47.All Rights Reserved

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Adya, Adhvan and Rohan was sitting on the living area of Adhiraj's chember, waiting for him as his highness went to fresh up.

Soon he came in his comfortable t-shirt and trouser, he plopped down on the sofa opposite of them and leaned back asking, "Yeah, so what were you asking?"

Adya sat straight seeing the questioning gaze on her, she thought for a moment and blurted out the first sentence that came in her mind, "So how was the long drive with Raina?"

A smirk came on her lips seeing sudden stiffness in his relaxed body posture.

"What?",he uttered.

Adya shrugged and asked in a serious tone, "Bhai sa, what are you hiding? Because your facade and tricks are not working with me here. See, I am a woman and it's not too difficult for me to understand a man's gaze if he is behaving somewhat unusual with other one"

Adhiraj scratched his jaw with his thumb, thinking about what to do.

A minute passed.

"I like her.", straight came his reply without any hesitancy.

Rohan looked at him with raised eyes, this prince was so uncertain when he confessed in front of him and now the words rolled out so easily.

"What? OMG!!"

"Really!!!"

Two siblings shrieked, Adhiraj was really not sure about their reaction, but their happy faces relieved him.

Adya jumped up from the sofa, "Wow!!!!"

"Wow?? Are you happy with it?", Rohan asked seeing her so happy.

"Of course, she is so good for Bhai sa.", Adya chirped, she was already so impressed by her and after that incident, she started admiring her strength too. And moreover she was thinking on playing cupid after the entry of Divya , because they were already married.

"So love is in the air, huh!!!", Adhvan wiggled his eyebrows in teasing manner.

Adhiraj looked at him and shook his head, he said in a flat tone, "I said I like her, I didn't talk about love."

Adhvan was confused by now, "What's the difference Bhai sa."

Adhiraj smiled lightly and started,"You know once Buddha said that if you like a flower you pluck them but if you love a flower,you water the plant daily. This is the difference. "

He made further explanations,"Love is an unconditional emotion, it means that a special person becoming an integral part of your life,you want to spend your whole life with that person whereas like is more like a watered down version of love, you are just happy in their company.Love involves deeper, stronger emotions, while like is more of a tender feeling towards that special someone. Love doesn't happen in an instant, it takes time to grow. You need to build the trust first."

Everyone was silently looking at him, he was not a very big fan of showing his emotions but it was not like he didn't understand them just this Royal title and hunger inside him to do something on his own made him cold hearted but he had a soft heart which beats lovingly for his family.

Suddenly something striked Adya, she said with uncertainty lurking in her voice, "Bhai sa, one more thing. I don't think she reciprocates your feelings, what I have observed, she is more on the professional type of person. A week ago, we have seen her breaking down, I don't know if she would like to fall in the whirlpool of love at this time and even we don't know if she loves someone."

He tapped his fingers on the armrest, "That's what I am saying Adya. Just wait, let the proper time come. She is very focused on her career now. Let's just go with the flow. Let's see what future has stored for me."

Rohan asked again to confirm,"You are right, so no pursuing her. Right?"

He shook his head, "Not for now, she said to Baba sa that she wanted to learn buisness. So, Adhvan you have to bring her along in my study from today on."

Adhvan exclaimed, "What? That's cool. You both will get some time too. Very smart Bhai sa."

He looked at him with pointed eyes, "Adhvan, I am serious here. She is an emotional mess right now. I won't do anything. I will be just guiding her just like I did with Adya and what I am doing now with you. Understand?"

🔅🔅🔅

Raina opened her door when someone knocked. She found Adhvan standing there.

He smiled at her and asked, "Hey!!? Ready?"

She nodded and went back inside her room while saying, "Yeah, just let me take my laptop."

She came in couple of minutes and they both walked to Adhiraj's room.

Raina asked out of curiousness, "So, what are we going to do there?"

Adhvan replied, "Mainly, Bhai sa discuss some project, it's pros and cons. How to handle it more efficiently or more related things."

