Posted: August 4th, 2019

Randeep

2.41 Through The Looking Glass

          After my morning workout and a quick shower, I step out of the attached bathroom into my room. Just as I reach the dresser and pick up the comb, the door to my room flings open. My eyes flicker to the unknown girl's reflection in the mirror. Seeing me, she groans, "Not again."

Confused, I turn to face her raising a brow to question her. "Excuse me, who are you?"

She rhetorically questions, "Why do all the hallways look alike?"

"Uh, I'll be sure to convey your complaints to my dead ancestors." I cheekily comment, only for her to roll her eyes. Getting serious, I ask. "Can I help you with anything?" But, let's face it. Serious is not a good look on me. I can't help the comment that slips afterwards, "Or are you enjoying the view?"

At the mention, her eyes - probably for the first time since she entered my room - travel down my torso for a second, judging, before they meet my gaze again. She casually brushes it aside; it's difficult to determine if I should take her actions offensively or be intrigued about who she is that she is least affected and not even curious about the scars.

I ask unknowingly taking a step in her direction since she seems determined to not humor me. "Who are you?"

She crosses her arms across her chest, "First answer, yes, you can help me by telling me where Aarush bhai is." She nods towards my half naked body, "Second, I've seen better. And, third..."

Okay, I do take offense on that account. How old is she? Is she even 18? And yet she claims to have seen better? She is not even fawning, let alone ogling. How many chances could a girl her age have had to see half-naked men that she can claim that?

And yet, the confidence with which she says that paired with nonchalance tells me I should probably take her word for it. Unless she has mastered the art of lying.

Before she can finish, a guy looking her age rushes in crashing into her back and places his hands on her shoulders to steady both of them. "Siya, did you find him?"

She turns to him with a scowl, "Damn it, Ishaan. Why do you always have to interrupt me when I get to my third point?"

"What?" He replies at first in confusion before looking between the two of us and deeming her scowl harmless. Fighting a snicker, he comments, "Only you constantly find yourself in these situations."

Catching on that he is talking about my lack of clothes, I walk over to my bed to pick up my shirt that I had laid out there before going to shower.

So... maybe she has bumped into half-naked guys before. If she is lying, then she is only partly lying. That's some assurance, but not really. It only makes me curious as to who she is and why she is roaming around the palace as if it's her own home.

She replies, "It's not my fault people don't know the concept of locking doors when changing."

Before Ishaan comments, I jump in to answer given a part of her reply is directed my way. "Excuse me, but I grew up around people who know to knock first and wait for a response before barging in."

Her mouth drops and she turns her head towards Ishaan to confirm, "Did he just call me rude?"

He says bobbing his head to the side, "Well, you do need to learn to knock."

She gapes further - if possible - while swatting his arm in harmless revenge over picking my side over hers. However, I suppose he isn't picking sides. If they are good friends as I am getting the impression, then one can call it a friendly duty where he is simply pointing out her flaws and calling her out on things she needs to work on as a person to better herself.

Smiling off her harmless assault, as if he is used to it by now, he redirects the conversation, "Anyway, Aarush bhai is clearly not here. Let's go." Looking at me, he says, "Sorry to bother you."

She counters, "Hey, why are you saying sorry? You are not the one to barge in on him."

He chides her, though a bit lovingly. "Because, Siya, we both know you'd rather be caught dead than apologize even if you are at fault. I swear, I must have lost count of how many times I've apologized to people on your behalf."

When he starts to nudge her away before she continues to fight with him over this matter, I interject to stop them, as amusing as they are, "Hold up. If I may ask, Siya, why are you...?"

She corrects, "it's Arshiya, not Siya."

"But..." I start to counter that Ishaan had just called her Siya multiples times, but then quickly realizing it must be a name given to her by him, I let it be. "Never mind that. Why are you looking for bhai sa?"

Turning towards me, she says, "That's between me and your bhai sa. Do you know where he is?"

Not exactly, but I can make a guess or two. "Maybe." She waits for me to tell her, but I suggest otherwise, "It'll be best if you let him be for today."

"Why?"

