Helo Darling's crew [Yup, i changed your name as every second or third person call their readers sunshine. So, you all are my crew that is Darling's crew]

I know many of you waited for the update last sunday but my academics is punsihing me a little too much and completing assignment which i had to do earlier but i didn't did because i wanted to have some fun and now my assignments are making fun of me.

So, now without any further a do !!

Read the chapter...

Word count : 4139

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"Eww, stay away from me!" Iraya yanked her hand away from his, making him halt abruptly.

"Why are you having these major mood swings with me?" Riccardo mumbled like a child whose favorite candy had been snatched, on the verge of tears. But the main thing was, her warmth was missing.

Her touch?

It was warm.

Familiar.

Only his.

But, maybe not for too long.

And it ended way too fast.

"I forgot, but I hate you," she said, looking everywhere but him.

"Seriously, Raya?" He looked at her with a 'just done' expression, as if offended by her excuse this time.

(Author's note: I am with my Riccardo.)

"Stop calling her Raya, bastard!" Chinmay said, appearing out of nowhere.

"You bitch, shut up!" Iraya shouted at Chinmay, making him look at her in disbelief.

"Tu iske gadhe ke liye mere se ladri hai?" Chinmay questioned her, pointing his index finger at Riccardo. Now both were having a staring competition, as if whoever lost would shave their own head.

(Are you fighting me for this donkey?)

"You can't call him bitch, you used to call me that," Riccardo whispered slowly, in a low voice, as if talking to himself, but everyone heard it. Kashi was trying her best not to 'awe' at her bestie's soon-to-be boyfriend, while Iraya and Chinmay snapped their heads towards him with a knowing look that said, "You are dead, bitch," while he just nervously chuckled, knowing he had gotten himself into trouble..

"I love him, God, I love him," Iraya chanted, trying to calm herself from smacking Riccardo's neck, but nothing seemed to work.

"Remind me why I love him?" She darted her head towards Kashi and questioned her.

"Because he makes you feel something, or I can say everything, which no one can make you feel," Kashi said in her ears, playing it safe as Chinmay could knock all of them out when angry.

"You love this shit!" Chinmay shouted on top of his lungs, unable to believe that his own baby sister was dating someone who was also his best friend.

"It's time for you to know things which I hid from you," Iraya said, trying to sound serious but failing, letting out a nervous laugh while Chinmay just glared at her.

"Ye teri vo Wattpad coded serious wali book ya Star Plus ka serial nahi chal raha hai."  Chinmay said deadpan.

(This isn't your Wattpad-coded serious book or a Star Plus serial running.)

"Fineeeeee!"

Soon, they all sat on the couch—I mean, not all, but only Chinmay—and he gestured for Kashi to sit beside him. She was still wondering whether to sit beside him or with the culprits, as she knew their past from the beginning, except for the fact that the guy was Riccardo. Still, she sat quietly.

"Start, and stop ONLY AFTER FINISHING," Chinmay said, emphasizing every word, while Kashi looked between them, darting her head here and there.

"I met him on my eighteenth birthday," Iraya whispered, knowing now she was going to be dead.

"That day you were with Dhruv Bhai, right?" Chinmay asked, leaning forward and referring to their elder brother and silently called him too.

Dhruv Singh Rathore.

Their elder cousin brother.

Their mentor.

Their best friend.

Who taught them everything.

"Yeah, but Bhai got a call that day and he left early, but I took permission from him for clubbing with my friends."

"You had other friends who weren't me?" Kashi questioned, narrowing her eyes at Iraya, who just chuckled nervously and added, "They were snakes, Ashu, but you are the real one, as I've known since we were in diapers."

"Shut up and continue," Chinmay said, leaning onto the couch, knowing that some more people were listening to them.

"I was there with my friends, aka snakes, so I didn't worry about anything and enjoyed myself out," Iraya mumbled, knowing the next part was surely going to trigger him.

