Chapter 1

I am starting a new fic and the lead roles are played by our favourite Raj and Naina. However I'm not giving the character sketch now because this story is not based on LRL.The characters will be revealed in later parts.

Do let me know if you all like it and then I'll continue.

Warning: Don't be taken in by the characters. You may receive some surprises later.

The 30^th Industrial Trade Fair was to be held in Delhi for 10 long days starting from 16^th of August. All the SAARC Nations were taking part in it. Different private and public sector industries had set up their stalls. In addition a few industries from USA and Japan were also taking part in the Fair. As a result this event was drawing a lot of media attention.

 

PLACE: DELHI, August 16, 2006

TIME: 10:00 am

 

The Chief Minister lighted the lamp and officially inaugurated the fair. After a short speech in which she welcomed all the participants and wished them good luck, she took a trip around and finally left with her convoy. When she left, it was already past 12. After her departure, the fair was thrown open for the public.

 

However, the entire proceedings from the morning didn't go unnoticed. Journalist Naina Singh Ahluwalia had recorded all of this in her camcorder. Being a freelancer was a bit difficult, but once you are established, it is a profitable job which allows you flexibilities according to your choice. Naina enjoyed her job thoroughly. She loved the hazards as well as the adventure of it. She had been to various dangerous places, had been on many taxing projects. Compared to them, this was very easy. But Naina didn't mind in the least. She had never before prepared a report on any fair or exhibition and considering that this was her first attempt she had got a suitable opportunity.

 

Now that the CM had left, the people started pouring in. Naina roamed here and there trying to get an idea of the fair, the type of industries taking part in it and tried to gauge about their profits and loss they would make on their first day. She decided to leave her questions for tomorrow and enjoy her first day in the fair.

 

Moving from one stall to another, checking various items and objects she also kept an eye on the various customers. Most of them were businessmen. She halted in front of a large stall which was filled with various gadgets and gizmos. It had already been three hours since she had been roaming in the grounds without paying an attention to herself. Now, as she stood in the shade of the tent, she realized suddenly how thirsty she was' and also hungry. Hunger could wait for an hour or so, but thirst. Her throat was parched. She adjusted her bag which carried various types of cameras on her left shoulder and then put her hand on her waist while her right hand went to her throat as she gulped down some saliva and looked around expectantly. She was searching for some source of water.

 

"Excuse me; can I talk to you for a minute?" She heard a serene voice near her ears and turned around to find herself staring at the most truthful and honest pair of eyes she had ever seen till date.

 

"Yes." She said.

 

"I guess you are tired." The man smiled at her. "And thirsty as well.  So why don't you come inside this stall and have some rest." He said to her very gently.

 

In spite of her reservations of not accepting help from strangers, Naina couldn't help trusting this stranger. She found herself agreeing to him and followed him inside the stall.

 

"Aditi, Can you please give her a glass of water? She is too tired."

 

"Prem, what happened? Do come inside." She smiled at Naina. "Hi, my name is Aditi." She put out her hand.

 

Naina shook hands with Aditi. She liked the girl. "And this is Prem." Aditi continued. "We are assistant managers in Singhania group of industries." She handed her a glass of water and asked her to sit down.

 

Naina finished the whole glass in one gulp before replying. "I'm a journalist. I'm here to cover this industrial fair. My name is Naina Singh."

 

"Hi Naina, welcome to the world of trade and business. Hope you enjoy making this report."

 

The rest of the time was spent in gossips and chatter. In between, Aditi and Prem also managed to attend to the various customers and also introduced Naina to a couple of other businessman. Naina enjoyed spending time with this pair. She found Aditi to be a very bubbly girl full of life. Her sense of humor and happy go lucky nature affected Naina and within hours she found that she gelled very well with Aditi.

 

Now Prem was a different case altogether. His nature was in contrast to that of Aditi. Silent and shy, he was a gentleman to the core but she found him very efficient with his job. Even in the middle of his job he took care to make her comfortable and went on to give her the details of the fair. In between, he also kept on glancing at Aditi, noticing which Naina was left in no doubt that he was in love with his colleague. She suppressed her smile each time Prem turned to look at Aditi.

