Avni's POV

" How can I let you go alone on the very first morning? After all, you are family. " He said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

Was he offended?? Or was he making fun of me??

" I am sorry for the way I behaved yesterday. " I said to him.

" Not at all... in fact, I was thinking of calling your dad. " He said all of a sudden, and it seemed as if someone had robbed me of my breath.

" What?? No !! Why?? " I almost said too quickly and in a very harsh tone. He was a bit surprised at my sudden reaction.

" Just the basic courtesy call, thanking him for letting you come and assuring him that you would not have any problem here as you are a part of my family only." He replied to me very calmly.

I was shocked at what he was planning to do.

" No !!!! " I said quite forcefully. N

" What happened?? " He asked me. My reaction made him suspicious.

" Please don't do that... " I almost pleaded with him.

" Your reaction was a little too much. Are you scared of something or someone by any chance?? " He asked me.

" No, not at all. " I replied immediately.

" Then what is the problem?? " He enquired again as he was not satisfied with my answer.

" He... I... I mean, I am old enough to take care of myself. " I said that as I didn't want to tell him About my relationship with my dad. I could not let him talk to my father.

" Yes, I know... Even I am. I am almost 30. Still, my parents worry about me. I must talk to him. "He said.

" No, you would not. I will write to him. " I insisted, but even he was hell-bent to call my dad.

" But the assurance must come from my side as I invited you here. You are living under my roof. "

Now, this was too much; he was being very stubborn, and I was getting annoyed.

" No, please don't do it. I request you." I tried again.

" But why??? Give me one valid reason... " He said with one of his eyeshadow raised.

" Er... Ummm ... B.because ... he just knows... that I am working as a governess to two children in Ranikhet. " I replied.

" So?? "

" He doesn't know anything about you. " I said.

" You did not tell him anything about me?? That you were coming to live with your husband's family?? That I am his elder brother?? " He was shocked at what I said.

" Y_yeah... " I said sheepishly.

" But why??? You should have told him, He must know... He would be at ease to know that you are with your other family. Why didn't you?? " He enquired me. But how could I tell him?

" I have my reasons. " I retorted hoping that he would take the hint and leave this topic and the stupid idea to reassure my father that I was safe and fine staying here in his home.

As it is my father was least bothered about either me or Avanti.

" Care to enlighten me about them?? It is so weird. " He was so persistent. I knew there was no way out. He was hell-bent on knowing everything.

So I decided to tell him once and for all.

" B_because he doesn't even know that I have another family. " I replied.

" What?? You mean to say that he doesn't know... that you have been married?? "

" Y_yeah... And I don't want you to tell him as well. " I almost shouted at him. His jaw almost touched the ground. His eyes seemed to scrutinize me.

" Why?? What was the reason?? I didn't know you were capable of such anger or deceit... Why did you hide it?? " He asked me and I decided to tell him.

" I did that for John... " I said.

" He didn't want you to tell your father?? But why would he do that??"

" It was not his decision. " I turned to go but he stopped me.

I was fed up with him now... Why couldn't he leave me alone?

" Then? Your's? But why?? " He asked.

" Let it be... You won't like it." I said.

" I would decide on my own. Tell me." He said glaring at me.

" I once asked my father if I could invite my friend home? And he asked me who it was. I told him he was my riding instructor. And he refused to meet him. I never introduced them as I didn't want him to insult John. " I told him.

" Is your father so highheaded?? "

" Yes, I am afraid so. So I married him with just my sister from my family. "

" Then you were planning to settle down in his flat near the stables?? " He asked and I nodded.

" Is it the real reason, why you don't wear your wedding ring?? " He asked.

I didn't know what to say... it was only a part of that. I could not tell him.

" I told you. " I said and started to move when he stopped me again.

" Didn't you know he was rich?? Richer than your father. He could buy the stable he worked in. " He asked me at once with a frowned face.

" I didn't marry him for his money. " I said, giving an explanation. Somehow it hurt me a lot. I didn't want him to assume that I was with John for his money.

" You don't have to say that... I already know that. In fact, we all know that." He said immediately.

