Hi my lovely readers, sorry for the late update. please enjoy the latest chapter and let me know your views and suggestions.
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Author's POV
He paced back and forth in the big room where sunlight has stopped streaming through the window and reflecting an evening time in the mirror. He juggled with his mind for ten minutes thinking about every possibility for such act and every suspect behind the act. Every time his mind points only to Susie but he knew deep in his heart that she couldn't do such thing. She was way too GOOD to do such thing. DAMN!!
He picked the vase from the center table and within a seconds it shattered into many pieces when it reached the ground. Martha flinched on his demonstration of anger and she tried to hide in a corner.
"I can't go back in the past but I can change my present. Yes, I need to focus on present and find the treasure. After that I will look out for my enemy" Pratap mumbled under his breath and looked out for his prey. His gaze fell upon Martha and his almond colored eyes darkened just like the darkness settling outside the window.
"Come here sweetheart" He gave her a lop sided grin which made him more like a devil.
Martha has no option of escape, she slowly made her way towards him with wobbling legs. She stopped few steps away from him.
"Come closer my dear. You need not to afraid of me. After all I am your unwed husband" She could not figure out what he wants from her.
"What do you want Pratap? Please let me go" Her tone was filled with half request and half pleading.
How could he let her go? he could never make his bastard son dance on his tune until he captured her. Now Daniel will do whatever he will order him. He wanted to torture her so that she plead her son to rescue her but her beauty is not letting him to torture her. Her green eyes was turning him on, attracting him just like they did decades ago. He wanted to feel her, touch her, kiss her........love her?
"I want to love you. I want you as my wife." Before he could stop himself, the words slipped from his mouth and her pupils dilated with terror. No she must have misheard him.
"No, No, No...Pratap. Please, this is not possible." She took few steps backwards. She was looking like a white rabbit. He moved towards her and pulled her into him. She is so soft, fragile and beautiful. Is the alcohol controlling his emotions?
"Why are you resisting me Mary?" He dipped his head and nuzzled into hollow of her neck. She has not allowed any man near her in decades and Pratap was just awakening something buried deep inside her heart. She always wanted him and him only. Tears brimmed her eyes, what kind of test is this?
"Please Pratap, stop" Her scent filled his mind and it made him crave for her more. He gently rubbed the scar on her arm while leaving a trail of kisses down her neck. It was feeling so good to feel her soft skin.
His left hand gently caressed behind of her neck while the right one slowly moved from her shoulders towards her bottom. His lips claimed her but gently this time. She wanted to push him away but the revelation that he didn't want to kill her on their wedding was building hope inside her, A hope of getting loved. Is this a sin?
They could have spent the life like a married couple and raised Danny like proper parents. She need not spend her life alone especially the nights. She didn't realize when she parted her lips and let his tongue enter to savor her mouth. The feeling of him inside her filled her with desire, love and desperation. She didn't want to hold back so she did the most unexpected thing. She kissed him back, let it be morally wrong but she wanted to live her life she wants to be and with the man she wants to be.
She let her fingers roam into his greying hair pulling him closer. He has also felt different for the first time after decades. He was surprised because the girls he spent nights with were either whores or the kidnapped and unwilling ones who used to cry and scream whenever he touched them but Mary, she is different. She loves him, truly loves him. She kissed him back with the same passion and love even after he has spoiled her life.
Darkness has settled outside but the love was glowing on the faces of this aged couple who wants to forget their past if it for few hours. They want to be together without thinking about past, present or future and they were reuniting in a way a man unites with a woman. The love was slow, deep, dark filled with passion, desire and longing.
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He never felt this much satiated ever in life but at the same time he wants more. He covered the beautiful sleeping figure with a duvet and removed a hair strand from her eyes to look at her flawless face.
"What is happening to me?" he smiled to himself and the howling sound of storm broke his train of thoughts.
He has already closed all the windows when the storm hit the place. He didn't want any disturbance during his reunion with his unwed wife. He looked at her once again and clicked a picture of her sleeping figure which shows her bare neck and shoulders.
His phone rang and he immediately picked it so that the ringtone couldn't disturb her sleep. Why is he doing this? Is he caring for her but why?
"Hukum, wo Apaar sahib (That Apaar sahib)" before the man could say further, his scream filled the line from other side and Pratap got confused. He went outside and asked his men to search for the person who has been appointed to keep an eye on the ASI officer. His servants said that the sandstorm has hit the place very badly and there are very slim chances of survival of any person who get caught into the storm.
"Rajkumari kahan hai (Where is princess?)" he asked his men and they paled under his threatening gaze.
"What?" He barked and demanded instant answer.
"Pata ko ni Hukum, Bai sa savere se mandir se ko ni lauti (Don't know hukum, she has not returned yet from the temple since morning)" The local man stammered and Pratap became restless. If anything happened to her then he could never reach the treasure.
"Ja k dhundo rajkumari ko aur bina kisi khabar k apni shaqal mat dikhana (Go find the princess and don't show me your face without any information)" he immediately dismissed his men and they ran out of the place because they knew that the outside weather can forgive them once but this man will never forgive them if they refused his command.
