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Recap: Maan n Ridhima hv ice-cream while on their way back to the palace wid a li'l chit-chat n Ridhima saves Maan's life by getting herself shot!
Chp. 43 Questions, nightmares and more questions!
As Armaan entered the guest bedroom, he saw Ridhima sleeping peacefully as though all pain had eluded her. He sat on the bed beside her and took her hand in his and gently kissed it. She looked so vulnerable yet she had been so strong in the village. How many girls would readily jump into the jaws of death to save a friend?--Yes, he was only a friend so far--Not many. He loved this about her. He loved the combination of strength and vulnerability that she was and that was what had captivated him.
Was she even aware that she had scared him beyond imagination by her act of bravado? When he'd heard the gun go off, his heart had leapt in his throat. Had Ridhima been hit was the first question that had come to his mind and Ridhima's gasp had confirmed his nightmare.
It was a blessing that her wound was minor, though she'd taken the bullet in the shoulder and had her arm in a sling; at least she wasn't fatally injured. He was really lucky to have Ridhima in his life. She was his angel. He knew he loved her but he didn't know when she'd become such an important part of his life. To think of his life without Ridhima was like thinking of his body without his soul. He would soon tell her the truth-about his feelings and his identity. He pulled the comforter over her, kissed her on the forehead and turning off the lights went and lay down on the couch opposite the bed. Not that he was feeling sleepy but just an attempt to relax his straining muscles and to get back the energy that had drained off in the past two hours. He would stay awake in case Ridhima came to consciousness and needed something during the night.
His thoughts wandered around Ridhima and he shuddered when he thought what would have happened if the hitman's bullet had moved a little and instead of Ridhima's shoulder, he would have got her heart. But who the hell was that jerk and why did he want to kill him? Who had sent him? What was their motive? Umpteen questions whirled in his mind throughout the night, but the answers eluded him.
***
She was standing beside Maan while he talked to someone on the phone. After their little discussion by the lake, all she wanted to do was get back to the palace and be alone, all by herself. But Maan was still busy and as she waited impatiently, she saw a glint of metal in the trees-it was a gun and it was pointed straight at Maan! She had to save him, act fast. A shot rang through the air and Ridhima yelled, "MAAN!"
Ridhima woke up with a jerk. She was panting and sweat glistened on her forehead. Was it just a bad dream? The stinging pain in her arm and the sling around it answered in the negative. Where was Maan? How was he? Her heart was thudding wildly.
"Ridhima!"
Armaan was standing by the window lost in thought when he heard Ridhima scream his name and he was by her side within a second.
Ridhima looked at Maan and before he understood what was happening, Ridhima hugged him tightly and was sobbing quietly in his arms. Maan gently stroked her hair and caressed her back and consoled her saying everything was fine. After a long moment when her senses got a better control over her and fear evaporated, she realized that she was in Maan's arms and moved back. She looked away and they were saved from the awkward moment as Naina knocked the door and said, "Are we awake?"
Maan nodded and she walked in.
"How are you this morning Ridhima?" she asked.
"Better. My arm stings horribly," Ridhima replied.
"I'll give you an injection to kill the pain and then you can take the prescribed medicines regularly. Your prescription is with Maan," replied Naina.
After the injection, Naina asked Maan and Ridhima to shower and get ready while she prepared breakfast. She offered Maan, Yuvraj's clothes and her salwar suit to Ridhima. The sling was causing Ridhima great difficulty in doing anything and she hoped she could get rid of it soon.
She was first to shower and get ready and then while Maan showered she went down to see if she could help Naina. However, Naina refused outright saying that Ridhima needed rest so she go back to her room and get some rest. Ridhima had to obey.
She walked back into the room without looking where she was going and bumped into Maan who held her just in time. As she looked up to apologize, her breath caught in her lungs. Her pulse rate went crazy. He was, without question, absolutely gorgeous; his dark hair damp from the recent shower, that long perfectly chiseled masculine body was only covered casually with a towel draped around his waist. Their gazes collided and for a long breathless moment their eyes locked and Ridhima found herself trapped by his almost teasing, blue-eyed gaze. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red. Unable to hold his heated gaze, she mumbled an apology and ran out of the room, straight down to the dining room.
