I laughed a lot because of you. I cried a lot because of you. I believed in love because of you and now, I'm heartbroken because of you.

I stared at the letters in my hand. Each one of them had a title and a serial number. I put away all the letters except the first one.

1. The day I met you.

Hey, Riaana. I met you for the first time today, on your graduation and I am really really very proud of you.

To see you give that speech on the stage, it made me very proud. You looked absolutely beautiful today and I'll never forget how beautiful you looked.

When you first talked to me, it was the first time some girl other than my family and friends treated me like a normal human being, not like a prince.

While all the girls out there tried to get their hands on me, tried to impress me, you did nothing but being yourself.

You were a perfect Princess from the moment I saw you. You owned every moment

The fact that I can't tell you everything about your life makes me feel guilty but it's not like there's an option. I'm sorry about it. I know you'll be angry about it.

Cheers to the future together.

...

"How are you, Riaana ?" Mom asked me.

"I'm fine, mom." I replied, forcing a smile on my face.

The Rathore family and Rajput family came together for a lunch, just like they used to earlier.

I took my seat beside Varun and Rihaan on one side while Hamsini, Pahul and Parul sat.

I looked to my right, it was empty for the first time. It was Reyaansh's place beside whom Aarunya would sit.

I smiled to myself, fighting the tears.

"Riaana." Varun called out, making me look at him.

"You good ?" He asked and I simply nodded.

I looked to my right again to find Sharan sitting beside me. Sharan, the annoying so called Reyaansh's cousin. The one who'd have a controversy every other day. I have no clue why he joined the lunch today when he never did.

"Hi, Riaana." He said.

"Hi."

"You look pretty." He whispered pushing my hair behind my ear. He made me so uncomfortable.

"Hands off her, Sharan." Varun warned him.

"Calm down, baby brother." Sharan said taking his hand away from my face and passing a smile before looking away.

"Do you want to switch spots ?" Varun asked.

"No, I'm fine. Thanks."

Small things never bothered me. If something ever bothered, it's Reyaansh's absence, Aarunya's absence.

We were served food, I looked at a full plate for the first time. It's been a while I've even looked at what I'm eating.

It was white sauce pasta, Reyaansh's favourite.

"Riaana, eat." Varun said, making me realize I hadn't even touched my food all though it's been a while it had been served.

I looked up only to find everyone looking at me. I forced a smile and began to eat. Everyone got back to talking making me feel much better about the fact that they weren't looking at me.

I looked around while eating, trying to keep myself occupied with some other distracting thoughts when I saw Reyaansh walk into the room.

He walked straight towards me and took a seat beside me. He passed a smile at me before he began to eat.

No, I'm hallucinating. Reyaansh isn't there. There's no way he's here. I'm hallucinating again.

I broke into tears, crying infront of everyone on the table.

"Go away, Reyaansh. Go away." I screamed pushing everything infront of me away.

"Riaana, calm down. You're fine." Varun said turning my chair towards him and taking my hand into his.

"Tell him to go away." I screamed. "Please."

"Look at me, Riaana." He said. "Look at me."

I looked up at him, just at him, not wanting to see Reyaansh again.

"You're fine. You're imagining. Let's go back to the cottage, shall we ?" He asked.

"Yeah, please take me back." I said, trying to get back to normal. I can't breakdown infront of everyone like this.

...

"What's happening to me, Varun ? I don't want to be like this. Hurting myself, hallucinating ?"

"Riaana -"

"I don't want to be like this. I just want to get out of all this. It's killing me. I want him, but he's not going to come back. I want to forget him, but he doesn't go away."

"Riaana, it'll all be fine. I promise. But please, don't ever, ever hurt yourself."

"I'm trying not to. I'm not doing it consciously. It just happens. I don't even realise it's happening."

"Just take your tablets on time, attend all the counselling sessions and you'll be fine. I promise."

...

"Hey, Riaana !"

"Hello, Sharan." I said.

What the hell is he doing here ? Why can't he just leave me alone. He literally tags behind me like a puppy, like a monkey's tail.

"Are you fine ? You left the lunch mid way yesterday."

I'm not fine, okay. Just let me be alone, I wanted to tell him but I couldn't, I wouldn't because at the end of the day, he's a prince of Rathoregarh, although he didn't deserve to be one.

I was only at Rathoregarh as a guest. Also, I was too tired with my life to argue with him.

"Yes, thank you." I tell him politely.

Why is he even here for this long ? Reyaansh told me that he never stays in Rathoregarh for more than a few days and it's already two weeks since he's here.

"So, how come you aren't attending a lot of royal engagements ?"

Like you ever attended any royal engagements except those that involved girls.

"I just needed some time off."

It was so difficult for me to be polite around someone I disliked, had a bad repute and someone who Reyaansh hated.

"Me too, actually. You know, this royal life is tiring."

"Okay."

"What about your job at Google ?"

"I resigned." I answer, taking a deep breath.

He was getting on my nerves. I NEED SPACE. I didn't like talking with anyone, lately, except Varun of course.

"Can I tell you something ?" He asked me.

"Yeah ?"

"I love you Riaana." Sharan said.

"I love you, Riaana." Reyaansh said, looking straight into my eyes.