Pratima

I came to the room and slept immediately. I didn't change my clothes or washed my face. I knew there was chocolate on the corner of my lips and my face was a tear-stained mess.

When I got up in the morning I saw Praneet sleeping beside me. He looked like a delicious cookie waiting to be devoured. As much as I hated him last night, I loved him right now.

If I moved my finger three inches, I could touch him. He moved in sleep and I turned immediately. I could not be caught worshipping him so, I got up quietly and moved to the washroom. Observing my face in the mirror, I realised, Praneet deserved someone who looked better. I was just about average and he will never love me. Thoughts I never encouraged were my own today.

He was a jerk, I was a cheat.
He had reasons and my reason? I was just desperate to experience the life of a princess. If he was calling me greedy then he wasn't completely wrong.

"Stop staring yourself in the mirror, you aren't that pretty." I was astonished to hear his voice.

"How dare you come inside? I could be doing anything." I was conscious.

"Then lock the door next time." Praneet splashed water on his face.

Didn't I lock the door?
Stupid me.
I was so busy admiring Praneet's glorious morning face that I probably forgot. I was looking at him unconsciously and he sprinkled water on my face to bring me out of my thoughts, his thoughts.

I moved out of the bathroom so that he could use it. I didn't want to fight. He will only insult me.

He already started with, 'you aren't that pretty'.

I know. I explained that to myself and took my clothes and moved to the other room of our suite.

I was shocked to see a girl sleeping on the huge couch. She was the same girl Praneet was with, last night.
Did they do on the couch? How could Praneet do it?
He could. He did.
I quickly took a hot water shower that might calm me and leave the room quickly.

When I came out, Praneet and the girl were talking. I ignored them and walked to the room where my luggage was.

I had all negative feelings brooding inside me. Jealousy, hatred, betrayal, fury, to name a few.

"It's not how you think." Praneet instantly came inside and explained. What a creative line.

"Hmm," was all I could say or preferred to say.

The girl stepped inside and in a very charming tone said, "Yeah, it's not like how you think. I am just his... Let's say, fling."

"Oh! Just stop it." Praneet reprimanded the girl and she left after giving a flying kiss to him.
What was this new angle now?

"She was not a fling okay. I met her for a business meeting on behalf of Dada Saab yesterday. Eventually, I realised Dada Saab was just testing us. If you feel jealous of her being around me that would mean, there is something between us. Your running away from the hotel proved his point. The girl said she had no where to go in the night and therefore stayed here." Praneet explained everything without asking.

I didn't have the right to demand any explanations nor was he bound to give any. Still, he chose to clarify.

"Hmm," I did not want to say anything that would result in arguments. I knew my temper escalated easily.

"So that is how you will answer now? Hmm?" Praneet was agitated with my short replies I could see.

Giving up on thinking about the outcome, I told him calmly, "If I speak, we will fight. If I don't, still we fight. Honestly, I am tired of fighting and arguing. I get it, you think I am an opportunist and I am not justifying anything. But, I am also not going to hear any more accusations. Since you are 'smarter' between the two of us, why don't you decide what should we do?"

I was fed up with this drama between us. Praneet was standing there silently. I waited for his answer but he was just scrutinizing me like an examination answer sheet.

His phone rang and he picked up the call. He was busy talking while I ate half a chocolate in my purse. It was from Praneet's chocolate bouquet. Yeah! I still have a few left and ate them judiciously.

"Are you a chocolate addict?" Praneet asked me looking amused.

Why? I was hungry. I just smiled and agreed.

"The situation is, umm... We have to go to the spa. It's complimentary from the hotel." Praneet told me and the taunt from last night flashed my mind.

I asked me him, "I think you can afford a spa? Can't you?"
He nodded his head in approval.
"Then why are they giving it complimentary? Isn't it for people who want but can't afford, the hotel makes charity?" I did not want to be a charity case.

"Says who? All good hotels aim to make their customers happy by providing them with benefits. Our room is costly enough to earn us a free spa. How did you even get that idea?"

I thought that too. But the words from the lady were haunting me.

I didn't mention it to him and shrugged my shoulder in dismissal.

"You have a five-star hotel of your own. This is a common tactic, I think you should know." I couldn't believe Praneet was still insulting me.

My limit gave up and I faced him squarely. Looking straight into his eyes I told him with a proud expression, "I am sorry but my parents are owners of a motel and I run an Airbnb. We... we don't offer such benefits so I have no clue." I walked away from there. I could not tolerate more of his remarks.

He caught my hand said, "Hey... Sorry. I forgot okay. I was... I still thought you were the princess of Aryabhoomi. It just slipped out of my mind."

"Hmm," I released my hand from his grip but he held my hand in his tightly and we left our room.

I wanted to but did not have the courage to untangle my hand from his. It felt so good, so complete.
I was shamelessly in love this royal jerk.
Why God?

We reached the restaurant and were escorted to a table with the best view. It was a buffet breakfast and Praneet asked me if I'd like everything to arrive on the table or choose from the display. I chose the latter.

Admiring the widespread of breakfast, I ordered a cheese omelette for my self and waited near the counter.

My mood turned sour seeing the lady approaching towards me. She gave my a sly smile and remarked,
"Hey, so it's the complimentary breakfast today? You are with the hottie who was with another girl yesterday? Is that your new deal?"

