SS: In The Closet, part 7, page 20 - Page 15

Seven

"Hello'this is Yuuvraaj Udayveer of Jaigarh speaking. Yes, I'm calling to enquire about my father. Is he alright? Thank you for informing me, I will visit him soon."

Uday sighed as he kept down the phone. He'd thought that admitting Giriraj to the convalescent home might have led to some improvement in his condition, but to no avail. Every day, Maharaj Giriraj slipped more and more out of consciousness, and into a world of his own.

He sighed as he went to the breakfast table and called out for a cup of coffee before realizing that he had given the servants a permanent holiday. He gloomily went over to the coffee machine and began brewing himself his espresso, when the phone once again rang.

Please don't let it be a journalist, he prayed. He really wasn't in the mood to dodge any queries right then.

His wish was only half-fulfilled. The person the phone was not a journalist, but a snoop all the same.

"Hello Udayveer," a British accent breezed in on the phone. "It's me, Karl, Karl Farell."

"Yes, Karl, "Udayveer said, feeling silently grateful that the telephone connection was going to be pulled off in a few months. Karl was one of the hottest fashion photographers on the block, and had overseen many of Uday's advertisements. "Ermm, if this is about a modeling assignment, I really don't think-"

"I know, I know," Karl said airily. "You're a hotshot hotel owner now, with no time for me. But even then, this is to remind you that you and your fiance-ermm, Maanya right?-are due for a shoot with me. My dates were too busy earlier, but I'm sure I can make it to Jaigarh in about two days' time."

"It's Maanyata," Uday automatically corrected, "And look, there's no shoot happening."

"Don't joke, Uday," Karl snapped. "I turned down Kate Moss on your father's insistence. He'd called me three months ago and begged for me to do some Jaigarh tourism crap-excuse the language-for you."

Uday froze. Of course. No one was aware of his father's current state of senility, and though he desperately wanted to tell Karl that no shoot was going to happen, at the same time, he found himself at a loss of words as to how tell him that Maharaj Giriraj was, well, not himself anymore.

"So Uday, two days, and I'll be there. And yes, I'll be taking the Maharaja suite, before you ask," Karl said cheekily. "Good day."

"Hello, Karl-" Uday called out, but he hung up before Uday could explain anything.

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"I received a call from Udayveer today," Dadi Sahib said, while going through the annual reports of their hotel's performance.

Brijraj looked up from the files he was checking. "He's agreed to what we'd suggested?" he asked gleefully.

"No," Dadi Sahib sighed. "Instead, we've got a new problem on our hands."

"What?" Brijraj asked.

"Apparently, before Giriraj's health had worsened, he had hired a fashion photographer for the Jaigarh tourism campaign. Before he could inform Udayveer, he had his stroke, and now the photographer is coming to Jaigarh to conduct the shoot."

"And let me guess-Maanyata was supposed to be a part of it?" Brijraj asked dryly.

"Yes," Dadi Sahib sighed. "Brijraj, Uday is already in so much trouble. I think we should, for one last time, allow Maanyata to go to Jaigarh and do the shoot with him."

"And what about your policy of keeping them apart?" Brijraj said, his eyebrows raised.

"To be honest, I really don't want Maanyata and Uday to cross roads now," Dadi Sahib admitted, "But as a fellow royal, I cannot help but feel compelled to understand his predicament. Even when your grandfather had been ill, I had faced a lot of troubles. I don't want Uday to go through the same."

"Hmmph, I wonder whether my darling daughter can keep her eyes away from that Aakash fellow long enough to help out any member of her family," Brijraj muttered, eyes going back to his file.

"Brijraj, I don't want Maanyata to marry Aakash, that's for sure. As a matter of fact, I am convinced that Maanyata is not interested in the boy either. I know my granddaughter very well, even if I have kept away from her all these years. I'm pretty sure Aakash is just a way to get the Devgarh estate as soon as possible."

"Oh great, so my daughter learnt your politics even though she was away from you. Strange isn't it?" Brijraj said quietly, his eyes averted from his mother's.

