Natasha went to great lengths to make Alekh feel at home, transforming one of the guest rooms into his own personal space. The room was designed with Alekh's simple tastes in mind, featuring a light beige color scheme, a wooden accent wall behind a queen size bed, and clean lines. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, while a large window welcomed an abundance of natural light. A fluffy matching carpet and a dressing table added to the room's cozy feel. Overall, it was a peaceful retreat that Alekh couldn't help admiring as he gazed out the window at the backyard. That's when Naina knocked on his door.
"May I come in?" she asked with a smile.
"Don't be an idiot! You never have to ask for permission to enter my room," Alekh scolded, his words laced with an affectionate smile.
Naina entered with a mischievous smile on her face. "Are you sure? I mean, in the future, when you get married and have a wife, would you still want me to enter without knocking, brother?" she asked teasingly.
Alekh rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you still have enough brains left to know when to knock and when not to," he replied with a smirk.
Naina laughed. "Do you like your room? Mom was so excited about your arrival that she hired half of the new staff just for you," she told him.
Alekh blushed. "They didn't have to do so much," he protested.
"Just take it as her way of showing love. When I woke up first, I was really violent... Mom never once lost her temper or patience with me. Since that first day, she has treated me as her own child. While Dad and Thomas were strict about my therapies to regain my mobility, Mom took care of the child in me. Jeremy, on the other hand, mended my soul as my body healed. Now that I have a brother, I would like to share my loving family with him," Naina told Alekh with a kind smile.
"That means a lot. But it'll take me some time to adjust," he replied with a hesitant shrug.
"No problem... oh yes! There's only one thing that you should ALWAYS be careful about. Now that you're a part of our family, what you see and hear should never come out of your mouth in front of anyone who's not a family member... Any secret you witness here shall remain here," she told him in an eerie tone. "Remember, brother, people can only come and go from this house if we want them to." The veiled threat was not concealed at all.
Alekh frowned. "Is it related to that second secret? The one you can't share?" he guessed.
Naina smiled and nodded. "Yes."
"That sounded like a threat," he pointed out dryly.
"It was a warning. Be grateful that it's me. If Thomas had given this warning, he would've scared the soul out of you," Naina pointed out with a smirk.
"I HEARD THAT, YOU BRAT!" Thomas's voice echoed up through the floors loudly.
Naina winced before giggling. "Oops," she whispered. Alekh also smirked, but he couldn't help but wonder how Thomas heard them all the way from the third floor of the mansion.
"Here's another thing you should know: there's no such thing as privacy in this house," she whispered. "Come on, I want to show you my most favorite room," she said in a normal tone and pulled Alekh along.
"Ye yedi [crazy], stop dragging me! I'm coming," Alekh protested, trying to tug his arm free. But Naina was too strong for him. "Can you at least tell me where you're taking me?" he asked, shaking his head.
"You'll see," Naina replied, giggling.
Naina led Alekh to the eastern wing of the mansion and opened a grand door, revealing a breathtaking two-story library. The room was adorned with towering bookshelves that stretched from floor to ceiling and were filled with books of every kind. The library was illuminated by natural light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the lush gardens outside. Multiple sparkling chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow throughout the space. The room was furnished with comfortable couches, perfect for curling up with a book, as well as elegant table-chair sets for study or work. In one corner, there was a cozy reading nook, complete with a plush armchair and a small table. A spiraling staircase ascended to the second floor, where more books and seating awaited. It was a bibliophile's paradise, and Alekh couldn't help but feel awestruck.
"Oh wow! So many books? I don't think I even SAW these many books in my lifetime." Alekh exclaimed in shock as he looked around with wide eyes.
"This is my most favorite room. When I returned to India, I spent all of my time here." Naina shared with a grin. "Come there's another thing I want to show you!" she told him before grabbing his arm again.
"Naina! Alekh! Come, it's time for dinner," William called out as he entered the library. "How did I know I'd find you in here?" he asked, giving Naina a fond smile.
Naina's face lit up. "Hey, Dad! I wanted to show Alekh my room and my parents' and Naveen bhai's photos," she said eagerly.
