Chapter 4

Fog or something like it was everywhere and she waved her hands to and fro trying to clear the view. She could make out that it was a room with no windows and a single door. She ran to the door and started hitting on it hoping someone would come. It was then she realized that no voice was coming out of her mouth. She screamed and screamed more even then there wasn't any sound. All of a sudden she heard footsteps and she stilled. The footsteps got nearer and nearer. At last it stopped just outside the door. Nandini stared at the door with trepidation, quivering with fear. With a deafening crack the door shattered to pieces. Nandini closed her ears with her hands and ran back toward the wall. She saw the form of a man with his hand extended to her. "Come with me if you want to live", he said. "No....no.....", she yelled frantically trying to escape from his clutches.

"Nandini...Nandini...hey calm down. What is the matter? Nandini wake up".

Uday swerved the car with one hand while trying to calm Nandini with the other. He slammed the brakes and the car came to a stop. Nandini leaned forward in her seat gasping for breath while the seat belt restricted her movement making her feel more suffocated. Meanwhile, Uday reached back for the bottle of water and got out of the car. He half jogged over to the passenger door and pulled it open. Nandini was fumbling with the seat belt, but try as she might she couldn't undo it. Her hands were clammy and her mouth was dry.

"Let me".

Uday reached out gently removing her hands freeing her from the contraption. Nandini almost fell out of the car in her hurry to escape its confines. She sat hunched on her knees by the side of the road gasping for air. Uday sat beside her and handed her the bottle of water. Her breathing returned to normal and she looked at the bottle of water first, then at Uday. She shook her head and flung herself onto him. Then the sobs came. Uday was surprised at first but then hugged her back running a soothing hand over her back.

"Shh...shhh....It's okay darling. Come now...shhh...please baby don't do this". Uday murmured stroking her silken hair. "What happened sweetheart?" he asked after few minutes. Nandini pulled away from him wiping her tears.

"Nothing, I just had a bad dream. I am sorry Uday for being so mushy", she laughed.

Uday smiled but didn't say anything. He quietly handed her the bottle of water which she took gratefully. She downed half the bottle in one go and used the remaining to splash onto her face. Uday got up and held out his hand. "Come on Nandini we don't have all day".

Nandini wiped her face on the sleeve of her blouse and regarded the outstretched hand in front of her. The dream - the hand - had it been Uday's? she wondered. Shaking off the unpleasant feeling she placed her hand in his.

Back in the car Uday glanced sideways at Nandini as she absently fiddled with her cell phone. "Do you want to stop at a guesthouse to change?", he questioned looking back at the road.

"No, where have we reached?", she asked searching for some sign board.

"Madhopur". He took a quick look at his watch which showed the time as quarter to eight. "We will be at Vilapsore palace by eight thirty". Nandini turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry for earlier. Did i scare you?". Uday laughed placing his hand on top of hers.

"It will take much more than that to scare me honey". He squinted his eyes,  "You wont tell me what was it about?".

Nandini shook her head "Nah, nothing important", she said avoiding Uday's eyes. She leaned back in the seat and looked at the passing scenery. "What is the hidden agenda?" she asked out of the blue.

"That is none of your business princess", he said not taking his eyes off the road. Nandini shrugged "You've got me curious and now i will find out".

Uday let out short laugh."Good luck with that princess. By the way what are you going to speak to the King?"

Nandini flipped her hair haughtily.

"That is none of your business brat"

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Roopa Sharma scribbled something in the black diary with utmost importance. She read what she had written in it and then re-read for a good measure.

'Everything should be perfect', she told herself repeatedly.

She had to be ready with the dairy any time. That was one of her major jobs at the palace, all thanks to her uncle. Roopa hadn't expected to land such a fantastic job immediately after her graduation. Her maternal uncle who was a manager at the Vilaspore Palace hotel had to pull many strings to install his niece in the palace as a manager.

There was only one reason for the calculated move. Her uncle had thrown several hints her way about the single, wealthy and exceptionally handsome yuvraj. He had high hopes on his beautiful niece quite certain that she would bag his affections.

Roopa leaned back in the office chair and carelessly twisted a pen in her hand recalling the last conversation she had with her uncle and, the promise she had made to him.

'You have to catch his eye Roopa. Do whatever you have to but when you come home the next time I want to hear a positive news'.

