Chapter 20

Abhimanyu's heart raced as he held her in his arms. Her parted lips, wisps of hair being blown by the gentle breeze from the balcony, rosy tint on her soft cheek and her petite figure perfectly molded to his body was driving him crazy. He bent his head holding it barely an inch away from her lips. Just a taste to see if her lips were as soft as it seemed.

Wait! This is wrong! This is so bloody wrong, his rational side spoke up. He had come here specifically to teach her a lesson, to make her realize that he was not someone whom she could play around with. Then why was he behaving like a school going kid.

He moved his head back, clenched his teeth tightening his grip on her. The sudden force on her waist brought her back to her senses. Nandini's eyes opened at once. Her gaze dropped to the hand that imprisoned her, then lifted angry eyes to the owner of those hands. With all her might she pushed at his chest. Abhimanyu smirked as she struggled in vain to escape from the iron like bands that arrested her. He was amused at how her countenance had changed from pleasure to anger in a fraction of a second.

"What happened princess, were you . . . excepting something to happen?" he drawled as she writhed in vain.

Fresh colour washed over her cheeks. "Let me go . . ." she whispered not able to believe that she had actually hoped that he would kiss her.

"I didn't hear you, did you say anything?"

"If you don't release me this instant then I won't be responsible for what might happen," she ground out trying to salvage her pride.

"Ooh . . . Was that a threat? Then I would so like to see what you can do," the hands tightened even more squashing her completely to his body.

"I said let me go," she repeated a bit louder.

"Let you go! Why I am having a good time and besides I am tired of giving you idle threats, like you said earlier over the phone."

Nandini glared at him. "So what do you want to prove?"

"That I don't give idle threats," he brought his head closer and Nandini leaned back slightly. Abhimanyu felt smug at the discomfort she felt. Without warning he released her so suddenly that she stumbled for a second before steadying herself. The sudden loss of proximity and warmth jolted her making her feel odd. That was strange, she thought. All this while she was fighting him to leave her and when he did she wanted to go back into his arms. This wasn't right she kept telling herself. She shouldn't harbor such feelings toward him.

Abhimanyu walked to a comfortable leather chair nearby and sat down grandly placing one leg over the other, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I told you already to lose the attitude. Let me remind you once again – and note this will be the last time I do so - that the piece of paper our fathers signed is the only thing that is stopping me from wringing your neck," he warned wagging a finger at her.

Nandini remained quiet for few minutes, then in a bid to reason with him she spoke in a pleading voice. "You can annul this whole thing. If you can't stand me then why are you doing this to yourself and to me," she said taking a hopeful step forward in his direction.

Abhimanyu scoffed. "Don't picture yourself as a victim princess. You are solely responsible for all that is happening. Just because I am speaking civilly to you doesn't mean that I have forgotten anything. We royals like our revenge don't we? I don't think I need to elucidate more on that." He shifted in the chair tilting his head to one side. "Tell me Nandini, what did you gain by all that you did?"

Heat bloomed in her chest. He called her by her name! As the warmth spread throughout her whole body she felt exhilarating. Even though he had said it with distaste, but still he had taken her name. The rest of what he said sunk slowly into her consciousness.

"What do you believe I did hukum?" His eyes turned to slits as she asked the question. "Do you know what happened to me? Did you care to find out? You are sitting on your throne judging me for something I haven't done. Who is going to take revenge for me for what I went through?"

"I don't need to find out!" he thundered. "I know what happened that night and believe me I have regretted it ever since," his eyes clouded with an unknown emotion.

Nandini frowned at the statement. "So - so you agree that you were the one who . . ." she paused unable to finish her sentence not wanting to believe that he was the culprit like the others believed.

"One who what?" he got up with a start catching hold of her in one fluid motion. As his fingers dug into the supple flesh of her shoulders, she winced. "Complete your sentence Nandini . . . one who what??" he questioned quivering with rage daring her to speak out.