"I'm sure Alekh will be much more relaxed after having dinner. Then, you can show him the photos," William suggested.
"It's okay, I'm not that hungry," Alekh interjected, not wanting to dampen his sister's excitement. But his stomach had other plans and let out a loud rumble as soon as he spoke.
William and Naina were taken aback and stared at him with surprise. "Did that sound really come from your stomach?" Naina asked, unable to contain her laughter.
After a moment of teasing from Naina, Alekh playfully covered her mouth with one hand and ruffled her hair with the other. Seeing the two siblings laughing together brought a sense of warmth to William's heart. He had feared that Naina would never be able to find happiness again after the tragic loss of her biological family, but with Alekh by her side, she seemed to have found a sense of comfort and joy.
As he watched the siblings, William sent up a silent prayer, hoping that Naina's smile would never fade away again.
The three of them left the library and walked towards the dining room. William put his arm around Alekh's shoulder as they walked, while Naina skipped ahead of them, still giggling from the sound of Alekh's stomach.
Upon arriving at the dining room, William courteously pulled a chair for Naina, indicating Alekh to sit opposite her. The table had already been set with fine silverware and porcelain dishes. Natasha, Tom, and Jerry were already seated, waiting for them. The centerpiece of the table was a roast chicken, surrounded by bowls of steaming vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes.
"Please, help yourselves," William said as he took his seat at the head of the table.
Alekh looked around the dining room in awe. The walls were adorned with paintings and there was a large crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. He had never seen such grandeur before.
As they began to eat, everyone started asking Alekh about his interests and hobbies as they wanted to get to know him more.
...-...
Alekh went to sleep a little after 1 am, after spending hours with Naina looking at her family photos and hearing fun stories about her brother and Captain Rajveer. They laughed at past memories and avoided talking about the sad things for the time being, choosing instead to celebrate Naveen's life. Alekh even suggested that Rajveer should join them next time to share more stories about their academy days.
The Campbell family was relieved to hear the sound of laughter echoing through their home, fearing that Naina might become sad again. But Alekh's wit kept her laughing, and the family felt like he was a blessing in their lives. They made a silent decision to tell Alekh the truth about their family and turn him if he agreed, knowing that he was powerfully observant and would likely figure it out eventually. Naina had already told them how perceptive he was, and since he had been accepted into their family, they wanted to include him fully.
Naina waited until she heard Alekh's heart rate stabilize in a steady rhythm, indicating that he had fallen asleep. She then quietly slipped out of the window, unable to handle the worry for her mate, especially when the other two couples in the house started getting intimate. This was one aspect of their lives that she didn't miss. Their extra powerful hearing left no privacy at home, especially when couples began to have sex. Naina was traumatized the first time she realized this after turning into a vampire. However, during her first year as a newborn vampire, she had to stay indoors because she didn't have control of her bloodlust. Now that she had gained control, she refused to stay in the same area when her brothers and parents mated with their partners.
Naina had purchased a Diwali present for Rajveer in advance to be delivered to their house upon their return. She recalled the time when she and Naveen had purchased a kurta for Rajveer during Naveen's first Diwali vacation at home. Back then, she was envious of Rajveer for taking some of Naveen's love and attention that had been solely reserved for her. Naina chuckled to herself as she raced towards KMA at lightning speed. Upon arriving, she snuck up to Rajveer's room and stopped at his window. She couldn't help but laugh, as it seemed like this window had become her permanent entrance to his room.
Through the closed window, Naina could sense Rajveer's scent and his steady heartbeat indicated that he was sleeping. She entered his room at lightning speed and made sure he was asleep before tiptoeing towards his closet.
While Rajveer was indeed sleeping, the soldier within him immediately alerted him when he heard the window of his room opening. He controlled his breathing and kept his heartbeat steady as he opened his eyes to see a shadow moving towards his closet. He suspected it might be the spy and decided to wait and catch her red-handed if she tried to take his important files. However, he was surprised when instead of taking any files, the female placed a thick saree box inside.
