Chapter 41

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Vikram stirred slightly disgusted by the smell that filled his nostrils. He opened his eyes with great difficulty and slowly looked around. The room was bare except for a metal desk and chair to which he was tied. He tried to move his hands and the action caused a sharp jolt on the left side of his head which then throbbed with pain. He hissed and closed his eyes as he waited for the pain to settle. Breathing in steadily his anger plummeted as he regarded his condition. He ground his teeth furious at how they treated him; a prince from a prominent royal family. He looked around once again looking for anything that could release him from the physical and mental bonds.

Shit! Shit! he cursed under his breath. For the umpteenth time, he wriggled his hands trying to loosen the ropes and fortunately for him they came undone. He got up quickly and walked to the door peeking through the small glass window. Strangely there was no one outside. He twisted the handle and peeked through the gap. Finding the coast clear he ventured forward till he reached another door. He opened it slightly and  gasped as he realized that he was in the airport.

What the hell? Where are they taking me?

Vikram reached for the handle of the door but before he could open it he heard the sound of footsteps. He backed off quietly and hurried back to the room where he was kept tied.

The door opened and the men entered. "You eat like a pig" the short man grinned as the bulky one munched on a half eaten burger. He balanced two more in the crook of his right arm and struggled to hold a large coke in his left hand.

"All this business has made me hungry."

They continued speaking and walked to the room. On opening it they saw that Vikram was still in the position that they had left him.

"He hasn't woken up yet. Did you use more medicine than necessary" asked the short man.

The bulky one shrugged taking a bite of the burger and placing the other stuff on the table.

"One more hour for the flight. Lucky we got this place else it would have been hard keeping him like this without raising suspicion," the bulky man said chewing noisily.

The short man grunted. "Pft, this is nothing for our boss. He has connections all over the world. Didn't you notice that the airport authorities had helped us ever since we landed. That is the magic of absolute power."

Vikram scrunched his brows wondering who the boss was. A flicker of fear danced in his heart and he wondered about his fate. While the men were distracted talking about general stuff, Vikram braced himself. In one fluid motion he almost flew out of the chair toppling it in the process and taking the men by surprise. He lunged at the short man who was closest to him and held him by the lapels of his collar. The bulky one threw the burger on the ground and rushed to help the other man but Vikram was ready for it and threw a back kick aimed at the torso. The man let out a cry, staggered and fell on the ground. He held his torso and rolled to and fro. The short man caught hold of Vikram's wrist in a bid to make him release his grip but Vikram cleverly outmaneuvered  him and wound his arms around the mans neck.

"Tell me who sent you," he asked tightening the grip ever so slightly. The man floundered hitting on Vikram's arm to make him let go.

"Tell me" Vikram said more persistent.

"I-I can't say sir. I am not at liberty to reveal," the short man cried gasping for air. While Vikram was busy asking other questions he did not notice that the bulky man had risen up. With great difficulty and still clutching his torso he pulled out a gun from behind his pants and struck Vikram on the back of the head. The arm loosened and Vikram clutched his head as the pain from the strike mixed with the headache that was already irritating him. Slowly he closed his eyes and lay in a slump on the floor. The short man rubbed his neck and took in large gasps of breath in a bid to calm himself and sat down on the floor while the bulky man bent over his shaky hands taking the support of his knees.

"I need a new job," the short man said finally as he glanced at the unconscious man.

"I need a new burger," said the bulky one.

After an hour, the duo rolled a fully secure Vikram in a wheelchair to the back of the airport. A chartered flight was waiting on the tarmac. The ground staff helped the men settle Vikram into the plane.

"What are you doing?" asked the bulky one as he eyes the short man pull out a cloth and a bottle. He sprayed the liquid on the cloth and brought it close to Vikram's nose.

"I am not taking another chance. He has so much strength. We need to survive three hours to Delhi. I don't want him to wake up before that."

The bulky one nodded. "True that," he said moving a bit away. "I am worried about what boss will say when he finds out that I hit him."

The short one raised his brows. "I don't think he will mind because the last time I spoke to him he told us to use whatever means necessary."

"Hmm....I hope we don't see him ever again. I heard that royals can harbor revenge for ages."

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Roopa held the glass of water in her sweaty palms. Trying to control her shaking hands she took a small sip and felt the cold liquid slide down her parched throat. She did not dare to lift her eyes and look at Abhimanyu who she knew was staring at her. Her brain stopped working as a fear crept along her spine. She mentally smacked herself on trying to go and talk to Suraj. She should have just left him alone. But she wanted to ask him if he was the one who had called her to meet in the middle of the night. The one who promised revenge against Nandini. She bit her lips trying to control her thoughts and focus on the man who was sitting in front of her. She recalled the conversation minutes ago.

"Are you leaving? Or did you see someone you know?"

"N-No sir. I don't know him," she had fumbled for words.

The moment those words left her lips she knew she was in trouble. Abhimanyu had simply smirked, a cold ruthless smirk at that. If she expected a date she had been wrong. It felt more like an interrogation.

Abhimanyu sat with flair crossing his legs and looking intently at her, his gaze was piercing her very soul.

