For the next few days Manyata did not get to see Udayveer at all. The time went painstakingly slow and at first Manyata felt mad at him for not showing up. Then she realized how stupid she sounded since she had always been the first one to complain when he did come visit her.
"He's probably getting revenge for that."
She even started paying attention to what everyone was talking about at meal times, in the hope that someone would say anything about him. But she didn't hear a word. After three days of not seeing or hearing about him Manyata's curiosity finally got the better of her.
She went to DS's office.
"Manyata' Do you have something to say? You've been standing at my desk for five minutes without saying a single word."
"Dadisaab.. umm..I just wanted to uhh.. Where's Udayveer!?" Manyata finally blurted out.
DS broke into a smile. She knew the reason her granddaughter had been so perturbed for the past few days but she decided to tease her further.
"Why are you so concerned about Udayveer all of a sudden, Manyata' Kahin aapko unse pyaar toh nahin ho gaya?" DS asked with a smile.
"Pyaar?!" Manyata looked at her DS in shock.
"Never! We're just good friends now Dadisaab, nothing else." Manyata quickly told her.
"Really? Anyways, I won't argue with you further. I think you'll realize it on your own. Udayveer's been busy in his work Manyata, don't forget that he does own a hotel and he's been following a hectic schedule this week. Maybe that's why he hasn't gotten a chance to talk to you. Don't worry about it."
"Okay. Thanks dadisaab," Manyata returned to her room.
***
On the fourth day, Manyata was losing her patience. He could at least call her! What happened to being her best friend? She came out of the shower drying her hair and muttering to herself.
"Samajhta kya hain apne aap ko? It's all my fault for getting caught in his words. He still doesn't care about anyone or people's feelings."
Just then she felt someone pull her waist and hug her from behind.
"Tum humme badalne ki wajah de do Manyata. I promise I can give up my life for you my Princess."
Manyata recognized the voice, and her heart rejoiced but she felt butterflies in her stomach as he rested his chin on her shoulder. She felt all her muscles freeze and her eyes close. Udayveer's arms remained wrapped around her and Manyata felt her knees ready to give in as she felt his lips close to her ears when he whispered. They were close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck and his touch was causing goosebumps on her body.
Thankfully he let her go, before her legs turned into jelly. He held her from her shoulders and turned her around to face him. Then he picked up the towel that had fallen from her hands and started to dry her hair for her.
Manyata was left speechless as he started drying the strands from the front then went around her and dried her hair from the back. He was taking his time.
Udayveer realized how much he enjoyed pampering his Princess. Caring for her brought him a strange sense of peace in his heart. It just felt so'right. Especially after being away from her for such a long time. But he had kept himself distracted making sure not to miss her. It only worked partially though. As soon as he was done with his work, he would feel the need to go see her or call her to hear her voice, but it was usually too late at night.
"So Princess, aren't you going to tell me how much you missed me?" Udayveer asked after finishing with her hair.
"Who said I missed YOU?" Manyata said after finally regaining her voice back.
"Dadisaab'" Manyata's eyes grew shocked. "DIDN'T tell me." Udayveer said with a smirk.
"Be quiet Udayveer. What do you think, the whole world revolves around you?"
"Not the whole world, but your world does, WIFEY!" Udayveer said purposely calling her by his new nickname.
"What did you say?"
"Wifey, Wifey, Wifey!"
"Halkat veda Udayveer! Nikal ja yahan se!" Manyata commanded angrily and started to push him out the door as usual.
"Manyata wait!" Udayveer protested.
"Keep out!" And with that she closed the door shut after kicking him out. In spite of himself, Udayveer had a hard time not smiling. He had missed this more than he realized.
***
Bored out of her mind, now that she had kicked Udayveer out, Manyata decided to take a walk outside. After all, it was a beautiful sunny day, and Manyata loved strolling around the humongous palace gardens like a little girl. She was walking around aimlessly on the lush green grass, humming a random song, when she noticed one of the security guards running around like mad for no apparent reason. What the hell? Manyata wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion as she could not see anyone except for herself that the guard would be trying to catch.
"Wait up you little devil!" The guard shouted.
Finally, Manyata's eyes fell on the creature that was causing so much trouble. She didn't see anything until it came close, then she realized that it was a dog! An extremely cute little dog, which Manyata had fallen in love at first sight!
"Here, come over here!" Manyata bent down and opened her arms as the little cute dog jumped in them. Holding it, Manyata started petting it.
"Oh you poor baby!... What were you doing to it!?" Manyata demanded to the guard.
"Rajkumari ji, this dog somehow entered the property. I was just going to catch it and leave it outside." The guard replied.
"There's no need for that now. You may leave." Manyata told him.
"Rajkumari, I don't think you should take him inside. He's not safe, and we would get in a lot of trouble if Rajmata ji found out that we let such a dangerous creature in the house."
