Hey dearies!
Here's the next update, hope you guys are enjoying the frequent updates! In this update I hv introduced 2 new cameos, wud luv to know wat you guys think abt them! Your feedback helps me know what you feel abt the story and also what you wanna read. So keep them coming!
Recap: Ridhima is conscious again, AR moments and AR return to the palace!
Chp. 44 Surprises and shocks
Sunshine streamed into the palace through the windows illuminating it with a soft golden glow. A delicious aroma of French toast, omelette and espresso reached Kunwar Rahul's nostrils as he made way to the breakfast table. Everyone was already present at the dining table and Rahul greeted them as he took his place.
"How's your arm today bhaiyya?" he asked Armaan when he saw his brother eating with his left hand.
"Nasty still," he replied.
"Kunwar Armaan, you'd better take care of yourself. I think what happened yesterday should be reported to the police," said RS.
CR's ears perked up and she suddenly became very attentive. A police investigation could only worsen matters.
"No pitaji, I think whatever happened yesterday was an accident," Armaan lied.
"Kunwar, I can't believe you're saying this! You are a Prince! If someone has attacked you, how can it be an accident?" RS asked aghast.
"Pitaji, if someone had actually wanted to attack me, the person would want to stay back and finish what they'd started. But the person just disappeared when he saw whom he'd shot," Armaan replied. He knew he was sounding stupid but he hoped his father would accept it and not argue any further.
To his relief, RS actually let go. CR breathed in a sigh of relief. If RS was adamant about getting the police involved, CR knew life would become miserable. But was Armaan really so naive to think that it was an accident? Or was he keeping some secrets? CR knew she had to watch her step. Breakfast followed in silence. After breakfast RS announced that CR and he were leaving for a two-week trip to visit the neighboring kingdoms.
"You can rest assured pitaji, I'll handle everything in your absence," Armaan assured his father.
"I know you will Kunwar," RS smiled.
"Erm, pitaji, I needed your permission for something," said Rahul.
"What is it kunwar Rahul?" asked RS.
"Pitaji, all my friends are expecting a party as a celebration of my engagement to Rajkumari Muskan," Rahul replied
RS was flabbergasted, "Kunwar Rahul, do you have any sense of timing? Your brother has just survived a fatal encounter and you are thinking of partying?"
CR was disgusted. Why was Rahul making a fool of himself before RS? Why the hell didn't he understand that he needed to be in the good books of RS if he had any desire to be the next king! She hoped the fool would shut his mouth.
"Pitaji, I agree with you but the party wouldn't be held anywhere in a day or two but only after bhaiyya gets perfectly well," Rahul replied with a sullen face.
Shut up Rahul; shut your damned mouth, thought CR.
"Rahul I can't believe this-,"
"Pitaji, sorry to interrupt but I don't think there's any harm in having this party. I'm already feeling better and in a day or two, I shall be back to normal. I wouldn't want Kunwar Rahul to not enjoy his life because of a silly stab that I've got in the shoulder. Life goes on right?" interrupted Armaan.
Rahul gave his brother a grateful look. RS looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Okay. You can organize your party," said RS.
"Thank you pitaji, thank you very much!" said Rahul delighted.
"Thank your brother Rahul, it's because of him that I've agreed," said RS.
Rahul gave his brother a hug and thanked him.
CR made a mental note to talk to Rahul soon.
***
Ryan was waiting in Rahul's penthouse apartment for Rahul to arrive. Rahul wanted to discuss a few things about the party. Ryan switched on the TV to kill time and started surfing through the channels but there wasn't much to catch his interest. He turned off the TV and went to grab something to eat from the fridge. Nothing here either, he thought. He picked a pack of chips and sat munching when Rahul walked in.
"Sorry to keep you waiting dude," said Rahul.
"No probs there, I'm helping myself," he replied pointing towards the chips and grinning but froze when he saw Anjali following in after Rahul.
Ryan and Anjali hadn't been getting along well lately. Since their tiff two days before Rahul's engagement, both had been pretty stiff with each other and both preferred to maintain their distance because whenever they tried to talk, their conversations always ended in heated arguments. However, today when Anjali heard that Rahul was planning to discuss the party with Ryan, she decided to join them too.
Ryan just ignored her and turned to Rahul, "So what have you planned Prince?"
"Well, as you know I have been thinking about this party for a while and I want it to be grand! Really grand!" he replied. "Along with all my friends, I want this to be a surprise for Muskan too."
"So have anything special in mind?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah bhaiyya, some particular theme?" Anjali asked looking towards Ryan who just gave a curt nod in reply.
Anjali felt annoyed. This guy was just impossible! Whenever she was around, guys had eyes only for her but Ryan was just oblivious to her presence. And it hurt. It wasn't just about winning and attracting him towards her but something else... She didn't know what.
"Everything from the theme, the decorations, the venue, the buffet, everything will be just awsome. When I say I want it to be GRAND, I mean it. After all it is Kunwar Rahul Shishodiya's engagement party," Rahul replied with attitude.
"So then what have you thought about?" asked Ryan.
"Well I've decided to call in a planner," he stated.
"That's a great idea! May I ask whom have you decided on?" asked Ryan with interest.
"Garv, Garv Antonio," he replied cooly.
"Cool!" Ryan replied with a wicked grin.
"Bhaiyya, do you mean The Garv Antonio?" asked Anjali excited.