She sighed deeply as she had yet to fulfill the promise; the reason for the delay was that she was absolutely and positively terrified of the yuvraj. What seemed like a piece of cake earlier looked like a mountain now. The prince hadn't spared her a second glance when he had met her and for Roopa that was a first. Usually she had no problems with the opposite gender. She could charm anyone from a fifteen year old to a sixty year old.

But the prince was unapproachable - he was cold like the Arctic. But she would not give up, she thought letting out a puff of breath. She would be the one to break the glacier and she will rule his heart and the palace, she added for a good measure.

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'Five years . . . it's been five years to be exact since the fateful day'.

Uday held onto the steering wheel with more force than necessary. Memories began flooding his mind. How wonderful it had been in the past. The glorious days that Abhimanyu, Vikram and himself had spent at the very same palace. They were inseparable and were nicknamed the three musketeers. He vividly remembered the polo matches, the after parties, the flirting and numerous gorgeous girls. Will it ever be the same? Uday let out a breath as he slowly returned to the present. He looked at Nandini who was staring straight ahead and twisting a corner of the pallu absently.

"Have you changed your mind?".

Uday turned himself in her direction waiting for her reply. Nandini's lips compressed into a thin line. She stopped what she was doing and checked her appearance in the front mirror. She ran her fingers through the dark mane and plucking a tissue from the box on the dashboard dabbed it on her face a few times.

"I don't back out Uday. That is not in my blood", she finally replied. "I was simply taking in the ostentatious view in front of me".

Uday raised his eyebrows higher than usual. "Ostentatious? Then what would you call Jaypore?" he countered.

"Jaypore is a national heritage and this", Nandini waved her hand "is pretense".

Uday laughed. "You are prejudiced sweetheart. Vilaspore is a hundred times more magnificent and majestic than Jaypore", he said resting his hands on the back of his head. Nandini looked at Uday with an injured expression.

"Traitor! Don't forget that Jaypore is your father's constituency and now if you please lets get this over with. Drive!".

Nandini sat back in the seat with her hands crossed. Uday let out another laugh and started the engine of the car. "Truth hurts baby, truth hurts", he said to which Nandini huffed in response.

They reached the huge gate and were aptly stopped by the security. Uday rolled the windows of the car and gave his name and signed on the register.

"That's strange", he frowned while Nandini looked at him questioningly. "I was not stopped two weeks back", he spoke to himself.

Nandini was surprised at the revelation "You had come here two weeks back? Why?", she asked.

Uday avoided her eyes and drove on. "I had some work", he said absently.

"What work?" Nandini insisted.

"Nothing that concerns you okay. Just leave it", he yelled out in frustration. Nandini gasped at the change in Uday's demeanor. She had never seen Uday lose his cool like this. She wondered what the matter was, whatever it was she would find out she promised herself.

"I am sorry Nandini. Now please don't start digging", he said knowing full well what she was capable of.

Nandini shrugged but said nothing 'Hah, like hell she wouldn't', she thought to herself.

"We have reached". Nandini steeled herself. As she was going to get down Uday stopped her. "Wait let me check if the coast is clear", he said looking around the place.

"I don't care if he in here or not. I just came to see the maharaj and to speak to him. I don't have to answer to him", she spoke irritably.

"I understand but right now you are not well equipped to face him", he pressed on trying to make her understand his concern. Nandini swatted his hand away, "He is in Mumbai, that's what father said and unless he has got some sixth sense that i would be arriving here, the chances of me meeting him is nil". One look at her face and Uday realized that stalling her wouldn't help and he nodded reluctantly.

Nandini got out of the car with steely determination 'I will convince the Maharaj to change his decision and will be out of the palace before anyone could know and i will take the next flight to US and never ever return to this forsaken place', she said to herself.

Little did she know that fate had other plans for her - plans that would change her life forever.

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Roopa Sharma hurriedly climbed the marbled steps to the first floor of the grand palace. She clutched the diary in her sweaty hands which she rubbed now and then on her smart beige pant suit. When she reached her destination she stopped in front of the huge ornate mirror and checked her appearance. She pinched her cheeks for good measure and pulled out wisps of hair from the tight bun. All in all she looked mesmerizing she concluded.

"He won't be able to resist me for long", she convinced herself softly. Bracing herself she knocked on the door and a powerful voice replied from within.