Manyata couldn't stop herself from giggling at the guard's response.
"Thanks for your concern security guard ji, but trust me, I'll live." Manyata said smiling. She walked away with the cute little dog in her arms before the guard could protest.
As soon as she walked inside the palace with the dog in her arms, Vijay nearly got a heart attack.
"OH MY GOD!" Vijay screamed like a girl and latched onto Udayveer's arms.
"Manyata! What have you brought inside with you?" Uday asked her worriedly.
"Udayveer, isn't he sooo cute!?" Manyata started to pet the dog fondly.
"But Manyata he might bite you. And where did you get it from?" Uday asked.
"Oh come on Udayveer. He's such a sweet little cuddly-pie baby. He doesn't bite. And I found him outside." Manyata said still playing around with the dog.
"Found him outside!!??" Vijay asked hysterically, looking as if he was going to faint any second.
"Yeah... Here do you want to hold him!?" Manyata took the dog towards Vijay who backed off scaredly.
"Door raho humse! Yeh jungle queen to humme halal kardegi! Tumhari woh cockroach Choti kya kum thi ke ab tum ghar mein ek kutta bhi le ayi ho!?"
"Vijay! Kutta mat bulao use!" Manyata shouted in anger.
"Kutte ko kutta na kahon toh aur kya kaho?"
"Vijay!" Manyata said pointing her finger at him.
"Manyata, why don't we name him?" Udayveer said breaking into their fight.
"Good idea! But what should we call it? umm' Vijay Dinanath Chauhan Part 2?" Manyata giggled and her and Uday high-fived over Vijay's head who was standing in the middle of them.
"Actually Uday on second thoughts, that's such a long boring name. I wouldn't want to do that much injustice to the dog." Manyata added in between laughs.
*cough* *cough* "I'm standing right here jungle queen," Vijay reminded her.
"What about Tuffy?" Manyata asked.
"Come on Manyata that is the most filmy and overused name ever." Udayveer reminded her.
"Then what?' I know, because he was running so fast, let's name him Rocket!" Manyata said excitedly.
"That's better. Rocket!" Udayveer agreed.
"Here you hold it too!" Manyata held the dog out to Udayveer. At first he was very reluctant to hold it but noticing the excitement on Manyata's face, he didn't have the heart to refuse her. He held it and was surprised at how easy it was to pet it. In fact, he all of a sudden saw why Manyata had found him so cute. He was very adorable, (just like his Princess he thought in his head). Both Manyata and Uday took turns holding it and playing around with it. They were having so much fun and so lost that they didn't even realize when DS came to the living room and saw them together.
At first she was shocked at seeing the dog, but then looking at how cute and adorable Manyata and Udayveer were looking together, she couldn't help but smile at them.
She cleared her throat to get their attention.
"Manyata, where did you get that from?" She asked.
"Dadisaab I found Rocket outside. Can I please keep it? Please, please, please!" Manyata pleaded to her grandmother.
"Dadisaab please don't listen to her. If that dog stays here, then he's going to run around the house. If he runs around the house, he's going to spread his germs everywhere. And if he spread around his germs then we're all going to get infections and diseases and die!" Vijay said in his panic mode.
"Manyata, I respect your feelings but you also try to understand that the palace is not the place for him. I can allow you to keep him for the day, but I hope you will let him free tomorrow." DS told her.
"But Dadisaab where will the poor thing go?" Udayveer asked even before Manyata could protest.
"Uday, you too are talking like a child now?" DS asked surprised.
"It's the Jungle Queen's fault. I better stay away from her before she spreads her virus to me too!"
"Vijay tu chup kar!" Manyata shouted.
"Both of you stop arguing." Dadisaab said.
She thought for a few seconds then told them,
"Okay Manyata. You can keep the dog, Rocket or whatever his name is. But on one condition."
"Yes Dadisaab?"
"He won't stay inside here. We will get a dog house built for him in the garden. Then you can see him whenever you want." DS told her.
"Thank you Dadisaab!" And without thinking Manyata hugged her grandmother for the first time. DS was shocked at first, but then smiled, overwhelmed from her granddaughter's love. They pulled apart and Manyata shot Vijay a triumphant smile who just rolled his eyes at her in exasperation.
Just then J entered the living room. She shrieked seeing the dog in Manyata's hands, and Manyata, surprised, let it go. The dog ran to J and started barking at her.
"What the hell? Where did that stupid dirty thing come from!?" J said angrily, trying her best to conceal her fear.
"Eh Jaighamandi! Don't you dare say anything to him! He's my new pet dog and he only listens to me! If you talk too much, then I'll ask him to attack you!"
The dog proceeded to start chewing on J's purse, and J screaming finally ran to Manyata.
"Manayta jiji, get him to leave me alone please!" J pleaded scared.