"Yeah, The Garv Antonio," he replied.
"Ohmygod! Bhaiyya, this is going to be the most memorable and happening party ever. So when's he coming?" she asked excited.
"Monday, the third," he replied.
"Wow! With mom and dad gone for that trip, it's gonna be rocking fun!" she said.
"Rahul, Monday, the third shall have someone else coming too," Ryan said.
"Really? Who?" asked Rahul curious.
"Afra, remember her?" asked Ryan. Anjali's ears perked up.
"Ghosh, Ryan! How can I forget Afra! She's coming on Monday?" Rahul asked still unable to believe.
"Yeah and I hate it to break it to you but when I told her about your engagement, she wasn't too happy about it," said Ryan.
"Uh-oh! Does that mean I should expect trouble?" Rahul asked.
"Well not unless you have some real convincing explanation!" Ryan replied grinning.
"Ryan, you know everything! Why didn't you tell her?" said Rahul.
"Yeah, I do but I thought you'd be better doing it. So now it's up to you to explain it to her," he replied grinning wickedly.
Anjali didn't know who Afra was, but she didn't seem to like her already. Maybe because Ryan was so excited about her arrival. Whoever this Afra is, she can't compete with me, Princess Anjali, thought Anjali. Whoever you are, I'll wait for you, she thought.
***
Rahul was relaxing in his room when his cell phone rang.
"Hey sweetheart! Whassup?" he asked.
"Nothing. I heard mom and dad are going for a trip to the kingdoms in the vicinity? A two-week trip?" Muskan asked.
"Well looks like you've got spies everywhere," he chuckled.
"So any special plans for then?" she asked expectantly.
"Plans? Aw, no Muskan. Since dad won't be here, bhaiyya and I will have to look after everything. So the workload has kinda increased. So nope, no plans," he replied suppressing a laugh.
"Oh! I thought we could..." she dropped the sentence.
"We could what sweetheart? Huh?" he asked in a husky voice.
"Kunwar Rahul! I thought we could spend some time together," she said.
When she addressed him as Kunwar Rahul, he knew she wasn't fooling and was serious, out of dreamland. He chuckled.
"Okay. Chill, I have a surprise for you," he said.
"What?" she asked.
"Our engagement party," he replied.
"Wow! Really?" she asked excited.
"Yup and guess what, I've asked Garv Antonio to plan the party," he said.
Just like Anjali even she couldn't believe her ears.
"Rahul, you mean The Garv Antonio? The Italian guy who's renowned for planning wedding proposals and parties for the famous Hollywood celebrities, business personalities and socialites all over the world?" she asked incredulously.
"That very Garv Antonio, sweetheart," he replied with a satisfied smile.
"Oh Rahul, I just love you!" she exclaimed.
"Love you too, sweetheart!" he replied.
CR who'd just come to talk to Rahul about her master plan was infuriated even further when she heard him talk so animatedly to Muskan. Rahul spotted her and hung up.
After disconnecting the call he said, "Mom, you wanted something?"
"Yeah, to knock some sense into this empty head of yours," she replied through gritted teeth.
"Mom, you okay?" Rahul asked confused.
"How do you expect me to be okay when my son keeps making a fool of himself whenever I have something grand on my mind for him and goes about ruining every grand plan of mine?" CR replied.
Rahul looked perplexed.
"Mom? What are you saying? Fool? Ruining grand plans? I'm sorry but I can't make head or tail out of it," he replied carefully.
"You're always doing things which can do nothing but cause irreparable harm to my plans for you. Your future, my dream," she said with a longing in her voice. "I had always dreamt of getting you married to the best girl, who would understand you, love you and help you in dealing with your responsibilities. But look what you got yourself, Rajkumari Muskan-who is no better than you? Rahul, I wanted someone whom RS could think of as the perfect daughter in law. Someone who was religious, spiritual, respectful of her elders and modern yet with that traditional charm. But you ruined it all by getting hooked to Rajkumari Muskan. You didn't even think of asking me once? Telling me about her? Why Rahul, why? What did I do to deserve that humiliation? Is that what I get for thinking about your welfare, your well-being?"
Rahul just stared at her incredulously, his mouth agape, unable to understand the reason of the pain in her voice. He had a fair idea that his mother hadn't liked his choice of Muskan as his life partner but what she had to say just left him nonplussed.
His mother wanted him to marry the traditional type of a girl? But why? All his life she had always given him the liberty to live his life as per his wishes, then what happened suddenly? And what was wrong in Muskan, as his life partner?
"Mom, I tried to tell you about Muskan but you were busy remember? So I had to approach bhaiyya. I never intended to humiliate you. But mom, what is wrong about Muskan? And what's with this traditional girl and all? Mom, you have always allowed me to live life as per my wishes, then what happened now? And what dream are you talking about?" Rahul asked.
"Rahul, ever since the day you were born, I have nurtured this dream. I have always seen you at that pedestal. You having the reigns in your hand and not having to follow anybody's orders but rather giving them your own. RS feeling proud for you and telling that you are the best and no one else. That you have the qualities to run this kingdom better that anyone else and none can come up to your mark! Not even Armaan! When this day comes, my dream shall be fulfilled-The dream of seeing you as the KING of the Shishodiya kingdom!"
Rahul just stared at his mother, stupefied
*****
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