Chapter 11

The drive back to Jaypore was a torrid affair. No matter how much Uday had tried to engage her in a conversation, Nandini refused to co-operate. She wasn't even vocal during lunch. He had noticed that most men in the restaurant were stealing glances at her. Nandini was simply ignorant about them, or, did she choose to ignore, he couldn't tell. There was something in her mind and no matter how much he pestered her to reveal it, she didn't relent. Now, as he regarded her sleeping peacefully, he decided to let things be until she woke up at least.

The actuality of what happened at Vilaspore caught up with Nandini. Ever since she had stepped out of the shower at the hotel, her mind was screaming for answers. She knew however that creating a ruckus will not get her what she wanted to know. For starters she wanted to know about Maharani Padmini's death. Where did the late queen run drive off to? Had it something to do with Abhi?

Then there was the silhouette of a man. Whenever she tried to recall more about him, she felt as if she was being constrained. Her body felt heavy, her feet and hands immobile and her lips being crushed. Whether it was the memory or something else, she could even smell the alcohol that was reeking off him.

Who was the man?

Nandini very well knew that Uday had most of the answers, but he was acting on her brother's orders. Their being over protective was killing her!

Then there were issues surrounding her brother who was in London. If she were to believe what Abhimanyu said, then her brother was in deep trouble. She had no doubt that her brother was ambitious or over ambitious. It all stemmed from the hatred he had for his ex-best friend . If she had a mean bone in her body she would have let him suffer, but the possibility of not being able to see him frightened her.

There was no time to waste, if Uday did not deign in giving her answers, she knew very well how to get it out of him. Her eyes snapped open and she made a show of stretching her arms to make him believe that she was sleeping.

"Did you have a good rest?". Uday inquired in a pleasant voice hoping that they could have a civil conversation.

Nandini smiled enigmatically. "Yes, it was quite refreshing", she lied through her teeth. "Where have we reached?".

The relief on Uday's face was clearly visible.

"Two more hours to go. Crossed Brijpur, we could have reached faster were it not for the toll gates", he supplied in slight irritation.

Nandini checked the time on her watch. It was five thirty. Would they reach by seven thirty? She decided to call her father in some time to make sure that he would not create problems later on. She informed Uday of the same.

"Mm . . . Do you have water with you? I am parched". Nandini rubbed her throat absently.

Uday ran his eye over the backseat. "I guess not. I think I left the bottle in the morning when we stopped. We will get it from a supermarket. Or do you want to have tea?".

Nandini refused. "Just water would be fine. There . . .", she pointed to a building further ahead. "I think that is a supermarket?". Uday drove toward it and parked the car. "I will get it, stay here", he said looking around.

Nandini rolled her eyes getting out of the car. "You are being really weird, you know". Taking a deep breath she scanned the surrounding scenery. The place was quaint and peaceful. Trees lined on either side of the road and beneath the largest one, some men were gathered staring at her and, talking among themselves.

"I think you should sit in the car Nandini. The place is not safe". Uday signaled with his eyes to the group. Nandini looked behind him not at all perturbed. "I will be fine Uday. Just get the water".

"You are so damn stubborn Nandini. I actually pity the poor fellow", he murmured playfully. After he went inside, she wondered at his words. He pitied Abhimanyu? Yeah right! If he knew how the 'poor fellow' had behaved with her. 'Men will be men', she thought to herself.

"Excuse me", a voice called out to her. A man probably in his late fifties was standing in front of her. It was clear that he was a part of the group of men. He puckered his eyebrows as if trying to recall something, while the others were silently watching from close by.

"Yes"

"Rajkumari ji?". It was as if he was asking for an affirmation of his doubts rather than as a question.

"Ji", she answered in surprise.

The elation that she saw on the mans face blew her away. He turned to the group speaking animatedly in his native tongue. Immediately, the whole lot ran forward. Nandini took a step back wondering if she should get back in the car. The group was staring intently at her but she didn't feel uncomfortable. They all looked genuinely happy.

"God be praised!", the first man exclaimed happily. "I never thought that I could see our dear princess from so close. I hope maharaj ji is keeping fine, hukum", he inquired.

"Yes he is. I am sorry but, I don't seem to remember you. Do I know you?". Nandini hoped that her question would not hurt any of their feelings.

The man shook his head. "No hukum, you don't know anyone of us. We are all loyal subjects of his highness. Your father, has done so much for our small village. We all came to him long time back begging for help and the very next day, his highness adopted our village. We don't have any worries now". The man wiped the tears that had started flowing. "Our children go to schools, our women have small businesses and, we have all facilities in our village thanks to our dear maharaj and yuvraj".

