HIS POV

"Daksh naam hai hamara. Vivaah karne aaye hai aapse,"

Upon hearing my words she froze in shock. She was looking deep into my eyes with her wide doe-like eyes, unaware of the fact that she looked so loveable at this moment.

"You.... here?" she asked barely above a whisper with nervousness.

"Why? Were you planning to hide from me all your life" I questioned directly in my hoarse voice.

She looked down nervously trying to process something. She looked beautiful. Her captivating eyes, rosy cheeks and those pouty cherry lips looked mesmerising. She was gracing her beauty wearing that nosering and her clanky bangles. A slow wind blew causing her hair strands to fly across her face.

I brought my fingers close to her face and lightly touched her cheeks while pushing the hair strands behind her ears. Suddenly a thunder roared. She shivered a little and closed her eyes while clutching my kurta sleeves tightly.

I loved her reaction to my touch. Unknowingly a soft smile appeared on my face looking at her after 11 months.

She looked up at me loosening her hold on my kurta sleeves, bit her lower lip a little while flickering her gaze and said in her soft and soothing voice.

"Apko jaana chahiye yahan se."

(You should leave from here)

"What?" I asked confused.

She again bit her lower lip and nodded cutely.

"And why would I?" I asked.

"Because someone might come soon and you'll get caught," she said.

"Caught for what?" I asked

"For trespassing, that too in the middle of the night," she said.

I registered her words while looking at her. I bent a little low reaching close to her ears and said barely above a whisper.

"Darling I'm a guest here. I'm not leaving anytime soon,"

She shivered a little, upon hearing me and blinked nervously. Seeing her reaction I could not restrain myself and placed a soft kiss on her ear.

She froze a little and looked at me shocked.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"My parents are in there," I said signalling to the hallway leading to the rooms.

She looked confused and shook her head.

"No. They are Daksh Pratap Rathore's parents," she said.

"And as I said, it's me," I said further explaining it to her. She still seemed confused.

"What? No, it can't be. He is a businessman from the city, he comes from a royal family." she said trying to sound confident.

"Again, Me," I said trying to clear her confusion, and she seemed recalling something.

"But you were....." she said knitting her brows.

"I what-"

I got cut off by a booming voice from the verandah and we both angled towards the voice.

"Who's there?" he asked.

We looked at each other and unexpectedly she pushed me and ran towards the hallway. I immediately hid behind the pillar to not get caught by the people here in this attire.

"Radhika Didi aap yahan" he asked.

(Radhika sis you here?)

"Hum dekhne aaye the mehmano ko kisi cheez ki zarurat to nahi is mausam me," she said.

(I came to check here if the guests need anything in this weather)

"Ji humne kambal de diye h unhe" he replied.

(I've provided blankets to them)

I wondered when he would leave so I could escape from here before anyone saw me.

"Udhar koi hai kya didi? Hume awaz lagi," he asked.

(Sis is anyone there? I heard some voices)

He might have sensed the disturbance or the noise.

"Ha... haan hume bhi sunayi diya par dekha to koi bhi ni tha" she said hesitantly.

(Even I heard some, but I found no one there.)

Quite impressive of her naive brain, I thought and a smile appeared on my face.

"Alright, I'll leave then," she said and he nodded.

She left from there and afterwards, he also turned around and left. Later I sneaked into a room before anyone could see me.

"Are you sure this is our room?" I asked Samrit.

"The guard said this is the guest haveli we could use any room." He answered.

Samrit Shekhawat has been my friend since our childhood, and we have also been business partners for the last 2 years since he came back from London. He's the one I could rely on for anything it be. And that is the reason I chose him for the business we were here for.

"But there is one bed how are we supposed to share it?" Tejas asked.

Tejas is my younger brother, he's only 2 years younger than me but not an inch shorter, and his physique is strongly built just like mine. His personality is cold and modest at the same time. He has always been a man of few words, especially about his feelings. But he has some remarkable skills in the field of business and investigation, which is another reason why he is involved with us in this task.

"What's there to think? I'm the eldest here and so I'm taking the bed. You people make yourself comfortable on the couch." I said while moving towards the bed.

Samrit jumped in between me and the bed giving me a look.

"You're just 15 days older than me. The rule doesn't apply," he said.

"So what are you suggesting?" I asked annoyingly.

"We'll take turns." He suggested.

"We three? All night?" I asked.

"What else?" He said.

"Arghh!! You people decide I'm changing for the night." I said and left for the bathroom after taking my T-shirt and lower.

I took a shower and changed into comfortable clothes that were much more relaxing than the Kurta earlier.

I came out into the bedroom and noticed Tejas lying on the couch barely able to manage on it because of his long legs and Samrit lying on the left side of the bed half-naked.

"Where the hell am I supposed to sleep" I asked

Samrit looked at me and smiled while patting the right side of the bed.

"No way!" I said and looked at Tejas.

"I can't handle him. Deal with him yourself." He said and closed his eyes.

I looked at Samrit while walking towards the bed.

"The least you could do is wear your shirt," I said.

"It's pouring out there. The atmosphere here inside is moist! I suggest you should take it off too." He said smirking.

"Shut up and stay away from me. All night." I said while lying on my side and giving him a strong look.

"I can only try my best." He replied.

"Did you check up on Mom and Dad?"

"We did. They were fast asleep," He said and I hummed.

Today was a hectic day. After examining the fields we became really tired. I recalled meeting her earlier. Her beautiful face and sweet voice. Only after meeting her, I could realise how much I had missed her. She has the same innocence and blush on her face, she had 11 months before. I'm not sure about my feelings because I never felt this way for anyone else other than her. I don't know what I will say to her, I also have no idea about what I should expect from her, but I will surely ask her why she left like that, after what we felt that day. I'm sure she misses me. What was the reason that she did not even bother to meet for once before sneaking away?

