11.
Being with her, he had learned to expect a lot of unexpected things. Each time she did something he thought this couldn't get anymore surprising. But every time, she proved him wrong.
Like now.
He was just going in the hall, walking innocently just to greet Dadi Saab and rest of the family when a soft hand wrapped around his arm and pulled him backwards. The grip of the hand wasn't that strong but because he wasn't expecting it, his whole body moved backwards and he almost tripped. Well, he would've if his back hadn't hit a small body.
"Hayye! Meri naak!"
The muffled voice came from behind him leaving him confused but before he could say or do anything, the voice broke into a laughter.
"Princess, aap...?"
He could barely complete his sentence when that small laugh started to increase its volume. More than confusion, worry started appearing on his face. He made to turn around to see if she was alright but she held him still from behind by grabbing his arm.
"Chup! Khare raho!" She said in between her laughter. Being the taller one, he had the advantage to move his head backwards and see her. And what he saw worried him like nothing else.
Her face was bowed, her open hair shielding her face. Her body seemed to be shaking from laughter. Taking his chance, he turned around and tilted his head to take a good look at her. He touched her arm and at his touch, she looked up.
She was laughing, silently. Tears were streaming down from her face. She was biting her lower lip to stop herself from laughing but in vain. The laughter seemed unstoppable.
"What's so funny?" He asked just to give her company but it was the wrong question. At his question, her silent laughter erupted and a loud voice of laughter escaped her mouth which she stifled with her hand.
"Mat...poo..cho..." She was talking with difficulty and he was smiling at her childish behavior. With one hand on her mouth, she put another hand on her stomach. It had started to ache.
"Rajkumarian aise nahin hansti. Daadi Saab ne aapko mana kiya hai na." He tried reminding her to stop her laughter but no use. She was still laughing.
And that's when it clicked in his mind as to why she had pulled him back. Sighing, he shook his head and smiled. He moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her small body, hiding her face completely in his well-built one. On some other day, she would've pushed him back and call him by some colorful words but not today. Because she had intended to use him to cover her up until she stopped laughing.
And she did! Hiding her face in his chest, she laughed like a carefree child at some joke which he didn't know. And he stood there, shielding her from the judgmental eyes of the world. He was a Prince but for her, he'd always remain a Knight...in dashing designer suits.
12.
They were a very funny pair.
To them, everything was like war. Always, they were in some kind of never ending competition where one had to win from the other.
Like right now. All this running around the garden, the taunts, the bickering was being done only for one bar of chocolate.
"Ye hamara hai! Daadi Saab hamare liye layi hain!"
"Nahin! Daadi Saab hamare liye layi hain! Humein do ye!!"
"Udayveer!"
"Manyata!"
Well, they were just kids; royals or not. And like all the other kids, their fights had a loser and a winner. Sometimes the younger girl won and sometimes the older boy won. But unlike other kids, the end of the fights was unique.
Like now, she stood with her head held high and the chocolate in her hand. And at a few feet from her, he stood there sulking. She struck out her tongue at him and opened the chocolate. Silently, she offered him the chocolate and in equal silence, he refused and turned around to let her enjoy her chocolate in solitude.
"Tom & Jerry dekhen?"
She walked up to him after few moments and offered him. This time he accepted, his anger at his lose forgotten because being a royal he knew when to let go. Just like that together they ran inside to spend their time together doing another activity.
Both of them were aware of the uneaten chocolate bar hidden in the grass and both of them didn't say a word about it. Because they both knew, if they aren't in it together, then it doesn't exist. Be it anything; the fight, the victory or the reward.
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