Chapter 9

Veer Singh peeked from behind a pillar of the first floor, looking all around to see if the coast was clear. In the huge hall a maid was dusting the various crystal figurines that was neatly arranged on the rosewood table at the far end. Her back was turned toward him yet he contemplated whether he should make a move or stay put till she left. His bushy mustache moved up and down as he wrinkled his nose and rued his fate. He was reduced to this! Did he ever envisage himself snooping around the palace? No! All thanks to the princess. He watched as the maid who had finished dusting proceeded to move to the second floor. Great, this was a perfect opportunity, he decided and started moving at a stunning speed toward the stairs. His stomach however had a mind of its own and made a good job of stalling him on purpose. He casually rubbed his enormous stomach in a bid to make it return to its original shape.

As soon as the maharaj left, Veer Singh had raced to the princess's quarters located in the east wing of the first floor. He then spent half an hour of his precious time deliberating whether to eat the food that was meant for the princess. Another half an hour was spent in apologizing to the gods and all the royal predecessors for what he was about to do. In the next fifteen minutes he ate like there was no end. Now he had a humongous task in front of him – descend the set of steps.

"Veer Singh ji", the butler called out to him from the bottom of the stairs. Veer Singh smiled weakly at the new problem aka Ram Singh the butler, who was now climbing up the stairs with a big smile plastered on his face.

"How good to find you here Veer Singh ji", the butler beamed clasping his hands together.

"Yes, yes", Veer Singh tried to walk past him knowing full well how much the butler liked engaging in useless conversations.

"Oh ho! wait Veer Singh ji, you are always in a hurry. Are you coming from the princess's quarters?", Veer Singh's face heated up at the statement, his face turning red.

"Er . . . yes. Why do you ask?", he proceeded cautiously trying to gauge whether the butler suspected anything.

"Nothing Veer Singh ji, I myself was going there to collect the empty dishes. I hope the princess liked the food. Did she tell you anything? Actually, it's not me but Bhola Ram, the head cook who wants to know. The princess has returned after a long time from a foreign country and the cook wants to know if she likes Indian dishes or should we appoint an executive chef. I did tell him that there was nothing to worry but . . ." he paused for a breath scratching his beard "Is there?"

Veer Singh sighed in relief. He cleared his throat which gave him enough time to form an answer.

"The princess liked the food ----very much. She enjoyed every morsel. The aaloo parantha was a bit salty for me but other than that . . .", he bit his tongue chiding himself for the slip up, but quickly recovered "for the princess I mean. She . . . did say that the . . . the . . . salt was a bit . . . only a bit", he pressed his index finger and thumb together for effect.

That was possibly the worst thing he could say, as he noticed that Ram Singh's face fell and he looked pensive. The scratching intensified.

"Oh! That is not good. That is not good at all", Ram Singh looked worried, "If maharaj comes to know", Ram Singh's eyes bulged so, that Veer Singh was positive that it would pop out of his socket at any moment. "I need to speak to the princess. I should apologize immediately and I will get Bhola Ram to write a personal apology", he started climbing the rest of the stairs with fervor. Veer Singh smacked himself and hurried after the butler. Catching up to him he bid him to stop.

"Ram Singh wait, the princess is resting now and she should not be disturbed. She has asked me to avoid any callers for her today. I will surely tell her that you are extremely sorry. It is much better if you follow her order. Just get the empty plates and leave", he tried convincing the other man.

"But . . ."

Veer Singh shook his head refusing to hear anymore. At last Ram Singh relented and to make sure that he would do exactly as he was told Veer Singh followed the butler all the way back to the quarters.

When at last the butler came out with the dishes he was more energetic. When inquired of the reason Ram Singh said,

"Wait till the princess tastes the fare that is prepared for her for lunch. We will not give up Veer Singh ji, no never!", with that the butler dashed off to find the head cook. In his hurry he did not hear the groan that came from behind, nor did he see the slump of the shoulders of Veer Singh as he trembled thinking of the horror that awaited him in the afternoon.

