She stood there frozen at the same spot.

She was sweating even on the cold winter night.

For a second her mind became spotless, a sudden creepiness crawled up her body.

She could not let go of that image of that boy standing at the corner, staring at her for long minutes as if trying to find out some hidden truth of her soul.

How could she not perceive that look in his eyes?

It was creepy and haunting.

It was one of the scariest moments of her life which brought back the suppressed memories of the past.

"Are you fine?"

Like a warm sunlight diluting the cold in the winter, the concern in his pleasant voice diluted the fright which was creeping inside her, tucking her back to the present.

She looked up in his concerned eyes and with a small smile she answered him, "Why won't I be fine.I am absolutely perfect."

Vikram who was falling in love with her sweet smile with each passing day somehow found this smile of hers more plain.

It was mundane, with no shine in her eyes.

"Are you sure? " he again asked.

For a second a thought of sharing this incident with them crossed her mind however she threw this thought out of her mind as soon as it arrived.

She only glanced ahead of her, only four steps ahead where Rudra and Digvijay were standing, a frown etched on their faces.

She just smiled, giving them a nod of assurance.

A sigh passed through her lips as she felt the sudden warmness enclosing her sides as she sat idle between Rudra and Digvijay.

Every now and then her mind wandered to that boy.

Why was he there? Wasn't he afraid of getting caught? How brave he was to stand there and stare me directly in the eyes. He must be some rebellious teen, trace passing rich places and properties to look cool in front of his peers.

Yes that's what it must be.

Suddenly she felt a sudden jerk which brought her back from her thoughts.

The trio looked at the blank look on her face.

She was sitting with her shoulders slumped down and her eyes casted to nothing, the red hue on her delicate face had disappeared somewhere and all they could see was her white face as pale as white sheets.

Grabbing her from her waist, Rudra settled her petite body over his lap breaking the trail of her thoughts.

"What happened, Love? Why aren't you saying anything?" cupping her soft cheeks he asked.

Aadya turned her head towards him and looked deep in his brown orbs, she could feel his warm breath fanning on her face as he whispered the words, lovingly.

She pondered, should she tell them about that creepy incident or just let go of this matter.

It's not like that boy did something to her. He was looking so thin and weak. Maybe she was right, he was just one of those teenage boys who traces passed rich properties only for fun.

Maybe she was over exaggerating this matter. It was nothing to be scared about.

She was foolish to be feared by a mere young boy.

She let go of that matter. What will she get after complaining about that boy?

She will only destroy his future. She knew he could face serious consequences for trace passing one of the richest showrooms of the city.

"Nothing, I am just hungry," she smiled and scrambled from his lap to the corner seat.

Leaning her head on the window glass she glanced out at the dark night. The birds perching on the woods, the colourful water fountain, the dew drops on the green erotic leaves soothe her heart and she closed her eyes, trying to not think about that much.

She felt someone tucking a piece of her hair behind her ears and then caressing her head, soothingly.

She has come to recognise their touches, differentiate between their touch. And she recognised it was Rudra whose soft caress was summoning a sleep to her eyes.

She heard the roar of the car as they started their journey to her favorite Mexican restaurant.

It had been only five minutes when she felt Rudra's hands on her shoulder and her waist.

Gently, he took her slumbering figure on his lap and wrapped a warm fluffy baby pink blanket around her.

Aadya sighed in her sleep, snuggling more to his chest.

Rudra stared at her sleeping face, she was looking adorable. A sudden desire of pampering her face with loving kisses came to his mind, however he knew it would only disturb her deep slumber.

But it was really hard for him to glance away from her innocent face.

The freckles on her cheeks and nose were like a galaxy of stars. He just wanted to touch them with his lips.

Her fruity lips were forming a cute pout, inviting him to ravish their sweetness. Her closed eyes, hiding that beautiful mixture of blue and green.

Her face was so serene and divine, he can look at her like this for his entire life.

He felt someone else also drinking the beauty of her serene face, "Look how peacefully she is sleeping," he murmured in a small voice, not wanting to disturb her little nap.

"She must be tired," said Digvijay, his eyes not faltering from the mole on her chin.

Unaware of the heated gazes on her face, Aadya slept soundly with her head on Rudra's chest.

Rudra tried his best to control his desires however his heart did not listen to him.

Removing her tangling black locks from her forehead he placed a soft kiss on her face.

Feeling the soft kiss on her forehead she smiled in her sleep, unknowingly.

Seeing the small smile curving on her lips when she was deep in slumber for a moment the two men were astonished but then chuckled at her cuteness.

"What happened? " asked Vikram from the driver's seat.

"She smiled in her sleep when I kissed her," Rudra replied, chuckling a bit.