 

It was 6:00 in the evening when Naina decided to go back to her hotel. She was really very tired and had to get some rest before the evening party. She knew that Aditi and Prem were staying in the same hotel but were waiting for their boss to arrive. Exchanging goodbye with the two of them, Naina went back to her room in the hotel which was on the sixth floor. Completely weary and tired she flopped down on the bed. She intended to catch some rest for a couple of hours before she made her preparations for the party.

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The party was organized to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the hotel. All the guests as well as many other people were present in the party. The party was in full swing. However Naina, instead of enjoying the party was finding it extremely suffocating.

 

Unknown to her a pair of eyes were scrutinizing her every move, taking in her appearance, her every gesture and her discomfort. So when she got up and left the party, the person followed her keeping a safe distance between them.

 

Naina was walking on the deserted streets lost in her own thoughts. Perhaps that was the reason why she failed to notice the goons who were following her. Soon Naina was surrounded by the six ruffians.

 

"What the hell do you want?" Naina snapped after being surrounded. She was not scared because she knew that she alone was capable of taking proper care of the six, but she was a bit surprised when two of them took out kattas (country made pistols). She now looked at them properly. The guys with the pistols looked like they were from well to do families, the typical "rais baap ke bigde bete". She had noticed them in the party. The other four were their not so rich friend.

 

She braced herself and crossed her arms across her chest. "What do you want?" she repeated.

 

"You." Came the reply.

 

Naina simply raised her eyebrows a bit. A slow, scornful smile came to her lips. "Not so easy baby." She replied scornfully.

 

"Oh really!" one of the rich guys came to take her by force. The moment he touched her, he felt himself flying back and hit himself on the road. Naina had kicked him real hard in the gut. Naina was surrounded by the rest, but she didn't panic. She was well versed in martial arts and within minutes the rest had also joined their friend on the road.

 

Leaving them in that condition, Naina turned to go unaware of the fact that her first victim in the meantime had regained some control. He pointed his gun at her and fired a shot. Naina's reflexes were always sharp, so she moved out of the way but the bullet still managed to graze her arm. She winced in pain. But before any other shot could be fired, a well aimed kick disarmed the man of his gun and a solid punch on his face brought him down on the road.

 

Naina looked up at her unknown helper and saw a man coming towards her. Without a word, he put out his hand to her and Naina found herself accepting his help. She got up and looked at him. "Thanks." She said.

 

"Are you all right?" his voice was soft but warm and his touch soothing, the grip firm and unhesitating.

 

"Yes, its nothing. It's a mere scratch, that's all." She said.

 

"May I ... with her permission he examined her wound. "You are right. It's a scratch but still it needs first aid. Where do you stay? I'll drop you at your place." He offered.

 

"Oh, don't worry. I came from the Connaught Hotel. I'll manage on my own."

 

"Absolutely not. I was going there. You are coming with me." His firm voice and no nonsense tone told Naina that it was better not to argue with him. So quietly she got into his car.

 

Quickly he checked in and asked for his room which was booked earlier in the morning in the name of Rajveer Singh Shekhawat. Naina heard him talk to the receptionist and mused to herself, "Rajveer."His room was on the sixth floor, just opposite Naina's. He simply put his bag in his room and accompanied Naina to hers.

 

After he had finished with the dressing, Naina smiled at him and said, "Thanks Mr. Shekhawat."

 

"Don't mention." He came back with a smile. Now in the light of the room, Naina observed him carefully. He was good looking and handsome and ' she left it that way. She will have to know him better before she started listing his good qualities. But the only problem was that she felt as if she  knew him already. She shook the thoughts out of her head.

 

"By the way, I have dressed your wound. If you need anything else, just call me up. I'm in room no 606, just opposite to you. Yours is 605."

 

"Thanks Mr. Shekhawat." Naina said.

 

"Please call me Rajveer Ms....."

 

"Naina Singh." She said. "And please call me Naina."

 

"Ok Naina. But now you should get some rest. Call me if you want anything. I'm just a call away." Rajveer looked at the girl in front of her and the only word which came to his mind was BEAUTIFUL. He shook himself mentally to clear his thoughts. "You have only just met her." He said to himself.

 

"Well you need rest." He said. "That was a not a very good experience that you had."

 

"Well it didn't turn nasty." Naina came back reasonably. "And thanks for your timely help."

 

"As I said earlier, don't mention and Good night." He shook hands and went out leaving a very confused Naina behind him.

PrincessFlavia2011-03-22 07:13:07