"Holy Moly!" I gaped at the breathtaking sight leisurely unfolding before me.
"The Sampati and Garuda welcome you to their humble abode, Your Highness," Akaay smirked, bringing the car to a halt in the almost-finished driveway.
I stepped out of the car, eyes still glued to the structure. The mansion loomed like a serpent-dark, flawless, and mesmerizing, drawing you in with its allure only to devour you whole.
Like a crowned emperor, the manor stood in the middle of its sprawling realm, effortlessly drawing attention to itself. Even in its unfinished state, its sheer size, curvaceous beauty, and splendor were enough to humble anyone.
"This is Dadaji's last present to us," Akaay mumbled so softly, if the world around us hadn't been so quiet, I might have missed it.
Premji Randhawa. The name alone carried more weight than most men's entire lives. I didn't need Akaay to explain who he was. Even a kid in Punjab knew.
I'd heard the stories-the ones whispered with awe. Premji, the visionary. The man who'd gotten into Harvard on his own merit, despite being born into privilege, and built the Randhawa empire brick by brick. A king who didn't just rule but inspired.
Unfortunately, I'd only heard about him-he'd passed a year before Akaay and I even met. The echoes of his legacy were loud enough to know what he meant to Kay and Kai.
And though I hadn't dared to ask, it was clear he'd been more of a father to them than their actual one.
But in the year I had known Akaay, he had never spoken about him. Not once.
Does it mean our relationship was accelerating beyond tangible affection?
My chest tightened. Lamentably, I wasn't allowed much time to ponder.
With a soft click, Akaay stepped out and closed the distance between us. Before I could turn, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me firmly against the warmth of his chest.
I gasped, stiffening instinctively. My heart did its usual wild dance, leaping and twisting like it always did when we were this close. But this time, something about his hold felt different. It wasn't just affectionate, possessive, or comforting-it felt heavy like he was grounding himself as much as he was holding me.
"He had a vision for Kai and I," Akaay murmured as his chin came to rest lightly on my shoulder. I didn't fail to notice how his voice was a little uneven.
His breath was warm against my neck, but for once, it wasn't what I noticed. It was the way his hold tightened slightly as if he feared I might slip away.
"A purpose like Sampati and Garuda had?" I whispered softly, unsure if the question would pull him deeper or break whatever fragile thread he was holding onto.
"For the whole family," he replied in a voice carrying a rawness that caught me off guard.
Our proximity had heightened every one of my senses, making me acutely aware of the subtle way his throat bobbed when he swallowed.
What had hurt my pookie?
"But mostly for Kai and me," Akaay continued. "He wanted us to have something-something that would remind us who we are, where we come from, and whatever it takes to hold onto it."
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond.
This wasn't the Akaay I was used to-always confident, often cocky, and perpetually in control.
This Akaay, with vulnerability peeking through the cracks, felt like someone who needed me, and I couldn't decide which version of him ruffled my feathers.
"I wish I could've met him," I whispered after a moment. "I've heard so much about him-how he shaped everything, how much he meant to you and Kai."
"He liked you," Akaay admitted, surprising me. His tone softened further, and I felt the faintest tug of a smile against my shoulder. "Dadaji had a thing for people who didn't need to shout to be heard. In fact, you... you remind me of him a lot."
My breath caught, and for a moment, the magnitude of his words hung between us, heavy and unspoken.
"He sounds like someone who'd be impossible to live up to," I breathed, trying to lighten the mood even as my chest ached at the thought of what they had lost.
"He was," Akaay admitted, his voice laced with a mix of pride and grief that tugged at something deep inside me. "But he never asked us to live up to him. He just wanted us to be the best versions of ourselves. That's why he built this place-for both of us. He wanted us to shine bright in our own light, but always side by side."
I followed Akaay's gaze to the twin mansions standing proudly ahead. Their differences were undeniable, yet they stood in perfect harmony, complementing each other like two sides of a coin.
Garuda loomed to the left, carved from dark basalt stone that seemed to drink in the fading sunlight and refused to share. The Mansion held all the sharp angles and commanding lines that radiated power, hunger, and unapologetic bravery.
The entrance was framed by towering black columns, etched with intricate carvings of Garuda-the mythical bird from The Ramayana, known for its devotion, strength, and valor-and he stared right at you as if daring you to step even an inch closer.
The lawn in front of Garuda was sparse, almost austere.
The shared fountains, shaped like vultures mid-flight, stood as the centerpiece, partitioning the two mansions. Their talons clutched at the air as if seizing invisible prey. Around it, the cobblestone driveway led to the entrance that was flanked by wrought-iron torches, unlit now but clearly designed to cast flickering firelight over the dark stone at night.
Unknowingly, my eyes darted to Sampati-gleaming brightly, unlike its dark twin. Its pristine white marble facade reflected the sunlight, glowing with an almost ethereal brilliance.
Where Garuda intimidated, Sampati captivated.
Smooth, symmetrical arches framed its balconies and terraces. Their ornate floral railings softened the structure's grandeur.
