*Nicole Pov*

"He must be scared." I scoffed at her words and continued to work without saying another word.

"Fine! How dare he say those words and leave you? He doesn't have any common sense. Happy now?" she added the last words laughing.

"I don't have any common sense. That's why I called you." I replied, moving my hand to cut her call.

"Wait! I am really confused about your problem. Are you mad at him for those words or because he rushed away not giving you any time to react?" Nev asked leaving all the teasing from her tone.

"I don't know!" I mumbled and stopped working.

"Well, ask him when he returns. Don't stress yourself like this. But just decide whether you want those words to be true or just be simply some silly words." After suggesting that she hung up and I just sighed.

"I will definitely take his opinion in this matter, but for me if it is not you then it will be no one."

I can still remember each and every word he uttered that day and just left before I can understand the meaning behind those words.

And from that moment onwards I am just thinking only about that. How should I react? Did he even mean those words to be like something special or were they just words?

Will he bring up the topic or should I ask him? How should I behave when he returns? Should I show my anger, or should I try to be completely normal?

God! I never had these many questions even while choosing my career or even my first boyfriend. But this one man is definitely making me old with all this thinking.

Maybe I can just be normal or at least try to be normal. Maybe this is not much important and I am the one dragging it like some bubblegum.

With that thought, I took a deep breath and continued my work which is to take another artifact we found yesterday.

The way everything is progressing, the work will finish within a few months and everyone can return to their homes. Even I can go back, but... I shook my head and this time completely concentrated on the work.

"Hey! Want to go for dinner?" I glanced up to see all my team members are standing there.

"We finished the work for today and we want to celebrate the progress too." Another added when I shook my head negatively.

"Are you planning to finish the whole work today?" Nisha asked raising her eyebrow.

"Are you really inviting me?" I asked back feeling surprised by her recent behavior.

She no longer taunts me or even trying to grab Ali's attention whenever he comes here. What made her change?

"She will come if she wants. Let's go, Nick." Saying that she walked off and he gave a small shrug still smiling before following her.

Oh! So, could he be the reason for her to not hate me anymore? I shrugged, not wishing to dwell into the matter and agreed to go with them.

What will I do sitting here except to think about him? At least now I can think of something else and who knows I can even enjoy this outing.

"Are you serious?" I asked Nick completely shocked.

"Yes! She actually proposed to me saying that she likes me. Now, we both are dating." He replied when we reached my tent.

"Thanks for walking to my tent even though that is not needed." I said smiling at him.

"She went, to her home and I wanted to talk to you before you have to find another shocked look by tomorrow." His words made me laugh.

"What can I say? I never saw her uttering one word properly and now she is all something else." I shrugged and he gave an understanding nod.

"Seems like there are many people here who are forced by their parents to act in different ways. If not for her Father to force her to make Prince marry her then she would have been like this from the beginning." He explained making me frown.

"So, what brought this change?" I asked, still very curious about her behavior.

"Of course you!" he replied, making me laugh.

"Please! I never gave her any slack for her to have a change of heart. I was as rude as she was to me." I controlled my laugh when he gave an irritated look.

"Fine! But just give me a brief regarding how I changed her." I added and this time he laughed.

"You don't have that much rights on this. Even his highness brought this change." He pointed out and before I can ask him how is that possible he just continued talking.

"You both are so inseparable that everyone realized none of the others have any chance with him. It took more time for Nisha to accept that, but she finally did." He added while I stared at him in shock.

"We... we are not that much attached. We are just..." I trailed off not knowing what to tell him.

Dating? Is it really that simple to give that tag which feels too below than what we have? What tag I can actually give to our relation?

"Right! I think I should go." He suddenly mumbled and I glanced at him to see his eyes looking over my shoulder but not looking directly at me.

"Okay!" I said, moving to give him a hug, but he just gave an awkward chuckle stepping back.

"I don't think that is a good idea." Saying that he just walked off and I stared at him completely confused.

Why was he uncomfortable for just a hug? Is it because of Nisha? Well, he need not act like I am jumping on him or something. I shrugged and turned around to walk into the tent, but stopped in my tracks when I noticed a very angry man standing near the entrance.

Why he is angry? I should be angry at him, right? I completely ignored him and continued to walk and entered the tent pushing him away with my shoulder.

"Where were you?" he asked as if he has every right to ask me that question.

