A Maaneet Tale
Jungle
10 August 2004
The next morning, I found myself still on Maan's lap. His arms had found themselves around my waist, and his head was resting on the wall.
As much as I wanted to stay in this position, I knew we had to get back to the Palace before people started to talk and make crazy assumptions about what had happened to us.
So I unwrapped his arms from my waist tried stand up a little too quickly, immediately regretting it. I had forgotten that a knife was stabbed in my back, and now all the pain came rushing back.
I put my hands on the wall and used that to stand up, trying my best not to scream in pain or fall back down again. Maan seemed to notice my weight gone from his lap and immediately stood up to help me.
Maan: "You could have woke me up, you know" he said, voice rough and angry.
"Sorry" I said and put my entire weight on Maan. He held me from behind and I couldn't help noticing how close and comfortable we were getting with each other.
Maan: "We need to get out of here, but your hurt" he said and sighed
"You can just... I don't know, leave me he --"
Maan: "No. Never" he said, not letting me complete my sentence. He rested his head on my shoulder and said:
Maan: "How about we just think about this. Make a plan?"
I couldn't really think and make a plan with his hot breath on my cheek. I tried to ignore my thudding heartbeat. I wondered if he could hear it.
So we stood in this position for what seemed like 5 or 6 minutes. Me enjoying his closeness, and him probably thinking for a solution.
Maan: "I could carry you" he suggested
"I'm too heavy" I pointed out
Maan: "We don't know that yet" he said and I turned to look at him, a small smirk was forming on his face and his eyes twinkled.
Before I could protest, he slowly lifted me up and sighed dramatically.
Maan: "You were right, you are heavy" he said and I hit his chest with my fist playfully.
Maan: "I was being sarcastic, and that hurt" he said and I didn't bother saying anything. I was too busy admiring his solid chest.
We walked for 15 minutes in silence until I tried to make conversation.
"Do you workout?" I asked
Maan: "No I don't" he said and rolled his eyes, being sarcastic and witty again.
"I beg to differ, just trying to strike a conversation; Your Highness" I said, speaking how Royals' usually speak.
Maan: "We don't speak like that for your information" he said
"Whatever" I said
After a while, Maan said something I really didn't want to hear.
Maan: "I think we have company" he whispered and I could feel his body stiffening, ready for action.
"Who's that lovely lady?" somebody said from behind. Maan turned around instantly.
Maan: "What's it to you?" he replied and I turned to look who these guys were.
4 guys and none of them were even remotely good-looking. That's why they must be here, to stalk other girls but who would look for girls in the jungle?
"You didn't answer my question" he said
Maan: "Do you even know who I am?" he said, his grip on me tightening. He realized this and loosened his grip.
"Yeah yeah, your the Prince. Whatever. Anyway, if your having that girl then you might as well share her with us" he said
Maan: "She is MY girlfriend. She is MINE to have. And she's MINE to touch. Get lost before I chop your body to pieces and feed it to the animals in this jungle" he hissed
I shivered, the image of chopped pieces of body and animals in my head. Disgusting.
Wait... He just called me his girlfriend.
"Did you just call me yo --"
Maan looked down at me, a glare telling me to shutup.
I gulped and immediately shut up. I don't think anybody would want to get on Maan's bad side.
"No need to get so gory. I don't care if she's your girlfriend or not. If you want to get out of here alive, then you pass that girl here" he said
Each of the guys had knives on them.
"I don't want you to get hurt" I whispered, loud enough for only him to here.
Maan: "Who said i'll get hurt?" he said, his usual smirk forming on his lips. His eyes shined and twinkled like they usually did when Maan was about to do something mischievous or naughty.
Maan pulled something out of his pocket, neatly holding me with one hand.
It was a gun.
I gasped.
"You carry a --"
Maan: "Now, if you want to get out of here alive; just leave. Right. Now" he said, cutting me from saying what I wanted to say.
The four guys exchanged glances and ran off.
"You carry a gun" I pointed out
Maan: "So?"
"So?!" I exclaimed
Maan: "I was joking. I got it from those guys I beat up earlier. One of them had a gun on them" he said
"Oh" I shivered, realizing that I could have been easily shot but thankfully didn't.
So we started walking again after he put the gun back in his pocket. After 40 minutes of walking, Maan seemed to know where we were going.
Maan: "This is the place I normally camp" he said, putting me down so I could see what kind of place this was; but still having one arm around my waist in case I lost balance.
There was the peaceful sound of drips that eventually fell into the river. I could see why Maan liked to camp here. It was peaceful.
I looked up at Maan and saw he was sweating, and then realized I was sweating too. I then looked up at the sky, shielding my eyes from the bright, orange sun.
"I'm so thirsty" I admitted, staring longingly at the river.
Maan: "Me too, but it's not clean water" he said
After a few seconds of standing, he said:
Maan: "You can use the water to freshen up if you want to"
"Okay then" I said and slowly knelt down; trying to to avoid pain. I cupped in some water and threw it on my face, not caring whether my hair or clothes got wet.
I could feel eyes burning into my neck, and I turned to see Maan staring at me.
"What?" I said
Maan blinked and cleared his throat.
Maan: "Nothing" he said and knelt down beside me, throwing water over himself.
After that, Maan picked me up again and we started walking. After 10 minutes, Maan seemed to spot the main road.
Maan: "I see the main road" he said
"Oh, you do? Thank Goodness for that" I said and craned my neck to see some cars passing by.
Maan: "We need to get you to a hospital first, then we're going home" he said when we reached the main road. He didn't even have to put his hand out for a taxi because some generous person already pulled their car to the side. She pulled down the window.