"Who is it?"

Roopa balked and even thought of aborting her mission, but it was too late "It's - its Roopa sir", she swallowed.

"What?", came the curt question. "Who again?". There was a shuffle from within followed by a loud curse.

Roopa decided to leave, yes it is better to leave before . . . the door opened with a bang and there stood the most handsome man on the whole planet she agreed to herself, yet again. The yuvraj was sent by the Gods to torment women.

Getting no reply from her Abhimanyu's irritation reached its peak threatening to break into anger. "Are you deaf?", he rasped.

Roopa swallowed once and swallowed again but no words came out. All she could see was two black pools of lava and his lips, what would it feel like to be kissed by them. . .Oh god!

"Get the hell out of here foolish woman". The anger that radiated from him was scorching and Roopa took few more steps back. As he was about to close the door she realized that she needed to be with him, he was her air and it suddenly dawned on her that there was nothing more important at that moment than the man standing in front of her. She didn't care if he thought of her as foolish and mad. She had to be with him. She needed to for her sanity.

"I am sorry sir", came the timid reply. "I just wanted to inform you about the phone calls that i received yesterday", she waited for his permission, his cologne playing havoc with her nerves.

"Get in", he said and opened the door wide to let her in. He walked toward the desk and sat on the large leather chair and put his feet up on the desk. He ignored her as usual and was engrossed in his phone.

Roopa followed his every action with her eyes. He looked breathtaking today, not that he didn't look every single day since she saw him, but today he was exceptional in the white shirt that was unbuttoned to reveal a hint of dark mass and blue jeans. Her eyes shifted to his luxuriant black hair that looked messy and sexy a result of it being raked through frequently.

"Are you going to stand there like a dummy? If father had not appointed you, I would have sacked you long back", he ground out.

Roopa bit her lips, "I am sorry sir", she fumbled for the diary and opened it to the page on which the messages were written. "There was call regarding a meeting at the Intercontinental . . . "she started.

"Next"

"Yes sir, a call from Mr. Sudharshan Sahai . . ."

"Next", he said disinterestedly. Roopa looked at the next message and wondered whether to tell him or not. It might be that important but she thought that she could at least stay a few minutes in his presence.

"A call from a jeweler asking for the maharaj to deliver a set . . .".

Abhimanyu looked at her all of a sudden and she felt as if her breath was knocked out.

He is looking at me, he is looking at me, he is looking at me . . . was the chant that continued in her head.

"When did the call come?" his eyebrows scrunched up in concentration. Roopa referred to the book and supplied "eleven thirty am sir"

"Who was the caller?" he pressed on.

"A woman sir, she did not leave a name or the name of the Jeweler. She simply asked if the maharaj is in residence . . ." she replied hurriedly.

"The number", he grated and punched it in his cell phone holding it to his ear. Abhimanyu smirked cutting the call, his eyes went absolutely dark and cold. Roopa felt a shiver up her spine. His face was a mask, with no emotion whatsoever. He looked back at his cell phone and spoke slowly.

"I am going to have a visitor. Lead the person to me and you are not going to divulge any information, understand". Roopa nodded a surge of pleasure running throughout her body. This was the first time they were having a civil conversation even if it was mostly orders. The prince continued, "One more thing you are not - i repeat - you are not under any circumstance reveal the fact that i am in residence, understood".

"Yes sir", Roopa said shaking her head quickly looking confused, but she didn't dare ask anything further.

"Leave", he ordered and Roopa bowed and left immediately not wanting to destroy the small connection she had thought she made.

After she left Abhimanyu got up and walked toward the windows and gazed down at the lush garden. The myriad flowers in the well kept garden were in full bloom. They were swaying in the gentle breeze. Abhimanyu did not notice any of this, a storm was brewing within him and his eyes were calculating who all should be swept by it.

'Five years it had been five years', he thought. He didn't need a second to analyse who had called and who was going to show up. He flexed his fingers and stretched his hands.

'Revenge is going to be pretty sweet', he said to himself. T

here was a time when he had considered her to be sweet and innocent, but his mother's death had changed everything. His life had changed the day his mother died and she was responsible. There was no way he was going to let her off the hook, he had made pretty sure of it. He will bring her to her knees and then when time is right he will finish it, he promised himself.