Chapter 23

"You seem to have become quick friends with Suraj!"

Nandini and Virendra Singh were sitting in the study after dinner. While Nandini was on the recliner reading a book, her father was sitting adjacent to her on the sofa enjoying ghazals that was playing from the ancient gramophone. On hearing the question she looked up to see that her father was watching her with a strange expression.

"Friends? No, not really. Just because he is easy to talk to doesn't make him my friend. And . . ." she paused searching for words.

"Yes?" her father urged her on.

"I don't know father, there is something about him . . ."

Nandini's face took a distant look as she spoke the words. Her father however did not grasp the hidden meaning behind it.

"Is he quite successful in Bollywood?"

Her father laughed. "The question itself is underrated dear. Suraj Singh is  Bollywood, the undisputed king. His fan base both in India and abroad is astounding." He stopped speaking. "How come you don't know about the guy? Don't they have Indian cinemas in the US?" he laughed again.

"My coursework doesn't give me much time. Its home - college - home for me with some occasional trekking and road trips."

"Ah! You haven't lived sweetheart. What's the fun if you don't get suspended once in a while. The late nights, summer trips abroad with friends and . . . certain things that a father shouldn't tell his daughter," he winked.

"Father! Really! You did not seem to me as such a colourful persona," she said shaking with laughter. Her father guffawed throwing a cushion at her which she promptly ducked.

Virendra Singh cleared his throat. "Just a rhetorical question, who is the better among the cousins?"

Nandini tilted her head thoroughly confused. "Cousins? I don't understand."

Her father leaned back on the sofa and positioned himself such that he was completely facing her. "I am not surprised at your ignorance - Suraj is Abhimanyu's cousin. The son of his uncle Aditya Raj, the elder brother of Chandra Raj. Suraj's parents divorced when he was three or four. Aditya abdicated the throne in favor of his brother."

Though she was shocked, her face did not show it. Well that is news! she said to herself.

"I knew Abhimanyu had an uncle but I did not know any particulars. I believe he has passed away isn't it?"

Her father nodded removing his spectacles and placed them on the table, "Yes, that was after his brother Chandra Raj was crowned as Maharaj. It was really an unfortunate incident. He was found dead at Vilaspore palace a few days after the coronation."

"Really? What happened?"

"Some complications, drug overdose . . . something along those lines."

Nandini remained quiet for some time. Few questions gnawed within her. "Why did Suraj's father not make him the Yuvraj? Isn't that the normal tradition? Why did he abdicate in the first place?"

Virendra Singh shifted in his seat. He felt unsure of what he was going to say. Should he tell his daughter about Vilaspore's past? It wasn't all hunky dory. But if she was to spend the rest of her life in that place, she should be aware of certain things. Thus, he proceeded to fill in on the story that was well known in all of the royal circles. Nandini listened in rapt attention as the story of Vilaspore unfolded before her. The more she heard the more surreal it seemed.

After the story ended the father daughter duo sat in silence for sometime. Finally Virendra Singh spoke up and the question directed at her caught her by surprise. "If you had to choose between Suraj and Abhimanyu, whom would you choose?"

Nandini considered the question for few minutes and took her time answering it. "Do I have to choose between them? What if I wanted to choose someone else?" she questioned.

Virendra Singh lifted his brows. "Is there someone else?"

Nandini laughed. "Isn't it too late to ask me that?" Before her father could object she continued. "Don't worry father, there is no one as of now. As for your earlier question if I had a choice I wouldn't choose either of them. I would choose for love."

Liar!  Her inner being mocked.

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Roopa's eyes fluttered open. For a long time she stared at the white ceiling contemplating if she was dead. No, she wasn't, she confirmed as the bright tube light on the wall momentarily blinded her. To add to that the fan was making a hellish creaking sound as it rotated. Her body felt heavy as if it was hit by a train and in some places it was paining like hell. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to recall all that happened. In a matter of seconds her head was flooded with images and scenes. The pair of eyes belonging to a certain man however refused to go away from her mind's eye. She thought she saw black eyes, but she knew for sure that in original it was dark brown, like chocolate - warm, sweet and tempting chocolate. A shiver of pleasure ran through her entire body making her smile despite her pain. She removed the blanket from her body and moved her feet in a bid to sit up. A searing pain shot through her soles and travelled up her leg making her cry out.

