them shivered in fear...

"Bhai... bhai sa... we...", Avyan fumbled

"Don't fumble...", Abhyansh said with slight irritation and Avyan closed his eyes in fear...

"What are you doing here in the kitchen?? Already realized that you are not fit to handle business so learning kitchen chores?? Very well then, carry on, help your Bhabhi sa and ma sa in cooking from tomorrow", Abhyansh said but his chauvinistic opinions didn't go well with Isha. She remembered her father's teachings, how he told both men and women are equally capable in everything, but women are gifted in the case of caregiving and men are fortunate to have them in their life. Her father always respected her mother, he was not crazy for a male child unlike his brother or the other kings of his time were... she wants to give a piece of mind to her husband, even she didn't understand, from where she found courage at that time but she did.

"What's wrong in it if he helps us in cooking?? You are saying as if it's a punishment?? We women cook because we love the family and care for them. Doesn't mean we are incapable of handling the outside world and are only fit to stay in the kitchen", Isha said looking into Abhyansh's eyes... his eyes held amusement, yes he always considered women weaker but only than him, not all the men. He thought no human either a man or a woman could defeat him or make him bow his head but this woman in front of him proved him wrong. He is ready to ask forgiveness from her, kneel in front of her and offer his entire world to her in exchange for her presence in his life. That's how much he wants her.

Avyan looked at Isha in shock, his brother's silence shocked him even more, but he is trembling in fear, he might not have said anything to her but he would definitely punish him for even witnessing a scene of someone standing up to the BEAST...

"Bh.. Bhai sa... I beg your forgiveness... allow me to leave now", Avyan said

Abhyansh so wanted to punish his brother but his wife's presence stopped him, now if he punishes his brother, he would become a villain more than he already was, and she would grow more sympathetic towards his brother and he even hated that thought. While Isha looked at Avyan as if he betrayed her by asking for forgiveness calmly and escaping cleverly leaving her with the beast whom she just countered...

'Oh no! what have I done?? Why did I say all those things?? What if he again gets angry and this time slaps me directly??', she thought... 'if he did that, I wouldn't see his face for life' she thought... would it affect him?? Huh, why would it?? Then she remembered how he pleaded her not to leave him… ‘it would affect him badly’, her heart answered.

"Avyan go to your chamber", Abhyansh said and as soon as those words left, Avyan ran like someone is chasing him with a gun...

"Traitor", Isha muttered

"Aur aap, rani sa(and you, her highness) what are you doing here??", he asked her though he knew she is making dessert for him, honestly her gesture increased his love for her ten folds... she is the purest soul he has ever met and her love is unconditional...

"What would I do in the kitchen?? I was cooking", she said trying hard not to fumble

"At this time??", he asked raising his brows, he is liking this a lot, teasing her and her cute face like a child caught stealing candy...

"Y... yes... I was preparing for tomorrow's breakfast", she said

"Oh really?? From now??", he asked again and now she is pissed, his morning treatment towards her had already made her angry beyond limits, and now this...

"Yes, because you throw a lot of tantrums for food and we need a lot of time to think and manage cooking accordingly", she said huffing, and Abhyansh entered the kitchen for the first time after more than one and half a decade, the last time he entered was to search for his mother without whom he couldn't function at that time...

Isha gulped looking at her Beast husband making his way towards her...

"I told you I would eat everything you make without throwing tantrums, but it's you who denied it, saying you could handle my tantrums, now you are tired??", He teased her and she blushed at his husky voice, she is hearing that tone of him for the first time, and it sent tingles all over her body... her spine shivered in anticipation without her will... he smirked at the red hue on her cheeks and her trembling figure...

"I... I didn't say that", she defended herself, she said she wasn't stressing to cook his favourite food but this husband of hers took it to a whole different level...

