THE door pulled back with great force and Rina rushed in, sweating profusely, like the AC in her car hadn’t done it’s job.


    She rushed into her room and tossed her bag on the bed, then dashed into the bathroom.


    Few minutester, she was done bathing and she rushed out, changed into something sweet and casual, thoughfortable, then went into the kitchen.


    Her fingers became busy as she rushed with the cooking, Raghav was probably on his way.


    She was still busy with the samosa when she heard the screeching of a car outside the building.


    “That must be him, oops”, she said and took a fork, then began turning the fries in the steak pan.


    She didn’t bother going to the door to wee him, he knows his way round, he was gonnae in.


    “Baby”, she heard him called from the living room and she smiled.


    “Over here”, she replied still turning on the fries in the pan.


    He didn’t show up, and she ignored him determined not to leave the kitchen till she was done.


    Finally, she took out thest samosa from the pan and put off the cooker, then brought down the pan.


    Then she took out a tray and began spreading the samosas on it, so it could get cold.


    She was still spreading them when she felt a hand on her waist, she smiled.


    “Babe”, the owner of the hands spoke and smooched his lips on the back of her neck.


    Rina reacted, as she felt the tingling sensation going down her spines. Hold on, when had hee in?


    “Wee Maharana”, she said and dropped the fork, turning to him.


    He smiled and wrapped his arms around her, and they embraced.


    “Mmm”, he mouthed then spared a nce at the tray on the counter and salivated.


    “Okay, you go wait for me in the dining, I will be there in a jiffy”, she said and turned back to her work.


    “Almost done”, she added.


    “I always got you mi amor”, he said and walked out of the kitchen.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Minutester, she had set the table, ready for lunch. Raghav sighed and took away theptop he was working with from the dining table and Rina took it out, to the living room.


    She returned and began pouring juice and water from jugs into the ss cups. Raghav smiled as he watched her do this.


    “Phew”, she mouthed at the instant she was done and took her seat.


    “Wow Rina, you gonna make a good wife”, Raghav said.


    She looked at him and smiled, did he really said that?


    “And I hope that’s not a ttery”, she snorted.


    He simpered.


    “Real men don’t tter women”, he said.


    “Huh”, she scoffed, “really?”.


    “Yep, they don’t. Real men say the absolute truth”.


    “Awwn, thank you”, she replied, smiled broadly.


    “Can we? Lunch is ready now”, she announced and Raghav nodded and looked properly at the table, it was Pindi chole at its best, he licked his lips.


    “Can’t wait, I’m starving”, he said and sheughed and then, they began eating.


    *


    *


    *


    “You aren’t gonna stop me Lawson, I’ve been at this for a long time now, and there is nothing you can do about it”, Be ranted in her highest voice, walking down the stairs. Lawson followed behind.


    “You lie Be, you are a joker. I own you, I tell you what to do and you have no choice but to obey”, he shouted back.


    Sheughed out, sarcastically.


    “You say? Oh my God! Lawson”, she called stillughing. She was in the living room now, walking towards the television set.


    “Yes Be, I made you, therefore I decide for you”, he shouted, descending the stairs.


    She scoffed and folded her arms, looking intently into his eyes.


    “You… didn’t make me Lawson, you only managed me, you are only my manager huh”, she said.


    He smirked and finally got down the stairs, then slowly began walking towards her.


    “Be…”, he called in a whisper, looking daggers into her eyes.


    She looked back at him and rolled her eyes, what he going to do huh? She wants Raghav, and none gonna stop her, not even Lawson.


    All ns done by her to get to Raghav were keep getting ruined by him, gosh!


    “Be…”, he called again, still whispering.


    She became fed up.


    “The hell you calling me? What is it Lawson? Is it because I came to stay in your mansion that you keep pestering my life? Ruining my ns?”, she continued ranting in anger.


    He smirked then stopped right in front of her.


    “Alright fine, I’m leaving”, she said and made to walk out, and he held her back.


    “You dare not”, he said.


    What! She freezed. What the hell?


    She smiled wryly.


    “Okay, so what do you think you are doing huh?”, she asked.


    He blinked his eyelids and licked his lips.


    “Any more talk about going to Raghav, I swear I will ruin your career”, he snorted.


    “What!”, she gasped. Ruin her career? My gee, ruin her career means ruining her as well, means killing her.


    What bes of her? Her fans, what would they say? The media? People? Her colleagues? God! And she sure knows what he can actually do, he made her, so he has the capacity to mar her, crap! This was total boomerang.


    “Yeah”, he nodded. “You so well I can do that”, heughed.


    “Lawson, you can’t do this, no”, she cried.


    He scoffed.


    “Of course I can, try me”, and he walked out.


    She watched him leave in total shock, infact, she felt her world crumble.


    ***


    Raghav shoved back his seat and got up, he was done eating and even more than he was expecting, he so enjoyed the lunch.


