Warrior - Chapter Seventy Seven

 This party sucks!

I mean seriously, it just sucks! It's all posh and all that nonsense. I mean the orchestra? No offense, but a bitch is falling asleep here! Unlike mama in-law and aunty in-law, who are conversing away with all of the aunties here - which by the way, it's quite the sight to see Varsha doing this, since she usually sticks to herself. As for the men, Aryan Singh Raizada and Madhav Singh Raizada were talking away with the uncles who got dragged here due their wives, so they were busy. As for Akash and NK Singh Raizada, last I saw them-

"Oh, Khushi, hi!"

Turning around, I see none other than the potato, Maahi, herself.

Ugh, what the fuck do you want?

"What are you doing here alone?"

I looked at the garden around me, which was quite some distance away from the party, not to mention let me be alone, so I can't fucking figure out why Maahi is asking such a dumb question.

Especially when she, no doubt, had to have followed me here.

"The garden is quite pretty, isn't it," Maahi continued. "Would you like to see more of it?"

Before I could even answer, she linked her arm with mine, making me look at her like she was bat-shit crazy.

What the fuck-?

"Come on, you'll love the roses," she beamed.

She began to drag me forward, and since I don't want to wear out my heels, I started following along. She walked me through the garden, leading me to an empty ground with nothing but rose trees. They were cut and shaped out to be perfect spheres, beautiful red roses sitting on them.

"Aren't they beautiful," Maahi gushed.

Sure, I mean they're roses.

"I mean, they might not be as beautiful as the roses Arnav gets you..."

Come again?

"...but I'm sure they're still good."

Oh you poor, stupid girl! What kind of narrative have you created in your dumb fucking head?

"By the way, you guys look so good together! There was some article in the paper the other day and they used a picture from the gala you guys attended earlier in the month, which by the way, you looked so stunning in that emerald green dress of yours..."

Oh fuck, this bitch is just going to keep blabbing away like this, isn't she?

I inwardly groaned to myself as Maahi continued to blab on. I tried to put my attention on something else -anything else for that matter, whether it was the roses, the trees - heck even a fucking squirrel! But it really was hard to stay focused, especially since this bitch kept fucking shrieking!

"...I mean if I was married to someone as handsome as Arnav, I wouldn't be able to keep my hands to myself either!"

Bitch say what now?

Turning to her, I arched my brow.

Maahi rolled her eyes with a grin, letting me go. "Oh come on, there's no need to be coy! With a hunk of a husband like him, I don't blame you! And I mean come on, he's your husband after all; you can do whatever you want with him - or to him," she winked.

I couldn't help but to cross my arms, tilting my head. "Just because he's my husband."

The potato didn't understand that it wasn't a question. "Duh! Like I said, he's your husband; do whatever you want to him! And you're his wife after all," she shrugged. "He can do whatever he wants with and to you, just like you can with him," she smirked coyly.

This poor idiot. Then again, with the pumpkin of a mother she has, it's no wonder that the insides of her head is as messy as the insides of a pumpkin. "Just because someone is your husband, or that you're someone's wife, it doesn't mean that they automatically are allowed to touch you. Marriage does not mean consent."

Maahi must see the daggers in my eyes cause the dumb potato's eyes widened as she froze, her fear obvious.

I tilted my head to the other side. "I was married once before as you and your mother obviously know, and my ex-husband tried to go by that bullshit logic, almost raping me and assaulting me. But I guess by your backwards standards, that's okay since a husband can do whatever he wants with and to his wife."

Her eyes widened even more, realization totally hitting her, and she opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off.

"No wonder Akash's mom doesn't like you."

Maahi's jaw instantly unhinged itself, dropping. She looked like a fish out of water, especially when she tried to quickly recover and form some words.

Ugh-!

"Neither do I."

Maahi's jaw dropped once more as Akash came walking over to us, absolutely nonchalant, his hands chilling in his pockets.

Under normal circumstances, I'm sure Maahi would've been drooling over him, especially given that my devar was dressed quite handsomely in his light purple button down, black suit, striped purple tie, and light purple pocket square.