"Don't move child! Your feet is bandaged. If you move it will start bleeding again."

She turned her head slowly in the direction of the coarse voice. A plump middle aged woman was sitting on the chair beside the bed. She wore a full sleeved brown blouse with a floral design and a plain long skirt that was deep maroon. A heavy stole was draped around her head and over her shoulders. On her forehead was a large round red bindi. Her eyes were sharp like the hawk lined thickly with kohl was scrutinizing her. The woman's face was wrinkled in places and her sharp nose had piercings on both sides.

"Who are you?" asked Roopa trembling in a weak voice.

"My name is Leela and I am from the village. I deal in Ayurvedic medicine and I am also the head of all the maids at the palace. I was also the royal nanny for few years," she supplied the last sentence as an after thought.

On that Roopa's brows knit in confusion. "But I have never seen you at the palace!" she exclaimed.

Leela shrugged. "I have no business to be seen where I am not needed. My work is inside the palace, in the kitchens overseeing the maids." She proceeded to pull the blanket over Roopa with one hand. "Rest now, I will ring Tulsi to get your dinner. You can have that and then there is a course of medicine to be taken then you can sleep the whole night away." The words were more of a command rather than a request and Roopa did not want to disagree with the woman.

"What time is it?"

"Nine."

Roopa looked around the room searching for a clock. The woman must be mistaken. How could it be nine pm already?

As if reading her mind Leela spoke. "I am not mistaken. You slept for almost an hour and half. I shouldn't be saying this but you are really foolish child! How could you wander away from the palace and that too at that hour? If kumar sa wouldn't have found you then . . ."

"D-did Yuvraj Abhimanyu rescue me?" She waited to hear the details of how Abhimanyu had carried her in his arms bringing her to the safety of the palace.

"It was Bhim who brought you here and he is waiting outside."

Roopa's face fell. In the darkness she had failed to notice that the trusted guard was present along with the prince. A knock was heard at the door which opened soon after and a young girl came in with a covered tray.

"Keep that over there Tulsi," said Leela softly yet firmly pointing to the table opposite the bed. The girl obeyed and placed the tray on the table. She then went to stand beside Leela.

"This is my granddaughter Tulsi. She is studying in college," Leela's face brightened extensively. "She is very good in her studies."

Roopa smiled tentatively at the girl not wanting to hear anything about her routine and academic achievements. But what was the girl doing here? Suddenly it hit her and she looked around more closely. This wasn't the palace, nor was this the staff quarters. Then where was she? A sudden fear gripped her, did Bhim bring her here for any evil reason without the knowledge of the prince?

"Where am I?" she questioned anxiously.

Leela's plump body shook with laughter at the question and the girl Tulsi covered her mouth with her hand. "Look at this Tulsi! Now she asks the most important question." She leaned back on the chair she was sitting in, "You are at my house in Peeplai Gaon, almost an hour from the palace."

"What . . . that is impossible!" she cried out. "Yuvraj Abhimanyu came for me in half an hour after I called him. How can he travel so fast from the palace?"

Leela pursed her lips in displeasure at her words. "True. But the peepal tree temple where you were a few hours back is just few kilometers from my house." She shook her head adjusting the stole on her head. "Do you know how lucky you are child? Yuvraj sa had come by my house personally in the evening to give my granddaughter money for her education." She looked at Tulsi with pride. "She is quite brilliant and also the prince is fond of me you know. I have taken care of him when he was little." Leela let out a huge sigh, "I don't know what would have happened if he wasn't here at that time." The woman shuddered slightly as various possibilities appeared before her. "Times are not good child. Times are not good at all."

Roopa felt nauseous and dizzy. She had failed to consider any such prospects when she left the palace. What she thought was that Abhimanyu would come after her immediately. When that did not take place, she hoped he would call her and find out where she was and then send a vehicle or come personally to pick her up. None of that happened but he did respond when she was in danger. That surely amounts to care doesn't it? He could have just sent Bhim. Come to think of it, as the woman expressed what would have happened if he wasn't in the vicinity. As the gravity of the situation sunk she shivered with fear. She glanced down at her body. Luckily there was no serious damage. The skin on her hands though was grazed at several places. Her heart started beating faster as she recalled their vile hands roaming over her body. The b******* !

