"Mam, your coffee" the maid spoke placing the coffee cup on the table making Parinidhi look at her. "If you ask one week break again, you will loose your job permanently Jaya"

Hearing her Jaya grinned saying "You love my aalo parathas way too much to fire me mam" Parinidhi rolled her eyes at her.

"The breakfast is ready mam but today is your sister's favorite Aloo puri." Parinidhi groaned as jaya left the room smiling.

Parinidhi brushed her hair and looked at herself in the mirror. As she was planning to go to funeral, she wore a white kurta and pants and made her hair into a ponytail.

As much as she loves getting ready, doing makeup and styling her hair, she can't got to the funeral of good for nothing old man's like a model right? Saying that to herself she just applied some sunscreen and lipbalm which of course made her look gorgeous.

"Hayee Pari, you look so good!!" She thought with a grin.

Giving a last look at herself she left the room with her coffee mug in her hands. "You are going?" Sanjana asked who is in her pajamas clearly indicating that she didn't freshen up making Parinidhi sigh.

"Yes" Answering her previous question she placed the empty mug on the table and took her phone. "Atleast eat breakfast before going" Parinidhi shook her head. Just then Her bodyguard entered the house.

"Driver is waiting for you mam" Parinidhi looked at Sanjana and said "I'm going. If you are planning to skip bath, I'll surely throwing you out of the house this time"

Sanjana pouted at her innocently but Parinidhi ignored her and walked out of the house. "Bye mam, bye Rohit" It's Jaya. She rolled her eyes.

Her bodyguard Rohit is Jaya's husband. They came as a 1+1 package. As both of them are good at their job she had no problem.

Hoping in the car she opened her phone to see the news which shows the number of celebrities attended the funeral from early morning.

Rajveer Singh Rathore the name of this old man. He was full of cunning brain and was a greedy man who can stoop as low as he can to get what he want.

"Mam we are here" after about 30 minutes she heard the driver, Parinidhi looked out to see lot of cameras, guards and people roaming around. Getting out of the car she started to walk towards the entrance ignoring the paparazzi.

The large black gate welcomed her. It's a large mansion. A bit old yet modern. It has large pillars at the front and a few steps leading inside. The entrance has huge garden area. The garden filled with various trees and beautiful flowers. There are elephant statues in the garden along with a copper buddha, right at the Centre of the garden giving a classy look.

A small sitting area right in the middle, and a path leading to the entrance of the house.

She started to climb the stairs with her bodyguard trailing behind her with a garland in his hand. As soon as she stepped inside her gaze landed on the figure who is talking in the phone. As soon as their eyes met a smirk formed on her lips.

Taking few slow steps she walked towards the person who hung up the call giving all the attention to Parinidhi.

Parinidhi stopped in her tracks seeing the kurta Akriti is wearing and scanned her head to toe. Akriti did the same.

'Why the fuck we are wearing almost similar clothes' Parinidhi thought clenching her jaw. Akriti narrowed her eyes at her thinking the same.

"Long time no see 'little Princess'" Parinidhi mocked in her sweet tone with a smirk making the later roll her eyes. "You are still Alive? I didn't see you around these days so I almost started to miss you" Akriti said with an innocent face.

Hearing it Parinidhi smirk widened "Aww, I don't know this princess was going to miss me. Don't worry I'll make sure to send you my selfies everyday"

Akriti chuckled with no humor and replied "Why are you here?" Her sweet tone has gone which replaced with a harsh one.

"Bad manners princess, Don't you know how to talk to the guests?" "Don't you fucking call me princess" Akriti mumbled while glaring at her.

"Why? Aren't you the little pampered princess of this family?" Parinidhi looked at Akriti's face which doesn't even have a single emotion of sorrow about the death of her grandfather.

Before Akriti reply her her youngest brother came to her side "Aren't you hungry princess? Let's go, we eat something in the kitchen" Abhay said making Parinidhi press her lips and Akriti red in embarrassment and anger.

"Oh, Heyy Parinidhi Gupta. Nice to meet you" Parinidhi shook her hand with him mumbling "Nice to meet you too Mr. Rathore"

'It's looks like more of a party than a funeral'

Parinidhi thought shaking her head. What can she expect? The old man was not only a bastard to the outside world but also to his family especially his grandsons.

