Chapter 1

It was a bright morning in Manali. The servants of the Raizada Mansion set the breakfast table and were in a frenzy, they had to ensure that everything was perfect. It had to be perfect it was Raizada Mansion after all.

Everything about the Raizadas' was perfect, ethical, and right. Nothing could go amiss. From a perfect and thriving business to a perfect family. However, illusions can be perfect, but reality isn't always.

Mrs. Kalyani Devi thanked God everyday for getting the grandsons she had. She was proud of them. She had three grandsons.

Arnav was her eldest grandson. He was so focused and hardworking, there was no place for anyone else in his life apart from his family.

The second grandson, Karthik was so shy that he didn't even talk to any woman other than his mother and grandmother.

And her youngest grandson Manik was strong, athletic yet emotional. He had gotten his heart broken twice and had given up on love, his heart harboring disdain for girls.

That was her destiny. No daughters-in-law and due to different reasons but different personalities of her grandsons. But she couldn't blame them either, they were a happy family, but there was much more to it.

She snapped out of her trance and nodded at the servant who informed of the breakfast being ready. When she reached the dining room, there was no one, just the servants standing in line, their heads bowed.

"Where is everyone?" She wondered.

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

His hands filtered through files signing them and moving to the computer checking his emails and the documents on his laptop and turning to the wall to search for other files. A Versace short-sleeved shirt with an equally costly waistcoat couldn't hide the muscular body, and his ensemble was completed with a Rolex watch. He looked up from the file and when his phone rang.

"Aman," He answered his secretary curtly, and continued before Aman could answer, he continued with his order. "Clear all my schedule for today. I have plans later."

He hugged his grandmother when he saw her in the dining room.

Arnav may be arrogant for the world, but with hsi family, he was so sweet it was heart melting.

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

He packed his bag and departed his room after locking it properly. He entered the elevator and pressed the button to reach the ground floor. He submitted the keys to the reception and went out to find a cab.

"When is your flight?" His phone pinged with a message.

"In a couple of hours," He replied as he smiled.

He was going back to his home after almost a year, and as much as he missed home, he still couldn't deny that London held him.

His phone beeped again, a message from the person why he wanted to reach India as soon as possible.

"Safe journey, Karthik."

Karthik may be shy for the world, but no one knew, he had a sweet little secret.

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

He pressed on his accelerator while the stands echoed, everyone cheering his name.

He drove faster and reached the finish line. A few bikes followed him.

"And the winner is... Manik!" they heard an announcement.

Everyone rushed towards him, the boys lifted him in their air to congratulate him. When the girls came and hugged him, he pushed them away.

"Don't touch me," he snapped at her, eyes avoiding an offended girl's face.

"Yes, Bhaiya?" he answered his ringing phone in a polite tone.

"Where are you?" Arnav asked from the other side.

"I am reaching home in 10 minutes."

Manik may be a daredevil for the world, but for his family, he was a little boy, who needed his brothers to protect him from the world.

________________________________________

The sound of music filled the Singhania mansion with life. The mansion was decorated as if a movie set, everything posh and grand. It looked fit for the engagement of the eldest daughter of Mrs. Avni Singhania, Khushi.

Khushi, the eldest daughter was beautiful. She hated deception and was very down to earth. At such a young age, she had built her own name in the business world and today she was the youngest businesswoman in the country. Usually, she was very brave and confident but today, she felt neither. She was feeling the calm before the storm, and that made her nervous.

The second sister Naira was wise. She was the child therapist in Mumbai. She was dreamy-eyed, lost in the worlds of candy love stories, mills and boons, and the classic romantic fictional characters.

Nandini was bubbly yet charming. All her wishes were fulfilled before she could even say it. She depended on her sisters for every little thing and the sisters had no issues giving her everything her heart desired.

And today, it was Khushi's engagement. From now on, the two sisters have to share Khushi's love with someone else.

"Di, are you happy with this?" Naira asked after the makeup artists left the room.

"I don't know."

Naira hugged Khushi, who buried her face in her shoulder, eyes brimming with tears. Her life was coming to an end, and there was nothing that she could do about it.

"I wish you didn't have to marry him. I don't even like him!" exclaimed Nandini in disgust, as she adjusted Khushi's veil over her head.

Khushi didn't like him, but she had to marry him. Shyam was her Mamma's choice and she had no doubts about her mother's decisions.

But was she doing right? Marrying someone she hardly knows?

In a few hours, she was standing on the stage, opposite Shyam, and her two sisters next to her.

Shyam lifted her hand which lay limp at her side and slid his ring on her finger as Khushi held back her tears. She found solace in the reassuring presence of her sisters.

Arnav's fingers curled tightly around the stem of the wine glass as he saw a ring slide down her finger. A sensation of pain flooded in his chest and he felt as though someone had driven a knife through his heart. There was a crack and the stem broke under the pressure. He cursed under his breath as the glass stabbed at his finger, driving in a little more deeply, and drawing out blood. Cursing again he looked up to find his brothers looking at him with disappointment.

Arnav, Kartik and Manik looked at Khushi, Naira and Nandini. While the sisters smiled and posed for the cameras, the brothers were making plans to take away those smiles, forever.

____________________