"What are you going to tell her tomorrow?" Samrit asked and I came out of my thoughts.

"I met her today," I said

"WHATT? Really? He asked surprisingly, and I nodded.

"I was finding my way to the room and bumped into her in the hallway. She recognised me instantly." I said and grinned recalling her look.

"So? Did you tell her?" He asked.

"I could not. And I don't know how and what exactly to say to her?" I said worrying a little.

"The reality and the truth. Just tell her already if you want a peaceful married life with her." Tejas said in his straightforward manner.

"He's right. Now that you've met her, don't waste your time." Samrit said.

I nodded understanding that they both were right and I should be just true to her.

"Yeah," I said and again went back to my dreamland pondering on her thoughts. Soon we all drifted to sleep.

I heard someone knocking on the room door continuously and slowly opened my eyes hearing the noise. I looked around towards the window and noticed it was morning now. But we were too tired to get up at this hour since we slept only a few hours ago. I heard the door knock again and got up to open the door since the others were sleeping snoring.

I opened the door with my sleepy eyes and found a man holding a few towels.

"Good Morning Daksh Saheb. I'm Mukesh, I came here to give these. I did not know you came last night otherwise I would have arranged rooms for you all." He said.

I perceived the guards had already informed everyone about our late arrival.

"That's alright, no problem," I said while taking those towels and toiletries.

"Also everyone will be waiting for all of you at the breakfast table." He informed.

"Alright, we will be there shortly," I said nodding to him.

He left and I came in and went inside the bathroom, after finishing my daily routine I came out wearing my pants and started drying my hair. I looked at those two sleepyheads and tried to wake them up.

"Samrit get up it's late already," I said and he wiggled a little but later got up and hurried to the bathroom.

I went to the couch and tried to wake Tejas up. He too got up after twisting and turning a little. He started exercising in the room itself, following his daily routine since Samrit was using the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later we all got ready and left for breakfast. The guard guided us to the haveli next door through the hallway and also informed us that Mom and Dad had already left.

Upon reaching up to the Haveli, we entered the verandah and found everyone seated at the dining table.

"Oh look Daksh Jawai-sa has come." Radhika's mother said.

Everyone looked towards us and we headed to the dining table. I went near Mom and Dad and touched their feet, after blessing me my mother signalled me to show respect to her parents as well.

Oh yes!

Now that we were going to be a family I had to follow all the traditions. I quickly went around her parents and bent to touch their feet, after taking their blessings, I saw Adarsh, her brother coming along with Dadi-sa. After helping her sit comfortably he came towards me and bent down to touch my feet. I quickly stopped him midway and pulled him up.

"I'm in no position to bless you. Let's just share a heartfelt hug and be friends." I said.

He smiled while nodding and we hugged each other.

"That we'll be unless you don't trouble my sister," he said.

"You can count on me for that," I replied and he smiled.

Tejas and Samrit also did the same. Mom got busy introducing Samrit to them. And then both of them sat down. I bent a little to touch Dadi-sa's feet and she stopped me midway.

"Koi zarurat nai hai," she said rigidly.

I looked at her and then got up joining my hands hesitantly. I looked at my parents and they gestured for me to take a seat. I didn't know what to do next so I sat beside Tejas, who was sitting beside Mom and Dad. Samrit who was sitting next to me nudged me.

"Seems like she's not a fan." He said with a sly smile.

I ignored his words though they seemed to be true.

"Jawai-sa you did not inform us when you arrived. We would have prepared rooms for you." her father asked.

"Ji, actually we finished our meeting in Ajmer a little earlier than expected. So we drove here directly." I said.

"But if you had informed us we would have arranged comfortable beds for you. You must have felt uncomfortable there." Her mother worried for us.

"It was already midnight when we arrived so we thought of not disturbing you all. And the guard was very helpful, he showed us the way to our room." Tejas replied smartly.

"That's good then. Samrit beta please tell us if you need anything here. Feel at home here." Her mother said.

"You can reach out to us whenever you want." Her father said.

"Ji, of course," Samrit replied smiling.

"Where are Radhika and Sunaina?" Dadi-sa enquired.

"They have gone to pay an early morning visit to the temple near the market," her mother informed.

So that was the reason I could not find her anywhere. But I had to meet her, talk to her. I wanted to tell her about the situation. I wanted to start fresh with her this time, with no secrets and no misunderstandings.....

Everyone was having their breakfast peacefully. Her family was quite affectionate. They showed care for us just like their own son. But Samrit had already become their favourite with his talks. Also, Ishani was a very adorable child. She often peeked at us and blushed every now and then but was not speaking much. I assumed her to be a shy girl.

After finishing breakfast Tejas excused himself when he received a call on his cellphone. Elders were busy in talks in the living room when Tejas came in.

"I'll have to leave right now. I've got an urgent work to do." Tejas informed me.

"Now? But we were about to start the roka ceremony later." Mom said.

"It's really important. I'll try to come as soon as possible." He said.

"Alright. Try to make it on time." I said, understanding he was leaving for some research he mentioned earlier to me.

He left from there. And everyone got busy with themselves. Samrit and I were discussing business deals in the verandah when we heard Dadi-sa.

"Come inside. Don't keep waiting at the door," she said lovingly.

I looked towards the door and saw him standing there. Anger rushed to my body on just seeing him in front of my eyes. My fingers fisted instantly upon seeing him here.

Angad Raj Rao, his name and his face stand unforgettable for me.

A few seconds later there was a sound of something falling down, I looked behind him and saw her standing anxiously, her eyes wide with surprise. Her eyes shifted nervously from me to him, then back to me. She was clearly taken aback.

Please like the chapter if you love the story❤️