"Then I was thirsty, so I went to order a drink for myself," she said and immediately looked down. But to her surprise, Riccardo came closer to her and held her hands, which unknowingly calmed her down.

"Mai iski Aashiqui 2 bana dunga ab." Chinmay said, rubbing his temples while Kashi tried to muffle her laugh. But one glare and she sat steady, all straight and silent.

(I'll make his  Aashiqui 2 now.)

"STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER, BASTARD!" Chinmay shouted while Riccardo just smirked and stood tall without even moving an inch, but stepped closer to her as if directly provoking him to come forward.

"SHE IS MY GIRLFRIEND TOO!" Riccardo said with the same intensity.

"EX-GIRLFRIEND," Iraya corrected him and looked proud, while he just looked at her in disbelief.

"Can't you see me winning for once?" He questioned, narrowing his eyes at her.

"You won earlier," she mumbled to herself while all of them looked at her.

"When?"

"Me and Kashi were fighting our way here over who is better between you and Chinmay, and guess what? You won!" Iraya said, clapping her hands in excitement, not caring about her surroundings.

Now, Kashi turned her head in Chinmay's direction nervously, only to see him boring holes into her, as if silently stating, "You too, kitten," while she looked everywhere except him.

"YOU KNEW?!" Chinmay now looked at Kashi dramatically, because why not.

"I was--"

"Stand with them," Chinmay said, pointing at the place where Iraya and Riccardo were standing, busy in their own world, whispering to each other as if they weren't the culprits.

"Like, the fuck, you never asked me!" Kashi started shouting at him, but by the end of the sentence, she ended up mumbling it, sensing his stare at her, making her more nervous than ever.

Kashi stood up with a huff and went near Iraya and stood beside her, not before glaring at Riccardo, who glared back with the same intensity, while Chinmay was boring holes into all three of them.

"Continue, Iraya."

"When I was ordering the drink, I accidentally bumped into someone."

MINI FLASHBACK

18-year-old Iraya was walking towards the bartender for a drink, but in the middle, she bumped into a guy harshly, making her stumble back.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," Iraya said apologetically and moved towards the counter and ordered herself a light beer.

The guy also came there and ordered his wine, and while waiting for his wine, he looked at her.

"18th birthday today?" He questioned, looking at her despite knowing everything.

"Nahh, it's freedom day!" She said excitedly and jumped a little, almost unnoticeable, but to him, it was all clear, and he let out a low chuckle.

"So, what's your name, Miss Freedom?" He asked her, pulling her close by her waist, making her bump into him.

"Iraya."

"Huh?"

"My name—it's Iraya, Iraya Rao," she said, looking down while her cheeks were covered in a red hue, probably blushing from being so close to him.

"Raya," he said, still looking at her softly.

"What?"

"I want to call you Raya. Can I?" He said, his voice barely audible to others, but to her, it was all audible and clear because he whispered it in her ears as if trying to tease her more and more.

"I think I should go," she said, trying to step back.

"Miss Freedom, if you're thinking of leaving, then what about your drink?" He said, while she stepped back, almost ready to go, but stopped midway hearing his voice and sat beside him.

"I came here for my drink, not because you want to sit with me," she said, looking at the counter, waiting for her drink.

"Sure, sure, as you say, Miss Freedom," Riccardo said, trying to stifle his laugh, but sensing her glare at him, he raised his hand in the air like a criminal caught by the police, raising his hands in defeat, making her giggle.

"Well, what's your name?" She said, looking at him intensely, waiting for him to answer.

"Riccardo... Riccardo Abato."

"Nice name, brother."

"Don't call me brother."

"Why so?" She asked, leaning a little.

"I'm too handsome to be called your brother," he said, looking at their joined hands.

"So if not brother, then what?"

"Well, I guess I'm too good to be your boyfriend and soon-to-be husband," he said, now leaning towards her while she continued backing off until she had no escape and accepted her defeat.