Nandini got curious at this. "Yuvraj Vikram Singh?", she asked. The man nodded a yes. "The yuvraj is just like the maharaj, even better if I may say. He has been a regular visitor to our village every month, except the last two months. I know hukum is busy, otherwise he would have already come".

The other men whispered something to the man and his eyes brightened. "Hukum, next time please visit our village with the maharaj and yuvraj. We want you to inaugurate the new computer center that is being built. It is called 'Rajkumari Nandini Singh Computer Center'", he said with pride.

Nandini smiled basking in the warmth of the people. These were the times when she really felt proud of her royal lineage. It was not a surprise that her father and brother were part of humanitarian programs. She was surprised that a building was named after her. Whatever said, they loved people and for a minute she felt guilty for thinking the worst of them both. A question nagged her.

"How did you recognize me?", she questioned.

"O! Sevak Ram!", the man called out to which a middle aged man stepped forward. She noticed that he had only one hand. "Sevak Ram had been the driver of your family. He lost his hand in an accident five years back. Ever since then maharaj has been supporting his family". The man Sevak Ram smiled at the princess showing his broken teeth, no doubt caused by the accident. She vaguely recalled his face.

Nandini suddenly realized that she could find out something about the past. She folded her hands in respect thanking the men for the invitation, assuring them that she would come for the inauguration. Then she requested a word with Sevak Ram. Although surprised at first he timidly went with her to a side. Nandini wondered what was taking Uday so long but she was thankful for the delay.

"Sevak Ram ji", she began, "I need to ask you some questions about something that happened five years back". Sevak Ram seemed to squirm under the gaze as he realized what she was getting at. To make sure that he would indulge her, she quickly made him swear in her name. A ploy that worked all the time.

"Hukum!", he appeared shocked but he swore anyways because she was persistent.

"Tell me what happened five years back the night of Dussehra at Vilaspore and make it quick", it was an order and he recognized the tone quite well.

Against his better judgement, and the thrill of seeing the princess he narrated the incident.

"The day before Dussehra, there was a polo match. Vikram hukum, Abhimanyu hukum and Uday sarkar, were playing in the match. They had won the match and they wanted to celebrate but Abhimanyu hukum received a call from Maharani Padmini asking all of them to come to Vilaspore the next day for Dussehra. Maharani had asked Abhimanyu hukum to bring you along", he paused. "I was designated to drive Abhimanyu hukum and yourself in the palace car. Uday sarkar was gifted a new car, so he and Vikram hukum decided to follow us".

Nandini paled at this. She was alone in a car with Abhimanyu? She tried to remember but nothing came to her mind.

"Was - was I talking to him?", she casually questioned.

"Yes hukum. Yuvraj Abhimanyu was all ears for what ever you had to say. Forgive my impudence but his eyes never left your face hukum".

Nandini forced her mind to not delve on this. She would have time to mull over things. "Continue", she said.

"The day of Dussehra was full of joy. There was huge celebration at Vilaspore palace. Maharani Padmini doted on you hukum. You never left her side. In fact . . .", he stopped wondering if he should tell her or not.

"Yes", she urged him on.

"We drivers p-placed a-a b-bet", he revealed shamefaced.

"What bet?", Nandini frowned.

"Hukum ---", he implored unable to continue.

"I insist", Nandini's countenance changed and Sevak Ram had to finish it.

"We placed a bet that you and Yuvraj Abhimanyu will be engaged before the end of the month". Nandini's brain screamed in protest, her heart thudded in pleasure and her face was devoid of emotion.

"I see"

"I am sorry hukum", Sevak Ram bowed his head in an apology.

"Please continue".

Just then Uday walked out of the supermarket in frustration. "What a bunch of idiots", he shouted as he walked toward where Nandini was standing with Sevak Ram. As he saw them, his face scrunched up.

"Is he bothering you?". Uday rolled his sleeves ready to teach the villager a lesson.

Nandini smiled sweetly. "Oh! You are back. How nice!", she exclaimed mockingly.

Understanding her tone Uday gritted his teeth. "It is not my fault that the idiots in there do not understand what mineral water is", he fumed. "They fetched all the water in the store and to add to that the store owner thrusted his two daughters in my face. I was surrounded by them Nandini. It was horrifying", he shuddered.

Nandini threw her head back and laughed for the first time. "How sweet Uday! Then I don't think it would be a problem for you to go and get me a chocolate. I feel like chocolate now", she batted her eyelashes.

Uday looked at her in despair. "You are joking aren't you? There is no way I am going back there again". Nandini shook her head in a no.