"Oh, Goodness. What has happened here, Your Highness?" the lady who was driving said, worry on her wrinkled face.
Maan: "Um" he said, considering his words. He knew that if we said we got 'lost in the jungle' the lady would assume something we didn't want her to assume. So he said:
Maan: "I found her hurt and I thought it would be best to take her to the hospital"
"Right, right. Get in. Hurry!" the lady said
Maan opened the door and set me on the seat. He put my seatbelt on and then closed the door, sitting on the front passenger seat.
"What happened to your head, Your Highness?" the lady asked
Maan: "My... Head? Oh, this. Just hit my head on something this morning"
"Sorry to be rude, but your shirt..." the lady blushed
Maan: "I used my shirt to prevent the girl from bleeding, is that a problem?" he said, suddenly annoyed
"No, Your Highness. I apologize" she said and stopped the car. We were at the hospital.
Maan took me out of the car and took me inside the hospital without saying thank you to the lady.
***
After a few hours, I was released from the hospital; all clean and good as new. Maan had (thankfully) bought himself a new shirt and bought me a fresh Salwar Kameez to wear. I could walk, but I needed support which I already had.
Maan.
Maan had saved, me, got us out of the jungle, took me to the hospital, and even bought me a designer Salwar Kameez. He had carried me from the jungle to basically the hospital.
He had done so much, and me? Nothing.
"You didn't have to buy this designer" I said as we sat in Maan's car. All he had to do was press a button on his phone and wala, a car to drive you anywhere.
Maan: "I wanted to give you something worth wearing. All your clothes are torn and worn out. I bought you some more, it's in the boot" he said, completely surprising me.
In a way, I was glad to be chased and saved from Maan. In a day, we had become much more comfortable and closer to each other. Maan had also begun to trust me, and he even exposed a bit of his past to me which was a good thing. He had begun to rely on me.
"Thank you, for everything" I said, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked at me, and smiled just a bit before staring back at the window again.
He smiled.
***
Once we were back at the Palace, one of the servants was so glad see to us; especially me. He smiled in joy.
Servant: "Goodness, we thought you were abducted or something. Thank God you're back. The Queen and King were worried, sick" he said and then turned to look at Maan.
Servant: "Your Highness" he bowed
"Where is Queen and King just now?" I asked
Servant: "Gone out to somebody's wedding. They should be back in a few hours" he said
"Okay then"
The servant left, leaving me and Maan alone in the big hallway. I turned to look at Maan.
"I should get back to work, then" I said
Maan: "No. Your resting" he said
"But there's work I should be --"
Maan: "There's tons of other servants in this house, Geet. You need to think about yourself sometimes" he said and put his arm around my waist, helping me up the stairs.
"Maan, i'm fine" I insisted
Maan: "You need rest. I need rest" he said as we passed by his room. Maan suddenly froze.
I froze too.
Maan's door was closed, which wasn't usual because his door was always open unless he was in the room. And, we could hear voices.
Maan: "Do you hear that?" he whispered
His grip on my waist tightened.
I nodded.
"Let's go check it out. Maybe it's a cat" I said casually but I knew someone was in there. A burglar? A kidnapper?
No.
It was a man, and a woman.
Maan put his hand on the handle, his arm still around my waist. I heard him count to three before barging inside.
Me and Maan stared at the bed in horror. Inside, was Sophia and a man.
Sophia was naked. She quickly covered herself with the bed sheets and looked away. I could see her turn red.
I looked up at Maan, his body completely still. His eyes wide, his jaw clenched.
Man: "Get out!" he said, covering himself with the bed sheets; embarassed.
Maan said nothing, he was too shocked.
"Excuse me, Dev. This is Maan's bedroom" I said covering for him
"And maybe you should take yourself and your girlfriend who BY THE WAY" I said, taking a dramatic pause
"Is cheating on Maan, and maybe you should make love somewhere else because Maan's bedroom is clearly not the right option" I said
Dev: "How do you know my name?"
"I heard everything you and Sophia were talking about in the garden. Sophia only wants Maan for his money and wealth. She doesn't want his love"
Sophia glared at me.
Maan: "Please, just leave. Before I do something I shouldn't do" he said, his hand on the gun in his pocket. I stared at Maan in horror.
Sophia: "Calling me a cheater. Maan, look where your hand is" she said
Maan: "Geet is hurt, for your information. I'm being a gentleman, not a cheater" he retorted
Sophia: "F**ck you!" she exclaimed
Maan: "Oh, you wish you could" he said and pulled out his gun. I slapped his arm, but he didn't even blink an eye.
Sophia stared back in horror and looked at Dev for protection but he just froze.
"Don't do that!" I yelled and snatched the gun out of his hand, holding it firmly in my hands away from Sophia and Dev.
Maan: "If I don't find you and whoever that bas***d is, out of this palace then I swear i'll shoot you. I don't care if i'm jailed for it or not"
Sophia and Dev nodded.
Maan slammed the door shut and looked away in disgust.
"I expected you to be angry"
Maan: "No point. I'd rather waste my energy doing something else" he said and escorted me to my room.
"I'm sorry, Maan. I wish this never happened. I wish Sophia was a nice girl. I wish this wasn't real" I said and sighed
Maan: "It's not your fault. I think I'm the one who should be sorry. For not believing you" he said
I stared at him, surprised. He was apologizing to me.
"No, please. Your the Prince" I said
Maan: "Go and get some rest" he said and gave me a sad smile before he left, his perfume lingering in the air.
I sighed and closed the door, retreating to my bed.
Precap: Maan and Geet cook in the kitchen
*****
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Edited by Sameeha786 - 13 years ago
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