Third Person

Jay's brows tangled in a slight frown for seeing the sister of Shubham at his door step was the last thing he was expecting. Pushing down his curiosity he asked "Princess Shalini, how may I help you?"

"There certainly are many ways you can help me with, Jay" The provocative smile that lingered on her lips made a wave of realisation washed over Jay as she continued "But first, let's drop the formality, shall we?"

Without wasting a minute or giving Jay any opportunity to reply Shalini walked past Jay making sure their bodies brushed in the process as she bit her lower lip to control the smile of the small victory but it faded as soon as her eyes landed on the woman standing near his bed.

Her dark brown eyes hardened while her body went rigid as she gazed at her, soon realised she was the same maid Shalini had bumped into earlier. Shalini's eyes scrutinised her face as that girl looked anywhere but at her or Jay, Shalini dared guessing what might had happened before she came in the room.

Spite clawed in her heart as she looked back at Jay before demanding "What is she doing here?"

Shalini immediately regretted her words when Jay's otherwise monotonous expression hardened as he stepped in the room "And I need to explain you anything because?"

"N-no I—" Shalini started stuttering "I came here to know when you'll reach the Nrityashala"

"It was not the answer to my question" Jay crossed his arms over his chest while Shalini's jaw clicked as she frantically looked around with her head bent low. She couldn't believe she, the Princess of Ujayastra, was being humiliated by the man she cherished since forever that too before a damn maid who probably was laughing at her state.

Still busy forming an answer she heard a third voice and much to her dismay it belonged to that cretinous maid "Rajkumar"

Jay's eyes shifted from Shalini to Shri who clearly appeared uncomfortable by the whole situation as she came close "I shall take my leave now"

As Shri tried to pass Jay caught hold of her wrist and gazed down at her countenance while she made her silly attempt of winning over him in physical strength by trying to snatch her wrist, her skin still flushed from her natural shyness making her appearing more alluring and Jay wanted to just kiss her senseless and then—

A small pinch on his waist from Shri brought him out of his reverie and Jay watched her indicating at Shalini through her eyes and he reluctantly looked at her. Shalini's eyes were zeroed at his grip on Shri's hand and Jay could see resentment flickering across her eyes but when she lifted her eyes and settled them on Shri, the resentment was replaced with something darker which somehow bothered Jay who tightened his grip on Shri.

Shalini drew in a sharp breath and masking all her anger ambled toward Jay and Shri, her eyes glistening with the pain of humiliation as she smiled through them and looked at Jay "I will be awaiting your presence, come soon"

Her eyes again dropped at her wrist that was being held by Jay and lingered for several seconds before she lifted her eyes and gave Shri a brief glance which screamed nothing but aversion. Tearing her eyes off of them she stomped out of Jay's chamber.
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Rajyashri
"You shouldn't have hold my hand in front of her" My tone almost came in a complaint as I looked at Shalini's disappearing figure "What if she guessed..." I trailed off feeling my cheeks growing hotter than they already were

"Guessed what?" Jay questioned still holding my hand making me look up at him. I noticed a now familiar impish smile flickering across his hazels orbs.

"You know" I looked away.

"Actually" Jay began yanking me closer and I immediately became alert recognising the intention behind that tone as he husked looking down at me intently "I really don't"

"Ab-about us" Oh lord, why was it so hard and insanely embarrassing to admit what just we did. The boldness with which I had initiated the kiss seemed to fade away and all I could feel now was extreme timidity and I knew this devil of a man was enjoying my situation.

"What is there to know about us, Shri" He drawled, his voice barely a whisper as he bent his tall frame down making his breath fan my loose curls.

Swallowing down the freshly arose desire, I tried to take my hand off of him "Nothing! You should leave now"

"If it's nothing why your skin growing hot" He husked, trailing his long rough fingers down my cheeks, stealing my breath in the process, then to my neck before placing it softly on my bosom "Why is your heart beating so fast?"

I felt my knees growing weak as I closed my eyes while constantly reminding myself to take breath, I felt an ebullient of emotions in my chest.

Things were advancing too fast and even though both of us were in a state of sweet daze of freshly bloomed emotions, I knew it had to be slowed down.

I placed my hand on top of his, that rested on my chest and gathering all the strength I had I managed to maffle "You should go"

Jay immediately distanced himself from me "You really want me to go away from you, don't you?"

The frustration in his voice made me pursed my lips "The whole Aryavart has arrived in Aryanka only to congratulate the youngest Prince and he is busy with one of his slaves, is it a good news to be spread, Rajkumar?"

He just glanced at me through the corner of his eyes for a moment before heaving a sigh "You're right I had already missed few important events, this one won't be ignored or forgiven by father"

I smiled, I had noticed Jay being very distant from his family, since I had arrived I had always seen him eating in his own mansion instead with his family. I didn't know if it was just his habit or something was wrong.

"You're blessed with a beautiful family Jay" I could feel the tears threatening to come out "Do not miss out on any chance of creating as much memories as you can with them"

Jay's eyes squinted slightly for a second before they took their usual cold form before he walked past me toward the terrace. With his back facing me I could see his sharp jaw clicking as he stated "This world is one of the weirdest place Shri. Everything that you see is not the reality and everything that is reality can't be seen"

I had no idea what it meant but I understood Jay's life was not really as perfect as it seemed like. I understood this the very day I saw the bloody message on his mirror. I really hoped Jay had taken proper action against it but I didn't dare asking about it

"Why are you not ready?"

I was pulled out of thoughts by his sudden unexpected question "Ready for what?"

"For the function" He answered in a duh tone

I let out a small scoff "The function is for the royal family, I've no reason to be there but even in fact I get asked to be there, it would be to serve the guests" I realised doing the service was easier than admitting it especially in front of Jay but it was what it was, I needed to accept it "Plus, I don't really have anything to actually get ready"

I fixed my eyes on my fingers that kept playing with the edge of my dupatta suddenly feeling overwhelmed when a finger softly pushed my chin up and made my eyes collide with an enticing pair of hazels "It is my fault that made you a slave, I wish I could free you and return to your family"

A tear rolled down my eyes "You can't"

"May be if I request father—"

"You don't understand Jay" I cut him off "It's not possible, I—" I paused to pushed back the sob that tried to escape "I don't have any family"

"What" Jay asked incredulously "Then where were you trying to escape to that night?"

This time I couldn't control my tears as I broke down. I had no idea what gotten into me, I thought I had already accepted my fate but then again did acceptance really diminished the pain, or erased the memories or love toward your loved ones.

I thought I had accepted the fact I had no family, no home and absolutely no place I could go but in reality I had just gotten used to it, yet the wound was just as fresh as it was the very first day

Immersed in my agony I didn't realised I had been crying on the sculpted chest of Aryanka's youngest prince as he tightened his hold around me.

Oh the irony life had gifted me.

The arms that seized my everything was the very arms I found my solace.

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Things are indeed moving too fast and it's never a good sign 😉