    “Sunshine?”, he called.


    She looked up at him inquiringly picking up the ss cup of water.


    “Yeah”.


    “I really enjoyed this”, he said nodding.


    She blushed, closing her eyes.


    “Really? Don’t tter me please”, she said.


    He slightly frowned.


    “I told you something about ttery earlier on right?”, he asked.


    Ugh, he was right.


    “Yeah, you did”, she nodded.


    “Good. Rina, I enjoyed the food”, he repeated, picking his words this time.


    Her blushed face broke into a smile.


    “Thank you Maharana”, she replied.


    “Still waiting for when you woulde to the pce to teach the maids your recipe”, he said walking out.


    She gasped and watched him leave, saying nothing in reply, she just has to keep it hanging in the air.


    For a long time now, he’s been inviting her over to the pce, just to spend some time, but she keeps on declining. She just wasn’t ready to go there.


    “Mmm”, she dropped the ss cup and got up to clear the table.


    Few minutester, she was done and she walked into the living room to find him sitted on the couch and working on hisptop.


    She sighed, he was always working, never rest?


    “Of course I do rest”, he said startling her.


    “So, how about youing to the pce honey, still waiting for your reply”, he said, his eyes still fixed on theptop.


    She slightly frowned.


    “You actually shouldn’t be waiting for that Maharana, I mean I have told you my reply”, she said and looked away.


    He looked up from theptop.


    “What are you scared of Rin? The maids? My mom?”, he asked.


    She simpered.


    “Come on, I’m just only waiting for the right time”, she shrugged.


    She looked out the window and spotted a sky blue Ferrari driving slowly towards the building, and she smiled.


    “Guess who is here?”, she asked.


    “Who?”, he asked ncing at the door.


    “My baby Z”, she said and ran out.


    Raghav sighed, watching her leave. Then he shut down theptop and picked up his phone.


    He was on the phone when the best friends strolled in,ughing and chattering.


    “Come on baby Z, don’t say that”, Rina said walking into the living room.


    Zainaughed.


    “You don’t tell me, I know”, she said and theyughed.


    She got into the living room and freezed, what! Prince Raghav? My goodness.


    “Your grace”, she bowed.


    He looked up at her and smiled.


    “You are wee Zaina, how are you?”, he asked.


    She nodded absentmindedly.


    “F… fine your grace”, she stuttered.


    Rina stood beside her smiling and she nudged at her.


    “Jeez, why didn’t you tell me he is here”, she whispered to her.


    Rina snapped her head at her.


    “Huh? Must I?”, she asked in a whisper too.


    “I see, still nervous around me?”, Raghav asked.


    Jeez, she almost jumped out of her skin. She held on to Rina’s left elbow as they stood, facing him.


    “N… no… yes…”, she paused, “oh my God”, she said and Rina wrapped her arms around her,ughing.


    Raghav watched the drama and scoffed.


    “The hell you are”, he said and turned back to his phone.


    “Oh please, don’t talk to my bestie that way Maharana”, she said and dragged Zaina away.


    “Come on, into the room”, she said and they both walked out of the living room.


    “My gee, don’t tell me you are still nervous around him”, Rina said as soon as they got into the room.


    She sighed.


    “Gosh Rina, I don’t know why”, she syed her right hand on her face.


    Sheughed.


    “Come on, you shouldn’t be. I mean, considering the fact Prince Zashil, and you, you know”, she winked.


    “Oh Rin, Zashil is not Raghav. This one seems cold”, she demonstrated as she said, making Rinaughed.


    “So, why are you here? You sounded tensed when I came up?”, Rina asked flopping on the bed.


    Zaina sighed.


    “I got a strange text, from a strange person”, she said and sat beside her.


    Rina’s mouth fell open.


    “Huh? A strange text? I don’t get”, she shook her head sideways.


    Zaina took out her phone from her bag and searched for the text, then she handed the phone to Rina.


    “Here, go through it”, she said.


    Rina collected the phone and her eyes ran through the lines of the short text. Jeez, she freezed.


    ? “You stay the hell away from Zashil, he is already taken, he’s mine. Do this if you so love your life”, the text read.


    “Jeez!”, Rina eximed and cupped her mouth with her hand.


    Zaina tilted her head and took the phone from her.


    “Did you get anything?”, she asked.


    “Jeez! The contact?”.


    “Checked it already, it’s an unknown and private number”, she sighed.


    “God!”.


    “I got this text yesterday night, and since then I’m just worried, like…”, she paused and shrugged.


    Rina crumpled her nose and looked intently at her.


    “Isn’t this his ex? What do you think?”, she rhetorically asked.


    Zaina slowly nodded, then looked away. What Rina just said made some sense, it really might be her. Crap! She fisted her right hand in anger.