"Y-You asked to see me sir?" she started hoping to dispense some of the tension.

He did not speak for few seconds. His eyes strayed to the table behind her and stopped at the face of Suraj. "Suraj is here! Have you met him?"

"N-No sir. I don't know him," she said in a rush but later cursed herself at why she said that.

"Hmm, interesting," he said looking at his watch. He picked up his mobile from the table and dialed Bhim's number.

"Why the delay?" he asked curtly.

"Hukum, the princess is adamant that she does not want to go anywhere. She is insisting that she leaves for home."

Abhimanyu's lips tilted in a slight smile. "Hand the phone over"

There was a shuffling sound as Bhim handed the phone over to Nandini.

"Yes," she said shortly. That single three syllabled word was enough for Abhimanyu's heart to do a sudden lurch.

"My chartered plane is in Delhi. I can always tell my men to drop him back to London."

And in one....two....three....

"Where should I come?"

"Give the phone to Bhim," he said and waited. If she would have behaved like this few weeks back, his reaction would have been different. But now, something had changed and he wasn't uncomfortable with the change in him.

"You know what to do," he told Bhim and cut the call. All this while Roopa was listening. She had a faint idea who was at the other end of the call. Her mind was in splits and as she felt that she was literally in between the devil and the sea. However, the devil sitting in front of her scared her more. As he shifted his focus back on Roopa, she wished that the earth could swallow her away rather than be under his fiery gaze.

"You seem rather perturbed," he said running his fingers through his luxurious hair. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

Roopa's throat felt impossibly dry. She gulped several times before reaching once again for the glass of water. "N-No sir, I-I was just wondering why you called me," she said taking a sip of the water.

"Hmm, well, I thought it was the best way to show my appreciation....." he gave a short pause and leaned forward his eyes never leaving hers, " ....... for aaall the good deeds you have done for me."

Roopa could not gauge from his expressions whether he was being sarcastic or if he truly felt it. Before her head could process the information he excused himself. "I ve got a call to make. We will talk more when I come back."

Roopa sighed in relief as she glanced at his retreating back. The minutes spent with him felt like an eternity and rather than what she pictured it was truly uncomfortable. He had the ability to creep under the skin, rip open the heart, play with your emotions and stand aside and watch you squirm. Now as her heart relaxed she shifted her attention to the person sitting behind her.

Abhimanyu watched from the bar as Roopa slowly turned to look at Suraj. The latter was blatantly ignoring her. His eyes narrowed as she took her phone from her bag and began to dial a number. His lips titled in a malicious curve as he took a sip from the glass of whiskey in front of him. The girl was a fool, he mused as she held the phone to her ear. Taking another sip he looked at Suraj who casually touched the pocket of his black jacket. Abhimanyu watched as he glanced at the screen and cut the call in irritation shoving the phone back into his jacket. Roopa stared at the screen in confusion. She contemplated whether to meet him directly at his table but something kept pulling her back. While in her thoughts she did not notice a flash of black and red standing in front of her.

"Ehmm" a sound was heard from somewhere nearby which made Roopa look up. To say that the world spun would have been a joke. She gazed directly into the cold eyes of Nandini. Lost for words she shifted her gaze to the left and saw Bhim few steps behind Nandini with a sarcastic smile plastered on his lips. Her legs felt wobbly yet something in Nandini's eyes made her stand up. She held the edge of the table as a life line praying that the table and its contents wont go crashing on the ground.

Nandini half turned toward Bhim. "Why did you bring me here?" she asked in a cold tone.

Bhim bowed slightly, "Rajkumari sa, hukum has ordered me to bring you here." He straightened and looked around. "I think hukum must have gone to the restroom. Please be seated I will check."

Nandini eyed the empty chair and with her head held high moved away from Roopa and stood with her hands crossed.

Abhimanyu downed the drink in one go and adjusted the lapels of his collar. Fun time, he said to himself as he walked toward the girls.

"You're late" he said as he sat down. Nandini turned sharply toward him and gritted her teeth. The blaze in her eyes almost burned a hole in his body. "Will you keep standing all along? Sit," he said patting the chair beside him.

"I am fine where I am hukum," Nandini said abruptly. "What is so important that I had to come here?" she questioned as a small hurricane brewed within her.

Ignoring her question he turned toward Roopa. "Why are you standing? Do you want to leave yet? We haven't had dessert" he said in a sugary sweet voice.

Roopa looked aghast at the tone he used with her. Dessert! what was he talking about! They hadn't even properly talked. She was no fool to understand that it was for Nandini's benefit. He was just using her to make Nandini feel jealous and it seemed to be working as she noticed Nandini's nails press into her palm. She couldn't move away, she couldn't sit either but what choice did she have. Roopa slowly sat down as embarrassment washed over her. She averted her eyes from the two figures.

Abhimanyu leaned back on the chair. "I told you to sit didn't I? Don't make me do anything that you may regret," he said tapping the phone lightly.

Before she could give a scathing reply Bhim arrived. "Hukum, you are here! If there is nothing else shall I wait by the lobby? Once Princess Nandini is ready to go I will come back," he asked.

"You can leave Bhim. I can drop the princess wherever she wants to go."