Vikram chuckled hearing what Rudra said, and soon the car filled with their chuckles.

Aadya twitched in her sleep when she felt Rudra's chest rumbling and she opened her eyes letting out a small yawn.

She glanced up at Rudra and then Digvijay they both were chuckling on something. She could hear the breathy chuckles of Vikram too.

With her head still laid on his chest she looked out of the window, they were passing by a deep forest she could make out by dark bushes and eerie silence on the road.

It was a dimmed light roadway, she looked at the passing darkness of the forest as Vikram drived in a fast speed.

"You wake up, love? "asked Rudra when he saw her looking at the passing scenery.

She only nodded in return.

Her eyes were casted outside when she suddenly saw a figure standing on the sides of the road, somehow she felt it was the same boy. She jerked away from Rudra's hold and threw the blanket away from her body. She sprawled to the opposite window and opened it, abruptly.

She tried to look back at that silhouette, however the night was very dark and they had already passed the road in which she had seen him.

"What are you doing ?" Digvijay yelled as grabbing her from the waist he brought her in and closed the car's window.

"I - I," Aadya stuttered, unable to form a word.

She herself could not make out what it was, a shadow or her imagination.

Maybe it was just my imagination, she tried to convince herself.

She wished it was one of those horror dreams of her which often visits her in the middle of the night, making her paralysed in her sleep, however glancing at the look of annoyance in their faces she knew it was not a dream but reality.

"I am sorry. I thought I saw a.. " she smiled awkwardly, rubbing her hands together, not finding a good lie to tell.

"What? " she shivered at Digvijay's rude tone.

"I thought I saw a Musk Deer on the side of the road," she shrugged, innocently.

She waited for them to say something however they sat silently. The sudden quietness was growing deeper, she could hear her own uneven rhythm of her heart, not getting a reply she glanced up at them.

The look on their face was blank, but then their lips twitched into a smile which surprised her and then with a loud lion-like roar they burst out laughing.

She flinched by the sound of their wild laughs, it was the first time she was looking at them laughing so freely. The sound of their laugh was so wild and manly, it shook her deep to her core.

Rubbing her thighs together she turned her head towards Digvijay, he wasn't roaring in laughter like the other two but it was ethereal to look at him, laughing as he leaned his head on the leather seat and wiping the happy tears from the corner of his eyes.

"Why are you laughing," she pouted, shaking Rudra's arm. Rudra tried to control his laugh however he failed to do so.

"Darling, you are telling us you saw a musk deer. It's a joke itself." Vikram said, chuckling.

Aadya cursed herself, she had said such a stupid lie.

"You want to see a musk deer, Love?" asked Rudra, smiling fondly to her. Aadya just nodded in return.

"Then I will take you on a road trip to the Himalayas, where you can see lots of musk deers, love. But there are no musk deer here in our city, okay? " Rudra said, caressing her cheeks to which Aadya just nodded and said in her mind, "Of course I know there are no musk deer in our city."

She grimaced thinking that now they must be thinking she has a low IQ.

"Umm.. Can we skip dinner outside and just go to your home? I am not feeling like going out for dinner," she tried to convince them.

"It's just that I am feeling very tired," she said, when they looked at her, frowning.

"Okay," Vikram said, making a right turn.

**********************************

Opening the door of the car, she stepped out and looked up at the triumvirate estate.

A delicate frown appeared on her forehead when she saw the estate all decked up like a new bride.

The estate was decorated with golden lights which were beautifully illuminating the golden walls of the estate giving it a royal look.

It was mirroring the beautiful portrait of an ancestral palace.

"What is this? " she asked them, pointing to the decked up estate.

They looked up at their home with a puzzled look on their face.

Even they were unaware of this," I don't know," Digvijay said, frowning as Rudra and Vikram looked at each other wondering who decorated their home without even asking them.

Aadya frowned, thinking, "how can they don't know about it? It's their home! "

"Let's go in. We will get the answer, " Rudra said, putting his arm around her shoulder as Vikram clasped his hands with her.

"You know what, I have always admired your home. It's beautiful and this decoration is making it more beautiful," she said as they took small steps towards their home.

"Our home and your home," Digvijay said, making butterflies erupt in her stomach.

"My home, "looking down at the concrete pathwa, she mumbled underneath her breath.

Their home made up of big rocks and walls always gives her a warm and succulent feeling. Whether it is the exact place where sunlight falls from the open arched windows or the colorful garden where flowers blossom and scatter their fragrance. Everything about this home attracts her, soothes her. The warmness and pleasant feeling she gets when she is here gives this big home a soft look just like the home of her dream.

"My home," she smiled at the thought and took a gentle smell of the fragrance of winter rose hovering in the air as they crossed the garden.