She nodded her head understanding and asked about Adya, "Oh... Won't Adya join us?"

"Nope, she is architect, that's why she handles only construction related work, but sometimes she also come to seek any suggestions."

Again a question from her, "Where are we going?"

"We are going to the chamber of Bhai sa."

Raina wriggled her eyebrows in confusion, "Chamber? I thought we are going to his study room."

He chuckled, "Yeah we are. Actually, his chamber consist of sitting area, bedroom and study room."

She realised what he was saying, "Oh, I got it. Typical master suite. Right?"

He nodded his head, "Right and here we are."

They were standing in front of a door, Adhvan knocked. They heard a faint Come In, no doubt it was Adhiraj's voice, they entered inside.

Raina saw a lavish velvet textured sofa set placed in the middle of that moderate sized room with a black shiny coffee table and a big TV fixed on the wall.

But what was more attractive was the small chandelier hung from the ceiling and colorful glass decorations on the wall providing a rich Rajasthani look to the room.

A door was opposite to the entrance door and one was in the right hand side.

Adhvan gestured her with his hand to the door of right side,"This way."

She obliged and both of them entered the study room. Adhiraj who was sitting comfortably on his chair behind the huge ebony coloured desk reading a book looked up at them and signalled to take their seat.

Adhvan and Raina went ahead and settled on the adjacent seats opposite of him.

Raina moved her gaze again to observe her surrounding, the desk and chair was producing a visual of office with the wooden work on the wall.

A gust of wind passed making her shiver slightly, she looked on the left side to see a big window in the middle of the wall providing a view of night. Bookshelves standing beside the window from both sides and a recliner just in front of window was presenting a view of mini-library.

So peaceful and enchanting.

"Ahmm..."

She looked back at him when she heard him clearing his throat.

"Let's start.", he said on which both nodded like obedient kid.

"So here we have a project. It's pretty easy but the problem is...", he started saying and they listened carefully, grasping everything they could.

Two months later-

"Where is your focus Raina? These silly mistakes. I don't expect this from you. Here I want you to be flawless and you are not stopping your loopholes. By this way I don't think you can progress much."

She was listening everything with her head ducked down. She looked from the corner of her eyes, Adhvan was biting his lips to stop the smile coming in his face. She frowned.

It was kind of routine for them to discuss everything after dinner, and it had helped her a lot, she came to know many of her weak points and she was doing her best to improve too.

But here she was again listening the lectures of her boss, he was so intolerant towards any mistake even if it was small. But he was understanding too, he knew what problems she was facing even before she could vocalise them.

Again he caught another small mistake in her report and now was scolding her and his bad mood added fuel to the fire.

Adhiraj's gaze moved to Adhvan,"And you, why are you smiling? Should I enlist your mistakes? I am so sure that one whole hour will pass on pointing out them only."

His smile dropped and he too started looking down like Raina to avoid any further casualties.

He said in annoyance,"Go away now."

Raina and Adhvan didn't miss any other second and just in a blink they were out of his room.

Adhvan asked shaking his head, "Why was he pissed off?"

"Today his 'fiance' Divya came in office. Maybe aftereffects of their 'Date'.",she said voicing the words Fiance and Date in more effective way.

"Oh god... Now it justifies his sour mood.", he laughed making her giggle along.

🔅🔅🔅

She placed her laptop on her bed and also she put many files, she needed to complete her work given by him before time to avoid the recurring of mistakes.

She sat on her bed and placed the file on her lap and started reading it but her mind was going somewhere else.

So many things changed in this two months, she was improving in her work as well as in life.

Akshit regularly visited her at least once in a week, though he had loads of work as he was working on expanding his business but of course they were family, friendship can't describe the various meanings of their deep relationship but flying back and forth from Mumbai to Jaipur was hectic for him too. Dia was undergoing happy pregnancy days and Raina could see the healthy pregnancy glow on her face through video call. Akshit and Raina didn't miss any chance to tease her about her sudden weight gain which used to rile her up.