Ishaan elbows her, giving her a look to convey 'let it go'. He seems to understand that it is a sensitive matter. Her eyes soften, realizing she may have overstepped in her curiosity.

Once again, I offer after lightly clearing my throat, "Was it something I can help you with?"

She replies, "He'd promised me a tour of the palace grounds, but I suppose I can wait another day."

I nod simply. I don't know what bond she shares with Aarush, but it must be something if he promised her that. He wouldn't easily give permission for just anyone to roam around the property that holds limitless personal memories of his childhood days.

She adds with her lips pressed together in a polite smile, "Thanks, anyway."

So, she may not be open to apologizing, but atleast someone taught her the starting lesson of manners.

With that, both of them turn again and walk out of the room, turning right to disappear down the hallway.

Closing the door, I finish getting ready while concern for Aarush continues to trouble my heart.

Did I do the right thing by telling him? Perhaps, I should have left the past in the past. What he didn't know couldn't have hurt him. But... didn't he also have the right to know? It was one of the biggest reality of his life. Now, I can just pray that he'll find the strength inside of him to overcome this pain.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          I spend the morning setting up the palace security now that it seems it'll be functional again. It is a lot harder than it seemed - having to figure out the right people to trust. It's a good thing I have help from Vikas - Aarav's bodyguard and Mohit - Arshiya's bodyguard. I have no idea why a little girl would have a bodyguard, but it certainly has me intrigued. I have yet to learn about this Raizada family, but I have heard about them in the news over the years. Their brand of clothes has been the talk of town multiple times. I am sure I must have attended a few of their fashion shows as well over the years - not that I've ever stuck around till the end to meet any of them in person.

When we return to the living room area shortly after lunch time, I find Inaaya on the carpet playing with toys and Ishaan and Arshiya with her, entertaining her, while Jhanvi is sitting back on the couch with a bowl in her hand having her lunch.

She nods at Vikas and Mohit, "Left your lunch on the table. Might have to heat it up." I get the impression that she treats them as part of a family and not mere employees. The way they nod and walk towards the table also says that it's not a one-time thing that she's set aside a meal for them but probably a daily occurrence. It's a good assurance that she isn't the snotty, stuck-up kind of Princess - and then I have to remind myself that she grew up in Australia, a normal life. This shouldn't come as a surprise.

She then directs to me, "You are welcome to it too."

I lightly tease, taking up the offer readily before my stomach will embarrass me, "How can I say no when the Queen cooks for me?"

She laughs, breaking my delusion. "Aarav cooked, actually."

"Seriously?" I question finding myself a little surprised that a guy with his wealth knows how to cook. It's almost... homely. Yes, call me spoiled, but I have never cooked a day in my life. I have never even prepared tea or coffee for myself. There was always a servant around for every measly task I needed done. Sometimes, I'll merely have to look at one of them and they'll know exactly what to fetch me.

She seems to pick up on that and teases, "Have you ever even been in the kitchen?"

I shrug sitting at the couch adjacent to the one she is on, "Where would that be?"

She gives me an amused look while Arshiya comments, "Now I know what a spoiled Prince looks like."

I tease back, "And what are you, Princess?"

This is almost like pot calling the kettle black. I may not know her, but I still get the impression that she is spoiled as well. Maybe in a different sense in comparison, but the point remains.

She gives me a mocking smile, squinting at me as if promising to get back at me for it at a later time, before turning to Mohit. "I want to go out."

He shuts her down in an instant, "Not happening."

She frowns while Ishaan says to her in a I-told-you tone, "What'd I say?"

She throws a stuffed bunny at him which he swiftly catches and throws it back at her. Her lack of hand-eye coordination causes it to hit her temple rather than catch it on time. She gapes back at him while he snickers. After a glare his way, she turns to Mohit once again. "Come on, please? I've been good the whole morning." She says as if going without causing trouble just for a few hours is a new record for her.

He snickers this time, "Only because Junior was home and he would have put you on the next flight back to Mumbai if you hadn't."

I take it that there might be one person who can keep her in line and that might be her elder brother, Aarav.

She mutters, guilty. "Not the point."