"You didn't?? But it delivered the same meaning", he said stepping closer but his proximity this time instead of making her blush created fear, what if he hurts her like morning or worse as he did in the past?? No, no he is changed, he wouldn't... but what if he does?? He just did this morning... with all these thoughts, she took a step back in fear and Abhyansh understood it... she closed her eyes and fisted her palms holding her saree tightly making Abhyansh feel more guilty...

" Isha... I won't hurt you, please don't get afraid of me", he said softly holding her cheek caressing her forehead and pushing her baby hairs in the front in place gently... his soft touch calmed her and she slowly opened her eyes...

"I... I don't know... you said the same thing before, but today... morning... you...", she said while a tear escaped her eye...

"I didn't mean to, I am sorry , I thought you were gonna leave me, and I couldn't bear that thought, I don't want you to leave me", he said wiping her tears...

"Don't say sorry, it sounds weird from your mouth", she said softly making him chuckle and she looked at him as if he did the strangest thing...

"It sounds strange to my ears as well, I never said sorry to anyone till date", he said, she looked at him shocked...

"Your teachers didn't teach you??", she asked

"My teachers taught me different things altogether", he said remembering how his gurus taught him to become emotionless, cruel, and cold-hearted. "Leave all that, tell me, did you forgive me??", he asked looking at her confused face and trying to decode his earlier words.

"No", she said plainly, she is afraid of him but she is angry with him as well and he isn't getting his forgiveness so easily.

"Okay, let's go to our room and talk", he said

"Our room??", She asked confused, where is that?? She wondered... it's either his room or her room, from where did their room come in between??

"Will show you, come", he said walking to his chamber...

Stopping at the entrance of his suit, he said "from today, this is our chamber, not mine alone" surprising her...

"Why??", She asked without hesitation, he liked how she is willing to talk to him but he is yet to see his wife's anger...

"Because you are my wife now, not anything else... whatever is mine is yours too", he said

"What if I don't want it", she asked him...

"It's yours Isha, whatever is yours belongs to you alone, whether you want it or not", he said in his same cold tone, he is conversing with her for a long time, but his tone remained cold, and she is irked by it. He observed her expressions of displeasure... "what happened, you look irritated", he asked again in the same cold tone, by this time they walked inside his, no, their chamber, took the stairs, and are walking in the huge hallway outside their rooms... she went and sat on the couch without answering him and he followed her... "what??", He asked again in his steely tone, and this time she is irritated beyond the limit...

"Aap aise kyun ho Maharaj??(Why are you like this, your highness??)", she asked exasperated, he looked at her with amusement... her irritated look and frown on her face looked too cute... he sat beside her and kissed her forehead, and soon her frown is replaced by a small smile and blush, she looked down...

"Kaise hai hum, zara batayiye(how am I?? Enlighten me)", he asked, amusement dancing in his tone, and hearing his tone, her cheeks flushed more...

"This... this is what I am talking about, most of the time you talk as if you have ice in your mouth, like a robot, with no emotions in it, I feel like it's a festival whenever I get to hear your tone with softness or any emotions in it", she said and he smiled, a genuine wide smile, with love dripping for her in his eyes for her.

"I am like this Rani sa, and I am sorry but you have to bear me for your whole life", he said

"Ha woh hum krlenge par... (Ha... that I'll do but...)", she said but cupped her face with wide eyes realizing what she is saying, and shook her head vigorously, he smiled cupping her face...

"I know you are angry with me, and are afraid that I would take you for granted if you tell me you will stay with me forever", he said and she widened her eyes, how did he know?? "But trust me, I won't, please assure me that you will not go leaving me here, I was so afraid seeing those divorce papers and your signature on them, I am sorry I behaved like an animal in the morning", he said apologizing for the nth time that day, and she frowned hearing his apology.

"But I am upset", she said... "you hurt me after promising you won't, how can I trust you again??", She said

"So you don't trust me now??", He asked, first she shook her head and his face paled, but she then nodded in 'yes' bringing a small smile to his face, she still trusts him... "you are angry with me??", He asked and she nodded, "okay, you can punish me until your anger goes off", he said holding her soft palm in his calloused ones...