"Put efforts for that... I'm not easy to get, and I have high standards which are raised by fictional men," she said, trying to sound serious, but the nervousness inside her was defeating her gradually.

"I will raise my lady's standard more and will be more good and dominating than your book guys," he said, trying his best not to tease her, but the truth and honesty in his voice were also unmistakable.

Soon Iraya got comfortable around him, and not being fully in her senses, she pulled him onto the dance floor, dancing herself out while he just stood there admiring her.

FLASHBACK END

"And we ended up kissing each other that day," Iraya said and looked down, knowing what was coming next.

"THE HECK, IRAYA RAO... I AM GONNA KILL YOU FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" Chinmay said, and in an instant, he was standing in front of her, looking at her for an explanation.

"How can you kiss her?" Chinmay said, looking at him in pure rage.

"I kissed her like my mouth on hers and her moaning in my mouth, begging for more and tapping on my shoulder as she wasn't able to breathe because I was too dominating in that kiss," Riccardo said in a 'duh' tone, not caring about anything.

"Fuck yourself," Chinmay spat and stood tall.

"I will surely do that, but can I take my Raya for it, you know, to fuck myself?" Riccardo said again in the same tone, not caring about anything, or basically taunting him, while Chinmay was just a step away from pouncing on him and strangling him to death, but the guilt of killing his own best friend was something he didn't want to live with.

What a liar.

Iraya was darting her head between both of them, knowing they weren't going to stop at any cost.

"SHUT UP, YOU BOTH!" Iraya and Kashi said in unison, and to their surprise, now both the men looked down.

"I know I did wrong by dating him, but I loved him at that time. So, that wasn't a problem, okay? And the cherry on top, Dhruv Bhai never had any problem with me being in a relationship," Iraya said in full confidence, or we can say overconfidence, not knowing she was going to die soon.

"I never said that I am fine with the impact of you being in a relationship with a dickhead," the voice rang out like a rhyme in Iraya's mind, knowing now she was surely going to end up in hell.

"DHRUV BHAI, AAP KAISE?" (Dhruv Bhai, you? here? how?) Iraya's voice came out like a shock, unable to absorb the fact that her elder brother was on the call too the whole time.

THE WHOLE-fucking-TIME.

She is going to die.

But not too soon.

I think so.

Well, not everyone is lucky to live much on Earth.

And, maybe Iraya is one of them.

"Iraya, when did I give you permission to make a boyfriend?" Dhruv questioned from the other side of the phone, his voice still soft, making Chinmay want to vomit if the matter wasn't this serious.

"YOU never talked to ME like that?" Chinmay said, stepping in between dramatically.

"Step aside, fucker, and let me talk to my sister who assumes herself as a big woman nowadays," the voice came from the other side, and Iraya smiled, knowing now she was totally safe.

"Maan Bhai, I really didn't want to say that, please save me from this friend of yours," Iraya said, pleading with Maanvit, knowing if she said the same thing to Dhruv, she was going to be dead sooner or later.

"I know, Ruh, but having a boyfriend is something I also despise," Maanvit said calmly, and no one said anything, knowing it was one of his softest voices ever when he was angry, and cutting him off was basically like 1000 different ways to die.

"Bhai, I loved him that time," Iraya said, looking down, even if they weren't in front of her, but still the fear was consuming her.

"But, I still love her," Riccardo's voice rang out like an alarm, making their heads snap towards him in shock, more likely Iraya, who stood rooted to her place.

"Shut that bastard up! I am talking to my sister, not to the Italian mafia, for fuck's sake!" His voice came out, ranging in deep venom and shrill.

"Shut up, MALHOTRA!" Another voice came out.

"Iraya baby, you do what you want, these bitches won't come in your way until you want, and if you have any problem, then call me or Darsvi," said Sanchi, Iraya's biggest supporter and Maanvit's wife, whom Maanvit loves the most, but she hates the most.

