Chapter 8

Sicily, Italy

"Lily, do you think it's a good idea?" Myra spoke with the utmost uncomfortable voice.

"Myra, let them come. At least meet them once. If you don't like them or their words, you have every right to deny them. I know Myra, it's not easy to change your mind." Lily answered with confidence.

"Then, why are you trying to change my decision of ignoring them?"

"Because I know, deep down you crave for a family too. And it's not bad to ask for a family or care. We all are human. We have every right to be happy."

"Yes but we don't have any right to be part of a circus." Myra chuckled after saying that.

"Oh Myra Moretti. Don't tell me that you had a hard time again over a simple call to your father." Lily pouted like a kid.

"No no. Not a hard time. Just the entire Jaipur was trying to come over here. And I told them that I won't be able to host such a big team in my house. After all, I am not here to handle a football team right?"

"You are too Italian Ms. Moretti. Try to be a bit Indian too. Don't forget that you are the heiress of.... what do you say? I forgot." Lily tried to remember.

"Oh mio dio (oh my god) Lily. Solanki. My biological father's name is Rana Pratap Singh Solanki. Trust me, sometimes I feel like giving a history exam while remembering the dynasty of my own family from India." Myra couldn't help but laugh. 

"I see. You also said such a big name of your stepmother right? What was that? Is that something that starts with "M'' maybe?"

"Yes. Kind of. She is Mayabati Rana Pratap Singh Solanki. Maybe keeping their husband's name along with their own name is a fashion to them. For me it's nothing but a headache girl." Myra showed her irritation.

"Ok. So you are Myra Moretti AKA Myra Singh Solanki. Wow. That's nice." 

"Hello dear. I am happy being Myra Moretti. I don't need three more words after my name."

In the middle of their conversation the doorbell rang and Myra moved from the dinning to open the door. Lily followed her too. Well it's been almost a week since she had shared her address of Sicily to Arjun. Arjun had decided to come over but to her surprise he brought his father too. Myra didn't know that. She barely remembered her father and Arjun too. Luckily in the electronic media she saw a picture of Arjun and immediately recognised him at her doorstep. But she froze seeing the man behind him. He was tall, dark and his aura was depicting the ruler nature of him. No matter how much she tried, she could never forget those black orbs of her father. She has a bad habit of remembering things. Especially the eyes of the people. She was barely three years old during her stay in India. No matter what she still has a hazy image of Arjun and his father? And her smile that she had seen Arjun turned into a dark cloud on her face seeing her father. After a few seconds Lily broke her trance by saying, "Myra, won't you allow them to come inside your house?"

Myra got back her stance and invited them inside the house. Entering into the dining area Arjun immediately hugged Myra without letting her have anything to say. 

"Myra, do you remember how much I used to take you around to play. I used to play with you a lot. Then I used to give you a ride on my back. You have grown up so much. The little girl I saw 19 years ago is now a full grown lady."

Myra was shocked with the sudden hug but immediately hugged him back and said, "You have also become tall and handsome with time. Did your wish get granted to have a sister?"

Myra remembered that when she was leaving their palace Arjun cried a lot asking for her to stay as he wanted a sister like her to play.

"Yes. But she doesn't have the same blue eyes and doll-like hair." Arjun replied like a kid even being older than Myra.

Among their entire conversation the only person who was silent was none but Rana Pratap. He couldn't believe his eyes. He could see the replica of his Minerva Moretti in front of him. The same height, same features, same eyes. The same intimidating nature and moreover the same independent, strong personality. But along with that he found a burning rage in Myra's eyes. A fire inside her. No matter what he can't deny the blood of Solankis that is also flowing inside her? And this makes Myra a dangerous weapon. She not only has two bloodlines of two different cultures but also two ruthless families. Rana Pratap knows what Myra is capable of. Though he was not fully aware of the Moretti family and their nature, he knew something about Minerva that he wouldn't be able to disclose to anybody. And keeping in mind his own family he can't deny the fighter spirit of Solankis. The men of the Solanki family are more than fighters. It would never be easy to tame a girl like Myra. He was still looking at Myra like anything when Myra cleared his throat and told him,

"Excuse me Mr. Solanki. Would you like to have a seat?"

Rana Pratap didn't notice that Arjun had already sat with Myra in the dining area. The house was quite big and well decorated with nice interior designing. Minerva always had a good choice of interior. There was a small chandelier inside the drawing room. The rooms were more precisely with white or off white walls. Rana remembered his time with Minerva. He asked her many times why she liked white so much. She always used to say that it brought peace to her.  Myra made the guest room ready and showed them. Lily was there to help too.  Myra introduced her to them. After some time Lily left. 

After freshening up Arjun came out of the room. He called Myra from downstairs. Myra heard him calling from downstairs. She came down to see if he needed something or not.

"Yes, you need something?" Myra asked in her usual calm tone.