Manyata finally felt bad for J, and she then picked Rocket up again in her lap.
Manyata giggled, and said to Udayveer, "Looks like me and Rocket have similar dislikes!"
Rocket tried to lick her face but Manyata quickly held it back at arm's length.
"Rocket please no licking, otherwise I'll have to take another shower!" Manyata said talking to the dog. Uday and DS shook their head and smiled at Manyata's antics, while Vijay and J looked like they were going to barf.
To Vijay and J's relief, Manyata and Uday finally took the dog outside with them. It stayed in Manyata's lap as they walked.
"Manyata, can I ask you something?"
"Of course Udayveer. Ask me whatever you want," Manyata said, smiling at him, obviously in a really good mood.
"Jab humare bachein ho jayenge, toh tum unhe bhi aise hi pyaar karogi kya?" Udayveer asked with a mischievous smirk, prepared for the bomb named Manyata to explode any second.
The smile wiped off Manyata's face as she realized what he was saying. She pushed him away on his chest.
"Halkat veda! Tu kabhi nahi sudhrega! Tujhse doh chaar baatein aur smile kya karli, tu toh sar par chargeya! Door reh mujhse!"
"Par Princess, tum humesha aise hi kehti ho. Aur phir khud keechi chali aati ho humare paas!" Udayveer said, taking her arm and grabbing her close.
"Kutte kamine!" Manyata yelled at his face, then stomped on his foot with her heels, making him let go of her.
"Oww Princess, that hurt!"
"Good!"
She picked up Rocket from the grass and started walking away after giving Udayveer an angry look.
"Rocket, kuch log na, aapne aap ko bohat zyada samajhte hai! Hmph!" She said loud and clear for Udayveer to hear. Udayveer stared at her walking away with a smile that refused to leave his face.
***
Dinner today was pretty eventful. Everyone was busy chatting. By the looks of it, Manyata guessed that Jainandini was trying to patch up things with Uday after a long time, DS and Brijraj were busy discussing some business deal, while Meneka and Komal were discussing whatever the stuff middle-aged ladies discuss. Her and Vijay were evidently the only bored ones.
"Vijay Dinanath Chauhan'" Manyata said.
"Yes my Jungle Queen?"
"Aren't you bored? Shouldn't we plan something fun tonight?"
"Yes I'm damn bored. Even J-bhai isn't giving me the same attention anymore. Things have changed between us..hmph'she's too busy hanging out with other chicks these days."
"Chicks? Tera matlab hain, murgiyan?" Manyata asked with a confused look.
"No Manyata you silly fool. Chicks is another word for girls!"
"No need to be so rude. It's your fault, you never taught me that! Anyways, I was thinking that we should watch a movie tonight." Manyata said excitedly.
"Did I hear someone say movie?" J interrupted their conversation.
"Yes, J-bhai a movie," Vijay said rolling his eyes. Manyata noticed that J and him were spending less time together these days and even now Vijay seemed annoyed with her. She wondered what was causing their inseparable jodi to fall apart.
"Good idea guys. What do you guys want to watch?" Uday asked.
"Hum Saath Saath Hain!!" Manyata exclaimed.
"Oh please. Because of your obsession with it, me and J-bhai have had to suffer through that movie five times in one month already." Vijay told Manyata whose face fell.
"Fine...then what about Kal Ho Na Ho?"
"No thanks! If you cried that much when Sahrukh died in Om Shanti Om, then I'm sure you'll cause a flood in the house from that movie. And he doesn't even return from death in that one."
"Okay then what about some scary movie?" Manyata tried.
"No need for it Manyata! Ever since you came to the house, I think we already have an excessive dosage of horror in our lives." Vijay replied.
"Vijay Dinanath Chauhan! Do not test my patience! Just because I'm a princess now does not mean that I can't beat you black and blue anymore!" Manyata said warningly.
"Taste tumhara kharab hai aur dosh mujhe deh rahi ho! Guvarni kahin ki!"
"Zyada ban matt tu! Tujhe sabakh nahin sikhaya toh mera naam bhi Manyata nahi!"
"Haan toh naam badal lo na, waise bhi Manyata itna sophisticated aur respectful naam lagta hain, ek Chawl wali ko suit nahi karta!"
That did it!
Then both of them started to have a full-on argument, screaming at each other back and forth from either side of the dining table. Everyone at the table just shook their heads or threw their face in their hands.
"These two will never change." DS concluded.
In the end, Manyata and Vijay couldn't agree on any movie and everyone went to bed after their daily dose of Jungle Queen vs. Vijay Dinanath Chauhan.
***
Hope you guys enjoyed it! I kind of purposely made it kind of light-hearted since we are getting a lot of intensity in the actual show right now. 😉 Really loving UV in the show!
Anyways don't forget to comment and leave your feedback! 😃
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