Behind the Mask - ManVeer FF [Ch. 23, P. 36] - Page 18

Manyata did not stop running until she reached the pond in the outskirts of the lavish palace garden. Panting and out of breath, she fell to her knees and tried to calm her racing heart. What the hell had just happened and what had she been about to do? She was physically attracted to Uday, she knew that much. But it wasn't just that; there was this inexplicable magnetism when she was around him. The moment his skin touched hers she could see, hear, feel nothing else but him. And the way he looked at her, it was like he could see right into her soul and unlock all her secrets. Yeh theekh nahin hai! Hume Akash ke ilaavva kissi aur ke baare mein nahin sochna chaihiye. Phir kyun, she asked herself. Harshly wiping away her tears, Manyata pulled out her phone and began dialing…

"Monya! Tum theekh ho? Do din baad tumhaara phone aaya hai…"

"Haan…hum teekh hain…tumhaari yaad bohaut aati hai. Bas kal press conference ke baad…hum ghar pe sabko humaare baare mein bataadenge…Phir tum yahan aake hume le janaa…" Manyata said between her sobs and hiccups.

"Shaant ho jaa Monya. Tum ro kyun rahi ho? Kya hua?"

"Kuch nahin bas hume yahan nahin rehna."

---

Uday soon snapped out of his daze as he watched Manyata run out the room. He barely even mumbled a "be right back" to Unnati before following Manyata out the palace into the gardens. He watched her discreetly, feeling a twinge in his chest as he saw her tears. Uday could only see her profile but the questions running through her mind were clearly evident. He stood there for a few moments, torn between wanting to go comfort her and giving her the space he knew she needed. Just as Uday's resolve was about to break and he began making his way out from the trees and over to her, he saw Manyata pull out her phone and make a call. Curious, he took his place again behind the tree. But what he heard next made his blood boil. Akash! Why did she have to constantly pull away from him?! Just when he thought they were making progress, they were becoming friends, he was winning her trust….she had to shut him out and run back to her Akash!

A little voice in his head told him that just because she was spoke to Akash about her feelings didn't necessarily mean that she didn't trust him or that they weren't making progress, but Uday was not one to share his princess. And so Manyata going to anyone but him for anything was a loss in his book…

Nevertheless, before that small voice of reason could take seed, Uday heard her plea to Akash and it made him see red! How dare she? She just promised me she wouldn't ever leave and minutes later here she is breaking her promise! Do what you want princess, but I will not let you leave. By hook or by crook, you will be with me forever, Uday irrationally resolved as he turned around and made his way back to the palace. The usually confident and understanding Yuvraj was momentarily gone and replaced by a scared Uday. He honestly didn't know if he could survive losing her again, not that he would ever admit that to anyone…

And so he made his way back into the palace in anger, the only emotion he knew how to adequately express, planning his next move. It was high time he met with good for nothing lover boy of hers…