Rivannah

Birthday and Betrayal

" I never doubt she can." Riva mumbled.

Vikram chuckled loudly at her admission and followed her out of small temple.The summer Sun was blistering hot and she sat under a shady banyan tree for some respite. He leaned on the tree trunk and gazed at her silently.She had been hesitant since the kiss and like a gentleman he wanted to give him some space.

" You know, it's creepy to stare." Riva said accusingly, looking up at him.

" What can I do? You're too beautiful for my eyes to not want you." He said flirtatiously.

" God, you can be so cheesy." She rolled her eyes. 

She was still unsure of her feelings for Vikram, but she enjoyed the strange peace he offered. He was unlike her cousins and other royals. They both yearned for the same freedom and hope in their dark, despondent world.She even contemplated giving him a hint about her identity, but thought against it. It was too early to bring down the walls.

" You're the only one who brings that out in me." Vikram laughed. Multiple notification pinged on his phone, causing him to frown and pull the sleek device out.

" Looks like your other girlfriends are missing you." Riva teased him. 

"I wish." Vikram sighed, " It's Kadam Singh. He throws a fit even when I go to the washroom without him. If he wasn't grandmother's subordinate, I would have kicked his ass already."

" You should go." Riva nodded in understanding.

 It was natural for Rajawats to tighten the security around their Crown Prince. The Kalawati incident had taken a toll on their reputation.

" I'm not leaving you alone here. I'll drop you home. Don't worry about Kadam Singh. I have enough sway on him to keep his mouth shut about my private matters." Vikram winked, " I will protect our secret until you're ready to go public."

Riva got to her feet and they carefully traversed down the steep hill. Vikram's shiny Audi was parked under a grove of trees. A jeep was patiently waiting behind it.She could see the outline of a tall, swarthy man sitting inside, but most of his face was obscured from the reflection on the glass.

A strange and sticky feeling crept in her spine. He looked awfully familiar. Riva couldn't continue her inspection as Vikram opened the car door for her. The exuberant Prince chittered about classes and plans, but Riva's eyes were affixed on the jeep following them.

                                                              *

" Are you most certain Rivannah wants this?" Abhimanyu asked with some hesitation.

Man Singh held the white box with a huge pink bow. He had extracted this information from Zorawar. It took him a lot of time and effort  to arrange the gift in such short notice. If this didn't bring a smile on the Princess' face, he would shave off his moustache.

" Of course, your Highness." Man Singh reassured him, pressing the bell of Ambika's house. Since the Princess didn't want to make her birthday an elaborate affair, it had been restricted to only a few people.

" Badi Maharani-sa must be already here." Abhimanyu said despairingly.

He was shocked that she would grace the modest feast at Ambika Ba's house. Badi Maharani-sa never visited Rivannah during the nine months she had been under his care, and with due reasons.They were like oil and fire, waiting to burst at each other.

His foreboding was confirmed when an extremely nervous and twitchy Aditi opened the door. Abhimanyu saw Ambika Ba, Badi Maharani-sa and Rivannah sitting in the cramped living room in such profound silence and seriousness that it looked like a funeral.