Safety is not permanent
Keep your guards on.

Chaya - Playing Pratima

Days passed and I was getting paranoid. Badal was a leech and his advancements were increasing by the day. It was getting hard to tackle. He left no chance to touch me here and there. He accompanied me at all meals of the day and it was irritating me to the core.

Granny was fighting like a ferocious tigress against Pri's mother and Nani. The war of legends was entertaining. Though the last resort to save their ass from the blaze called granny was Nani blackmailing her with something.

She often used the phrase 'hidden treasures need to be explored'.
I wondered what it meant.

There was something granny was hiding and Nani knew about it.
I thought only Royals had hidden secrets but I guess every person had something they wanted to hide from the world. It was acceptable. It was their choice. Who better than me could understand about it. I was hiding a secret which if revealed would shake the royals across the country.
The thought of shaking the realm reminded me of my partner in crime Ragini. I missed her terribly.

We decided to give ourselves a break but it was getting difficult to not talk to her anymore.

Pri was doing fine at the office. Praneet was not troubling her and my parents were just happy she was away with a boy who was a hot property in the market.

I was reading some document when Badal walked into the office in his hideous clothes. Who wears a red satin shirt with yellow pants? He looked like a clown. No clowns were funny but he was despicable. I couldn't stop my laughter on the thought how he would look, if cartonised like a minion.
Shit! The thought was hilarious and I burst out laughing.

He demanded for the reason I laughing so hard but I could not tell him it was him. I was so busy laughing that I didn't realise when the rascal came and grabbed me from behind. I stopped immediately.

He kept his chin on my shoulder and our bodies were touching. I abhorred it.

"Since you are in a fun mood let's play pretend game at the construction site. The carpenters are not available, you think we could 'hook' some nails?" Badal was rubbing his body against mine and his comment was utterly cheap and unacceptable.

I distanced myself and looked at him with rage. "Stay in your limits. You dare enter my private space next time, I swear I will slash you."

"Come on Pri. Grow up. It was only friendly. We have been working for a few days now, a little fun and frolic is allowed? Ain't it? You have been having your share of fun too. Exploring my 'private' space in my absence. Now, don't look so shocked. You think I wouldn't know?" Badal traced his finger on my cheek but I hit his hand away.
"The drawers you have been opening every now and then to find something? What? Let me guess, umm... a proof against me? Sweetheart, you think I am a fool?" Badal whispered in my ear, "They are in my room. Come with me tonight and I shall give whatever you ask for. Promise."

Badal rubbed his lips on my ear and I slapped him. It was enough. He stood there holding his reddened cheek. "I love violence in Love. Let's go wild." Badal had some hungry desires. He didn't even mind a slap.

"This is the last and final warning Badal, stay away from me else I will tell everyone about your filthy acts." I threatened him.

"It's sad to see a temptress like you keeping away from pleasures of ecstasy. This will be our little secret. I tried to explain this to you when you were twelve but you created a drama and I was sent away. Now, we are adults and your greedy parents are under my control. You know very well what would they rather trust? Me and my investment or you and your honour? Think wisely act accordingly. You don't have much time." Badal left with a smirk.

Son of a bitch!

He was right though Pri's parents were blinded by money. They would choose Badal over their daughter, this time. I needed to confide with granny. She might come up with a solution.
No. No.
I can't trouble her. She looked stressed out already.
Talking to Pri was also not an option because she will remember Badal's molestation and get depressed. The horrific memory should not be refreshed.
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Pratima- Playing Chaya

I was getting comfortable in the office. I interacted with a few people and everyone seemed friendly. My daily lunch was with the Prince in silence. He served me, I ate and thanked him. He just nodded.

I kept making advertisements and saving them. I was never asked to present them. Probably this was not even a job. Prince must have made it up to keep me engrossed and watched over.

One week passed with no drama. My new parents were busy and forgot they even had a daughter. I only saw them at the breakfast and had dinner with myself and sometimes Garima accompanied me secretly. Life was smooth. I was finally enjoying the luxuries and all the pampering at the palace. Chaya's boutique collection of clothes and accessories was to die for. In this life, I would have never been able to use them but thanks to the SWITCH I got an experience of exclusivity.

Oh! Finally, I got my periods. I was so scared that my periods got delayed. The small kiss was all I had in the name of physical touch but I was still worried.
It was Friday morning when the monthly monster payed me a visit so, I called up Prince to ask for leave but he declined reasoning, I had to report to the marketing head about the advertisements I framed.
Why today?
I was waiting and wanting to do a corporate style presentation for long but when I was asked I wasn't in the best of spirits. I have extreme stomach ache, backache and nausea during periods so, I took medicine and by the time I reached the office, I felt better. I quickly transferred all the P.P.Ts and data I had to present, in a pen drive and checked my appearance. Princesses always look pretty.

On my way to the Prince's cabin, I met Azam. He looked sad. We were not friends but on moral grounds, I thought I should ask him.

"Hi, Mr Azam. Are you okay? You look a little..." I was searching for a word when Azam spoke.

"Princess, please call me Azam. I am fine. Thanks for asking." He turned his face away to hide his tears? Was he crying?