"P... Punish you??", She fumbled, and he nodded rubbing the back side of her palm with his thumb...

"Yes", he told her strongly...

"But you are the king, how can I??", She asked, even afraid of the thought of punishing him...

"I am your husband, not the king, and you have that right, the right to punish me", he said

"Really??", She asked innocently, Abhyansh just wanted to hug her tightly and hide her in his arms forever and this time, he didn't hold himself, he hugged her tightly pulling her to him, a loud gasp escaped her mouth, she didn't hug him back but she found solace in his arms... so much solace that she didn't want him to let her go, after she came out of her initial shock, she slowly put her arms around his midriff and his muscles tensed at her touch, she felt it and slowly rubbed his back calming him...

"Maharaj...", she called him slowly loosening her grip on his back, indicating him to leave her but he pulled her more into him...

"Abhyansh...", he said, and her eyes widened in shock, she understood what he is saying, but how can she?? "Call me by my name", he added, and she broke the hug quickly and he let her go...

"No, how can I?? I can't..." she said shaking her head vigorously...

"You can", he said sternly, and her face paled, he understood she needs some more time, so he took a deep breath nodding at her and that calmed her a bit.

"It's late, come, let's sleep", he said standing up and pulling her by her hand, she too stood up and tried to free her hand but his grip tightened. She sighed and walked with him. When she observed him taking her to her room, she opened her mouth.

"Maharaj... I will go on my own, you can go to your room and sleep", She said and he raised his brows but walked with her without responding to her statement.

They entered her room, and she is shocked to see the female servants moving in and out of her huge walk-in closet which she doesn't use at all.

"How much more time??", he asked in his steely tone making them shiver...

"It's done, your highness", the head lady servant said in her low tone trying to contain her fear and soon they all left...

Looking at Isha's confused face, Abhyansh started answering her unasked questions...

"I'll be staying in this room from now on...", he said

"What?? Why??", She screamed in shock, soon cupping her face realizing what she did...

"For your first question, yes, and for your second question, why??, Now that we are wife and husband, we are supposed to stay in a single room, also considering my mood, this room suits me better than anything else", he said and she looked at him with confusion... "I got the confidence that you wouldn't leave me now and I'm very happy, so I will be sleeping in this room with you", he said and her eyes widened... "I see that you haven't used the walk-in closet till now, may I know why??", he asked pulling her from her reverie

"I...I don't need it, a single wardrobe is enough for my things...", she said

"But that's not enough for the things I got for my Rani sa, go and check it", he said and she gave him a questioning look, he asked her to go and she went to the walk-in closet...

She walked in, she never explored it fully in these 11 and half months since she didn't use it at all, she used the wardrobe which is located in the corner of her room... Abhyansh followed her... she spotted his accessories on the right side, his suits, traditional wear, boots, shoes, Indian footwear, ties, brooches, everything that belonged to men is present there, she didn't understand what would he do with all those clothes... she walked more and what she saw made her gasp in surprise. It's filled with all kinds of women's clothing... every dress has a cabin beside it which held jewellery matching the outfit and footwear and all other accessories.

"hm... walk inside", he said from behind and she jerked in shock hearing his tone so close to her ear...

"What is all this Maharaj??", She asked him...

"You know very well what all this is...", he said looking at her...

"I don't need them, I have what is required and I'm happy with what I have", she said looking at him in the eye...

"You do, and I know you don't want it but I do, I wanted to gift you all this...", he said

"You wasted a lot of money, I don't use them, it's waste", she said

"You will, when you forgive me and accept me, you will use it, because I got it for you with love", he said and her eyes widened, she is about to fall back but he held her in place... "careful Isha ...", he said, his eyes depicting his immeasurable love and care for her. She nodded moving away from him... she wanted to walk out and run away so far that she couldn't find him anywhere near, that's how much she is anxious right now, but she composed herself and warned her head not to think about his words for now...

