Appal
Aghast
Paralysed
Traumatised
was our state. Ragini and me did not move from our place after granny left with the shocking story of the mighty Ex-King of Kesarganj.
Ragini took out her phone and called Praneet. Even after five back to back calls, he did not pick up. So, we called Pri and surprisingly she also did not pick up her phone. Fear engulfed us.

Ragini called Praneet's assistant and ordered him to ask Praneet to talk to her immediately. I could hear the boy running because of Ragini's threat.

"Sir, Sir... It's Miss Ragini. Sir..."  the boy called Praneet a couple of times still Praneet didn't react. Ragini was on the verge of crying.

"Praneetttt, " she shouted to catch Praneet's attention. "Put the phone on speaker mode, you fool," Ragini burst on the assistant and he did as told. "Praneet talk to me, it's urgent. What happened?"

"Huh!"
Finally, Praneet reacted and Ragini muttered, "Thank God, you responded. I am calling on your phone, wear your air pods. It's private."
"Thank you, Akshay and sorry for shouting at you." Ragini thanked the assistant and disconnected the call with him.

We video called Praneet and he looked as shocked and devasted as we were. Did he also find out about his grandfather?

"Praneet what happened?" Ragini asked him softly. We could see he was under trauma. He was not even looking at us.

"I don't know. Pratima said something I am not sure I heard correctly." Praneet's voice was so low.

"Ask her to repeat then. Anyways, your lovey-dovey newly-wed drama can wait. We have to tell you something very crucial. Praneet Dada Saab is a GAY." Ragini was such a bad storyteller. She revealed the climax before starting the story.

But that caught his attention and he asked, "He is what? What are you saying?"

Ragini and I narrated the entire story to Praneet and he was astounded.

"We could have never found that out Ragini. Dada Saab has kept his secret well. I had got my hands on a man who was his close ally in his younger days. I am suspecting him to be his lover. Dada Saab is taking out his frustration and anger on us. He could not unite with his love so he has made it an agenda to do the same with us. You know our parents were also a victim of a coerce wed-lock and look where they are today. Separated as a couple but together as parents. It's because of him even after separating on good terms none of them could choose a new partner for the rest of their lives."

"But we can't reveal Dada Saab's secret. You can't blame him completely. If accepting gay culture is such a difficult task even today then imagine how tough must have been in that era. Yes, his autocratic nature cannot be justified but we need to act wisely. Granny has hidden his secret even after hating him so much, he is still your family." I suggested the brother-sister duo.

Three of us were silent when Praneet asked, "What do you suggest girls? Wait, I will call you later someone is calling repeatedly."

The call was disconnected and we were thinking about our next move. Exposing Dada Saab and blackmailing him was an easy option but we wanted him to embrace his true identity. We wanted him to accept us.

"Ragini, if your grandfather accepts us, maybe my father also will. I just hope that this can be settled in a better way. Our dream to become one with everyone's accord will realise. Still, if we fail we have this amazing female called 'granny' with us." I told Ragini with hope in my tone and her eyes reflected my emotions.

Ragini's phone rang again. It was Praneet. "Ragini, Chaya, I am sending a charter, and in the next two hours I want you two along with Pratima's granny here. It's urgent. Pratima... Pratima... is missing. I have an ill feeling something has happened to her." Praneet was very disturbed and so were we.

"Praneet relax. She will be around. Just look properly." I tried to calm him down.

"No! I saw on the CCTV she was pulled into a room and when she came out she looked like a nervous wreck. I could not see who it was but I am sure something is wrong. She hugged me so tightly in front of everyone. She has never done that. I was a fool I couldn't understand. She is nowhere. Her phone was found in the factory compound. Help me find her. Please." Praneet broke down after telling us the story.

I was crying too. If anything happened to Pri I will never forgive myself. How will I tell granny? Ragini rubbed my back but I was feeling too guilty.

"Praneet send the charter we will be there on time." Ragini took charge.

"Chaya, get a grip on yourself. Now is not the time to cry. It's time for action. We have to tell granny too." Ragini shook me and I wiped my tears.

"What do we tell granny?" I asked her. Ragini exhaled a breath and dragged me out of the room.

"Granny," Ragini opened Granny's room. "I have to tell you something. I am not Ragini Upadhyay."
Granny furrowed her brows in confusion.

"I am Ragini Kesari. Yes, the granddaughter of the man who ruined your life. I am sorry for lying all along but you have to come with us now. It's a matter of life and death. It is for Pri. Please granny, hurry up. Just take your medicines." Ragini was so brave.

Granny looked at her in anger, then she saw me. "Grany please just do as she says. Someone might be in danger and we need to save them. Do it for your Pri, granny." We chose to not tell her my identity yet. She didn't question us and packed her medicines, changed her clothes and walked with us.

"Ranjana, Ashu, I have some very important work and these girls will be out with me for a day or two. No questions. They are safe with me and I am safe with them." Granny said with so much authority that Pri's parents didn't ask her anything.

Nani however butted in and asked numerous questions. We ignored her when she pulled me with force and was about to slap me for my behaviour.

"Mummy, keep your hands away from my daughter. Dare you to touch her." Pri's mother jerked Nani's hand away before it could touch my cheek. "Pri, I don't know what this thing is, but take care. We have a lot to do." She kissed my forehead and wished me luck.