" I came to know only when he brought me to meet your parents. Trust us, I really didn't know... " I gave the explanation again but he did not let me finish it.

" My father wanted to give you John's share but you refused it and all other offers of financial help. So I know that you are not like that. "

" I don't want it... I have my own money. It is nothing big as per your standard but it is more than enough to be independent. I inherited it from my mother. " I said and he kept looking at me for a long time.

" But don't you think, you should accept it. It is yours to take. You have a right over it being his widow. Even he would want you to take it. Please take it and let his soul rest in peace. You are not being fair to him."

He said trying again to make me accept John's share once again.

" I am not being fair to him?? How can you say that?? No !! I would never take it. Never... please don't mention it again. " I got so annoyed that I stormed away from him.

" This way, Avni. " He said with a smile as I was going in the wrong direction. I went with him. None of us said anything for a few minutes. Then he looked at me and smiled. I knew that he was going to start the conversation again.

" Have you always been this shy?? " He asked with amusement.

I looked at him, it seemed that he was trying to hide his smile. He was too much, I had just shouted at him rudely and he was calling me shy?? But I really liked that he was trying to make me feel better after the argument.

I started laughing.

" I am sorry for my behavior... I have been very shy, but I don't know, why I am behaving differently here. "

" Differently?? " He looked confused.

" I am eating, sleeping, and talking more, and I am expressing myself much more than I ever did in my life."

" Well, that's good... It means you are starting to learn to live. " He said, looking into my eyes.

We reached the stables, I was so excited to see it. I ran towards it and he followed me. I saw two horses.

" I'll saddle them and would show you around. " He said.

" It's ok, I can find my way... " I didn't want him to come with me. So I said.

" Don't tell me you are going shy on me again. " He gave me a cute smile.

" You must be getting late. " I said trying to find some excuse to send him away. As I was getting a bit uncomfortable.

" Late for what?? "

" Are you not going away for work today?? "

" No, I will go tomorrow; you arrived yesterday; how can I go without making you aware of and comfortable with the surroundings ?" He said.

" Oh, ok... " I said and he saddled them. We kept riding for two hours. I just loved it. We came back, and he dismounted and came towards me to help me. I could do it on my own. But somehow, it felt rude to deny his help, especially after the way I had snapped at him.

I cocked a leg over the saddle and leaned down to hold his arms, but the horse shifted sideways, making me fall. Robert caught me in his strong arms though he got off-balanced but regained his balance and tightened his arms around me to save me from falling.

Even I had to lean my body against his to maintain the balance. I could feel his hard muscular chest plastered against my soft body. I really felt something.

We looked at each other and my face started gaining colour. My breath was caught in my chest and my heart was hammering against my chest. I was scared that he might have felt my heartbeat, too, as I could feel that he was affected by our position.

He looked at our joined body, then at my lips,, and then into my eyes.

His beautiful blue eyes were drowning me in them. For the first time in my life, I thought of losing myself.

But just then, I realized our position. Oh, God!!! This was not right ... Not right at all and I pushed him away.

He took a few steps away and said that we must go back. We unsaddled the horses and went back.

We came back walking quietly and just when we were about to go inside, I heard a childish voice high and piping with echoes of the school playground from long ago.

" Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor... "

My eyes followed the direction from where it came. I saw Lara at the far end of the vast lush green lawn, playing out there all alone with a skipping rope in a world of her own, changing a rhyme that generations of English children had learned.

I went towards her. She saw me and gave me a faint smile.

" Hey, good morning, Lara; I like this rhyme. Shall I join you?? " I asked and she nodded.

" I forgot the words. " She confessed.

" I know them. " I said. " Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar man... "

She giggled and started chanting and began to skip.

" Can you skip too?? " She asked.

" Definitely... I love it. My sister and I used to skip together.

We started chanting and skipping together, a little clumsily, mainly because of the difference in our heights. We were laughing like anything.

A slow handclap caught our attention, and we turned to see Robert standing there, smiling from ear to ear. I had forgotten about him.

Chap 10

Avni's POV

" Uncle, see Avni can skip so well. But she is too big and the rope is small for me. " She said and I smiled. She was so cute.

