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THE two siblings sat still, filled with astonishment and anxiety, Prisha was almost gasping for breath.
“You said what?”, Raghav asked, sitting up.
“That Davida has been captured my prince”, the boss repeated.
Raghav glanced at Prisha who swallowed hard, her eyes twitching.
“Where are you guys now?”, he asked packing up his phones on the table.
“In ‘the house’ Maharana”, he replied.
Raghav got up, then spared Prisha a glance.
“Stay still, I’ll be there in a jiffy”, he said and began walking away.This content © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
“Can I come with you Maharana?”, she asked.
He didn’t reply nor say anything, he kept mute and continued walking out, towards the parking lot.
“Phew, coming”, she said and ran after him.
Goodness, they couldn’t believe it that Davida have been caught, like how? Where?
Kudos to the guards, they must have really done a lot to achieve this.
*
*
*
Rina sat in front of the dressing mirror in her room idolizing herself, as she brushed her hair that morning, thinking of last night, she smiled so broadly.
As far as she was concerned, last night was indeed the very best for her. She hadn’t only reconciled with Raghav, he had also taken her out on a date, wow. Isn’t that awesome?
How about when he had her pinned on the car and began kissing her, in front of everybody? Awwn, it was just the best.
Well, after the whole fun yesterday, they couldn’t return to Shimla as it was already too late, they had spent the night in Kuru, Zaina inclusive.
It was early this morning, that they all returned. Surprisingly, her mom didn’t throw tantrums or something, she only told her to be careful. As far as Selena was concerned, Rina was safe.
She was still sitting in front of the mirror reminiscing over yesterday and smiling, when her phone which laid on the table rang out.
She took it up and peeked into it, it was Zaina, she smiled.
“Hey…”, she was the first to speak into the phone.
“Babyyyy… you are all over the news”, Zaina squeaked, laughing so loudly.
Huh? What was she talking about? She sat up, then dropped the brush.
“What do you mean Zaina?”, Rina asked.
“Huh? Haven’t you heard or something? Turn on the radio, the television, the net”, she laughed, “it’s everywhere”.
Rina was still befuddled as to what Zaina kept squeaking about, she hadn’t heard anything from anywhere. Besides it’s too early to hear one.
She shook her head like she could see her.
“Zaina, I’ve heard nothing, it’s too early huh”, she said.
Zaina sighed.
“Alright girlie, you, as in, you Rina, is all over the news”, she gushed.
Rina sat up.
“Huh? All over the news as in?? I don’t get”, she said.
Zaina chuckled.
“What were you expecting after seen kissing His grace, Prince Raghav in front of a hotel? You expect the people to keep mute over it?”, she rhetorically asked.
“Come on girlie, it’s everywhere now. Turn on the radio, the television, check up your phone”, she squeaked.
Huh? My gee! Rina slowly got up.
“You… you mean, it’s on the news?”, she asked totally gobsmacked.
“Yeah, it’s everywhere on net, come on”, she laughed, “I so much love this”, she said.
Rina began feeling heated up immediately, my gee! On the news? So… so Vidya must have seen it, Bellarmine as well. God! Hope none would come after her?
Her lips wobbled totally lost for words, totally speechless, as she restlessly began walking to and fro the room.
“Rina? Aren’t you saying anything?”, Zaina asked obviously startled by her silence.
“Uh… Ba…Baby Z”, she managed to find her voice.
“Ahhhh Rin, scared cat. Why are you always afraid?”, she asked.
Rina sighed.
“What if they come after me? Come on, my face is all over now”, she stressed.
Zaina chuckled.
“Do you take Raghav for a fool? He knows his left from his right. Raghav is no fool, your face is actually hidden”.
She scoffed.
“Hidden? Then what’s the essence of that act?”, she shrugged her shoulders.
“To tell Vidya and Bella off, to let them know he is in love. I’m sure he hid your face so you wouldn’t have enemies lurking around”.
She sighed and flopped on the bed.
“You are right. But…”, she trailed off, and began playing with the edge of the bedsheet.
“But what?”, Zaina nudged her.
“Does it mean, I… like, oh my God”, she paused, smiling so broadly.
Zaina laughed.
“Go on baby, talk to me. Does it mean what?”.
“Zaina, does it mean we are back together? I mean Raghav and I?”, she asked.
She laughed out so hysterically.
“Yeah baby, you both are. He is your man, your prince charming, yours and yours alone, nobody owns him with you”, she was still laughing.
Rina sighed.
“Ugh Zaina, I wish you are here”.
“Ugh, for what?”.
“To celebrate this”.
“Come on, we will always do, always. Wish I could see the looks on their faces, I mean Vidya and Bellarmine”.
“It would be… horrible”, she replied and they bursted into laughter.
“Rina, never knew you are this bad mouthed”, she continued laughing.
“I never could believe Her grace, Lady Aarti would personally ask me to be his lady, I mean who does that?”.
