Behind the Mask - ManVeer FF [Ch. 23, P. 36] - Page 24

Miles away, Akash was rooted in front of the television screen as he watched replay after replay of Manyata's news conference. He could not believe what he was seeing, how could everything have gone so terribly wrong? Akash felt utterly useless as he watched a dazed Manyata literally being dragged off of the stage by Udayveer. He should have been there for her. Instead, like a fool, he was hours away in his Delhi apartment waiting for her to call him. He shouldn't have listened to her, he should have left for Devghar weeks ago, immediately after she had left Delhi. Instead he had trusted his Monya to know what would be the best course of action for her family. Frankly, learning the truth about her previous life so suddenly had left him shaken. Once the intial shock wore off, he had unintentionally begun to question what this meant about their relationship, what it meant about the person he loved, the person he had known for the last decade. He knew her love for him was something that she still had to discover for herself but the revelation that she had withheld such a big secret from him now brought into question the very foundation of their friendship. Without meaning to, Akash had begun to question if he really knew Monya at all. Brushing those thoughts aside, he quickly got a few things in order. Between this morning's conference and her distressed call yesterday, Akash knew she needed him. Without further delay, he took the first flight to Devghar...

-----

A few minutes later, Uday entered Manyata's room and sure enough, he found her standing on the balcony. As he approached her from behind and gently turned her around, he could see wetness on her cheeks although she was no longer crying. What was with this woman and tears? She was always in an ever-ready supply. "Princess, come on, there is no reason to cry. They were just upset you didn't tell them earlier."

"That is not the only reason they were upset and you know it," she bit out like a petulant child. Did she even know how adorable she looked, Uday wondered. With her hip cocked to one side, hands akimbo, and those reproachful eyes, Uday could not even reasonably be blamed when the urge to tease her took over.

"Princess, what other reason could there be. Trust me, that was it," he feigned ignorance, barely concealing a smirk as shock and utter outrage transformed Manyata's face.

"What other reason?! Were you even there during that entire conversation? Not telling them about Akash barely even made their list of grievances; all they cared about was my refusal to marry their beloved Yuvraj," Manyata squealed dangerously close to a pitch he was sure only dogs could hear. "Speaking of which, why haven't you been yelling your head off about that? What's going on? For the last few days, you haven't refered to me as your fianc once or freaked out at the mere mention of Akash," she accused.

At a juncture like this, there were really only two options: continue probing Manyata until her frustrations left her tongue-tied and at a loss for words or kiss her senseless, effectively shutting her up. One unintended glance at those plump lips and Uday almost implemented the latter but he caught himself just in time as he reckoned it would also land him a tight, not-so-gentle slap across his check. He grinned at the thought. His princess really was a feisty one; thoughts of how that spirit would be translated into the bedroom left him shifting uncomfortably as blood rushed to a very specific part of his body. What was wrong with him? Why did riling her up turn him on so much, he mused. Tabling those thoughts for the time being, Uday quickly chose option A.

He took a step closer and placed his hands on the ledge next to hers. Manyata was immediately silenced as she leaned back and away from him. Uday continued pressing forward until there was barely an inch between their chests, taking immense pleasure in the involuntary flush and shallow breaths Manyata was trying so hard to control. But she resfused to look away! The ever brave Rajkumari within wouldn't allow it... He could see how hard she was trying to maintain eye contact even as her flush intensified. Ziddi, Uday smirked. He knew the effect he had on her, that was never the question. But her refusal to give in to the emotions she was feeling - refusal to give into him - had to be rectified. How could he let this little act of insubordination go without consequence when his favorite hobby was taming his jungli princess?

Without allowing their bodies to touch, Uday brought his face closer to Manyata's, his lips mere centimeters away from hers, and let his breath fall on them. He saw her eyes widen slightly with shock at the unexpected intrusion into her personal space.

"Yeh...aap...kya kar rahe ho," she stuttered as she registered their proximity.

With the back of his hand, he pushed Manyata's hair off her shoulder, purposely grazing the delicate skin of her neck and collarbone. Finally, her eyes had shut! "Answering your question princess," he said as his lips caressed her earlobe.

-----

Manyata's eyes snapped open as she felt the unknown sensations travel to every nerve ending in her body. She stared straight into Uday's eyes and couldn't help but drown in their heat. She had been expecting to find mirth and mockery in them but what she saw made her words get caught in her throat.

"In the past few days, I have come to two realizations - you don't love Akash and you feel something for me, however regrettably that may be. That is why every time I come near you instead of being repulsed or angered by my advances, you burst into tears. Tears of guilt. Your ill-conceived notions of loyalty to your fake boyfriend are the only thing preventing you from acknowledging your feelings."