Nandini swatted his hands off. "One who tried to compromise my dignity," she spat out her chest heaving in agitation. "There . . . I have said it. Isn't that what happened? I am sorry that Padmini maa had to lose her life but I wasn't the cause. You should have thought of that before trying to force yourself on me."

"NANDINI!" he bellowed raising his hand.

Nandini looked at his raised hand. "It hurts doesn't it? Do you now know how it feels when you are blamed for something you haven't done?"

His fingers curled into fists and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans in a bid to stop himself from doing anything to her. It was not for her benefit but for his father, who loved Nandini like his daughter.

"You better learn to hold your tongue in my presence. I have lost everything precious to me because of you. I despise you princess," his words dripped venom. "As long as there is life in my body, as long as this heart beats I will hate you. Get ready for the time of your life because from the day after tomorrow you are going to wish you had the power to turn back time, to undo what you have done."

Nandini felt as if a million thorns had thrust into her heart with tremendous force.

I despise you Nandini!

The words were simple but for her it contained the power to crumble her, break her in ways she didn't know was possible. She wanted to run to him, hold him by the lapels of his shirt and tell him to take the words back. However, what good would that do? He hated her period and she knew it very well. Seeing that he was about to leave, her heart screamed urging her to go to him, stop him and make things right. A deep pain tore inside her and she winced unable to comprehend where she had hurt herself.

"You will not even give me a chance to explain?" she spoke as he reached the door.

He opened the door and stood still. "The time to explain is long gone. Now is the time to reap what you have sown. One more thing, I have stopped all progress in bringing back your brother," he said in a blank tone.

"B-but you promised. You told me you will bring Vikram back and that is why I am coming to Mumbai." Nandini half ran toward him.

"That was before you tested my patience. This," he stressed, "is no idle threat princess. Until I decide otherwise your brother is going spend some more time in the shark infested waters. So next time you try to get over smart think about the . . . repercussions that I warned about." Without even sparing a second glance he left.

Nandini collapsed on her knees feeling weird. She looked at the closed door wondering if she was in a dream. She did not understand why her body was trembling so much. Why was she not able to breathe? Why was her throat all clogged up? A single tear escaped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. That was when she realized that the pain she felt was in her heart.

The black helicopter with the Vilaspore royal insignia on its body cruised steadily through the inky sky. It was a fairly clear night and hence the pilot had no difficulty maneuvering the skies. Behind him Abhimanyu sat deep in thought. He was not a reckless person but always thought things through, took apt decisions which proved to be accurate all the time and did not like stalling. He was brutal in business, cold hearted when it came to emotions, and ruthless to his enemies. His decisions were final, and he did not enjoy repeating himself. That was why when his secretary Aakash informed him that Nandini had not replied to his message, he was livid.

What aggravated him the most was that she bruised his ego by hanging up on him. No one had ever dare to do that and no one ever will, he promised himself. He fathomed that she gained that courage as she very well knew that he was in Vilaspore almost three hundred miles from Jaypore. She was a fool if she did not realize that for Abhimanyu no distance was too large. He called the pilot from the palace ordering him to keep the helicopter ready. Bhim had insisted on coming with him but one look was all that took for the man to not push anymore. He reached the air strip in less than five minutes and to Jaypore in two and a half hours.

A car with two guards was waiting for him at Jaypore airport courtesy his efficient staff but he did not take them along. Entering the palace was child's play, he had gotten inside from the back garden gate which was not guarded and to which he possessed a key thanks to his and Vikram's escapades in the past on many occasions. Getting to the first floor was even more easier.

Her parting words however disturbed him. She asked for a chance to explain! Should he have heard her? Would it have made any difference? While these thoughts were foremost in his head he could vouch for one thing though, he hated her with twice the hatred that he liked her once upon a time.

