17.

Abhiraj’s POV

Since morning, I am making sure everything is perfect. I know Mira loves simple things the most, so I decide to keep everything minimalist. I personally place the dress for her, making sure everything is just right.

Most of my men are here. They are not just my guards they are my family. 90% of them are orphans, just like me. I want them to feel that they belong, that they are part of my new beginning.

And then, I see her.

The moment Mira steps out wearing the dress, my chest tightens. She looks breathtaking...more beautiful than I had imagined. My throat feels heavy and for a second, I want to cry. The dress is perfect but only because she is wearing it. She makes everything look perfect. Her minimal makeup, her open hair....everything about her feels unreal.

I haven’t prepared any confession speech. I want my words to come straight from my heart, not from some written lines.

But before I can say anything, something unexpected happens.

My men suddenly start cheering “Say yes, bhabhi!” Their voices echo around us making Mira blush. I shake my head at them.

“I love you” she says.

Her voice is soft, but those three words hit me like a storm. She loves me.

But… do I love her?

I don’t know how love feels. Is what I feel for her called love? How do people know when they are in love?

I proposed to her today...to be mine, to become my woman. But love… I don’t know. The only thing I do know is that she is mine. And no matter what I will never let her go.

“Jiju, after dinner you both should have a nice talk alone” Jiya’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

I snap my head towards her.

Jiju?

My stomach tightens with an unfamiliar feeling. Why does it feel soo gooddd when she calls me that?

“Yes we will talk after dinner” I say, turning my gaze back to Mira. She looks at me shyly, a small smile playing on her lips.

And then.....roar!

We all turn our heads. Zar is sitting beside Mira and Jiya, his big blue eyes staring at something.

“What happened?” Mira asks gently caressing his head.

Zar doesn’t look at her. Instead, he locks eyes with Dev. There is something intense in his gaze. Dev sighs then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. He places it on the table.

A ring box.

Mira and I speak at the same time. “What is this?”

Zar lifts his paw and pushes the box toward Mira. Then, looking down shyly he lets out a soft huff.

Wait…

Is this white tiger proposing to my woman? How i forgot he is my boy and she is his mother too!

Mira picks up the box and opens it. Her eyes widen.

“Oh my god this is so beautiful Zar!” she exclaims. Inside the box is a ring, delicate and elegant, with a tiny kitten on it.

“Zar has good taste” Jiya comments admiring the ring.

Mira looks at Zar, amused. “Are you proposing to me?” she asks raising her hand to show the ring.

Zar nods.

“To become your mumma?” she asks again. Zar nods again, this time excitedly.

Mira smiles warmly. “Okay then from now on, I’m your mumma, my baby.” She leans forward and kisses his forehead.

I loosen my tie. She didn’t kiss me when I proposed, but this tiger is getting a kiss?

Huh.

“She’ll be your mumma” I say narrowing my eyes at Zar “but she is mine before you.”

Zar looks at me with innocent baby eyes making me sigh.

Suddenly the sound of a car stopping outside makes everyone turn. I get up immediately. So do Zar and Dev.

And then she walks out. Her eyes are red. She walks straight toward me. I clench my jaw.

“Why are you here?” My voice is cold, emotionless.

She shivers at my tone but still joins her hands in front of me.

“Your uncle… he had an accident” she stammers. “We need money. Our company is bankrupt. Please help me.” Tears roll down her face but I feel nothing. No pity, no regret.

Only peace.

She tortured me when I was just an innocent kid. And now seeing her like this… it feels like justice.

“Did you really think I would help you?” I smirk.

She looks at me desperate, as if she wants to say something. But then, her eyes fall on someone.

Her whole body stiffens. Her face drains of color.

“Wha… what? She… h...how?” She points at Jiya her hands trembling. Then, she looks at me her eyes wide in horror.

“Did you know this? She is your sister!”

Silence. A heavy, suffocating silence. I freeze. Everyone freezes.

Jiya looks just as shocked as I feel. My heart pounds in my chest.

“Sister?” My voice is dead serious.

She looks at me with fear. “You didn’t know?” she whispers. “Then… how is she here?”

She points at Jiya again, her face pale with terror. I don’t blink. I don’t breathe. I just stare. At her.

At Jiya.

"What is she saying?" Jiya asks looking confused.

"Tell me the truth fast!" I demand pulling out my gun.

Mira and Jiya gasp, eyes widening in shock. My so called aunty trembles, her lips quivering as she looks at me in fear.

"I’m telling you! Please, please don’t kill me!" she begs voice shaky.

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "When you were six years old your mother was pregnant. That day, your parents were on their way to the hospital for her check up. But… but they had an accident."

A strange ringing fills my ears. My grip on the gun tightens.

"Your mother and father… they died" she continues, voice barely above a whisper. "But the baby survived."

My whole body stiffens.

She swallows hard. "I met your father when he was taking his last breath. He told me to take care of both of you. But… she was a girl. She was of no benefit to us. So I abandoned her."

A sharp pain shoots through my chest.

"I left her outside an orphanage with some money. I told you that both your mother and the baby died… but she lived."

Her eyes flicker with guilt. "I used to keep an eye on her as she grew up. That’s how I knew… she is the same girl."

My breath hitches. My whole world shifts. I turn slowly, my eyes locking onto Jiya. My sister. My baby sister.

She stands frozen, tears streaming down her face. Her body shakes as she stares at me, her lips parted but no words come out.