"I don't think so. If anything is bothering you at the office you can tell me." I was trying to help him open up.

"You are so kind Princess. It's just... Just that I am twenty-seven and still an intern. If not for my family relations with Prince, he would have chucked me out. I work so hard but he doesn't acknowledge it. I know he is going to be your fiance' but since you asked, I told you." Azam had tears in his eyes while narrating his story.

I touched his shoulder lightly and assured him all will be fine.

"Miss Chaya, if your chit chat is over please come for the meeting." The prince spoke from a distance and it was so embarrassing. I hurried my steps after giving a smile to Azam.

I stepped inside and the marketing head who was in his sixties was sitting with Prince. "Without wasting time please start with whatever you have done." The prince sounded so pissed off. Why? Was he on periods as well?

I connected my pen drive to a small projector screen and a P.P.T. of wooden products manufactured from scratch was on screen. I was happy with my effort. It was an amazing presentation I thought. The promotional messages/advertisements were shown with each product. After the last slide was done I had a smile on my face.

The marketing head patted my shoulder lightly and left with a smile. I knew I had calibre. He liked it.
Yayayy!

"What was that?" Prince questioned with an amused expression.

"What? The P.P.T? PowerPoint Presentation. With all the wooden products manufactured here. Umm... There are so many others I know but I could only frame for them." I explained why other products were not included.

"Are you dumb? What kind of presentation was that? It was utterly childish and stupid. The advertisements were like nursery rhymes. It has been what, almost 7 or 8 working days for you? This is all that you have to show? Even those ladies you met the other day can frame better jingles and songs than you. This was by far the worst presentation I have ever seen." Prince was such an honest critique.

"Sorry. I will try and do better next time." I detached my pen drive and kept it in the bag. I didn't want to argue or defend myself. He was more experienced and probably my content lacked the appeal. I came back to my office all sad and gloomy. I saw my presentation again and I still couldn't find the reason for Prince's rejection.

Azam came to my office and requested me not to mention anything to the Prince about him. I assured him I won't and he left with a relief on his face.
Was the Prince doing it on purpose? Does he just enjoy proving others were unworthy?

It was lunchtime but the intercom from the Prince didn't buzz like every day. Maybe he was annoyed with the flopped presentation. But he should know keeping me hungry was no punishment. I was on periods and needed energy. The canteen was way too far to walk on foot and I was dying of hunger. When it was five in the evening, I realised Prince was not only mean, selfish and greedy, he was also inhuman. He starved me because of a simple presentation.

I left an hour early and when I came to the parking area, I saw the Prince stepping out of his car with a beautiful blonde girl. They were laughing heartily over something. His laughter sounded so soothing.

Why did my heart find his activities attractive?
My eyes connected with the Prince but before he could say anything I sat inside and told the driver to drive quickly.
I was waiting for his call the entire afternoon but he was busy on a date. How inconsiderate could one be? As soon as I reached the palace I ordered food and slept after my stomach was full.
My body was aching badly. Physically and mentally.
I barely slept for an hour when Garima came to wake me up.
"Princess, get up. You have to get ready." She told me.

"Garima, I have no strength to get up. My flow is too heavy today. I am drained out. Please let me sleep." I pulled the soft comforter over my head.

"Chaya, get up." That polished but sharp voice made me get up at once.
"The Prince will be here in two hours. You have to accompany him at a party." Chaya's mother broke the news.

"Mummy, I am down. I cannot even get up. Please let me be. I will talk to the Prince and tell him I cannot make it." I took my phone to call Prince.

My new mother gave me an ultimatum, "Chaya, you are going to the party and that is final. If you are not feeling well, gulp down a medicine. Now, get up at once."

"Mummy, you are a woman too. You know how painful it is. I cannot go. I am too sore." I tried to convince her.

"I am a woman and have given birth to a child. I very well know what pain means. You know my uterus was removed when I was just thirty because the pain used to be unbearable and one fine day your father decided to get rid of the pain. You do not want the same for you. Do you?"

That was barbaric. How could the King do that? A uterus was a woman's most important organ and monthly periods were essential. I quietly got up and moved to the bathroom. The horrendous acts of royals were too hard to process.

I took a shower and a few dresses were set in the dressing room. The stylist was here again to decorate me. My new mother suggested a dress for me and I wore it.
My mood was off, my body was sore and the information from my new mother made me miserable. Why do women accept everything without questioning? I was doing the same. Today, I will talk to the Prince, I decided. It was high time.
But before doing anything and stepping out of my room I felt an urge to do something. I hugged my new mother tightly and kissed her cheek. No matter how inconsiderate she was but what she went through, she didn't deserve it. She was shocked but I was happy and could see her expressions change too.
'Jaddoo ki Jhappi'
Worked indeed.
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Dear Readers
Word meaning:
Jadoo ki jhappi- a tight and warm hug.

Chaya got caught and grabbed by Badal. How will she deal with his advancements and blackmail? Will her new parents understand her?
Pratima is dealing with royals and periods. Both are painful. Who is more, only time can tell? But she is going to talk to the Prince. What?
Find out!

Stay hooked!
Lots of Love.