At Parking lot
In xyz shopping mall

A girl was shouting on the top of her voice,

"Leave me. Help, somebody please help me."

Almost five or six people were holding her and trying to put her in the car forcefully when a boy came there and said,

"Hey, what are you doing? Leave her, I said leave her immediately."

One of them said,

"Mind your own business otherwise the result won't be good for you."

"You know what, as a good citizen of India we should help people. So I have to help her."

Saying this he started fighting with them. He was a good fighter and knocked them off with his single punch. It seemed like he was an expert. He almost knocked them all when a goon brought an iron rod and hit on his head from the back. He fell on the ground and everything blacked out in front of his eyes. When he opened his eyes he saw he was sitting in a car with that girl and two goons were sitting either side of them. Their hands and mouth were tied but their legs were free. He checked his pants pocket secretly and found that nail cutter he bought from that shopping mall. There was a small knife attached with that nail cutter and he knew it. So he quickly made a plan to skip. He cut the rope of his hands. Then he suddenly unlocked the car and pushed one goon out of the car and he also jumped out from the running car with that girl. Before those goons could stop the car and follow them he held her hand and ran towards the jungle. They stopped the car and started to follow them. They had guns and they started firing too. After running for something they saw a river and finding no other option he jumped into the river with that girl.

Few hours later

That girl opened her eyes. She didn't know how to swim so she drank a lot of water and fainted but that boy safely brought her out of the river and saved her life. But she was injured a little and winched in pain. That boy said,

"What happened?"

"It's hurting a lot."

"I am sorry but there weren't any other options to save you from those goons."

"Thank you. But why did you risk your life for me?"

"Well it's my duty to save the citizens."

"Why? Are you the prime minister or what?"

"No but my father is the prime minister of India."

"Stop lying."

"Oh god why don't people believe me?"

"By the way, I am Nandini and you?"

"I am Manik, Manik Malhotra."

"Oh so your surname matches with our prime minister that's why you said he is your father."

"You wish, but he is actually my father."

"Shut up. Don't you feel ashamed to crack such jokes? Your mom should beat you."

"Unfortunately she can't beat me."

"Why?"

"Because she is no more. I lost her when I was only five years old. She couldn't fight against cancer."

"Oh, I am so sorry."

Manik was wearing a black shirt that's why she didn't notice blood in his shirt from far away but when he came to her and forwarded his hand for her to stand up she saw the hole in the left side of his shirt and blood emerging from his flesh.

"Oh no, you got a bullet."

"It just touched my flesh. Don't worry, I will be fine."

"It's bleeding."

Nandini was wearing a stole on her top. She removed the stole, gave it to him and said,

"Tie your wound with this. It will stop bleeding."

Manik took that stole and tied it around his waist. Then he helped her to stand up and they both started to walk. It was a deep jungle so it already started getting dark. But they kept walking until she said,

"I can't walk anymore. My legs are hurting too much."

"Okay, let's stay here for the night."

"God knows how we will survive in this jungle without food and water."

"Trust me, I know how to survive in the jungle so don't worry."

"And how do you know?"

"Because I am a huge fan of Bear Grylls."

"Ewwww."

"What do you mean by ewww?"

"He eats little insects."

"So what? People can do anything to survive."

"I am a pure vegetarian."

"Oh that's not a problem. See we have lots of grass for you to eat."

"Being a vegetarian doesn't mean we eat grass. We eat vegetables."

"Unfortunately I can't see any vegetables here. So either you have to eat grass or tree leaves. By the way, I love to eat non veg."

"Why are you telling me that?"

"When I get hungry I can eat you alive."

"Very funny. You can't eat me."

"Why not? I am a complete stranger to you. How much do you know about me? Maybe I am a psychopath. I kill innocent girls and eat their flesh raw."

Manik tried to scared her but she didn't give a damn to it and said,

"Yes, you are a complete stranger to me but I saved my life. In fact you got a bullet while saving me. So I don't have any risk from you. I know you will never harm me."

"You are quite intelligent. Anyways, why were those goons kidnapping you? Do you have any connections with the mafia or what?"

"I don't have any connections with the mafia. Actually my best friend Navya was raped by our classmate Harshad and I was the main eye witness. His father is a powerful politician that's why they tried to kidnap me so that I can't reach the court and give a statement against his son."