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

Nandini did not know for how long she sat on her knees. When she got up her face was blotched with tears, her eyes were puffy and red and the pain in her heart was still the same. Slowly she made her way to the bathroom and stood staring at her face in the mirror. A scene of Abhimanyu holding her close popped suddenly in front of her. Immediately, she opened the tap and splashed cold water on her face once, twice and then again. In doing so she hoped to wash out everything related to him from her head. She again stared at her face which was now dripping with water. Her eyes were still puffy, she noted. She would have a hard time explaining it to her father in the morning. Sighing, she reached out for the towel on the stand and winced as a pain shot up her waist. She lifted the her kurti to inspect it and saw bluish black marks on her fair skin. She dropped her kurti with more force than necessary. I have to get to the end of this and I will.

The next morning after much deliberation she climbed down the stairs gingerly and walked in the direction of the dining hall. After last night's debacle sleep had completely evaded her. She had desperately waited for the sun to rise and devour the dreaded night. Normally whenever she was confused or needed solace she escaped to her garden but not today. She did not want to venture out anywhere from her room not even to the breakfast table, but she also knew that her absence would make her father come searching for her. After wishing her father good morning, she took a seat next to him trying to act as normal as possible.

Virendra Singh was reading the newspaper when his daughter appeared for breakfast. One look at her face and he understood that something had happened that upset her. Still, he did not question her or try to pry it out. He went back to his newspaper hoping she herself would open up.

"Rajkumari sa, would you like to have some coffee?" the butler stood beside her with a pot of coffee. On receiving no reply from the princess the butler persisted. "Rajkumari sa shall I pour out coffee?"

Virendra Singh lifted his head folded the newspaper and watched as his daughter sat like a stone staring vacantly into the space twirling her spoon in the dry bowl of cornflakes.

"Nandini?" he called out to her. Still not getting a response he called out louder than necessary.

"Wha – yes father?"

"He is asking you something dear?"

Nandini looked to her side and saw the butler standing expectantly with a pot of coffee.

"Shall I pour coffee Rajkumari sa," he asked.

"No," she shook her head, "I am fine."

"Nandini I did not know you ate cornflakes without milk," he father quipped.

Nandini looked at her bowl and smiled sheepishly. "I – I forgot," she laughed.

Virendra Singh was not deceived by the laugh. He dismissed the butler with a wave of his hand and dabbed his mouth at the edge of the napkin. "Is something wrong Nandini?" he questioned placing the napkin on the table and clasping his hands.

Nandini shrugged. "No why do you ask."

"I feel that you are disturbed? Did anything happen at Digvijay's house?" her father pried.

"No of course not! They are really wonderful people. Sushma aunty was being nostalgic . . ." she glanced at her father, " . . . she said that I look exactly like mother. She also showed me mother's pictures."

Virendra Singh smiled. "That is so true," he agreed not meeting her eyes but did not care to elaborate. Nandini chewed her lower lip thinking whether she should ask him about her relations.

"Father, why don't we keep in touch with the Jamnagar relatives?"

Her father let out a sigh. "Hmm . . . how do I put it . . . your maternal relatives were correction are oafs. Though your mother and I had an arranged marriage, your mother's father decided to break off owing to the fact that there was some problems with the horoscopes. Your uncles however supported us, convinced their father and got us married. We did not know at that time that they had some ulterior motives for it. When Vikram was five your mother's elder brother put forth a proposition. He wanted us to promise that when Vikram reached marriageable age we would agree to arrange his marriage to your cousin, thus making sure that the Jaypore throne and assets would be under their control. Your mother hated the idea refusing vehemently. She said that Vikram had the right to choose his own bride.

"They threatened to cut off all ties, emotionally blackmailed your mother and called her a traitor too. I did not like what they were doing to your mother so I said that we will see about it and that quietened things for some time. When you were born, Mrinalini was the one who suggested that your life should be secured before they could come with another proposition. So all four of us agreed and signed the arrangement to get you married to Abhimanyu. Your mother knew her brothers quite well. True to her word they came a month after your birth and this time however your elder uncle wanted you. There was a huge fight and at the end of it well, they all left never to be seen from or heard again."

"That is so lame," Nandini spoke in disgust.

