Pratima- Playing Chaya

Was it a dream?
A prince in my room? Requesting me to listen to him.
What am I?
A girl deceiving him?
Taking my silence as 'yes', the Prince started with his explanation.

"Chaya, all this is very deep. Our alliance is not just for monetary benefits or for uniting powers of our families. It's a revenge. My grandfather was engaged or let's say committed verbally to your father's bhua(aunt). She did the mistake of falling in love with a commoner who did not match the royal status. But she was in love and I guess love knows no boundaries.
She eloped with the boy and my grandfather took it upon his pride. He broke all ties between our families and a story of hate prevailed.
To search for the girl who ditched him became his motive. He wanted to hunt her down and kill her lover. The same was the case with your family. They were also hungry for her blood. To their disappointment, they never found her and to her good luck, she must be happy somewhere.
The hatred between families reduced with time and need. Our businesses were connected and for survival it was important to forget enmity. My father and your father have good business terms but their friendship is only for the namesake.
When you grew up, Ragini and you became friends. Genuine friends.
One day, when my grandfather saw you at our palace the history he forgot of his lost girl flashed his mind and a fresh wave of revenge seeped in him.
He called your father and proposed an alliance between you and me. He warned him if this time this alliance, by any chance is called off, he will make your family suffer. Yes, he is capable to do that. Your financial assets are depleting and the royal status is also not in a good state. Thanks to your father's autocratic status he will lose the elections also if we don't get married.
It is a win-win situation for your father. Our family has everything to keep his daughter happy and I am the 'hottest' property as per the royal norms."  The prince looked at me after his comment on himself.

I wanted to smile but I just rolled my eyes.

"It doesn't matter you agree or not. This alliance between you and me is sure to happen." Prince told me curtly.

"Is this why you broke into my room? To tell me some history between our ancestors, I was already briefed about?" The story was interesting and absolutely filmy but I was not in the mood to listen.

"The reason to break into your room was to check if you were doing fine. I have a sister too and I know what she goes through when it's that time in a month. I was regretting not asking your permission or understanding your discomfort. I can only apologise for a thousand times and more for it." The prince was genuinely sorry.

Shit! He was good.
Don't cry Pratima. Don't cry.
I just nodded my head.
"But that's for today. What about other days? You always behave..." I stopped speaking when the Prince widened his eyes and raised his eyebrows.

"You should not talk about behaviour. It wasn't my fault you misunderstood me for a chauffeur. No offence but do you have any chauffeur half as well-groomed or handsome as me?" The question from the Prince took me back to the day I was drooling over a royal driver.
I was sure my cheeks were red. Thanks to the only source of light being the moonlight and a dim light.
Prince turned on the bedside lamp and the yellow light fell directly on my face. Why does he do that? Say something which makes me blush and then turn on the lights. He was looking at me continuously.

I threw a pillow at him. "Stop staring, you creep."

He laughed.
Eh! Why? These hormones are making me feel what I don't want to feel.

"Sorry." He ruffled his hair and let out a groan.

My poor heart! I have a very, very, very, strong crush on Prince. Probably he was my bad boy with a golden heart. He was opening up. I wanted to hear him.

"Who is the one staring now? Not that I mind." The Prince was giving me a blush check and I was helping him.

"Finish with the story," I told him to divert the topic.

"When I came back from London my factory setup was complete and I started with the business. This news of the forced engagement and underlined agenda was unacceptable to me. But, my grandfather threatened me if I disagree with this marriage he will either kidnap you and keep you captive till he lives or get you murdered and feed you to the vultures." The prince's revelation of his grandfather's plan sent a chill in me. I was scared with the thought.

"Before you ask me, is he capable? Yes, very much. He wouldn't mind dying or going to jail after he seeks his revenge. I was still protesting but Ragini requested me to help you. She told me you are a delight and I will be happy with you. I wanted to marry for love and when I saw you... Umm... so, I had to agree. Grandfather was happy that finally a girl with the same face like his lost love will be in this palace, if not with him, with his grandson. He took it as a challenge. I had to comply, to save you from all the bad my grandfather has planned." I had tears after the prince told me the complete truth. I wiped them quickly.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I questioned him keeping my voice checked.

"About my grandfather's evil plans? You were already so annoyed with me that if I told you anything more I wasn't sure how you would take it. But, today after you lashed out at me I realised my decision to keep everything hidden was wrong. Now, for your other questions.
When I heard you talking about someone you said you loved or you have "someone special" in your life, I was angry therefore I asked you to confide with me and you did. But, this time if a princess leaves a prince from our family hanging, God knows what they will do. I was trying hard to keep you safe and you had all the plans to get yourself in trouble.
So, call it anger or... Whatever... I told you all the mean and harsh words. I didn't want you to do anything reckless.
The post in the office you have is very crucial and not made up. Our products are rare and new. We need to find an audience and market for them. Therefore, marketing is very important. When I read about your qualifications I thought you will be fit for the post. Besides, being away from the palace was always your wish. I only gave you a reason to be.
The presentation was moderate Chaya, but I saw you talking to Azam, the man who is nothing but a fool and it made me angry. I want you stay away from all such people but you love stepping on the axe.
The party today was a way to make up for the missed lunch date. I swear I had no clue you were unwell.
As for asking your parents and not you, for everything, well, that is one thing I guess we are taught as royals. Never do anything against the wishes of our elders.
In future, I shall always ask you first. I promise." The prince finished his looooonggggg explanation but I wasn't bored. He was only looking out for me. Chaya.
Chaya was me or I was Chaya.
Were Chaya and Ragini such great friends?