Raina came to develop more strong bond with Adya and Adhvan, these two were like mini version of Akshit and Dia in Jodhpur, entertaining and always laughing on her expanse.

Her Kaka Hukum was her new chess competitor, at least one round of chess in the evening was a must to do thing for them.

One month ago, Raina was strolling in the Royal garden enjoying the evening glam. When she saw Adya and Rana sa seating there, she moved near them and sat on the chair placed beside Adya looking at the chessboard carefully.

Adya was losing the match but still trying hard to prolong the game whereas Rana sa was having a victorious smile on his lips already.

Adya was not focusing on her pawn which can turn the game in her favor. Raina couldn't hold herself and placed the pawn as her wish.

Little things matter.

"Oh, nice move Ria.", Uday Singh was astonished after seeing her shrewdness.

Raina laughed. In Mumbai , Akshit grandfather was her chess-buddy and that old man had taught her many tricks.

Gradually, Adya sat aside seeing the interesting match and Raina became an active opponent. Slowly and slowly, she started hitting his strong points and Rana sa was shocked after seeing how she was using his moves for her own profit. Finally after half an hour of crushing each other, Raina won.

She smiled remembering her passing days in the palace.

"Just because of you, I got scolded again", she pouted seeing the mistake in her report. She took a pen and started correcting it.

She remembered the late night moments in his study room where she and Adhvan would listen to his advice and tips keenly.

Only God knows, how he amazed her each time with his cunning and sharp ideas in work, no doubt how he established a company on his own.

But yeah, he likes to scold her to much, earlier it felt bad whenever he would point out her mistakes harshly and Adhvan was allowed to get over with them easily.

Initially she thought that he was being biased towards her by not scolding Adhvan like he do it with her but later she understood how this all helped her to improve more.

Now whenever his scold mode would go active she would duck her head down and he would stop within couple of minutes, it was like his pause button.

She chuckled but again she drowned back in her thoughts while doing her work.

He was very composed person, more composed then Rana Uday Singh Rathore but it was not hidden from her that he was more dangerous too.

Maybe more handsome too.

She hit her head with the pen on that thought but even she knew that he was devilishly attractive.

She once again started attending sessions with psychiatrist on the peer insistence or emotional blackmailing of Vasudha. God! That woman became literally a mother figure to Raina within two months. Going with her to her appointments, spending time with her, fussing over her late night sleeps, everything was comforting Raina with a motherly warmth.

She looked up from her laptop when someone entered in her room.

"Kaki Hukum!!! Again, you are here. I told you to rest, right?", she said placing the file aside when Vasudha faced her.

Rani sa looked at her with bored expression, "Shut up, and you tell me. What is all this files are doing on your bed when it is time to sleep?"

"Uhh.... Actually...", she scratched the back of her head with the pen, thinking about some excuses.

Vasudha made an statement, "You were not feeling sleepy."

Raina sighed looking down silently confirming her remark. From past two weeks, doctor told her to reduce the usage of sleeping pills which she had started taking after her panick attack but now she was back to her insomniac mode.

Once Vasudha came to check upon her only to find her drown in her laptop in midnight. That day she made her sleep by massaging her hair, it was a bliss to Raina.

Nobody had did that for her and fortunately that head massage made her relax slowly pushing in the pit of sleep. Now from that day onwards, Vasudha started coming to her room in night to put her to sleep. Sometimes Adya to joined them to get that heavenly touch of her mother in her hair.

Vasudha moved to the dressing table and come back holding a oil bottle in her hand.

Raina whined "Kaki Hukum, not oil. Please."

"It will ruin your hand and I will have to wash my hair before going to office tomorrow. Too much of work.", she huffed.

Vasudha face palmed,"Oh god girl, my son is transforming you into a workaholic too. Tomorrow is Saturday kiddo."

"Oh!!yeah..", Raina just realised it, she awkwardly agreed.

"Did he again scold you?", Vasudha made an assumption after seeing her so engrossed in work, it more like shooting in the dark and it hit the target when Raina looked away.

