Chapter 2

Matsyaa was curled on the swing installed in the roof, lost in her thoughts. Three long days had passed since her uncle died. All this while, she'd slept off every night, hearing the doleful silence and woken up every morning, seeing the mournful faces. They were supposed to go back to England but her father was caught in a mess.

The news of Ashish's demise spread like forest fire and their company started to lose shares in the absence of a stable owner. Since her father was the highest stakeholder at present, responsibility for the management of the company fell upon his shoulders. That meant settling in India. 

Both her parents weren’t in favor of the idea and wanted Arush to step into his father's shoes but he was the same age as Matsyaa, still pursuing his business degree in Australia thereby becoming unable to run a company with a manpower of fifty thousand people. Besides, the board of directors had straightforwardly refused to be responsible towards a kid who lacked proficiency. 

A heated debate was going on within the drawing hall of Rathore House and the kids were made to keep out of it, but Matsyaa knew what was happening. Upesh, her father’s eldest brother, had suggested administering the company if her father transferred some of his shares, making him the major shareholder but the legal attorney of the company forbade them.

He reminded them of the clause made in Late. Badrinath Rathore's will, clearly stating that her father could only transfer his shares to Matsyaa and the owner needed a sum total of forty seven percent shares to hold the position of Chairperson. Except for the men in the family, only Matsyaa had the shares that reached the threshold of thirty percent—a major part of them were gifted to her by her grandfather on being the first girl child. 

Unwillingly, her father had to agree to command the company but her mother wasn’t happy with this decision. Gauri inherited hospitals from her father—which was the major cause why Anup moved to England thirty years back, besides the opposition of their marriage from the elders—and Matsyaa had her studies. 

Their immigration was tough.

Matsyaa was unable to breathe in this kind of environment. The only thing that calmed her was the pretty sunset. She clutched the cushion to her chest and dug heels in the roof, adding motion to the swing. Her mind was occupied by so many thoughts that she didn't notice someone coming behind her.

“Ice cream?” She blinked in surprise as Prem floated the bowl under her nose and grinned, peeking at her. “Your favorite!”

"Ouh. Thanks!" Matsyaa took the bowl with a smile and dug into it, moaning. "Mmm, it’s delicious.”

"I know." Prem stole a spoonful from her bowl and she swatted his hand away, narrowing her eyes at him. "Hey, it's mine."

"No?"

"Yes. It's my favorite flavor." She shrugged, licking another spoonful and Prem rolled his eyes, "I brought your favorite flavor but that doesn't mean it's yours. We'll share. Now, give me some." He snatched the bowl from her and she tugged it back, glaring at him. "If you want the ice cream, get your own."

"Oh, come on, you can't finish the entire bowl."

She smirked at him, nodding her head. "Of course, I can!"

"Okay, just give me a couple of spoons. Please!" He begged and she swung her legs, sharing the ice cream with him. "Only because you’re pleading so much.”

“Well, your mercy, your highness!” Prem did a mock curtsy and she grinned, “Is the discussion over?"

"I'm sure, yes." He sat beside her, giving the swing a jerk. “You guys are staying!”

“Hmm,” Matsyaa nodded slowly and licked her lips. “And how did mom react?”

"She was fine." Prem raised an eyebrow at her, "Is that what got you worried? Making you hide on the roof?" 

“What? No, I'm not hiding. Just watching the sunset,” She pointed at the glowing halo of sun, dipping in the horizon. "It's pretty." 

Silence fell over them as they both saw the sky turning darker into a light shade of blue and streaming into twilight. Prem hummed, releasing a breath. “Forget it. How's my baby sister doing?” He pulled her cheeks so hard she winced, “God! You're already so tall. I am seeing you like what? Five? Six years later?”

She glared at him, rubbing her cheeks. “Only five months!”

“A month is equal to a year for me, kiddo,” He said dramatically and flicked on her forehead. Matsyaa bristled and attacked him with slaps, “Stop it.”

Prem chuckled, falling back. He enquired about other happenings in her life. Her boyfriend prioritized the conversation, "So, how is it going with you and Richer?" 

