Chapter 9

24 completed just 2 to go. Even though I was beyond tired, I couldn't stop moving. My legs feel chafed from the denim between my thighs and my feet are sprouting blisters due to 10 hours of running, and I was sure that it was more than that as I look at the setting sun.

From there I could see Duryodhan and Shakuni mama saying something, I tried to wave at them but they didn't see me. I didn't know what they are talking about but it seemed pretty important.

I had taken a few brakes in between as I couldn't run nonstop. But I knew that if I stopped, then there is no way that I could continue. 'You can do it,' I said to myself. I looked at the castle again but I couldn't see him standing there and I got disappointed.

Why disappointed? I shouldn't be that. I shook my head and continued. I focused only on the line in front of me and used last of my strength to go there.

As soon as I reached there, I fell on my knees and relief flooded through me. I completed the challenge. I had no plans to get up. At last, I could just sit and rel-

"So, when do you plan to get up," startled I look up and there was Duryodhan looking down at me.

I didn't k now why but a big smile itched on my face as I saw him. I couldn't help it. Only God knows what he thought of me then.

He turned his face to the side and I thought I saw him fighting a smile. Maybe I am misreading him. Why would he want to smile?

Then he looked me in the eye and asked, "Do you even want to get up?"

"No, I don't," I replied.

"What!!" he glared at me. He looked like he heard a no first time. Maybe he did.

I made myself comfortable by sitting in Indian style. I patted at the place next to me and said, "Sit."

Evening sunrays fell on his face and made him look oddly divine. Even shocked face looked good on him.

"I am not sitting on the ground. Get up and sit inside the weaponry."

Even though weaponry was a few meters away, it looked likes miles to me. I liked at him and pouted, "I don't want to."

He shook his head and sternly said pointing a finger at the armory, "Get in."

Seeing no way out of it I said putting my hands in front, "Ok help me get up."

He looked at my hand and then at my face and a strange look formed on his face and it passed quickly. I felt like I just imagined it and then he said, "No." I brought my hand down.

I looked over to the soldier standing in front of the armory. At least he would help me. Because I don't even have the power to stand.

I looked over and asked, "Please help me." The soldier looked shocked that I even asked him. He looked towards his side as if expecting someone to pop out if thin air and then he looked at me and mouths 'I' pointing a finger towards himself.

I found his behavior quite cute. So, I smiled and nodded.

This complete interaction was seen by Duryodhan. When I saw him, he was in a trance like he couldn't believe what was happening in front of him. As soon as the soldier started coming towards me. He got angry, like very angry.

He roared, "Stand where you are if you don't want your head served. The soldier was terrified of him and for a second even I feared for my life as he came near me with a determined look.

He bent down and picked me up in his arms. I was shell shocked, my eyes wide. I could feel tingles at the places where his arms touched me. Due to the fear of falling, I held onto him. One of my arms landed on his shoulder, and other near his neck.

I could feel his strained muscles as he carried me towards the weaponry. They felt so strong. I flushed at my thoughts. I could hear his thundering heartbeats. Maybe it was because he was carrying me.

"W-what are y-you doing?" I shuttered. Oh God! Why couldn't I even speak properly!

"I am doing what you asked." He spoke nonchalantly. But I could clearly see that his anger had vanished. Thankfully, he was looking in front because I couldn't move my gaze away from him.

I hated the fact that I felt butterflies when he held me like that. I hated that I blushed like a tomato and what I hated the most was that the time ended too soon.

He lowered me down to a chair which I didn't notice before and sat against me, with his one foot on another. He looked dominating and I looked like a wet mouse, a tired wet mouse.

"So, about our deal. I accept it." He said breaking my thoughts.

"I am not going to give Alexa." I stated.

"You keep her." He said nonchalantly. Wow! He lost interest in a few hours.

He bent near me his face inches from mine. My breath hitched.

"I want 3 wishes from you. Three times you will do what I ordered without hesitating for a second. I want you ready tomorrow morning before sunrise." He said and got up to leave without even waiting for my answer. Maybe it wasn't necessary as it was already decided.

Before leaving he turned and said, "This is our little secret, make sure no one knows about it."

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I came into the room, bathed and then sat in the corner of my bed. It was such grand room and had everything that I had dreamed of and much more, but right now it felt strangely empty. I wanted to run away from here even though I had someone waiting on me.

Vidhi was adequately sitting on a couch. She was the girl who was supposed to wait on me. Poor soul was so much panicked when she couldn't find me in the morning and was about to faint when she saw the state I was in when I returned.

It didn't help that the conversation which took place a few minutes ago went like this.

"Hi. What is your name?" I asked.

"Vidhi, Princess of Dwarka." She replied with her head bowed. I literally felt like I was a Hitler and I didn't want to be the Hitler so I panicked.

"Vidhi, you can just call me Aarohi. There is no need for you here. I mean I can do my own work. So, you can do whatever you want."

She looked up, made eye contact and then bowed down even more and said, "I am so sorry if I have offended you in any way. I can do anything you want. Please don't fire me from my post."

"I am so sorry if it came out rude. I didn't mean to fire you. It's just where I come from people do their own work. But we can be friends if you want to."

She looked horrified and confused, until now I didn't even know such a fusion was possible.

She meekly asked, "So what do you want me to do, ma'am?"

I did not want her to call me ma'am. But I didn't know what to say so I just said, "Do whatever you like."

So, there we were, a few minutes later, awkwardly sitting in a room too big for our liking.

"Um Vidhi."

"Yes" she sprang up.

"Sit, sit no need to be so formal." I told her motioning with my hand. She hesitantly sat and then looked up to me.

"So, um, do you know a place where I could be alone, possibly a place without any guards?" I asked.

"I could go out if you want solitary." She was about to get up when I said, "No, no, I mean anywhere outside this room, if possible, somewhere open."

She was shocked but quickly got out of it and told me about some places.

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The place she told me about was quite good. It was an open terrace near one of the castle towers. It was already quite late so low torches were lit all around. It was on the backside if an abandoned room. There was a way to go around the room. It was not big but neither small and quite peaceful.

I sat down and opened my bag. It had a laptop, mobile, some Kurkure and a bottle of bourbon. I am not a heavy drinker or anything but after that incident I discovered that drinking alcohol numbed my senses and I could have a good dreamless sleep that night. But I was always careful not to get drunk.

Over the next hours, I watched The Vampire Diaries and drank 2 to 3 shots of bourbon with Kurkure.

After that I packed my bags and staired at the sky. It had so many stars and it looked beautiful. Slowly, my eyes started to shut and I faded into a dreamless sleep.

But before sleeping, I think I saw Yudhishthir.

Word count : 1602