Somehow their home, which is now her home, reminds her of her real home, where the smell of the hot tea floats early in the morning, where the family pictures decorates the plain walls. The home where every day at five in the evening a woman waits for her man to come back from work. The home where a man never leaves for work without giving a forehead kiss to his woman.

A home which has a big garden filled with tulips, rose, jasmine, marigold and hibiscus. A home where the man makes a swing in the mango tree for a little girl.

A home with a family of four. Small and cute.

The great triumvirate estate was nothing like her childhood home however it gives the same feeling to her.

She was lost in her own thoughts when she felt Vikram and Rudra stopping in their steps, she looked at Digvijay, he was also halting on his steps.

The three men were looking at something or someone, she frowned and followed their line of view.

A man wearing a curt black business suit was standing at the entrance of their home, she was unable to recognise him as they were still a few steps away from the door however the man appeared cold and stern to Aadya.

Suddenly she felt a sudden tension in the air and squeezed Vikram's hand, unintentionally as they approached the man standing at the entrance.

When she finally had a good look at the man, it didn't take her more than a few seconds to recognize who he was, it was Vikram's dad.

Her heart rate escalated when they reached the entrance of the home and stood in front of his father.

He looked at his son who was holding a hand of a young girl, he frowned. He knew Vikram, Rudra and Digvijay were interested in the same girl however he didn't know the girl was this young.

She looked like a mere college going girl.

Aadya was feeling uncomfortable under his gaze and it was quite visible on her face.

Sensing her discomfort the three men stood in front of her hiding her petite figure from Vikram's father studying gaze.

"Stop looking at her like that. It's making her uncomfortable," Vikram snapped at his father.

Aadya didn't like the way he snapped at his father.

Pinching him on his back she whispered, "he is your father."

Mr. Rajawat glared at his son and opened his mouth slightly to say something, however he stopped himself when he heard the girl whispering something to his son.

"Shh.. Aadya," Digvijay shushed her as if she was a small child who was mingling in the matter of the elder.

Aadya twitched her lips and looked down, pouting.

The four men stood, silently. The tension was increasing in the air with every passing minute. Aadya just looked down at her new sandals which they bought for her.

Their choice is good, she thought to herself.

"I am disappointed with you, " his father said, breaking the silence. Aadya flinched at his voice, it was so cold and harsh.

The three men remained silent, not answering him back. Aadya bit her lips, thinking why are they not saying anything.

Standing on her toes she tried to look at the stern face of Vikram's father. He was glaring at her soon to be husbands. She didn't find that look very pleasing and without thinking about anything she asked, "Why are you so disappointed sir? Tell me, maybe I can help you."

Aadya met his angry glare with her soft gaze and asked him, calmly.

He was taken aback. He knitted his brows and asked, "I don't think you can help me in this matter, Ms... "

"Aadya.. Aadya Kumar and I think I can help you in any matter related to them. They listen to me you see," coming out of the wall that they made in front of her she stood in front of Mr. Rajawat, and said simply shrugging her shoulders.

Suddenly all the discomfort disappeared from her body and she answered him, confidently.

The trio smirked, feeling proud of their Aadya as Mr. Rajawat almost looked gobsmacked by her.

"Babe, don't think that just because we listen to you all the time you can make us do whatever you want, " Digvijay said, stroking her hands affectionately.

Aadya gasped, dramatically and placing her hands on her cheeks she exclaimed, "Are you trying to say that I manipulate you three?"

"Yes that's what you do, " Vikram chuckled near her ears and wrapped his hands around her waist.

Aadya shook her head, slowly and clicked her tongue.

She looked at Rudra with her most innocent face and a small pout on her lips, blinking her eyes she asked him, "Do you also think that?"

"No no I don't think like that, "Rudra denied straightly, shaking his head.

Aadya couldn't help and let out a quiet giggle.

Her innocent eyes can do wonders sometimes.

Her giggles became louder thinking how right they are, she truly manipulates them, not in a wicked way but in her own ways.

Their eyes sparkled as they saw their Aadya giggling, in the car she was looking so stressed out. But now seeing her giggle so freely makes their heart content.

Mr. Rajawat could hardly believe what he was seeing.

He had never seen these three men behave like this, especially towards a woman. This was not the usual cold and serious looking triumvirate.

Did they really love her?

It seems like their whole world revolves around this young girl.

Or is she their whole world?

Clearing his throat got their attention back and said, "Let's go in. I have to discuss some important matters with you three," he said the last words to the trio.

Aadya blushed, she was getting cozy with them in front of an elder. She cringed internally on this.

Again taking her hands in theirs they took her in.

Aadya was smiling to herself, recalling the moments a few minutes ago that she didn't glance up at the people sitting in the living room.