"Archer," She rolled her eyes, reminding him. "We broke up." 

"What?" Prem choked on his spit. He looked like he'd lost the deal worth millions. Well, he had. "How could you do this to me? What about the investment I made in his company? The guy's going to pauperize me because of you.”

"Whoa, chill!" Matsyaa stopped him, laughing. “Archer and I are on good terms. Never said we had a bad breakup. It's just that the whole interracial thing wasn't working for me, so we split up.”

"More like you dumped him, huh?"

"You can say that," She cheekily accepted. "Nonetheless, your million dollars are safe. He is a man with morals."

“You are worth the loss of thousands of millions, Kiddo.” He ruffled her hair and she gave him the best smile in her bag, getting up. “Let’s go downstairs. I am hungry.”

“Oh, yes, I came to call you for dinner only. Everyone wants to talk to you about… uh, about something.” He told her, clearing his throat and she frowned. “Okay? And you know what is that right?” 

“No!” Prem looked away and she stepped into the line of his vision, adamantly. “Yes. You definitely know and you're telling me. NOW!”

“Matty…”

“Don’t Matty me. What is it?” She persisted and he sighed out. 

“They're sending you back!”

***

Ranvijay was smoking since the dawn and he was still restless. He took out another bead and dabbed between his lips, hopelessly lighting it up. Too much of controlling the urge!!

Though he was strictly abstaining from nicotine, the freeloader tension broke his six years of penance. The cigarettes had always been in his pocket but he had victoriously curbed the urge to smoke. It was a kind of meditation to him, to test his patience, to test the ability to put on hold. 

Until this week.

He couldn't resist the temptation. Taking a puff, relishing the feeling which was almost foreign in his mouth, he deliberated on the idea to tell his uncle about the men he took in custody but it vanished as soon as it came. Everyone so firmly believed it was an accident and he wasn’t going to ruin their peace.

After he killed the four suspects, he was amazed to find that there were more of them in the palace. How come ten to twenty people became a part of the staff? He failed to understand. The security team hadn't messed up. Footage, signatures and guests' entry was scrutinized but nothing caught his eyes. How the hell did they enter? He was so focused that he didn't realize finishing another pack of Marlboro and coughed. 

"Hukum." Bhushan entered his office and handed him an envelope. Ranvijay took it with a frown. “What’s this?”

“The infiltrators came dressed as personal escorts of Sisodhias. They didn't catch up in security. They also had the pass." Bhushan explained, sadly noticing Ranvijay's ashen face as he checked the contents of the envelope. It had photographs of Vikram talking with those men. It looked like he was instructing them. 

Instructing to kill me! Ranvijay clenched his jaw, swallowing a lump. He wasn't buying this. Until he heard it himself, he would falsely believe that Vikram loved him just as much as Ranvijay did.

He glowered at Bhushan, “It doesn’t explain that he's involved. Why are you showing these pictures to me?”

“Hukum, Prince Vikram asked Kumar to not check these men.” Bhushan guiltily replied and Ranvijay roared, "And Kumar agreed? Just like that?" 

Bhushan zipped his lips.

Ranvijay threw the photos aside. He knew none could stop Vikram. If they had tried to, he himself would have gone mad. His staff was just trying to act accordingly. He closed his eyes, taking his time to process the information. Once controlled, he looked at Bhushan passively, “What about those men? They spilled something?"

Bhushan shook his head. "No progress. They are just desperate to leave but won't utter a word. They don’t even scream."

Ranvijay's eyebrows furrowed and he rubbed his five o’clock shadow, "Don't you think it's weird? They're enduring the torture for a week and still not screaming?”

“They have high resilience, maybe.” Bhushan shrugged and he hummed, “Keep up your interrogation. I'm sure they'll speak. Make sure my uncle doesn't know about it. I don't want him to worry." 

"Yes, Hukum." 

"One more thing! Where was Raghvendra during the ceremony?” 

Bhushan pressed his memory to recall. “He was in Maangarh.”

