I am so thrilled that there are so many of you who enjoyed the first part of this fic! I've written till part five, but updates will be slow because I want to make sure I have other parts written after as well. and the fic should move rather fast. I hope you enjoy!
part two
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It was noisy in the palace when Uday and Unnati walked in, which was normal since Manyata moved back home. A small smirk graced Uday's lips, wondering just what his darling fiance had done to her sister. He never knew Jay's voice could reach that decibel.
"Is it just me, or is she screeching at an inhuman volume?" Unnati whispered, unconsciously echoing her brother's thoughts.
Uday simply shook his head down at his sister, smirk still on his lips. The two royals picked up their speed as other voices joined in the cacophony.
"Uday beta," the stark relief was plain on Komal's face, and the fact that she did not even bother hiding it told Uday more than anything she would have said.
"Aunty, what's going on?" Unnati asked, even as Uday simply squeezed the older woman's hand lightly in greeting and made his way over to the warring sisters. Jay's hair was a mess, her face scrunched up as she yelled over her sister's equally loud insults and swearing. If she had any idea how unattractive she looked in that moment, she would be extremely embarrassed. On the other hand, Manyata's eyes were dancing with amusement, her face as flushed as the younger girl's, but where Jay was genuinely angry and annoyed, it was obvious to Uday that Manyata was enjoying herself tremendously, and egging her younger sister on.
"That is it!" Jay finally screamed, grabbing hold of the taller girl's shoulders and shaking her. There was a start from everyone present, and Uday's amusement faded as he strode forward. Even Manyata had stopped for a second, staring slack-jawed at the other girl as she shook her before snapping out of it and shoving away.
"Khud ko samajhti kya hai?" Manyata snapped. "You want to insult me, mock me, joh bhi karna hai theek hai, lekin ainda agar phir se mujhe haath lagane ki koshish ki toh main tumhe nahi choodongi, haan nahi toh!"
Uday chuckled then, catching the attention of both the young women. While Jay attempted to make herself look presentable, Manyata simply hurrumphed, annoyance slipping over her face. "Already speaking like a royal, Princess Manyata," he gave a mocking slow clap. "Well done."
"Uday, aap yahaan?" Jay tried to salvage her dignity, as if Uday had not just seen her behaving like the terribly spoilt child he knew her to be.
"Hmm," he raised an eyebrow and smirked, enjoying the embarrassment that crossed her face. Jay was in need of a reality check, he decided, before she got out of hand with her treatment of Manyata. "So what was this little altercation about? Not another cockroach I hope."
Manyata simply crossed her arms across her chest. The prince was surprised, since she never failed to speak her mind. Jay, on the other hand, glared once more at the elder girl.
"I refused to go out with her," she spat, though her volume remained level. "Especially not with her wearing that."
Manyata bristled, but thankfully remained silent. If looks could kill, however, Jay would be dead three times over, and, Uday thought amusedly, so would he.
"So what you are saying is that all of this," he gestured at the gathering of the entire royal family and staff of Rajgarh, "is because you don't want to outshine Manyata when you go out?" Uday let his lips curl upwards in the most innocent smile he had in his arsenal. "How sweet Jay."
The princesses both looked stunned, and for once, in full accord, shot bewildered glances at one another, wondering if the prince had lost his mind. "I mean, I doubt Manyata would outshine you even if she wore anything else," he laid on the charm, one eye on the younger sister, playing to her vanity, the other on the older, seeing her annoyance at his implied insult.
"Oi, main itni bhi buri nahi dikhti," she shot back. "I'd look as good, if not better than Little Miss Attitude if I wore the expensive designer-type clothes she wears, haan nahi toh."
"Really?" Uday turned away from Jay, missing her frown. "You think so?"
"I know so," Manyata's eyes blazed with fury.
Uday's smirk then told Manyata she had been played, and played very well. "Alright then, Unnati, would you mind taking Princess Manyata shopping so she could prove me wrong?"
Unnati, who had been watching the proceedings with wariness and some amusement, had to fight to hide her smile at both her Dada's antics and Jay's obvious disdain for the entire turn her afternoon had taken. "Of course, Dada," the smile she sent Manyata was open and friendly, and so utterly genuine that Manyata could not help but smile back. The only person in the room to notice the softening in Uday's expression when he saw that was Komal.
As Uday ushered Unnati and Manyata out of the room, himself taking leave from the elders citing work at the hotel, Brijraj handing a credit card to his daughter as they left, and DS pulling Komal away to discuss a change in Manyata's lessons, Jay was left standing in the steadily emptying room with not even Vijay by her side, wondering what the hell had just happened.
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And enjoy. Do let me know what you think! I've got the next few parts written but shall probably only post them later this week or next week.