He truly was looking like a Raizada. 

As Akash came to my side, Maahi's face reddened. It wasn't like how Arnav would turn into a tomato, but rather her turning into a fire hydrant. And given the ultimate burn Akash just gave, she was definitely going to need one.

Akash held his right arm out to me. "Shall we, Bhabi?"

A smirk graced my face as I looked Maahi down, and I looped my hand around Akash's arm. "We shall, devarji," and the both of us walked away, leaving poor potato Maahi all alone.

When we were some distance away, Akash cleared his throat. 

"I'm sorry for what Maahi said-"

"Nonsense! Why should you be apologizing for that potato," I scoffed.

"Potato," Akash frowned, though he was grinning with amusement.

"Have you seen the colors of her dress? She looks like potato that hasn't been peeled properly."

Akash let out a laugh. "I feel like that's something my mom would say."

"Given the fashionista she is, aunty in-law would've been on point! But forget that; there's no reason why you should be apologizing on Maahi's behalf. Actually, I feel sorry for her."

"Why is that," he frowned.

"Because of what she was taught and raised to believe by her own mother. The fact that she thinks that way.... Genuinely, I hope that some day her eyes will open- actually, I hope someday the whole world's would open," I scoffed.

"I definitely agree," Akash said, letting out a sigh. "Just because you're married, doesn't mean that there's automatic consent."

"Here, here!"

Akash smiled at me before glancing down at the ground. "I... I know that you and Bhai may not be close like that..."

Well, the boys did make mention of this at the club that night.

"...but I'm glad to see that you guys are good friends."

For a moment I just looked at him. "Exactly how close are you three?"

"As close as brothers can be."

Hearing his words, it registers in my head that in the two months that I've been married to Arnav - well, tomorrow makes two months but you know what I mean - I have heard Arnav refer to Akash and NK as his brothers, not just as cousins. And hearing Akash say it, it became clear to me that these three didn't see each other as cousins, but as brothers. Despite the distance that had been created by that fucking old demon, they still had created a bond of brotherhood.

"Can I ask you something," Akash asked.

"I don't know, can you," I smirked.

Akash grinned in return. "May I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Akash paused so I halted as well. "I'm just curious, but... do you consider yourself close to us?"

I tilted my head with a frown, not exactly understanding his question.

"What I mean is... do you think of us as strangers? The whole family that is."

While I continued to frown at Akash, inwardly I had forced myself to not let my eyes widen.

"It's just... I mean sure, you and Bhai have only been married for like two months, and the two of you have developed a friendship.... I was just curious to know what you felt towards the family as a whole."

I can't help but to look Akash up and down. "What do you think?"

Akash frowned at me.

"What does it seem like in your opinion?"

"Uh, well... uh... I'd say you care about us."

Oh?

"I mean it's not like you treat us like total strangers. The fact that you were entertained by Maahi and the whole situation, I mean you'd have to care somewhat to want to see the theatrics."

True, true....

"And what you just did with Choti Ma, I mean... I have to say I'm glad you said what you said, though I may not fully agree with your methods," he chuckled lightly. "But NK for sure is really happy about it; I don't think either of us can remember seeing her so bright like this."

Well, her dull wardrobe was just... well, dull.

"So I guess... I mean no stranger does that for another stranger so... I would have to assume that you think of us in some way, if not exactly close. Plus, you did just call me your devar back there with Maahi," he smirked lightly.

"I did, didn't I?" 

Akash's smirk grew as he tilted his head. "NK will be jealous if he finds out."

Ah, yes, NK! "Mm, better not tell him then."

Akash let out a laugh and I couldn't help but to smile. It was odd, and yet... I just couldn't help it. My smile just could not be helped.

I held my arm out. "How about we head back to the others and blow this taco stand?"

Akash looped his arm with mine. "Sounds like a good idea, but oh! Speaking of tacos, how about birria tacos? The finger sandwiches hardly did anything."

"They don't do jack shit, and neither do the scones, so I'm fucking down!"

"Wonderful," and we made our way back to the party.

You know what... he's not that bad. I guess Akash really isn't so bad.