"Aree par....aap log toh honeymoon pe jaa rahe hai..hum samjte hai. Lekin Dev apke saath kyu jaa rahe hai?" Radha maa asked me looking at Dev who was glaring at me constantly since morning
So yesterday, after informing my men to find out about John Harper, luckily the guy was alive and breathing in Melbourne, Australia.
And my wife instantly made this decision that we were going there but what we didn't think about was what to tell the family members?
When Radha maa asked me about this sudden trip, I could think of only one valid reason.
Honeymoon
But maa toh maa hoti hai! Itni asani se thode na sunegi
"Tell me Rudraksh, why is Devyansh coming with you?"
"Hume dekhne aa rahe hai" I couldn't help but smirk at his expression. Trust me, I could feel him beating the shit out of me in his subconscious
"Hume Paanch Haveli ke kaam se Jaa rahe hai, jo dealers hai vo vaha ke hai, Radha maa" Devyansh, for once in his lifetime lied for a good cause.
Humara bhai sayana ho gaya hai!
Why am I talking with myself?! Ye hume Samaira ki adat toh nahi lag gayi?!
"Suniye" I heard my lovely wife's voice as she called me and I couldn't help but react "Kahiye"
"Hum soch rahe the....I should not come.."
"Honeymoon pe yeh dono jaake kya karenge?" The look on Radha Maa's face had me rolling on the floor. She looked so sweet with a disgusted look on her face as she looked at Samaira questionably
"Honeymoon? Kiska honeymoon?!" Samaira looked at me rather glared at me but I winked at her, watching her cheeks go red.
Kitni pyaari hai ye!
"Apka...aur kiska?" Radha asked fueling the confusion further. We, on the other hand were having a blast from this conversation
"Sir....it's time" I heard one of my men come and whisper it in my ears to which I nodded and asked the servent to keep the luggage in my car
"Ok maa, we'll be back as soon as possible okay? Call me for anything you need, I promise I'll catch the next flight and reach you. Don't forget your medicines and no more walking till late night in the garden, the gardener informed me about two snakes found there earlier, okay?" She looked at me with a smile on her face and caressed my cheek lovingly while nodding her head
"Apne Baba ko bataya hai na?, karobaar kaun sambhalega, tum teeno yaha nahi ho toh? Company ka celebration aane vala hai, bhul toh nahi gae?" Concern covered her eyes as she looked at me but I kissed her cheek and told her to calm down and I've taken care of it
I've not taken care of it. Actually, I did forget about that part
We sat in the car and after Samaira did a 15 minute long goodbye to Radha Maa, she finally gave us the permission to begin our journey
I felt a hand in mine as I looked over her and she smiled at me
"Humne celebration ki thodi bohot taiyaari kardi hai, aur board members ko bola hai ki vo thoda dhyaan de toh you don't worry about it, okay?"
Never. In my 25 years of life, no one has ever tried to take responsibility of my work. I was always the one who looked after the company, homely matters.
I felt a relief rush down my spine, I've never felt so important, so recognised before and trust me this feels good
Chota sa sahi, kisine humari zimmedaari toh baati
I didn't think twice before taking her hand in mine kissing the back of it.
As I did, she shyly looked away.
After what felt like an hour, we arrived at the airport but I wished it lasted longer seeing her hand in mine throughout the journey
Her hands are so soft....they will feel so good on my.........uhm uhm..
Relax Rudraksh....baby steps you'll scare the innocent soul
I smirked at my thoughts as I felt a knock on the window
Devyansh started at me with a confused expression as he spoke "Nahi anaa hai? Hum dono chale jaae?" He smirked annoyingly on my face and i hurriedly got down to run towards Samaira. A faint laughter could be heard behind me as I did so
"Aaram se, Rudra aap bhaag kyu rahe hai?" She said with her eyes filled with concern at my newly idiotic behaviour.
I just smiled at her
Skip to landing
Author's POV
Samaira was feeling very anxious as her feet took steps, every step took her closer to the truth
Who was involved in her mother-in-law's death? Was it her father? Or her uncle? A selfish part of her hoped if it has to be anyone among the royal family that please let it be her uncle.
