"Rey, I've received the gift. I'll drop by at Varun's place today and give him the gift." I said holding the phone between my shoulder and ear as I signed some documents.

"Thanks Riaana. You're such a sweetheart." He said making me laugh.

" No problem but why don't you give it to him when you're here next week ?" I asked him.

"Well, because that kind of a bond doesn't exist between us." He stated.

"You say that a bond doesn't exist when you send him gifts through me every year, ever since you've known me ?"

"Riaana, that's because nothing changes the fact that we're brothers. That's it."

"Why don't you tell Aarunya and Hamsini about it ? They always complain that you don't care for Varun. "

"I know that I care for him and it's enough. I'll always be there to look out for him as a brother."

"As you say. Where are we meeting though ?" I asked him.

"I'll come over to your place. The paparazzi know I'm staying at Eleanor's residence so they'll be out there to catch a glimpse." He told me.

Eleanor was Aarunya's and my classmate at college and she's second in line to the throne of England. Since Eleanor belonged to a royal family as well, Reyaansh's, Aarunya's and Eleanor's family knew each other well.

***

I ringed the bell with a gift in my hand. I was at Varun's residence to give him his gift.

Varunveer, his royal highness, the prince was Reyaansh's younger brother who'd been staying in London for about ten years now.

I met him when he came for Aarunya's graduation about two years ago.

The door opened and an unfamiliar face stood at the door.

"Yes ?"

"I'm here to meet Varun, V

arunveer." I told him. I've never seen him before.

"Varun ! Someone is here for you." The man screamed from the door.

"You're Riaana right ?" The man asked me.

"Yes, how do you know ?" I asked him.

"The world's youngest chief technological officer. Who wouldn't know ?" He said extending his hand. "I'm Rihaan. Nice to meet you."

"Pleasure's mine." I said smiled at him.

"Are you Varun's girlfriend by any chance ?" He asked looking at me and the gift in my hand suspiciously.

"Oh no ! I'm his girlfriend's best friend." I said without a thought. Oops. "I meant his brother's best friend."

"Who's it ?" Varun asked moving Rihaan aside to take a look at who it was.

"Oh, Riaana ! Hi !" He said.

"Riaana's there ?" Someone screamed from the mobile in his hand.

"Sorry, that's Aarunya." He said.

"I'll call you back, Aarunya." He cut the call.

"Happy birthday, Varun." I said extending the gift towards him.

"From Bhai ?" He asked me and I simply nodded.

He took the gift from me and thanked me.

"Why don't you come in for some drinks ?"

"No, that's alright." I denied politely. I had to get back to work. 

"I insist, Riaana." He said. "Please."

I agreed since I didn't want to say no to him on his birthday.

"So, Aarunya told me that you're coming to India." Varun said.

Rihaan was pouring drinks for the three of us.

"Yeah, Reyaansh really wanted me to attend Hamsini's wedding."

"Here's a drink for the beautiful lady." Rihaan said handing the drink to me.

"Thanks, Rihaan." I said taking it from him passing a small smile. Flirting is not my forte. I can't flirt, and neither do I know how to respond to flirting.

"Dude, stop flirting with her !" Varun said punching his arm.

"How can you not flirt with a beautiful lady, Varun ?" He asked and then leaned forward towards me.

He wasn't very close. He sure knew how to keep his distance from women and I'm pretty sure he won't risk his reputation to flirt with me. 

"What about we go on a date tonight, without Varun of course ?" He asked me, taking me by surprise.

Varun pulled Rihaan back and whispered something into his ear. Rihaan instantly backed off and that made me curious, very curious.

I walked into the room from the balcony after taking a call.

"Aarunya !" I called out to her looking up from my mobile.

"What the hell is this ?" She asked holding up an album engraved with a name on it.

Riaana Jai Rajput
17

Crap ! I left it on the bed and completely forgot it.

It indicated that it was Riaana's seventeenth album.

"Aarunya -"

"Stop right there." Aarunya said looking up at me with mixed feelings. She was clearly upset. She was on the verge of crying. I could hear it in her voice. 

"You knew about this all along ?" She asked me.

"Let me explain."

"Did you know this ?" She repeated herself.

"Yes, I did."

"For how long ?"

"For about six years." I answered looking down at my feet.

"I'm telling her about this right away." Aarunya said pulling her mobile out.

"Aarunya, stop. You can't tell her this." I said  said taking the mobile away from her and slipping it into my blazer's pocket.

"How long do you intend to hide this from her, Reyaansh ? You've known her for almost four years now and you haven't told her about it."

"Aarunya -"

"No, Reyaansh. I can't keep her in the dark like you did. Not just you, everyone. Badi Maa, Bade Papa, Maa, Papa everyone."

Aarunya. Just listen to me once and then you can decide."

"I don't want to listen to you. Just give me my phone." She crossed her arms across her chest, furious at the fact that we hid it all from her.

"Okay fine. Here. Call her and tell her everything if you want her to die." I said handing her the mobile.

That was the only way to stop her. She wouldn't listen otherwise. If I don't tell her the reason why we kept Riaana away, she'll tell Riaana about it, which should not happen.

"What ?"

"Exactly. So listen to me first and then you can decide." I said holding her arm and making her sit down in the couch.

"We kept her away from all this because her life was in danger. Someone tried to kill her from the moment she was born." I told her.

"What are you even saying, Reyaansh ? Who will try to kill her?"

"We don't know Riaana. The astrologer told us about it even before she was born but we didn't believe it but when it happened, we had to believe it."

"What happened ?"

"Riaana was a premature baby and she was in the NICU. Someone pulled out her oxygen which was very essential for her. She almost died. The doctors somehow got her to breathe again." I explained to her.

Every word I said was true. That was how everything was twenty five years ago.

"And then Aaryan, your security team's head, his mom took Riaana to London and left her in the hands of Father Jacob in his orphanage."

"Was that why I was sent to London when I was going to California for college ?" She asked him recalling what happened a few years ago.

He nodded at her and then looked down at the ground.

"So, Riaana..she's my cousin and a Princess.."

• There are no secrets that time does not reveal. •
_______________________________________

Hey my lovelies ! Here's the next chapters and I really hope you like it. So just incase y'all are confused, both Rathoregarh and Jaigarh are of Indian origin although they are two different countries.

Also, this chapter revealed that Riaana was a Princess. What do you think about it ? Did you expect this ? I guess you did.

Anyway, I'm just trying to give a few updates pretty soon since I thought it's a good way to reveal a little more about the story.

Question : How do you think the story is going ?

Do you want me to add certain scenes or anything like that in the book ?

If the answer is yes, do PM me !

Vote and comment please !