|CHAPTER - 18|
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The sweet tweets of Sparrows and tiny birds echoed in the open space of the backyard as Raghuveer and Jaidev stood discussing issues regarding the royal palace. The afternoon was cloudy, with dark blue clouds hiding the sun behind them.
Dhruvan was not back from the forest yet, that poor boy looked completely scared when Jaidev requested him to bring those herbs. Raghuveer had to force himself from helping Dhruvan, he is no more a kid and should learn to be independent. Raghuveer half-heartedly decided that from now on, he will stop treating Dhruvan as a kid and only in that way will he be able to protect himself at times of trouble.
Yet, he can't seem to stop himself from worrying about him and Riya will be out of her chambers demanding for food any minute.
"Raghu, I have known you for years and I also know this for a fact that you will be turning a deaf ear to all my words but still, I want to tell you this." Jaidev glanced at his friend with desperateness as he spoke, "My spy from the queen's chamber informed me that the queen is planning something huge for you. To make you stay back here and never return."
A small chuckle escaped Raghuveer's throat as he glanced at his friend with amusement, "I will step inside the palace when it is time to, rushing things without a plan is not my favourite-"
"Without a plan?" Jaidev couldn't help but scoff at that sentence, feelings of both worry and anger rushing through him, "All these years I have been working for you, everyone but Dipankar blindly believe that I am on the queen's side! The king is falling sick and your stepmother is weaving steps for her cunning son! If this crucial time flies away, I am afraid you might-"
"Riya?" A huge frown took over Raghuveer's face and her name slipped off his mouth as he looked in the direction from which prince Dipankar was carrying Riya in his arms. Raghuveer's blood boiled as he observed them, how dare he touch her?
"What is Dipankar doing here-" Before Jaidev could complete his sentence Raghuveer strode so forcefully towards Dipankar that Jaidev could feel the ground shiver under him.
Riya's head was filled with the thoughts of Dhruvan all the while Dipankar carried her. When she could see the familiar surroundings she turned her head forward and was surprised to see Raghuveer walking towards them.
"Oh, Veeru?" She whispered with a small smile as Dipankar lowered himself to let her step down carefully, finally standing on her feet she expectantly looked at Raghuveer to be concerned about her wound but instead, he walked in full force punching Dipankar straight in his face making him swing to the other side.
Riya placed her palm over her mouth to prevent herself from shouting as Dipankar slowly stood up with a bleeding lip and Riya let out a gasp in shock, she expected Raghuveer to look at her at least now but he only clenched his fist tight with a red face ready to hit Dipankar once again.
"What are you doing!" Riya screamed loudly trying to stop Raghuveer but this time Dipankar punched him hard which soon lead to a battle.
Raghuveer saw red as he kept punching Dipankar, how dare this manwhore touch Riya? Everyone knows his desire for women and how did he imagine that he can mess with Riya? He will rip Dipankar into pieces! He should know better than to mess with his people. Unable to take the punches Dipankar gathered all his force and gave a long clenched hit on his nose making Raghuveer crash to the ground.
The cloudy sky kept thundering as if it had predicted this unfortunate event. Dry and thin soil particles and dead leaves were sticking to the blood on his face amplifying the frustration in him. From the corner of his eye, he could see Riya running to him, but shortly she was halted by Jaidev as he held her hand.
Why the heck does everyone have to touch her? Anger fumed through him as he closed his eyes shut taming his brain that his bleeding face is not painful, it is bearable. He can deal with Jaidev later, but first he has to kill this pathetic human standing in front of him.
Thinking, he managed to stand up with a determined expression and shortly both of the brothers went back to the war mode beating the life out of each other.
"Are you enjoying the view in front of you, sir?" Riya asked with fake politeness as she gritted her teeth glaring at Jaidev and he gave her a confused look, trying to come up with some words as his brain remained frozen seeing his friend fighting.
"Uh-No, I-"
"Shut up, and go fetch a doctor to treat them! I will try to separate these wild, brainless human-like dogs meanwhile." Her face had a serious expression as she ordered Jaidev and more than being offended by her authoritative tone he was mesmerised to see a woman acting this calm and strong instead of crying her eyes out seeing blood.
Nodding his head in awe he left the house to bring the physician and a few soldiers, just in case if the situation worsens and leads to a political war in the kingdom.
Riya rolled her eyes seeing them fight like no other day, the time has come to wake up the actress in her.
She slowly pushed her hair behind her ears stepping forward and let out an ear-splitting scream, "Ahhhh!"
The sudden screeching scream of Riya made both the brothers stop rolling on the ground as they looked at her and the second Raghuveer's eyes met Riya, she collapsed down to the ground with a small thud sound which got Raghuveer rushing to her.
"Riya! Wake up!" Raghuveer slowly tapped on her cheek to wake her up but when she didn't respond, panic rose to his throat as he tried to shake her shoulders to bring her back to her senses.
"She hurt her arm in the forest attack! I was trying to help that girl, and if she's dead remember it's your fault!" Dipankar taunted as he stood behind Raghuveer.
It is all his fault. Raghuveer quickly scooped Riya in his hands as he rushed back to his chamber. He paced around his chamber breaking his brain to understand the symptoms. She collapsed, her arm was hurt and that can never be fatal but Riya is weak, she had long headaches and nose bleeds.
