*~Chapter 1~*
On the night of 31st May and in the morning of 1st June, 1985, Prince Armaan Singh Rathore, graced the Fortis Hospital with his presence. It was a moment of joy and sheer happiness, as the royal family got their heir, but, up above the skies, in the heaven, where the angels reside, the Gods sighed, sighed at Armaan Singh Rathore's fate.Born with a diamond studded platinum spoon in his mouth, Armaan got the best of everything. Right from the best powdered milk, to the clinically tested baby diapers. He got it all. He was 5 when he got his first car, though it was a pedal car for a kid, but still that was the costliest one. He got his father's calm and composed nature but the societal norm of sophistication and class and status was instigated up-on Armaan by his mother.He grew up in an environment where money was always valued more than anything, so it was natural that Armaan valued class, status and money over everything. But that doesn't mean that the man is void of any special dreams and desires. But those desires got suppressed with the burden of the rules and regulations that they had to follow like soldiers, in their own house, a palace but not a home.Days turned into months and months into years and then came, 1st day of December month, year 2013 and Armaan got the happy news that on his upcoming birthday he will crowned as the king and Armaan's happiness knew no bounds. Why? Because finally he will be able to act, react, decide, proceed, in short do things as he like. But kahaani aise hi seedhi si, saadhi se achhi nahi lagti na? So there came a twist too. This is the point where the story starts."You seem to be really happy, my prince!" Atul commented as he saw Armaan smilingly, actually smilingly, adjusting his tie."Well I feel happy; I think something is going to happen today! And, how many times do I have to tell you that don't call me a prince, you are like my friend Atul, you can call me Armaan.", replied Armaan, combing his hair."It's the protocol, sir!" Atul answered back, while Armaan sighed."So what are we doing today?" asked Armaan, walking out of his dressing room, while Atul followed behind."It isn't much to do, today. You got good 4 hours of the whole day for your own. Rest of the things are pretty same, lunch, dinner and a meeting with the CM. But most important of all this.." trailed off Atul.Armaan stopped walking and turned around, now facing Atul, "What?" he asked."His highness, the King wants to meet you. Now! In his office.", replied Atul while Armaan groaned and hurried to his father's office.Stopping outside the office's door, Armaan took deep breaths and adjusted his tie and coat once again before knocking the door twice."Come in.", came a voice."You asked for me Father.""Ah! Armaan, my son. Come here, have a seat. I want to talk to you regarding something very important.""What is it Father?""Can you all please excuse us?" Viraj asked the guards and the servants present in the room.With bowed heads, they all nodded and left the office room, now only Armaan and his father, Viraj were left behind."You are going to be a King son, I assume that you know what responsibilities and situations and problems you'll have to face. I hope that you are pretty much clear about it all.""I am, father." Armaan answered immediately, "I promise you that I'll perform all my duties with ultimate perfect and efficiency. I won't let you down, ever.""But there is something that needs your utmost attention..." Viraj shifted on his chair and took a file out of the desk's drawer, "...for now, at-least!" he added, pushing the file towards Armaan."What this father?" asked Armaan, taking the file in his hands."See for yourself..." replied Viraj.Armaan when opened the file, flipped the pages, he was shocked. That wasn't just any file. It wasn't related to some property, some rules-regulation, some new orders and other things. The file was more like a collection of biographies of women of different ages, starting from 22 years to 28 years."Seriously, father? Why would a file, full of biographies of this many women.." he asked flipping the pages of the file, "..be so much of importance to me? Why?"Viraaj stood up from his chair and went towards the bookshelf on his right, his back towards Armaan. "It's going to be your 29th birthday Armaan..""So what?" asked Armaan, interrupting his father, Viraaj, now facing Armaan. He had a disapproving frown on his face, "Manners Armaan! How many times do I have to tell you, that interrupting someone else while talking is not a good thing to do and isn't prince like.""Sorry!""You better be.. sighed Viraaj, and took a huge sized book out of the bookshelf, "You'll be of 29 years in few months, you'll be of age. And Devgarh's rule book says that the, to be crowned King, should have a bride by his side.""What the.." Armaan was about to curse but Viraaj shushed him shut."Language!! Keep your tongue in control young lad.", chided Viraaj."It's what the protocol says, son. You need to marry before your 29th birthday, before you are crowned. So here's a complete list of women who qualify to be your would be bride." Viraaj said, sitting back on his chair."Qualify to be my bride? Is this some kind of joke?" Armaan asked, irritated with this new development."Answer to your first question is, yes. And for the second question of yours it's, no. This isn't a joke my son. It is about time you choose a bride, my son," said Viraaj, lighting his cigarette, "or else, I will have to do so.""Please father! No arranged marriages!" the Armaan retorted. "You weren't married when you were crowned the King of Devgarh.", he argued."That was different." Viraaj gritted his teeth."What is the difference, exactly?" asked Armaan ."This rule book wasn't effective that time, OK. This is a new rule book, quoted by your mother. It's your mother's decision my son. She's not here at the moment, so she asked me to remind you about this new rule. Any arguments now?"asked Viraaj, knowing it