Chapter 12

"Get out of my sight! How dare you disrespect me in my house!". Abhimanyu stood helpless as he watched his mother scream in rage at a younger version of himself.

Wait! His mother? That is not possible now is it, considering that she has been dead.

Yes! His mother was dead, then who was this woman.

He blinked once and then again in a bid to clear his vision. It was his mother.

"Maa, please just listen to me. I got carried away . . .I didn't mean to, it just happened", he tried to explain frantically.

A deafening slap resounded in his ears that made Abhimanyu flinch in his sleep.

"Did you see her condition? How can you lie so blatantly? You tried to . . . to force her Abhimanyu and don't try to deny it".

The young Abhimanyu frowned and the older version stood some feet away trying to understand what it all meant.

"Force . . . what the hell. Yes we kissed but that is all. I didn't force her for anything. She wanted it too!".

His mother shook her head in disbelief even as her eyes were clouded with sadness.

"I cannot accept what you did to Nandini. You are no son of mine!". The queen faded away in a wisp of smoke, while the younger Abhimanyu shattered into pieces.

Abhimanyu woke up with a start panting heavily, a sheen of perspiration on his forehead. He quickly glanced at the watch. It was seven-thirty pm. He wondered at how he had slept for so long. He glimpsed at his T shirt that was drenched in sweat. Raking his hand over his hair, he breathed deeply. Today was supposed to be simple in his schedule. Come to Vilaspore; enquire after his father's health and see if the perpetrators were found; solve issues at his various hotels in Vilaspore (if any); leave for Mumbai.

What he hadn't anticipated was Nandini!

He hadn't anticipated that she would come to Vilaspore trying to squirm her way out of the arrangement.

Or   that he would make a deal with her, to be his personal assistant in Mumbai.

Or   that he would make a deal to bring her brother back from London.

From the moment she left, he had set things in motion. He had called his secretary in Mumbai to arrange for her stay. He had also called his people in London to find out the situation of Yuvraj Vikram Singh. Saving the idiot would need more grease work, like always, he added after a thought. Then there was the account that Keshav baba had given him about what happened downstairs. How could she forget his mother? The question ate him up.

He rose and walked to the ornate door that led to the balcony. Pushing it open he closed his eyes as a cool breeze greeted him ruffling his hair gently. The smell of Jasmine flowers hung heavily in the night air. The West Wing, that was currently his quarters, was noted for the scented plants that hung around the arches of the wing. This area of the palace had served as the harem of his ancestor, who was famed to have a beautiful wife who loved the smell of Jasmine. It was also the most beautiful and most serene area of the huge palace.

He took in a lungful of the pleasant smell, which acted as a trigger. Another beautiful image swam in front of his face.

Nandini.

Strange sensations rocked him in waves as he recalled her perfect face with perfect features. He had almost, almost kissed her today. He could still sense the quiver of her lips as he held her. He couldn't deny the fact that he had liked her once. Even then he had tried to tell his heart that to him she was like Uttara; that his best friend's sister was really a sister to him too. But every time the thought came up he was restless and defiant. He just couldn't envision her in any other form other than someone to share his life and himself with, but then she drove him away. His eyes took a faraway look.

Five years ago . . .

The drive from Jaypore to Vilaspore ended quickly. Abhimanyu cursed the wretched driver who was driving as if demons were on his tail. He wanted more time with her. Right from the moment his mother had asked him to bring Nandini along, with heart jumped up and down with glee. He wanted alone time with her, but how could he, when her brother was always breathing down their backs. That was when Uday had come to his rescue. He was bragging about the new car that he had got and on cue Vikram had expressed a desire to ride with him. What luck! He thanked his stars when Nandini insisted in riding in her car. Abhimanyu jumped at the opportunity, saying that it wasn't safe for her to be alone.

Though she was silent at first, half an hour into the ride, she had relaxed speaking animatedly about everything ranging from trivial issues to important ones. He was astonished to know that she was excellent in mathematics and wanted to do research in the subject. She also loved to travel and was hoping to go on a tour as soon as she turned twenty. He calculated if he could accompany her somehow.

Everything about her was enchanting. The way dimples appeared when she smiled. The way her eyes lit when she spoke about her plans to travel and the way she used her hands to talk. Every now and then a whiff of her Dior perfume reached his nostrils and he abstained from the urge to reach out, pull her into his lap and kiss her senseless.

By the time they reached Vilaspore, Abhimanyu knew that he was a goner.

Before entering the palace, she had turned to look at him one last time and he thought he saw the same feelings as his reflected in her eyes.