When she thought, they came to the end of the closet, she saw a golden glass elevator and just beside that, a matching golden escalator which is taking to upstairs... her eyes widened in shock... what the hell is an escalator doing in a closet?? He chuckled at her expressions...

"Um... it wasn't there before, I got it made a couple of months ago, I knew you were afraid of elevators, so I got this, there's also a staircase in the back that will take you to the upstairs", he said, and she moved closer only to spot a golden rims spiral staircase beautifully adorned with antiques in every step.

"But what's upstairs??", She asked

"Let's go and check it out, shall we??", he asked, and she nodded, she is curious to see what this crazy husband of hers got in there...

They took the stairs and her eyes widened again, she cupped her face to see a floor-length golden-bordered mirror included in a massive dressing table, either of the sides has glass doors and she could spot the jewellery sets in it with password-protected locks, to the right and left to the aisle located all the traditional and heavy sarees and lehengas followed by different kinds of traditional footwear...

"You don't need them daily, so I got them settled here...", he said, and she couldn't help but glare at her husband...

"I don't need them at all", she said, and he chuckled looking at her cute angry face... she looked at him as if he has grown crazy, he is finding her anger funny??

She quickly descended the stairs and got out of the closet, and Abhyansh followed her to the room...

"Don't be upset Rani sa ", he said and she looked down trying to control her anger, what did her husband think?? she would get happy looking at all these and forget all the insults he gave her??

"Don't call me that please, call me by my name", she said as softly as she could manage with that anger bubbling inside her...

"I would if you call me by my name", he said

"No, you are the king", she said

"And you are the queen", he said and she huffed... "okay, okay, you can call me Rana sa instead?? Everyone else calls me Maharaj and you also call me that, I don't like it, I want you to call me differently", he said and at that moment she felt like calling him so differently that he would go and cry hiding his face forever... but her anger subsided and soon blush took its place when his words registered in her head, when did her arrogant husband become this cute??

"Everyone calls you BEAST, not Maharaj", she muttered lowly, but he heard, to his surprise, it didn’t anger him, he felt her cute... he just smirked and shook his head...

"That is true too", he said and she looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Well, okay, it's late let's sleep for today", he said

"I don't want to share a room with you", she said, surprisingly her fear slowly disappeared.

"And why is that??", He asked trying to calm his anger, he couldn't get angry at his wife, that would hurt her, his inner voice screamed, and he controlled listening to it.

"You said that I could show my anger on you right?? This is how it is, please take another room, this is your punishment, I don't want interactions with you", she said closing her eyes...

"You can't even lie properly", he said holding her arms gently though his inner beast was screaming at him to pull her harshly and kiss her roughly so that she knows whom she belongs to...

"Maharaj...", she said opening her eyes...

"I'm sleeping here, this is my room as much as it's yours", he said decisively and she sighed, yes, she can't throw him out of his own chamber... she is a nobody...

She nodded and took a pillow, and arranged a bedsheet on the floor when her husband pulled her harshly holding her arm and she collided her head to his rock-hard chest hissing in pain as it made a contact with her swollen forehead...

He quickly cupped her face and checked her wound...

"Are you okay??", He asked concerned, his anger evaporating and she nodded moving away from his arms... "why are you sleeping on the floor?? Sleep on the bed, it's big enough for the both of us", he said but she didn't say a word... he sighed heavily... "fine, if you don't want me here, I'll leave, but sleep on the bed", he said

"I am gonna sleep on the floor whether you are here or not", she said, and he looked at her with anger...

"And why is that so??", He asked sternly making her gulp in fear...

"All these days, I'm sleeping on the bed because you ordered me to do so, because I'm your slave and couldn't disobey your commands, but since you freed me from that, I am not obliged to follow your commands anymore, I didn't forget how you threw me on the floor and set the whole bed on fire, you said I don't deserve to even touch the bed, you are right... I don't", she said softly with tears slipping from her eyes...

