Past

"Maa, What is this?", Vedang asked softly, trying not to show his mother that he was annoyed. Ananya just put the locket around Vedang's neck.

"Pandit Ji said that if the eldest son of the family wears this locket then the family will be safe and protected.", Ananya smiled and ruffled Vedang's hair.

"Mom, I'm not a child anymore and regarding protection, I am enough to protect our family.", replied Vedang. "Alright, Alright, It's done now. Let's go home."Ananya chuckled. Vedang nodded his head.

 "Dad, I'll drop Aishwani and maa home and come to the company.",Vedang said to his dad, Dev. Dev was on his phone and it seemed as if he was having an important conversation. Dev just simply glanced at Vedang and nodded his head as approval.

"Aishwani, Where are you?", Vedang looked around at the temple searching for his mischievous little sister. He growled in a frustrated manner and walked up to the temple searching for her. And there she was, Aishwani putting the prasad in the hem of her saari.

"Aishwani, what are you doing?", asked Vedang giving her a 'are you serious!?' look.

"Ahh! Ugh! Ved, you scared me!", Aishwani shouted flinching.

"I'd like to know why you are stealing prasad.", Vedang raised his eyebrow peeking at the laddus on the hem of her saari.

"Nothing!", Aishwani quickly turned back and before Vedang could question, she ran out. Aishwani giggled softly while running downstairs of the temple. She was wearing a white saari.

The stairs of the temple were long and some people were walking upstairs, behind them walked bulky bodyguards who wore black suit.

But suddenly Aishwani tripped on her lehenga and the prasad flew up in the sky while she reared down. Aishwani's eyes widened as she tripped and she felt her heart tremble.

"AISHWANI!!!", Vedangg shouted running down to hold her,,, but he was too far away. Ananya, Aishwani's mom trembled and looked at her precious daughter horrified. She clenched her wheelchair and tried to get up, she was desperate to save her child. She fell off the wheelchair and laid on the floor unconscious.

But before the disaster could happen, A hand caught Aishwani's hands.

Aishwani heaved a relief and took a deep breath. She would have fallen off and god knows what would have happened if it hadn't been for the man.

"Huff~(take a deep breath)~Oh, Thank god!", She whispered rising up.

"So I'm your god now?",A voice asked. The voice was cold, filled with authority yet it was soothing to ears and something that could provide butterflies to stomach.

Aishwani looked over him with her beautiful doe eyes.

The man paused momentarily while staring at Aishwani. "Thank you.", And with that, Aishwani started picking up the laddu that had fallen off. She whined while picking them up. "All the prasad fell off. Now how will I receive more blessings.", She mumbled while putting them on the hem of her shawl like before. The man raised his eyebrows looking at Aishwani. Yet he said nothing and started walking up the stairs.

Vedang rushed towards Aishwani. "Aishwani!", He said in a harsh voice.

Aishwani flinched and looked at her brother. "What, Ved?", She asked softly as she saw the angered and worried look on her brother's face. "Do you know what would have happened if you'd fall off!?" He asked angrily and grabbed her wrist. Aishwani looked down guiltily. "Sorry Ved, I was just... I will be careful next time." She muttered fidgeting her fingers. Vedang sighed and just kissed her forehead.

"Maa passed out when she saw you falling. Be careful hmm.", He responded. Aishwani's eyes widened. She quickly climbed up the stairs, only to find the wheelchair of her mom empty. Dev, her father was holding Ananya (her mother). Ananya was unconscious. "Maa! How did you-!!", Aishwani bent down holding her mother's hands.

"Your mother was panicked...Aishwani, this should never happen again.", Dev whispered calmly. Aishwani nodded her head tearing up.

"Dev? What happened to Ananya?", A woman asked leaning towards them. She walked closer but Dev glared at the woman.

"The Singhania family sure loves to arrive on such time.",Dev answered in a hostile, cold tone filled with detestment. "You didn't care about my wife years ago when you paralysed her legs, so why do you care now?"

The woman's eyes watered upon hearing Dev's hostile words. Her eyes turned red with regret, guilt, pain and something deeper...concern maybe?

"Maya, Let them be. They will never understand you.",A man in his 50s held Maya by the shoulder and guided her towards the temple.

"Papa, what were you talking about?",Aishwani looked at Dev confused. She waited as silence coveted them. Dev was silent. Aishwani looked at the woman who walked inside the temple. She stared at them, unable to understand why her kind father was so hostile to them. The young handsome man who had saved her earlier gave her a cold glare before walking inside the temple.

"Father...What exactly happened?"

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***