Page 75 of The Royal Beast & His Caged Princess

"The one where I asked you not to inform me about your activities??", he detailed her patiently... He knew what dirty games Ranveer is capable of playing if he gets to know about how he freed Isha from taking his permission... His wife is innocent, but he can't say the same about his brother-in-law...

"No... but I was planning to tell bhai...", Isha said

"Don't...", he instantly said, in a dangerously calm tone scaring her, he closed his eyes to control his temper... "Don't talk about it to anyone... not even to your brother... It's my order...", he said, he knew she would never disobey his orders...

"Okay Maharaj...", she said... he hung up after that...

"Kaat diye??(did he hang up??) Can't he ask me if I had lunch?? Or he could have said at least 'Bye' huh", she told herself... "What are you even saying Isha, you might have gotten mad to expect all that from a man like him", she cursed herself and got back to work...

In the evening, Isha came back home, Ragini and Reetu asked Isha to join for dinner in the evening, and she wanted to go, but she didn't want to misuse the freedom she got just that day... She is afraid of how her husband would react... What if he regrets giving her freedom?? She couldn't help but think like that as Isha was never made to feel like freedom is her right, it was always a luxury that she never got, and now when she finally received it, she felt as if her husband had done a huge favor on her and she will be forever grateful to him...

She made coffee for Abhyansh and pakoras for everyone as the weather is a bit colder which is rare in the place... She sent the snacks to her father-in-law and grandmother Rajmata Devyani Devi through servants and then asked her mother-in-law to help herself and Avyaan while she goes and gives it to her husband...

She got to know that the servants got his home office ready, so she is sure that he would be there only, she doesn't understand her husband's obsession with that massive study. She stopped near Ramlal to ask him to inform her husband about her visit but then she realized she could go in directly, she gave a small smile to Ramlal who didn't reciprocate it, just bowed his head in her respect, she frowned at his unresponsiveness and walked inside...

"Maharaj... your coffee...", she said a bit more freely than her every time robotic and submissive tone... He looked up in surprise hearing her joy-filled tone... She cleared her throat andcontrolled her happiness a little... "sorry Maharaj... I... I made pakoras as well, I know you haven't asked them and I should have asked you before bringing them but...", She started

"Put them there...", he said softly still staring at her intently... She didn't understand why he is staring at her like that these days, it didn't make her uncomfortable but nervous... She changed into a saree and looked more beautiful... "give me the coffee now, will have them later", he said pointing towards the pakoras, she frowned cutely but soon covered her expression... "what??", he asked

"Uhu...", she shook her head cutely, which made his lips slightly twitch surprising her?? Was that a smile?? Or is she hallucinating?? No no, how can he smile, he is not capable of it, she reprimanded herself...

"What is it Isha??", he asked so softly, her eyes widened, he called her name for the second time that too with so much affection, that for a moment she felt as if they are normal husband-wife and he is asking her why she is angry with him??, Even that thought shocked her, why is she hell-bent on imagining a blissful married life with this stone-hearted man... He can never be the husband she is desiring, she tried to make herself understand... she shook her head to stop her thoughts and Abhyansh's lips slightly twitched looking at her cute expressions and actions... He waited patiently for her to realize and answer his question and she finally did...

"They won't taste good when they get cold...", she said pointing towards the pakoras she brought... She knew he wouldn't listen, then why is she telling him?? To get scolded for interfering in his matters?? She thought... But the next thing he said shocked her...

"Okay, serve them, and you too, take a seat and have them...", Abhyansh said, and she blinked her eyes gaping at him as if he had grown horns...

"You want me to have food si...sitting with you??", she asked astonished... She still remembered his words about how he told her; she could never have food sitting beside him as she is his slave... Suddenly her eyes welled up with those memories and Abhyansh understood looking at her broken form...

"Yes, sit and have them...", He said softly, his heart ached badly with guilt and pain... how can he hurt her?? Of all the people, her??