"Why didn't you ask for police protection?"

"I asked for the police protection but they all are corrupted. They didn't agree to give me any police protection."

"I will definitely talk to dad about it."

"Is your father a police commissioner?"

"No, I told you he is the prime minister."

"Do you think I will buy this?"

"It totally depends on you. Anyways I don't think those goons are still flowing to us. Let's create a bonfire and celebrate this worst night."

"Manik, do you have a phone? Please see if it's still working or not?"

"Actually I don't have my phone with me. I forgot it in my car and I was coming to grab my phone when I saw those goons trying to kidnap you."

"Shit, now how will we ask for help?"

"I don't know. Your parents must be worried for you, right?"

"I don't have any parents? I lost them in a road accident."

"I am sorry."

"It's okay. Me and my younger brother live with my uncle aunty and love us like their own kids. I am sure they must be worried for me."

Manik gathered some wood and dry leafs. Then he pulled out a lighter from his pocket and tried to light fire. That light was wet too but after trying for sometime it worked and he lit fire with it. Then they both sat close to fire and Manik removed his shirt. His wound was quite deep. He pulled out that nail cutter from his pocket and heated that small knife on the fire. Then he burned his wound with that knife. It was hurting him so much but he had to do it otherwise the poisonous gun powder would be spared to his whole body. Then he wore his shirt again.

"Is it hurting so much?"

"Yes, but I will manage."

Suddenly a fox screamed loudly. Nandini got scared and held Manik's hand tightly.

"What? It's just a fox."

"I know but it's scary."

"You know, you are very different from the other girls. You are brave to take a stand for your friend. You are intelligent and a good analyzer. You are scared of a fox but you are not afraid to admit it. You are just a simple girl, still you are unique in your own way."

"Well thank you for the compliment but don't you think it's not a perfect time to compliment a girl? What if there is some dangerous animal in this jungle like a tiger, lion or bear? What if they attack us?"

"I don't think there would be any dangerous animals because I didn't see their footprints beside the river. If there would be any dangerous animal then it has to come to the river to drive water. But I can't say anything about snakes because they can survive without water."

Nandini sat beside him holding his hand more tightly and said,

"Are you trying to scare me?"

"Yes, so that I can sleep in peace and you keep a watch on me for the whole night."

"Do you know that you are a great fool?"

"Yes, because I can't lie. That's why I don't want to join politics like my dad."

"Very funny."

Next Morning

They woke up early in the morning and started walking. After walking for a few hours they found a small village and took shelter in a farmer's house. They thought if they told them the truth they might get scared and not give them shelter. That is why Nandini told them that they are husband and wife. They came to visit the place and get lost in the jungle. That farmer and his wife welcomed them cordially and gave them food and clothes. When Nandini told them that they got hurt in the jungle they also called a village doctor and treated their wounds. Manik's wound was quite serious, that's why the doctor told him to rest for a few days.

Two days later

They were sitting beside the river when Manik said,

"How can you lie so fluently?"

"Well practice you know. You can also lie if you keep practicing."

"Villagers are so innocent. They believed us so easily. By the way, when is the court hearing?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"I think we should stay here only for your safety."

"Yeah I was thinking about the same. Anyways, it's been three days we have been living together and we still don't know anything about each other. Let's know about each other."

"Okay, what do you want to know about me?"

"How educated are you?"

"I just completed my graduation from Oxford University."

"Wow, on which subject?"

"Political science but I don't have any interest in politics. It's just that my dad forced me to study so that I can join politics like him. You don't believe that my father is the prime minister of India?"

"Nope."

"I ran away from home."

"Huh, I still don't believe you."

"I had to run away because my dad was forcing me to join politics but as you know I can't lie."

"If you become a politician it's not necessary to lie. You can be an honest politician."

"They actually have to lie to Nandini. You have never seen a politician this closely but I did and I promised my mom that I will never lie."

"So what do you want to do now?"

"I want to become a musician. I have a band in London."

"Frankly speaking we don't have an honest politician in our country because any honest person doesn't want to join politics. They all say politics is a dirty field but nobody enters into that field and cleans it up."

