The lawns of the Mewar palace is all decked up in great manner for the swearing in ceremony of Prince Abhimanyu Singh Mewar as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. It is the biggest event so far to have been staged at The Mewar palace with the guest list of all over 2000 apart from wide public participation. Governors and Chief Ministers of all states, the elected members of the assembly, diplomats, envoys, family, relatives and friends of the Mewars , heads of the other royal families and other constitutional heads would be attending the function besides a battery of over 200 journalists. Golf carts were pressed into service to ferry people who cannot walk to the lawns. Extensive security arrangement has been made considering the huge number of VVIP's attending the function and all roads leading to Mewar Palace were closed beforehand to facilitate the movement of VVIPs and to scrutinize the security. Ambulances and teams of doctors have been placed at strategic points at the venue in case of emergencies. The dais was laid out facing the palace and heavy security is beefed up inside the palace too with CCTV cameras scrutinizing the movement of people inside the palace and outside near the lawns.

Major. Manik Malhotra, the security in chief of the CM, is busy assessing the final security deployment near the lawns while his assistant Major. Cabir Dhawan is scrutinizing the visuals of the CCTV cameras from the security room set up near by the dais. Manik gave a sigh of satisfaction looking at the arrangements and soon the guests started filling in. He saw the royal family entering the lawns which much grace and dignity. They greeted the guests and took their reserved seats among the audience. Soon, the proceedings started and Prince Abhimanyu Singh Mewar took oath as the new CM of Rajasthan. He had a constant smile on his face whenever he glanced at the open window of the upper right wing of the palace and seeing his smiling face, Manik too glanced at the direction. His mouth moved into a thin smile, seeing the fading face shielded by the red veil and he was oblivious that someone so dear to the Prince was watching the ceremony from there.. But who, that is unknown to everyone... It is for that mere person that the swearing in ceremony was held at the palace...Little did everyone know that the person who watched the ceremony from the palace window is the jaan of Mewars, their princess..

A man dressed in brown leather jacket smirked seeing the faint red shade near the window. He assembled his rifle with silencer in caution and aimed at the window in precision. Manik , who was just glancing through the CCTV visuals after the ceremony stood stuck seeing the man with the rifle. Being a commando, his senses raised alarm immediately and he ran all the way through the crowd to catch the assassin. He was sure that the assassin's target is not the CM or the royal family present there, but the person behind the red veil in the window. Just as the assassin's finger clicked the trigger, Manik caught hold of his wrist and the bullet shot through Manik's right shoulder. He screamed in pain, knelt in a pool of blood but his hold on the assassin was tight. Manik took his gun where the man in overalls now had a black ski mask pulled down over his face and started to run pushing Manik away. While reloading his gun, Manik shot the gun on the foot of the assassin's body forcing him to fall down on his knees. 

A commotion from the public audience raised alarm and the crowd was made to disperse immediately. Security personnel surrounded the VVIPs and Royal family and took them away. Cabir ran fast to reach Manik and caught hold of the assassin but they were late. Seeing no escape, he consumed the cyanide capsule attached to his neck chain and committed suicide.

"Shit" Manik and Cabir said together seeing that. 

"Get me out of here," Manik said, he tried to keep his voice steady and calm. Cabir nodded to him before calling the ambulance. 

*************

The corridor leading to the OT of City Hospital, was filled with police and the higher officials of Rajasthan Government. Special attention is being laid to Manik as per the CM's instruction. It has been seven hours since the operation started and Cabir stood outside the OT with a tension filled face...

A girl is sitting in the Pooja room praying. Her tear filled eyes and prayer chanting lips were seeking only blessings for someone. She vowed not to eat anything and remained in the pooja room till she get a gud news... Finally, after what seemed like eternity, a lady entered the room and gently stroked the shoulders of the girl. She looked at the lady with tear filled eyes. The lady wiped her tears and kissed her forehead while whispering "He is safe... " 

"Kya Kaha aapane" The girl asked again being unsure of what she heard 

"Ha.. He is out of danger. I got a call from the doctor telling that the Major is now out of danger.. His operation was successful and he will be shifted to the room tomorrow... ab khush..." The lady asked 

"ha...khush" The girl said with a wide smile wiping away her tears.

"tho.. aa jao.. khaana khane... tere bhaiyon aur bhabhiyon teri wait kar rahe hai dinner table par..." The lady said before walking away.. The girl thanked the Gods once again before moving out of the room. The lady was Rajamatha Gayathri Singh Mewar and the girl was Princess Nandini Singh Mewar. 

***********

Aryaman stared out of the window as the car pulled up to a traffic jam. Light drizzle had fallen all morning, and he focused on the windowpane. Several drops of water streaked together, forming a larger mass that settled for a while, before sliding away with the car's motion.

" We need to tighten Choti's security" He said in a serious voice looking at Abhimanyu.

"Hmm...Everything has come together, Bhai. Elections, my swearing in, I hope to see things move more quickly now. Regarding choti's security, I think we have to keep somebody permanently for that and I have someone in my mind" Abhimanyu nodded his head before answering. 

Aryaman looked at his brother's face for a second and took a deep sigh..."I got u... and that will be perfect... till that time, Alya and Mukti, u both be around choti all the time... " Mukti and Alya nodded in a Yes and idly watched as the car detoured around the road works and entered the side street leading to City Hospital . 

***********

Manik was resting after taking his medicines watching the news in TV in his hospital room. Just then the door opened and few people came in. He looked at the opened door and the sight of the royal family took him by surprise. He tried to get up seeing them but they stopped him and asked him his welfare with a genuine concern. Aryaman excused himself to meet the doctor while Abhi went to attend an important phone call..Mukti and Alya smiled at him while Alya handed him bouquet saying "This is for u... kisine aap ke liye khaas kar ke bheja "

"aur usne khud apne hathon se ye bouquet bhi banaya..." Mukti added some more info to it..

"Kis ne bheja...and Who made this..." Manik asked in surprise

"aapke har jawab ka uttar us card mein hai... ab hame jaane dijiye... see u soon in the palace..." Alya said and walked out of the room with Mukti. 

A hand written get well soon card attached with the bouquet caught his attention. He opened the card with curiosity and the words written in a beautiful handwriting bought a smile on his face.. 

It read 

" I know I owe my life to u... 
And I know ki mujhe aapse Thank you kehna chahiye along with
get well soon... 
But I will not say that through this letter... 

Mein aapse khud apne mooh se Thank u In person kehna chahtha hoon... 

Mujhe pata hai mujhe woh chance jaldi hi milegi kyunki aap bahut jald theek ho jayenge 

aur jaldi se kaam mein bhi bapas join karenge... 

aapke intezzar mein.... 

Nandini..." 

"Princess Nandini..." He whispered the name with a wide smile and he didn't understand why that name brought a smile on his face, peace in his heart and why he felt content... Soon, he will get the answers for all his questions....as they are destined for each other...

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How was the chapter,dears? pasand aaya...

let me know ur reviews... 

ha, u know I love inline comments... 

it gives me the boost to write more.... 

love u all, 

urs Abha