Naina had set the breakfast and Yuvraj was waiting for Maan and Ridhima. Ridhima was out of breath as she reached the table but managed to hide it.
"Ridhima, how do you feel now?" asked Yuvraj.
"Much better. Thankfully the pain has subsided now," she replied.
Naina came in with Jesse and handed her over to Yuvraj while she went into the kitchen to get something. Ridhima also developed an instant liking to Jesse. Finally, Naina arrived at the table too but there was no sign of Maan yet.
"Where is Prince?" Naina asked.
Prince? Ridhima was confused.
"Naina, shouldn't you be asking HOW is the prince?" said Maan as he entered the dining room.
He gave a warning look to Naina which quite clearly said, "Don't call me Prince."
It was Naina's turn to be confused now.
Yuvraj found something suspicious and thought it wise to handle the situation.
***
After breakfast, Maan and Ridhima decided to bid goodbye to Yuvraj and Naina and leave for the palace. Maan made Ridhima sit in the car and realized that he'd forgotten his cell phone inside. He asked Ridhima to wait while he came back. Once inside, Naina confronted him.
"Prince, what was that all about during breakfast?" she asked.
Maan sighed and said, "Ridhima doesn't know that I'm a Prince."
Naina was flabbergasted, "What?!"
"Long story, tell you some time else," Maan replied.
"Prince, don't play at risks. You know Ridhima better than me and so you'd also know that she wouldn't like if she found the truth through someone else. Tell her the truth, before it's too late," Naina told him.
"Thanks Naina, I will," he replied and thanking them once again for everything, he left.
***
The ride to the palace was quiet and uneventful with neither Ridhima nor Maan speaking a word. On the way, Maan called up Abhimanyu and asked him to make arrangements to ensure that their arrival wasn't witnessed by anyone. They reached the palace in silence. Maan placed a hand around her shoulder to ensure she got in safely. Making sure they wouldn't be spotted, they went in through one of the doors which led in from the gardens to the staff quarters. As Ridhima and Maan were walking, Ridhima felt her head spinning and her vision clouding. She tried to walk properly but her feet felt numb and before she knew it she collapsed into Maan's arms.
"Ridhima! Ridhima, wake up," Maan said gently tapping her face. But Ridhima didn't move. He gently picked her up in his arms and made his way to Ridhima's room where Nikita and Abhimanyu were anxiously waiting for them.
Rahul was stunned by what he saw in the gardens. His brother, Kunwar Armaan with a girl! She looked weak and injured. The girl looked vaguely familiar. His brother was injured too. Rahul couldn't comprehend what exactly could have happened. "Bhaiyya!" he called out from afar. However, Armaan hadn't heard him and he disappeared with the girl towards the staff quarters. Rahul made a dash after him. But before he could catch up with them, he got a call and was distracted.
Maan put Ridhima on the bed and asked Nikita to get a glass of water. He sprinkled some water on Ridhima's face and hit her tenderly on the face.
"Ridhima... Ridhima, wake up," he called her. She stirred. Maan felt relieved. But Ridhima was feeling weak so he asked her to sleep for a while. Nikita assured her that she would be taking care of BR and then they left. While walking to his room, Armaan told Nikita and Abhimanyu everything that had transpired in the village and both of them were left aghast.
"Bhaiyya, you really are blessed to have chosen Ridhima bhabhi as your life partner. She truly deserves to be your wife. No other girl or princess is fit to be the next queen of the Shishodiya kingdom as much as Ridhima bhabhi," said Nikita terrified.
"The question is who did this and why? Why would anyone want to indulge in such a cheap and lowly behavior?" asked Abhimanyu.
"I know Abhimanyu, hence, I've asked Yuvraj to look into the matter and keep me abreast of the findings," replied Maan.
***
When Armaan went down for breakfast, RS was shocked to see the bandage around his arm and his forehead. He queried about it and Armaan told him about the hitman who'd attacked him while returning from the site in the village. He excluded Ridhima from the picture and just mentioned her as a villager who'd risked her life and saved him. CR was definitely frustrated because she thought that if the damned girl hadn't interfered, Armaan would be resting in peace and the family and kingdom would be mourning his death. Whereas, she would be rejoicing as after his death, there would be only one option remaining with the old king for the next king and it would be her son-Kunwar Rahul Pratap Shishodiya! She cursed the girl for interfering with her cleverly crafted plan.
