Since I had some leisure time today, I decided to head to a nearby bookstore with Izzy to grab some new reads.

The moment I stepped inside, a wave of excitement engulfed me.

There’s just something about the smell of pages and quiet aisles that instantly lifts my mood.

I headed straight for the romance section to browse through the latest releases.

After picking up a few titles, I wandered over to the fantasy section.

That’s when I noticed a man standing in front of a shelf, looking completely lost.

I blinked, looking closer.

It was him—the same man I had bumped into a few days ago.

Unable to control my curiosity, I walked up to him.

"Excuse me?" I called out softly. "Is something wrong?"

His eyes widened slightly when he realized it was me, and he nervously scratched his forehead.

"Actually... yes," he admitted.

"My sister's birthday is coming up. She’s a massive bookworm, so I thought it would be a nice idea to gift her a 'book bouquet.' But looking at all these shelves, I have absolutely no idea what to choose."

"What genres does she usually read?" I asked, smiling at how sweet the gesture was.

"Romance, fantasy, and mystery," he replied quickly. "And she really loves books featuring strong female leads."

"Well, it sounds like your sister and I have the exact same taste," I said.

"Do you mind if I make a few recommendations?"

"Yes, please! That would be a saviour," he nodded, looking visibly relieved.

I turned to the fantasy shelf and pulled out Secrets of a Cursed Bloodline by @itz_palak_verse

Then, I moved down a bit and grabbed Akshara: The Forgotten Seed and The Queen of His Heart.

All three books were by the same author.

I handed the stack over to him.

He looked at the vibrant covers and turned them over to read the blurbs on the back.

"Is this your favorite author?" he asked, glancing up at me.

"She writes incredible, strong female characters," I told him with a smile.

"I love her work, and I’m positive your sister will too. Do you think these are enough, or do you want a few more?"

"No, I think this is a perfect. Thank you so much for your help," he said.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed me a sleek business card.

"You’ve helped me out twice now. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm Adhyant Agnihotri."

"There's really no need for that, Mr. Agnihotri," I said, looking at the card.

"Please, keep it, Miss," he insisted gently.

"Kritika Rathore," I introduced myself.

"I know," he blurted out.

I raised an eyebrow, caught off guard.

He immediately scratched the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "Kritika Rathore, Princess of Udaipur. I follow the news headlines."

I just smiled in return, shifting my books to my other arm, and prepared to head to the billing counter.

I could feel his gaze on me as I walked away.

When I turned back around, he looked incredibly nervous, making me frown slightly.

"I... I wanted to ask," he stumbled over his words a bit. "Can we be friends?"

I raised an eyebrow higher this time, leaning slightly against the counter.

"When you helped my sister the other day, she wouldn't stop praising you," he explained quickly, trying to salvage the situation. "She’d really love to have you around."

I hesitated for a moment.

After all, he was still technically a stranger.

"I just hope you aren't one of those creepy guys who approaches random girls in public just to hit on them,"

I blurted out, unable to filter my thoughts in time.

His eyes widened in absolute horror, and the look on his face was completely priceless.

"Sharif ghar ka ladka hu, Rajkumari," he pleaded quickly, raising his hands defensively. "Please don't think of me as a creep!"

The sheer panic in his voice made me burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright. I guess I'll see you around then, Mr. Agnihotri."

I flashed him a final smile, finished paying for my books, and exited the store with Izzy.

The moment we stepped onto the sidewalk, I felt Izzy glaring daggers at the side of my face.

"What?" I asked, holding my shopping bag tightly.

"How can you talk so freely with a total stranger?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "For all we know, he could be a serial killer!"

"He didn't look like one," I shrugged carelessly. "Besides, he seemed decent enough. You’re reacting as if I just accepted a marriage proposal. Relax, I probably won't even see him again."

"Your extroverted personality is going to land you in deep trouble one day, Kritika Rathore," Izzy warned, shaking her head.

"Then it will be a thrilling adventure," I shot back with a wink.

She groaned in disbelief, but I just ignored her and unlocked the car.

By the time I got back to the apartment, the excitement had shifted.

Tomorrow, my family is arriving for my graduation ceremony.

I absolutely cannot wait to see them in person after months of being so far away.

(Next Day)

Today, my family is finally arriving, and I can't wait to be wrapped in their hugs and affection.

It has been two long years since I’ve been to Udaipur.

They used to visit me individually once in a while, and the last time I saw all of them together was on my birthday, four months ago.

Instead of having them come to my apartment, I asked them to head straight to our family villa on the other side of the city.

My apartment simply isn't big enough for their comfort level.

Since our villa is quite far from the LSE campus, Babasa bought this apartment for me nearby.

I am incredibly grateful to him; it’s beautiful and in a prime location.

I walked over to my closet to browse for something to wear.