The entrance of Sampati was a welcome, not a warning. Ivory columns flanked wide. Graceful stairs led to shimmering double doors that seemed to beckon rather than repel.
The lawn stretched out like a canvas of green, adorned with meticulously arranged flowerbeds of lilies and roses.
The two mansions stood eye-to-eye, perfectly balanced but impossibly distinct. Garuda was all Akaay-raw, untamed, and commanding. Sampati, with its disguised charm and calculated perfection, was Kai through and through.
Fire and ice.
Strength and strategy.
I could see the narrative Premji wanted to write through his grandsons-not just brothers, but two halves. Victors alone, invincible together.
"You're lucky to be raised in his shadow," I muttered nervously, suddenly feeling timid and tiny.
Involuntarily, my hands brushed against the arms that held me.
"I know," Akaay replied, regaining his composure. "And I won't let him down. I can't."
There was a determination in his words that reminded me of the man I had fallen for-the one who chased ambition with the same fervor most people reserved for survival. I leaned back into him, letting the moment stretch as long as it could.
"It will be our home once it's finished," he whispered, nibbling on my earlobe-I inhaled a deep breath, reminding myself again that I wouldn't ever fall-not till Akaay's arms held me.
"Our home?" I echoed.
"Hmm-mm." Akaay snuggled. His warm breath grazed the side of my neck, leaving goosebumps in its wake. My pulse betrayed me, thundering in my ears as his hold tightened. His scent-earthy with a hint of cedar-pulled me deeper into a heady haze.
"Don't you like it?" he asked.
"It's..." My voice wavered, barely audible as I tried to suppress the flush creeping up my neck. "It's incredible," I somehow managed a breathy confession.
Get a grip on yourself, Girl!
"I wasn't talking about the Mansion," he hissed. "God, you'll be the ruin of me, Mridula," I felt the growl directly in my womanhood.
"A-Akaay..." My voice faltered. My hands gripped his arms like my life depended on it. The warmth of his embrace and the quiet intensity of his touch were so consuming, they left me terrified and withering.
Akaay chuckled softly. The vibration of his laughter bounced all over my back.
Isn't it hot out here? What's the month again? May? June?
"It's September." I blurted aloud.
"Huh?" The man stopped snuggling. Then he chuckled.
"So random. So Mridula." His palms leisurely slipped upwards. I waited with hitched breath for him to palm them.
He was there. Almost there. Could he feel my wild heart? Would he feel it?
He stopped inches away.
"Relax, Yaara," he teased, brushing his lips lightly against the corner of my jaw. "You're safe with me. Always. Would manage till I can. Remember? Though I'm not sure how long."
My lips parted.
Dude, have mercy on me!
"Now, be honest," Throat was cleared. Steps were taken. Spells were broken. Coming to my side, Akaay's arm found its home at my waist.
"Did you like it or not? Anything you wanna change? Add? Suggest? Get rid off?"
"Me?" I eyed him stunned.
"Who else do you think I could be talking to when you're the only one around?" Akaay said flatly, his tone matching the uninterested look he cast over the massive structure. It grated on me-how someone could act so casual about something so monumental.
Ungrateful punk!
"Why ask me when it's practically finished?" I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.
"Forty percent," he corrected without missing a beat- cool and unconcerned.
"It's got at least two years to go. Only the foundation and premises are done." He paused, gesturing toward the left side. "Now, look at it and start listing. And before you get any bright ideas, we're only talking about Garuda exclusively. Kai's Sampati is already locked in. That asshole had every inch of it planned down to the last brick."
"And you didn't?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my voice steady, though the shift in Akaay's demeanor left me uneasy.
"Oh, no! I couldn't. I was busy reading things somebody wrote about me," Akaay replied smoothly, lowering his head to my ear. His voice turned into a husky whisper. "Involving me."
I stiffened, feeling the air knocked out of my lungs. My eyes darted away, refusing to meet his as my heart thudded against my ribs.
"What things?" I managed to ask, narrowing my eyes in what I hoped was suspicion rather than sheer panic.
His smirk widened, deepening the flutter in my chest.
"Oh, you know..." He stepped closer, gluing his side to mine. I instinctively backed away until my back hit the car with a dull thud. Before I could slip away, his arms caged me in, trapping me between him and the car.
"Ak-Akaay," I whined. My voice faltered when his body pressed lightly against mine and his warmth seeped through my skin.
"This," he murmured, his lips brushing the shell of my ear, "is exactly how she withers under my touch."
I froze. My breath quickened as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His voice dropped lower, a dark velvet timbre that left no escape.
"The girl with hazel eyes, butt-length hair, an innocent face masking her wicked mind. A girl so naughty, she makes me want to keep punishing her until she's worn out, begging for mercy-and still craving more. But the best part?" He paused, his thumb tracing the edge of my lower lip. "She's not just a muse. She's a partner in crime-every one of her darkest fantasies matched and sometimes excelled mine."