The Rajmata sighed. "Brijraj, Maanyata is quite sick of our family really. And I don't blame her. After her kidnapping, she was made to feel an outcast by practically everyone. Including you."

"Those goons manhandled my daughter," Brijraj said, his eyes ablaze. "How was I ever supposed to look at her without the sight of those beasts coming in my mind?"

"She'd wanted love, not loneliness!" the Rajmata cried. "She was five years old Brijraj! She did not even know the full extent of what had happened to her! And thank goodness she is a princess, or else we would have never been able to prevent the forensic department from-"

"You'd called for me Dadi Sahib?" a voice said coldly. The Rajmata instantly closed her mouth and settled into a dignified silence, giving Maanyata her assent to step inside. Brijraj said, "Excuse me, but I have a business meeting to attend," and walked out at the same time, unable to look at his daughter's intense gaze.

"I know what you'll were talking about," Maanyata said, the moment she sat opposite her grandmother.

"Let's forget that," Dadi Sahib said hastily, eager to change the topic. "I wanted to inform you that you had been required to do a photo shoot with Udayveer for the Jaigarh tourism campaign."

"Yes, I know that," Maanyata said, rolling her eyes, "but I'd also informed him of my unwillingness for the same, and he seemed to have agreed to it. Unless, of course, you two have sneaked behind my back and made some nasty plan again."

"Maanyata!" Dadi Sahib said, outraged, "Udayveer has not done anything of that sort. As a matter of fact, he had called to ask me how to avoid the shoot."

"Okay, okay, nothing against your precious Uday," Maanyata said, throwing her hands up. "But at the same time, I stand where I am. I'm not going to do the shoot, and that's final. As a matter of fact I'm never going back to Jaigarh again."

"Maanyata, as a princess you are required to fulfill certain responsibilities. I hope you understand that?" Dadi Sahib asked, arching her eyebrows.

"Errmm yeah," Maanyata grimaced. "I know that Dadi Sahib."

"Good," the Rajmata said firmly. "So it's decided. You will go back to Jaigarh-and you will complete the photo shoot if you are to call yourself a Raajwada."

"And London Bridge is falling down..." Maanyata groaned mentally.

-------------------

"Where are you going?" Aakash asked, making puppy eyes at Maanyata as she packed her bags.

"That's none of your business," she snapped. "You just stay here and try not to get drunk."

"Maanyata, I don't understand," he complained, "You are so sweet to me so sometimes and so rude the next. What do you really feel about me?"

"Nothing," she said, looking into his eyes. "Do you get that? Nothing."

Aakash only stared at her for a few moments. Then he got up, went over and grasped her hand tightly.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed, but his nails continued to dig into her wrist, though she tried her best to wriggle from his hold without straightaway murdering him. "Don't show me attitude princess," he said coldly. "I've been tolerating you for quite a few days, but now I've had enough. What I know about you can destroy your entire family. So better keep quiet, okay?"

Maanyata stared fearfully into his eyes. They were no longer the docile chocolate brown they were when she reprimanded him. They were colder now, almost like glass. Uday had often refused to let go of her when he happened to be angry with some of her childish behaviour, but with him, there had never been a feeling that he might take a knife and stab her. If anything, his anger had inspired a peculiar passion inside her blood, and it would be hours before they stopped clawing at each other.

But Aakash's eyes had no lust or scolding inside them. They were calculating, and showed how perfectly capable he was of simply tossing her against the wall and breaking her neck. She'd never felt so threatened by anyone before.

"Leave me," she said quietly. He let go, his eyes still containing that fearsome anger inside them.

"Have a nice time Maanyata," he said in a sickly sweet voice, "but don't forget that you have to return home to me okay?"

She nodded her head and continued packing, aware of those dark eyes trailing down her back.

-----------------------------

"Maanyata, where are you going?" Uday asked, stepping inside her dorm room. What was usually neat and organized, was a mess now, with torn magazines and the broken pieces various precious articles strewn around. "And what have you done to your room?"

"How did you enter?" she wailed. "This is a girls-only dorm."