" She is your Aunt, Lara. Please call her that. " Robert told her and she looked at me.

" Oh, ok... But she said she was our friend. " She seemed to be confused because we both introduced me in different ways.

" It's ok, I am your friend too. Where is Bill?? " I asked her.

" He is coming... " She said and just then we saw him coming with his football. He came and greeted us with a smile.

" Let's have breakfast, I am famished," Robert said. We all went to have our breakfast.

Mrs Gomez had prepared an elaborate English breakfast. We all enjoyed everything, and I complimented her for her cooking and asked why she made so many things.

" It is my passion... I love cooking. I like Indian food too but have not tried cooking it. I wish I had tried it, I could have made a few things for you. " She said and smiled at me.

It was so sweet of her. I really liked this gesture. She was trying to make me feel comfortable in this place. She reminded me of my mom; just like my mom,, she was also a very affectionate person.

" We would make them together. " I said.

" You can cook?? " She asked.

" Of course, I used to cook for my dad and myself. I can cook fairly. " I said.

" Would we be fortunate enough to sample your cooking someday? " She asked.

" Sure, I would make it soon. " I replied with a smile.

" I would like us to share recipes. " She replied with a child-like excitement.

" I would love that. " I smiled at her and took the children to their room to make them study. I saw their books and syllabus. I spent my time with them as I wanted to stay away from their uncle.

I could still feel his hard body pressed against mine and his arm around me. I was getting very restless with that feeling.

I didn't want any man's arms around me. So I pushed him.

I wished I had already refused his help in getting off the horse. It was just a courtesy, but I wished he had not bothered.

I don't know why I was feeling so weird. He was a nice man, and she was very easy to talk to. But still, I didn't want him around me as the proximity was making me unsettled.

I managed to avoid him for a few hours but could not do it forever. I deliberately took the kids outside to the open area to teach and play with them. It was past lunchtime already but I avoided going back as I wanted him to have food without us.

Just then, I saw Tom coming towards us with a big basket. Tom put the basket and a blanket near us and smiled.

" Good afternoon, Mrs Taylor.

Mr Taylor sent food for all of you." He said in that courteous manner.

" Oh, that's so thoughtful of him. Please thank him on my behalf. " I said to him with a smile.

" Thank me directly, Avni. I was getting very hungry, so I thought maybe you all must also be by now. So I took the liberty and requested Mrs Gomez to prepare a food basket for us. We can make use of the beautiful weather and have a picnic here. " He said looking into my eyes. I averted my eyes.

" Thanks, Mr Taylor... That was very thoughtful of you. " I said and saw him from the corner of my eyes. He looked a bit irritated by the way I addressed him.

" It was my pleasure, Mrs Taylor." He said and I looked at him. He was still looking intensely at me.

" Wow !! Uncle and Mrs. Gomez packed our favorite sandwiches, muffins, cheese, juice, and apple pie. " Bill said with enthusiasm.

" Enjoy your food ..." He said to the boy and ruffled his hair. I served food to everyone but he kept looking at me.

The kids kept talking but I was just aware of his eyes on me. I ate with difficulty as I was getting very conscious of his gaze.

What happened to him??

The kids ate the food and he asked them to go and play or take a nap if they wanted.

They decided to take a nap. I got up, saying that I must help them. But he caught my hand.

" Stay with me... Mrs Gomez would help them. " He said authoritatively.

" But it is my job. " I tried to get away from him as soon as possible.

" You are not my employee... You are family. Remember?? " He said.

" Still, I am supposed to do this. Mrs Gomez already has her hands full. " I started going away, pulling my hand out of his grasp, but he tightened his grip.

He shook his head and got up still holding my hand.

" What is wrong with you?? Why are you avoiding me? " He asked.

" What?? I am not. "

" Oh please, you are avoiding even looking at me. Don't deny that. What happened?? "

" Nothing... Please leave me alone."

" Please talk to me, at least tell me what have I done?? I just tried to stop you from falling. "

" Please, just leave me alone. " I said.

" Ok, fine !! As you wish... " He said and went inside.

