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Her Darkest Fantasy
"They gave him the 'Player of the Year' award today...but apparently, someone seems to have played a nasty game with Yuuvraaj Udayveer..."
"Poor baby..did you see him hunting the grounds for that fiancee of his...he looked like such a lovesick puppy...I wonder whether he's open to some comfort tonight..."
"Hmph...serves him right for stealing my polo trophy...He never did know how to train his horses properly...and apparently women don't seem to be working out either..."
Udayveer felt like plugging his ears and screaming at everyone to stop, even though he knew it would make him look like a five year old child. Unnati stared at her Dada, torn between pity and guilt. Her Dada's anger was something she could deal with, but a humiliated Udayveer..well, that was intense.
Udayveer strode up to her, and Unnati felt some invisible force clamp her throat. He looked at her in his no-nonsense way and asked the two words she had been dreading: "You knew?"
Unnati nodded. It was as if someone had fell a battle-axe on Uday's chest. He inhaled sharply and walked away, ignoring Unnati's cries of, "Dada, I can explain!" No you can't explain Unnati. You can't explain what's happening to me.
Maanyata had disappeared again, and he was furious. It was only right that he should be furious. Except that why? Why did it affect him so much if Maanyata ran off to meet her Majnu? In the end, she would have no choice but to marry him, just like she currently had no choice but to live with her family. Till then, she could enjoy as much with her Romeo as she wanted. After all, it was only her estate he wanted right? He could get it by hook or by crook. Then why did her choice of affection matter? Why did it hurt so much when she chose Aakash over him?
Uday's immediate reaction had been to go and look for Maanyata at Cafe Royal. But he had a feeling that gatecrashing her party wouldn't have any effect. The problem required a permanent solution.
He sighed as he came to the racecourse. It was the only private race course in Mumbai, and his favorite place. Acquiring the land for it had been a pain, and he'd had to offer thousands in bribes, but the end result had been fruitful. It was a tranquil fairytale world, much like a Gothic novel, far away from the lights and noise of the city, with reckless stallions galloping across the sweet-smelling grass.
When Udayveer had been younger, he had loved to lie on the field and pretend to be a part of the earth. Of course, as he had grown up, he had realized that such behavior was not worthy of a prince, but those small moments that he had spent here were still precious to him.
Udayveer lay down , knowing perfectly well that no one would think of looking for him here. A lot of people thought that wealth and women were all Yuuvraaj Udayveer desired, when the truth was that there were many other fantasies that were capable of driving him over the edge. Of course, explaining the mud stains on his jacket would be a problem, but what was the deal when his reputation was already stained?
He closed his eyes, allowing the cool breeze to caress his face, when he caught the odour of something more warm and familiar. He got up instantly. "Sultan?" he let out joyfully, as his favorite horse stepped into view. Sultan whinnied in excitement, automatically nuzzling his owner's face.
"Oh Sultan," Uday breathed, clasping the horse's neck, as if Sultan's soft velvety skin would bring Maanyata back. Okay, so maybe it was lame of him to be so attached to a horse. In fact, it was the very reason why he had never let anyone know that he liked racecourses so much. But the truth was, he shared a special bond with Sultan. He had been imported from Arabia, and had been the most wilful horse ever. However, Uday had not relented till Sultan allowed him to ride him. When Uday had shifted to Mumbai, Sultan had followed.
"You should consider putting him to sleep Uday," Giriraj still warned, whenever they visited the stables. "He's still dangerous." But Uday didn't care. He loved dangerous things.
"Sultan, guess what? I won the 'Player of the Year' Award today!" Uday said. Sultan automatically broke into a grin, displaying the sharp teeth that had terrified Unnati when she was a child. "No Dada!" she had screamed. "Don't go near the horse, it will bite you!"
"No boy, not what you think," Uday grinned mischievously. "This is has nothing to do with girls. You know the polo tournament we won a few days ago right? It's for that." Sultan whinnied again. "What? You want to go for a run again? No big deal. After all, champions can ride anytime!"
Riding bareback wasn't a cup of tea, but then, when he was with Sultan, he forgot everything. Taking the help of the fence, he hoisted himself on the horse. You're crazy Uday, his mind warned. You can fall off and break your neck and they won't find your body till next morning. But the adrenaline rush had already kicked in. Within moments, Sultan broke into a slow trot, then into a run, and finally into a fast-paced gallop that seemed to be strong enough to break all barriers.
As a child, when he had rode Sultan, he had felt like he was flying through the air, like the prince in tales of magic. He experienced the feeling again as Sultan charged through the vast expanse of thickets and shrubs on the racecourse. Uday had specially grown wild plants on one part of the field so that it would be difficult to maneuver through them. Sharp thorns grazed past his face, but he couldn't feel a thing.
When Sultan finally halted where they had begun, Uday let out a groan, as if the adventure had got over too soon, even though the ride had taken half an hour. He slid off the horse, feeling like he had been sitting on rocks for his entire life time. It would take hours of sleep to get rid of the soreness in his behind, but the kick he had got was so worth it.
"Uday?"
He turned around, wondering who had dared to disturb his secret hideout. As the figure stepped into the moonlight, his face clouded with surprise.
"Maanyata?"
Maanyata came forward, her face a mixture of regret and fear. Tears of mascara streaked down her cheeks, and Uday immediately felt his heart constrict as he imagined Maanyata crying.
"What are you doing here?" he sputtered. "I thought you were with your Majnu?"
"I don't want to ever meet him again!" she cried, immediately launching herself at Uday's chest. Uday hesitantly looked at her, and one glance at her tears was enough for him to protectively wrap his arms around her. She buried her head in his arms, snivelling all over his jacket, but that didn't matter. The fact was, that she was upset, and she had chosen him for comfort. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world...
She's lying Uday, his mind warned. She's probably come here to save Unnati, or because she wants to give you some fake excuse for going away. The truth is, her Majnu didn't do anything, and they all had a lot of fun at your expense. She likes her Romeo better than you. He'sbetterhe'sbetterhe'sbetterhe'sbetter-
"Maanyata," he breathed, as if were not her name, but a kind of spell. She looked at him, and he knew instantly that her tears were not genuine.
He stepped away from her, and ran back to Sultan, who was waiting. Without thinking, he got on and galloped away again. Maanyata looked at him in wonderment as he disappeared into the distance, looking strikingly handsome and otherworldly.
I wish Aakash would be like that, she thought longingly, before chiding herself for having such thoughts, and going away to tell Unnati her brother's weird reaction.
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CID