"Please . . . pretty please with a cherry on top?", she tilted her head in a cute way jutting her lower lip.

"I am not going back there!". There was a finality in Uday's voice.

"Fine suit yourself, I was thinking of telling you all that happened at the palace. If you don't want to know then . . . ". Uday was torn between curiosity and horror. Finally curiosity won over.

"Okay, but remember what you promised". He exhaled heavily and strode toward the direction of the store. Nandini followed him with her eyes and on seeing the store owner signal to his daughters enthusiastically, she laughed again. She turned to Sevak Ram who was looking in the direction that Uday left.

"Uday sarkar does not recognize me and he looks lost. He has become very handsome".

Nandini sighed. "He is lost", she confirmed. "We don't have much time, please carry on".

Sevak Ram gingerly continued.

"I don't know what exactly happened that night but we heard a scream followed by noises from the upper floor of the palace. We rushed inside wondering what was wrong but the guards did not allow us to enter. One of the maids told us in the morning that Maharani Padmini was furious with Yuvraj Abhimanyu. All night we could hear yelling and shouting from the yuvraj's quarters. Vikram hukum and Uday sarkar were also upset. We saw – we saw", he twisted his hands in tension.

She wanted to smack him but it was not the time to lose cool. "It is okay Sevak Ram ji. You can tell me", she spoke gently.

"Rajkumari sa, please don't tell anyone that I was the one who told you all this", he folded his hands in request.

"I will not tell anyone. You can trust me". Nandini tired to comfort the petrified man, but she herself felt as if treading on glass.

"We saw that Vikram hukum had dragged yuvraj Abhimanyu to the balcony by his collar and Uday sarkar was trying to separate the two. Vikram hukum was livid Rajkumari sa. I have never seen him so angry. Yuvraj Abhimanyu was not in a right state of mind as he was trying to explain something. It was then that maharani Padmini had come from inside and – and she slapped yuvraj Abhimanyu hard on the face.

We were all beyond shocked Rajkumari sa. Early next morning Vikram hukum and yourself came out followed by Uday sarkar and maharani Padmini. Vikram hukum was holding you close and refused to even let Uday sarkar talk to you. Maharani Padmini kissed you and spoke to you soothingly. Then we all left for Jaypore. The next day we got to know that maharani Padmini was killed in a car crash".

Nandini soaked up the information that was coming her way. The lost pieces of puzzle were found now she only needed to arrange them.

Sevak Ram's eyes took a distant look. "You could not bear the loss Rajkumari sa. Maharani's death made you . . .". He searched for the right word but could find none, " – forgive me, but, you almost lost your senses. It made you mad!". Nandini gasped at the new information.

'Mad', surely he must be exaggerating.

"What do you mean by mad?".

"You became hysterical refusing to see anyone. Maharaj ji and Vikram hukum had to take you to a doctor. You were admitted in the hospital and came back after a week. In one month you had left for America, Rajkumari sa".

Nandini did not ask him anymore questions. She opened the car and fished out her purse from her backpack. She pressed few notes in his hand. He refused at first but then gave in to it when she said that it was for his children. Folding his hands respectfully, he left.

She could not waste any more time, she decided. She strode purposefully toward the store. On entering it, she was amused at the scene. Uday was standing with some chocolates in his hands surrounded by two young girls, a portly man, a huge woman and some others. All of them were fawning over him while he was desperately trying to escape. If it was some other time she would have had some fun on his account.

"Darling! What is taking you so long?". Nandini's voice broke over the din and the store became quiet. The faces now turned in her direction. Uday was relieved, but the others were annoyed.

"Please save me Nandini", he yelped as one of the daughters pressed herself closer to him.

Nandini's eyes became slits as she glared at the young girl. "Remove yourself from him this instant". That was enough for the girl to move several steps back.

"I don't have time to waste Uday. Come on quickly". Nandini pulled his hand chocolates and all dragging him out. On her way, she pulled out his purse and took out a two hundred rupee note.

"I hope this will suffice", she scowled at the owner who shrank behind the counter. "Keep them on a leash will you", she warned.

Once in the car Uday grabbed the water bottle from the dashboard and drank heartily. "What a nightmare!", he exclaimed.

"Serves you right. I should have just left you there and driven home myself". Nandini crossed her arms at his questioning glance.

"What's wrong with you? You would sacrifice me to those – those evil, evil women?". He mopped his face with a towel. "Anyways who was that you were talking you? You seemed to know him".

Nandini's eye burned with anger. "Yes I know him but so do you". Uday looked puzzled as she took a swig from the bottle.