Rajveer continued to watch in confusion as the female then headed towards his laundry basket and picked up one of his used shirts, inhaling deeply from it. This sudden action caught Rajveer off guard and caused him to forget to control his breathing for a moment. The female turned towards him with a gasp and before he could react, she disappeared into thin air. Only the curtains fluttering in the wind provided evidence that he wasn't imagining things.
He hastily left his bed and rushed to the window, peering out to see if there was anyone there. However, there was no one in sight. "I'm certain I wasn't imagining things," he muttered to himself. "No, I definitely heard something." With that thought in mind, he made his way to his closet. Once there, he discovered a thick box that was shaped like a saree box and wrapped in paper. Rajveer couldn't help but wonder if it might be a bomb.
After giving the box a shake to check for any suspicious noises, he carefully opened it up. Inside, he found a set of clothing that included a black embroidered mirror work jacket, a solid kurta and Patiala set, and a mirror dupatta. The fabric was incredibly soft to the touch.
Bewildered by this turn of events, he looked around the box and found a small chit. In it, he found a familiar handwriting. It said: "May millions of lamps illuminate your life with joy and keep any harm or evil from reaching you. Happy Diwali, Rajveer sir!"
"Naina?!" he whispered, astonished. "That was Naina? But... didn't she go home with Alekh? How can she be here... and how can she vanish like this? No... something isn't adding up," he said to himself before hurrying towards his bedside table and took his phone. He started looking through his phonebook and thanked his brain that he had remembered to save her number before she went home.
Her phone rang five times before she answered in a sleepy mumble. "...ello?"
"Cadet Naina? It's me... Rajveer," he greeted hesitantly.
"Whose teer [Arrow]?" she asked in a sleepy confused tone.
A reluctant chuckled escaped his mouth. "Rajveer... your teacher. Remember me?"
"R-Rajveer... oh... Sir, is everything okay? Oh no! Did BC cancel the vacation?" Naina cried out in panic.
Rajveer began laughing openly now. He could never understand how this girl made him laugh in such a serious situation. "No, no. Nothing like that," he assured.
"Oh... thank God." Naina sighed in relief. "Rajveer sir, why are you trying to give me a heart attack at... 1.30 am?" she asked in a crying tone.
"Actually..." Rajveer then tells her everything that happened a few moments ago.
"I don't know about that... but I did leave your gift before leaving for home. You were in the washroom when I sneaked in through your window. I think you're missing me so much that your subconscious is telling you what I could've done, as you suspect how I feel about you apparently," she told him cheekily.
Rajveer's eyes widened in shock, and his cheeks started turning red at her indirect announcement of her romantic feelings for him. He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "Ah... have a happy Diwali... and thank you for the gift. After Naveen, this is the first time someone has gifted me another set of kurta pajama," he told her softly.
"You're welcome. Happy Diwali, sir. Good night."
"Good night," he replied before hanging up. Then he smacked his forehead with the cellphone while blushing.
He was blushing because what Naina joked about was actually true. Today when he spent time with the rest of her group, he had really missed her. He had caught himself calling out her name multiple times whenever he remembered something funny about Naveen and their academy days. "I must be really going crazy," he told himself.
Shaking his head, he kept the gift back inside and went to bed. But something in him didn't completely believe what he saw was his hallucination.
Naina, who had managed to run out of the academy, sighed in relief. "Holy shit! That was a damn close call," she muttered to herself.
...-...
...-...
Next day, Naina informed him of their Diwali plans. As the Campbell family were Christians (this was just their human façade, not reality), Naina explained that they didn't celebrate Diwali in the traditional way. She told him that each year, she selected an orphanage and an old-age home to celebrate the festival with. She and her family would cook good food for them and provide new clothes and small gifts. She also mentioned that they would provide medical and pharmaceutical aid to the old-age homes, as well as educational, medical, and monetary support to the orphanages. In this way, they added more orphanages and old-age homes to the project each year.
All of this was handled under the 'Best Friend Project,' a charity organization that had been working with the Campbell family for the last 100 years. It had changed names several times, but its mission had remained the same: helping as many people as possible. The project was started by William and Natasha to help people in their country while staying in the shadows (Naina didn't tell this part to Alekh... obviously). Naina was happy to become a part of it when she learned about it.