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Alex POV
The synchronized humming sound followed by a melody attracted me towards the courtyard of the fort. Gauri was still weak so shankari has made her drink some soup like medicine and she slept after some time. I reached the courtyard after descending flights of stone stairs. Bhuwan ji was following me and he announced my presence to the small group of villagers.
Everybody stopped singing and greeted me by folding their hands in namaste while bowing a little.
"Aap log ruk kyun gaye? (Why did you stop)" I acknowledge their greetings with a smile and told them to continue.
They brought a chair for me to sit and they sat on the ground. I eyed Bhuwan ji to inquire about such behavior.
"Hukum, they are your subjects they can't sit on your level. It is a gesture of respect, you can't change that" he shrugged his shoulders a little.
"Oh, by the way, what were they singing" I asked when the group started humming again in synchronization.
"Hukum, they are praising the god of Rain, Indra to give his blessings. Earlier, I mean forty years ago, there was always heavy rain followed by the sand storm but things changed. After our king left, there was no rain. But now when they have got their new king, they are sure that rain will definitely follow this sandstorm." He was explaining with this hopeful smile.
"And what if it didn't rain" he smirked at me like I have told him that there will be no day after night.
"It will rain hukum, it has to" I was impressed by his confidence.
"Oh hukum, I forgot to tell you one thing" before he could say any further, a loud thunderous sound filled the room and everyone started clapping and cheering.
"What is going on?" I asked and Bhuwan ji has just gave me a broad smile.
"It started" wait what, then I heard the pitter patter of rain over the ceiling.
"Hukum apki agya ho to hum ye chadar hata de (can we please remove this sheet with your orders)" the aged village leader asked me with anticipation and sparkle in his eyes. He was looking like a kid who is asking his mom that could he buy his favorite candy. Everybody was desperately waiting for my answer and I nodded in yes.
Everybody cheered at once praising their king that is me while turning the series of wooden wheels attached with the stone wall. I heard something pulled back one by one.
"Hukum, Would you like to take a look what is happening over there?" Bhuwan ji asked me while pointing towards the temporary ceiling over the courtyard. I said yes and he ordered the villagers to halt their movement for few minutes and wait for his orders to resume the process.
We ascended the stairs to reach the balcony of second floor which was covered just like the whole building. Bhuwan ji again did his trick by popping out something from the wall and moving it. The covering from the large stone windows got removed and I saw series of broad, heavy and rectangular wooden planks protruding from the holes of the inner wall and reaching out to the holes into the outside wall of the fort and thus forming a thick seamless covering over the big courtyard.
"Is it firm enough?" I looked at Bhuwan ji and he gave me a lop sided grin.
"Hukum, you can organize a race of over fifty heavyweight people on this wooden platform and it won't even shake up" He always fascinates me with the features of the fort.
"Come Hukum" He jumped from the widow and stood over the wooden platform within a second. He is quite fast for his age.
I followed him and jumped over the wooden plank and it didn't even creaked or made any other sound. I felt like I am walking on earth. The raindrops falling on my body was feeling so good and then I realized something.
"Bhuwan Ji, let's get back. I know how desperately those guys are waiting for the rain. We could walk over this some other time" He nodded at me and we returned back to the balcony.
"Birju, pahiye ne ghuma lo (Turn the wheels)" He shouted and a cheer erupted beneath the wooden layer.
The wooden planks entered back into their respective holes of inner wall of the fort and a bamboo sheet woven along with date leaves came in sight. It was neatly rolled back into its case which was also in the inner wall and then a stone covering covered all the holes in the walls. Nobody could tell that there were series of holes there just a moment ago because the stone was looking seamless.
I saw the villagers dancing in the rain and singing along with it. They were hugging each other, laughing and praising the new king. They waved at me and I returned the gesture.
"Hukum, there is one important thing" I turned towards Bhuwan and there was concern on his face.
"What happened Bhuwan ji?" He gestured me to lead the way inside of the fort and I did so.
"Shankari, Shankari" He called for the healer and she appeared quickly.
"Barish shuru ho gayi hai (Rain has started)" She smiled broadly and then nodded in understanding.
"Hukum, You have to go with her" Bhuwan has requested me.
"But Where?"
"To open the hidden gates of water channels" I raised a brow at him.
"You are not coming?" He moved his head from left to right in no.
"Hukum I have told you, Our duties and responsibilities are different. She is the guard of secret passages. Only the king and queen are allowed to see those passages beside the guard. I can't come Hukum" He explained to me while looking at her in between and then pursed his lips in a thin line.
"That's okay, I can understand." I said bye to him and followed Shankari.
"Please take care of Gauri" I turned to him and he bowed a little like accepting my order.
"I will protect her till my last breathe Hukum" I know he is telling truth as I could see the confidence, determination and loyalty in his eyes.
"Chale Hukum (Shall we go)" Shankari asked me and I nodded in yes.