Normally, I prefer casual T-shirts, jeans, and cargo pants, but since I was meeting my family after months, I chose to dress up in traditional ethnic wear.

As I was searching through the racks, my eyes fell on a hidden box.

I froze.

Slowly, with trembling hands, I pulled it out and opened it.

Inside lay several unopened gifts from my birthdays and Raksha Bandhan over the last four years.

They were all from Reyansh Bhaisa.

A bitter smile touched my lips.

He breaks my heart with his cruelty and refuses to acknowledge me as his sister, yet he sends these gifts every year like a chore.

A formality.

But the thing is, I am not a materialistic person.

I value a person's effort over expensive things.

Instead of sending these boxes, he could have just sent a single message, setting his bitterness aside for just one day.

But he chose to send objects and pretend it was enough.

The brother I once knew, the one who loved me fiercely, is long gone.

In his place stands a man so heavily manipulated by the so-called love of his life that he has turned against the very sister he swore to protect.

My eyes caught something else in the back of the shelf—a few old photographs.

I picked one up, and my eyes instantly welled with tears as the memory washed over me.

Flashback

Reyansh Bhaisa was teaching me how to ride a bicycle.

He was gripping the back of the seat tightly so I wouldn't fall, while I pleaded with him to let go so I could ride like a pro.

"Kriti... you aren't ready yet. I’m not letting go," he said sternly.

"Please, Bhaisa! I’ve mastered the balance. Please let me try on my own," I begged.

"You could get hurt, Princess. I don't want to see you hurt," he replied, his brow furrowed with worry.

I pouted deeply.

"Let her ride on her own, Reyansh," we heard a voice call out.

We both turned to see Babasa walking toward us.

"Even if she falls, she will stand right back up and learn from it. Sometimes, children need a tumble to learn. My princess is strong. Don't treat her like she's fragile."

I beamed at Babasa.

"But she'll get hurt, Babasa," Reyansh Bhaisa argued, still hesitant.

"She won't. And even if she does, we will be right here to tend to her wounds," Babasa said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"We will always be there for her. But we cannot stop her from growing and experiencing life."

I hopped down from the bicycle and hugged Babasa tightly.

Then, I rushed over to Reyansh Bhaisa, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

"Your princess is strong, Bhaisa. She won't get hurt. Trust her."

"I do trust you, Princess," he said softly, his expression melting. "I’m sorry for holding on too tight. I wasn't trying to ruin your fun; I just wanted to protect you."

"I love you, Bhaiyu," I said, jumping back onto the seat.

This time, he let go.

He didn't walk away, staying just a step behind me, ready to catch me if I wavered.

Flashback Ends

'How can someone change so much?'

I wondered, staring at the glossy photo.

Once, he was terrified of me getting even a scratch.

Now, he is the one who inflicts the deepest wounds without a shred of remorse.

That woman manipulated him so perfectly that he completely stopped questioning her.

He blamed me for things I had never done, things I couldn't even imagine doing.

He used to pick fights over the smallest matters, hurling the meanest words at me.

Babasa and Aadarsh Bhaisa had given him countless warnings, but he never listened.

He even grew bitter toward them for taking my side.

Eventually, I begged Babasa and Aadarsh Bhaisa to stop fighting him for my sake.

I didn't want my family tearing itself apart because of me.

We were once so happy together, and unlike him, I refused to disrespect those beautiful memories.

If he was going to attack me,

I wouldn't attack back—but that didn't mean I would let him butcher my self-respect either.

I lived in a constant defensive mode, and I was utterly exhausted by the endless hostility.

So, I packed my bags and came to London.

I did it to protect my own peace of mind and the peace of my family.

Babasa had been incredibly reluctant to let me go, but I managed to convince him that studying at LSE was my ultimate dream.

Inayat’s words echoed in my mind again:

"He will regret every tear he’s caused you. Time will reveal the truth... Don’t shed your precious tears for someone who chooses to be blind to your worth."

Those words had been my anchor ever since she said them.

I rarely burdened my friends with my problems because I hated showing my vulnerability.

I was always the happy, bubbly one in our group, and I wanted to keep it that way.

But when the weight became too heavy to carry alone, they were the ones I turned to.

Deep down, I didn't want to see my brother in pain.

But I knew the agony that would consume him when he finally see through the web of lies his lover had woven.

He would be completely devastated.

I dreaded that day, but he had chosen his own path.

I can't fix things for him anymore, and I know we could never go back to how we used to be.

The cracks he caused were far too deep to ever truly erase from my mind.

'Don't think about this today, Kriti,'

I firmly told myself, shaking away the dark thoughts.

Tomorrow is your graduation.

It’s a happy day.

Don't let old bitterness ruin the milestone you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

I carefully put the box and the photographs back into their places.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my chosen outfit and walked into the bathroom to get ready, forcing a bright smile back onto my face.

How was the chapter?