▪️ She's a Baddie▪️

Tick.Tock.Tick.Tock

       My eyes nervously darted from left to right following the ball swinging in the old grandfather clock in my room. All the excitement of sneaking out was now replaced by beads of worry on my forehead. Few more minutes and it was time to put the plan in action. I paced around my room pulling the scarf up to hide half of  face . G had done a good job of making me look like a simple townie. I glanced at the mirror wishing I really was one.

    A knock on the door pulled me out of dream. G peeped in to motion me the completion of phase 1.

Both families were kept distracted.

   Now we just had to scurry past the guards. I came out the room.Thankfully the hallway was empty. I started tiptoeing forward when a hand pulled me down beneath a table. I was about to scream when I saw the familiar blue eyes and relaxed.

"Beneath the table ?? Really the only  hiding place you could find was this ?? I expected better Mr. Oberoi " I said squirming uncomfortably in the small space with him so close to me. Too close.

" RUDE !! Now I think I should have let that guard see you instead of saving you. " He said huffing annoyingly.

" Oh thank you my hero for saving my life !! What would I have done  without you ?!!" I said with a smirk plastered on my face.

" Glad you finally accepted the fact that you needed me " he said returning the smirk. This guy was getting on my nerves. Asshole.

" You really want to sit and debate with me here or actually go out and help me " I said peeking to see the guards on rotations were gone. Now remained the permanent ones standing at the door.

" Fine let's go "

       We both slowly came out and made our way to the main gates holding hands. Yep holding hands. I was holding his hands to guide him in the maze that was our castle. Right now all the rom-coms, all the romantic novels I have ever read were calling out to me. Cheering me to feel his rough hands on mine, fitting together like a puzzle. Cliche I know but somehow it just felt good. I felt safe.

    On noticing the gates we quickly hid behind the pillars. Now it was waiting time. We waited for around 15 minutes yet there was no sign of the caterers that we were supposed to accompany outside.

" Umm..Are you sure Gauri sent them this way??" He asked gently whispering in her ear. Damn what was this guy doing. This wasn't the moment to be so romantic. She has to focus on the task at her hand not tingles in her ear.

"  Uh..ye..yeah I am sure. They must be on their way " I stuttered. The princess stuttered. Wow what a way to embarrass yourself anika.

" Are you OK ?? You seem nervous ??"
He genuinely asked.

" Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?? Why would you agree to do this with me ?? Risk you reputation and everything ??" I asked finally voicing my thoughts. It came out to be a little harsh than expected but I  wasn't apologizing. Not yet.

" Uh..Umm..Is it that obvious ?!"
I rolled my eyes giving him a are you serious look.

"ok promise me you wont laugh or judge me with your big eyes "
He sighed finally closing his eyes for the big revelation. I rolled my eyes at his dramatics.

" I wanted to break the rules for once you know. Live once. Behave my age probably " he said with a small grin looking down at our still entwined hands. Is it possible to to melt ? Cause I just did hearing his words.

" You know I was always the rule breaker. Did what I liked back in US.
Guess its payback time for me now" I said with a chuckle.

" Hey, Dont look at rules as chains pulling you down, look at them as seatbelts which are protecting you from a crash " he said. Deep.In that moment, I admired him as an individual.

" You know you can remove seatbelts right ??!" I said like a fool.

" And that's what I am doing tonight, removing my seatbelt and I think you should too " he said glancing at me.

   Just then I saw the team of caterers coming so I quickly gave him a sly grin and said " I am removing my seatbelt. Race me to the door oberoi!"

     Before he could react I took a vase nearby and threw it in the opposite direction. Following the crash the guards went towards the vase while I pulled shivaay and started running like crazy.

    After overcoming his shock he started laughing along with me running race to the door. Noise of the guards and caterers falling behind.
Never did I think I would be laughing like an idiot, running like a child with shivaay singh oberoi in tow.

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     After successfully sneaking out of the palace we walked to the town market.
" So what do we do now??" He asked.

" We eat, drink and shop " I said screening the market for good shops.

" Aye what ?! You made me do all this for eating street food?!! " he exclaimed looking at me like I was a fool. Poor guy underestimated the wrong person. I pulled his cribbing ass with me to a street vendor and ordered kachoris for us.

" Bhaiya, do you know any tourist places here ? I actually want to show my friend from Mumbai around. "
I asked the vendor pointing to Shivaay. Shivaay immediately looked at me, eyes shifting from me to the vendor in a questioning glaze.

" Beta, you must see the palace it is a must see in  Chittorgarh. Also if you are waiting for a few days more you must visit the palace during the coronation ceremony it will be decorated and lit like in diwali " he said smiling with pride making me feel proud too.

" Coronation ?? Whose is it ??" I asked faking a innocent look while Shivaay coughed beside me. That idiot.

" Oh it is of our princess Anika who has just come back from foreign after completing her studies. She is our pride." the vendor said proudly.

     I coughed hearing the praise. They really thought that even though they didn't meet me once as a princess. I gulped thinking about the weight of their trust on my shoulders.

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     It was late at night when we finished asking around. Me and Shivaay after roaming around  thought to visit an old empty cafe around the corner to conclude our visit. We sat down after ordering our coffees when I heard the table of two men  behind discussing about my family.

" Oh they are all such hypocrites "

" Absolutely, that must be the reason the king died, couldn't handle the betrayal of his wife " saying the man smirked.

" And that amaaya thinks she can handle everything on her own. That bitch  doesn't know who she is up against "

       I heard the words bitch and amaaya in one sentence and my ears blocked everything out. I clenched my jaws banging my table angrily I got up to go to their table. No one. I repeat no one messes with my family.

  I pulled the man  by arm and slapped her face. Hard.

"Oh does it hurt " I poured the glass of juice on the table on his head.

" Bitch you dont know who you are up against " I said smiling sarcastically.

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Hey guys, I know been a long time. Really sorry for updates after like a million ages !!
Also who loves this badass Anika !!🙌🙌
Also Shivaay and anika are stepping up !! So buckle your seats!!(*wink)

Also most of the chapters in this book will be from anikas POV so wont be mentioning it differently!!

Thank you for showering this book with love !!

Forever grateful,
Kamakshi.❤