I watch this entire conversation, amused.

With a sigh as if he doesn't have the heart to see her frown, he tries to reason with her. "It's not safe, Aru."

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that one countless times. That's why I have you, isn't it?" She argues back standing up and crossing her arms over her chest. "What do I pay you for?"

He retorts, "Your dad pays me to keep you safe and if safe means that you are bored, I - for one- have no problem with it."

"Well, I do!" She exclaims. "I can't go around the palace. I can't go out. What the hell am I supposed to do?!"

He shrugs simply, "I don't make the rules."

She turns to Jhanvi, "Di! Help me out here."

Jhanvi gives her a sympathetic look, "I'm sorry, sweetie. If this was Jaipur, I would have made some added arrangements but I don't feel comfortable sending you with just Mohit. Neither of us are familiar with the area."

Before I know it, I am offering myself up, "I can take her."

"Huh?" "What?" "Why?" "Really?!" These are the responses I receive from everyone as they speak over each other.

The warning signals blare off in my brain, but I choose to ignore them.

Looking between them, I confirm. "Yeah, I know the city inside out. And bhai sa did promise her a tour of the palace, right? I'm not him but that doesn't mean I can't fulfill his promise for him."

Arshiya comments agreeing with the loophole, "He never did say he would be the one to give me the tour."

"See? If you don't mind getting the tour from the second best."

Jhanvi asks, "Are you sure?"

Arshiya walks over to me and replies on my behalf in a rush, "Ofcourse he is sure, di. He wouldn't offer otherwise, right?" She directs to me taking my hand and pulling at it, "Now, come on. Up! Half the day has already passed by. I'm not wasting another second."

Mohit mutters, "I guess I'll take my lunch to go."

She brushes him off, "No need. Stay. Vikas will follow Aarav bhai from a distance so you might as well stay with di. I've got him."

"Uh..." He looks at Jhanvi as if unsure what to do.

I assure him briefly, "She's safe with me," and before I know it, I am being dragged away by her petite form.

What did I just sign myself up for?

I am going to regret this, aren't I?

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          "We're lost." She states as we turn right on another corridor.

I deny, "We're not," as I continue walking down the hall confidently.

Her hand runs over the bumps of the brick wall as she walks beside me, "It's okay to admit it, you know."

I pause to face her, slightly irritated - but more at myself than her. "We're not lost, alright? I've grown up in these walls. I know them."

She raises a brow in challenge, "And how long has it been since you spent decent time here?"

Her point, I do get. It has been roughly 8 years and the palace is... well, a palace. It makes sense that I wouldn't remember every crook and corner. Even when I would visit often in these past 8 years, I stayed mostly in the renovated areas, not this side of the palace with the ruins or the North side which has been opened up to tourists.

She doesn't wait for a response as if knowing I have nothing smart to say. Spotting a window a few steps ahead, she skips ahead. The playfulness in her is almost refreshing. And her zeal for asking so, so, many questions throughout the afternoon. At almost every painting, every statue, every corner, every artifact, she found a question to ask. As kids, none of us must have thought to ask them. Some things, we simply accepted as they were. Some stories I knew and relayed back to her. Others, I had no idea. It was almost embarrassing that I couldn't even think quick on my feet and make up a false story just to satisfy her hunger for a good tale and enthusiasm for soaking in the history surrounding us as I got the impression that she wouldn't most likely call me out on it.

I do not understand yet why bhai sa took a liking to her given he hates answering questions.

She hooks her fingers through the holes and keeps her head to the wall to look through the holes. Her lips turn up as she spots the garden it overlooks.

I, however, notice dusk approaching. Slowly walking up to her, I suggest. "Let's head back now."

I doubt she listens much to anyone. She asks instead, "How do I get there?"

I grimace slightly as I shut down her idea, "Not a good idea."

She straightens up and turns to face me, crossing her arm over her chest. "One, never tell me something isn't a 'good idea'. It's just going to tempt me do that that much more. Two, don't make me repeat my question twice."

Recalling a similar structure from earlier in the day, I challenge mimicking her stance to prove that her glares do not scare me. "And three?"

