Chapter 7

Nandini lifted herself off the ground and stood uncertainly. No words could describe the feeling in her heart. She was numb through and through. Abhimanyu was facing his mother's portrait, gazing at it with such fierceness, questioning as to why she didn't believe her only son. 'Why did you pass judgement so quickly maa', he spoke in his mind. Sensing Nandini's eyes on him he turned toward her waiting for what she had to say.

"I can't just leave everything one day and come away to a new city. What will I tell father? And Vikram?", she spoke her eyes devoid of any emotion. She was not going to degrade herself in front of him anymore. She had to preserve her dignity.

"Of course, that is why I have magnanimously granted you a week to make your arrangements", Nandini snorted in derision and the act was not lost on him.

"Such display of feelings is not appreciated princess. Keep it in check", he advised sternly.

"Do you think Vikram is going to keep quiet when he knows about this? He is going to skin you alive", she ground out in frustration hoping that something could make him cower. Then when he started to speak she beat him to it,

"Yes, I know about the money my father and my brother borrowed from the Maharaj. I also know that Jaypore palace is kept as collateral. That is what is making you think you can manipulate me into agreeing to whatever you say, isn't it?".

Abhimanyu shook his head in mock sympathy. It did not matter to him if she was aware of the facts or not,

"You are proving yourself to be foolish by the minute. Looks like your family didn't deem you worthy to divulge more information than necessary. Jaypore palace is not the only collateral. Your darling brother made an unwise decision and now he is paying the price of approximately three hundred and fifty crores. But that is not it, your father is aware of only the losses he incurred in Europe, but what your brother has been doing in London is quite an eye opener", he said dispassionately. "I don't think Maharaj Virendra Singh would survive if he knew the complete truth".

"I don't understand", Nandini looked at him in rapt attention. She knew that there was something going on because come what may her brother would have arrived to meet her.

Abhimanyu took a deep breath, "I am feeling quite benevolent today. Might be the excitement of having you around", he bit out in sarcasm. He took slow steps and came face to face with her

"Let me cut you a deal princess -------our deal. You come to Mumbai as I planned and I will make sure that your family retains all their properties. Furthermore, even though it will tear me apart, I will aid in bringing your brother back from London in a single piece. I will give you two minutes to decide after which even if you say yes the deal will be off", Abhimanyu smirked and glanced at his watch. "Time is ticking princess", he lightly tapped on his Rolex waiting for her answer.

Nandini felt like her very life was being squeezed out of her. She felt deceived and hurt with the lies and games. She was nothing but a commodity, she realized in the political game of the royals. Her brother was no better nor was her father. She now understood why her father was keen on saddling her with Abhimanyu. She hated to believe that her brother could leave her in the lurch just so he could buy some time which would ensure his survival. And when it came to the man in front of her, he wanted revenge. So what was her identity? Where did she belong? The answer that came out of her was – nowhere. In this world of ruthless men she was a mere shadow.

"Yes", she said finally when there was just a few seconds remaining. Abhimanyu nodded in satisfaction. He knew he had her cornered and that she would do anything for her family.

"Good choice. So a week from now I will see you in Mumbai. My secretary will be in touch with the necessary details. How you convince your father is up to you. You better get going now", he walked to the desk and picked up his phone. Then as if he remembered something he looked at her, "By the way who drove you here?".

Nandini closed her eyes trying her best to act normal but she was anything but normal from inside. "Uday", she said absently.

Abhimanyu gritted his teeth

"He has come sniffing again, but all for nothing", he smiled arrogantly.

"You aren't on talking terms with Uday too?", she questioned trying to be inquisitive. "What has he or my brother ever done to you?", she fumed.

"Hasn't he told you?", he countered and when Nandini shook her head negatively he shrugged, "You better ask him, he loooves spinning tales", his look was distant as he continued "Do relay a message from me, tell him that he will not find what he is searching for, not in this side of eternity anyways".

"You don't even want to meet him?"

"I have better things to do"

Her curiosity was piqued as she tried to absorb the meaning of his words. Against her better judgement she asked not trying to sound nosy. "What is he searching for?"