The Dussehra party was a success. The invitees were all cream of the society and their families as well as near relations of the royal family. Every invitee was in attendance, the reason being that they would never pass a chance to experience the famous Vilaspore hospitality. The victory of the polo match added much fervor to the celebrations. The men and women gathered in the courtyard, with the former discussing business while the latter admiring one another and exchanging tales like old friends. To an outsider this might have looked like a perfect party, but in reality most of them were envious of one another. The one common trait they all shared was that they were all envious of Maharani Padmini Devi.

The youngsters - boys and girls included - all dressed in their traditional finery, had their party in the garden. Unbeknownst to the elders Abhi had a staff sneak a crate of beer into the grounds, though it was strictly prohibited. Abhimanyu, Vikram and Uday however decided that beer wasn't enough to commemorate their victory. They needed something harder and stronger. That had been the beginning of all problems.

When Nandini saw they trio with a bottle of vodka, she turned her nose in distaste. Abhimanyu almost decided against it but Vikram and Uday had persisted on.

"Come on Abhi. Don't be a sissy", Vikram had laughed and Uday joined him. "We will be leaving for our respective colleges in few days, when will we ever get such a chance".

"Just one shot okay. Then I am going with beer".

Vikram shrugged. "Suit yourself".

They danced to the beat of numerous Bollywood numbers. It was almost as if everyone in the party had lost his or her senses. After downing few shots Vikram was busy dancing away with his on and off girlfriend Hruthika, the daughter of an industrialist. Abhi stood leaning against the stone railing that surrounded the fountain. His eyes were fixed on the one girl, who looked angelic in a baby pink salwar. She too was looking at his way every now and then.

Oblivious to him or for that matter anyone, Hruthika was eyeing him the whole time. Excusing herself on the pretext of getting a drink, she sauntered to him and leaned beside him pressing her body against his, fluttering her eyelashes coyly.

Abhimanyu looked away from the object of his desire and turned to see a banshee beside him. True she was voluptuous but he didn't fancy her and moreover he strictly believed in the bro code.

"Hi handsome". The sexy timbre of her voice grated on his nerves. Remembering that he had to be courteous to his guests, he spoke in a smooth voice.

"You seem to be mistaking me for someone else". Abhi drawled as he moved a step away from the cloying smell of her perfume, a far cry from the pleasantness of another's.

Hruthika laughed sensuously as she followed him. "I know what I am doing Rajkumar".

Abhi lifted a single eyebrow. "You are drunk Hruthika and its Yuvraj".

She shrugged. "Yuvraj, Rajkumar . . . what difference does it make?", she turned to stand right in front of him and started tracing her index finger up his right hand pausing beside his heart. "The only thing that matters to me is that . . . I want you".

Abhimanyu moved away a bit so that her finger fell down limply . "I repeat, you have mistaken me for someone else. The person you are referring to is dancing alone over there". Abhi pointed to a drunk Vikram who was shaking his bottom side vigourously.

Hruthika shook her head and bent to whisper something in his ears. Without any warning, she kissed his cheek and walked away. When Abhi reeled from the shock of what happened, he immediately turned to where Nandini was. It was enough to say that she didn't look pleased.

By ten-thirty pm most of the youngsters had left along with their respective parents. Only a handful of close friends and relations remained.

Late into the night, Nandini had come into the room that the trio had gathered, to inform Vikram that she was going to bed. She looked at Abhi just once and in her eyes Abhi saw anger and an unknown emotion.

Her eyes haunted Abhi. He knew that she was angry because of what happened earlier. He drank more because of that, which he should not have had. Excusing himself from his friends by stating he had some urgent matter to take care of, he walked gingerly to the room in which Nandini slept.

He knocked twice and on getting no reply he slowly pushed the door open. Standing in the doorway, he peeked inside but didn't find her. He glanced at his watch, where the hell was she? She must be with his mother, he thought finally and decided to wait till morning to clear the misunderstanding.

As he stumbled his way through the empty hallway back to the room, he felt dizzy. He shouldn't have had too much of that fiery liquid, he mused hazily. He just hoped he could reach his room before he could fall down in the hallway. If he was found in this condition by the staff, they were sure to inform the queen. His mother wouldn't take lightly to the condition he was in.

Suddenly he was pulled into a guest room. The room was dark save for a small candle beside the bed. He squinted his eyes trying to make out who the girl was. He watched as she lifted the candle and walked toward him. Moonlight streamed in from the window giving the room a haunted look. He rubbed his eyes trying his best to keep it open. The aftereffects of the drinks that he consumed were threatening to overpower him. When the girl reached close enough his mouth gaped in surprise. It was Nandini.