"I don't know what to do," Iraya admitted her real feelings while Riccardo looked at her with a knowing look.

Regret?

Hurt?

Maybe the urge to kill himself for his mistake?

"I know, baby, it feels disgusting or maybe what not, knowing the one you love doesn't loves you , but in your case it's different. The one you loved, or maybe you love now too, also loves you. Don't lose the chance and do what you want and what your heart and his eyes say, but never do something wrong because life gives a few chances only," Sanchi said politely, her voice coming out softer than usual, shocking Iraya, as she is one of the most grumpy women she came across, but nobody can change the fact that she cherishes her like her own sister.

"Go and grab your chance, Iraya. Don't give a fuck to these bastards, it's your life, and if you have any doubt, feel free to call me, babygirl," Sanchi said teasingly while Iraya blushed, knowing well what she meant by doubts.

"Well, if it is you who said that, then I am absolutely going to think about it," Iraya said while heat crept up to her skin, and the call got disconnected from the other side.

Everyone was silent for five minutes as if processing what had just happened. Iraya was in her thoughts, thinking about giving Riccardo a chance or not, because Sanchi is always right when it comes to these things. On the other hand, Riccardo was thinking about how to make it up to her.

Give her flowers?

Her favorite chocolates?

Her favorite bike?

Car?

Or maybe naming his empire to her?

Chinmay was in complete shock, unable to believe that his little sister, his 20-year-old sister who hadn't completed her graduation, could have a boyfriend, and no one had a problem with it. On the other hand, Kashi was happy for her best friend but also smiled sadly, knowing what thoughts Chinmay was fighting silently.

After all, no brother wants his sister to have a boyfriend, especially his own best friend.

"I will give you a chance to make it up to me," Iraya said calmly and walked out of the room, and no one followed her, knowing she wanted some space, but someone went behind her.

ON THE OTHER HAND

Six people were sitting in the main cabin of the building, and no one disturbed them, knowing they must be discussing something serious, but the seriousness was something that was hard to feel in the room.

"Mr. Malhotra, shut this fucking mouth of yours!" Said Sanchi, irritably, as her husband was continuously irritating her.

"Uff, Mrs. Malhotra, kya ada hai aapki!"  Said her husband, clutching his heart as if about to die dramatically.

(Wow, Mrs. Malhotra, what style you have!)

"Ye mera pati kyu hai?"  Sanchi cried out, emotionless, and glared at her husband, who just stiffened in his place, knowing now his wife was angry, and irritating her now was digging his own grave.

(Why is he my husband?)

"Wait, Chinmay's call is coming," Dhruv spoke, not wanting to, as he was busy enjoying the drama, and groaned before picking up the call, but what he heard next left him shocked.

"Yeah, but Bhai got a call that day and he left early, but I took permission from him for clubbing with my friends," came out his sister's voice, laced with regret and a vulnerable state.

"Dhruv Bhai tapak gaye kya?" Sanchi mouthed while he chuckled, knowing her antics, and put the phone on speaker.

(Did Dhruv Bhai just die?)

"You had other friends who weren't me?" Kashi's voice rang out as if threatening her not to make other friends that weren't her. "They were snakes, Ashu, but you are the real one, as I've known since we were in diapers."

"Mai bhi Dhruv ko tab se jaanta hu tab se diapers mein tha."  Said Maanvit confidently, while whispering as if he had revealed something so serious that it could help in killing someone.

(I've known Dhruv since he was in diapers too.)

"Shut up and continue," Chinmay's voice came, sounding more dangerous than his usual teasing self, while Maanvit widened his eyes, earning a smack from his wife.

"I was there with my friends, aka snakes, so I didn't worry about anything and enjoyed myself out," Iraya's voice rarely came to their side, but the surrounding being absolutely silent made it easier to hear.

"Then I was thirsty, so I went to order a drink for myself," she said, and now Sanchi was smiling proudly while Dhruv and Maanvit sighed.