I gulped, feeling a rush of heat creep up my neck.
The bastard knew!
"Wh-what are you-"
"Talking about?" Akaay interrupted, tilting my chin so my eyes were locked onto his. His grey, Moorish eyes held a glint of mischief, the kind that had always turned my knees jelly.
"Oh, I couldn't possibly know. I couldn't imagine the things no one would ever suspect from the quiet, innocent Chandel girl."
My heart stuttered.
"You're not making any sense," I said sharply, though the panic creeping into my tone was impossible to hide.
"Oh, I think I am," he replied. His tone was light but his eyes were heavy with intent. "Tell me, DeliciousBrownie, how long were you planning to keep it from me? Does Vikrant Singh Chandel know what's his precious sister fantasizing about right under his nose?"
The world tilted beneath me. My breath caught as his words shattered the fragile web of secrecy I'd so carefully built. "What... what did you just call me?"
"Brownie," he said again, savoring the word. His gaze dipped to my lips before returning to my eyes. "Indeed delicious. Though she never let me taste her."
My face flamed as his words sank in.
"You knew?" I whispered as I made a futile attempt to push him.
"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" he asked. A brow lifted in mock disbelief. "You're good, I'll give you that. The pseudonym, the details... but you forgot one thing."
"What?" I managed to choke through embarrassment.
"Your man is a Randhawa, Yaara." He grinned, leaning closer. "Digging up secrets flows in my DNA."
I stared at him, too mortified to speak. I swallowed hard before opening my mouth again. "H-how much do you know?"
"Enough to know that you've got quite an idea of what we should be doing," he murmured, his lips dangerously close to mine. "Enough to wonder how much of it is inspired by... experience."
"Nothing!" I gasped, shoving at his chest, though he didn't budge. "It's just earns me money sometimes. I really don't-"
"Relax, it's alright," he chuckled, his voice a low rumble as he pulled me closer. "I never judge and I'm good at keeping secrets too. Just sometimes my tongue slips and I blabber things out. But you can find ways to seal my mouth shut," he added, his gaze dropping to my lips again. "Or I can show you some."
"Akaay-"
Before I could finish, his lips captured mine with a low, restrained growl that shoved down my surprised shriek.
The first touch was tentative, almost as if he was waiting for me to pull away. But when I didn't, when I softened against him, he took his chance and deepened the kiss.
His lips moved against mine, warm and insistent, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away. It was just us-his touch, his breath, the steady rhythm of his heart against mine. He nibbled at my lower lip, coaxing a gasp from me before pulling back, only to dive in again, deeper, fiercer, as though he couldn't get enough.
When we finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine.
"Consider that a down payment," he breathed as heavily as I was.
Butterflies fluttered. I swatted at his chest, still gasping for air. "You stole my first kiss. Insufferable swine!"
"You misspelt irresistible, Yaara" he teased.
"There are many more firsts to be stolen." His lips grazed my temple and his hands lingered on my waist before he finally stepped away, leaving me flustered and breathless.
I opened my mouth to retort something insulting, but he cut me off, his gaze shifting to the mansion towering behind us. "You must be wondering why I brought you here," he contemplated.
I nodded, the sudden shift in his tone catching me off guard.
"There's something you need to see-something that belongs to you as much as it does to me," he said, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "But not today."
"Akaay-"
"Patience, Mridula," he interrupted, his smirk returning, though there was something deeper in his expression now-something unresolved. "I'll tell you everything when the time is right. But for now... let's just say Garuda is your home that'll forever drag you back to it."
My heart raced at his words, and though I wanted to press him, the look in his eyes silenced me.
"Come on," he said, holding out his hand. "There's more to show you."
As I placed my hand in his, I couldn't shake the feeling that whatever he wanted to show me, whatever this moment truly meant, was a thread that'd tie me to him forever and after that, it'd indeed drag me back time and again, to his arms no matter how hard and fast I try to run.
*****
I blink away the memory, letting the tears slowly slip down my cheeks.
Kaustami shivers beside me, but it isn't fear-it's fury. Before I can react, she steps in front of me- chin raised, hands balled into fists.
Randhawa's men close in tighter at her reaction. Their eyes trained for any potential movements.
Seconds later, the mansion doors creak open, and the twins emerge.
CM Akaay Randhawa moves first. Like always his steps were deliberate. The weight of his gaze lands squarely on me. Behind him, Kaivan strides out- calm, polished, eyeing Kaustami with an amused excitement.
Kaustami doesn't falter, even as the air thickens with their presence. She plants herself firmly between me and them, and roars. "If you want her, you go through me."
Kaivan chuckles while Akaay's lips curve into a smirk-dark, dangerous, and all too knowing. His eyes flick to mine.
"Yaara..." He breathes.
*****
I am so moody today!
Don't know why's that, but it's annoying to snap at people and be guilt-ridden for the rest of the day.
Any suggestion for mood upliftment that doesn't involve too much indulgence.
Anyway, vote, support, whatever!
EK>