He cupped her cheeks wiping her tears with his rough thumb pads. He leaned his head on hers closing his eyes in regret. He understood how broken she is and he despised himself for it.

" Isha... you deserve the world, and I'm sorry, extremely sorry ... Please don't punish yourself for my faults", he said and she shook her head stubbornly... " Please ", he pleaded but she didn't agree... he sighed... "I'm not the same anymore, are you understanding??", He said with frustration and she jumped in fear, but she got the courage, remembering how he behaved with her in the morning.

"I thought so too, when you said you won't hurt me, I trusted you but you broke your promise", she complained with tears... "you didn't trust me, you thought I could leave you breaking my promise, did I ever give you any reason to doubt my loyalty Maharaj??", She said and he was angry at himself for giving her a chance to complain...

"I was furious to see your signature on divorce papers, and you said you don't want a wife-husband relationship between us, I thought...", he said, he knew that wasn't an excuse, he was just trying to manipulate her...

"You should have asked me Maharaj...", she said

"I did, but you didn't say anything, you were protecting your brother", he said as a matter of fact

"You asked me, but when?? After pulling my hair and throwing me on the floor like I was some...", she stopped herself and a sob escaped her throat, he acted crueller than this in the past but she was more hurt by his today's actions, it broke her heart, she was reminded of that pain she felt on the day when he called her sl*t and made her his slave.

" Isha... ", he called, in normal times, she would get melted with his soft tone filled with love, which is very rare but not now...

"Yes, I would have hidden regarding my bhai's involvement, but I would have definitely clarified to you that I don't want a divorce...", Isha said, and he looked at her trying to wipe her tears but she moved afar, he pulled her in his arms wiping her tears... he is not a patient man at all and he hated when she moved away from him...

"I won't hurt you anymore... I'll try containing my anger too... you are very important to me Isha", he said cupping her cheeks softly...

"You won't get angry with me??", She asked getting away from his arms... he shook his head... "even if I want to leave you??", She asked and that ticked his anger...

He held her arms harshly pulling her to him angrily...

"Don't ever... I repeat don’t ever talk about leaving me... You are mine , understood??",She saw an animalistic fury in his eyes and deathly possessiveness clouding his senses...

"Maharaj... Ma...Maharaj... you are hurting me", she said, tears spilling from her eyes... he immediately left her arms raking his hair trying to calm his temper...

"This... this is what I'm saying... you can't control your anger... you will again hurt me... and you still don't trust me", she said innocently, her heart breaking, his heart bled seeing her in so much pain...

"I can't... I can't bear the thought of you away from me... I trust you, that's the reason I freed you from the promise... please tell me, you won't leave me", he pleaded

"I want to sleep, go away", she said wiping her tears...

"I will, but sleep on the bed", he said but she shook her head, he took deep breaths in anger... he felt he would burst out with the amount of fury that was bubbling in him... "if you won't sleep on the bed, I'll stay in this room with you", he said and she shook her head... "then sleep on the bed", he said and she again shook her head...

He rushed outside and when he knew he is far away from her reach, he punched the wall till his anger busted out, he didn't want to show his anger in front of her and mess up more than he did, at the same time, he couldn't control his fury anymore, he never did that, and it's going out of control especially when she is talking about hurting herself. How can she sleep on the floor?? Her back will ache...

'It was you who made her sleep on the floor not for days, not for weeks but for months, remember??', His conscience mocked him and he wants to pull the trigger to his head if that shuts his inner voice but unfortunately it not only shuts his head but also himself and that's why he didn't consider that.

His knuckles started bleeding, and he tied a handkerchief on his wounds and walked to his wife's room which is theirs from now on, he thought, if she is stubborn to stick to her decision then he is stubborn too, he gave her an option, it's her who didn't take it, he considered staying in another room if his wife agrees to sleep on the bed, though he decided priorly to stay with her in that room from tonight. It's she who didn't take the choice. Now, no one can stop him from staying with his wife in the same room.

