~~Part 15~~

"RD can I open my eyes?" Riddhima giggled as she tugged his arm towards her in the limo.

They had landed at there destination and the next couple of days she had to get the papers signed for the final master stroke, but something was stiring within her and she was unsure what it was? what ever it was was making her feel uneasy.

"RD?" he whispered in her ear.

"Armaan have some patients we will be there in a sec…." He chuckled as he felt her hand in his in the back of the armed limo.

He made sure security was tight at the small hill station and he was surprised to hear it was a same farming ranch and it was very well secure but he sent his team out there to ensure all precautions where taken …with Minnie kidnapping and the bomb scare he was unsettled and had a feeling something was going to happen.

As the limo slowed down Riddhima pushed down the button of the window as she looked up to the large wooden structured house with its bay windows painted in white and the sun blared off the reflectioned windows…. As her eyes water remembering that this was the final destination she was heading to with her parent as the car lost balance her parent scarified there life to save her. She had not come to the house since and now her heart stired with loving memories of her siting horse back with her father as the stode out to see the farm. When she held her parents hand as they both lifted her up together giggling. As the limo holt she saw the old mango tree and it was still there her swing. How she sat on her mothers lap as they tried to touch the clouds giggling. As the lone tear ran down her face she remembered days of old.

"RD?" Feeling her hand squeeze by his she looked over at him. It was like he knew what she felt as she saw the small frown lines, questioning her. Shaking of the feeling she looked at him hearing the footsteps approaching of the guard coming to open the door.

"Honey are you ok? Since the limo was slowing you been so quiet?" He asked sense her hand had going cold.

"We're here!" she said in a small voice as she felt his thumb rubbing her hand gentle.

"Now can I take of this blindfold off?" he asked getting a smile from her.

"No not yet….ok watch your head coming out!" she warned holding his hand as she lead him out.

"Hmm what is it with you girls and swings?" he ask feeling her head on his shoulder as she surprised him with it.

"It was my most favourite place in the world…. In the Mahal since Anjali was the oldest she had the swing and well…. Dad and I made this here. I told him to make me one and would not drink my milk and…."

"Hmm if you want RD I make you on at the palace?" he looked at her as she was quiet since they got here.

"You know if you want to leave …. We can you just have too…" feeling her lips on his cheek he smiled looking at her.

"You shared almost every part of you with me and will…. I have not told you many things…" she said feeling his legs running back and releasing the swing where they both sat.

"I know everything about you…." he said looking at her

"Really?" she asked as they both swayed forward.

"Hmm asking me any thing?" he teased as they both pushed there legs in unison lifting them up and down.

"What my fav colour?" she asked as he smiled.

"Black!" she looked at him and nodded.

"That not hard all you girl wear black…" he chuckled feeling her elbow in his rib poke him.

"Ok RD…. Born in 28 March 1982 …. Loves her grandmother. Hates to be told what to do! Educated in England, London and a total brit brat. Has 2 best friends whom you love dearly and married to the most dashing and noble man in India. …. But misses her mom and dad a lot in her life. RD I can not give you what you have lost as when I lost my mom it was the most painful thing in the world and I can never imagine what type of life you had on your own at a very young age. How difficult it must have been?…." Riddhima felt the swing come to a holt…as she found him looking at her.

"I promise to never leave you and will uphold my vows as a husband … I love you with all my heart and ….I am here for you always…" feeling his arms around her she sobbed. Armaan held her as he knew she had carried this baggage for so long.

"Will you be long?" Riddhima looked at him as he peared over the newpaper looking over at her.

"OMG Armaan ….I just going to run a bath and all" she shook her head looking at him.

"Why don't I soap you back and…." She looked at him getting out of the bed.

"OMG No…. not after what happened in the hotel am I going enter the bathroom alone!" he chuckled as he saw her turn and march into the bathroom.

Armaan picked up his phone and dialled home to talk to Minnie as he smiled looking at the bathroom…

"Armaan?" Riddhima enter the bedroom to see him looking very pale and his eyes drawn to something.

"Armaan what the matter?" she looked at him as white as the sheets and sweating as she followed his eyes on the bed. She gasped to see the black corba looking at Armaan posed to strike.

"RD… open the draw near you there is a gun…" he whispered not looking at her.

"You cant kill it…. Its bad luck to kill a snake….Give me a sec…."

"RD don't be stupid ….it will strike at me without hesitation …not even thinking twice!"

"Armaan trust me…. I'm coming over and don't you make any sudden moves…" she commanded and looked over at the snake who had turned to face her as she stepped closer to the bed. Armaan heart beated so fast seeing her dressed in her white dressing gown looking at the black cobra hissing at her.

Riddhima placed the blue dupputa around her neck securely as she moved forward attracting the corba attention.

"RD?" he whispered as she closed her eyes and placed her hands together. He looked at the Snake now focused on her as he moved it head forward towards her….his heart raced as she looked at her with her lips close together.

"Om Tryambhakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat"

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra Meaning :
We worship the Three-eyed One (Lord Siva).
Who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings.
May He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality,
Even as the cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper.i.e.

By your Grace, Let me be in the state of salvation (Moksha) and be saved from
the clutches of fearful death.

Armaan looked at her as she said the words to see the snake lower its head as she repeated the mantra again... he looked at the snake now no longer hissing at her.

"Aum Namah Shiva" RD opened her eyes and looked at the snake coiled up and no longer in a striking position…

"Aum Namah Shiva" she repeated releasing the dupputa and throwing it gentle on the snake….as Armaan looked at her in astonishment as the snake did not move at all….

"Aum Namah Shiva…." She said grabbing the dupputa as she gentle took hold of the two ends and in one sweep move picked up the snake inside the dupputa and knotted the ends …Armaan watched as the snake did nothing as she walked over to the window….

