Author's POV. 31st May, 2024. 7:00 p.m. Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur.

"Princess wake up." The feeling of someone continuously shaking and calling woke Radhika up. Looking around in daze, she found Advik smiling down at me.

"Finally you are awake princess. Wash your face. We have already landed," said Advik.

"What????? We have already landed. I slept the whole way back. Oh my god!!! Why didn't you wake me up?? I had so much to share. Bhai yaar," saying she rushed towards the washroom.

"Aj kal ke bache bhi na. Yeh yaar kya hota hai," said Advik to himself and walked out of the room. (Kids these days. What is this yaar?)

7:30 p.m. Maharana Pratap Airport Exit, Udaipur

Walking out of the airport, Radhika and Advik came face to face with Rakesh Mehra. Radhika's personal driver.

"Hello, Rakesh Uncle. Long time so see," chirped Radhika.

"Welcome back, choti Rajkumari Sa," said Rakesh and bowed.

Rakesh Mehra was a loyal driver who has been hired by the Raghuvanshis ever since Radhika was born. He loved Radhika alot. She was like his kid to her and Radhika treated her uncle with a lot of respect.

"Offo Rakesh Uncle. Yeh sab formality ki koi jarurat nahi hai. Ap mujhe yeh bataiye ki mere absence mein idhar chal kya raha tha. Sab kuch bataiye," said Radhika. (Oh God Rakesh Uncle. No need of all these formality. You tell me that what's going on in my absence. Tell me everything.)

Radhika knew Rakesh would never lie to her. He would vomit everything truthfully in front of her.

"Chotti Rajkumari Sa wohh-," Rakesh was cut off by Advik who said, "Oh come on Rakesh Uncle. You promised you won't say everything. Let some things be a secret for sometime."

"Raja sa, even if I don't say she will know it automatically. She is too smart," said Rakesh.

"Can you both stop talking in puzzles and Uncle you talk to me," said Radhika.

"Actually-," Rakesh was again cut off by Advik who said, "No. Don't," and rushed into the car.

"You will tell me afterwards," saying Radhika winked at Rakesh and got into the car whose door was opened by Rakesh.

Looking out, Radhika took in the beauty of Udaipur. The fresh air. The less crowd. The slow wind. She passed by the Gulab Bagh Library where she used to spend time with her friends. Then the Shahpura Oladar Cafe where she used to visit after bunking classes in her high school. She took the city and the breeze in. She found the part of her that she left in Udaipur with the thought that she will soon get it back. And she has it now. With her. Deep within her.

Looking up, she saw the sky. It looked so calm just like Radhika's heart. The sun has gone down and the moon has risen. The stars shining in celebration of Radhika's return. The entire city was decorated to welcome it's princess. Their Chotti Rajkumari Sa. Their beloved tiny baby princess. The city couldn't wait to meet the princess after the day of her coronation. But something was missing both in the sky and in her heart. To be more specific someone.

Not to think about a particular someone with hazel eyes which shone like a coffee freshly brewed, like the autumn and the August; she turned away from the outer world towards her brother.

"Bhai, woh Ethan-," Advik cut off Radhika by saying, "Don't worry. Ethan is already in the mansion. He must be asleep."

Ethan Donovan was Radhika's bodyguard since she was born. He was like a father figure to her. He always had a stern face and was a very strong man but could never help but obey to Radhika's order. That's the amount of love he had for the girl. The Raghuvanshi family trusted Ethan with their babygirl and Ethan was always indebt to them for that.

"Thanks Bhai," said Radhika.

"It feels so good and peaceful to be back here," saying Radhika kept her head on Advik's shoulder .

"With you back the entire family's peace has returned princess. We will never let you go far away again," thinking he carressed Radhika's hair.

8:00 p.m. The Raghuvanshi Mansion

Rakesh opened the door of Radhika's side and she stepped out. Coming face to face with the front door, nostalgia hit her. She slowly stepped inside with the brother behind her.

Ladies were singing and dancing in the garden. Rangolis of different colours, sizes and shapes were made and decorated with flowers and diyas. The garden was filled with many flower plants. It looked the same way it did 5 years ago. Walking she saw the fountain. Completely filled with flowers. Walking closer, she saw roses. Red roses. Her favorite.

Walking deeper, she gasped seeing the entire mansion decorated with lights. It looked like a bride. So beautiful. So elegant. Cherry on top were the diyas burning in the balconies and terrace. It looked straight out of Karan Johar's movie.

Walking up the two stairs, she touch the front huge doors of the mansion to open them. The huge doors decorated with golden colour made the mansion look like a castle.

Opening them, she came face to face with her entire family. Advik walked back into the house and stood with the family.

