(B L U R B)
The Solicitous Prince Manik Malhotra; the 163th Prince and soon-to-be the King of Chittorgarh is now in his final training in the army before taking over the throne. But during the last session of his training when he was all set to accomplish it and to return back to his palace he met a very mysteriously weird yet intriguing young girl in the dense forest of Meghalaya in a terrible condition.
After observing her he realized the condition of the girl has nothing to do with this abandoned forest; her story is far from what just meets the eye.
He takes her away with him to his palace and decided to unfold the mystery of the young girl and helps her with her current state. The invasion of this weird girl in his palace brings countless dramas among the families when there is already a tension about the lost Princess who disappeared 15 years ago and she also happen to be the soon-to-be-king's ex-fiance and the baby sister of his best friend. And to top that all he now has an annoying and clingy fiance who isn't too pleased with his decision of letting a stray girl to leave in the palace.

Please check the story and support it the way you guys always do. I hope you will love it too. (check the A/N below for the story after reading)⬇

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NANDINI POV

"So I hope you enjoyed the night with me.Did you?" Mikhail asked once we reached my apartment door late night after the amazing date.

"Of course I enjoyed alot!" I answered sincerely with a big satisfied smile. And that's no lie. It was a the same cliché date like any other dinning together in a lavish restaurant enjoying food as expected but Mikhail really was a gentleman through out the date.He was deliciously groomed in one of his many grey suits and I literally drooled there a little when he came to pick me up. He complimented and brought me the beautiful yellow lillies; indeed it was the sign of pure blooming friendship not really too forward on the very first date by offering me red roses unlike others and to say I was so touched and impressed by his thoughtfulness. We went to a lavish Italian restaurant in his limo to dine and he like a true gentleman pulled out the seat for me.

We enjoyed our meal while having simple and nice conversation,mostly asking about each other to get to know better. We flirted, laughed, joked , smiled, blushed etc. We both didn't want to over do anything I sensed it. As typical as it sounds we were basically just enjoying each others company. And after he paid the bill we went for a walk on the bridge. We didn't talk anything we just enjoyed chilly weather and licking on our ice-cream while our hands entwined. After the long walk we drove back and now we are here on my door at 12:30 am.

"Penny for your thoughts miss!" His mocking voice snapped me out from my thoughts.

"Ah!Sorry.."I blushed feeling embarrassed and he just chuckled on me state and to avoid the shyness I cleared my throat before speaking again. "So won't you invite yourself tonight?" I asked gesturing inside the apartment after opening the door.

"Nope!Not today." I raised my brows in question "I mean it won't look good inviting a guy inside on the first date." He joked and I rolled my eyes.

"Come on! as if its your first visit on my place.Now come." I stated sarcastically gesturing inside to come. but he just shook his head.

"No Nandini not today please.Its really already late and I don't want to cause you anymore trouble since we both have office tomorrow." He replied honestly and I nodded in understanding.

"Okay as you wish. And once again thanks alot I really enjoyed your company tonight." I added one more time and he smiled boyishly.

"hmm so if you enjoyed my company that much then...."he trailed of huskily stepping a little closer to me making me nervous suddenly. "we should do it more often." He said intensely starring into my eyes and I frown not understanding the meaning behind which is so simple but maybe its his proximity doing this to my senses. "I mean what about one more date with me?" and he finally asked so lovingly tucking my hairs behind my ear. "So...."

"One more date?" He nodded in reply and I was actually surprised to hear that he wants another date with me and who am I to say no to this deliciously handsome man?

"When?" now its his turn to look surprised.

"You sure? Anyways if you are sure about this then it will be soon don't worry. Just wait for my call. Good night! "He grinned excitedly and suddenly pecked my cheeks before walking away whistling to himself and I chuckled on his behavior.

I locked the door from inside grinning like a fool and humming to myself and turn to the board switching on the lights only to jump on in shock and almost having a heart attack.

"God you scared me!" I ran up to the couch excitedly after sighing in relief and jumped on him to hug him to death. "I missed youuuuuu!" I yelled in his ear to annoy him because I seriously did and he instantly hugged me back.

"Why didn't I feel it then?"He pulled away from the hug to look at me and asked with his perfectly thick brows raised. "What the hell! Of course I did. " I hit him playfully coiling my lips in annoyance. "Yeah Yeah! I witnessed everything and to say you were looking too happy and lost a while ego. " And when I realized what he means I blushed hiding my face in his chest. "Oh come on Haim! You know I love you the most and I really missed you." I hugged him again with a sullen face.

