52.Be my lioness.

❤Don't skip-

Many of you commented that that dagger moment was just like a scene from 'Bajirao Mastani'.

I want to make some things clear.

First, The thing shown in Bajirao Mastani was not true. Marriage doesn't happen like that.

As I explained in last chapter the history and importance of dagger. Daggers is like a soul of Rajputs or warrior clan. So giving someone your dagger is not marrying that person, it means now that person is your family, or connected to you.

And in marriage case, it means that now both persons are engaged. Even now Swords are given and taken in a Rajput Marriage.

During King's time, when a prince or king went to war and his marriage was scheduled, then at the place of of king, his sword used to be placed to complete the rituals because as I said, swords are the soul of a Rajput clan (Kshatriya Vansh).

So marriage didn't happened here, Just Rathores made Raina a family member. Now it depends on them, how they would like to proceed this relationship. Marriage or not, it's their decision.

A marriage was going to happen in my family, being a new generation I was appointed to find a traditional manufacturer of sword over internet. And after that I bumped into a Rajasthani website, and my interest in Rajasthan resulted in 3 months long research about Rajasthan and your lovely story of AdhiRa generated. 😘

Happy reading and don't forget to spam my comment box. Let's see if we can make to 1K comments 😆

Raina was working in her cubicle, all focused on her new project. She was trying a full attack on a small company which was a business associate of Jayant Chauhan and Sarvesh Rawal.

There is a pleasure in destroying someone bits by bits.

She stood up after spending half of her day in front of her computer screen. She looked towards Adya's cabin and then at her watch.

Adya and Raina used to drink their coffee together in after noon.

Raina shrugged thinking that she might be busy, she moved towards the canteen and ordered for her coffee.

She saw her workmates seating on one table, initially she was very aloof of her surrounding but the two months long counselling was helping her in opening up to the people.

Still the progress was slow but she was trying hard on herself. She took her mug of caffeine and walked to the table after puting up a micro smile on her face.

"Hey!", she greeted them and settled on tlan empty chair. In return she received a chorus of hellos.

They were chatting about something, Raina was listening and giving her inputs now and then.

A girl who was colleague of Raina came there and handover her phone to Raina saying, "You left your phone back in cubicle, it was ringing. Some Kaki Hukum has called."

"Kaki Hukum!!", Raina gasped surprised. She hurriedly took the phone and kept it near her ears, "Kaki Hukum??"

From another side of phone Vasudha spoke up, "Ria, are you free now?"

"Ummm.. Yeah.", she answered looking at the her coffee mug, avoiding number of curious gaze over her.

"Come back at palace, I have to talk something important."

"Now, but office?", she looked at the clock handing on the wall, two hours was yet to pass before scheduled departure.

"Lado! I am mother of your boss. I am waiting,meet me in my room once you are back.", Vasudha said shaking her head, chuckling slightly.

"Jiii.", Raina nodded and cut the call.

(A/N: Jiii- yes/okay.)

She looked at her phone frowning when the same girl who bring her phone asked, "Who was she?"

Raina looked at her for few seconds and then said, a small smile spreading on her lips, "She is like my mother."

"God!! Her voice was so powerful.", she gushed remembering Vasudha's sentence, "Can you give phone to Lado? "

Even when she was asking politely, her dominant tone was conveying something else.

"Guys! Do you know, Raina's nickname is Lado.", that girl giggled.

"Awww.."

"So cute."

Raina felt heat rushing to her ears in embarrassment, she whispered helplessly, "Guys, please!"

In return, she received a gust of laughter on the table.

She stood up and said,"I will go, I have some work."

One person asked, "Where?"

She said "Home." Everyone nodded, and bid bye to her.

She turned around and walked back to her cubicle to take her things but one thing struck her mind and her eyes widened a little.

How easily that word 'Home' slipped off her tongue, it was so natural. It was not something she planned to say but her heart was connected to Suryagarh Palace, or more likely to people. And above the all, it's the family which makes any concrete structure home.

And those Rathores were her home.

🔅🔅🔅

Two hours later she entered her room, she put the phone on her table with trembling hand. She sat on her bead with a thud looking shocked.

She put her head in her hands...

"Ria, Adhiraj is perfect for you.He will take care of you. Believe me. "

"I am not forcing you, just think about it. Decision is in your hands."