"Look there," he smirked. She saw the open window, but didn't say anything. She continued stuffing clothes into her bag.

"Uday, I don't want to talk to you, ever," she sniffled, her back bent over as zipped her bag close and flopped down onto it, looking perilously close to bursting into the Thames River all at once.

"Why?" he asked, carefully stepping over the litter that was scattered around, and sitting down next to her.

"I know your truth," she said, putting her head in her hands.

"What truth?" he asked, a jolt of fear shaking up his nerves, though his voice remained flirtatious.

"Dadi, Dadi-Sahib phoned me yesterday," Maanyata heaved, "And she said, she said I have to marry you as soon as I come back to India."

"Oh, I get it," he said, rolling his eyes, "You don't want to marry so early. That's fine with me Maanyata. I've always said no pressure. As long as I don't have grey hair by the time it happens, I don't mind waiting for you," he joked.

"But Jj-Jai, told me the truth," Maanyata sniffled. "She told me why you want to marry me. You want to marry me so that you get the Devgarh estate, right? You're sick Udayveer. I'm going back to Mumbai to tell Dadi Sahib the truth. "

He tried to retort back by saying "And you believed her-" but then stopped. He should have known that Jai would have been jealous of her elder sister's happiness once she came to know about it. It was but natural. But if she had told Maanyata the truth, then there was no denying it now.

"Yes," he said firmly, "It is true that once we marry, a major part of what you inherit is going to be mine. But that's the reason why my father wanted me to marry you. The reason why I want to marry you is different."

He grabbed hold of her trembling hands and brought them to his face. "I love you Maanyata," he said, without any hesitation.

She looked at him, his face looking serene and divine in the moonlight streaming in from her window, and didn't know whether to laugh at him or to kiss him. She'd been expecting at least an eternity of fooling around with him before he ever got serious enough to say those three words. She'd often seen men proposing to their girlfriends in restaurants, and they'd always seemed to be a bit nervous, or they'd dramatically announced their "I-love-you's" loud enough for everyone to hear.

But Uday said it softly, as it was something as natural as "Today's a good day" or "How are you Maanyata?" It was as if for him, that statement was no big deal, for it was simply a part of his life, something he did everyday, when he was eating, or partying, or talking.

She brought his face forward, and tenderly kissed him, her fingers running through his air. She wanted to memorize each and every part of him-the texture of his skin, the coarseness of his hair, the cologne he wore, and the feel of his lips brushing across hers. Uday had been out with girls ranging from wild to downright inexperienced, but none of them had ever kissed with the emotion that Maanyata possessed. All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.

"So we're okay?" he asked hesitantly, once she'd pulled herself away, as if he had been the one having hysterical fits about the reason for his marriage.

"Yeah," she said shyly, unzipping her bag. "I guess I just'overreacted."

"Well, great then," he said shakily, looking out of the window. He didn't know why, but his heart was beating rapidly, and every inch of his body was screaming for that kiss to be replicated instantly.

"I'm sorry," she said gently, leaning over and pressing her lips on his cheek. His heart instantly performed a high jump into his throat. "I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Y-yeah," he stammered, as she rested his head on his shoulders. "That's right." C'mon Udayveer. This is the perfect moment to tease her. Why the hell are you acting so dumb??

"I love you too," she whispered. His body parts continued to be unnaturally unsteady-except for his hand, which involuntarily extended itself and began to pat her cheeks.

Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina

Naya Koi Gul Khilayegi

Tabhi To Chanchal Hain Tere Naina

Dekho Na

Dekho Na, Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina

He sang softly as her tears gradually dried up and was replaced by a small smile. Stop it Udayveer. Singing it will remind you of your mother, and that is an area which you're not going to go into.

Thankfully, Maanyata had fallen asleep. He laid her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. The cleanliness freak that he was, he silently restored everything in the room back to its original order, before climbing out of the window the way he'd come inside.