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Meanwhile at Vilaspore, Nandini and Uday left the premises of the palace as soon they could to avoid questions and inquisitive looks. Though they did not speak of it, they were sure that everything that happened downstairs would have been carried to the yuvraj by now. After travelling for almost ten kilometers in absolute silence, Nandini finally expressed a desire to change out of the maid's dress. Uday agreed all too quickly as he was getting worried for her. He decided that a shower and a change of clothes would do her good. Deciding against his family's guesthouse a few kilometers away, they stopped at a three star hotel The Raj Palace. Now as he waited in the lobby, he doubted if he had enough time to call Vikram and inform him about everything that happened.

Not thinking too much into the situation he dialed the number. On the third ring the call was answered. Silence prevailed on both ends for almost a minute. Finally Uday spoke,

"She is safe Vikram. No harm done, although . . .", he paused thinking if he should tell his friend more.

"I am waiting Uday. Don't try to sugar coat the facts. And don't bother lying. I will find out somehow!", Vikram's tone had a warning tint to it.

"You are the one to talk man! You should have been here for her and not me.", Uday paced to and fro his face burning with anger.

Vikram sighed, " . . . I am sorry bro, but I am helpless right now. I can't leave London without ruffling some feathers. I made some bad business choices and now I am paying the price", he said with regret. "I can only trust you to help her".

Uday massaged his right temple slowly trying to take in the information.

"Uncle Virendra can help you Vikram if only . . ." Uday could sense Vikram's reluctance and his words confirmed it,

"Father doesn't know anything. I cannot risk to involve him. These people are . . . dangerous. I am stuck here Uday, stuck in this forsaken place". Uday wondered what his dear friend had gotten himself into.

"Can I help you in some way? I can ask my dad . . .", he began to say when Vikram replied in the negative.

"No one can help me Uday. It will take a miracle for me to get back to India". Uday stopped pacing

"Who are these people? What exactly is the problem?", he questioned crossing his arms in a bid to listen.

"Later, right now tell me about her. Did he resort to his old tricks?", Vikram's voice shook a little as he considered the worst.

"I don't know much, when I saw her she was in front of Padmini aunt's picture. Keshav baba had sent her there".

"What? And then?", Vikram's voice rose in agitation.

"She wanted to know how Padmini aunt died", Uday spoke in a low voice.

"Just say the whole thing will you!", Vikram shouted unable to take in the suspense.

"Keshav baba told her what he knew, about how she was upset with something on the night of Dussehra and the car crash".

Vikram heaved a sigh of relief at that. But of course no one knew what had transpired that night except the late maharani and the two of them. Nandini remembered none of it and Abhimanyu, he mused, the devil might remember all of it.

"Vikram", Uday began to say "She needs to know what happened. She has been asking me questions ever since we started the journey and I have been successful so far by avoiding it. I don't think I can avoid it forever. Sooner or later I have to tell her".

"No!", came the single reply from the other end. "Just drop her home Uday and let things be as they are. We can decide it later -----when I return", he added after short pause.

Uday shook his head in disagreement, "You don't understand Vikram. I . . . something in Keshav baba's words triggered her memory. She was speaking about a man, after which she got hysterical. Vikram listen to me, this is going to do her more harm than good. She should face her demons", he tried to push the message home.

"You don't understand Uday!", Vikram rasped "Revealing the truth will make her have another breakdown. That day we were there with her to handle things without the elders knowing anything. But now all hell will break loose. Father won't leave me alive nor him", he countered. The banter between the friends continued for ten more minutes ending with Uday finally losing his patience before hanging up.

Uday flopped on the sofa and went over the whole scenario with the do's and don'ts. What if he told her the truth about that fateful night? There was no way to determine as to how she would react. But what if he took the chance! What if he gently broached the subject? He would have to do something. How could he knowingly support the impending matrimony between the two?