He entered the room and his blood boiled in anger seeing her laying on the floor. He observed, she changed into a cotton and lightweight saree, why?? She usually sleeps in her pyjamas right?? He smiled at her shyness, she knew he would be here, so she avoided her pyjamas, though they are very decent. She wouldn't change into her pyjamas at night until she is sure she won't be leaving her room till the next morning, and also whenever he made surprise entries, she always pulled a scarf instantly. His shy baby...

He is still in his suit, he sighed and went to the closet, got changed into his tracks and full-sleeves cotton t-shirt, he usually sleeps shirtless but from the time he got married, he slept with his shirt on, before, no lady servants came to his chamber during the time he is asleep, but from the time he got married, he knew his wife always cleaned his room when he was asleep and he knew she would get uncomfortable seeing a half-naked man even though that man is her husband, so he always made sure to put his shirt on, he denied at the start that he is doing it for her but when he started accepting his changing feelings for his wife, he accepted this too...

He observed her face, she acted as if asleep but he knew her better, he lay on the floor beside her making her open her eyes widely...

"What are you doing here?? Maharaj, please sleep on the bed", she said politely moving far from him but he moved with her, she sat up sighing heavily... "Maharaj...", she said

"My place is here, beside you, wherever you sleep, I'll sleep beside you, decide, if it's on a bed, we would sleep in two farther corners, but if we sleep here, the blanket is small, so we need to adjust on it", he said smirking

"You said you would go and sleep in another room if I agree to sleep on the bed", she asked him with an open mouth...

"Well, that offer is timed out...", he said and she opened her mouth widely... "you are reacting as if you were about to agree, okay, I'll go to another room, will you sleep on the bed??", He asked and she shook her head... he sighed trying to control his anger... "then why did you ask?? Sleep calmly", he said lying on the floor, pulling her pillow to his side and putting his head on it...

She sighed, stood up and took another blanket from the wardrobe, and spread it on the floor away from him, taking another pillow and laying down, she closed her eyes but within a few seconds, she felt his body heat on her back, and his hot breaths on her neck, she jerked sitting up...

"Maharaj...", she said in exasperation...

"I told you... my place is beside you...", he said and she gave him an angry look but deep inside she felt so good, so happy... she liked his words more, he said 'his place is beside her, not her place is beside him', before she could get completely happy, her head reminded her of his previous insults... she sighed heavily and laid on the floor trying to move away from him but his hand made its way around her waist making her gasp loudly... he pulled her to him, and another loud gasp escaped her mouth...

"Maharaj...", she gasped trying to bend and look at his face…

"Now sleep before I make you sleep on me completely... actually, let me do it know itself, that way, you won't be sleeping on the floor", he said

"No... no.... I'll sleep, I'll sleep... I'm closing my eyes, and I slept, see", she said innocently closing her eyes tightly, he lifted his head and a wide grin appeared on his face looking at her antics...

"Good", he said coldly...

After a few minutes, she slightly removed his hand feeling his even breathing... She slowly sat up taking his palms in her soft hands... she didn't know that her husband is just acting to be asleep, and that man never sleeps just naps, and his senses are always on alert.

"Why is he so angry?? He hurt his knuckles now... I knew he would do something like this the moment he rushed out in anger...", she murmured to herself caressing his wounded knuckles, she bought the first-aid kit, removed his handkerchief, and tended his wounds bandaging them... "I'm sorry, I got you angry, you hurt yourself because of me, but I'm angry, and I still am, you said I can punish you right?? My punishment is I won't talk to you, I know it's difficult, but I won't, you hurt me a lot", she said, and her tears slipped on his fist...

She felt him opening his eyes, she pushed the first-aid box away in a blink and hurriedly slept beside him closing her eyes tightly in fear... he acted as if he is just moving in sleep and she sighed loudly for her narrow escape...