"I went on a date. Any problem?" I asked without turning around and sat on the cot before unlocking my phone to see nearly twenty missed calls and that too from him.

"I thought..." he trailed off and immediately took my phone away.

"Date? You went on a date?" he asked finally registering my words and I glanced up to see his shocked look.

"You don't want to be with me?" this time he gave a vulnerable look, but immediately covered it with a blank expression.

"That's why you were trying to explain to him that we don't have anything special and..." he shook his head stopping whatever he was trying to say.

"Fine! If this is what you want." Saying that he turned around to leave.

"How was your trip? Harsha is fine? There was no problem, right?" I asked and this time he turned around before holding my shoulders and hauled me up.

"How can you ask such questions?" he asked frowning at me.

"Because I want to know the answers to them, Ali." I replied, smiling and placed my hands around his neck before tugging him down.

"And I missed you too." Adding those words I pressed my lips to his but he stayed still not kissing me back.

"It was a group date. My whole team went and Nick was just being a gentleman by dropping me near my tent. And he was just explaining how Nisha changed to not so obsessive about you girl because we both are inseparable and I was just trying to not let them dwell too much into our relation because I don't think we are that inseparable." When I just continued to explain he slowly relaxed and moved his hands around my waist.

"But I think we are really inseparable from the way you just acted." I added teasing, but he just pressed his lips to me and kissed me making it feel like it is not a bad thing to be inseparable with this guy.

"Don't scare me like that again." He whispered and this time I let go of all the teasing before holding him tightly.

Who can be mad at this guy? I was like waiting for a chance to kill him, but here I don't care anymore what he said that day and left.

****

"By the way, Harsha loved your gift." He said making me look away from the tent ceiling to stare at his face.

"Yeah? It's a good thing then." I mumbled and he nodded before giving a smile.

"And he even accepted to come home after two weeks for the weekend." He said with a happy look.

"Why didn't he want to come before?" I asked him frowning.

"I... I really don't know, Nicole. He was happy with me, but the last day when he decided to return with me and become a prince even though I told him he can stay with his Mom and Step-Dad, he just stayed away from me. I tried everything to bring him out of the sadness, but he just blocked me. I don't know why is he angry at me and I wish I can know the reason. After we returned from India he was kind of okay, but then just one day he stopped talking to me properly. I really wish I can know the reason for his behavior." He replied closing his eyes.

"If... if you had got your memory back and you never met me and your Father too never caused any trouble then you would have stayed with her, right?" I asked him and he immediately opened his eyes.

"My Father always causes trouble." He mumbled and I just rolled my eyes.

"If! I added an if to my question." I pointed out and this time he looked away.

"Yes! I would have stayed with her and we would have just continued to love even happily." He replied and this time I looked away from him.

"But... but I would have missed this feeling and she too would would have missed it." He added making me frown.

"What feeling?" I asked, turning and met his stare.

"This destructible thing..." he trailed off while I pointed him to continue, but he just shook his head and closed his eyes.

"What destructible? Hey!" I continued to ask him and he just drifted off into sleep.

*Ali Pov*

"You need to go to work?" I asked, yawning when she got ready in silence.

"Yes! I need to go and destruct something." She replied, turning around and I just raised my eyebrow.

"What?" she asked, folding her arms.

"Nothing! Go and destruct." I replied, waving at her.

"You are a cruel man. And you hijacked my place by the way. Don't you have a palace by the way? Why are you staying at my place?" she asked taking her stuff.

"Because you are not staying at my place." I replied, shrugging and sat up while she just stared at me.

"Why do you want me at your place? I bring this destructing thing into your life, right?" she used as much sarcasm as possible while uttering those words.

"This is a kind of destruction which I wish never leave my life." Saying those words I walked near to her and pecked her lips.

"Now go and enjoy your work. I will meet you tonight." With those words I walked off smiling.

I really wish I was able to finish the sentence yesterday, but I know she will throw me out immediately if it scared her anyway.

I just need to wait for a few more days and hope she will get used to us soon. To top her that I need her main worry to go away too regarding Harsha rejecting her.

"How is he?" I stared at him, shocked when my Father actually asked that question.

"What? He is the future of this kingdom and I need to know whether he is doing good with his studies or not." He pointed out making me sigh.

"He is fine and he will come home within two weeks. I don't want you to create any problem or trouble him anyway." Saying those words I continued to do the work I missed this weekend and he too left my room in silence.