"Baby, I am sorry. It was not what you saw", he began. The girl lifted a finger to his lips stopping him from saying anything.

"I know darling. I know exactly how you feel". Abhimanyu stiffened at the sound of her voice. It was different but her face was exactly the same. "I want you darling", her voice turned seductive as she whispered in his ears.

"I want you too", he replied as he eyed her form from head to toe. She was wearing a maroon - or was it red silk chemise that exposed her slender arms. It stopped above her mid-thigh leaving the rest to one's imagination.

Abhi did not waste even a single second as he snuffed the candle with his fingers and threw it away. Then he held her by her waist and pulled her close threading his fingers in her hair. His lips crushed hers hungrily as if there was no tomorrow. He wanted to do this for a long time. As his lips roved over hers, her hands reached for his pajama bottom and tugged at the string. It slid down his strong legs and pooled by his feet. He groaned and pressed himself at her making her feel his manhood. The frenzied kissing continued as both of them tumbled onto the bed.

As she lifted herself off him to remove her chemise, he whispered in a gentle voice, "Nandini".

The girl stopped midway straining to hear what he was saying.

"Nandini, Nandini", Abhi mumbled with his eyes closed.

"Nandini?", the girl questioned.

"You are so beautiful". Abhi was now blabbering as the alcohol in his blood stream took full effect. "I want you Nandini", he repeated again and again finally passing out.

The next thing he knew was that he was being dragged by the lapels of his kurta by Vikram accusing him of molesting his sister. Everything that he said, fell on deaf ears. He tried to see Nandini to ask her if she thought the same about him, but he was not allowed to see her let alone talk. Everyone shut him off.

As he returned to the present Abhimanyu dissected each and every memory related to the incident. She kissed him back didn't she, toying with him, seducing him and when she realized that she would be caught, she decided to turn the tables by posing as the victim.

What did she gain by all that?

The disappointment on his mother's face was something that he would never forget. She lost her life in the grief without giving him a chance to make things right.

Now he had to marry her, because of some stupid arrangement and produce an heir. The thought should have been repulsive, but that was not the emotion he experienced. His body became taunt with desire, as he envisioned her lying beneath him, her dark hair sprawled on immaculate white sheets on which deep red rose petals were strewn. As his member hardened, he cursed aloud. He strode back into his room stripping off his T shirt while walking toward the bathroom. He stripped the rest of his clothes, turned on the cold shower and stood beneath it.

Get out of my head! Get out of my head! , he chanted as he hit his fist on the marbled wall. His brain was not ready to humour his request as it conjured an image of Nandini standing under the shower with him, water running down her exquisite face to her throat and disappear down her...

STOP! STOP! STOP!, he roared as he squeezed his eyes close shutting the images out. He increased the force of the water which fell like tiny bullets on his well chiseled body. Finally, the images receded and rage took its place.

She had to suffer, she had to! Just like he did, he promised himself. He would thoroughly enjoy torturing her when she came to Mumbai. She had to pay for a lot of her sins. With determination he shut off the shower.

She will pay for all her sins in this life and in the seven to come.

*******************************************

Nandini felt her heart beat rapidly all of a sudden. She closed her hand over her chest in a bid to calm it. She was restless as if someone had put a millstone in her heart.

Was a particular someone thinking of her? She brushed away the thought as soon as it appeared.

Not a chance!, she told herself.

She had returned to the palace an hour ago. Veer Singh's face had brightened up as soon as he saw her step inside the palace. The guards however looked puzzled as they were racking their brains trying to figure out when the princess had actually gone out.

After informing her that the maharaj was not at home, he painstakingly recounted everything that happened in her absence. He apologized for eating food served for her, explained how he had tactfully handled the butler who had insisted on getting reviews of every meal sent to her room and later added in a subtle way not to try such stunts in the future.

Nandini thanked him profusely which made him a bit uncomfortable and playfully promised him that if there is a next time she would tell him in well in advance.

Now as she sat leaning on the headboard of her comfortable bed with a downy pillow on her lap, she contemplated on her father's reaction.

"Get back home soon. We will talk when I come back and - give my regards to Uday", this was enough for Nandini to realize that her father knew everything. Well, she would endure the punishment, she decided. She did not regret going to Vilaspore. If she hadn't, certain truths would still be concealed. At least now she got to know that Abhimanyu hated her very guts.

The conversation she had with the people she met replayed in her head. The dialog she had with Uday after they left Brijpur took precedence. He had went on to say how she needed psychological counselling. Luckily, the psychiatrist was Uday's close relation and he had agreed for the need to be discreet.