"You lost the bet, and now you will confront her and will say sorry to her after clearing all the misunderstanding," said Sanchi with a rare smug grin on her face, making Dhruv sigh and nod.

"Mai iski Aashiqui 2 bana dunga ab." Chinmay's voice came, and they now knew something romantic must have happened, and both the husband and wife grinned while Dhruv chuckled.

(I'll make this his Aashiqui 2 now.) 

"STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER, BASTARD!" Chinmay shouted while Sanchi immediately lowered the volume of the phone.

"SHE IS MY GIRLFRIEND TOO!" Another voice came out, too manly, deep, which they considered Iraya's ex.

"EX-GIRLFRIEND," Iraya corrected him, and now all of them were trying their best not to laugh.

"Can't you see me winning for once?" He asked, and now they were just enjoying the show, not caring about the project lying on the main table.

"You won earlier," Iraya's muffled voice rang out.

"When?"

"Me and Kashi were fighting our way here over who is better between you and Chinmay, and guess what? You won!" Iraya's excited voice rang out, and she probably clapped her hands, while Sanchi hooted a little, and Avayansh entered while smiling.

"YOU KNEW?!" Chinmay's voice again rang out.

"Ye kutta itna kyu bhokta hai?"  Avayansh spoke for the first time since he entered the room.

(Why does this dog bark so much?)

"I was--"

"Stand with them," Chinmay said seriously, and now they knew it was going to turn more interesting, and by now, Sanchi also connected his house cameras to her laptop, and now the enjoyment was double.

"Like, the fuck, you never asked me!" Kashi started shouting at him, but by the end of the sentence, it came out muffled.

"Continue, Iraya."

"When I was ordering the drink, I accidentally bumped into someone."

(The flashback is repeated here again, which was told earlier by Iraya).

"And we ended up kissing each other that day," Iraya's voice came out, and now Sanchi with Avayansh hooted a little, but both sat back when they sensed two glares at themselves.

"THE HECK, IRAYA RAO... I AM GONNA KILL YOU FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" Chinmay said, and now their fun was triple.

"How can you kiss her?" Chinmay said, his words reflecting rage and everything they could.

"I kissed her like my mouth on hers and her moaning in my mouth, begging for more and tapping on my shoulder as she wasn't able to breathe because I was too dominating in that kiss," Riccardo said in a 'duh' tone, not caring about anything, and now Sanchi was laughing, holding her stomach while Avayansh muffled his laugh.

"Fuck yourself," Chinmay spat out.

"I will surely do that, but can I take my Raya for it, you know, to fuck myself?" Riccardo said again in the same tone, not caring about anything, and Sanchi mouthed, "I am with Riccardo, bro, from now."

"SHUT UP, YOU BOTH!" Iraya and Kashi said in unison.

"I know I did wrong by dating him, but I loved him at that time. So, that wasn't a problem, okay? And the cherry on top, Dhruv Bhai never had any problem with me being in a relationship," Iraya said in full confidence while Dhruv widened his eyes, not knowing when all this happened.

"I never said that I am fine with the impact of you being in a relationship with a dickhead," Dhruv said as he was losing his temper by time passing by and ended up speaking in his soft voice, but the word 'dickhead' came out a little too harsh.

"DHRUV BHAI, AAP KAISE?" (Dhruv Bhai, you? here? how?) Iraya's voice came out like a shock, unable to absorb the fact that her elder brother was on the call too the whole time.

"Iraya, when did I give you permission to make a boyfriend?" Dhruv questioned. His voice still soft, if the matter wasn't this serious.

"YOU never talked to ME like that?" Chinmay said, stepping in between dramatically.

"Step aside, fucker, and let me talk to my sister who assumes herself as a big woman nowadays," Maanvit said, pushing Dhruv aside as if his voice wouldn't reach the other end if he stood far.

"Maan Bhai, I really didn't want to say that, please save me from this friend of yours," Iraya said, pleading with Maanvit, while Avayansh laughed openly.