I really am happy to see him after so many days and I missed his presence everyday.Of course he is my only best friend and family here how can I forget him? And it really didn't worry me that how he broke into my apartment because we both have the spare keys of each others places.

"By the way who was the guy and why he was dropping you home this late?" He asked after settling himself comfortably on the couch and now I am sitting beside him wrapped in his arms. And I suddenly started to feel nervous not sure how to answer his question. "Are you telling me or not?" he pushed again sternly and I know he won't let go until he has his answers.

"Ac.. Actually I was on da...Date." I stammered avoiding looking at him and not sure how he will take the news.

"Come again?"Now I have his entire attention "I think I heard it wrong." He shook his head in disbelief and tried cleaning his ears with the finger.

"I was on date idiot." I snapped rolling my eyes. Why is it too hard to believe?

"I need to visit the doctor tomorrow.I guess my ears are having some serious problems recently." This time I couldn't help but laugh noticing how distressed he looks.

"I was really on a date,you drama queen! Date! D.A.T.E. Dateee!" I yelled and spelled in his ear and he jumped away now his eyes are really wide in shock and he sat there staring at me unblinking.

"You wete on DATEEE!" He shrieked on top of his voice and now I laughed again clutching on my stomach. "Nandini Murthy was actually on a Date!"He tested the words again."Are pigs flying or the hell already started freezing?" Now he is really exaggerating and I rolled my eyes.

"What's so wrong with it?" I snapped pissed off.

"You were on date that's what wrong." He stated plainly. "Tell me did he threatened you? Put a gun on your forehead? Drugged you? What he did to get a date from you.God tell me already?" He is now seriously going crazy.

I know this is surprising but he is seriously exaggerating about the fact that I told him once that I won't date ever in my life because I can't trust a guy again.He tried to persuade me by telling dating doesn't mean you have to be in a relationship with that person; you always can avoid it if you don't feel like but still I never agreed to it so eventually he stopped. But now after finding out I went on a date willingly its surprising for him perhaps.

"I went willingly he didn't do anything.Chill!" I answered.

"How is this possible?And who is the guy tell me the name?" He asked sternly.

"Well.. about the name.." I am feeling nervous again don't know how to break tname of his own cousin but I know I can't hide. "Its Mikhail."I closed my eyes tightly fearing the reaction but there was too much pregnant silence and I opened one of my eyes to look at him only to find him alredy starring at me in disbelief and before ge could say anything I started blabbering.

"Look I know he is your cousin and all but please try and understand you already know I don't trust guys except you and he being your brother helped me alot to come with this decision when he asked me. Because I have a feeling he isn't faking anything because he is your brother. Its not like we are in a relationship it was our first date only and maybe there will be a second one too soon. And I really enjoy his company ; I really feel happy around him. I am doing this because for once I really want to be happy. Maybe I can never fall in love again because love brings you pain but happiness can be found in every little thing. And for now I really want to try it. Please Don't be mad?" I explained and pleaded with him.

"So my brother is just a rebound for you?A little escapade until you are bored or tired of him?" He asked calmly but I can see the storm in his eyes. God ! He took it all wrong. "What if my cousin really catches some deep feelings for you?" He snapped.

"God Haim! You are thinking too much into it!" I gritted my teeth in frustration on his childishness .

"So you think I am over reacting?" He stated in disbelief "You know as much as I love you and care for you I feel the same about my family! " He snapped again angrily. God! I think I have to handle him calmly now or else I won't hear the end of this argument.

"Haim Please relax and hear me out.You took it all wrong at least let me explain once again please." I pleaded trying to calm him down with my most convincing look.

"You still have Something left to say after that speech!" He is still angry.Urrgg!! I glared him to shut up and finally he did taking a long breath and leaning back on the couch messing his hairs even more.

"I'm not using your cousin as a rebound. I don't use people out of everyone I expect you to know that about me."I took his hand in mine and initiated with the all honesty looking into his eyes. "Remember, I told you once that I don't want any relationship anymore and I am not interested in dating anyone?" I asked and he nodded "then you must remember the reason behind it too. Right?"He again nodded before answering in a bored tone "Yeah! That you don't trust men anymore because all the men are same. You don't feel safe and comfortable around them. How their gestures and concern is so fake. And you don't want to trust another men in a wolf sheep blah blah blah!" He rolled his eyes at the end of the speech.

"Exactly! So I mean to say is We are just enjoying each others company for now.We like spending time with each other. I'm not looking for love or anything and he being your cousin give me an assurance that I can maybe trust him because you him with your life and maybe that's why after a long time for the first time he is the first man I really feel comfortable around. So for now that's just it."I finished explaining with a smile and now his face soften too.

