Tangled Steps!

After a quick discussion over the breakfast with their grandparents, Tara and Aryan had to now choose what to wear for tomorrow's party.

Aryan kept trying the traditional wear, the clothes of different types and styles being presented, one of those with magnificent colours and designs, quality of cloth an epitome for perfection.

He was changing from one attire to another while Tara played the judging role.

While the servants just watched them silently with a smile, seeing Tara reject every attire Aryan tried as soon as he stepped out of the trial room.

Aryan sighed, "Are you doing this on purpose Miss Nethin?!"

Tara shrugged with a wink, reaching the presented hanged attires, ignorant to his allegation.

Her hand's gentle touch imprinting the attires with the fragrance of her presence as she took a stroll on checking them, until finally resting on one particular attire.

Tara delighted, pulled out the creamy white sherwani perfectly done with shining silver shimmerings. The design a delivery of royal elegance and dignity.

With a smile, she carried the attire to him, handing it over with a wink, "I choose this for you!!"

Aryan nodded with a raised brow, with a sigh moving back to the trial room, almost fed up of the continuous trials.

Tara awaited his arrival while looking out for her own dress, the servants as well waiting for Aryan to show up.

And finally Aryan stepped out, the female servants gasping in admiration.

Tara who turned over at the creaking sound of the now opened door, with a frown reached him.

Aryan watched her approaching him closer and closer, his heart pumping faster. His eyes briefly checking out the servant's gaze which were focused straight on them. As he stared back to her, she was right infront of him, adjusting his collar, and his hair, tiptoeing.

When done, Tara stepped back with a smile, clapping her hands in satisfaction, "Perfect!!"

Aryan chuckled, with an inhale leaning slightly down to face her, his hand folded behind, "Why is that you always like white over all the others?!"

Tara shook her head with a smirk, pinching his nose slightly with a "I don't like white instead, I like you in white Mr.Waqt!!"

Aryan chuckled, tucking her hair, "Then I ought to choose one for you as well!"

"What if I don't like it?!" Tara doubted, pretending to wonder.

Aryan breathed, "That's your problem, however...." giving her a gentle forehead flick, "worry not, I won't give you any chance to dislike!!"

Tara chuckled, while the male servants looked down with a smile and the female servants could only secretly blush.

************

Tara with a sigh, placed the dress Aryan suggested on her bed, as soon as she entered into her chamber.

Settling and falling back onto the mattress. The silence beginning to eat her up.

She was getting ready for a party while her life is still a mess!

Her brother is being blackmailed and....she was the target?!

What is this all for?!

And now, Aarohi is being involved as well!

What if she gets hurt in process?!

She sighed, feeling guilty for keeping things from Aryan.

After all, Aryan got his family after almost two decades. The smile she is witnessing on his face these days, it's.... the complete one. A very delighted, heartfelt smile!!

He was .....happy!!

How can she now bother him with these things?

Not to exclude, he just got rid of his own suffering!!

Her family.....she is now not all dependent alone on her visions, it's ... confirmed that her parents are alive!!

Her heart clenching at the thought alone about their safety! How were they?

Twelve years of being away from her, how much have they had missed her?

Can they.....recognise her now?!

A faint smile took over her as she kept thinking about those random thoughts.

Can she....save them? Her brother and.... herself?!

With another sigh, she sat up. Her bodyguard informed Deep and Aarohi are in the same hotel now!

However.....how long could Aarohi hide herself from Deep? How long will he be unaware? If not him.... the one who's blackmailing him?!

She with all of her heart wished Aarohi would just go back!

The lady.... doesn't really....deserve this situation.

Her mobile ringed, silencing the silence briefly.

"Tell me" she answered the call, a little too disturbed to know further more disturbing information from her bodyguard.

After a moment, she finally spoke again, "I want a tight security for tomorrow. I will encourage no mistakes!!"

"I'll take care of it, mam!!" A masculine voice echoed before the call ended.

A knock soon reached her, the door creaking opened after her "Come in!!"

A female servant with a tray of a cup of tea and some snacks, held in hand, entering in, her head bowed, "Greetings, your highness!!"

"I have come to serve you the evening tea for you haven't appeared in the garden for the teatime, your highness!"

Tara watched her in silence for a moment, the lady hesitating, not daring to look up. "What's your name?" Tara asked wondered, feeling a little curious.

The lady blinked, her gaze wavering before she looked up briefly to answer, "It's Mary, your highness."

And her head almost immediately downed itself after the reply.

Tara watched her for a second more before asking her to leave.

"You can go, I am not in the need of it!!" Tara denied.

The lady gazed up, staring her for a moment before politely bowing again, "As you wish, princess!!"

And just with that, the lady left the chamber.

Tara sighed, of course, she would encourage no mistakes!!

************

The evening demanded for Tara and Aryan's presence, being called for the practice. The person appointed to guide them was a lady, who was teaching them how to dance effortlessly.