Manyata was about to say something - no doubt vehemently refute everything Uday had just said - when he pinched her lips shut with his thumb and forefinger. Did that really just happen?! Manyata stared up at Uday and this time, she did find him smiling down at her. Ugh, the nerve of that man!

"Haan hum yede hai, kamine hai. Haan aap sirf aur sirf Akash se pyaar karte hai. Haan hum jhoot bol rahe hai kyunki hum Devghar pe raaj karna chahte hai...God, give it a rest already will you princess. That jaap is getting a bit old don't you think? Now, as far as you being my fianc, that fact has never changed. I just no longer need to keep telling you because I know deep down you too have accepted it. You will marry me Manyata, of your own volition. Whether it's to fulfill Daadisa's promise or because you don't actually love that Majnu and so have no reason not to marry me or because you feel something and actually want to marry me - I could care less - but in the end you will be mine." Uday could read the turmoil in her eyes as she tried to convince herself his words weren't true. No doubt he had pissed her off. He expected nothing less, especially when he all but called her out on her non-existent feelings for that Majnu. If his princess was angry now, he couldn't wait to see her reaction when she heard what he was about to say next.

"Vaise, if you miss being called my fianc so much, I have no problem reassuring you..."

That had been the final straw; he had finally pushed her over the edge. She sqatted his hand away and pushed him back. "Jaighar ke bigde hua Yuvraj! Saandh kahe ka! Door rahiye humse. Aap bilkul paagal hai, paagal. Baat ko kahan se kahan le gaye," Manyata fumed.

Taking mercy on her, Uday just smirked as he turned to leave. Just as he was about to step through the door, he turned to her and delivered the final blow. "Arre haan. Hum poochna bhool gaye. Agar aap humaare liye kuch mehsoos nahin karti, toh aapne neeche hamaara bachaav kyun kiya?" He smiled as he saw her horrified face. She opened and shut her mouth multiple times likely trying to come up with some snarky answer but none came. "Koi baat nahin, princess, but do come find me when you've figured out the answer," Uday said with a wink, leaving a speechless Manyata behind.

-----

Uday smiled as he left Manyata's room, feeling a sense of content. He had known his princess had been internally struggling with her feelings for him but this was the first time they had addressed it openly. No doubt her mind was contesting everything he had said in the moment, but he also knew that once alone, she would give serious thought to his words and her feelings. It was a step in the right direction, especially now that Akash's presence in the mahal was imminent. He had just been about to step into Daadisa's study when his phone ping-ed. It was a text from Aman, one that he had been waiting for all morning: Yusaf has gathered preliminary information. Emailing it to you. More details to follow.

Perfect. That Majnu had been a thorn in his side for too long; it was high time he be dealt with. With a renewed sense of determination, he knocked on the door.

Although Uday had not announced himself when he had knocked, it was as if Rajmata was expecting him. There she sat, behind that massive desk, fingers elegantly interwined across her lap as her elbows rest on armrests of her chair, looking cool as a cucumber. The two continued looking at each other for several moments, neither giving away the slightest hint of their thoughts, until Uday finally broke the silence.

"You know Manyata was lying when she said I didn't know about Akash?"

"I do."

"You know why I stayed silent when she defended me?"

"I do."

"We had planned on telling everyone about him as soon as the conference was over."

"I figured as much."

With each answer, Daadisa's smile had become more and more prevelant, so much so, that by the time the last response came Uday couldn't help but let out a chuckle. He walked over to the small seating area and plopped himself on one of the leather chairs as he smiled at her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier Daadisa. I just didn't want everyone attacking her, it would have been counter-productive and only pushed her to him more. But I should have at least told you," he said as Rajmata joined him. "Aapko maafi mangni ki koi zaroorat nahin hai beta. I trust you. And from the looks of it, keeping this secret has brought you two closer."

"I think I love her," Uday exasperated.

"You think," Daadisa laughed. "Beta, you have always loved her, even before you knew what it meant. First as a protector, then as a friend, and now..."

"Shayad aap theekh keh rahi hai," he said running a hand through his hair, the signature wolfish grin gracing his lips. "She has feelings for me too but she's too stubborn to accept it."

"I'm sure you'll convince her otherwise," she smiled. "So what do you know about Akash?"

"Actually, Aman just sent me some preliminary info. I was going to review it after I spoke to you."

"Perfect. Toh aap deklo aur phir hum baith ke tai karenge aage kya karna hai."

"Ji Daadisa," Uday said as he made his way out of the study. It was finally time to crack open the nut that was Akash...