"Okay!For now I should trust you too then." He squeezed my hand returning a smile assuring smile. And then we hugged each other again.

"Now if we are fine then I'm going to make us my especially coffee and then we are going to talk about your secret trip." He stated sternly leaving place for him to quit or hide and he helplessly nodded. Because I have a feeling this trip wasn't all business because he was tensed and stay for too long and even missed the royal ball.

"Okay then come on are spot when you are finished." ye yelled for me and by our spot he meant the patio outside.

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"So what was the trip about?" I asked while offering him his cup who seems already lost deep in thought wrapped in one of my blankets and I also slipped beside him.

"Well you know Beenish, My Secretary and Mikhail's maternal cousin..."He trailed of after clearing his throat as if preparing himself for a long explanation.

"Duh Of course!" I scoffed rolling my eyes sarcastically and he glared and I just sipped on my coffee patiently waiting for him to continue.

"We are engaged!" he dropped the bomb and my jaw touching the ground floor of the building whereas my eyes are already ready to leave the sockets.

"If this is one of your prank.Then I must say you got me." I shook myself out of the shock and tapped his back with my impressed smile.

"Geez babe! I'm fucking serious." He retorted in irritation and when Haim cursed it means he is dead serious.

"I..I...Wait.."I sighed "Wh..When?...Ho...Ho..How?" I can't even fish out a proper word from my mouth. I am just..... speechless! He just simply stared at me and finally my mouth caught up with me when I suddenly started to blabber, bombarding him with my countless questions. "I knew something was going on between you two when you both came here last time for dinner but didn't expect it to happen this soon. I mean wow! Didn't you guys were here just before the trip? How did it happen?When you both started dating and if you guys were dating already then how come I never knew about this?but why all of a sudden? Is it forced?Or... "I was literally going crazy but suddenly I halted with my eyes widening even more with a new conclusion "Wait..."I creased my eyes giving him the death glare "OR YOU IMPREGNANTED HER ACCIDENTALLY? AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE FIXING YOUR MISTAKE!" I yelled on top of my voice in utter shock not able to believe my own words but this is the only possible conclusion I have because the Haim I know wasn't ready for serious commitment because he was too focused and concerned about his work and wasn't ready to quit his playboy ways yet. And maybe be in the moment of heat like any office romance they tangled themselves in sheets drunk and now they are here.

"Haim the fuck! How the hell did this happen? I knew you aren't that irresponsible? FUCKING EXPLAIN!!"I snapped angrily literally going crazy, my emotions are now everywhere and I'm afraid soon I'll find myself difficult to breathe.

"FORGODSAKE NANDINI! SHAAATTT UP NOW!! JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LET ME..."He yelled shutting me up but it wasn't for a long because I interrupted him again yelling back.

"HAIM STOP FUCKING SWEARING ON ME! AND EXPLAIN HOW THE FUCK DID THAT HAPPEN? GOD DAMN IT! THE GIRL IS LITERALLY CARING YOUR BABY JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR SILLY MISTAKE. I THOUGHT YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT AND DON'T MIX WORK WITH PLEASURE.THAN HOW THE FUCK SHE IS CARING YOUR...."I am seriously going crazy and now I'm all furious but again he interrupted "NANDINIIIIIIIIIII!!" by yelling on top of his voice angrily and maybe I don't know if it was just my imagination but I swear I feel the couch shaking beneath me and the windows and the door quivering with the effect.And did I mention whenever I mentioned about the child he blushed like a tomato?

"TO HEAR AN EXPLANATION FIRST YOU NEED TO LET ME SPEAK ATLEAST THEN PLEASEEE JUST LET ME.Okay?"he snapped gritting his teeth and emphasized on please and when I nodded embarrassingly realizing that I actually was the one talking non stop and not letting him to speak.

"first of all I didn't impregnate anyone if that's what concerning you."He stated sternly glaring at me and I gulped feeling more embarrassed for assuming things without even listening to him.

"then why are you engaged to her suddenly?"I asked patiently this time while my curiosity killing me inside.