"Am I forgiven?" He asked me and I looked at him. He seemed desperate and hopeful.

"Yes. I understand the mess our lives are in. You were only looking out for me. But, where will this take us?" I was not sure where the path we are walking us will lead? Not that I will have to walk the entire path till it's destination.

"I don't know. Till wherever you want. Once, your father's units are acquired and in your name we will have a better say in this matter. As for my grandfather, I am digging some information to tame him. I know I will get it soon. Once I get what I am looking for, if you want we can terminate the alliance." The prince was working single-handedly against the royal evils.

"Chaya, now that the differences are settled can we least be on talking terms if not anything else. I hate fighting and being rude. Tolerating your arrogance and ignorance is a task I wish didn't exist.
Please understand it's necessary for us to behave like 'lovers' in front of our parents. They should not get a hint about our plan. Your father is very cunning. If he gets suspicious that we are not in good terms he might add his name instead of yours in the deal. That will not be good for our plan. We won't be in a position to force him. So, do I have your commitment towards the plan?"

"I can try. But you need to behave as well. You will not touch me inappropriately and kissing is a big no." This movie like situation will not turn into a pretend lovers novel. No accidental kisses and misses.

"God! What kiss? That was just a peck. It was for kicking me at a place that might mean my family having no heirs." The prince justified the kiss?

"It was. You stole my first kiss. For that I cannot forgive you. I always imagined it to be special. I also wanted my leg to pop like princess Mia. But you just took away the feel." It was my dream to make my first kiss special. The first time I saw 'The Princess Diaries' I imagined a kiss like that.

"Are you suggesting me to redo my act in a better way?" The Prince asked me innocently.
I looked for a pillow but couldn't find any. He gave me one and I threw the same at him. I hit him on his nose.
And ooucch! That hurt.

"Serves you right." I didn't want to hurt him but didn't want to show how bad I felt.

"Chaya, I am a natural flirt I am warning you. So, bear with my comments but I give you my word, I will never make you feel uncomfortable with my actions. Having said that, I am not sorry about the "kiss", as you term it." The Prince was charismatic. He was seriously funny.

I smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

"Prince, please don't break my trust. If you ever wish to change the plan, promise me you will keep me informed. Never do anything before telling me. It pains me to see myself treated as an item. I am human and have feelings." I looked at Prince with an expectation.

He touched my hand over the blanket and said, "I Praneet Kesari give my word to this girl my eyes see that I will never break her trust."
I don't know how long but we were just looking into each other eyes.

"I think you should leave." I broke the amazing eye-lock much to my dismay.
"How did you come through?" The palace was well secured. He couldn't come telling my new parents.

He smiled, bit his lower lip, uff! That was so sexy, and said, "I climbed the balcony. The stairs that lead to your balcony were left open then I climbed a bit and fortunately for me and unfortunately for you the door was not locked."

A prince did climb the balcony for me.
Awww!
Was, my apology so important?

"You could have fallen? We could have spoken in the office." I was thrilled with the thought of him making efforts.

"After the scolding, I got in the club, no madam. I couldn't have waited any longer. Besides, I didn't know if you would speak to me? Ever." Was the Prince, so considerate? So desperate to clear out the differences?
I just hoped he was not lying.

"Bye Prince." I wanted him to go right now. If he stayed any longer I wonder what will happen to my poor heart.

"It's Praneet. Today, for the first time you called me by my name. I swear my name has never sounded better. If your anger can make it sound like magic, I wonder if you call me with... under normal circumstances, in a normal mood, how it will sound?" The Prince held my gaze. His chocolate eyes were captivating me. His immaculate flirty skills....
Ah! He was flirting.

"Last time Prince, bye and stop flirting. It's not gonna work on me." I lied on his face. A girl who has never experienced a flirty stare, a Prince, a devilishly handsome one, was flirting with all his charm, I am flying to heaven.

He laughed heartily and left via the balcony. I tied my robe and looked down to see if he reached safely. He did and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Why was I concerned about him?
I knew the answer but it was hard to accept and even harder to ignore.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Readers,
Prince has come out clean and justified all his acts. Is he saying the truth?
Can someone fill in the words Prince refrained from saying?
Pratima's dream of having a prince climb her balcony has come true. It wasn't love or was it?
Do you hear love bells knocking?
Is it Chaya and Praneet or Pratima and Praneet?

Chaya's plan up next. After the wild seduction act, will Badal help her or will her act fail?
Find out!

Stay hooked!
Lots of love