Dressed in a powder blue kurti that had white floral embroidery on it and white flare pants with a backpack slung carelessly on her shoulders, Nandini stood near the reception area and looked around. As her eyes were searching for Uday, she was completely unaware that the eyes of the entire hotel was on her. Though she was dressed quite simply, there was no mistaking her regality and aura which gave an alluring air. The male receptionist who had earlier looked at her in disdain when he saw her dressed in a maid's clothes, now looked at her in absolute amazement. She was perfect to a T.

Spotting Uday sitting on a sofa in the lobby deep in thought, Nandini proceeded toward him, unaware of the mild wolf whistles coming her way. She was busy with her phone checking it to see if there were any calls or messages. She found two missed calls from Vikram, one from Bethany, her college mate back in the U.S. and a message from Josh. She opened the message and while reading its contents faltered slightly.

'Hey Nandini, didn't see you in class today. Well, I was wondering if we could grab a bite at Little Italy. And if you are wondering if it's a date, then I surely wouldn't say no!. See you tomorrow – Josh'

All of a sudden the words that she heard earlier from Abhimanyu popped up in her head,

"I know all about your life in the U.S. I also know about that guy from your class who is nuts about you".

It was all starting to make sense, she realized. The looks, the calls, the dinner dates? Gosh! Was she such a fool that she couldn't even understand that a guy had feelings for her? Did she urge him on? Did she?, she began thinking as she ran every meeting, every word and every incident involving Josh in her head trying to see if she had unconsciously led him to believe something that was not possible.

Still thinking she reached Uday and finding him lost in thoughts decided to mull over it later. Right now she had bigger problems to handle. Uday did not see her approach, nor did he see her sit opposite to him on the plush chair. Nandini studied Uday carefully. She couldn't bring herself to believe that he had fallen in love with Uttara, who was the sister of his friend turned nemesis. She dumped the bag at her feet and crossed her legs

"Are you thinking about somebody?", she casually remarked. Uday came out of the stupor. He eyed her from head to toe and nodded once in appreciation which she duly ignored.

"Did you come just now?"

Nandini flipped her almost dry hair to a side and straightened herself, "Mmm hmm".

"You look pensive! What is on your mind?", she prodded hoping to hear it from the horse's mouth. Uday leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands,

"Right now your dear brother is on my mind. He called me earlier at the palace and I just returned the call". Uday noticed that Nandini wasn't showing any eagerness in knowing about the conversation. "Don't you want to know what we spoke?", he asked.

Nandini fixed her eyes on the image behind Uday. It was a painting of a desert at sunset with a lonely rider on a camel. Had her life also become barren like the desert?, she wondered. At least the rider in the painting was aware of where he wanted to go, but her life was directionless.

"He called twice when I was in the shower", she answered not taking her eyes off the painting, "I will call him when I reach home, or I may not ---- it depends", she stated.

"You are angry?", it was a question rather than a perception. Nandini did not correct him either.

"What makes you think I am?", she looked at him finally. Uday exhaled "Baby there is stuff that . . ."

"Enough Uday!", the agitation was clear in her voice but somehow she remained calm aware of her surroundings. "I know that you all are hiding something. It seems that everyone is aware of it except me. I don't know what it is but I really hope you have a good explanation for keeping it from me.

"Bhai sa said that he couldn't come to see me as he had a fight with dad. That is pure bullshit, I know it. Today I understood the reason. He is stuck in deep shit isn't he Uday? Well, tell him when he calls you next that he has nothing to worry because Nandini is going to sacrifice herself to save his sorry ass", she picked up the bag and stood up. "I am famished Uday, lets eat", she said and walked toward the restaurant.

Uday sat dumbstruck, if he required any proof as to how strong she was, this was it. At that precise moment, he decided to tell her everything when the time was right. She was a brave girl and she had the right to know the truth, irrespective of what Vikram thought. With that he got up and followed her to the restaurant.