"That is none of your business", he said in reply and Nandini pursed her lips as she remembered the same lines from Uday. "Who said they are any different!", she murmured.

"You are still here! Do you want to discuss any further deals", he asked sarcastically.

Nandini folded her hands "Khamma Ghani hukum", she bowed respectfully. Whatever might be the state of affairs between the two Abhimanyu couldn't disregard the fact that she was royalty.

He mirrored her action "Ghani Khamma Rajkumari sa". With this he pressed a small button and the door clicked open. The guard who let her in earlier came in and bowed.

"Lead the princess downstairs", he ordered and the guard bowed in surprise.

"I can find my way back", said Nandini and without a second look walked out of the door in quick strides. The guard followed her quickly and when she realized it she stopped to look at him.

"I said I can find my way back. You don't need to accompany me", the guard understood the tone all too well. How many times had he heard the family use the same tone.

"Pardon me princess. I would like to apologize for earlier. I hadn't realized that you were . . .", Nandini waved her hand off "No harm done", she said and walked away

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Uday gripped the steering wheel tightly and looked in the direction of the palace. He had failed yet again. He had done all he could but the result was a big zero. He wondered if he had spurned any woman in his previous life, that he was bearing the brunt of it all in this one. He hit the steering wheel hard in frustration and sweared out loud.

"Damn you Abhi!"

After calming himself down considerably, he decided to step out of the car. Just then his phone rang. He reached for it and glanced at the display then sighing heavily he closed the car door and sat back preparing himself for the onslaught of questions from the other end.

"Where the hell is she?", was the first question that burst through the phone.

"Why, hello to you too bro", Uday drawled with a smile. An expletive was heard from the other end and Uday held the phone away from his ears.

"Have a care Vikram, my ears are still virgin. And the answer for your question is well, she is actually in hell right now. We are at Vilaspore", he smiled at his words. Another expletive was heard and then the tone became frantic.

"Uday you need to get her out of there right this moment. Just go!", listening to the urgency in Vikram's voice he got out of the car. "What is the matter?" he asked locking his car with the press of a button.

"He is not in Mumbai, he is in Vilaspore! Abhimanyu is in the palace at this very moment. GET HER OUT OF THERE!". Uday's eyes widened as he understood the implication of what it meant.

"Oh flip!", he exclaimed and ran from the car parking toward the palace.

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Nandini traced her steps down the staircase to the front hall. On reaching the last flight of steps she was greeted with an amusing sight. Keshav Satara was standing on the left side of the grand staircase with a couple of maids on either side of him. Seeing her walk down he came forward and bowed respectfully.

"Keshav ji, what is all this?", she questioned. Keshav Satara motioned to the maids to come forward.

"Rajkumari sa", he began at which Nandini raised her eyebrows "Please accept my apology for not welcoming you when you came in. I couldn't recognize you at first. Please accept our welcome on behalf of the royal family". He brought the silver thal   in front of him. Nandini looked at the large plate with a blank expression. Then she waved her hand in dismissal,

"No need Keshav ji", she said and began to walk past him. The old man however didn't take no for an answer. He followed and called out to her,

"Hukum", the words made Nandini stop, "I am sorry to be so persistent but I humbly request you to please receive the welcome. Our late maharani   was particular about this". Nandini closed her eyes on hearing about the maharani. Quickly she deduced that she could get more details about Padmini maa's death. She turned toward Keshav and gave a single nod.

Delighted at her acceptance he walked a bit closer with a maid right behind him.

"This is not the way to welcome a royal Keshav ji. You know very well that maids cannot touch a royal", Nandini smiled, her eyes scanning the large hall.

Keshav bowed his head in apology "Yes hukum ", he said in a dejected voice. Nandini noticed the change in his tone and countenance and immediately added,

"But I see no problem here, you are of course nobility and i can make an exception for this time", she stepped forward placing her right hand on her head in preparation to take the vermilion.

Keshav's eyes sparkled and he grinned from ear to ear. He lit the camphor that was on the thal and took it from the maid. He then rotated it clockwise and anticlockwise and then round and round in front of her face. He then dipped the tip of his ring finger in the vermilion and rice and placed a dot on the princess's forehead. Precisely at that moment the temple bells tolled and Keshav Satara turned his head sharply toward the sound.