very well that, Armaan won't be able to argue anymore. Because when it comes to the decisions regarding Devgarh, it's people and the royal matters, and Her Highness, the Queen of Devgarh, Chetali Singh Rathore decides something, then she never listens to anybody else, neither her husband, nor her son. "No, father!" Armaan replied, defeated."But why ?" Armaan asked."You are going to be a King soon and you need a bride by your side, to rule and to govern.." Viraaj was again interrupted by his son."And to show off in parties, in front of media. A status symbol, are you asking for?""Armaan, my child, you need to understand the importance of having a bride.",Viraaj sighed."Father, it's my life. You and mother have had taken almost all the decisions for me. Can't I marry on my own choice?" asked Armaan."What do you want from us?" Viraaj asked."Time!" Armaan immediately replied. "Time, to search for a perfect bride for me. A girl whom I can love, a girl who's perfect to be the Queen and rule our kingdom by my side. A perfect bride, I want and I want to search for.""Fine! 6 months. I give you 6 months to do whatsoever you want, search and bring the girl who's perfect to be your bride. Just 6 months.""Fine with me father. 6 months are enough for me!" replied Armaan. He stood from the chair, picked his coat and was about to walk away, but his father called him, saying;"Just keep this thing in mind, my son. If you won't be able to find a perfect bride in the duration of following 6 months, then you have to marry a girl whom I and your mother will choose for you!"Sighing, Armaan replied, "Fine with me!" and walked out of the luxurious conference room, leaving behind his father."I wish, I could do something for you Armaan. I really wish, I could.", sighed Viraaj, taking out Armaan's childhood photograph from the desk's drawer."I wish, I just had stopped Chetali from doing whatever she wanted, from taking control of everybody's life, especially yours, my son."Armaan, now back in his room was pacing here and there while Atul had his gaze fixed on Armaan's every move. He didn't knew what happened inside the closed door, between the King and the young Prince, but something had happened that had Armaan pacing around like a caged lion, he was sure of.Do you want something, sir?" asked Atul."I don't want anything!! I need something.", replied Armaan."What do you need, sir?""I need a girl.""What?" yelled Atul."Man...slow down, lower your tone and calm your horses. I need a girl to marry.""Now where is this coming from?""Devgarh's new rule book, quoted by mother. It states that I have to marry before my 29th birthday, that my wife should be at my side when I am crowned the King, and she becomes the Queen.""So you are going to get married?""Is that even a question to ask? Of-course I am going to get married! To be the King, I need to get married.""Who?""I don't know! Father had given me the following 6 months to find a bride for me or else I would have to marry, a girl of his and mother's choice.""I guess we should start searching for a bride for you!""This isn't what I am worried about!"...sighed Armaan, finally stopping his pacing marathon, and sitting at the edge of his bed, "I am more worried about, how we are going to search for a bride? I mean..just how?""I have two ways in my mind." Atul said, sitting on a chair."Do you need any invitation now?""Don't get anxious. See the first way is that you just go through the file that your father has, meet the girls, choose one and get married.""I am not interested in those bimbos, OK. Those, who bath in powder and perfume, wear shocking gowns and dresses, and not to forget the lots of make-up they apply on their faces. I need someone who is beautiful from inside, not outside."Atul nodded and said, "Then the second way seems to be good. Appoint a match-maker, let her know what kind of girl you need; she'll do the search part for you. You'll just have to meet and choose a girl of your liking. That's it.""If finding a bride wasn't enough, you want me to search for a match-maker now. What the..Atul..""I have one in my mind.." came a voice laced with British accent. Armaan moved slightly, facing the door he saw his cousin, Rahul Singhal, Prince of Jaigarh, standing with a cocky smile on his face and the never ending mischief in his eyes."Hey Rahul, when did you came back?" asked Armaan, hugging Rahul and patting his back."This Monday. Came to know about this, "you have to marry to be a king" thing from Bua-sa (Chetali, Armaan's Mother). She's back here dude, I came here with her only. And I am here to help buddy!" replied Rahul."Rahul, we here are discussing an important issue. Your child-like tactics won't work here!" said Arnav, sitting back on the bed."Ammy, my brother! Here I have a way to the solution of your problem and tum ho ke jaante nahi..." Rahul argued.While Armaan rolled his eyes at his cousin's poor hindi, Atul chose to correct Rahul, "Eehhm sir, that should be, "tum ho, ke maante nahi", it's "maante", not "jaante""."OK..OK..""Rahul, will you kindly do the honours of telling us, as to how you are going to help us?" asked Armaan.Rahul shrugged and sat beside Arnav and said, "See Ammy.." he trailed off when Armaan glared at him, "Stop calling me Ammy...it sounds girlie" yelled Armaan, while Atul managed to stifle his laugh."I know a matchmaker, who can help you with this marriage thing. I met her a year back, we became friends and if you want I can call her for your help.""Will she be able to do this? To find a suitable match for me?" asked Armaan, while Atul just nodded his head in question.Rahul nodded in positive and answered, "She'll be! She's perfect in such a thing, she's just perfect. Not to forget, she's very famous match-maker and strict regarding her ways of matchmaking.""What's her name?" asked Armaan and Atul in unison."Shilpa. Shilpa Malhotra."
...To be continued... Edited by -Shonali- - 11 years ago
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