Aryan was enjoying the practice however, Tara who was in his embrace for almost ten minutes, thanks to the practice, still found herself lost. Her steps as though a lost walk in the dense forest.

The lady's mobile ringed suddenly, and she had to excuse herself.

Aryan finally looked down to her, yeah, her gaze was still away, as though looking into something deep, thinking about something serious! Her steps in no sink with his, unlike their first time of dancing.

He still remembered that evening, her laughter from that day still residing at his heart rent-free. The pure smile that had taken over her.

And the second time of their dancing, in the castle of her parents, the assuring one.

The way she tried to let him sense the safety, in and with her presence. The time when their feelings towards each other blossomed in the sunshine of their affection and caring towards each. The way how she so gently had tried to calm his aching heart and mind, her words still an echo in his heart now. The assisted music back then, still being his favourite. Their dance still a trace left in his mind and heart.

However, now, she is not the same.

What is it now?

"What happened?" He finally asked, but she didn't respond. With a frown, he pulled her closer than a dance might ask for, the sudden tightening grip of his hand around her waist forcing her to look up.

Tara stared him in silence, her raised eyebrows questioning him 'what?!', unknown.

"I've asked, what happened to you?"

"Is anything bothering you?!"

Tara gave an immediate shook of denial, "I was just lost!" ".....lost in thoughts?"

"Thoughts like what?!"

"Mmh.....about uncle and aunt...? I feel like, it would have been good if they were here too!"

A lie! Why did he feel like.....she was lying?

"And Deep? Wouldn't it be nice if he were here too?!"

Oh, well, only if Aryan knew that he was already here! Tara could only chuckle, "Yeah! It would be....nice if they were all here!!"

Aryan watched her for a moment more before expressing himself, "What is it you are hiding?"

Taken aback by his question, Tara looked away, "What do you mean by that?" a nervous smile and chuckle escaping her as though he was speaking some nonsense.

Aryan pulled her closer again, as though she wasn't close enough, urging her to look up at him, "You're mistaken if you think I don't sense it, Tara!"

Tara stared stright into his eyes, she felt.... frustrated somehow to lie to him. She sighed, "Whatever I choose to say, it will be a lie Aryan!" she expressed honestly. "Do not.... expect any truth from me for now!!" She looked away.

"And ....what if I say I've seen it already?!"

His question throwing her into a pit of wonderment blended with worry, all of a sudden. "What do you mean?" She asked almost immediately, looking back at him.

"What have you seen?!"

Aryan, just by the way she responded, could understand that she indeed was hiding something.

'I don't see what you could gain by planting this discord between us siblings!' Tara's voice he heard and seen her saying it, when he held Aarohi's hand while greeting, that still echoed within him.

And despite having a conversation which made her pass out such statement to the lady, Tara still decided to hide it from him. Them behaving all normal infront of him.

"Whatever it is, it's not helpful for me to conclude anything!!" Aryan answered, "I can look into the past Tara, by my will now. But I want to know the truth from you!"

"What's happening?"

Tara with a sigh stepped away from his embrace, "I cannot say it!"

"I....will not say it!!"

"Tara?"

"Do not try to know it Aryan, I don't want you to!!"

"I hope you will....choose to respect my decision!!"

Silence carried away, her trying not to look at him while his gaze was fixed right on her.

With a deep inhale, he stepped ahead, taking her hands into his, her elbows cold against the touch of his palms. "May I at least know why?"

Why?

Cause....she knew it. She had seen it. And she knows it, knows that.....it will happen for sure.

But she didn't wish for that to happen, she... cannot let that happen!!

"Cause I don't want to lose you!" She revealed, looking up at him, glimpse of tears swirling in her emerald eyes.

"I would rather die than accepting the fact of losing you!!"

A frown took over his face as he watched her.

"Promise me Aryan!" Her raised open hand asking him for his will now, "Give me your word that you'll stay away from this issues!!"

"I cannot!" Aryan denied right away!!

"Aryan, can't you...."

Her words stuck with the sudden presence of her grandparents. And the lady, their mentor, seemingly done with her call, was back as well.

"How's the practise going?" Adhrit asked with a smile.

They both could only offer a faint smile, the incomplete conversation they had still a fragrant over their souls.

"They are one of those best dancers, your majesty! I feel lucky to have mentoring them!!" The lady expressed herself.

Arya smiled, reaching towards her grandchildren, "We have decided to announce your relation along with the introduction, what do you think about that?"

Aryan and Tara exchanged a stare, "Relation....as in?" Tara wondered.

Arya laughed, "You both think you can hide it? Come on, what you feel for each other is clearly visible in your eyes alone!!"

Tara looked at Aryan, his gaze settling on her briefly as well, she wondered how to respond.

She herself didn't disclose her relation with him with her family officially! Making an official announcement without informing them first, seemed inappropriate to her.

After a moment of silence, Aryan answered them instead, "As you both wish!!"

Adhrit and Arya smiled in unison.