I went to my room, too, and then I had to come out for the evening tea. Mrs Gomez came with a tray carrying tea and refreshments and an envelope.

" Mr Taylor asked me to give you this envelope. "

Why the envelope??

" Where is he??"

" He left for his work. "

" But he was supposed to go tomorrow... "

" I don't know, he said he had to go and then asked me to deliver this to you. " She said and left.

I opened it.

Avni,

I am going to work. As you are comfortable with your surroundings, I thought it would be better if I left you alone. If you have any problem, no matter how small it is, please contact me. Please feel at home at my home.

Rob.

He also jotted down his personal and office phone numbers.

Did he leave because I told him to leave me alone??

Robert's POV

I was going to my work and was still thinking about Avni. I was supposed to leave in the morning itself but thought to spend some more time with her.

But I think she was getting uncomfortable around me, so I thought that it would be much better if I left her alone.

I still remember the day, I saw her for the first time. My mom had told me that John was bringing someone to meet them. She was very excited that maybe she was going to meet her future daughter-in-law. She wanted me to come too but as I was in Mumbai at that time, I said that I would try to come as soon as possible.

But after a few hours, she gave me the terrible news of the accident. I just dropped everything and rushed there.

I came to know that he was already married to an Indian girl. I looked for her and saw a very simple but pretty girl. She was extremely shocked and shattered, staring at some imaginary point on the horizon. Her eyes were lifeless. It seemed that she was totally oblivious to the world around her.

She didn't know what was happening. I felt bad for the girl as she got married and widowed on the same day. I wanted to go and console the poor girl but then thought against it.

She seemed to have lost her life along with my brother. I don't know why but I really felt something for her.

I wanted to meet and contact her but it seemed that she didn't want to keep any contact with our family. She even refused to take any financial help or John's share in the property. I still had this urge to meet her and get to know her better.

Sam was going through a rough phase as her husband was cheating on her, and then they had a series of fights, and she went into depression. I could not see my sister suffering like that so I intervened.

They were going through an ugly divorce. They were planning to fight for the custody of their kids.

But I proved that he was not a good and loving father. Finally, I ended up with the responsibility of being the legal guardian of the kids till Sam's divorce from Mike, and eventually, the custody was finalized.

I needed some help to take care of them as I was at home only on weekends.

Then I decided that I had to hire a governess for them, and it was a very good opportunity to contact Avni as she used to work in a kindergarten.

I found her address from my parents. My mom wondered if she was pregnant with John's child already. So she wanted me to go and find out. I don't know why but I felt a bit disappointed when mom said that. I felt envious of my own younger brother who was no more, but I could not help it.

I saw her working in the kindergarten and was really impressed with her. She was very good with the children. Somehow I felt that I was still intrigued by her.

I persuaded her to help me. In fact, I was hell-bent to have her in my house. She was a bit reserved but something was pulling me towards her. I felt that I was attracted to this sad but beautiful girl.

I was so happy that she agreed to take up my offer to be here. I wanted to go and bring her myself, but she said she would come on her own.

Finally, she was here to take care of Samantha's kids, Bill and Lara. I was So happy to see her that I hugged her and kissed her cheek. She was a bit shocked and pushed me away as she was very reserved but I could not contain my happiness to see her here.

I don't know why but I wanted to kiss her senseless till she was breathless. But I kissed her cheek instead. She would have driven back to her home if only she knew how much I wanted her.

Though she was reserved with me, I was surprised to see that she became friends with the kids within minutes. I really liked to see her smiling and even laughing.

In the stables, when I tried to get her off the horse, she fell, and our bodies were pressed against each other. I really felt very good and just wanted to keep her holding like that forever.

I could also feel her heart beating at an increased rate. Her face turned crimson. Did she also feel something for me??

But then she pushed me... And has been trying to avoid me since then.

I felt bad when she told me to leave her alone. I really wanted to be with her.

I wanted her to like me the way I liked her. But it was better to leave her alone at the moment. Maybe she was missing John even more after coming here.

She seemed to get very sad and awkward whenever I talked about John. Was she still so much in love with John?? Oh, I wish I had met her before she met my brother...