"Lado, truth to be told. I want you to live here, with us. And along with it want you to settle down, to find happiness in someone."

"You are betrothed to him, Ria."

"I know,you are an independent girl. You are strong enough but having a family of your own is something else."

"Think about it and tell me your decision."

Things replayed in her mind like rewind mode.

Suddenly a scene came in her mind. She looking at her reflection in the mirror and that house of village where she was trapped that night. The vermilion peeking through her hair partition and tear stains on her cheeks.

And another picture flashed in her mind when Adhiraj was laying on a cot, fainted and injured with a wide bandage wrapped around his chest.

She sat straight with a jerk. A drop of sweat trickle down from her hairline.

What was happening in her life? Marriage? That too with Adhiraj?

Heck!! She had even forgotten that forced marriage. She kept that memory away thinking of it as an accident, but what was happening now?

And Voila!!! The dagger she preserved all these years ate not her but his, of the great Yuvraj of Suryagarh.

No doubt, King and Queen were treating her like their own, with love, care and adoration. She couldn't help but got attached to them deeply even after being a closed off person.

But what about Adhiraj? What place he held in her life?

She rubbed her sweaty palms together.

He was definitely a reason to motivate herself to improve herself. He was strict, very strict, but supportive too.

The way he could spike up confidence in her, no one else can.

The way he can intimidate her in a different way, no one else can.

The way he could understand her inner feelings just by just looking in her eyes, no one else can..

The way he used to calm her down by just his gaze amidst of many meetings when her nervousness would start resurfacing, no one else can.

The way his sharp eyes could sense her anxiety even when many people couldn't see it due to her facade, no one else can.

But, that's it? Is it enough?

Is it enough to step into a relationship just on the basis of professional strings?

That was an another problem, she had shared only professional link with him, putting away that forced marriage and that silly, stupid, tiny crush on him.

Now, you shouldn't expect a woman to be unfazed by a perfect personage after staying so close to him from months.

Same house and same office gave her ample of time to feel little bit of attraction towards him. Only a bit, okay!

Raina was not those type woman who would swoon on anyone's face, same happened here. She didn't like him because of his sharp jawline covered with the stubble, or that rare genuine smile, or that twinkling penetrating eyes, nor she was talking about his all time favorite smirk.

The thing she liked about him was his perfection, the dedication he possessed, his confident persona, how cunningly his mind works and the his personality demands respect.

But that doesn't mean that she will go on marrying her boss, right?

She liked many persons, many actors were her crush but it doesn't mean that she will agree to marry them. That's so.....awkward!!

Her trance was broken by the ringing of her cell.

She took a glance at her screen, Dia was calling her.

She took a glass of water and chugged it down to calm herself, taking deep breaths she received the call.

She said after composing herself,being cautious not wanting her panick to be known, "Hello."

But from another side she could her sobbing only.

Raina asked, "Dia!!! Why are you crying? What happened?"

But no response.

Raina asked again, "Dia???"

After couple of minutes, Dia said in a cracked voice, "Raina, please come to me. I am so alone."

Raina was panicking by now, "What!!! What happened?"

But she again got no response, only sobbing she could hear.

Raina hung upon her and called Gaurav, Dia's husband to know about the situation.

After one hour, Raina was pacing in her room. Even Gaurav didn't know the reason behind Dia's sudden bawling. He only knew that she went to a gynaecologist in noon and when Gaurav reached home in evening, he found her crying. Dia didn't tell him anything, rising his anxiety too. That poor fella was so much stressed and Dia's pregnancy was not helping at all.

Akshit also got to know about this fiasco and he was reaching Pune in night, and like fuel to the fire Raina couldn't get her hands on flight tickets.

She called Gaurav once again. After talking to him, she sighed in relief. Dia finally exhausted herself after crying and she slept soundly.

She again looked for tickets on her laptop, all flights were booked but few seats were left in a flight but the problem was that it was scheduled after midnight, around 2 o'clock.

Raina thought for a while , not having any options she booked her tickets.

She looked around her room, she had to pack her stuff but her nerves were wreaking already, that's why she decided to go to garden.

She took a deep breath trying to release her tension but she again started pacing in tension,thinking about Dia's health.

Even the serenity of Royal Garden couldn't calm her down

"Ria! What happened?",Raina flinched at sudden call.