The only person who is effected by the his death is his wife. She is sobbing in the arms of Pratik Singh Rathore while he is trying to console her. She is the most innocent soul in the family of Rathores.

She met her few times. Her wrinkled smile and bright eyes can give a feeling of warmth and motherly love. maybe that's the reason, the youngsters love her a lot and even Parinidhi developed a soft spot for her.

She walked towards the dead body which placed in the glass box. Placing the garland on the box she looked at his face with a blank face. She turned towards the women who is now looking at her while sobbing.

Veena Rajveer Singh Rathore Walked towards her with eyes filled with tears. This is what she has no idea about.

How to console someone who is crying?

She walked towards her and hugged her. Parinidhi awkwardly patted her back not knowing what to say. She guessed this would happen, veena hugged her to find some comfort in the embrace which may reduce the pain. Which she can't provide not with words or actions.

"Dadi first you need to drink this" Pratik came to her rescue while holding her from behind and detached her from Parinidhi. Patik looked at her and nodded his head in acknowledgement.

He took veena aside and made her drink a glass of water. He sat beside her while rubbing her arm. Feeling awkward Parindhi went out of the hall and came outside where she came face to face with Swetha Pratik Singh Rathore.

"Must be uncomfortable" She said with a small smile refering to the hug, making her shrug "Not used to them" Swetha is the sweetest person. Works as a manager in her father's company and also part of women based organizations.

Parinidhi started conversing with her but suddenly she felt a strong presence behind her. She looked at swetha who is looking behind her. She frowned and about to turn when a big warm hand brushed on her waist.

Her breath hitched and a electric spark ran through her spine just by the mere feathery touch. Then she heard the deep yet soothing voice mumbling "Let's go inside Princess". Her eyes widened.

Swetha who witnessed the scene looked at them in horror.

Silence. Dead Silence settled among them.

Parinidhi released a shaky breath and She turned to lecture the person and knock some sense that she is not his princess. As soon as she turned she came face to face with a broad chest. She raised her head.

She parted her lips and Her throat went dry when her brown eyes locked with the grey ones.

Time stilled, so was their breathing. The phone she was holding slipped from her hands and dropped down.

All the noises, the sound of the vehicles, the sound of people talking everything disappeared for them. Parinidhi can only hear the sound of her heartbeat which felt like she ran a marathon.

Her brown orbs stared into his grey eyes which stored the storm in them and which are capable of drowning her to the depth. The feathery touch on her waist suddenly became tight. His warm hand grabbing her waist in a possessive hold.

Her chest tightened at the tingly sensations running in her nerves. Unknowingly she started to run her gaze on his features, every inch and curve of it, from the mole he had on his eyebrow to the small scar near his left eye. His slightly croaked nose and full red lips. The most beautiful yet mesmerizing feature are his sharp grey eyes.

Eyes which are staring at her. Intensely.

"Mam we need to go" She jolted into the reality hearing her bodyguard. She stepped back making the hold on her waist loosen and slowly he removed the hand but his eyes never left her face. She snapped her head towards the bodyguard and hummed in response not trusting her words.

Is she nervous? Parinidhi gupta is nervous?

Hell no. Never!.

Swetha cleared her throat making Parinidhi aware of her presence. Parinidhi looked at swetha but a hot gaze still piercing at the back of her head.

"I'll be going" She successfully covered the shakiness in her words while muttering and left behind the bodyguard.

Her hands fisted her dress feeling the warmth lingering on her waist. She can feel same intense gaze on her. The bodyguard opened the door for her. Before she get in, she had a strong urge to look back. She shook her head for being stupid but involuntarily turned her head.

As soon as she did, she regretted seeing Rudransh with whom she had an intense eye contact with but no words exchanged, looking at her with the his grey eyes. Not even once blinking.

But what she regretted more for turning is seeing Swetha standing beside him with a amusing smirk.

She sat in the back seat and closed the car door with a thud with one question roaming in her head.

What the fuck just happened??