Vasudha cupped her cheek with one hand, "Don't take it to heart Lado. He is just frustrated over that girl.. don't know why he is even getting frustrated? He should have ignored her."

Raina nodded her head, Vasudha sat on the bed and told her, "Now, settle your head here."

She tapped her lap signalling her to lay down

Raina pointed out at her shining silk saree, "But your saree..."

Vasudha smiled after spreading a towel on her lap,"We have laundry to wash my saree."

Raina smiled at her witty reply. She laid down and Vasudha started running her fingers in her scalp. Raina closed her eyes as relaxation took over her senses.

"You know, you should take rest. It's already late and you need to take as much as possible rest in this age.", Raina said after a few minutes of silence.

"What do you mean by this age? I am not old yet, you see I have to marry my children off and playing with their kids is also in my bucket list. You can't say that I am old.", she said in a fake offended tone which made Raina laugh.

Vasudha ran her one finger on her perfectly sculpted forehead, "By the way, you are also my child."

A smile broke on Raina face, she hummed,"Hmmmm."

Vasudha asked, "So when are you planning for your marriage? Do you like someone?"

Raina shrieked opening her eyes, "What!!!! No no.. Kaki Hukum, I don't want to marry now. I still have to develop my career."

Raina tried to get up so that she can make her understand.

But Vasudha pushed her down again, "Okay, I got it. Calm down . Just curious, do you like someone?"

Raina shook her head in No.

"Love marriage or Arrange marriage?"

Raina shrugged,"I haven't thought about it, and why suddenly marriage talk now?"

Raina asked with raised eyebrows to which Vasudha shrugged back.

Again after few minutes, Vasudha asked, "Any improvements in your nightmares and sleeping patterns?"

"Minor improvements only. I have to still adapt to sleep without taking pills and about nightmares, I think it is not affecting me that much.", she said, all the playfulness in her tone evaporating off.

Vasudha knew the truth behind her words but she decided to not push her further. Making Raina agree for the counselling was so tough, it showed that how much she was trying to run away from her past.

"Kaki Hukum, enough. I am feeling sleepy. You also go and take rest.", Raina took Vasudha's hand in hers and squeezed it gently with a smile on her face.

🔅🔅🔅

Adhiraj drank a glass of water to calm himself down. He put back the glass on his desk but his gaze was fixed on the fading foggy appearance of that glass due to cold water.

'Am I being too harsh on her?'

The usual thought came in his mind, he was regretting lashing out on her. He is also human, and humans need to show their emotions but his frustration came out at wrong place.

He pulled a drawer and took out all the presentations, reports, files and graphs made by her in these two months and started going through them.

The story of her progress could be seen clearly, finally she was ready for some practical experience.

And that feeling of her success worth some scoldings. Isn't it?

He moved to his bedroom ready for a peaceful sleep, his gaze went to the table where a very small shopping pack was kept.

He took it and placed it inside one drawer.

"Get ready for the challenge Love, I hope you won't disappoint me."

He thought looking at the pack.

He laid on his bed and dimmed the lights. He still remember, he had said two months ago that he liked Raina but even he knew that it was something more deep than a mere liking. He just wanted to be confirm on his ground about his feelings and now he is.

He never knew when he met her for the first time that she will have such a big impact on him and his heart.

It was instinctive how he fell for her so hard, it was natural just like an effortless intake of breath.

She became much stronger in these two months but still the liveliness was missing from her.

He wanted to change that, he want to be that man in her life who make her say,"My life has changed since I met you."

No smooth conversations, no texts, no calls, but here he was thinking crazily about her instead of sleeping peacefully.

He was never the one who likes to talk out his feelings, but he is planning to show her the inside of his heart instead of contracting that feeling into three mere words.

He closed his eyes muttering, "I am not the jealous type but when she is meant to be mine, than she is mine. All rights reserved."

Finally, he is in love.... 😍😍

Now it's the time to chase his lady love 😗😗

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