"To you maybe, but for the ones who think money, riches and status are the only important factors of life, how can you possible make them understand. After you mother's death I tried to mend relations but they were stuck on what they wanted. After a while I gave up."

Nandini did not reply but churned the things what her father said. Her mother wanted to secure her life but did she really? Did she know what she was doing?

She took a mouthful of cornflakes and chewed slowly. She sensed that this probably was a good time to broach the subject of her trip. "Father, I will be travelling to Mumbai the day after." Her father was checking some mails on his phone. When she relayed the news he focused his attention on her.

"So soon? Cant you wait till Vikram gets back?" after a pause he continued, "Vikram will come home won't he?"

Nandini lifted the glass of orange juice to her lips which gave her ample time to form the answer. Taking a sip she replaced the glass slowly and looked at her father. "I have to join the classes father or else I will lose a year," she reached out and squeezed his hand. "Bhai sa is going to come soon. Trust me father he is not upset with you. In fact I told him that I have willingly agreed to marry Abhimanyu."

Her father's face brightened, he removed her hand and held it between his. "I do trust you dear."

Nandini smiled weakly at her fib. In which holy river was she going to wash all of this away.

"I will make arrangements for your travel and stay. I had already instructed for Jaypore House to be dusted and cleaned." She watched as her father called the butler to send for Veer Singh to give further instructions.

Later that day as she was sitting on a bench in the garden reading a book, another message appeared on her phone. It was from the same unknown number that had earlier sent her a message.

- Ma'am please be informed that Abhimanyu sir is expecting you the day after tomorrow in Mumbai. Please find the address where your accommodation is arranged. Sir is expecting you the very next day at 10 am in his office. Please make sure that you are on time. If you have any questions please let me know.

Nandini kept her phone on the bench with a thud and resumed reading. The words flew over her head as all her concentration was focused on the message. She had a faint idea that he wouldn't let her stay at Jaypore House, but what sort of accommodation was he talking about? If it was some cheap fare she will refuse it outright, if he wants to punish her for that he was welcome to do so. She will not compromise on her dignity.

Her heart hammered quite strangely within her as she recalled the other part of the message.

Sir is expecting you the very next day at 10 am in his office.

In two days time she would be in his vicinity. The close contact she had with him last night was unnerving. How can she survive the days without compromising her self-respect? The question filled her with dread. One major aspect that she did not query was for how long would she have to be in Mumbai. Will she have to continue the charade even after her brother comes back? If Vikram ever knew . . . no he couldn't know because she was sure that her brother would do something regrettable if he came to know what his sister is going to face. At that she picked up her phone and dialed Vikram's number.

"I was just about to call you," her brother spoke from the other line.

"That's an old excuse bhai sa, you should search for something new," she said in mock anger.

"It works every time," he laughed. "How are you?" he asked in a soft voice.

"I am absolutely fine. I can't say the same for father though." She heard a sigh from the other end. "Bhai sa you need to call father, he has been asking me about you. Please . . ."

"I will . . . in a day or two," his tone was unsure.

"No bhai sa!"

"Nandini please try to . . ."

"I don't want to understand anything," she interrupted. "Father is silently suffering so you need to make that call today or at the most tomorrow and more so because . . .because . . .I am leaving for Mumbai the day after."

His ears perked at that. "Mumbai, what for?"

Nandini crossed her fingers. "My college has collaboration with one in Mumbai. I won't be returning to US anytime soon so I asked them if I could continue my last semester in Mumbai, or else I lose a year."

Vikram was silent for a whole minute. "Well if you say so. Will be you okay in a new city?"

"I guess," she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.

The siblings spoke for some more time and her worry ceased to be. She was a strong woman and she would face whatever life threw at her.

A/N: Hello guys I hope all of you are safe and sound. I can't not say thank you, thank you, thank you for all your love in the form of votes and encouragement. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Lots more to come.

Abhimanyu and Nandini are going to drive each other crazy!

Let me know what you feel about the story.

STAY SAFE DEAR ONES