"Nothing as such. Just wanted to have some conversation. It's been 19 years. If I start talking about people from our family would you be able to remember?" Arjun spoke with his glittering eyes.

Myra pulled the chair and sat across the table and gestured to Arjun also to sit. 

"I don't actually remember a lot. But I remember some people. Though I have blurry images, if I see them again I would be able to recognise them." Myra assured him.

"We tried a lot to search for you. But we didn't get any trace. My mom felt really ashamed of this fact. She came to know about your mom and dad 19 years back when you had visited India. But she..." Before Arjun could speak further Myra raised her hand to stop him.

"Arjun, I don't want to dig up all such things. It's ok. If your mother has not spoken about it till now, maybe she had her own reasons. And Arjun even my mom didn't want to show up after that. Maybe that's why she had also kept me in the dark for so long."

"How did you come to know about us? What exactly happened with your mother?" Arjun was genuinely concerned about Minerva. 

"My mom has been suffering from cancer for the past four years. We tried everything."

"You could have contacted us. Myra, we could have arranged something."

"It's ok Arjun. I found the best doctors and treated her. But she was not that well. She survived chemotherapy but later some more infections took over."

"I am really sorry Myra. I wish I could be there with you during that time." 

Myra saw the real pain in his eyes.

"It's ok. I hope she is at peace now. I believe she is still looking at me. I found out about you after my mom's death. She left a letter for me. I got that from her locker."

"You know Myra. It is said that the more you burn the gold the more it would become pure. I can see you have become such a strong metal rather than pure gold."

"Maybe. I don't know." Myra sighed.

"How did you manage everything? Myra, sorry to ask but you were all alone."

"Yeah. I managed with the savings that my mom had. Apart from that I used to work along with my college. Luckily the hospital waived off a part of the bill also." Myra didn't want to drag the Lombardi enterprise information in front of Arjun. She keeps her private life away from everybody. And that's her biggest usp. It's very hard to get some traces of her. 

"You are more mature than any average woman I have ever known. I can say you have grown up more than your age." Arjun couldn't suppress his exclamation. 

"Maybe. You know sometimes situations and circumstances make you strong and a mature person. Well how is life in India?" Myra asked to light up the tense situation.

"I have a younger sister named Ragini. She is about to get married to Sekhawat's elder son Ranvijay Singh Sekhawat. Preparation is going on as usual." 

"Nice. I haven't seen Ragini. Well finally your wish of having a sister came true." Myra said with joy.

"Yes. Absolutely. Myra, I want to say something."

"Yes, tell me. Even I want to ask more precisely, what makes you both come down to Sicily suddenly."

"Myra, we came to take you with us. I know it sounds odd. I know you have every right to deny it. Let just not my dad die with regret." Arjun held Myra's hand while pleading almost like a kid.

"What? Take me with you?  Am I an object or piece of wonder that would take me to India? Arjun, I know nothing about you and your country. I grew up here. I can't leave my hometown." Myra's voice was enough to shatter Arjun's heart. 

"I know Myra. But let us take our responsibility at least for once. Let us fulfil all of your void places. I know my father would say the same. You might get angry so I am just initiating it."

"Listen dear, I do not have any void place that you need to fill. I can take my own responsibilities. Why on earth do I need to go to your place when I don't have anything there." Myra was frustrated enough.

"Who said you don't have anything there? You are the elder heiress of the Solanki family. You have every right to ask for the thing that is yours." All of a sudden Rana Pratap came out of his room in between their conversation and spoke his ultimate words.

"Mr. Solanki, I believe I don't have any connection with your family. I don't hold any grudge on you and your family. You guys can stay and enjoy Italy for some time. After that, you may proceed to India." Myra cleared her throat.

"Can't you come at least for once? At least to be a part of your half-sister’s wedding. I know I lost my daughter long back. At least for once, let me bring my daughter in her own rightful place?  Let me get away from my guilt." Rana Pratap almost broke down into tears in front of Myra. 

"There was a time when you could have taken your responsibility and given me my rightful place. After 19 years, you are offering me something that I am no longer interested in."

Hearing Myra's statement Rana Pratap felt that Minerva was speaking from behind. He couldn't forget how strong Minerva and her statements used to be.

"I know I have done enough damage. I am asking for one visit to your place. Solanki Palace. Seeing and knowing everything about your right and place, if you feel you don't belong to that place, you have every right to leave that. You have a family there. You have people waiting for you there." Rana Pratap almost begged her.

Myra felt really helpless under this situation. She controlled the situation as much as she could. Later on she firmly said, "Listen Mr. Solanki, I might visit your place. But remember I have every right to come back whenever I want."

Arjun and Rana Pratap felt a huge stone getting lifted up from their chest. They were happy for different reasons. Though Arjun had a simple reason behind it. But Rana Pratap had many more other reasons including the future of Legacy that he wanted to keep alive under any cost.