Raghuveer's eyes stung with tears as he caught his head in his arms, his fingers and brain were turning cold and numb, this is all his fault. He is the one to blame, she is dying because he is useless. Everyone was right maybe, he can never help anyone with this life.
"Veeru, what are you doing there?"
Her concern filled voice sounded like honey to him, she is able to speak! Raghuveer immediately rushed to her side as he asked her, "Are you having any headache?"
"No, but-"
"It's okay, then! Everything is alright! An arm wound is nothing I can't medicate!" His rushed words got Riya in a daze, unable to understand the panic in his voice.
"Veeru look here! Look at me!" Riya tried to grab his attention but he was desperate to find some herbs to heal her as he stood up but she swiftly caught his hand pulling him back to bed making him bend down to her level.
The faint lit of the lamps in corner of the chambers gave Raghuveer a dim view as he stared in her eyes.
"I am fine. I did not faint-"
"No Riya, you did! You must not remember as-"
"It was an act Veeru!" Riya had to finally reveal the truth to calm him down, his large brown eyes moved rapidly as he looked in her eyes. His beautiful eyes were filled with concern and panic that Riya couldn't handle the overflowing emotions in her seeing his expression.
"W-what? I didn't-" Before he could complete his sentence she woke up quickly pushing him toward the bed.
"What are you doing!" Raghuveer spoke still shocked, what was she doing?
"Stay here!" Saying Riya walked out of his chambers and quickly picked up a few items from the kitchen.
Raghuveer felt restless sitting on the bed like this, she is the one who is hurt, then why is she walking around the house like she was all healed? Shortly, she came back with a rag and a copper utensil filled with turmeric water.
"Look Riya, you are not understanding! You are the one who is hurt-"
Once again, before he could complete his sentence she dabbed the clean white cloth on his lower lip making him wince in pain.
After a long pregnant pause, Raghuveer slowly talked as he looked at Riya, "I thought you we-were d-dead. I always do this to everyone close to me, my mother is bedridden and now you are hurt, maybe I retain all the terrible fate-"
Riya placed a small kiss on his forehead and it worked well as Raghuveer stopped talking.
"If it wasn't for your fate, I would have never met a handsome prince charming like you. We would have also never kissed, you know?" Riya teased him at the end trying to cheer up his mood and Raghuveer smiled despite the pain in his jaw.
"That was not a kiss." Raghuveer whispered slowly and Riya kept wiping the dirt off his face. "Why did you hit him?"
Raghuveer's mouth fell close at once, all his romantic mood vanishing into thin air. He might sound silly if he talks but he has absolutely zero regrets by beating him up. That idiot prince deserves it.
"He was trying to use you! I know him, he-"
"What nonsense are you talking about? He saved us!" Riya partly stopped her hand near his face as she spoke with a deep frown.
"No Riya, he will never do such a thing. I can say it for sure that he is the one who must have planned the attack, or otherwise how will he have known the exact place-"
"Oh no, stop talking." Saying Riya took his face carefully in her left hand as she slowly wiped the dirt and blood off his face, "Let's think about his intentions later as we have to deal with your face now."
"Rajkumar Ji!" Dhruvan almost screamed as he stumbled running inside the chambers crying like a baby falling near Raghuveer's feet, "Forgive me, my lord! I wasn't there for you! I was-"
"It's alright Dhruv! Are you okay?"
"I need to have a word with you." Dipankar entered the chambers speaking in a firm tone as if they have not just fought like dogs.
"Look prince, you both played enough for today, so come back tomorrow evening." Riya dropped the cloth in hand on the bed as she stood up placing a hand on her waist as if challenging him to disobey her words.
"How dare you-"
Riya let out a mirthless laugh as she walked to the prince halting his sentence abruptly. She placed her index finger on his cheek pressing it deeply and Dipankar let out a loud cry stepping backwards.
"Look at yourself! Go treat yourself and then come back for Veeru-"
"No Riya, let him talk." Raghuveer sat up slowly with a determined expression and Riya couldn't help but scoff at them. They both are not even in a position to stand but they still want to fight?
"You both are brothers for a reason. The stubbornness you share is getting on my nerves now!"
"Rajkumar Ji?" Physician Vishswanath stood outside the chambers, a cloth bag hanging around his shoulders as he looked surprised to see Dipankar there.
His white beard and wrinkled skin silently spoke about his experience in medical care and shortly after a few minutes, he opened his mouth to talk, "Prince Dipankar? What a surprise I must say."
Is this old hag trying to oil the already existing fire in the room? And Riya could feel the headache returning back as she spoke, "Who is this new character now? Isn't this drama enough for today?"
She turned around to give everyone an earful but was stunned to see Sahasthra standing behind physician Vishwanath with a fear-filled expression.
"Sahastra? What are you doing here?" Riya gulped visibly imagining her reaction when she could see Dipankar's face.
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Looks like all our couples are at Veeru's house. What do you think about this chapter?
Why do you think Sahasthra is at Raghuveer's place?
I am trying to jot down an update schedule to maintain the frequency, so please bare with me!
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