“Lady Aarti”.
“Huh?”.
“Yeah, Lady Aarti does that”.
They laughed.
“Baby Z?”, she called tenderly.
“Yes dear”.
“I’m crying right now”, she said.
“Awwn”.
“But the awkward thing here is, I’m smiling as well, it’s a joyous whimper”.
“Tears of joy, I understand Rin. You deserve it, you been so kindhearted to kings and queens”.
“You are right though”, she sighed.
“Well baby, think I need to leave you now. I only called to tell you about the news, do check it out”.
She sniffed, cleaning the little tears from her eyes.
“Alright, I’ll catch you later”.
“Okay babe, don’t forget to give him a call”.
“Sure”.
As soon as she got off the phone, she instantly went online, visiting all possible places she could get the news.
She need not go too far even, at the instant she got on her instagram handle, she saw it trending.
The first headline was a bomb.
??: Prince Raghav seen kissing a strange lady in front of a hotel in Kuru kingdom.
“Oops”, she mouthed. Down the caption, was the picture, yeah, it was exactly her. Although her face wasn’t shown, but it was her dress, it was the prince, it was the car, and it was the environment.
Oh my! She couldn’t help smiling sheepishly, like what the hell was going on? She, Rina… on the news? Crap!
She continued scrolling up and she came across yet another headline, but this time, seems it was tagged.
??: Who’s the strange lady Prince Raghav was seen kissing?
Huh? Were they actually asking this? Gosh! Fans.
Then she went over to the comment section and began reading through. Wait… what? Some silly ladies were actually commenting they were the one. Hmph.
She bursted into laughter, it was hilarious. How can people be this silly? Or should she say desperate?
Anyways, whatever. Raghav was hers, and hers alone, right? She went offline, then dashed into the kitchen.
*
*
The car screeched to a halt in front of a small building and Raghav alighted, then half ran, half walked into the house.
The door at the other side of the car opened and Prisha rushed out too, running as well.
Guards patrolled and walked about the small compound that housed the building, all alarmed.
They got to the door and the guard in front bowed and opened it, and they entered.
More guards were sitted on the couches in the first room they entered which looked like a living room, some smoking and some drinking.
They all stood up at the instant Raghav entered, then took a bow, putting their arms behind them.
Raghav halted and looked at their faces, looking from one to another and nodding his head slowly.
“Where are they?”, he suddenly asked in a cold voice, asking no one in particular.
“In the torture room my prince”, one of them replied.
Then he smirked and took the door opposite him, Prisha followed.
They got into a small dark hallway, with a lot of doors at the right and left leading into smaller rooms, just few metres ahead of them, they began hearing screams, like someone was being tortured, it was a lady’s scream.
They got to the room and the guard by the door, bowed and opened the door for them, they entered.
At the instant they entered, a hush fell on the people in the room.
They were five guards in all, the boss and four others. Davida was sitted on a plastic chair, and tied to it with strong ropes. The ropes were so strong and tight that it even injured her skin.
She was blindfolded, head laid backwards, and one of the guards stood close by holding a long whip. The boss stood in front of her.
“Your grace”, they bowed as soon as Raghav entered.
He scoffed and walked up to the lady screaming, then halted, chewing on his tongue and watching her.
“How long?”, he asked.
“Over ten hours now Maharana”, the boss replied.
He nodded smirking, then exhaled deeply.
“Finally Davida, finally beloved cousin”, he said, Prisha came close.
Davida couldn’t reply, as her whole face was blindfolded. She was only whimpering.
“You tryna escape my hands? You tryna escape Raghav’s hands?”, he laughed, “then you dreaming”, he shouted.
“Hi, good to see you again cousin, it’s me Prisha”, Prisha said waving her hand, like she could see her.
Raghav turned to the boss and looked at him inquiringly.
“She alone was caught, on the outskirts of the kingdom. She’s refused disclosing the whereabouts of her brother”, the boss said.
He groaned and turned back to her.
“Unclad her face”, he ordered.
And immediately, one of the guards came up and loosened the cloth on her face. Eww, Prisha recoiled her face and looked away, it was looking messy and bloodstained with bruises all over. They were tears flowing down.
“Where is your brother?”, Raghav asked.
She made no response, she just stared, looking daggers at him.
“I don’t repeat questions Davida, you know that. Where is your brother?”, he asked again.
“You… you can ask your ass Maharana, he’s in my armpit”, she replied slowly.
“Ahhhh”, he growled and landed a heavy slap on her right cheek, Prisha flinched.
“Idiot!”, he blurted and spat out.
Then he turned to the boss.
“Anything on her? Phones? Trackers?”, he asked.
He nodded.
“We checked it, tried his number once, but he quickly switched it off. Tried tracking, there was virtually nothing useful”, he said.
“Mmm”, he groaned fisting his hands in anger. Then he turned and walked to the door.