She looked in her right direction and saw King and Queen seating in garden,enjoying the evening.

"Come here.",Vasudha gestured with her hand.

Raina cursed under her breath.

Raina didn't want to face them now just after the blunder that happened few hours back.

But she couldn't disobey them at that time it would look so rude. So she slowly walked towards them and settled on a chair placed on other side of table.

Vasudha noticed her tensed posture, she was feeling guilty after putting her in such a dilemma but the mother within her didn't wanted to compromise in her wellfare and according to her after this marriage, Raina will be away from any danger because no one would dare to harm a Rathore even in dreams.

She started in a soft tone,"Lado, why are you panicking so much? Take your time and then answer. Nobody is forcing you, we can't think of doing that. Just remember one thing you will never regret after being our family."

Raina made a face and said, almost complained in childish tone, "But you said that I am like your daughter, am I not your family?"

King chuckled and put hus hand on her head, patting her softly, "You are, but there is something different after officially being family."

He muttered slowly, "Nobody will dare to raise a finger on you."

Raina couldn't hear that properly,"Umm??"

Uday Singh shook his head, "Nothing."

Vasudha pacified her, "Ria, don't be so tensed?"

Raina understood that she was referring to their talk, she decided to tell about the current problem in her hand,"Kaki Hukum, I will have to go Pune immediately. Dia is not feeling good. I will be going tonight."

Vasudha worriedly asked about Dia, she knew that Dia was pregnant. Raina replied with whatever she knew and also expressed her problem.

King asked,"When is the flight?"

"2 o'clock,after midnight."

Raina looked at her watch and stood up, "I have to pack , I am going."

King and Queen nodded, Raina went away.

Raina was behaving very calm but her insides were jumping in anxiety. She decided to put Adhiraj aside for time being and focus on Dia.

🔅🔅🔅

Raina sighed when she completed packing. She kept her bag on the table and picked her laptop to keep it in her backpack when her gaze fell on the files kept.

She bit her lips remembering that she forgot to send any advance notice in office about her leave.

Mr. Aggarwal, her senior was also on leave hence making Raina to handle the pending works directly under the observation of the mighty CEO himself.

She prepared her application and mailed it to Adhiraj's secretary.

She looked at the dinner placed on side table, she was busy in packing so Vasudha sent her dinner in her room but Raina being Raina, she forgot to eat it and now it was cold.

Raina huffed and went to take her medicines, she took it turn to walk back buy her eyes collided with her reflection.

Troubled face, disheveled hair and worried eyes. She looked down at her hands, her fingers gripping the medicines tightly.

She blinked her eyes as realisation dawned on her.

Here King and Queen was insisting on her decision but what about him. She looked in the eyes of her replica, that was the truth.

She was broken brutally, she had too much to handle. Sleepless nights, panick attacks, anxiety, nightmares, depression, so much shit to handle.

And there he was, a piece of art made by God with so much effort. He would get any girl than why to settle with her? A total mess.

A mocking smile came on her face seeing the joke played by life..

They can't be together, never.

She shook her head zipping her bag.

She took her bag and went out of her room ready to leave as it was close to 1 a:m so she needed to leave for airport.

"Lado!!", Raina stopped listening to the familiar sound.

Vasudha was standing there with a servant behind her. She gestured the servant to take Raina's luggage.

Raina gave away her bag and walked to Vasudha, "Kaki Hukum! Why are you up so late?"

"Just wanted to see you off.", Vasudha shrugged.

"Leave about me and listen carefully. Take care of yourself, never miss your appointment with your doctor.", Raina sighed as Vasudha started giving her the list of Dos and Don'ts.

🔅🔅🔅

Raina sat inside the car and looked at the palace through window. Car started moving through the porch area of palace. Raina instantly turned her head when she felt suddenly halt in car and the opening of adjacent door.

Adhiraj sat beside Raina still maintaining a distance. Driver drove outside the boundaries of palace and car ran on the road.

"Sir? What are you doing here?",Raina finally came out of her shock and asked.

"Shh...", Adhiraj closed his eyes motioning her to shut up.

Raina instant closed her parted lips sensing the not so welcoming vibes coming from him.

She scooted more towards the side, away from him. Adhiraj opened his eyes and looked at her. Raina eyes widened when she took in his red eyes.