“Okay!” Ranvijay muttered and glanced at the photographs on his office table. Stifling a sigh, he lit another cigarette, “Arrange a meeting with Vikram. I will personally ask…"

"Ranvijay!" 

Fuck! Ranvijay cursed the timing and butted the bead quickly before waving the smoke away. He stood up, kindly smiling at the woman standing on the doorstep of his office. "Nani maa! What are you doing here?"

"Well, you've been scarce, so I thought to check on you. This place came first into my mind." A lady in her late sixties said and raised her eyebrows at both the men. “Did I interrupt something?" 

"Not really!" Ranvijay assured her, his commanding eyes traveling to Bhushan who gave an understanding nod and took his leave after greeting Rajmata. Ranvijay tactfully hid the photographs under some files and supported himself on the table, folding legs at ankles. "Why are you here? You could've called me. You should be resting.” 

"Why? Am I sick?" The woman frowned and he shook his head, "No. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that you were so excited about the wedding that you didn't take care of yourself. I am worried." 

"You are worried over nothing." The lady rolled her eyes and Ranvijay adored her face with a smile. "You don't know what you are to me, Nani maa. You're my only, only strength. I have no one except for you. That's why I care for you the most." 

Padma Raghuvanshi peered at him with concern. He was strangely resembling the small boy who came to Amergarh as its adopted successor. His blue eyes —bold and beautiful— filled with rage and apprehension and his mind troubled. She caressed his cheek, “What's bothering you, son?”

Ranvijay covered her hand, "Nothing. I'm fine." 

“You don’t look fine.” Padma frowned and he smiled at her, shaking his head. “You worry for nothing. How is it going with the new couple?" He deliberately changed the topic and made her sit on the plush couch.

“They're fine. We just talked over the phone. Don't you talk to them?” She asked and Ranvijay chuckled, “No, they're on their honeymoon and I don't want to disturb them. I suggest you guys don't call them. They're not gone for long.”

“Nonsense. We just… wait, what's this foul smell?” Padma sniffed the air with a frown and squinted at him, “Is it tobacco?"

Ranvijay coughed, anxiously. "No. No. It's, um, uh, it's burning wood." 

"Wood?"

"Yeah! These, uh, maids are, I guess, enjoying a bonfire." He cringed, scratching his neck awkwardly. Seriously? How bad I am at lying! 

"What?" Padma frowned deeper. "Did they take the permission?" 

Ranvijay groaned under his breath and cut her musings, "Leave it, Nani maa. They got a new princess. Let them celebrate!” 

“But…” Padma started but he cut her short. “I'll talk to them. Don’t worry. Now, tell me why are you here? Anything important?”

"No. I just came to admire you. You arranged everything luxuriously. I'm so proud of you, Ranvijay!" She smiled, patting his back and he nodded, clenching his jaw. 

She was trying to make him feel better and he wouldn't waste her efforts, for she was the woman who had dedicatedly carved out his strong, fearless personality out of an eleven years old, shaken up boy. With a troubled childhood as his, none anticipated him to evolve with such a powerful and controlling aura in his adulthood. She made him learn how to endure it all with a smile and get back so fiercely that the enemy wouldn't have time to wink.

"You flatter me the most." He humored and she shrugged insouciantly, "Well, one should learn to flatter the king." 

"I'm still a crown prince. You should actually flatter your son."

Padma scowled, "No. Ajey is not the King. He is just a proxy. He'll step back when you're ready to ascend the throne. We're only waiting for your marriage. With your wife coming into your life, Ajey and I will retire from our official obligations."

Ranvijay shook his head on an exhale, "Too much greed. You just got a daughter in law, Nani maa."

"I wanted you to marry first." She grumbled, puckering her forehead. "You're the eldest one. And, it's time you make a family. You are one handsome, strapping male with prestige and power in the world. You should…" 

"I got it." He butted in, holding his hands up and standing up. "I've some work to finish. We can discuss this later. How about I walk you to your room?"

“I see you are distracting me but,” Padma smirked at him, "I'm still too young to walk without the support of your arms." 

"It's contrary actually." He smiled, holding her palm, "I need the support of your mighty arms. Come on!”