Her eyes narrow at me briefly, as if debating whether I am mocking her, and then her arms unfold and drop to her side. "And three, live a little!" She smiles at the end, that excitement reflecting on her face once again. "If there isn't an edge in things you do, how do you even know you are alive?!"

I mutter more to myself than her, "Now I see why you need a bodyguard."

Rather than taking offense over it, she grabs my hand and once again pulls me forward. "Now take me there!"

She has the focus of a tiger.

I doubt she has the habit of hearing 'no' from people. I tug at her hand to stop her. When she turns to me questioningly, I ask, "Do you know the way?" She returns a look. I continue, "Exactly. So, how about I lead and you follow?"

She mocks a burst of laughter even as she leaves my hand, "I do not follow anyone."

I refuse to get into this banter with her even though it will be so easy. I lead her towards a door at the very end. Using considerable force, I manage to open it a creak given it has remained shut for generations. It ran underground before opening into the gardens. The most common way to get there is circling the perimeter of the palace but taking into account that it isn't safe outside, I decide it would be better to take her through the private route that only members of the royal family are aware of.

When I step aside to let her in, she expresses noticing the pitch darkness, "Yeah, no. That looks sketchy."

She has the brains to see danger, I'll give her that. She isn't just all about careless play.

"It's an underground tunnel. What do you expect?"

She challenges, "Is this because I asked you countless questions and made you look like a fool? Look, I won't tell anyone. I'm sure you have a rep to protect."

I counter with a teasing remark, "Are you scared of a little darkness?"

She scoffs rolling her eyes, "Please," as if to convey she does not scare easily. And though she is only a teenager, I think I believe that.

"After you, then." I wave my hand towards the doors.

After a second, she steps through. I leave the door halfway open hoping it'll stay open so we can get back inside. Turning on the flashlight of my phone, we walk down the slope navigating the turns. It smells muggy and the inside walls have molded. It is badly in need for renovations. But, the biggest observation I make is that the girl I assumed to be a spoiled one makes not a single tantrum at having to walk through the debris. She does every now and then wave her hand in front of her face so she isn't breathing in the dust, but I can't hold it against her given I do that too. This place has been closed for years.

"Are you not going to ask?" I ask out of curiosity as I walk in front of her to light the path ahead, something that has been bugging me since this morning.

"Ask what?"

I stop walking and she bumps into my back. I turn around, pointing the phone to her face. "You saw me in the morning, Arshiya. Don't act like you don't know what I am talking about."

Not just her, but Ishaan too saw the scars on my back when I didn't have my shirt on. For someone who asks a lot of question, she hadn't asked the most important one. And now, here she was standing in the middle of darkness, underground, trusting a stranger she does not even know when a third person does not know of our current whereabouts.

She lifts her hand to my wrist and brings it down slightly so the light is not falling directly on her eyes. "You act as if I don't know who you are."

My forehead pulls together in confusion. She may know my name and my relation with Aarush, but other than that, what does she know about me to claim that? I take a small step towards her in an attempt to intimidate her, "You don't know me."

She cocks a brow in challenge and when I don't change my statement, she resorts to proving hers. "If you think you can intimidate me, you are mistaken, Prince."

I challenge, "Really, now? The leader of the radical group everyone is looking for? For all you know, I could be him."

Instead of even a glimmer of fear in her eyes, she smiles back in amusement as if this is child's play and the most ridiculous thing she's heard all day. "Is that so? Well, then. You have me in the perfect spot. So, what will you do? Kidnap me? Kill me?"

When I return a blank look, wondering is she is really not scared - not even for a second? Anyone in her situation would have a doubt for a flicker of a moment, won't they? After all, how can she trust me like this, blindly, when I have done nothing so far to earn that trust that'd warrant her to follow me in a 'sketchy' place, as she called it.

She takes a step towards me till there is barely any space left between us, proving that she isn't shy of breaching personal space. Holding my gaze, she continues, "You can't do it, Randeep, because you are not a killer. You remember everything your brother taught you - which is why you didn't think for a second before offering to give me a tour. It wasn't to get me here secluded with an ulterior motive, but because you Rajputs hold yourself to your word. Even if those values mean little in today's age, you would rather die before letting the world say your bhai sa isn't a true Rajput for going back on his word."