"You were screaming Abhi's name Nandini! It tore Vikram apart. He blamed himself for your condition. He kept on saying that he should not have left you alone". Uday tried to justify for why they hid the truth from her.

"What about later? Couldn't anyone have told me in these five years? I – I still don't get it, why I cannot remember anything from that day. I also have this – this intense dislike for Abhi, but I am trying to fight it. My body is trying to fight it Uday".

"Your memory of that day was repressed. It was the only way to bring you back. As for the other part, well, Vikram may or may not have asked the doctor to make sure you were tuned in such a way that you would hate Abhi forever", he said sheepishly.

Nandini was flabbergasted at the new revelation. Although she wanted to punch Uday, she controlled herself. 'What the hell did they do to me?', she began thinking.

"We need to undo it", she finally told him.

"What?"

"You heard me. Call the doctor and fix an appointment with him. Everything should be undone".

"Why do you want to do that Nandini? I told you all that happened". Uday said in exasperation.

Nandini shook her head. "You just know one side of it. There is something else Uday and I have so many questions that are still unanswered. In few months I will be engaged to Abhi. How can I do that when I know only half the truth".

Uday considered what she said for a moment. "The truth will destroy you sweetheart. If you come to know what really happened will you will go ahead with the engagement? Will you be able to love him, start a family?".

Though the question was apt, it stung Nandini as she knew what was the fate that awaited her. The words popped out of her head as if confirming it. She will never have a place in his heart.

"I will do what I have to do. After all duty comes first, and . . .", she said slowly ,"the truth will set me free". She smiled at Uday, who returned the smile at her choice of words.

"I will see what I can do. Although Vikram is not going to like it".

"What Vikram doesn't know will not hurt him", she said looking straight ahead.

Uday sighed, they were nearing their destination. He promised her that he would set up an appointment and then entreated her to call Vikram.

"He loves you a lot Nandini. Cut him some slack will you". Uday had said before driving away.

Nandini eyed the phone beside her. She reached out for it and pressed the speed dial.

Vikram picked the call almost instantly.

"Nini . . . are you there?".

"You have been hiding the truth from me bhai sa". Nandini's voice floated out to him. Vikram sighed in relief at hearing her voice.

"I know", came the defeated reply.

She wasn't expecting him to own it so quickly. Vikram never accepted his faults.

"Why?"

"What could I do? I love you so much". Although her heart melted at the words, she still could not excuse or accept what her brother had done.

"Did Uday call you?". Nandini stared at her nails mentally noting to re-paint them. She already knew the answer to her question.

"Yes he did. He told me you met Sevak Ram by chance. He also confessed that he had to disclose some things to you on your insistence". His voice was devoid of any emotion.

Nandini picked on the tassel that hung from her pillow. "You don't approve!". It was not a question, rather a statement.

Vikram laughed mirthlessly. "It is not about my approval dear. It is about what you are trying to prove. What are you trying to prove? Uday told me that you are certain that it is not Abhi, then who is it? Why did he agree that you guys – made out".

"I don't know anything bhai sa. It is important that I find out answers – at least for my sanity".

Vikram listened to his sister. It did make sense but what would the truth do to her? Will she be able to forget everything and get on with her life? After several minutes he spoke.

"Father doesn't know anything. He thinks that Padmini aunty's death shook you bad".

"I don't remember about that either", Nandini replied.

"Well it was part of the – the . . ." Vikram struggled to continue.

"Repression", Nandini finished not disclosing that she was going to get it fixed.

They spoke for some more time wherein Vikram narrated the problems he faced in London. He felt it was no use of hiding anything from her. He was amazed by how calm she was about all that he told her. She didn't sympathize at his condition nor said something stupid like 'I will pray for you day and night bhai sa'.

"I am going to get you back safe", she said with determination. Her tone was such that Vikram somehow believed her every word.

After Vikram hung up Nandini decided to call Abhimanyu and ask him when he would fulfill his part of the deal. She was emotionally spent, but this was no time to be weak.

Things were set in motion that no one could reverse.

A/N

Hey guys. Thank you all for the support in these terrible times. I hope all of you are safe and sound.

I would really really love to hear from you guys. Shall i tell you guys a secret, i almost gave up on the book, but it was you guys who gave me the inspiration to go on. I am writing just for you. So please tell me what you think. Do you like the characters, the story, the pace at which it is going?

I somehow don't like my characters to be super human beings. They all have flaws, they all are masters of procrastination and they all are jealous, proud beings. They love, they hate and they live.

So i will be waiting for your replies.....Have a wonderful Sunday! Stay Home and Stay Safe!