After the engagement plan backfiring, CR had been disgusted and terribly frustrated and it was in her frustration that she had come up with this wicked plan. She had hired the hitman to kill Armaan so that RS was left with no options but her son for the next king!
RS and Rahul felt grateful towards that village girl who'd saved Armaan. Rahul however had a vague feeling that there was more to this girl than his brother had told them and this girl was not just any villager. If he was not mistaken, the girl he'd seen in the garden with his brother this morning was the very girl who'd saved him and she had looked familiar! He wondered who was she?
Throughout the day, BR was taken care of by Nikita whereas Gauri was assigned by Nikita to take care of Ridhima. Armaan had a few important things to attend to and couldn't afford to rest despite everyone's orders. Finally, when he had some time to spare at night, going and checking on Ridhima was his first priority. She had risked her life to save him and he hadn't seen her throughout the day. He felt guilty about it though he had been in constant touch with Nikita for updates on Ridhima. Making sure that the coast was clear, he made his way to Ridhima's room to find her alone and sound asleep under the influence of the medications. She looked pale and weak and he felt responsible for it. He sat beside her and gently caressed her hair. He felt horrible seeing her in so much pain. A lone tear escaped his eye and landed on Ridhima's cheek. "Why did you have to do this Ridhima?" he said softly.
Ridhima heard Maan's voice and stirred. She saw him sitting beside her and gave him a feeble smile.
"Maan, I'm sorry-," she tried to get up wincing in pain.
"Shh... Just lie down," Maan said.
But Ridhima still was making efforts to pull herself to a sitting position and Maan placed an arm around her shoulder and helped her.
"How are you now?" he asked.
"The pain's just getting worse," she replied wincing.
"It will, for a day or two," he replied. "I'll call Naina over."
"No, I'll be fine. Don't bother," she replied.
"Oh no, just be quiet," he said.
"No Maan, I'll be fine. Promise. Please..." she pleaded.
"Okay. Nikita told me you didn't eat anything the whole day, why so?" Maan asked.
"I wasn't hungry," she simply said.
"Now no more excuses. Nikita shall be getting dinner here now and I want you to be a good girl and eat it," he said firmly, an aura of royalty around him and for a moment Ridhima was dazed.
"I can't, not with this sling around my arm," she protested.
"Well sweetheart, why do you need to fear when I'm here?" He cocked his head to one side and gave her a slow, sexy smile that ruffled her nerve endings.
Ridhima's heart skipped at the endearment and she froze. Had he just called her SWEETHEART?
Maan couldn't stop himself from laughing at the expression on Ridhima's face.
"Ridhima, just look at your face. You look like you've just swallowed a fly," he said still laughing. "Relax Ridhima, what are friends for if they can't help you in your times of need?"
Ridhima relaxed a bit and thanked God silently because at that very moment Nikita arrived with dinner. Nikita didn't take much of their time and after a few words left promptly because she felt that this was the best time to leave them alone. With a nod of self-approval and a naughty smile, she left them to enjoy their moments of togetherness in isolation without being disturbed.
Since Ridhima couldn't move her hand much, Maan fed her with his own hands to his delight and Ridhima's hesitation. After dinner he helped Ridhima to lie on the bed, then pulled a blanket over her and asked her to sleep. Ridhima closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep because her mind was awhirl with questions. After a while Maan turned off the lights and closing the door behind him, left.
Maan's closeness recently and his words and actions sent Ridhima's heart racing. She didn't know why did she react the way she reacted. Why did her pulse jump at his slightest touch? Why did her heart take off in a sprint when he was close? Why did his smile have an altogether different magnetic effect?
As though these questions were scarce and unscrupulous, an even rugged and thicker question made way into her head. Why did she endanger her life to save Maan? When she saw that gun sticking out of the trees, why did she feel if someone had to take that bullet into their skin, it better be her than him? Was it just mere protective instinct? Was it only a gesture to ensure a friend's well-being? Why did she wake up all sweating and panting this morning to find herself shouting Maan's name, her heart beating madly with fear and concerned about his safety? Why? Why? Why?
*****
What say you now, people? Enjoyed the AR moments? Leave your say!😉
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