She was not ready to face the world or the life after if it turns out to be her Baba.
A part of her knew that it won't be him, but the fact that her father hated Rudraksh to an extent where he hired men to keep an eye on him made her thoughts go otherwise. So many conclusions could be drawn but none of them gave her a bit of relief
Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes met with brown eye orbs looking back at her
"Are you afraid?" She could feel the gentleness of her husband's voice and she nodded her head into a yes
"Don't be" she tightened the hold around his muscular biscep as they walked down the address where John Harper supposedly lives today
Devyansh was walking ahead of them navigating the way.
Their footsteps halted as he stood at a point looking up at the sign board that read "Swanston Street" in bold letters
"It must be somewhere here" Devyansh said looking here and there while reading the text in his phone
"Didn't you get his number?" Samaira asked the Dev who shrugged his shoulders. He was not even looking in her direction or talking to her at this point and Samaira was not so naive to understand the reason behind it, so she didn't take it to her heart
"There....you see the mansion?...it's him" the younger brother's eyes light up as he saw the mansion from a distance and all three of them started walking towards it
It's a little isolated? Does anyone live here? Is this the correct address?. So many questions flooded her thoughts but she decided to keep quiet.
The place was really isolated but despite its isolation, the mansion exuded a royal aura
As they reached near the gate, Samaira sighed a relief breath as she read the name "SIR JOHN HARPER"
Seems like a respectable guy, Samaira noted in her mind
The three individuals were not expecting the place to be so magnificent and beautiful.
Surrounding the mansion, expansive, manicured gardens were spread out like a green sea, dotted with a variety of flowers that bloom beautiful all around
Devyansh's eyes landed on the gardener who was watering the plants and he made his way towards him
"Excuse me? Does John Harper live here?"
"Didn't you read the name board, boy?" The man said who had a hat on, watering his plants. His accent with a hint of British as he he kept his attention on the plants
"We wish to meet him" Devyansh made a mental note that this guy was a grumpy man
"What's your name?" The man asked still not looking in their direction as he continued watering the plants
Before Devyansh could tell his name, Samaira cut off his words and said
"Rajputs, from the royal family of Rajasthan"
The man turned back as the words fell upon his ears and looked at the young lady before him
He kept the watering pipe down and closed the tap nearby, and started walking towards the door
The three of them were confused by his actions but then he stopped midway and turned around
"Welcome to my home, Princess"
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
"As far as I remember, the elder king has no child so you must me the daughter of the younger one" John said while sitting on one of the sofa chairs
Samaira, Devyansh and Rudraksh were left in awe for the beauty of this mansion
There were so many ancient portraits and sculptures all around the walls. The place was no less than a palace
"Did you drew all of them?" Rudraksh asked him to which he smiled and said "not all, but few" forwarding the cup of coffee to three of them
"Why did you wanted to meet me?"
This is it. This guy could possibly know the answer to their questions
Rudraksh looked at Devyansh and when his younger brother nodded his head encouraging him to ask his question, he felt a squeeze on his hand when Samaira tok gave him a look of assurance
"I saw you that night, when my mother, Meera Arora was assaulted. Do you know anything about it?" Rudraksh asked his throat went dry and he swallowed a big lump, taking a deep breath as he waited for his answer
"Who are you?" John asked back as his eyes went wide hearing the question
"I'm Rudraksh, Meera and Veer Arora's son"
John removed his round glasses and kept them on the table, looking at the boy infront of him apologetically.
"How can I ever forget that night? Its the most sorrowful memory of my life"
A single teardrop made its way down to Rudraksh's cheek as he felf releif that there was someone who would tell him the truth.
Someone to witness the hideous crime
"It was a usual day in the Indian palace. I arrived around midday to capture my yearly journal pictures and paint a few portraits of the royal family upon their demand. That's when I met your father..Veer"
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Keep reading!
Share. Vote. Comment
Happy Reading