Udayveer was driving home in his car, having a hard time not laughing as he rewinded the events in his head. One thing was for sure; his Princess would never cease to surprise him. From bringing a dog in the house to fighting like little kids with Vijay, she was just something totally different from any girl that he had ever known. He loved the way she flip-flopped between being the sophisticated Rajkumari Manyata and just his Manyata, all with the perfect timing. He realized that he had been smiling to himself all this time while thinking about her and wondered what the hell was wrong with him.
Manyata, Manyata, Manyata! That was all that was in his head these days. He decided that there was definitely something wrong with him. Being there with her was of course part of the plan, but enjoying himself to this extent, thinking about her to this extent was NOT. He realized that he needed a break. He reconsidered Jainandini's invitation to go clubbing tonight. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all'
***
Manyata twisted and turned in her bed, but sleep was just not coming. Even more annoying was the fact that her head kept thinking about Udayveer. Flashbacks of their meetings kept playing in her head. Even memories that used to piss her off seemed cute all of a sudden. Get a grip Manyata! She tried to clear her head and get some sleep. It didn't work.
"Uggh.. why can't I get that Halkat veda out of my head!"
She finally gave up and switched her lights on. She then turned on the laptop that had been gifted to her a few weeks ago by DS and that she had newly learnt how to use.
She decided to play some computer games to kill the time and in the hope that she would be sleepy in a while. But after ten minutes, Manyata was dreadfully bored of that too. Instead, she went on Google images and drooled over Salman Khan and her other celebrity crushes instead. Just then she got an idea, but it seemed too stupid and she would feel like a stalker. Then curiosity got the better of her.
She searched up Yuvraaj Udayveer Singh on Google Images. If this guy was on the daily news on TV then he would definitely have stuff online. As soon as Manyata saw his pictures, her mouth dropped open. Half of them were of him at an event or party, the other half on the other hand were him with other GIRLS! She also did a web search on him and saw about 30 articles on just his love affairs. Manyata didn't know what to think. She was smart enough to know that the media was not the most credible source ever and things were often exaggerated and twisted, but it was hard to ignore all the evidence in front of her eyes.
But then why was she so shocked? Didn't she always know that he had this Player side, hence wanted to distance herself from him. Manyata couldn't help but feel like someone had dumped a bucket full of freezing water on her face.
Okay maybe he's changed. Should I really judge him based on his past girlfriends? Yes, I know I still fight with him and call him names, but since our meetings the past few days and the whole Ranvijay incident, I've started to respect him, maybe even enjoy his company a bit more than a friend. But then what's the proof that he still isn't like this person I'm seeing in all these news articles? That he does in fact care about me and I'm not just one of THESE other girls?
She continued to stare at the pictures, but for some reason her heart didn't agree that Udayveer had been interested in other girls all along and was simply using her. Maybe I am just overreacting.
Just then she heard someone cough behind her and disrupt her thoughts. Manyata turned to see that it was her irritating sister Jainandini. Great, just what I needed. Manyata thought in her head.
"Can't sleep tonight Jiji?" J asked in a fake sweet voice. She bent over to see Manyata's laptop and smiled evilly.
"Oh my God, don't tell me you are shocked? What did you think, that you are the first girl in Uday's life? Or worse, that all that crap he does to get you to like him is actually real? Come on Jiji, I knew you were dumb, but not THAT dumb!"
"Jainandini, I am not in the mood to listen to your nonsense. Get out of my room or you will regret it!" Manyata warned.
"Come on Manyata, you should know by now that if there is anyone who actually understands Uday and what he is, it's me. I know how confused you are right now. Trust me darling, I can help clear all your misunderstandings."
"I'm not interested in hearing what you have to say. I am smarter than to trust your words."
"Fine Manyata. You won't trust my words but you can trust your eyes can't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Okay all I need you to do is to come with me. If you feel at any moment that you don't want to do what I tell you to then you are free to stop and go. Just give one chance to what I say though. Agreed?"
Manyata thought about it for a few seconds. J definitely had something on her mind and she wasn't sure whether she should listen to any of her rubbish. Yet, what could be the worse that could happen?
"Okay fine." Manyata said.
"Okay let's go then."
***
Udayveer entered the club and immediately felt his mind relax. It was dark except for the lights at the bar and the discoball in the middle of the dance floor that was sending out colourful flashing lights. All around him, people were getting drunk, partying and dancing to the loud music that blocked out all other noise. He made his way to the bar and ordered himself a drink.
"Uday, you came. Won't lie, I wasn't expecting it." Jainandini said as she took a seat next to him, and leaned her face close to his.
"Why is it that so surprising?" Uday asked annoyed.
"Oh well, it's just that I've noticed from the past few days, you aren't the same Yuvraaj Udayveer Singh anymore are you now? Especially ever since that special someone came into your life," Jainandini said with an evil spark in her eyes.
"What do you mean by that J?" Uday said, his irritation evident in his voice.
"It's okay Uday. I understand. After all, love changes everyone doesn't it?"
"I don't love Manyata, J. There is no room for love in Udayveer's life."
"Who said we were talking about Manyata?" J said with a triumphant look in her eyes.
"Just shutup J! I thought you knew me better."
"I thought you knew yourself better Uday! Come on it's soo obvious. Half the time, you are just too busy staring at her like a lovesick puppy to notice anyone around you." J said mockingly.
"It's nothing like that," Udayveer said determined. He could feel his anger rising after hearing her insulting words. For someone else, it might not have been a big deal, for a control freak like him it was. Accusing him of love, was insulting him, because love itself was a sign of weakness in Yuvraaj Udayveer's world. Falling in love was like giving someone else the power over you. Power to control you. And only Uday was allowed to control his life, not some Manyata, no matter how important she was for his family or kingdom.