As she tried to calm herself, she could only think of one question: Why had Suraj told her to wait at that spot?

"Come child, have some food and then you can rest." She motioned to Tulsi to lend a hand and make her sit on the bed. Roopa did not resist the help as she was hungry. It made no sense to stay without food. She had had just a soft drink for lunch and the ordeal she faced had sapped all her energy. Once she was sitting, Tulsi immediately went over to the table and picked up the tray and put it in front of Roopa. Dinner was a simple fare not like the food served at the palace, but that was expected. At the sight of khichdi and pickle Roopa's face scrunched up in distaste. She hated khichdi period.

"Eat up, while I go and get your medicine. It will be bitter but it will do you good. Tulsi here will keep you company till I return." Leela got up from the chair and turned to leave. Although Roopa wanted to tell her that she did not want any company, she did not dare say anything.

"Will you please check if Abhi – Yuvraj Abhimanyu has come back? I need to speak with the prince."

The earlier slip of tongue was not lost on the woman. She left without responding and in irritation that the girl had dared to take the Yuvraj's name.

Outside the house Bhim in a pensive mood was waiting by the gate looking toward at the direction of the road. He did not like it one bit that the prince had gone off after the thugs in his motor bike leaving the young woman with him. The evening was supposed to be a simple affair. Meet Leela ji and her granddaughter, take a trip to the village and meet with the head to discuss about a new well that needed to be dug, then come back and make arrangements for the travel tomorrow. But this . . . was unexpected and unnecessary.

What was the stupid girl doing in that part of the village? Even a child knew that after dusk the place near the peepal tree would be crawling with hoodlums and thugs. Bhim walked a little away from the gate toward the road. From this position he could clearly see any vehicle that would approach from the main road. He would wait for five more minutes and then he would go in search of the prince he decided. He walked back to the gate and stood there with his arms folded.

"Bhim??" Leela called out from the door.

Bhim turned toward her. Leela was already walking to the gate. "Yuvraj sa has not yet come back," she stated her eyes creasing with worry. "Do you think we need to call the police?"

Bhim shook his head. "Not yet." He then looked toward the house. "Has she woken up?"

"Yes, she has. She is in pain but that is bound to happen. She is having her dinner. She said she wants to speak to kumar sa." After some time she continued.  "Would you like some water."

"No maa ji. I will not have a drop of water till the Yuvraj comes back safe and sound."

Leela nodded leaving the man alone and mumbling some form of prayer.

Bhim's thoughts went to the girl – Roopa Sharma. It was clear as day that the girl harbored feelings for the prince. He had grasped that much when he carried her to the car. In an unconscious state she was muttering the prince's name over and over. He would have a word with her when she comes back to the palace as he knew for a fact that where Yuvraj Abhimanyu was concerned she was just wasting her time.

Precisely at that moment the sound of a motorbike turning from the main road toward the house was heard. Bhim rushed toward it and heaved a sigh of relief on seeing the familiar face.

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Nandini surveyed her bags that were packed and ready for the trip tomorrow. One large suitcase, a smaller one full of her books and a duffel bag containing other necessary stuff. Considering the nature of the job that she was going to undertake and in order to be inconspicuous she needed to go shopping to buy some ordinary clothes. That can only be done once she reaches Mumbai. She switched off the lights save the table lamp beside her bed. Then lifting her feet up sat cross legged staring at the fresh flowers on the table. Daisies – she loved daisies. The white and yellow flowers always made her smile.

After last night's debacle if she thought she could put all that behind her then today had been worser. In the US many had approached her expecting friendship or something more but she had always been diplomatic keeping everyone away at a hands distance. She never had many friends to start with when she left India. In the royal circles there were one or two who she was friendly with but that was all. She was more of a nerd occupied with studies. As a matter of fact Josh and Bethany could be counted as her only friends.

Her father's question popped up in her head. Why would he ask her something like that?

Suraj or Abhimanyu.

Cousins. Royals.

