Strings Attached ✨

13. Not weak

Agastya chuckled at the cute little source of entertainment keeping him occupied from the time she set foot into his territory.

Embarrassed at her inability to move him even a little bit, her cheeks tinted with a light shade of pink. She hid the awkwardness under a facade of a mocking glare.

"That's very presumptuous of you, Mr.Prince." ……sarcasm lacing her voice.

He looked at her with interest glowing in his eyes, indicating that he was and will be enjoying every second of this as long as it goes on.

" Agastya. " ... .he smiled a idiotic smile.

"What?" ….,...Ruh looked at him with every ounce of confusion painting her face.

" It's Agastya for you. As much as I would love to hear 'mr.prince' everyday, I would still like you to call me by my name."

" And what makes you think I'm obliged to your orders ?" …..the stubbornness rising once again.

" You never copy with a polite offer do you? "......the voice held unnecessary playfulness.
Ruh raised her eyebrows.
" Don't worry. We'll work on that slowly. " …he stated, chuckling at his own words.

" Let me tell you this beforehand, your tries will all be in vain. So decide accordingly. " …..ruh put forward the conditions in a challenging tone. Which was supposed to anger Agastya, but to her surprise, all he did was smile idiotically.

" Nothing can make me reconsider a decision which involves you. I have decided already. The one to reconsider things will be you. Soon, my love. " ……….he bent down near her ears to whisper the words before he straightened up and went away with all the grace while ruh stood with all the mess occupying her.

Both physically,and mentally.

The single best thing to do for her was to avoid him if she didn't want such situations again.
But, who are we kidding ? You can't hide from a lion in his own den.

She released a deep breath before pinching her nose slightly, trying to ease some of her stress through every and anything she could do at the moment.

She decided on retreating back to her room after giving a bath to the queen's royal hare.
She took up that task not long ago this morning, after which she tried to find aksh so as to ask him about the hare and if it will bathe with the other hares in the common room.
That's when she overheard the conversation and the rest was history.

I'll probably sleep for some time so I can refresh myself……she thought to herself.

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She decided she would give it a bath by the royal pond. That was the only fancy place she could think of where she wouldn't have to deal with too many onlookers.

On reaching, the hare automatically jumped out of her hold, landing straight onto the lush green grass surrounding the pool.

" You love grass huh ? Jihan loves the grass here too." ….she smiled at the hare and ruffled its shiny white coat.

As she prepared herself for the task, a sudden light bustling in the surroundings took her by surprise.
Her hands came flying to her chest as she struggled to breath normally.

This part of the palace was more or less always empty. Who could it be ?
And it certainly isn't good news if they are hiding from you.

She turned towards the source with cautiousness shadowing her steps.

The sudden appearance of a young, cute, harmless looking boy shocked her. Nothing close to what she expected.

Before she could release the breath she didn't know she was holding, a loud shriek from the very boy interrupted her.

The boy almost screamed his lungs out before the both looked at each other in complete confusion, bursting out laughing the next second.

They controlled themselves, still grinning ear to ear.

" I didn't really think anyone would come to this part. It's kind of my-place. And …you're..?" …..he said the first part in a carefree tone while the latter half was covered with obvious hesitance.

" Oh. Yeah sure. I'm new, actually. For the umm…pet caretaker..?" ….she hinted, while pointing her index finger towards directions unknown.

" Oh okay. Cool. Actually, whatever, I don't care. You seem like my type." ….he smirked playfully and raised a brow.

The widening eyes of ruh gave away the signal that she didn't take on the joke.
Therefore, the boy immediately put on a blank face before laughing it off and clearing out the joke.

" Did you really think I meant it that way ? Do I look that much of a Playboy ? Wow, I'm hurt." …he cupped his face in his own hands and did puppy eyes.

Ruh finally made herself comfortable, affected with the boy's contagious sunshine personality.

" And umm.. you're..?" ..she asked in a timid voice. (So much unlike our ruh 😂)

He headpalmed before putting on a fake worried expression.
" Gosh. Why am I so forgetful? I didn't even give you my name. "
Ruh nodded with a smile at his words.

" Yes. So allow me to introduce myself all over again, beautiful lady. Iss naacheez ko jamana Anuj ke naam se janta hai. " ……he said in a pretentious tone while roleplaying perfectly.

Ruh blushed for a tiny moment, tiny enough that you wouldn't catch it if you blinked.
(Let me tell you, Anuj has a habit of blinking his eyelashes more frequently than usual.)

" Anuj. Sounds good. " …she winks at him, and the tables can be seen turning now as the lightest hue of pink appears on the boy's face.

" Okay ! Enough of this. So tell me, do I have a new best friend now ? " ….Anuj threw in to somehow control his blush and redirect the flow of the conversation towards something more 'beginner-friendly'.

" Mhm..? Depends.." …she said as she placed her finger on her chin while pretending to think.
" Depends on ?" …anuj jumped in between.

" If you are willing to have one right at this moment without giving it further thought. "  ….she said calmly.

" Okay? I thought about it. You're my best friend now. " …he said without taking a quarter of a nanosecond.

Ruh laughed, surprised but happy more than that. The new feeling of acceptance and appreciation filled her heart with an unknown warmth she knew she craved, but didn't ever come across.

" So you're here to bathe Maan ? He's one little trouble let me warn you." ……ruh creased her brows in confusion before picking up at it when she saw Anuj looking at the hare.

" So his name is Maan. I have been wondering ever since I picked him up from the servants this morning. "

" Ahaa. That's the thing. Rani-ma-saa would have familiarised you if she would have been there. But she's busy. But hey, I'm here now. You wouldn't get a chance to worry about anything now. " …he flipped his imaginary long hair back.

Ruh laughed even more, loving this new company she discovered by accident. Perhaps, we call these accidents as incidents, beautiful ones in fact.

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