"I know, Ruh, but having a boyfriend is something I also despise," Maanvit said calmly while Sanchi mimicked him, making him glare at her, and as always, she glared back with the same intensity, making him sit back down.

"Bhai, I loved him that time," Iraya said, her voice laced with regret, hurt, guilt?

They felt sad for her, but still they couldn't approve of it. Why?

Because she is still their little princess who once told them to never have any boyfriend.

"But, I still love her," Riccardo's voice rang out like an alarm, and Sanchi clapped her hands, knowing this is what she wanted to hear, and now the battle was hers, which she would absolutely win.

"Shut that bastard up! I am talking to my sister, not to the Italian mafia, for fuck's sake!" Maanvit said, massaging his temple.

"Shut up, MALHOTRA!" Sanchi said, emphasizing the word 'Malhotra,' making him stand rooted to his place, even though he wanted to move.

"Iraya baby, you do what you want, these bitches won't come in your way until you want, and if you have any problem, then call me or Darsvi," said Sanchi softly, because for her, Iraya is her other little baby whom she wants to protect till her last breath, as she failed to protect her other sister.

"I don't know what to do," Iraya admitted her real feelings while a soft look came upon Sanchi's face, knowing what she would be going through.

After all, she went through it once.

But, the difference is.

Hers one lusted over her.

And,

Iraya's one loves her.

"I know, baby, it feels disgusting or maybe what not, knowing the one you love doesn't loves you, but in your case it's different. The one you loved, or maybe you love now too, also loves you. Don't lose the chance and do what you want and what your heart and his eyes say, but never do something wrong because life gives a few chances only," Sanchi said politely, her voice coming out softer than usual, spitting out everything as if it was one of the advice or talks she wanted to have with her younger self.

"Go and grab your chance, Iraya. Don't give a fuck to these bastards, it's your life, and if you have any doubt, feel free to call me, babygirl," Sanchi said teasingly and laughed, knowing Iraya must be blushing by now.

"Well, if it is you who said that, then I am absolutely going to think about it," Iraya said, and Sanchi disconnected the call now before saying goodbye.

"Why did you do that?" Dhruv questioned.

"I know, Bhai, what it feels like to feel what she is feeling, but the only difference is, God gave her a chance which I always wanted, but in return, he gave me better because I couldn't grab that chance."

"Let her grab her chance, Bhai. Not everyone ends up with someone who would wait for a whole life for someone," Sanchi said, looking at Maanvit with a soft gaze while he just smiled at her as if saying, "I have always got your back, Mrs. Malhotra."

Dhruv agreed, but they all knew that they had to meet Riccardo themselves only, as putting their sister's life in danger is something they will never do.

Soon, they started discussing their project, but in between, Sanchi's phone buzzed, disturbing them a little, but a smile spread across Sanchi's face.

"She is giving him a chance to make up to her," Sanchi said, reading out Iraya's message in her own words before they all freaked out.

"I will kill that dickhead if he ever hurts her!"

"I myself would cut his dick!"

"Torturing him is much better!"

"And, what about killing him after doing all this and leaving his body in a public place?"

**********

That's it for today !!!

What do you think about Iraya's decision?

Thoughts about these new characters?

If you are wondering about the characters Dhruv, Maanvit, Sanchi and Avayansh then to let you know that these characters are from my upcoming book YOU AND ME UNDER MOONLIGHT which is already out and I will start posting the chapters after finishing this one or maybe in middle too...

Author - this chapter is kind of boring I guess but the next one will be good and exciting as in that second male lead will come onto the play to make her his only and maybe also have a fight with someone.

Follow me on scroll stack to stay updated...

Follow me on instagram for spoilers of this book...

I'd : ashiwritesthem

STAY HYDRATED

STAY LOVED

STAY BLESSED

STAY WITH ME

LUVV UU ALL

- ashiieee