"Is it done?", Nandini quipped bending her head to a side. Keshav stared at the beautiful face convinced that her arrival was auspicious. He showered her with the petals of marigold and roses. Finally taking the silver sprinkler that was filled with rose water he sprinkled the perfumed water on her. He returned the plate back to the maid and signaled for them to leave.

"Rajkumari sa . . . I . . .", he began but was interrupted by the voice of someone shouting outside.

"Hukum , I have to see what is happening outside but please, I request you to take the blessings of the late maharani", Keshav noticed the hesitation on the girl's face. "You have come back to the palace after a long time hukum. Maharani Padmini Devi would have liked to meet you".

"Okay. I want to ask you a few questions too after I come back", she said to which Keshav bowed in reply "Certainly hukum", he said and showed her the way toward the other side of the large hall where the portrait of the late maharani hung.

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"How dare you stop me!", Uday shouted in anger as the guard outside the door refused him entry. "Do you know who the hell I am?", he roared as the guard kept looking inside the palace helplessly for support of any kind.

Keshav reached the front door and seeing the young man clicked his tongue.

"Khamma Ghani Uday sa", he folded his hands in respect. Then turning to the guard he lifted a hand and the guard relaxed and moved toward a side.

"Where is Nandini, Keshav baba? Is she alright? I need to see her immediately", he barged inside the palace and looked from side to side.

"Wait! Uday sa", Keshav followed Uday inside with quick steps.

"Where is she baba? Is she alright? Please tell me she is alright".

"Calm down Uday sa", Keshav tried to pacify him, "Princess Nandini is well and she is currently gone to take the blessings of the late maharani" he beamed. "I believe that you were responsible for bringing the princess to the palace and for that i want to thank you Uday sa", he added.

Uday looked stumped from the information relayed to him. If Nandini saw the maharani's picture . . . there was no saying how she would react. What if she remembers everything? What if she comes to know? Uday gulped and started pacing to and fro.

"No, no, no, baba . . . You shouldn't have let her see the picture. I don't know what to do. I . . .", Uday was at a loss for words. Finally he looked at the old man and said "Take me to her . . . .Please"

Meanwhile, Roopa Sharma strode out of the office room in anger. The first time the unruly woman had interrupted her dream wherein she was almost going to kiss the prince and now somebody had the audacity to interrupt her a second time. Someone was going to get a piece of her mind she decided as her steps became more purposeful. All of a sudden she stopped and watched with open mouth as she saw Nandini touch the portrait of the late maharani Padmini Devi.

Nandini was standing with her head bent. Tears pooled in her eyes but she willed it not to fall. She shook her head from side to side as more images came to her mind. But, there was some vital aspect that she was forgetting. Why? Why couldn't she remember anything more about Padmini Devi?

Controlling her anger by balling her fists Roopa advanced to where Nandini was standing.

"I advise you to remove your filthy hands from the picture", she said disgust lacing her words.

Nandini didn't budge from her position. She was in no mood to humor the woman with a response. She wanted answers and she had to get them.

"Didn't you hear me?", Roopa persisted "You need to remove your worthless hands from there. How dare you touch the maharani's portrait? You worthless piece of dirt that you are. Just because the yuvraj so graciously gave his permission to meet you, you think that you are someone of consequence?". Getting no reply from Nandini, her anger and frustration increased, "I said remove your hands", she shouted.

Nandini turned sharply to face Roopa, her eyes cold,

"Shhhh . . .", Nandini put a finger to her lips. "You talk too much. I don't like that", she said in a calm cold voice. "I don't like being talked to either without my permission. This is the first and last time, remember".

"Who the hell are you to tell me all this?", she yelled again unable to control herself.

"She is the Princess Nandini Singh of Jaypore", Keshav Satara spoke firmly being a witness to the exchange between Roopa and the princess. "You would apologize to Rajkumari sa for your impudence Roopa ji. Be thankful that the Yuvraj is not present here, otherwise he wouldn't have taken lightly to his to be betrothed being treated with such contempt".