He ordered more alcohol and continued to drink, Jainandini's words still racing around in his head, causing havoc inside him. The whole idea was simply ridiculous. Of course I don't love her! This was all just part of the political game! That's it!
Minutes later, a young-aged woman wearing an extremely short dress and with makeup plastered on her face, approached Uday and started flirting with him. Her intentions were obvious to him but he wasn't bothered by it. Of course not. This kind of stuff was normal for him. He let her veer him to the dance floor. No one could deny that she wasn't pretty. Her long black hair was left loosely open contrasting with her skin-tight white dress. But for some reason, Udayveer was unable to focus on her and found himself staring at their surroundings more than her. He forced his eyes to focus on her. Since when did he start having to force his attention on a girl? He told himself to get a grip on himself.
The girl started playing around with the buttons on his shirt, but he stopped her hands.
"Let's go to a room. Shouldn't we?" Udayveer swiftly took the girl by her waist and lead her to one of the rooms in the hotel after giving Jainandini a final smirk and I-told-you-so look. He needed to prove her wrong, and even more, prove to himself that he had not changed.
As soon as they got to the room, the girl, he didn't even know her name, was ridiculously s**tty and kept clinging onto him. He couldn't help feel disgusted by her behavior and thought the faster they get this over with, the better.
She had started to unbutton his shirt.
For the first time in his life Udayveer felt a sense of foreboding, like he was doing something wrong. He stopped the girl by holding her hands again, but then proceeded to take the shirt off by himself, ignoring the pounding in his heart. He then picked her up and took her to the bed.
Putting her down on the bed, he laid on top of her and leaned in to kiss her. For the first time, Udayveer felt sweat break out on his forehead and palms in a situation like this. His head felt like it was going to split open. He didn't understand why his body was reacting like this. He felt nothing but pure repulsion at the girl's hands that were travelling on his bare back. He forced himself to ignore the feelings and instead forced himself to kiss her. Only an inch away from her lips however, a name made its way on his lips and escaped his tongue.
"Manyata!"
And all of a sudden, he realized that he couldn't do it. He pushed the girl off him and got up to leave in mere seconds, as if the air in the room was suffocating him.
He didn't know what it was that had stopped him tonight. All he knew was that his body and soul had already chosen to belong to someone else. And now they would be hers forever. He could hear the girl shouting, but he didn't care. He unlocked the door, in a hurry to leave the wretched place. As soon as he opened it though, instead of rushing away as planned, he stood frozen at the door.
The memory of that night would continue to haunt him for a long time. When he saw Manyata standing at his door, he felt something break inside him. Seeing the tears cascading on her cheeks, he experienced the most horrible feeling of his life. He saw the shock, the anguish, the pain and worse of all the look of someone who had been betrayed, all in her innocent eyes. He had wanted to kill himself for being the cause of it.
Manyata stared in shock as the shameless girl put her hand on Udayveer's shoulder.
"Uday darling, you forgot to wear your shirt," she said handing it over to him, but Uday was still too shocked.
Manyata had had enough. She wiped her tears and ran away as quickly as her feet could take her. She could hear him calling out her name in the background but it didn't matter anymore. It didn't matter one bit.
As she finally found herself in the open air, Manyata continued to run, despite the wind crashing against her. Nothing could have prepared her for the moments that she had just experienced. She felt disgust, betrayal, and in some corner of her heart, unexplainably hurt. And the worse part was that she had no right to feel that way. Despite his flirting habits, they had never seriously admitted to anything more than friends, no love confessions, no, nothing at all. But try as she may, she couldn't neglect that their bond had still been something more than that. A connection that was beyond words, and most definitely beyond understanding. And because of that unknown connection, the place in her heart that had been rejoicing in his company was now filled with sorrow. She cursed herself for letting this small thing hurt her. Who was he to her anyways?
Gaining her senses back, she forced herself to find her car, and once she did, told the driver to take her home as fast as he could.
Manyata slammed her bedroom door shut and threw herself on her bed. She finally let her heart free and exploded into sobs. How could she have been so naive, so dumb?
This wasn't her. Monia would never let herself crumble apart like this. But, Manyata did.
And the worse part is that she didn't even know why she was crying so much!! For some reason, the tears kept forming. She let herself cry them out, but only for a few minutes. There was a limit to even self-pity. She wiped the tears off her face. The exhaustion her body was feeling finally took over. She laid down on her bed, staring at the ceiling and finally something went right with her day. Sleep came.
***
On the other hand, Uday was unable to sleep even if he tried. Everytime he closed his eyes, Manyata's face would swarm over his eyes. OMG What had he done? For the first time in his life, Uday felt guilty. He hadn't done anything wrong, in fact stopped himself from doing something wrong, but his actions had still hurt someone. Someone whose importance in his life he had just realized.
And all this had to happen NOW of all times. NOW when he actually started to care for her? He knew he had to clear all misunderstandings really fast and prove to Manyata that he was worthy of her, that she could trust him. Not because it was a part of a plan but because he needed her. Udayveer was incomplete without his Manyata.
***
I know I know, that was was short and depressing update, but it just seemed right to end it there. However! I will try my best to update again tomorrow or day after tomorrow. I know this is kind of a silly tellywood type twist but I hope you guys still like it and if you don't then don't worry - the future chapters will definitely make up for it 😃 Please do leave me your honest feedback...If I'm going too fast, too slow, what you like, what you want to change or any other thoughts! Thanks again for everyone who liked and commented and please continue to do so as it keeps me encouraged to keep writing! 😃
Oh and I kind of just realized that it's been 5 chapters and I still haven't formally introduced myself. Silly me! 😆 Well, my name is Ranjana, I live in Canada, and I'm uhhh...mentally dating Udayveer Singh. 😉 😛
On that note don't forget to:
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Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
