Unwanted Arrangement

2

Ishika Ahuja

"Didi." Saanvi's hesitant voice washed over me, "if you don't mind, I can have your car repaired in a couple of days. I know someone, my brother knows someone, actually. He's a car freak and-"

"You don't have to do that, Saanvi. Accidents happen all the time." I assured her resting a hand on her forearm. In reality, I didn't want help from a friend of this arrogant asshole.

"I don't even have a license." She suddenly blurted out, making me pause my hand mid air. Daksh sighed in agitation.

"Can you not omit some things? It wasn't necessary to tell her that."

I turned towards Daksh, Completely prepared to give him a piece of my mind for letting his sister drive the car when she didn't have a license.

He was still scrolling his phone, when I quickly snatched it and trashed it against the ground, ignoring his protests.

Nothing could be heard except the birds chirping, the leaves rustling and the squeaking of squirrels.

Daksh's face loses the indifferent look. He took a threatening step forward, while I stood my ground glaring back at him.

"Miss Ishika Ahuja. You might want to tame that impulsiveness and arrogance. Not a good look for a girl who's supposed to get married. What would the elders say?" My eyes flared, even though I was confused about how he even knew they were looking for prospective grooms for me.He merely smirked at my fury.

I don't like it. His eyes are brimming with glee, and the artist in me wants to take a paintbrush and change the emotion in those eyes, and so I did.

"How's your fianceè?" Just three words and boom, he looked nowhere near gleeful as he did a minute ago. Silence settled as a thick blanket around us, rendering everyone motionless before saanvi broke it by shuffling and searching for the broken mobile pieces frantically.

Daksh continued to measure me up, titling his head, not quite believing my audacity. He shook his head and stepped towards Saanvi and helped her pick up the broken parts.

A blue Porsche raced through the Ahuja Estate gates as the guards rushed to open it and the car skidded to rest before us.

"Is everyone okay?Check the parameters." A lean tall man ordered the muscular man. Both of them wearing suits and headpieces, their suit lapel having a sleek infinity logo stitched.

Daksh shot me an annoyed look, shooting daggers at me. "Everything is fine." He said gritting his teeth.

Saanvi winced, pressing her eyes with her fingers.

"Then why is your phone broken?" The tall man asked Daksh, in a serious voice. What is happening here?

Okay, two unknown people in my family's estate are manageable. Four are unacceptable.

I slip into my CEO facade.

"Who are you? And what do you think you are doing barging in like you own this place?" I snapped at the tall guy just as the muscular guy returned and whispered ,"All clear" in his ear.

"It was simply a protocol ma'am. I apologise."

"And it's my private property. You need one of the Ahuja's permission to enter this space. I could sue you."

The muscular guy gulped, realising I meant it. While the tall guy just clenched his jaw and looked at Daksh to see if he would come to their defence. Anger burned his iris into the colour of ashes when Daksh started whistling and started dancing with his sister in his arms, without a care in the world.

"That won't be necessary ma'am. We will leave." They turned around to leave and I clapped my hands, prompting them to turn back.

"If you don't want a notice at your desk, I expect an apology letter from whatever shady company you are from." I held my gaze with the tall guy to let him know I was dead serious.

Tall guy gritted his teeth , looking seconds away from snapping at me. He nodded begrudgingly.

"Pavan, wait." Daksh called out to the muscular guy, who looked ready to get out of here already.

Daksh strolled to my Audi, and I nearly lost it.

"Hey!"

He ignored me and yanked the keys from the ignition and threw them at a muscular guy who's name is Pavan, as I just discovered.

I am going to act on my threat of hitting Daksh Kulkarni with a chappal seeing the way he acts.

"Take this Audi, and drop it off at Malhotra Inc." Daksh ordered him.

"Malhotra Enterprises?" The muscular guy stared at Daksh like he announced he was being shipped off to hell.

"Wait. Malhotra Enterprises? The Malhotra Enterprises?" No wonder the muscular guy had that reaction.

"The one and only. Saanvi, hand me your phone." He asked, holding out his hand towards her, glaring at me. I glared right back. This guy had no sense of conscience. He was responsible for my beloved Audi's damage, yet he's behaving as if I was the one who killed his pet ?

"But, sir," Muscular guy gulped," We are not allowed in there. No matter what."

My head snapped towards him,"You aren't allowed here too. Yet you barged in, but suddenly everyone is shaking in their boots when it's The Malhotra's involved. Great."

"Um, Uncle, Don't worry. Just leave the Audi at the Entrance gate. I have already told the company what they need to do." Saanvi assured him in a meek voice. My skin prickled at the way my hand is being dealt with by the Kulkarni Siblings. The Muscular man nodded meekly, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead.

Huh. I know The Malhotra's have a intimidating reputation. Yet, his reaction is weird.

Saanvi caught my hands between hers, "Please, Ishika Di. I will forever feel guilty if you don't allow me to help. The people I know can help fix it. You can travel with us. Please."

I sighed, my heart softening. I didn't want to do that, but looking into her hopeful eyes, I found myself tongue tied to deny her.

Ah f**k it. Why be the cause of this sweet girl's sadness?

"Okay." I agreed and Saanvi squealed before Daksh winced at the sound and hit the back of her head. I couldn't help but give way to a small smile at their camaraderie.

"Ow!" Saanvi rubbed her head, swinging her hands at Daksh.

"Sisters." He sighed , shaking his head.

Daksh looked behind his shoulders at Tall guy and Muscular guy, smiling sweetly.

"Shall I do Aarti? What are you looking at? Go!"

Muscular guy scrambled like a headless chicken and got into my Audi, not before I threatened his life.

"One Scratch other than the one's already present. You are dead." Muscular guy nodded furiously,looking dazed.

I watched as he drove off, thinking about how nothing has been going my way ever since I took over Ahuja Enterprises.

I never wanted to take over Ahuja Enterprises. Due to the circumstances, I had to. And the constant rivalry between Kulkarni's and Ahuja's publicly doesn't help.

There are wounds deeper than the media realised. The rivalry between the two families isn't as simple or as black and white as the media portrayed.

It is personal.

The relationship between the families is frosty at best.

Now that I could think clearly, my head jerked back as a thought slipped through my consciousness.

"What are you both doing here?" I asked the Kulkarni Siblings, confused about how they even managed to get in.

A guilty look passed between Saanvi and Daksh.

"We need to show your mom something, Ishika." Daksh said seriously and Saanvi gazed at me, eyes glistening.

The quick glance of a news article I had a couple of days ago flashed across my memory.

My heart skids to an awkward beat with the feel of terror.

This can't be good.