She side-steps to walk around me as I follow her actions. Then, she turns to face me, "So, you see, I know you very well."

I can only stare at her, the way she carries herself, how can someone as young as her be so confident and brave? Even at 24, my steps falter time and again, and I don't have that big a ego that I can't admit that... atleast to myself.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          I knew it was a bad idea. Why did I still let her drag me into this? I should have stayed my ground and said no. Now, we are in trouble.

It is dark. And the people are all charging towards the palace - no doubt instigated by the radicals who prey on weak minds. I peak out from behind a wall where we are hiding to see men torching stalls, smashing car windows, yelling things, and creating an uproar while the innocents run in all directions to find a safe place to hide.

"We need to make a run for it." One way or another, I have to get her back inside the palace. I could not afford myself to be distracted else I would be cursing myself tenfold in the moment. She is new here. I am not. I know the full capacity of these people.

She has the audacity to argue, "I don't run."

With a steely glare, I scold her. "Look here, Princess. I get that you may not be used to hard labor, but what you see out there is called a riot. The swords and guns in their hands? They're not for show or made of plastic. They are real and they will strike us with them if they catch us. So, if you don't want to die today, we need to run like hell. Got it?"

She rolls her eyes jerking her hand out of my tight grasp. "I am not an idiot, Randeep. It is because I do not want to die today that I will not be running."

"Excuse me?" I question for it makes no sense.

"Look, we are in a good hiding spot right now. So, we stay hidden. If we run, we only risk catching their attention and then, we are surely dead. When we can trick them, why should be fall into their trap?"

Does she not realize the gravity of the situation here?! I rebuke with clenched teeth, "This is not some game, Arshiya."

She exclaims in an angry whisper to not draw attention towards us, "I know it is not! But, the very thing they want is to spread panic. They want us to fear them. If we run, we play into their hands. Now, I don't know about you, but I do not scare so easily."

"Neither do I," I grit taking a dangerous step towards her at her insinuation. "If you are forgetting, I am every bit a Rajput as bhai sa."

"Then act like it!" She continues to yell in a whisper.

I close my eyes momentarily to control my anger rather than be caught up in whirlwind of emotions. Then, I speak as calmly as I can manage, "If I am saying we run, then I say it for you. This is not your fight. I won't have your life in danger because of us."

"You are right. This is not my fight, per se, but it is. Inaaya is my brother's godchild. Indirectly, that makes her my niece and if these people are going to threaten her, Jhanvi di, and Aarush bhai's life, then I am not just going to standby and watch. And, I just told you that I am not scared of a little blood."

"And do you think bhai sa can take it if another innocent is lost for his name? No. He has lost enough. I couldn't do anything then, but I sure as hell am going to do something about it now and the first thing I do is get you away from danger."

"Danger." She scoffs while my brows draw in. Why is she scoffing? I am serious here. "You don't know me, Randeep, so know this. I have been in danger my entire lifetime and guess what? I am still breathing.

My brows pull together in confusion, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"That's for another time. For now, if you have a plan of action, then speak. Otherwise, shut it."

"Anyone ever tell you that you look hot when giving orders?"

She swats the back of my head and my lips part in shock. No one has ever dared to raise their hand at me in such a manner. Not even my own parents. I am a royal, after all.

"Did you just hit me?"

She rolls her eyes as she goes on to chide me, "Yes, and I will do so again if you pass another such comment. And that too when there are riots happening. Geez, not to forget, I'm underage. Have you no decency?"

"It was a harmless comment," I mutter under my breath. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"Whatever," she replies in a tone to indicate she didn't believe me. Though, it is not a lie. I do know I have a flirtatious nature but if I am going to be honest, it is a cover for everything that lies underneath the surface. Having to grow up in this world alone, having lost most of my closest loved ones, I created a persona to hide the emptiness I constantly feel inside of me. Call it compensation for the hollow in my heart. Not the brightest defense mechanism out there, or the most original one either, but we do what we can to survive.

