Epi-3
Princess Sparsh was his most valuable and beautiful prize he possessed...only he can consume her or crush her whenever he would want it himself but would never tolerate if that filth lay an eye upon his possession.
That mutt have done it years ago and got his most deserved reward from us.But when has he learn from his punishments?...Even after all these years MY betrothed comes to visit us and all she asks about is someone as insignificant as HIM!
Striding inside the drawing room of the palace Asmik screamed at one of his unfortunate servants in seething hatred. "WHERE THE HELL IS THAT MONGREL?DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO DRAG HIM HERE WITH YOU?"
Before the baffled man could mumble some stammering apology and arouse the older prince's anger farther scales higher,he was saved by the presence expected by the prince.
"Your majesty summoned me?" the six feet two inches tall boy with exceptionally handsome visage stood elegantly at the door looking straight in the eyes of the prince with a cold steely gaze asked with a mock obedience.
"Bow your head down and don't you dare look in our eyes.Seems like years of teaching is not good enough for you,is it?"Asmik spat those words at him loathingly,then turning back to the other servant shouted "You are still here!GET OUT!!"
Casting a worrying clance towards the young one he slowly retreated from the room slowly.
"Do you have something real important business with me or you just wanted to give me your crap kindergarten lessons on 'how to behave with royal a**holes'?"the younger man asked impatient and visibly disgusted.
"Hold your tongue,son-of-a -b**ch.If I didn't have to warn you about something,I won't have bother about talking to you...Stay away from her.Do you hear me?STAY AWAY FROM HER.I feel nothing but disgust whenever I have to see your pathetic face."Asmik snarled menacingly.
"First,I have no idea who or what the hell are you talking about and second,I feel the same way about you,your majesty."he replied in an even tone never taking his eyes off the older prince in front of him.
"You trash!How dare you!"it was now impossible for the prince to control his rage and hatred anymore when the servant kept continuing to be outright disrespectful.He raised his fist to strike him only to be interrupted by another royal entering the room.
"It's so easy to hurt someone who has no way of striking you back,isn't it?If you had been man enough you would have freed him from his obligations and faced him...but then I always had doubts about your masculinity."the younger prince taunted with mock sympathy standing beside the boy whom he never let be offended.
Tearing his gaze from the object of his upcoming assault,Asmik looked at his brother plain irritated.
"Ah...Here comes the weakling of our family lecturing about masculinity.How can I forget that you would be here to protect your favourite heart child!Tell you what brother...I know how to handle bast**ds like him far better than you do.So,DO NOT INTERFERE...and show some respect to your elder sibling."he said in a ominous tone.
Aman had to roll his eyes at the last two words.Looks like it will never get through his thick head that we are twins...It's a good thing we are non-identical though.I would have hated to look into the mirror if I had his face.
"You can flaunt your so-called superiority in front of me,but I don't think you can do it in front of aunt Chitrangada.She won't like to see him battered when she returns tomorrow."he warned Asmik hoping he would consider it and leave the young boy alone.
The conjured image of the furious queen in his mind was something Asmik never wanted to become a reality.She had his uncle wrapped around her little finger since they had been in an affair before their marriage.And a ticked off uncle was certainly not a good thing.
Finally sighing in frutration and radiating abhorrance he glared at the duo and turned to leave the room after muttering towards his twin brother scornfully "I can't believe we shared the womb of the same mother for ten months."
"Neither do I"was Aman's answer to the departing prince.
******************************
After keeping the flower in it's safe place in the diary,her mind wondered of some strange events occurred that day.
I don't understand what prompted my family to choose Asmik for me.The way his eyes were tracking me from head to toe...for some reason I felt like my skin was crawling underneath his gaze.And then he used some vile languages for a stable boy...my family never insults the ones who work for us...
Her thoughts shifted to the enigmatic boy.
Speaking of the stable boy...was it HIM?...the one who saved me today?He looked so much like prince charming.But Asmik confirmed he's not HIM.Still the resemblence was striking enough.He used to be so cute back then...even I would kill to have some of his exotic features that could easily outshine a girl's beauty.God!...I stupidly made that comment before prince Aman.
Then it struck her mind as she thought of the younger prince who she always trusted and admired like her own brother.Aman can help me.He'll know where prince charming is now.
She excitedly got out from the guest mansion and headed towards the main palace in a swift motion leaving behind some dumbfounded maids.
******************************
"Jackass!"both Aman and Akshat voiced in unison once Asmik was gone.
Turning his attention towards the younger man who was quietly enjoying the interaction of two princes Aman's hard warning stare melted into an affectionate and concerned one.
"Are you okay,Akshat?He didn't hurt you before I entered,did he?"Aman asked the boy worriedly concern colouring his voice.
"No,he didn't."Akshat replied though in a casual tone, it was said with a genuine respect "Who would have thought mentioning the queen-b**ch would become so handy oneday!"he added thoughtfully.
Aman chuckled at the last comment about his aunt.