"Raina, there is enough space so stop moving. It's irritating.",he said through his gritted teeth and again closed his eyes, leaning his head back on the seat.

'Then go away, who told you to come here?', she wanted to say it aloud but stopped herself.

Raina continued to look at him for few minutes and then she sighed turning her head away from him.

Her heart was pumping fast and she could feel it pretty easily, the silence was more dreading. She looked outside the window, her gaze falling over the passing buildings.

At that moment, she only wanted to teleport herself somewhere else.

Finally after half an hour of bone melting silence, the car stopped in the parking lot.

Raina took in a gust of breath like a oxygen deprived person came out of the car without even glancing at him.

Driver took out her luggage from trunk and followed Raina, Adhiraj slowly came out and shook his head seeing Raina fastly pacing away from him.

"Sorry for the inconvenience ma'am, the flight is delayed for half an hour due to technical issues.", the woman said from behind the table.

Raina shook her head muttering, "Wow, that's great."

Unknown to her she was being more sarcastic now a days.

"You can wait in VIP lounge room.", the woman smiled at Raina after seeing the driver dressed in Royal uniform.

Raina nodded and take her luggage from the driver even when he was insisting to carry it.

She was to enter the lounge room when a voice boomed in the corridor, "So eager to run away. Isn't it? "

Raina didn't turn to face him, her heart was beating fast, along with the sounds of his approaching footsteps.

He held her elbow and pulled her inside the empty lounge room.

He made her face himself.

"Tell me Raina, are you running away from me?"

Raina didn't answered, she was gazing the floor like it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Are you running away from situation?", her tone was getting louder.

Raina shook her head taking a glance of him, "No sir, Dia needs...."

He cut her off and took a step back, he crossed his hands in front of his chest and said, "Raina Chauhan,neither you are stupid nor I am. We both know that you are avoiding me."

He sighed receiving the silence from her, "Now,we don't have whole night."

Raina sighed, she was already having so much stress. She hurled out what was going in her mind,"Sir, I don't know what is happening, how things turned up and brought us in such a difficult situation, and my mind is totally messed up."

He asked genuinely,"What is there which is messing up your mind?"

He cocked his eyebrows in question,"You mean our marriage?"

Raina nodded meekly, she said, "Kaka Hukum and Kaki Hukum are talking about it, it wasn't supposed to happen."

He said "And it is messing up your mind."

"Tell me Raina,why are you so repulsive about our marriage?", he asked.

She looked up at him with a worried face and motioned between him and herself with her finger, "Sir.. We are not meant to be together. We are not compatible. Our behavior is different."

He said softly, "Raina, you are an intelligent girl. Even you know that starting a relationship is not easy. It's going to be really hard. We're going to have to work on this everyday. I am ready to do that, are you?"

Raina looked at him shocked after listening the last line she thought he won't be ready but here he is asking her directly.

"Wh..What? You are ready? But... How? Sir...", she couldn't help but stammer, not knowing how to form a proper sentence at that time.

She shook her head and said,"Don't. Don't agree to this. I can't handle this."

He asked with a curiosity laced voice, "What can't be handled by you? "

"Leave it.", she avoided looking at him.

Adhiraj closed his eyes in frustration, why she was being so difficult,"I hate it when people run away, not having courage to talk out what is in their heart. I hate cowards Raina. Don't be one."

Raina snapped at him in a loud voice after hearing his allegation,"I am not coward."

She sighed and looked again at him,"I can't handle this, the aura screaming authority around you."

Adhiraj said without wasting any minute,"And here you are yelling at me."

She whined,"I don't understand you, whenever I look at your face, I see a blank face devoid of any emotions."

His eyes turned soft as he whispered,"Then be brave enough to pull out those emotions from me and I know you will."

Her chest was tingling while listening his words.

She again said,"I hate it when you know every thing going inside me just by one glance."

He smiled, "Yet you are comfortable about it that you don't have to talk about your problems everytime."

She muttered defeated, in a weak voice,"You are just so perfect, I am not. I am nothing in front of you."

He took a step towards her, "Who told you? You are perfect mix of every emotions, you are full of everything I have ever craved."

She took a breath and uttered without thinking,"You are a scary lion."

He looked at her, amused at the name given by her.