And sometimes, we take the easy way out. Why give in to the pressure of taking the hard way just to prove you have character and all that bullshit that I don't believe in? Sometimes, it's the smarter thing to go down the simple path. After all, where will this world go if everyone decided to take the road less travelled - as the poets call it.

Even with Aarush bhai sa's return, I fear not much has changed in that aspect. I still feel empty inside. That happiness is far from knocking at my door again. That fun-filled love and joy of a family will always remain half-missing. Even if I surround myself with new friends, it cannot take the place of those that used to be my life.

Family, after all, cannot be replaced.

Arshiya's question brings me out of my thoughts, "Do you know how to use a sword?"

I shrug my shoulder, "Not as well as bhai sa, but yes. He did teach me. We'd spar all the time." I lightly chuckle at the memories, "It used to be my favorite way of irritating him."

She smiles softly in acknowledgement before redirecting, "Not to be rude and insensitive, but we'll exchange life stories another time. Right now..."

I nod, "Yes, right. Um, sword. How do you suggest we get our hands on one?"

She bobs her head to the side as she snaps, "Do I have to think of everything? Put your brain into it!"

"You..." I start to retort out of reflex, but catch myself in time and simply shake my head. She knows how to challenge me and push just the right buttons. No one has ever quite gotten on my nerves like this, but I also cannot deny that there is something endearing about her even as she does this.

I used to believe that I was alive, but I wasn't living.

But, maybe, there is life left inside of me yet.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          She drops the hockey stick to the ground and starts to freak out as the man falls face front. "Oh God, is he okay? Is he dead? Tell me he's not dead. Tell me I did not just kill a man. I can't spend the rest of my young life in jail!"

Geez, way to exaggerate. It feels unreal to see so many shades of a single person in a matter of hours. "Calm down, will you? You're 17. You have your whole life ahead of you."

"Not if my cancer comes back."

I don't register her comment as I stand up to continue, "...and no, you won't spend it in jail. You just knocked him unconscious."

She nods in relief and I look around to spot an exit route while clutching the back of my throbbing head.

I had told her to stay put while I sneaked up behind a smaller group and steal their weapons. It was an unfair fight of 1 against 3, however. Though I had managed to tackle two of them without attracting other's attention, I took a few blows and cuts. When I had been getting back on my feet, they had recovered as well and held me back. The third one was about to strike me when Arshiya had, out of nowhere, come up behind him and hit the back of his head. I had quickly taken care of the other two holding either of my arms.

A second later, her words click in my brain. I turn to her in a daze, "What did you just say?"

"Nothing?" She replies, "Did he hit you hard on the head? Are you ears ringing?" She starts lifting her hand towards my head to inspect me.

Ignoring her comments, I say as if to confirm, "You just said cancer."

"Oh, that." She replies casually, dropping her hand, and chuckles. "Wow, no one has ever given such a late reaction before. Guess there is always a first time for everything."

I would retort back in my defense that we were currently standing in hostile territory and I should be pardoned if my brain has multiple things to worry about when a bomb like cancer is thrown on top of the pile. But, speaking of hostile territory, I forward my bloody hand for her to take, "Let's get out of here. There is a payphone up ahead that we can use to call bhai sa."

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

∞ author note ∞

If I am to be honest, I am quite proud of myself for this chapter. I haven't had this fun writing a chapter in some time. I understand that it might not essentially contribute to the plot (except for the later incident), but I say it was still important to shape these two characters. With no surprise, you already know Arshiya will be having her own book, and as for Randeep, I mentioned he goes on to play an important role later in this book. So, I hope a chapter from his POV is a welcoming one!

QOTC: How often are we told that if something feels too easy, then something is wrong somewhere? We're so used to having to struggle for things 'worth' having that we question the things that come easy. But you know what, sometimes we need to let these 'easy things' in our life without second-guessing it, because life is not always meant to be hard. Agreed?

Also, happy friendship day y'all <3 There shouldn't be just one day when you let your friends know how much they mean to you, but make it extra meaningful today :D