Pri's father finally got a role to play. He offered to drop us where we wanted to go.
"Dehradun airport. Quickly." Ragini almost ordered him and the poor man followed her instruction.

After an hour we reached the airport where a royal staff from Kesarganj was waiting for us. We were quickly escorted to the private area.

"Mummy, take care. I will... wait for you..." Pri's father's words made granny emotional. Probably when she returns, one more relation will sort out its differences.

Granny looked impressed with the charter but she was looking at Ragini with so many questions.

Once the plane was in the air granny inquired, "You are scaring me, girls, what is the matter? Has Ranjeet Kesari caused trouble? I will kick his ass this time if has done anything to harm my children." Granny touched my head with love and I put my head on her shoulder and wept.

I couldn't hold it any longer and asked her, "Granny, if you come to know I have done something adventurous, without thinking about the consequences, will you forgive me?"

"Pri, I can never be angry with you. I will help you rectify your errors. I love you too much for your own good." She kissed my crown making me more guilty.

"What if I am not Pri," I asked her and Ragini hit her head in anger. She had instructed me to not say anything until we reach Kesarganj.

"Granny's face contoured. Who are you?" She stiffened and questioned me.

I inhaled a deep breath and a tale from one princess of Aryabhoomi to the other was narrated. I was ready for a slap. I deserved one. Granny kept quiet and drank water. Her hands were shivering.

"Please talk to me, granny. Hit me, kill me, but just talk to me." Her silence was shattering me.

"What do I say, my child. I can't blame you. We both chose the same path. We ran for love. You were lucky you found Pri and the royals didn't begin their scavenger hunt once again. You are my granddaughter as well. Remember I told you, 'You are my reflection'? You truly are just like me, A RUNAWAY PRINCESS." Granny ruffled my hair and I looked at her with surprise. She was an angel.

Ragini hugged her tightly and said, "I wish I was your granddaughter. You are love, granny. Pri is the luckiest girl on Earth."

"I know. Some days I feel I am God. Now go and sit on your seat. I have to mentally prepare myself to meet your dumbass grandfather. Who is this idiot Pri got engaged to? Your brother? Is he hot?" Granny was a badass.

We laughed and I wiped my tears. "Well, Uday was drooling at his sight," I revealed and Granny widened her eyes.

"Uday is a Gay? No wonder he proposed Pri to be his sister. But I know his parents will understand." Granny was positive and I was happy for Uday. He was the brother I always wanted.

We reached Kesarganj and were immediately driven to the palace. Granny maintained her composure but I knew she was anxious. She was entering the lanes she had sworn to never set her foot. I clasped her hand tightly. Touch is therapy.

We entered the palace and Praneet came running to us and hugged Ragini tightly.

"Brother, your grandmother-in-law is here." Ragini teased him and he looked confused for a second.

"Oh! Hi... I mean... Namaste. I... I... I am Praneet Kesari." Praneet was looking so cute being all nervous to meet his girl's side for the first time.

"Disapproved," Granny said and we all looked at her. Praneet touched her feet, took her hands in his and said, "I don't intend to be approved. I am not fit for your granddaughter. She is par excellence."

"I know, she is my granddaughter and we are way too good for Kesari men." Granny knew how to lighten the atmosphere.

"How dare you set your foot here. Guards, throw this woman out from the palace at once." Ragini's grandfather shouted from a far end. He was scary.

"Hello, Mr White Bear. Your reflection can dazzle the eyes." Granny's comment made me want to laugh so hard.

Ragini's grandfather was furious. "Keep your mouth shut, you disgraced woman."

"At least I am a real woman." Granny won hands down. She wiped the false pride of Ragini's grandfather. His eyes were spitting fire but Granny's cool and calm demeanour was his ultimate defeat.

Praneet's phone rang and the war of the legends halted. Praneet's face lost colour after he cut the call. He ran inside without saying anything. We followed him but Ragini's grandfather blocked Granny.

Ragini came to her aid and warned in a deep tone, "Move aside Dada Saab. Else cold wars are hotter than the sun." He clenched his jaw to show anger but gave us a way to go inside.

Praneet turned on the smart television and mirrored his phone with it.

"Hello, Mr Kesari. Do you recognise this sexy lady chained on a chair?" A masked man on the video asked us and granny sat with a thud.

"Pri," She said with her breath.

"She is kidnapped. By me. Who am I? Someone who she has tortured. It's payback time. Either she pays me with all she has, trust me she has a lot to offer or you give me ten million. The choice is yours. You don't have much time. I am too aroused and any delay will only affect her." The man touched Pri's thigh.

And Praneet shouted, "Keep your filthy hands away from my wife. I will give you the money right now. Just tell me where. If you dare to even touch her hair I swear you won't see the light."

The masked man laughed and said, "Oh! This is not fun. It's my first kidnapping and I wanted some drama. Anyways, I know she can make anyone go insane so wait for my next call."

The screen went blank and so did us.

"It's Badal. It's that asshole, Badal." I can recognise him even in dark. Time for another storytelling.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Readers
A lot is happening. Granny is in Kesarganj and Pratima is kidnapped.
Will Badal harm her or will Praneet save her? Alternatively, will another hero appear?
Ranjeet Kesari and Asha Lata the old rivals are face to face. Expecting fireworks?

Find out!

Stay hooked!
Lots of love!