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Tujhe Thaame Kai Haathon Se

Miloonga Madbhari Raaton Mein

Jagake Ansuni Si Dhadkan

Balamvaa Bhar Doongi Tera Man

"Ma'am? Ma'am, do you want veg or non-veg?" the airhostess politely asked.

"Thanks, but I don't want to eat," Maanyata said weakly, snapping out of her Bollywood song-induced memories.

Seriously Maanyata, you need to stop listening to old romantic songs. It's just going to put you in a stupid fantasy mood.

She sighed. It was Uday's fault that she had so many classic Bollywood songs stored on her I-pod. His mother had been a huge fan of Kishore Kumar, and he had had a peculiar obsession of humming songs which most of their generation scorned upon, something which had been cultivated in her after almost two decades of knowing him.

I should just delete all these songs, she thought crossly, her fingers hovering over the I-pod. Then she sighed. Even if they had been download because of a certain jerk called Udayveer, they were beautiful. And they were definitely better than worrying about the prospect of that slimeball Aakash.

In an hour, the chartered flight arrived in Jaigarh. As Maanyata stepped out of her private jet, she couldn't help but wish she'd taken a normal flight. It would have reduced the air pollution, and she could have probably zipped away in a taxi instead of being forced to encounter Uday.

"Had a nice flight, Maanyata?" Uday asked cheerfully. However, there seemed to be an unusual pallor on his cheeks, and she knew he wasn't well even before she'd descended down to the ground.

"I'm fine, but you don't seem to be good," she remarked. He frowned. "Nothing like that princess. It's just a little bug; I'll get rid of it."

Even then, she continued shooting him suspicious gazes as a Rolls Royce Phantom whisked them away to the Jaigarh palace. It had been built over two hundred years ago, but it still stood strong, thanks to the genius of the architect who'd commissioned it. To Maanyata, it was the epitome of extravagance. A huge chandelier hung in the lobby with diamonds flashing where candles should have been, and a twenty-foot waterfall cascaded from some unknown floor and sent reflections of its vibrance streaking along the plush marble tiles.

As they entered, Maanyata expected Uday to make some comment about how she'd visited the palace after a long time, whether she remembered anything about the childhood they had spent there, etcetera, etcertera, but he remained quiet, as if he were in deep thought about something. As she observed him drink in the sight of the hotel as if he were a tourist visiting for the first time, she couldn't help but wonder whether he was actually suffering from a "bug" like he had said.

"The bellboy will escort you to your quarters," Uday said, smiling at her. "The photoshoot won't begin before tomorrow, so feel free to spend your time catching up with the hotel till then."

"Yeah sure," she said awkwardly, wondering how she was supposed to look at a hotel that could have been hers, had she not chosen to reject it and all the luxuries it offered. 'Feeling a sense of betrayal, Maanyata?' her inner voice remarked. But don't forget, as enticing as this hotel is, it's also a mockery of the hell you would have gone through if you'd owned it.

"So see you tomorrow," Uday said, hesitantly grinning at her.

"Ermm yeah," she said, puzzled as to how he innocently he was behaving with her. No taunts? No jeers? No flirting? Heck, I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd begun flirting, or at the most behaving like the imperious brat he is considering I'm trapped in his hotel for two days. There's definitely some plan up his sleeve.

She stared at him, trying to see where he was going. To her confusion, he was stumbling down to a nearby sofa, where he sat down and clutched his forehead, as if he were in some kind of terrible dilemma.

What's wrong with him? she wondered. She walked over to him and cautiously tapped him on the shoulder.

"Are you okay?" she asked, shaking him gently. There was no response.

The 'little bug' seems to have got to him, she thought grimly, even as she turned around and shouted to the bellboy to drop her luggage and get a doctor instead.

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Preview: "What the heck is wrong with you princess?" Karl shouted. "Stare into the camera, not at the ceiling!"

Maanyata bit her lip to keep from giving him the choiciest of abuses. How dare he talk like that to at the Princess of Devgarh? She looked at Uday for help, but surprisingly, he didn't say anything.

There was a time when you couldn't stand it if even a non-significant member of 'your tribe' was insulted, she thought. What the hell has happened to you now?

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