He still didn't understand why her pain gives him so much ache, if the reason is her kind heart, then he saw many kind-hearted people in his life, if it was her ethics and loyalty, all his employees and people associated with him have that, but something in her pulled him towards her... that very same thing made her a huge part of his life... He knew his feelings are a lot deeper than he is letting them show even to himself... He purposely is avoiding thinking about his feelings as he knew it would create a lot of mess if he thought about them or her. Already, he always craves to see her, to be with her which he controls with a lot of difficulties.

"Y... You have them, I just brought for you... I'll eat with ma... and Avyaan", She fumbled and scurried away... He sighed at her retreating figure... When will she stop getting afraid of him or feel the pain of how he treated her?? Will she remain scarred for life, or will he be able to fade those memories ever?? If so, how could he do that?? Thoughts flooded his mind but looking at the snacks and coffee his wife brought, the havoc in his heart calmeddown and peace and calmness took its place... He relished them with closed eyes, as usual, they tasted heavenly...

She reached the hall and looking at her teary eyes, Amrutha and Avyaan got worried...

"Isha... What happened beta?? Did Abhyansh hurt you??", Amrutha asked, and Isha shook her head unable to say anything... Past memories acted as needles to her heart which is beginning to trust her husband, she trusts him already but not with her heart, which she started doing recently...

"Bhai sa said something to you??", Avyaan asked, and she again shook her head...

"Then why are you crying??", Avyaan asked again, she shrugged her shoulders with a smile, wiping her tears...

"Lost your voice??", Avyaan asked again, and Isha shook her head... "Then say something", Avyaan asked her in irritation, and she busted out laughing... Her ever-so-calm brother-in-law's irritation brought a smile to her, making her forget her bitter memories...

"I can't believe this, you are making fun of me??", Avyaan said and Amrutha and Isha laughed out loud, and Avyaan too smiled at the two most important women in his life...

"Very good, both of you, fill your stomach with this laughter, I'm having the pakoras for myself", Saying this he snatched his mother's plate and also his sister-in-law's which her mother served, seeing her coming down...

Amrutha snatched back her plate while Isha smiled at him signing him to have hers as well if he liked it so much, Avyaan smiled at his innocent and kind sister-in-law...

"I was kidding, they are very tasty, but I can't have them all, I have to save some room for the delicious dinner you make", he said handing Isha's plate to her, which she took with a smile...

Trio talked for some more time, before Avyaan moved to his chamber to get some work done, while the two ladies started preparing for dinner... Isha noticed her husband's still fresh wound on his palm so she prepared Veg Biryani and two extra curries and masala raita for Abhyansh, they normally have white rice or jeera rice at night along with the kulche or thepla (types of Indian breads) with three curries, daal and a dessert, similar to the name, everyday food at the Ranawat palace is like a feast with a number of items, and the dinner was the lightest among all the meals of the day with 8-9 dishes, but seeing her daughter-in-law's extra efforts in making a heavy meal, Amrutha frowned...

"Isha... Why are you making so many dishes beta?? Huh, already you cook so many dishes every single day and making all these, that too thrice a day is very stressful... why are you increasing your workload, let's just get done with the dinner and take some rest... You look tired...", Amruta told her daughter-in-law while cutting vegetables...

"No ma... Actually, Maharaj's wound is still fresh... he can't have khoba roti(type of a Indian bread) and you know he can't have plain rice or something so bland, he needs spicy food, that's why I am making Biryani for him and you know he needs special curries and masala raita in it, otherwise, he won't even touch it...", Isha said with a loving smile, Amrutha smiled widelylooking at her daughter-in-law, her son throws a lot of tantrums for food, he needs everything specific and according to his taste, otherwise he wouldn't even touch it, even she got irritated a lot with him many times, but Isha never for once got irritated, she always took care of his tastes, and put extra effort to make it more delicious so that he eats more... Isha, not only thought about Abhyansh but Avyaan as well, which made Amrutha feel blessed.

---