****

"How was your day?" I asked, entering her tent to see the charts laid open and she is marking something on them.

"Very destructing!" she replied, making me chuckle.

"That's nice! The work should always be interesting." I said, gesturing the guard to give me the tray before making him leave the tent.

"Right! You just pretend as much as you can regarding the word I am actually using. And I am not hungry." She added the last words looking at the tray.

"Fine! I will send this away." Saying that I moved, but she immediately took the tray from my hands.

"Just sit down!" she ordered and I sat before her.

"You know I am getting fond of these moments when you order me around." She stared at me hearing my words.

"You should have people who order you around. It's good for your personality." She said shrugging.

"True! I need that for my whole life." When I uttered those words she immediately started coughing.

"What?" she asked, frowning.

"Yeah! I need people around me my whole life who order me around, right? That's what you just said." I replied, giving her a confused look.

"Yeah! I was just saying that." She mumbled, shaking her head and we finished our dinner in silence.

"You can just shift to my place. Every day I can't come like this and leave early in the morning." I broached the subject when we settled on the bed.

She stayed silent for a few seconds before mumbling, "The work is near to end and there is no need to hide anything when everyone know what is going on. I think I will shift to your place."

"Really?" I asked, lifting her face, placing my hand under her chin.

"Yes! But only if no one has any problem with it." She placed the condition and I am completely fine with it.

"And I will shift after a few days." She added, making my smile slip from my face.

"These two weeks are crucial for me, Ali. I need to stay here." She added and I reluctantly nodded.

"Such a good boy." She patted my cheek.

"Boy?" I asked her raising my eyebrow.

"Such a good Prince?" she asked and I shook my head, smiling before pulling her into my arms and drifted off into sleep.

****

"Are you ready?" I asked entering her tent and I am really glad to see her things packed.

"Maybe I should stay back..." hearing her words I immediately frowned.

"I mean I will take my things to the Palace but I will not come with you to pick up Harsha." She explained and I sighed in relief.

"It's okay, Nicole. He will be fine with you. He is really close to Jhanvi's husband. Why will he have any problem with you?" I asked and she finally nodded.

"Great! Your things will be taken by the servants and they will unpack for you too. I... I need you with me when I finally meet my son. This time it is special because he himself is coming to visit me. And he liked your gift so much. So, he will be happy to meet you too." I continue to persuade her and this time she completely agreed without any reluctance.

"Fine! Let's go!" she mumbled, walking near to me and held my hand.

"Just wait for a few more minutes. He will be here soon." She assured me when I kept on looking at the terminal.

"I should have sent the jet." I mumbled and she shook her head.

"You are the one who decided to not spoil him." She pointed out and I sighed.

"There he is." I said when I caught his sight.

He immediately walked near to us along with the teacher whom I hired to bring Harsha home during any weekend he wishes to.

"We really appreciate for your help." I said, shaking the teacher's hand when they reached near us.

"You will be staying as our guest at the palace." I added, giving him a nod before glancing at Harsha to see him looking around.

"How was the journey?" I asked, bending a little.

"Good!" he mumbled, staring at me.

I cleared my throat and gestured Nicole before introducing her saying, "She is Nicole whom I told you about. You remember the gift?"

"Thanks!" he politely told her, but didn't glance at her.

"Hello Harsha!" she greeted forwarding her hand and she need not even bend like me.

"Hi!" he whispered, but didn't move his hand.

"Okay! Let me take your bag." She said, moving her hand to the suitcase but he stepped back.

"No!" with those words, she even stopped saying anything while I felt too many emotions at a time.

The confusion regarding his behavior and the dread thinking about her reaction now after realizing her fears is true.

I took his bag not saying a word and not letting him stop before gestured everyone to follow me to the jeep which I drove here.

She sat beside me while Harsha and his teacher Mr. Imran sat at the back. I glanced at her, but she just has this blank expression which is worse than anything.

"I will go back." She whispered so that only I can hear her words.

"No!" that's all I said and started driving towards the palace.

Today morning I thought everything was just as it should be. Harsha was coming home and she was shifting to my place. Now, I don't know what to even think.

What can exactly happen to make Harsha accept her and for her to not worry about this? Maybe he is just shy with the strangers, but he was not with any new member he met when he first came here.

Maybe he just felt a little awkward? Yes! That could be the reason and he just needs some time. And for that I need her not to run away which I need to achieve soon.

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