Annoyed at the train of thought she got up and quickly escaped to the balcony. It was a moonless night, black and thick like ink. Tonight the hunter could be seen clearly and she traced the stars on its belt with her eyes. From a distance the faint sound of a Rajasthani ballad could be heard. It had to come from the staff quarters as there was no other building nearby. The melody felt pleasing to her ears. She closed her eyes and stood listening to it swaying slowly to the music. As the song ended she sighed and opened her eyes. She would surely miss this balcony. It was privy to many tears and musings.

She leaned her back on the railing of the balcony folding her arms across her chest in the process. Suraj was a charming man, handsome, perfect and maybe for that reason he seemed so unreal. It was a real shame that she wasn't aware of the Bollywood industry. She recalled how his face lightened up when she told him that she was shifting to Mumbai. He had promised to take her around and introduce her to the sights and sounds of Mumbai. She had simply smiled at the offer not sure of how to react. Mumbai was not her idea but someone else's. How could she be excited at that prospect?

On the other hand though proximity with Abhimanyu frightened her, somewhere in her heart she felt safe and secure when she was with him. With Suraj however there was a sense of coldness, like fear seeping through her. What was she scared of, she couldn't point a finger at.

Baffled at the direction of her reflections she brushed it all away. She had met Suraj for the first time. How could she have arrived at such condescending conclusions? As for Abhimanyu she knew him . . . she stopped at that. Did she really know him?

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Abhimanyu took a piece of cotton from the first aid box that Bhim held and doused it in spirit and wiped it across his knuckles in one fluid motion. He then threw the bloodied cotton away and took another larger piece. This time he emptied the whole bottle of spirit on it. He slowly lifted the sleeve to reveal a deep gash covered in blood glistening in the faint street light. The dark polo T shirt had absorbed some of the blood but still much remained. He muttered an expletive and pressed the spirit soaked cotton on it. He clenched his teeth as it burned on contact. When the pain died down, he reached for the gauze cloth. Bhim proceeded to help him but one look from Abhimanyu was enough to stop him in his tracks.

"Sir, we need to get you to a hospital. That cut really looks bad," said Bhim unable to control himself any longer.

Abhimanyu remained silent till he finished tying the cloth on his arm. Then taking the bottle of water that was on the hood of the car, washed his hands and took a gulp. He then glanced toward the house to see if anyone had seen him. Finding the coast clear he moved back further into the shadows. Bhim followed him obediently.

"Its not a doctor that I need."

"Sir, the men . . ."

Abhimanyu's face darkened immediately. "They escaped but I was able to capture one. If and only if he is alive he will go back and inform to the people who sent him." He flexed his fingers as he said that. "I had a good time - a really, really good time."

"Sir do you think . . ."

Abhimanyu's eyes turned to slits, "I am afraid so."

They did not speak more on this matter. It was as if both of them knew what was happening. While Bhim looked positively angry, Abhimanyu's countenance was calm and cold. There were a million things going on in his head and it somewhat began to make sense.

Leela came in search of Bhim and was happy to see Abhimanyu with him. "Kumar sa!" she cried out. "I thank the Gods for bringing you safely back. You shouldn't have gone after them kumar sa. It could have been dangerous. Abhimanyu shifted his position and moved his left arm away as farther as possible so that the wound would not be visible to Leela. The reason was he did not want any mollycoddling right now. His eyes met the other man who quickly reached for a jacket from the backseat of the car.

"Sir, there is a chill in the air," he said handing the jacket to Abhimanyu.

"Why thank you Bhim."

"Kumar sa please come inside and have some dinner," said Leela quickly proceeding to go inside to make arrangements.

"No dai maa, not today. I have to be back at the palace. My schedule had been disrupted so I need to redo the arrangements."

"Kumar sa, the girl wanted to speak to you."

"I will speak to her at the palace. Let her stay here tonight dai maa, I will send Bhim tomorrow . . . that is if she is wishing to return to the palace."

Abhimanyu got inside the car and after bidding a final farewell he drove away followed by Bhim on the motorbike.

Leela stood watching till the tail light of the car completely disappeared from view. She looked toward the sky and uttered a prayer for the well being of the prince and the king.