Nitya Raghuvamshi, her mother stood in the centre with a Puja ki thali in her hand. She looked by she would burst out any moment. She came in front and started rotating the thali in circular motion.

"Welcome back my baby," saying she burst into tears and hugged Radhika. Radhika hugged her mother tightly and let her cry.

Nitya Raghuvanshi was a famous criminal lawyer. Strong and composed. Her love story has a lot of ups and downs but she and her husband faced it all side by side. You wouldn't see her cry easily but the sight of her daughter made her.

When Nitya broke the huge, she was pulled into another by Rahil Raghuvanshi, her father. "Goodness, I missed you so much my child. Don't leave me alone. Ever," saying Rahil broke down.

"Never again papa," said Radhika.

Rahil Raghuvanshi is the Chairman of The Raghuvanshi Groups of Industry. In his young days, he was known for his flirtatious and charismatic nature but the arrival of his love, his Nitya changed everything and he became the strong and successful man he is today.

Next she was pulled into a hug by Anuj Raghuvanshi, her Chachu.

"My baby. How thin have you become. Are you not eating properly?" Anuj gushed over her.

Anuj Raghuvanshi was the CFO of The Raghuvanshi Groups of Industry. He was know for his expressionless face and feeling less heart. Everyone was shocked when they saw him laugh and smile at the lady he fell in love with. Everyone thought it wasn't possible. But the arrival of his now wife, made it all possible. Other than her wife, he always gushed over Radhika like she was a 3 years old baby.

"Chachu I'm completely fine. See," saying she did a little twirl for her Chachu.

"Haan. Haan. Now come and give your Chachi a hug," saying Anaya Raghuvanshi pulled her into her hug. (Yes. Yes.)

Anaya Raghuvanshi is a director and an independant lady. She raced to achieve her goals and was never afraid to speak her opinion out loud. She was deeply in love with her husband Anuj whom she first claimed to a emotion less jackass. The moment she saw Anuj smile at her she knew she was far to gone for anyone else's love. Anyone else would never count in front of her Anuj, her husband. She was like a friend to Radhika.

"Maa that much. Now let me get a hug," saying Ritwik Raghuvanshi pulled her towards him and hugged her.

Ritwik Raghuvanshi, inspired by his Badi Maa, is a lawyer. He was big sweetheart both outside and inside court. He would kill his opponent with kind words that would hurt like a knife if any one was strong enough to not be distracted by his honey like voice.

"You idiot. We met a month ago," said Radhika.

"So. A month is too long. You shut up and let me have my hug," saying Ritwik hugged her.

"If you think a month is too long then imagine a year. It's been a year since I met her. So now move," saying Akshay Raghuvanshi pulled Radhika into a bear hug.

Akshay Raghuvanshi was the COO of The Raghuvanshi Groups of Industry. He loved his job and earned it with alot of efforts. Charismatic Nature and flirtatious smile. He was exactly like Rahil's young self.

"Stop. Stop. You are going to suffocate my baby," said Rivaah Raghuvanshi, her grandmother.

Walking towards her, Radhika touched her feet. Rivaah caressed her grand daughter's hair and hugged her. The tears threatening to fall but the strict rules that were taught to her in her childhood to become a strong queen prohibited her from allowed them to fall.

Rivaah Raghuvanshi was the old queen before her daughter-in-law took over her position. She and her husband were childhood sweethearts. She was a strong queen and a warrior who fought for her city beside her husband.

Moving back Radhika said, "Dadi, kabhi kabhi rona bhi acha hota hai." This was enough for her grandmother to break down into tears. Her entire family was stunned to see the strong lady to break down into tears in her grand daughter's arms and meanwhile her grandfather smiled beside them.

Breaking apart from the hug, Radhika walked up to her grandfather, Vihaan Raghuvanshi and touched his feet.

He pulled her up into his arms before she could touch his feet and said, "Betiyaan dil mein rehti hai peeron tale nahin."(Daughters live in heart, not below our feet)

Vihaan Raghuvanshi was the old King of Udaipur before his elder son. He and his wife ruled the city together side by side and hand in hand. He loved his wife to infinity and was never afraid to say it out loud and clear. Although they did face many hardships, since they were the King and Queen but in the end they made it work out.

After that, she walked towards Dev Raghuvanshi.

"You wouldn't hug me Dev Bhai," said Radhika.

This was enough for Dev to hug her and break down into tears. Even Radhika broke down into tears. The entire family chuckled seeing the interaction between the two kids.

Dev Raghuvanshi, the CEO of Raha, always pretended to bring up a strong exterior but failed to maintain it in front of Radhika. Dev loved his sister to the moon and back. He would do anything for her. She just needs to order. According to Radhika, he gave the best hugs since she is the only one on the receiving end of it. Dev has never ever hugged anyone else other than her and doesn't plan to either.