“Get on with it, Prisha”, he called and she sharply turned to him.
She saw him on time leaving the room and she followed. Suddenly she stopped by the door and turned back to Davida.
“You better speak up, and end this pains”, then she dashed out.
? KUNTE ?
“Ugh man, welcome to Kunte”, Dylan said slapping Amaya on his shoulders, he was sitting beside him on the couch in a posh living room.
Amaya sighed and lowered his head, he was speechless, lost for words.
“Care for?”, Sikes asked, stretching out a stick of cigarette to him.
“At least, let me welcome you this way”, he said and everyone bursted into laughter.
They were five men in all, they sat smoking and drinking.
“Thanks man”, Amaya managed to say and accepted the cigarette. Then he took up the lighter from the table and lit the cigarette, then puffed in smoke.
“So, your sister is in their custody right now?”, Spider asked.
“As we speak”, Amaya replied, nodding his head.
“Hmm, this is serious”, Dylan, the one who had first spoken, said.
At the instant Amaya noticed Davida’s strange absence, he immediately picked up his few belongings in the old house and left, straight for Kunte.
Kunte was a very faraway land, far from the vicinities and reach of Kuru kingdom. That was where he had been trying to acquire passports for.
Now, this was a gang of four men, Amaya making them five. A gang he had once belonged to before coming back to Shimla. Spider was and had always been the leader, and Amaya had come to them for help.
“So, what’s your next move?”, Priest asked.
Amaya sighed so deeply then looked up at them.
“I want the throne”, he said.
“Huh?”, the rest gasped and looked at him.
“Are you out of your damn mind? You still want to risk your life?”, Sikes asked.
Amaya scoffed.
“Risk my life for what’s rightfully mine”, he coldly said.
Hmph.
“You can only get it if it’s actually rightfully yours”, Spider said.
“I know boss. It is”.
“Hmm, how sure are you?”, he snapped.
Priest adjusted on his seat, puffing out smoke as he did.
“You seem too serious regarding you and this throne, how really sure are you?”, he asked.
Amaya sighed, then proceeded to tell them.
“My mom did”.
“Huh? You mean your late mom?”, Dylan asked.
“Yeah”, he nodded, then sat up.
“You know before she died, right on her death bed, she told us; my sister and I that the throne is rightfully ours, I’m the heir, and not Raghav”, he gave a cranky look as he spoke.
Many years ago, King Neel before he got married, when he was once a youth, had come to love two sisters from same parents, that’s Phina, their mom, and Arya, his wife.
But he just had to pick one, and make her his bride. As fate would have it, he chose Arya, the younger of the sisters. And since then, unknowingly to her, Phina had so hated her, and had made her children believe that Arya stole Neel from her, and that she was supposed to be the Queen and they, the Prince and Princess of the kingdom.
Well, she moved on and got married not out of love, but out of frustration. Her husband, the father of Amaya and Davida, died in a ghastly accident, and then few years later, she fell ill. The illness killed her.
But then, before she died, she made her children swore to her that they would do anything, just anything to get the throne.
And now, he isn’t ready to back out or give up, he was gonna fight this with his last breath.
“Don’t forget you have no royal blood flowing in your veins you know?”, Spikes rhetorically asked tilting his head.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as I’ve got the go ahead from a dying bruised and bitter soul”, he said.
“Hmm, you seem to have your mind made up”, Spider said, flicking out some ash into the ashtray.
“I really am”, he nodded. “I’ve been on this for months, no backing out”, he said.
“Hmm, I see. So what exactly do you want us to do for you?”.
“I want the throne, and to get the throne I want Raghav out of the way, blotted out for life if possible”, his eyes widened as he spoke.
“Hmm, this is perilous you know, this is Raghav we are talking about, that guy is fortified”, Dylan said.
“If he is, what we have to do then is to find out his weakness”, Priest chipped in, and others concurred.
“The easiest way to bring a man down is to spot out his weakness, then deal with it, and he’s weak forever”, Spider said.
“Yeah good, but Raghav doesn’t have any weakness I can think of, that guy is fortified all round, he has a cold heart”, Spikes said.
“Nah, he must have one, he must. Look, all we gat to do is just to find out, make researches”, Amaya said.
Them there was silence for a while as everyone tried thinking, then suddenly, Spider spoke up.
“Is he in love? The weakness of any cold-hearted man is his lover”, he said.
Amaya scoffed, Raghav can never be in love as far as he was concerned, he so knew him.
“Crap! I think that’s useless, he doesn’t fall in love, he is too cold”, he said.
Spider shook his head in disagreement.
“No Amaya, he must. We just have to find out”.
Dylan heaved a long sigh then spoke up.
“Alright guys, we have a task on our hands now, a critical one at that”, he got up.
“… and that’s to find out Raghav’s weakness, his weakest point, his lover”, Priest concluded.