I was trying to analyse what she said and what I understood. I wasn't very confident with the five-star audience and did not want to create a scene so I kept quiet.

But my husband was in a different mood. He came from behind, slipped his hand on my waist and kissed my cheek.
"Hey wifey, what makes you stand near the counter? You are not meant for waiting, my queen." Praneet took me to our seat catching everyone's attention. Especially the lady.

"What was that?" I asked him. I tried hard to act angry but I wasn't sure how much I succeed. I loved the drama and above all his cute little kiss.

"You tell me? You scolded me so badly last night even though I had reasons and that lady told you something so inappropriate but you said nothing? Why?" Praneet stood up for me.

I was happy? I guess.
I narrated last night's incident and also confessed my low confidence. It was my first stay at such a big hotel.

"I wasn't sure what I understood was what she said." I said toying my food.

Praneet took my hand between his palms and lifted my chin, "No one has the right to disrespect you. Stand up for yourself as you did against me last night. As much as I disapprove of what you and Chaya did, I appreciate your grit of character."

Praneet appreciated me and we were lost looking into the eyes of each other. His eyes were deep and his gaze was magical.

A manager cleared his throat and we blinked our eyes. "Sir, please come."

He requested Praneet and me to come to a table where a huge cake was decorated.

The manager gave Praneet a knife to cut the cake, and announced, "May I have your attention please. The Walnut Groove is honoured to have the Prince and her highness of Kesarganj with us. It is our pleasure that they chose to stay with us. We wish them a great future and a happily married life."

I was surprised at the celebration. If this was real, I would be on cloud nine.

Praneet and I cut the cake and everyone cheered for us. My eyes travelled to the lady who taunted me and the shock on her face was my revenge. I looked at Praneet and he winked at me.

Oh! God! Can he stop doing these things? His kiss still lingered on my lucky left cheek. I know I was blushing and couldn't help keeping it in check.

An elderly couple gave me a rose and the lady said, "The colour of your love is reflecting on her cheeks, Prince. We wish you many years of togetherness."

"Is it? I don't know because she always uses her hair as her shield." Praneet replied with a teas  in his tone but I felt elated to know he noticed.

Tiny little things in love mattered the most.

He knew when I purposely loosened my hair to hide my shyness. I was just smiling like a fool. This pretend life was making me silly.

The couple laughed and the man said, "We have been married for fifty-three years now but the love we see in your eyes we have never seen in any other couple."

"I agree." The lady affirmed and said, "Mark my words Anthony, if, she is the saga of love, he is the ballad. God bless you." The lady blessed us and left.

Did I want her blessings to come true?
Did Praneet want it?
I could feel we both were debating in our mind on the same topic.

We finished our breakfast in silence after that. We were given an exclusive tour of the hotel, even if the areas not open to the public. I thought I had seen my city from all angles but I saw its spectacular beauty magnified today.

After a two hour tour we stopped at the spa section where we were welcomed warmly.

I was given a change. Just a use and throw underwear? Huh? Is that how you dress for a spa? Maybe. I tied the robe tight and came out. Soft music, dim lights, a pleasant north-eastern origin girl welcomed me. She asked me to lie down on the bed and wait.

My mouth flung open when I saw Praneet walk into the same room in just a towel.
Holy shit!
Praneet was exuding sexuality. He looked absolutely hot and intentionally or not he sent me into overdrive. My treacherous eyes were not blinking and I was continuously staring at him.

"God! Stop! I know I am the first man you are watching naked but there is a limit to ogling."

Praneet was red in embarrassment?
Nah! He was blushing. I bit the inside of my cheeks to hide my smile when it struck me what was he doing in my spa room?

"Couple spa. For honeymooners." Praneet answered my unasked question and I widened my eyes.
No way!

I got up from the bed and declared, "This is not happening. I am not doing it with you."

Praneet looked at me with an amused expression then laughed. "You realise what you just said?"

What did I say that made him laugh so hard?

Praneet wrapped his hand around my waist and pulled me towards him. "Till the time you are my wife, you will only do "it" with me."

I distanced my self and checked my knot. This encounter was making me hot and something down was throbbing hard.

"Fine! Don't freak out. There will be a curtain between us and I will try to behave." Praneet assured me he will behave but I wasn't sure about my self.

All I wanted to do was touch his abs, his strong chest and broad shoulders. I wanted to kiss him and I wanted him to kiss me.
That was the first time I felt an urge to be touched. I will be touched but by a masseur.

Two girls came and divided us by a translucent curtain. They removed the curtain on the window which had a picturesque view of the mountains. My robe was removed and a towel was spread on my private parts.

Thank God!
The massage started and I was enjoying it. The burden I felt was relieved. I tried to peep on Praneet's side. He was also getting a massage but by a girl. She must be touching those places I wanted to touch. I was so jealous of the masseur. She was only doing her job but I wanted to replace her.
"Aooo"
"uhhh"
"Ah! I like that!"
I was murmuring when the masseur massaged my tensed muscles. It felt heavenly.

Praneet removed a bit of the curtain and whispered, "Don't make those sounds, Chaya."

"Pratima, my name is Pratima," I whispered back and drew the curtain.
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Dear Readers
Praneet and Pratima are beginning to settle again. How long will this last, who can estimate?
Praneet just addressed her as Chaya.

Hint: Granny's secret coming out.

Find out!

Stay hooked!
Lots of love.