Vrishali put on her cap and looked around. She saw tourists, men, women, and children. She opened her water bottle and took a sip of cold water.
"It's scorching," Gauravi exclaimed, mopping the sweat off her face. Deepash called his brother as they waited for the vehicle.
"Dad, are we going by taxi or?" Vrishali asked, not liking the sweat. Deepash turned to his daughter with a smile. He patted her cheek as Vrishali groaned.
"Gagan bhaiyya(brother) will send someone to pick us up." Vrishali is beautiful; she has her mother's features but her dad's thick eyebrows and eyelashes, for which she is grateful.
Her skin is brown compared to her cousins, who are fair in complexion. Vrishali never cared, though; she loved herself and her skin colour.
"Hardik bhaiyya (brother)!" Vrishali yelled happily as she watched her favourite cousin leave the car. Hardik chuckled when Vrishali made a run towards him.
"Vrishali! I missed you gudiya!" She was immediately enclosed with a hug. Hardik lived with them for nearly three years when he shifted to New York for his masters.
He shifted back last year. Hardik treated her like his own sister. They used to go out, play, watch movies, and bicker about the series's characters.
Hardik then greeted Vrishali's parents, Chacha and Chachi(uncle and aunt) to him. "Aadi can't wait to see you," Hardik said, and everyone laughed.
Aadi is Hardik's younger brother. "I can't wait to see Dada, dadi, Riddi, Aadi and everyone," Vrishali spoke, remembering everyone.
Hardik's parents love Vrishali. They are one of the best people. Vrishali only mingled with some people as she lives far away. But Gagan Taya (dad's elder brother/uncle) and Malini tai( taya's wife/ aunt) are close to her.
Vrishali's eyes widened in excitement as they reached the Samode Palace. All her uncles, aunts and their children live in Samode Palace.
"Wow! They renovated everything." Vrishali said. Her parents chuckled.
They were greeted by the palace staff, who welcomed them warmly. Vrishali couldn't wipe the smile off her face. The last time she visited India was when she was fourteen; now, she is twenty.
"Dadi!" Vrishali ran towards the old lady who stood among others with a massive smile.
"Awe, I seeâ you missed me." Vrishali hugged her tightly. She didn't see the glare thrown by her cousin Radhika and her mother.
Radhika looked away as the elderly of the house hugged their favourite grandchild. Radhika is the elder granddaughter of the house.
"I don't understand why sasu-ma(mother-in-law) called them. She could've called them at the time of the wedding." Simrita spoke, standing beside her daughter Radhika.
The duo is standing a bit away from the family crowd, welcoming the house's youngest family. Radhika never had any issues with Vrishali, but she is scared about the decision.
"I don't know what's going on in their heads," Simrita said, pointing to the elderly.
"Ma, don't worry about the decision they take. He is going to be mine." Radhika smirked as Vrishali's eyes met hers.
"Radhika!" Vrishali hugged her, and Radhika immediately smiled happily.
"It's good to see you, Vrishali!" Radhika spoke with fake happiness.
"It's good to see you too, Radhika. I missed you all."
*
"Dadu, you really got a beautiful palace," Vrishali said dreamily. Her grandpa Kalyan Mewar chuckled, patting her head.
"Gauravi, I made your favourite sweet," Malini said as the married women walked towards the huge kitchen.
"Thank you, Didi."
"Sachi bath (to be honest), Vrishali turned into a beautiful girl. We all missed you three." Janaki said.
"We missed you all but work and Vrishali's collegeâWe couldn't come," Gauravi said.
"Work. . . I didn't expect you three to come this time. As Deepash is always busy with work." Gauravi tensed as Simrita spoke. Janaki and Malini glared at Simrita.
Being badi bahu(first daughter-in-law), Simrita always looked down on the three women. "Didi, at least they are busy with work, unlike others," Janaki commented, removing the smirk off Simrita.
Gauravi let out a sign when Simrita walked away from them. The three women look at each other before laughing. "My god! She behaves like a queen of this household," Malini said, handing a water-filled glass to Gauravi.
"I was so scared the first time I entered this household. She behaved more like a mother-in-law than the real one," Janaki said.
"Even I was scared, but thankfully, you two were there, and sasu-ma(mother-in-law) treated us like her own daughters," Gauravi replied.
"Is Nandini here?" Gauravi asked Janaki. Nandini is the daughter of Janaki.
"She will be here by evening," Janaki replied. Nandini is doing her masters in London.
"Manav, Hardik, Aadi and Ajitesh. They all grown up," Gauravi said. The other two chuckled.
"How is Prateek's health?" Gauravi asked Janaki.
"He is following a sugar-free diet and daily yoga with medication. He is doing good for now," Janaki said about her husband, Prateek.
*
Vrishali plopped down on her bed as her cousins entered her room. She couldn't contain her happiness seeing all her brothers.
Riddi sat beside Vrishali. Hardik is leaning against the wall. Aadi sat on the wing chair while Manav sat to her right. Ajitesh, her elder cousin, and Radhika aren't here.
"How long are you going to stay here?" Manav asked.
"One month."
"Cool, we can finally have a cousin trip!" Riddi said.
"Yes." They all agreed. Vrishali missed her other cousin, Nandini.
"When are they going to come?" Vrishali asked as they munched on the snacks.
"Day after tomorrow, I'm so eager to see the man," Riddi said.
"Why? Didn't you all see him?" Everyone chuckled, looking at Vrishali.
"What's so funny?" Vrishali asked, looking at them.
"We never saw him. . . Ajitesh bhaiyya and Radhika are the only people who know him. Ajitesh bhaiyya know him because they studied together, and Radhika Didi met him because of his mother," Hardik explained.
"Woah! It's going to be fun to finally see him, ah?"
"Yeah, heard so much about him," Manav said.
"Like what?" Vrishali asked with curiosity.
"He is the 303rd descendant of the Royal family of Jaipur. He got the city palace, man! His mother, Diya Kumari, a politician and a member of the Rajasthan legislative assembly."
"His Royal title is not officially recognised by law, as India is a federal parliamentary Democratic Republic. But everyone respects the title and him." Riddi said.
"More importantly, he made Forbes' 30 under 30 Asia list as he served as captain of the first Indian polo team in England in 20 years.
Forbes noted that Singh was the youngest member ever of a World Cup polo team." Hardik explained. Vrishali surely was impressed.
"You know his net worth was 20,000 crores when he was only 20. Just think about his present net worth." Manav said with an unknown expression.
"You forgot that he owns about 300 miles of vast land on Mount Abu."
"Woah! The guy is filthy Richie rich! What's his age now?" I asked them.
"If he studied with Ajitesh bhaiyya, he would be 26 or 27 now." Aadi, who was silent all the while, said.
"I heard from Radhika Didi that the guy is an earnest and traditional man."
They spoke about their life, college and office stuff. Vrishali laughed a lot. She was happy that she came to India to spend her summer vacation with her cousins. She really needed that before her cousins decided to tie the knot.
*
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