"Sari batein yahin pe kar loge. Ya andar bhi aoge," said Anaya.(You will complete all talks here only or you will come inside also.)

Radhika came and was seated in centre of the house. She talked animatedly with the ladies and men of the house while her brothers went into the kitchen only to bring out all of her favourite dishes which were made by her maa, daadi and chachi. She gasped looking at the food and dug in. Her family chuckled seeing her.

"Saara kha jaegi kya. Apne Bhai ke liye kuch toh chod, " saying Ritwik extended his hand to have a bite of the snacks only to get a hit by Radhika. (You are going to eat everything or what. Leave something for your brother)

"Dur rahiyo mere khane se. Yeh beta mere liye bana hai. Tu apna dekh le," sassed Radhika. (Stay away from my food. This is made for me. You see for yourself)

After 5 minutes, Radhika was completely full even though she hadn't finished even one of her dishes completely.

"Ek bhi plate khatam nahin kar paati aur bol Rahi thi tu apna dekh le," taunted Dev. (Couldn't even finish our plate of food and was saying you see for yourself)

"Chachu dekho ise pareshan kar raha hai," said Radhika dn hugged her Chachu. (Chachu see he is teasing me)

"Meri bachi ko koi pareshaan nahi karega. Samjhe nalayakon," said Anuj. (No one will tease my child. Did you understand useless boys)

"Haan haan Radhika ke samne toh ham saare nalayak," taunted Akshay and all the brothers agreed. (Yes yes all of us are useless in front of Radhika)

"Koi sak," Radhika sassed. (Any doubt)

Tu toh uske ane ke pehle bhi nalayak hi tha," said Ritwik. (You were useless even before Radhika came)

All the elders burst into laughter when Akshay started tickling Radhika and all the kids joined in except Dev who was later pulled in by Radhika.

9:30 p.m.

Suddenly the sound of dhol disturbed them. Radhika was confused while the others had a small smile on their faces.

"Come on, someone wants to meet you," saying Akshay pulled Radhika towards the door.

Standing on the door, Radhika was stunned to see her two dear best friends dancing to the beats of dhol. In excitement, she ran towards them.

First, she was pulled into a hug by Kainat Rajput. The book nerd. She loved romance novels and lived in them. She was an introvert but when needed she knew how to stand up for herself. She was too shy thus seeing her dance suprised Radhika to no bounds.

"Goodness, I missed you so much my baby," said Kainat and hugged Radhika tighter.

Pulled from Kainat's embrace, Radhika was again taken into a hug by Ishana Chaudhary.

A gorgeous and smart witted lady. She owned a jewellery botique and was quite famous for it. She loved art and mostly would be found in a art museum. She and Ritwik were sworn enemies and fought like cat and dogs.

"Bas bas suffocate kar rahi hai meri behen ko," said Ritwik.(That much that much you are suffocating my sister)

"Tere sath reh kar suffocate nahi hoti hai toh kisi aur chiz se suffocate nahi ho sakti," said Ishana. (She is not suffocated by staying with you then she can never be suffocated by anything else)

"Billi kahinki. Zyada nahi bol rahi," said Ritwik. (Such a kitten. Don't you think you speak too much)

"Atleast sensible batein karti hun," said Ishana. (Atleast I talk sense)

"Tu-," Ritwik was cut off by Radhika who said, "Bas, kabhi toh chup ho jao dono," (Enough, at least once you both keep quiet)

After two three minutes, all of them entered inside the mansion and got engrossed in talks.

After sometime, everyone found Radhika deep in sleep on Dev's shoulder.

"I'll take her to her room," saying Dev picked her up. Walking up the stairs, he entered her room and placed her safely on the bed and covered her with the blanket. Turning around, he noticed all his brothers except Advik at the door.

Akshay rested beside Radhika. Ritwik at her foot. Dev on the other side.

Ishana and Kainat went to their respective rooms in the mansion so that the brothers could get some space with their sister. They were Radhika's childhood best friend and each one of them had their respective rooms in each other's house. Even their families were close to each other.

When Advik came down to have a cup of coffee so that he could continue working, he entered Radhika's room and saying her crushed between the boys.

"These huge buffons are going to actually crush her one day," saying he picked up Radhika and walked her to his room and rested her on his bed. The coffee and work long forgotten he sat beside her and caressed her hair and didn't know when he drifted into sleep.

___________________________Word Count- 2675

How did you like the chapter guyssss? Tell me in the comments who is your favourite Raghuvanshi. Oh and which of Radhika's bestie did you like more. Kainat's and Ishana's insta Id are mention below.

Kainat Rajput

Ishana Chaudhary