Alekh was thrilled to learn about this project and felt honored to be a part of such a noble deed. So, Naina and Alekh headed out with a dozen project workers to buy groceries and gifts, which took them most of the day. Then, Natasha and William joined them after sunset, and they divided into two teams. Natasha and Alekh went to the orphanage, while William and Naina went to the old-age home with their individual teams. They prepped everything for the next morning so that they could start cooking at dawn. Thomas and Jeremy were in charge of wrapping all the gifts bought for both places.
Alekh was bone-tired when they returned home to rest for the night around 2 am. Even though he was exhausted, his heart was happy. He knew what it felt like to be an orphan during festivals like Diwali, and he was glad he could help others not feel the same pain he had felt in his life. He was happy to witness the joy of having nice food, new clothes, and gifts for Diwali. He showered and hurriedly went to bed, knowing they would be leaving at 5 am the next morning.
**Blood and Gore alert.
Naina had spent the entire day surrounded by humans and desperately needed to hunt to avoid attacking someone due to her bloodlust the next day. Thomas took her hunting, sensing that she needed it.
"How are you feeling, kiddo?" he asked lovingly, filling a stainless steel bottle with blood from his victim. He had hunted a few days earlier and wanted to get as much blood as possible for Naina to take back to the academy, although he did this every other day anyway.
"I feel so much better. It was overwhelming for a while there. Thanks, Tommy," Naina said, moving her mouth from her victim's broken neck.
"I had a feeling. You're putting too much pressure on yourself. You just passed your newborn years, Naina. It's impressive how well you're handling everything, but I don't want you to feel guilty or regret if you accidentally harm your mate or friends," Thomas said firmly. He wanted a better life for his venom daughter.
"That means a lot, Tommy. I wouldn't have been able to reach even this point if the whole family wasn't helping me from behind the scenes. You provide me with blood every other day as part of the routine. You take care of not only my physical health but also my mental health. I'm really blessed to be a part of this family," Naina said sincerely. She had finished drinking and, throwing the bloodless body to the side, she went to Thomas and hugged him.
"We're the blessed ones," Thomas replied affectionately, hugging her back and kissing the top of her head.
Naina was unaware that someone was still awake in the mansion due to the abundance of servants. She entered her room through the window, which had been designed by Natasha with a combination of light beige, dark beige, white and gold. Despite no longer sleeping, Naina's room had a comfortable queen size bed with a pale pink headboard. A gilded chandelier hung from the ceiling, and there was an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. As Naina entered the room, she abruptly stopped when she saw Alekh standing in the middle of the room looking puzzled with an empty water bottle in his hand.
"Are you out of your mind? Why are you sneaking into your OWN room like a thief?" he asked, mystified.
"Um... I wanted to see if I still could or not... Anyway, why are you here at the moment? Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Naina inquired, stepping up to him.
"I was thirsty. The water bottle in my room was empty, so I was heading to the kitchen when I saw the lights of your room on. I thought you must have been awake. So, I came to check on you," Alekh explained, but suddenly his eyes focused on something. "Is that blood on your lips?" he asked, stepping closer to cup her face.
Naina stepped back before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "N-No... where would blood come from?" she laughed nervously.
Alekh gave her a look that told her he didn't believe a word. Finally, she rolled her eyes and said, stomping her feet, "Okay, fine! Yes, that was blood. I'm missing... I'm missing Rajveer sir a lot. I thought if I spent some time by the lake, then I would feel better. But it made me miss him more. I have this bad habit that if I get a little too absent-minded, then I start to chew on my lips. I must've broken skin inside my lips. That's where the blood came from."
Alekh rolled his eyes. "He's your teacher," was his response as he cuffed the side of her head. "Go to sleep," he ordered and headed out.
"Phew...! Narrow escape... but how did he believe me so easily today?" Naina thought to herself as she sat at the end of her bed.
"I know you lied, Naina, but I know that when the time is right, you'll tell me the truth yourself," Alekh thought to himself as he went downstairs to drink water.