"You are right. I will think about it."

"Of course after all your father is the prime minister and you are going to be our next prime minister."

Nandini started laughing and Manik was looking at her beautiful face. Day went in a jiffy. They had a great time together but it's time to go home now. Manik didn't want to go back home but his passport and visa was in his car which he parked in that shopping mall. They bid bye to the villagers and thanked them for their hospitality. Then they went to the town and Manik called his dad. After talking to his dad he came to Nandini and said,

"Nandini, I think you shouldn't call your uncle. What if his phone is getting trapped by your enemies? My bodyguards are coming to pick me up. I will drop you home."

"Bodyguards? Do you actually have bodyguards or are you flattering?"

"Obviously I have bodyguards. Do you think the prime minister of India will let his son roam around the country without any protection? Trust me they follow me everywhere like my shadow. This is so irritating."

"So you are actually the prime minister Raj Malhotra's son?"

"Yes."

Nandini couldn't believe what she just heard. She thought he was joking but no. He was serious about it. That's when something stricken in her mind and she said,

"That means Harshad Malhotra is your cousin."

Nandini was getting scared of him now and stepping back.

"Yes, he is my cousin but that doesn't mean he will commit a crime and I will support him."

"How can I trust you? Who knows you will drop me home or hand me over to those kidnapers?"

"Nandini, when I said I might be a psychopath and kill you, you said I might be a complete stranger for you but I saved your life that's why you don't have any risk from me."

"Yes but then you didn't know that I am your brother's enemy."

"I never lied to you or tried to hide my identity. It was you who didn't believe me. Trust me, I will never harm you."

"What about your brother? He wants to kill me."

"I will protect you."

"But why?"

"Because I love you. I know it's been only five days I know you but I think I know you enough to fall in love with you. I am not forcing you to love me back. In fact if you don't love then also I don't have any problem. I will always love you and charis those memories we made within those days. I will never let anyone harm you. That's my promise to you."

Before Nandini could say something three big cars appeared in front of them and a few bodyguards wearing black uniforms and having loaded arms came out of the car. One bodyguard came to Manik and said,

"Sir, we got orders to take you home safely. Please come with us."

"Nandini, tell him your address. First I will drop you then I will go home."

Nandini told her address and sat in the car. Manik dropped her home then went away. That night Nandini got police protection. Next day Nandini could reach the court safely and gave her statement against Harshad Malhotra. He was imprisoned for twelve years and they all were happy with this judgment.

Few months later

After the court hearing Nandini has noticed that two people always follow her. They don't try to harm her or talk to her. They just follow her like a shadow. In fact sometimes they help her secretly. One day Nandini was watching breaking news on television when her eyes stuck on a person. Before she could see him properly she heard the news reporter saying,

"Breaking news, Manik Malhotra son of our prime minister Raj Malhotra won the election with a huge amount of votes. He is our new home minister. Let's see how our young generation takes this responsibility."

Yes, it's him. Finally he joined politics and won the election with a huge amount of votes. Nandini was so happy for him. He was looking dashing in white kurta pajamas. That day when she was going to college she saw those men who always follow her. She went to them and said,

"Tell your new home minister to meet me."

Nandini knew who they were. They were her bodyguards appointed by Manik. He kept his promise and won her trust. So it's time to reward him. After college she saw those men standing in front of a car. They opened the door for her and said,

"Sir is waiting for you."

Nandini sat in the car and they took her to a sea beach. When she stepped out of the car she saw him sitting on the black BMW car's bonnet facing the sea playing a guitar. She went to him and said,

"So finally someone decided to step in the dirty field and clean it up. Congrats our new home minister."

Manik jumped down from the car's bonnet and said,

"Thank you. So why did you call me here?"

Nandini sat on her knees, forwarded a ring towards him and said,

"Mr. Home minister, I love you. Will you marry me?"

First he was shocked then he also sat on his knees and said,

"Yes."

Nandini made him wear the ring. Then Manik picked her up in his arms and twinkled her around. Her laughter reflected around the sea.

*****************★*****************
So how's the story? If you like this book then please recommend it to your friend and let me know your opinions about this story by your comments and of course don't forget to vote.
Take care
Bye
Nahar....😘😘😘