"RD?" he whispered getting out of the bed and rushing towards her as she chanted.

He looked at her loosing the knot…. He looked at her as he looked down on the ground as they where on the ground floor.

"It will attack a guard below…." Armaan whispered as he looked at her but it was like she was someone he not seen before.

He looked at her place her hand inside the dupputa and take hold of the snakes head and lift it out.

"I am not goin to hurt you ….but set up free. Please forgive us as we will be forever in your debt for not striking us or wise and majestic snake…." Armaan looked at her as he lowered the snake onto the ground.

He looked at her as she release the snake to see it slither away as Armaan took hold of her arm in shock.

"How the hell did you? That was?"

"I saw mum do that once…. This region has a big Shivji Mandir and well I think the fellow was lost"

"You saw your mom do that here?" he asked looking at her puzzled.

"No in the palace I think I was 4 years old and in bed and a snake was on my bed…. I thought it was a pet and well the snake did not harm me at all…. Mum came and said some words and tighted it up…. She got the guard to take it away… but she kept kissing me and said I promise nothing well happen to you… Rimmy! Later on I found mum's mantra book the mandir priest handed it to me…. And I learnt the mantra's along with a few others…" she said looking at the moon lit sky.

"But how did the snake get in your bedroom and in here?" Armaan asked puzzled as Riddhima looked at him. She to was unsure as there where no snakes in this area she was sure as mom had order a clean up years ago… but some did wonder onto the grounds she had know that. The windows where all locked and Armaan staff had secured the place and would have spotted a snake then how? Unsure she looked at him smiled. She would have to get some answers.

"Thank god its gone, I hate snakes…." Armaan pulled a face and shook his head.

"You know my noble sir one must learn to master there fears…" she said looking at him as he pulled a face.

"I'll leave the snakes to you…. my snake charmer…. You know RD I have a feeling your not scared of anything…" he said placing his arm around her.

"I am scared of failing…" she whispered as he looked at her and chuckled.

"Will in that case I pray that you never fail in anything that you do!" he said placing his lips on her cheek as she looked at him stunned.

"Do you know what you just said?" she said looking at him.

"Yep! I wish you never fail and I have a feeling you never will…." Riddhima looked at him as he released her and headed towards the door.

"Arjun!…. Please get someone to change the sheets and I want an explaination as to how a cobra was in my room in the morning…" Riddhima looked over at Arjun enter the room stunned.

"Sir, Madam.. are you both ok?" Armaan nodded but looked displeased.

"Get someone to change the sheets and give this place a throught check once more…you know I hate snakes. RD lets go downstairs as I have some papers I want to check…" Riddhima nodded as she felt his hand take hold of her and lead her away.

"Atul's hospital needs a few papers signing and …."

"Armaan you promised no work …" he looked at her giving him that puppy look and smiled.

"Fine! I check them in the morning….that snake has freaked me out…I am not sure if I get and sleep tonight…" he moaned heading for the kitchen.

"Armaan trust me…It will not return and Arjun and the staff will check the room like you requested…plus I will protect you…" he looked at her and closed his eyes.

"I should be protecting you and you are my superwoman! You know I can so see you in a hot sexy super hero's outfit…" he grinned shyly as he chuckled.

"Armaan I swear there no helping you…"

"Will can you blame me…. See there a snake charmer who's got her teeth into me…" he chuckled placing his arm around her waist.

"Will if that the case make sure she does not cast a spell on you and release you in the garden this evening…" she giggled looking at him.

"I think you have your hands full….as he is a slippery fellow…" he teased pulling her towards him.

"Really you are to much!" she said looking at him as he winked and pulled her into a hug.

"Thank you RD….i can get you an outfit!" he whispered holding her as they both laugh.

"Do you have it?" RD placed the phone to her ear and looked at the bathroom door where Armaan was taking a shower.

"All signed ….i sneaked the paper in this morning and he signed them…"

"Oh good girl!" Rani ma was thrilled on the phone as she grinned.

"There was a surprise here last night …."

"Oh really?"

"Hmm a corba…."

"Now my child you not suspecting I had anything to do with that?" Rani ma heard the slience on the phone.

"Beta? I need that to start the work and…."

"No! We do this my way or no way at all…."

"Fine! You don't trust me?" Rani ma heard silence on the phone.

"You're not getting second thoughts beta? Are you?" Riddhima closed her eyes and sighed.

"No but I having trust issues at the moment ….can you blame me! Someone sent Armaan pictures of the person who saved Minnie and now there a snake in the room? You don't blame me for having trust issues…."

"Beta belive me it was not I? But I guess I will prove myself to you in person…. Fine keep the papers. Now the plan will be executed! Ok now you just take care of yourself…." Riddhima ended the call and closed her eyes.

"Everything has to be done as planned …if anything happens to Armaan before then I would have failed…. Have to make sure nothing happens… I'll have a word with Arjun."

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"I am sorry madam….i don't know how the snake got there?" Arjun answered looking at Riddhima dressed in her pink sari.

"I want everything checked twice around here…. If anything happens to him Arjun you will answer to me…" Arjun looked at her stunned to the sound of her voice.

"It's OK Arjun…. You can leave us!" Armaan said leaning against the door smiling buttoning his cuff.

"Armaan?" she said looking at him as he smiled walking over

"I am not goin any where it would take a lot to kill me"

"Armaan!" she looked at him as she placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I have Arjun and my guards to protect me ….so please don't worry. Being a Prince I know my life is threatened no matter where I go… and that snake being in the room just happened… don't think so much! Come on lets go and see that mandir you talked about…." He said smiling.

"Armaan if anything happens to you I don't know what I would do…." He looked at her sobbing as she took hold of him.

"I love you!" she sobbed. Love Kat😳