    Rina saw her fisted hand and jerked back, huh?


    “Zaina, what?”, she asked.


    Zaina turned to her, she was fuming.


    “If this is really Naavya, hell I’m ready for her”, she said.


    “What!”, Rina gasped.


    *


    *


    ? Evening ?


    Vidya strolled into the dinning to have dinner and she sighted Raghav sitted and eating his dinner with a rush, huh? He is here.


    She had actually returned from her cooking ss few hours ago, and have been sleeping since then. Only now has she decided toe out for dinner, and jeez! Raghav was there.


    She was so happy to see him because she hardly does, even breakfast, lunch and dinner was always eaten in his room, so she was really happy to see him there.


    But hold on, why the hell is he rushing the food? Well, she shrugged and walked further into the dining.


    “Good evening your grace”, she bowed and shoved a seat backwards to sit.


    Raghav looked up from his food and saw her, hmph, he snorted and turned back to his food, the snottydy.


    She settled down and instantly a maid began dishing out her food.


    “Hmm, thought you never have your meals in the dining room”, she said and swallowed hard.


    He ignored her and focused on his food.


    She cleared her throat and picked up her cutleries.


    “You know you are always full of surprises my prince”, she said trying to keep the conversation going.


    He picked up the ss of water, shoving the tes aside, then he began drinking.


    Vidya watched him and shrugged, maybe he is done eating, though there was still food in the te.


    “Maharana?”, she called.


    “You aren’t done with the food”, she said, not knowing if it was just a sentence or a question.


    He shoved back his seat and got up, then began walking out of the dining.


    What! Just like that? No, Vidya shook her head, she wasn’t going to take this anymore, she was fed up.


    Instantly, she dropped her cutleries and rushed up to him, then took a stand in front of him and obstructed his way.


    He sighed, then shoved his hands into his pockets, he was putting on a yellow hoodie, jeez, was this how he loves hoodies?


    “You are obstructing my way Vidya”, he said.


    Sheughed.


    “Ohh my prince, I know. I’m actually seeking your attention”, she winked.


    He scoffed and stared at her, and she continued talking non stop.


    “You know, as your betrothed Maharana, we really need to talk and try get to know each other”, she smiled.


    He snorted.


    “Really?”, he asked in a whisper.


    “Yeah, you know…”.


    “I thought you are snotty?”, he said cutting her short, and she wondered if it was a statement or a question.


    She looked away, thinking.


    “Huh?”, she asked.


    “Yeah, you always believe you are better than other people right?”.


    “My gee, Maharana I don’t”, she squealed.


    He snorted.


    “Of course you do”, he continued arguing.


    She sighed and dropped her shoulders. Why was he talking like this? Have they actually met before? Howe he knew she was snotty.


    She was still in her thoughts when he brushed past her, into the living room. My gee, she followed him instantly.


    “I… I love you Raghav”, she gushed even before she could stop herself and he freezed instantly.


    What the hell did she just say? He sharply turned to her, he saw her shivering like a leaf under the wind.


    He scoffed.


    “Of course you can’t”, he said.


    Her eyelids flickered.


    “I’m damn serious Raghav, I love you, please listen to me”, she said, moving closer towards him.


    Heughed wryly.


    “That’s totally impossible Vidya”, he said.


    “No my prince, I’m damn serious, I mean it”, she was already tearing up.


    He slowly shook his head sideways as he watched her with a smirk on his lips.


    “You can’t possibly fall in love with the pauper guy you mocked at”, he said.


    Huh? She was befuddled, what the hell was he talking about? She looked intently at him.


    “I’m confused, I mean it doesn’t rtes to what we are talking about here”.


    He simpered.


    “How can you fall in love with the pauper you and your friend soughed at, at the tourist site?”, he snorted, “it’s impossible baby”, he said.


    She was still confused and she looked away, thinking. She turned back to the prince, and then it hit her.


    Wait… what! Oh my goodness, don’t tell me he is the one please? She went further to study his dressing, my gee, that was when she realized it, he was dressed exactly as this, on hoodie and trousers, though not this colour.


    She looked into his face and saw him smirk, jeez!


    “The hoodie guy”, he winked and she instantly felt stabbed in the heart.


    Subconsciously, she remembered Roshni saying something about him hopping into a ck Nissan with the royal emblem at its back right side, goodness, it was the prince!


    He nodded.


    “You aren’t my childhood friend either, I know that. I mean how can you have met your childhood friend at the tourist site and not know?”, heughed.


    “That’s ridiculous”, he added.


    God! Vidya wasn’t herself anymore, she was so abashed and felt like disappearing into the thin air.


    “My… my…”, she stuttered, totally lost for words, her voice cracked as she spoke.


    “I am Prince Raghav, you dare not y games on me you rude bitch”, he blurted.


    She couldn’t hold it anymore, and the next thing, she passed out.