"What.." she was asking them when they halted on their steps but when she looked at the scene before her, for a moment her anxiety raised up.

There in the living room sat their whole family, at least few of them.

She recognised everyone.

The young man sitting on the couch was looking down at the phone in his hand, completely engrossed in it. He was typing something on his phone, rapidly .

Is he sexting... she wondered seeing the hidden smile on his lips.

She wouldn't be surprised if he was. After all he was Vikram's brother.

A lady was sitting on the other couch. She had a powerful aura around her. She was looking gorgeous in a blue full length coat dress. Her long black hair was tight in a ponytail and her makeup was just perfect enhancing her beauty. She was busy reading a book called "The magic of Reality". Her choice of books were as smart as her, Aadya nodded her head in appreciation.

After my mumma, she is the prettiest woman I have ever seen. Aadya thought.

A pretty girl was sitting on her left. She was smiling while scrolling through her phone. It looked like she was stalking her crush online by the way she was titling her phone, slightly hiding her phone's screen from the people around her.

In the pictures the girl looked so silent and aloof, Aadya never thought when she saw Digvijay's sister for the first time she would find her smiling.

Her gaze moved to a girl who was sitting quietly on the corner of the same couch. There was a red pen in one hand and a puzzle book on the other hand. It looked like she was solving a puzzle. She was scrunching her small nose and scratching her head with the back of the pen. It made her look cute. Aadya giggled at her adorableness.

Hearing the sound of her giggles all eyes turned towards her. She coughed and tried to stop her giggles when everyone was staring at her as if she was an old antic piece.

She again giggled at her thought. Old antique piece!

Rudra's sister, Priya was the first one to stand up from her place and took her steps towards Aadya.

She stood in front of her with her hands crossed across her chest. And looked at Aadya from head to toe, scrutinizing her under her judging gaze.

The scene was a little funny and more cute because of the height difference between them.

Tall, skinny Aadya was getting judged by a short and cute Priya.

Priya thoroughly studied Aadya's appearance. She wants to see if she is really that beautiful which she looks at in pictures or it was just filters and lightning.

"Good height, nice hair, pretty eyes, nose is also cute. I was afraid thinking what if your nose is too big or small?'' You are beautiful but what about brains?" she arches a brow, smirking.

Aadya smiled, mentally. She is cute. I like her, she thought.

"Answer my questions. Your answers will tell if you are good for my brothers or not," she said, raising her chin up a little.

"What did the ocean say to the beach? " she asked.

Everyone frowned at her question.

What the hell is she asking ? Ocean doesn't speak. Aditya snorted at her question earning a glare from Priya.

"Nothing. It just waved," Aadya whispered, biting her lips in doubt.

Priya nodded at her in appreciation, thinking, good she is not dumb.

"Why did Superman cross the road? " she fired her second question.

"He wanted to go to the supermarket," Aadya shrugged. Her questions were very easy.

"Okay... " she thought of some better questions.

"Being in a relationship in India and being in a hospital is the same in India. How? "

She chuckled at her question and said, "Because everyone asks 'serious hai kya? (Is he serious?)"

" hmm.. good. Now the last question," she hummed and placed her hands on her shoulder, she whispered the question in her ears.

"If you die having sex in doggy style. What would it be called? "

Aadya's eyes widened hearing her last question, she looked at the small girl who was smirking at her.

Aadya glanced back at Rudra who was knitting his brows thinking what must his little sister have asked her.

Oh boy, your sister is no more little.

Aadya crouch down to her level and whispered the answer in her ears.

"Kutte ki maut"

("died like a bitch")

Priya burst out in laughter and hugged Aadya, gently. welcoming her to the family.

Okay.. Okay Aadya I accept you as my babez'' she softly said in her ears.

Everyone was astonished seeing Priya accepting Aadya wholeheartedly. Priya is one possessive sister, she wants the best for her brother. She has always seen every other girl not worthy of her brother.

Even Priya had wondered if she would really like Aadya or not.

It was true she had to accept Aadya for her brother's sake but whether she would be able to accept her from her heart or not,it was pretty doubtful.

However she had accepted Aadya in the very first meeting.

Aadya enjoyed her warm hug but then knitting her brows she asked, "what is babez? "

Breaking the hug, Priya chuckled and said, "It's our nickname for you sister in law," she looked behind at Aditya and winked.

Aadya's heart warmed by their acceptance. She truly felt like she was in her home.

"Come I will introduce you to everyone," Priya said, and holding her hand.

Aadya nodded, giving her a small smile.

She looked back at the three men with her eyes shining with some warm tears.

"Thank you," she said through her eyes.

And got awarded by their gorgeous smile.

*******************************

Firstly tell me what's the correct english for "Kutte Ki Maut" because I am very doubtful of what I have written 😅

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