"I know him? Who is he?". Uday looked puzzled, trying to recall the man's face.

"Sevak Ram, he was our driver five years back. Lost his hand in an accident", she supplied.

Uday's face turned white as he remembered the man but he feigned innocence.

"Really? I don't seem to recall him. Leave it though, lets go. I got a call from mom, she was asking when I would return. I told that that I was with you. She sent her love". The car purred to life and Uday stepped on the accelerator in a bid to leave the terrible place.

Nandini waited for him to cover some distance before broaching the subject. "I know that you remember Sevak Ram. I also know what happened that day".

Uday gripped the wheel with more force than necessary so that his knuckles turned white. "I don't know what you are talking about", he began.

"Enough Uday!", she shouted. "I have come to know most of it. I need the rest from you. I am not getting out of this car till I know it", she warned.

Uday sighed. Two hours in proximity with her wasn't a good idea. He was in two minds but finally he decided to reveal most of it.

"What did he tell you?". Uday spoke slowly. Nandini recounted everything her old driver had told her, even including that she had gone mad.

"He just knows half of it".

"Then tell me what happened", she almost pleaded.

"After winning the polo match Abhi, Vikram and I wanted to celebrate at Jaypore Palace. It was then that Padmini aunty had called asking us to come back to Vilaspore for the festival".

He bit his lips contemplating if he should go ahead with his decision. "She had asked to bring you too. Your father rarely attended festivities, so we picked you up from the palace. You wanted to ride with Abhi. Vikram and I came in my car. It was all going well Nandini".

He paused trying to control himself before revealing the next bit. "After the celebrations toward late night Abhi was – drunk. So was Vikram and I but Abhi drank too much".

Uday gulped. "Nandini I can't. Please don't make me", he begged.

"Go on", she simply replied.

"We were gathered in Abhi's room, then he left all of a sudden saying he had to do something urgent. Within some time we heard a scream. When we rushed out we saw – we saw Abhi running out from your room. We didn't understand at first. When we reached you, that was when we realized what had happened. He tried to force himself on you Nandini".

Uday had to stop, he couldn't drive with such emotions. He parked the car at the side of the road. Both of them remained silent.

Dusk was falling in quick succession. Nandini saw the orange sun dip slowly in the horizon heading for its abode. Uday's words hounded her head. She felt a cold dread cover her body.

'Abhi had tried to force himself on her. But why?'. Why would he do something like that, when she liked him.

Uday was the one to talk first. "Padmini aunty followed us into your room. She was devastated at how you looked. You – you were in a terrible state Nandini. Your night dress was torn, there were scratches on your arms and neck. You were crying badly calling out Abhi's name. Vikram was livid, if I had not stopped him, he would have killed Abhi". He rubbed the back of his neck.

It wasn't Abhi.

That was the only feeling Nandini could sense. Her heart kept saying over and over again.

It wasn't Abhi.

"What did you say?".

Nandini didn't realize that she had said it out loud. She turned to a surprised Uday and repeated it. "It wasn't Abhi".

Uday did not know what to say. "You were calling out his name, Nandini", he tried to explain. "Not only that, we saw him run out of your room".

Nandini did not have anything to prove it but she believed what he heart told her so strongly.

"What made you think it was him? Did you see his face?", she asked.

"No, but . . ."

"Then how did you deduce it was him?". Uday had no answers to her questions. Come to think of it, they hadn't seen his face.

"Hell Nandini, how should I know. We all just assumed . . ."

Nandini exhaled heavily. "No wonder he hates me so much", she murmured.

"Then who was it", Uday raked his fingers though his hair. "Tell me Nandini. If it wasn't Abhi, then who was it?". Nandini shrugged. She didn't know the answer either, but she promised that she would find out.

"Why didn't you tell me all this earlier? Didn't you think I needed to know!".

Uday let out a laugh. "Tell you! Sevak Ram didn't know the extent of your madness dear. You were uncontrollable, heck you even tried to take your own life. Your father believes, or rather we made him believe, that the reason you were so distraught was because of Padmini aunty's death. He still doesn't know the real reason". He smacked his hands on the steering wheel.

"I think we should get going. No more stops okay", she smiled at Uday.

"Are you alright?". There was anxiety and fear in his voice. Her one look though answered his question.

Nandini decided that enough was enough. She had to find the person who destroyed her life, destroyed a bond between friends and was the cause of the death of a dear mother. From now on, she was going to embark on finding the answers. She owed that much to Padmini maa.

The most important thing was, someone from that party had tried to violate her and she wouldn't rest till she found who that person was.