"Where have you been today,anyway?I didn't see you in the palace for once."he quered Akshat curiously.
"Nothing interesting...just taking care of the animals.And then playing the knight-in-shining-armour for a damsel-in-distress."he shrugged indifferently,his mind wondering about the haughty royal.
If I didn't know better I would have thought she was HER.She looked so much like her...smelled so much like her...the lustrous mane of ebony curls cascading down her shoulders to her waist...those large dark black eyes...just like hers used to be...lethally beautiful.But she can't be HER...she better not be or I may not be able to resist the urge to kill her with my bare hands.
"Damsel-in-distress?"Aman's curiosity was now laced with worry.I hope he didn't meet Sparsh.Seeing her again will be digging those old wounds of his which are still as raw as it had been seven years ago.He does not need it now.
"Yeah...an arrogant and very much spoilt girl.Leave it."he murmured hoping the prince would stop the discussion then and there.
Catching the hint Aman asked "How are your back and hands now?Does it hurt much?"
He knew it was a silly thing to ask because painful welts caused by barbed whip never heal in one day.He had seen it too many times not to know it.And every time it tore right through his heart to see the boy he had known since he was so little and so lost and never failed to arouse the protective stance in him being at the recieving end of that kind of assault.
"A little tender.I don't care.I'm used to it,anyway."Akshat stated nonchalantly.
Aman knew very well what 'a little tender' meant,whenever it came from the younger man in front of him.It had to hurt like hell.He took a mental note.
Folding his arms across his chest he sighed in exasperation.
"But I do care.I guess you didn't rinse the wounds with antiseptic like I told you to do."It was more of a statement than a question.
Feeling like a nursery kid caught by his principle,he hung his head without giving the obvious answer peeking at Aman ocassionally with the most innocent expression only a baby could muster.
"No,you don't...Don't you turn those 'beaten puppy dog look' on me,little one."Though he said those words warningly,his expression was visibly softening.
Akshat could not help rolling his eyes whenever the prince used that particular nickname for him.After all these years of being called most of the filthiest names by his parents and then by the royals,a term of endearment only embarrassed him.
He replied defensively "It stings and would you stop calling me that?I'm not 'little' anymore.I'm only four years younger than you."
Aman had to smiled at that though it was a sad smile and soothed the boy touching his shoulder "Well...antiseptics are supposed to sting.And I don't want your wounds to be infected...so come with me,little one,let's take care of your back and hands too."he added in a no-nonsense tone.
He could feel the shoulder muscles of the younger man getting tense under his touch.
At least he let me touch him.He thought grimly.
But who can blame him for shying away from others' simple comforting touch after all he had been through?Damn it,Sparsh...I know you felt guilty when you cried your heart out in front of me that day.Only if you had thought twice before you accused him of something he would never do to anyone,he may not have to loose something even a grown-up would fear to loose let alone a twelve year old kid.
"But I feel fine,really."Akshat could never get used to someone fussing over him.
"Yes,little one.I know exactly how 'fine' you feel."Aman brushed aside the other's resistance,dragging gently him by his arm.
Knowing it was of no use of trying to stop the younger prince,he let himself being manhandled heaving a frustrated sigh.Only Aman had the right to that.
"Okay,papa...I'm hurt and I can't wait for you to cuddle me.Happy now?"he scowled murmuring under his breath drawing a chuckle from the older man as he was being dragged from the room.
He didn't have much time to look back at the person entering the drawing room,as an amazingly soft slender arm brushed past his own.
********************************
Sparsh turned to look at the person who lightly collided with her by her arm and immediately recognized the dashing persona who saved her not along ago by just a glance at his profile.Another man...dressed like a royal...of the same height of his was ushering him out of the room while coaxing him about something.
Her concerned gaze subconsciously turned towards his bloodied wrist and trailed to his forearm upto his arm till where his sleeve would allow.She had to gasp in utter surprise and concern.There was numerous cuts,bruises and abrasions on his forearm and arm.
Dear lord!What kind of monstrous animals Mr.Adonis deals with to have damages like that?How did I miss that first time?She wondered incredulously and came with a quick,obvious yet embarrassing answer.
Because I was too busy gwaking at his face with my mouth hanging open like a fool and admiring his perfectly sculpted V-shaped body,and strong arms and long sexy legs and...
Her eyes dirted towards the retreating figure who was the subject of her muse and trailed from his back downwards...
Don't look at that,Sparsh.Decent royals do not do that.A small inside her mind warned her.
No one is watching anyway.Besides it is hard to resist to look at it.Just one look won't hurt.Another mischievous part of her reminded her wickedly.Living seven years in foreign to complete her high school graduation,she was able to shred most of her indian naivite and shyness at the obvious attraction and the open admiration towards opposite sex.
Agreeing with the second voice the curious gaze shooting from her large dark eyes rested on his butt.A tiny twinkle of mischief appeared on her beautiful eyes.
----------------------------------
Edited by prahelika - 12 years ago
Book Talk
Aami Daakini
61