I never knew. I never knew I had a sister. I never knew my parents had left behind an angel for me.

Jiya sobs, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. I move toward her, my chest tight with emotions I don’t even understand. She looks into my eyes, searching for something maybe reassurance, maybe love.

I do the only thing I can...I pull her into a tight hug. Her small hands clutch my shirt as she cries harder.

"Y…you are my sister" I whisper my voice shaking as I struggle to hold back my own tears.

"Bhai…" she chokes out her breath uneven. She tries to say more but she can’t.

I close my eyes, guilt crashing over me like a storm. "I’m sorry, Jiya. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know… I didn’t know I had a sister. And you… you had to suffer so much while I lived my life with all the luxuries."

She quickly shakes her head, wiping her tears. "I thought my parents abandoned me. But I was wrong" she whispers her voice breaking.

I pull back slightly and gently wipe her tears. "No more crying" I say, trying to smile.

She nods, her lips trembling. And then it hits me. She looks like our mother. How did I not see it before?

She is a little carbon copy of our mother. The same eyes. The same face. The same softness.

A voice breaks. "Please forgive me" that witch pleads.

My body stiffens again. The rage I pushed down comes roaring back. I step toward her, my fists clenching.

"WHY?!" I roar my voice echoing in the room. "WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO A BABY?!"

She flinches her head lowering in shame.

"Abhi, leave her. We will deal with her later" Dev says, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to step back. My hands shake with anger but I control myself.

I glare at her. "Get out."

She hesitates, opening her mouth to say something.

"I SAID GET OUT!" I shout at the top of my lungs.

She shivers, her whole body trembling and then she stumbles out of the room without another word.

The tension in my chest is unbearable. I run a hand through my hair, trying to calm myself.

When I turn back, Mira is smiling at me.

"Wow, I’m so happy!" she says her voice lighter now. "My best friend is your sister. So after our marriage, she’ll live with me in the same house!"

She said trying to lift everyone’s mood. And it works. We chuckle softly, the air around us finally shifting.

"Go, everyone, have your dinner," Dev says motioning to the men.

One by one, people sit down again, picking up their plates. I don’t even remember when dinner was interrupted but now we all eat in silence, lost in our thoughts.

After dinner I stand up. "Let’s go. I’ll drop you."

Mira shakes her head. "No, you rest. Tomorrow is the weekend. We will talk about everything then."

She looks at Jiya, making it clear she wants her to have some peaceful time.

I nod. She’s right. Jiya needs this moment. I watch as the driver takes them to their apartment, my heart still heavy.

So much has changed in just one night.

Jiya's pov

We step inside our apartment and the moment the door closes, I turn to Mira and hug her tightly. Tears stream down my face as emotions overwhelm me....happiness, excitement and relief, all mixed together.

"Mira… I have a brother! Mira I have a brother!" I cry my voice shaking.

Mira gently pats my back comforting me. "I know Jiya I know."

I pull back slightly looking into her eyes, my face wet with tears. "Mira he is my brother! My real brother!" My voice cracks with joy and I clutch her hands tightly, trying to process everything.

Mira wipes my tears with a small smile. "Shh… don’t cry. This is something to celebrate."

I nod, sniffling.

My heart aches as I walk to the balcony looking up at the sky. The stars twinkle, as if listening to me.

"I’m so sorry Mummy… Papa…" I whisper my voice trembling. "I used to curse you so much thinking you abandoned me. But you didn’t… You never did. I’m really, really sorry…"

The wind brushes against my face but my tears keep falling.

Mira walks over and holds my hand. "Let’s freshen up and sleep okay? No more crying or you’ll get sick."

I blink at her, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Now we’ll live in the same house. And you’re not just my friend anymore....you’re my bhabhi!" I tease grinning.

She gasps dramatically before playfully hitting my arm. "Ek din ke bhai ke liye barson ki dosti ko bhabhi me badal diya tune!" she complains, shaking her head.

(For a brother you found in one day, you turned years of friendship into a sister in law relationship!)

We both laugh, the heaviness in my heart lifting just a little.

After changing into comfortable clothes, we lie on the bed. Mira turns to me, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"We have so much to talk about" she says.

I nod eagerly. "So much…" We sleep ready to start our new morning new beginning.

Next morning

A loud, harsh BANG! BANG! BANG! on the door startles me awake. I jolt up, heart racing. Mira groans beside me, rubbing her eyes.

"Who is banging the door so early?" she mutters sitting up.

My pulse quickens. Something doesn’t feel right.

I quickly get out of bed, Mira following behind. We rush to the living room and I open the door. The moment it swings open, several men push their way inside.

I take a step back in shock. "Who are you?!" I ask my voice rising.

Mira grabs my arm her eyes widening in alarm. "HEY! What are you doing?!" she shouts.

The men don’t answer. Instead they start throwing our things around knocking over chairs, pulling out drawers, tossing cushions on the floor. A vase crashes to the ground, shattering into a hundred pieces.

"STOP IT!" I yell trying to stop one of them but he shoves me aside. I stumble back, my breathing heavy with panic.

Mira rushes forward, her fists clenched. "GET OUT OF OUR HOUSE!" she screams, trying to push one of them away.

But they don’t stop. Fear grips my chest. Who are these men? Why are they doing this?

Please forgive me for being late. I hope you understand that I'm human too and sometimes I get late or even extremely late. I'm really sorry for that and I truly appreciate your patience.❤️🌎