He said, his voice turning persuasive, "Be my lioness, every king needs a queen when the crown gets heavy."

She couldn't take all the words inside her mind,it was so different. She asked,"Why are you so adamant on this relationship, that too so suddenly?"

He shrugged,"There are many reasons."

"What are they?"

He took a step in her left side and said,"My family likes you."

He again took a step in her left side and he was standing behind her,"You are strong,independent and intelligent. Perfect to be my queen."

His breath collided with the back of her neck making her shiver with a strange feeling.

He again took a step and said near her right year,"You bring out some really weird and tingling emotions from me, without knowing."

She looked down.

After one other step , he faced her,"And you are already mine."

She looked up, "Yours?"

He leaned his head a bit down to match her eye level, "Raina, don't tell me you forget that night when you became my wife, marking yourself as my better half with that Vermillion."

She stumbled back in shock,"What!!!"

Her heart skipped a beat.

She whispered in shock,"How do you know?"

"My innocent wife, I was not unconscious,I was just paralyzed. I was hearing every thing, feeling every thing.", Adhiraj was calmly watching her.

"Who else know?", her voice came out breathy.

"Everyone in Rathore family. Initially only Adya,Adhvan and Rohan knew but yesterday I told about it to Maa sa and Baba sa. Because they were thinking of marrying you with Adhvan.", Adhiraj being as blunt as always, he said the truth finding no any solid reasons to hide it.

Heat rushed to her ears and cheeks as her mind went haywire,"Oh god.. What would be they thinking about me?"

She kept her hand on her head looking here and there in shock.

She had that fear, fear of Royals misunderstanding her deeds.

She looked at him with glassy eyes,"I swear I didn't had any hidden intentions. I just did it to manage the situations. Shit."

She was ready to cry, a lone tear escaped her eyes and trickled down the red cheeks.

Adhiraj took a step forward and wiped her tears with his thumb pad.

He made her seat on the nearby sofa. Leaning on his knees, he patted her shoulders to pacify her, "Hey, calm down. We know."

She looked at her lap thinking millions of thing that were going inside her mind.

After good five minutes, she mustered her courage and said, "If Kaka Hukum and Kaki Hukum are pressuring you for this marriage then I will do back off."

Adhiraj seriously asked, "Do you really think that someone can push me into marrying someone without my consent?"

Raina again looked down, but after a minute she asked, "Then why are you manipulating me?"

"Wh..what?"

Adhiraj opened his mouth to say something but closed not know what to answer her.

Was he manipulating?

Maybe, a little.

But he didn't say any lie.

His voice dropped few octaves as he whispered huskily, "And why will I?"

Raina gulped and said in a childish tone, she whined, "You are talking as if my insecurities are nothing."

He smiled,"Because it's seriously nothing. Every thing happens for a reason.That reason causes change. Sometime it hurts. Sometime it is hard. But in the end it is for the best."

"Raina, you earned respect for yourself from me and I won't ever think of forcing you. That's why I am telling you to give a thought about it, I am not manipulating you. You are tensed now. When your mind will be cool,think about it, about us."

Her eyes were turning glassy again as she expressed her main fear, "I am too much broken to be in your life."

He pressed his lips in a thin line looking at her.

Raina immediately leaned back creating little distance between them when she heard announcement for the flight boarding.

She stood up and he followed her lead, she got hold of her things and said ready to run away, "I should go."

She was going to exit when he held her wrist.

She looked back at him and gulped feeling his grip.

He said, "I am not saying that I will fix you."

She gasped as he pulled her towards him and gently wrapped his hands around her waist.

"But I promise that I will hold you securely between my arms till you will gather your pieces and will fix yourself."

She met his gaze, sensing the promise in his words.

He leaned towards her, her eyes fluttered close when his lips lended on her forehead.

After placing a lingering kiss, he pulled back.

He whispered,"Go now, Have a safe journey."

Raina opened her eyes instantly and came out of his hold.

She didn't dare to meet his eyes once again, she ran away out of the room making Adhiraj chuckle.

Raina pulled her bag still in a daze, her heart was pounding hard ready to break her ribcage.

Air hostess showed her the reserved seat, Raina settled down still in a daze. She put her hand on her heart, feeling the high pumping rate and then her hand went to her forehead.

Her cheeks burned in shyness.

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