After taking deep breaths to calm herself and adjust to her husband sleeping so close to her, she slowly drifted to sleep... as soon as Abhyansh felt her even breaths, he made her turn to him facing him, lifted his head supporting it on his left palm, and started staring at his angel, his queen, his Rani sa...

"It was my fault that I asked you to punish me, how would I stay without hearing your talks?? You can't do this to me... after 17 years, I am this happy, in fact, I'm never this happy in my entire life, we talked today, actually conversed like a proper wife and husband, you are my everything, Isha... just don't talk about leaving me or hurting yourself, I can handle everything else... I LOVE YOU and will be waiting for that day when I could tell you this openly, when I will be sure that you forgave me wholeheartedly and accepted me. I know you love me too, but you are angry, I'm sorry for hurting you my baby, I have never been sorry in my life, but I'm today... for hurting you... please forgive me", he said caressing her hair and kissing her forehead...

"Maharaj...", she murmured in sleep... he smiled at his wife who could feel his presence even in her sleep...

"Abhyansh... it is...", he said slowly...

"Abh...", she murmured sleeping with pouting lips... he rubbed his thumb over her lips unable to control himself anymore, he kissed her pout but soon broke it pulling her head on his chest and closing his eyes to draw some self-control. He became painfully hard just by staring at her, and with the contact of her lips, it became uncontrollable... she always did this to him, sometimes, just looking at her in her casual office Kurtis too got him excited and now she is wearing a saree, though fully covered, he couldn't stop his hands... he drank some water from the bottle beside her and lay beside her pulling her onto him completely but he observed his muscles are causing her inconvenience. He sighed and made her sleep on the bed and he kept staring at her the whole night, when he felt her movement in the morning, he made her sleep on the floor and silently lay on the floor himself beside her...

She opened her eyes and realizing the night's events, she moved away from him and left for the washroom to freshen up and start her morning chores... he too woke up and left for his personal gym to work out, and when he came in the morning, he didn't see her, knowing she is in the kitchen, he quickly freshened up, went to the temple, offered prayers with just his traditional trousers, bare-chested, proudly displaying his yagnopaveetam(janeu). After the prayer, he came back to their room, which was his wife's room before, changed into his usual 3-piece suit, and was about to move downwards when he saw his wife coming inside decked up in a beautiful yellow saree with her hairline filled with vermillion, and neck adorned by mangal sutra (nuptial chain) and a choker necklace and a pair of jhumkas she usually wears.

He stared at her with love until he noticed her full-sleeved blouse, that's when he remembered Ranveer's words about how he brutally burned her wrist with a hot watch... he hated himself and remorse filled his eyes...

" Isha ...", he called, he wanted to talk to her, make up for the pain he gave her in any way possible but she didn't respond to him... he thought, she didn't hear him, so he called again, but she didn't turn or respond, she took her mobile and walked away without giving him a glance and that's when he understood, she won't talk to him. She started his punishment and he sighed with longing. He wants to talk to his wife, look into her eyes, kiss her forehead, rub her soft cheeks with his rough hands, and kiss those plump lips. He closed his eyes in pain, just the image of her lips gave him.

He moved to the dining hall to have his breakfast, he maintained his usual poker face but the longing in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by his wife, but that's his punishment. Isha signalled her brother-in-law to offer his brother the dessert they made the previous night, but Avyan shook his head in a 'no', and she sighed.

She brought the Tiramisu she made for him the previous night and offered him, he finished his breakfast, took the cup in which his wife offered him a piece, and also the whole bowl of it she brought to serve others as well shocking others who looked at the retreating figure of Abhyansh as if he is possessed. He didn't care about their shocking glances; it was his wife that made the dessert specially for him for being a good boy and eating all that is given to him the previous night. He cringed at the 'good boy' word but rest all he agreed.

