Siya ~

" After making sure that I was okay, we were on our way home.

" How were your exams?" He asked as we stepped in.

" Good enough but I couldn't finish the last paper on time. A five marker was left before the invigilator snatched the answer sheet away." I complained.

" You have to work on your speed then. Start answer writing practice." He said and I nodded. I was in no mood for a lecture.

" Hansika beta did you talk to Rohit? When are my sons getting back?" He now asked bhabhi.

" Yes dad. They are flying back tomorrow morning after winding up one last dinner meeting tonight." She replied and he hummed in response.

" Get ready both of you. We have to reach Umaid Bhawan soon. Cannot keep them waiting. Besides, your mother and Kritik are already there." He said and we nodded, rushing to our rooms.

Wait a minute, get ready for what? I was about to go back to the living room to ask papa about the same when bhabhi came in and handed over a suit to me.

" It is Rani Maa sa's charity event." He answered my unasked question.

" Why isn't anyone letting me sleep tonight?" I groaned and bhabhi just smacked my head lightly before walking out of the room, leaving me to get ready.

Naturally, there was no way I was wearing a suit for the second time today and besides, I was planning on taking Kritik to a fair after staying at the event for about half an hour to be polite. Anyway, it was a royal event, who would even notice me, let alone what I am wearing? So I put on my lavender skirt with a lavender top, layering it with an oversized white shirt and threw on my black boots, letting my hair loose.

Siya's Look -

I was sure papa wasn't going to say anything about what I was wearing, he never did but bhabhi gave me a nasty glare which I totally ignored.

" Papa I am taking my scooty. After staying at this event for a while, I am taking Kritik to the fair. Is that okay bhabhi?" I asked her regarding Kritik and she gave me a nod but clearly, wasn't too pleased with my choice of clothing.

I grabbed my keys and drove to the Palace which did not take me more than fifteen minutes and that too only because I stopped to get the petrol. As I reached, papa and bhabhi were standing there, waiting for me and then we made our way inside together.

" Siya Bua!" I heard my rockstar call out for me as he ran and I bent down to pick him up in my arms. His little feet almost knocked him off balance but when he made it into my arms, I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

" Bua I missed you!" He kissed my nose and wrapped his little arms around my neck and giggled.

" I missed you too rockstar but I am here for at least a month now so we'll have lots of fun." I promised.

" Yes but we are going to the fair now, please?" He almost begged and I nodded my head.

" I have your helmet in my scooty. We'll stay here for a while and then sneak out, okay? Our little secret." I whispered to him and his eyes glimmered with mischief and he nodded enthusiastically.

" Siya what on Earth are you wearing?" Mumma had managed to come to me, taking Kritik in her arms before setting him down again and boy did she sound angry.

" Clothes, just like you are." I hushed back to her, enjoying my own joke.

" Thakurani sa, this is my youngest child, Siya who apparently didn't receive a memo that this is a formal event. Her father has given her too much freedom."I couldn't believe my ears that mumma had just said that while introducing me in front of the King and the former queen!! After which, I knew the drill so I went ahead to touch her feet or mumma would have killed me.

" So nice to finally meet you beta. Even though your mother and I are very close, I have never gotten the opportunity to meet you. Besides, you look lovely." She said, keeping a hand on my head lovingly.

" It is my honour to meet you ma'am." I replied, giving her a smile.

" Please....call me aunty. I am your mom's friend." She asked and I nodded.

My eyes then landed on Ranaji for the second time today and ironically, this was only the second time I was seeing him in my life. Earlier, I thought he looked really handsome but right now, I wouldn't just use that word to describe him. He looked dangerous, borderline angry, broody and ridiculously hot among other things.

Okay Siya....zip it!

" Why don't you come to the Palace tomorrow. I'd love to spend sometime with you and I am sure Preeti will love you. She's my youngest son's wife." Raani Maa sa requested and there was no way in seven hells that I could have said no.

" Of course she will Thakurani sa." Mumma spoke on my behalf.

" Arjun." She asked for Ranaji who stepped closer to her and me and I felt my heartbeat quicken. What on Earth? The man's a decade older to me and is the damn King!

He then extended his arm towards me which I hesitated to shake but one nudge from mumma and I had no option. The moment I let his hand in mine, his grip tightened a bit just like any normal handshake but for some reason, it felt different. Not in a good way, not in a bad way, just different different.

" I believe she is pursuing graduation in English literature from Jaipur university. Second year, right Siya?" She asked and I nodded while my hand was still in Ranaji's. When was he planning to leaving it? Or the better question was, till when would I be able to stay nonchalant about it?

Thankfully, eventually he did after I tried to break free and immediately, I held both of my hands together to stop the one from shaking a bit with a nervous smile.

" Well, please enjoy yourselves all of you while I go and play matchmaker for my son again. Maybe this time he will like someone and finally give this kingdom a queen it deserves." Raani Maa sa said and my parents gave her a departing nod.

" That is entirely unnecessary mother, I believe you just did." Ranaji said and walked away before I could even begin to fathom the meaning behind his words and when I finally did, to say I felt dizzy would be an understatement because my whole fucking world was on fire.

" Umm...what?" I asked to no one in particular, looking around.

Papa looked just as taken aback, mumma was on brink of breaking into tears of happiness because in the family, marrying early was a tradition, Raani Maa sa had exactly the same expressions as Papa and me? I was planning a thousand ways to run away.

" Ranaji seems to have a funny bone." I waived my hand in dismissal and tried to laugh but cringed at my own voice.

" I'll go and talk to him." The former queen shifted uncomfortably from her position before chasing after her son and I looked at Papa.

" He was kidding, right?" I asked to confirm but one look into his eyes and I knew the answer to my question.

" Is he losing his mind?" I shrieked in horror. This was one big joke or a nightmare or even a fragmentation of my weird ass imagination but please dear god, let this be anything else than the freaking truth!

" Keep your voice down Siya! You are standing in his house and screaming." Mumma tried to calm me down.

" Okay, I'll go and scream in my own house then!" I yanked my arm away from her and rushed outside. Bhabhi called out for me but I was too stunned to listen and respond. All I wanted was my bed and pillow to cry my eyeballs out and then plan an escape. I will run across the Pacific Ocean if I have to, swim with the sharks or feast with the crocodiles but no way in seven hells would I marry him!

Papa, even though he loves me to death, is fiercely loyal to that family because of a certain past and he will always place them above anyone else.

I had reached my scooty when I felt a hold on my upper arm. I wiped the goddamn tears away and turned around to face the very man who had rocked my world not more than five minutes ago.

" Ranaji please tell me you were kidding." I practically begged him to say what I wanted to hear.

" I don't say things I don't mean little flower. The car will take you home if that is what you want." He spoke so plainly and then took the keys to my ride out of my hands.

HOW.DARE.HE?

" Yeah? So what I want suddenly matters?" I asked, screaming at him and tried to get the keys back but to no avail.

He didn't say anything further but his eyes which were earlier in a mocking stance darkened and a muscle in his jaw twitched. Good, he was getting angry. Maybe now he'll see how annoying I could get!

" The driver will take you." Was all he said before walking away, leaving me confused, hurt and angry. What was the deal with him?

Hey guys! This is the next chapter. I hope you all like it. Do tell me what you feel about it through the comments section or PM. I love you all. Until next time. Byee!!