"I realized Beenish have been hiding something from me. She have been on edge all the time as if scared of someone seeing her, secret phone calls, unannounced breaks , disappearing don't know where.I got suspicious because Beenish was anything but lazy. She never leaves her works pending not even for lunch but suddenly she started to. Whenever I asked she said its nothing excusing about not feeling well,family problem etc. And then one day she handed me her resignation without any valid reason when I pushed her to speak she said she can't tell its personal and she wants to go back to her family.My suspicion grew, I rejected her resignation and threatened her with the company's contract and trust me she hated me for that. She cursed, pleaded,cried.She did everything but I didn't budge and finally she gave up and started working again for me."He took a long breath as if remembering something and I stared at him waiting for him to speak patiently. "After starting working again for me things got worse with her. She asked for a week leave excusing it to pay a visit to her family and I thought maybe it has something to do with her family problems so I let her but when she came back..She was.. was more lifeless and quiet..Of course we all know Beenish has perfect taste in fashion but after her visit to her parents it also changed. She started to come to office in much more modest and loose clothes covered from top to bottom.I guess you noticed her on dinner also"and i nodded remembering. " It felt weird but i didn't comment but next day she went to washroom and left her jacket outside on her table I happen to be there for some files when she came out and we both were shocked.Her arms , wrist,collar bones and neck had purple bruises and for the first time I noticed a small cut on her lips and another bruised on her forehead well covered with concealer and her hairs. "Now this is my turn to get shocked.

"then.."I asked gulping in fear.

"I was so angry and I asked her to tell me but she wasn't ready and told me that's none of my business but I was going crazy. I wanted to know what the hell is happening with her so I finally threatened her with a call to Mikhail and it worked. An...And that was the first time I saw ever so sassy, confident,fiery Beenish falling apart crying helplessly on floor.

I knew that after Beenish's mom and Mikhail's Aunt death her father married another woman and it somehow effected their father daughter bond but I never thought to this extent where a father can sell his own daughter to a devil." He spat birtterly.

"What do you mean?"I mumbled fearing what I'm going to hear next.

"Beenish father isn't rich like us. They are just a regular middle class family and Beenish step brother was involved in gambling; a complete addict since eight years. And three months ago they were on the verge of almost loosing everything even their small house. So to save his son's ass instead of throwing him out of the house he sold his own daughter as suggest by his wfe to a 42 years old,rich, ugly and pervert gambler to pay the death of his son. Who also happen to be alcoholic, abusive and a possessive psychopath.

He asked Beenish to quit the job because he didn't want her working away from him with other men and asked her to dress more properly and when he heard that Beenish didn't quit the job he threatened his family by demanding her presence in state and when she visited he abused her physically and even tried to force himself on her but thankfully he was too drunk to finish himself.

And when I heard all this I instantly flew away to them even after Beenish pleaded alot with me but I was too mad to listen to her. And when I reached there I asked them how can they do this to their own daughter just because of their own son's stupidity but her bitch of a step mother said arrogantly that Beenish is just a good for nothing and isn't of any use because once she will find a groom she won't even care about them but as a son his son has to take care of his parents once they will be old. Hypocrite much!I tried to convince them for days And but they said don't have enough amount to pay the devil back so its the only way they have and Beenish is fine with it. And then I told them I will pay off all their debts but on a condition that they won't trouble Beenish anymore.

Of course her family was happy by the idea of someone else paying their debts but Beenish was too proud to accept the help so she declined stubbornly. She told me that she doesn't take favour from an outsider and she won't be able to pay me back ever her problems was none of my business because I was just her boss. Her that sentence something snapped inside me and there and then I don't know what exactly came to me I just dragged her with me to a jewellery shop and slipped an engagement ring into her finger shocking the both of us. And let me quote myself "Now I'm close enough to pay off my fiance's bills . Ain't I?" That's how I paid her debts. That's all." And I literally was speechless by the end of the speech. I real don't know what to say and how to react? This much has happened.

"Wow!" I stated feeling thrilled. "Mikhail knows?" he shook his head negatively.

"But don't you think it isn't too much. I mean its about your whole life. You didn't want to be in a serious commitment and suddenly now you are engaged just to save your fiance's ass. Isn't it too harsh?" I asked concerned.

"Naah not at all! The only thing I seem to care about was work so maybe I could even have died single so it's far better than that but as a matter of fact I know Beenish will make a good wife. I mean come on, she is gorgeous, smart, intelligent, fiesty, focused, loyal just a breath of fresh air." He said dreamily not even realizing that he is actually revealing way too much.

"Waoh! So someone got a crush on his secretary."I cooed teasingly pulling his cheeks and he blushed glaring at me. "Awww so cute! crushing on secretary now are we?" I continuously teased him.

"Oh shut up! It's nothing like that."He hit me with the pillow in anger and frustration before walking away to his room upstairs which I know very well was fake because his face is as red as Rudolph nose blush said it all.

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DONE!!

[A/N]PLEASE CHECK MY NEW BOOK -THE WILTING ROSE (Previously named as Desolate Sequin)
I request you all to give it a chance!