Ranveer came there to apologize to his sister but she gave him the same silent treatment she is giving to her husband. The difference is she had a talk with her husband and they sort of cleared the air but with her brother, she didn't, she is too hurt to do that. Avyan is too bothered by the pain of losing the delicious tiramisu his sister-in-law made and he helped, to care about Ranveer's pleadings to his sister. Amruta didn't understand anything, she thought it was their usual brother-sister fights, though she is surprised by her daughter-in-law's cold behaviour towards her brother, she didn't ask. After Amruta went inside, Avyan lashed out at Ranveer for hurting his Bhabhi sa, surprising Isha.

Ranveer apologized and explained to him his reasons and both the men after an hour sorted the things, but Avyan still refused to support him or ask his sister-in-law to forgive him. Avyan thought Ranveer deserved it for deceiving his sister-in-law.

Isha changed and left for her office, Abhyansh offered to drop her but she didn't even look at him, silently got into her cab, and went away leaving a furious at the same time disheartened king who is desperately trying to become her king.

Things continued to be the same way, Isha gave the same treatment to both brothers-in-law. Ranveer came there daily but got ignored by his sister, whereas Abhyansh got a nod or two when in front of people since she couldn't disrespect the king but ignored him all the way when they are alone. She also texted him not to take advantage of people and make her talk, if he does that, she would extend the punishment more than the duration she initially thought and that made the king stop his cunning plans. He is irked and irritated by her silence, but he secretly loved pacifying her, he is satisfied knowing that she too liked it. What made him happy and stay sane even though she didn't speak a word is their sleeping arrangement.

They both slept on the floor, and she let him put his hand on her waist and pull her into his arms, though she acted like she doesn't want it, he knew she loved it. And he took her to the bed after she slept and secretly made her sleep on the floor when she is about to wake up. He thanked his wife's heavy sleeping for it.

A week passed by, but Isha didn't talk to either of the most important men in her life. Well, now Avyan is added to that list... Abhyansh wanted her forgiveness before their first anniversary which is in two days, he wanted to celebrate it grandly making it memorable for her but here she refused to talk to him or look at him even.

That evening, after she returned from the office, she decided to talk to her brother about something important. So, she called him to her room, and after knowing that it was now his dangerous brother-in-law's room as well, Ranveer hesitated to go alone, so he pulled Avyan along, telling him that it was going to be his punishment for not taking his side in front of his sister. They prayed for the BEAST's absence there but what they saw in front of their eyes made them numb. Both of them, for a second, thought their souls left their bodies...

"I'm sorry", Abhyansh said tailing behind his wife who is completely ignoring him and arranging her neatly folded clothes that are kept on the bed, in her wardrobe... "won't you talk to me??", He asked again but she didn't respond a thing, and continued with her work... "it's been one week Isha, you have punished me enough, don't you think??", He asked his voice going soft from his usual cold one.

Avyan held the wall for support whereas Ranveer held him rubbing his eyes... Then he saw his sister's small smile or blush that she is trying hard to hide and Ranveer got furious and jealous of his brother-in-law. He committed the mistake just because of his brother-in-law, if Abhyansh wasn't cruel to his sister, he wouldn't have deceived his sister, and the cause of everything is about to get his forgiveness while she didn't even give a single sign of even remotely near to acknowledging his(Ranveer's) presence.

"I'm dead, I think I'm in heaven, please tell me what's happening??", Avyan whispered to Ranveer

"Heaven and you?? Huh, yours is a family of demons, you won't have a place in heaven, don't worry and about what's happening, your arrogant b**t**d of a brother is about to get forgiveness for his deed from my sister but not me", Ranveer said looking at his sister, longingly and his brother-in-law, angrily who though noticed their presence acted as if they didn't exist...

"Do you really think, my Bhabhi sa would forgive bhai sa anytime sooner??", Avyan said ignoring Ranveer's previous demon's comment and enjoying the show without knowing he would soon receive punishment for enjoying his brother's i.e the BEAST's misery, now and from a week. Abhyansh just postponed his punishment so as not to anger his wife who is already on a spree of ignoring him.