Nandini slanted her head. "How about hell? I think you are quite familiar with that place."

Abhimanyu smiled. "Quite true, and the person who introduced hell to me was Yuvraj Vikram Singh," he paused. "Come to think of it he is still there, shall we go and meet him?" he said leaning forward.

Nandini's eyes flicked quickly to the glass of water on the table. She contemplated whether she could reach the glass in time.

Abhimanyu followed her gaze, "Try it princess and see the result for yourself," he said darkly. The banter between the two made Bhim's lips twitch who had stayed back unconsciously. The two emitted quite powerful auras. No one had the guts to speak to his master in such a way. Well, it wasn't any surprise as the princess was not the one to mess around with. His eyes strayed to Roopa and for a moment felt sorry for her. The girl was living in some sort of wonderland that made her think that she could have something with the yuvraj. He knew for sure that even she felt the connection between the two and he hoped she could discard her hopes about the prince.

"If there is nothing else I am leaving..."

As Nandini turned to leave, a voice called out to her.

"Nandini"

She turned toward the voice and came face to face with a familiar face. "Suraj?" she said her face brightening up immediately. The change in her countenance was not lost on Abhi as something growled within him.

"Hi, I thought it was you," he said with a smile. "How have you been?" he asked ignoring the other two present at the table. Bhim on the other hand went ram rod straight as if he was waiting for a fight to begin.

"I am fine thank you. I can see that you are doing well too," she said adding extra sweetness in her voice.

"If you are not busy do you want to join our table?" he said pointing to Sameer and Sitara. When Nandini looked unsure he quickly said. "Or we can grab a bite in the restobar there," he pointed.

"Suraj sa, she has already bitten more than she can chew."

Suraj's lips pressed into a straight line as he tried to control himself. "Abhi, I thought you were busy with this lovely lady," he said pointing to Roopa.

"Hello Ms. Roopa, its a pleasure seeing you again. How are you?"

Abhimanyu's lips lifted in a smile when he saw Roopa squirm.

"I-I am fine sir," Roopa stuttered. "I-I d-didnt think you would remember me"

"I don't forget people easily," he said and turned once again to Nandini. "If you are leaving shall I drop you?"

At this Abhimanyu got up and shoved his hands into the pocket of his trousers. "I am here for that Suraj sa," he said and before Nandini could object caught her arm and pulled her along with him.

After the shock wore out Nandini pulled her hand back but she couldn't free it from his iron grasp. The valet brought the car out and Abhimanyu half pushed her into the passenger seat while he strode in few steps and reached the driver's side. After getting inside for a good measure he locked the car so that she wouldn't be tempted to get out anytime. The engine roared to life and so did the beast in him. How dare she be sweet to Suraj! that was the only thought running in Abhi's head.

Nandini rubbed her wrist furiously. "You have no manners at all. I was talking to Suraj wasn't i?" she said in irritation.

Abhimanyu did not reply but held the steering wheel tightly and pressed the accelerator harder.

"Suraj must have felt so bad. I couldn't even properly say hello. I have to make amends for what you did today."

The car screeched to a halt. Abhimanyu turned to her his face dark with anger. "You will not meet him again" he said in a firm voice.

"That is not for you to decide," said Nandini

Abhimanyu unbuckled the seatbelt leaned forward and caught her by the back of her head. His face was inches from hers. Nandini gulped once, a butterfly danced in her stomach and her heart began to beat furiously. "Say that again" he said searching her face.

Nandini licked her lips. She was hot all over. "W-What?" she asked

Abhimanyu let out a breath as his lips brushed hers slightly. "Will you go meet him?" he asked in a husky voice.

Something buzzed in Nandini's head. Millions and millions of warm buzzes that made her ability to think disappear. The feeling of his lips as it touched her sent electric waves throughout her body.

"Will you?" coaxed Abhimanyu for an answer.

Nandini's gaze locked with his. She was completely bewitched. "N-no," she said finally

"Good," he said as his lips found hers again.

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Bhim whistled a merry tune as he drove the car in the direction of Rainbow Apartments with a defeated Roopa sitting beside him. She was silent all the way but her head was brimming with stuff. Her eyes glazed with unshed tears as the scene unfolded again and again in her minds eye. Furthermore she couldn't even talk to Suraj. There were lots of questions that she wanted to ask. The car came to a halt. Bhim cleared his throat, "Her Highness, Queen of Vilaspore, we have arrived at your humble palace," he said in a mock serious tone.

Roopa looked at him in anger but did not say anything. She had no energy left in her. She just wanted to retreat to her den and lick her wounds in peace. As she started walking to the apartment Bhim called out to her.

"Wait," he called out to her. Roopa stopped in her tracks but did not turn back. "One thing you should understand from today Ms. Roopa Sharma is that a prince belongs to a princess. Yuvraj Abhimanyu belongs to Rajkumari Nandini. The faster you get this in your head the happier you will be."

A single tear rolled from her eyes and fell on the dusty road.

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A/N

Sneak peak

"I am not going to spare her. I will not rest till she is dead,"

"Who the hell was it?"

"I am sorry Abhi."

"I will kill the person who dared to touch her."