Shruti

******

"These multivitamins are essential, okay?" Simran reminded me of the prescribed medicines from the doctor who had visited our home the previous night. She had made a note of all medicines and the timing of it.

"Alright," I said before I gave her a small smile. I had memorized all the medicines and their timing already so it was no bother for me. Before leaving, she mentioned she was off to a meeting with a producer for an upcoming ad shoot. Simran was determined to make a mark in the modeling industry, and I had no doubt she'd succeed. I wished her the best of luck as the door closed behind her.

The day before, after my encounter with the sinister Prince, Luca brought me straight back to my place. As per his boss' command, he did not take me to my work. In a way, it only worked out in my favour as I had received mail from my employer that I was fired. Me not going there saved me from further humiliation but left me jobless. I had to find a new job so that I could support myself and my child. 

Luca hadn't come alone with me the preceding night; five bodyguards were assigned to ensure my safety. I couldn't really call it "security"; it felt more like captivity, and the whole situation resembled a kidnapping.

So there were three main problems I was facing: First, I was sacked from my job, two, I was almost captive in my house, and three, a certain Prince was hovering over my life like Lucifer.

Upon Lucifer's order, a doctor came to check on me and prescribed some medications, which one of the bodyguards fetched for me the evening before. I was strictly confined to the house, and if I had to go out for something extremely important, I had to wear a mask to conceal my identity and be accompanied by Luca and the bodyguards. However, the only "important" event that warranted my leaving the house was to meet the Prince, which I knew I would never concede to. To make matters worse, they had confiscated my phone and provided me with a new one, with only one contact saved: The Prince.

However, I edited the contact and saved his name Lucifer instead. He was no Prince for me.

Fortunately, I had memorized Dhriti's number, but it was frustrating to think he didn't even consider her important enough to save in the contact list. I paced around the room, feeling like a trapped animal, desperately trying to find a way out of this mess. My mind drifted back to the day when it all started, searching for any significant memories that had not faded.

With my swollen feet, I settled in the armchair in the living room and put pressure on my brain to recall the event from two months prior.

I remembered stumbling upon Justin Rodriguez and Linda in a compromising situation, leading to me shooting Justin. After that, I fled and sought refuge in a nightclub. It was there that a masked man approached me while I ordered a Martini.

Yes, the masked man. He turned out to be none other than Nicholas, a former associate of Alex who had brought me and my brother up and was responsible for our harsh and troubled upbringing. Nicholas and I had exchanged a few words that day, but I left the club after just a few minutes. Beyond that point, my memory was masked in darkness. I couldn't recall any events that transpired over the following days. Upon waking up, I discovered I was in a hotel room, and several days had already passed.

'Could Nicholas be connected to all of this?' I wondered.

However, I knew Nicholas well enough to understand that if he had been involved or had any information about my pregnancy and the father, he would have tried to exploit the situation. Considering how rapacious he was, he certainly would have demanded money in millions. That was his way of operating.

I unlocked the new phone and found a list of numbers saved in the cloud drive. I was glad the concept of cloud existed, otherwise, I would have found myself in an arduous situation. I was on the verge of dialing Nicholas' number that I found in the Excel sheet I had saved important numbers in but then hesitated.

Nicholas was a cunning individual, known for his unsavory reputation, although there were times when he proved to be quite advantageous. He was perhaps the only person who could be of help to me, but appearing too desperate might work against my favor. He had the capacity to behave like a complete Machiavellian. I pondered intensely about who could offer help, and then it struck me: the young boy from whom I had acquired the gun. Without delay, I retrieved his number from my saved Excel sheet and sent him a message, inquiring about Nicholas' whereabouts. I explained that I would settle the payment in cash within a week.

I waited anxiously for my phone to chime with a notification of his response, but it remained silent. Normally, he would reply instantly, and I began to suspect that he wasn't comfortable with my proposal to pay him a week after the job was done. He preferred immediate or same-day cash payments.

Feeling disheartened, I sank deeper into the armchair. I also had to meet my brother, and I hoped this news of chaos hadn't reached him yet. The last thing I wanted was to upset him, that too when he was not leading a free life. I missed him terribly. Night after night, I found myself in tears, yearning for his presence and seeking solace in his memory. Despite his troubled past, he had always been my steadfast and protective brother. Though he had changed and was working on getting better each day, his being with me was far from reality, a vision I knew would no sooner come true.

The sensation of isolation in this harsh world washed over me like an encroaching shadow engulfing a fragile soul. I felt myself descending further into the depths of despair, my emotions numbed by the relentless darkness. 

Suddenly, I was jolted back to reality with a knock, snapped out of the trance that had ensnared my thoughts, a dangerous game my mind had been playing with me. I attempted to regain my composure, placing my hand over my heart as the knocking grew more intense. I rolled my eyes in irritation, knowing exactly who it was supposed to be, even though it was only ten in the morning. Annoyed, I groaned and said, "Come in." Luca entered without waiting for me to open the door, as he had a spare key.

He was assigned to check on me every two hours in this unofficial form of captivity. He noticed the untouched food on the kitchen island.

"You haven't eaten anything."

"I have no appetite," I replied, absentmindedly scrolling through my phone. I wasn't even allowed to install any social media apps or any app that would connect me to the outside world. I had attempted to rebel, but each time, Luca had deleted any such apps during his check-ins.

He did not ask me to finish the food like last night, took out his phone and started to type something. His action had me alarmed and even piqued my curiosity. I straightened in my seat and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Your updates need to be sent to Signore [Sir] regularly," he replied in his distinctive Italian tone.

"Could you do me a favor and pass on another message?" I asked sweetly, my words dripping with honeyed venom. He waited for my request, and I continued, "Tell him to kindly fuck off."

"Sure," he responded with a seriousness that made it seem like he would actually convey that message. Surprisingly, he did text it and then left. I stomped my feet on the floor while sitting at the same spot, like a brat kid.

Something strange occurred that bugged me. Last night, when I had refused to eat, Luca had me FaceTime with his so-called boss, who had stubbornly stayed connected, annoying me to the point where I had to eat while he watched me without batting an eye.

What a jerk!

But right now, things happened differently, which was weird. Luca did not call him, only texted. And there was no response from his boss as if he did not give a shit whether I eat or not. For sure, something was cooking in the regal mind of the arrogant prince. Probably, he wanted me to starve so that something happens to my baby and his name clears off the mess and then he could happily marry that bitch, Alisha.

Realization dawned upon me just like a bucket of cold ice water is splashed on a deep sleeping person. In a sudden surge of horror, I swallowed hard, contemplating the various methods he might employ to rid himself of my unborn child. Instinctively, I cradled my abdomen protectively.

'Think, Shruti, think. You can't let others control you. You have to take action and save your baby.'

Running away wasn't an option. Not only was he a royal prince, but he was also an ace. He would track me down within an hour. Even though I wasn't gullible, I had to admit that the situation favored him more.

Moreover, why should I wait for his approval to eat? He seemed to think I wouldn't eat. Well, I would. Who did he think I was?

I strolled into the kitchen, perched myself on the kitchen island with my legs dangling, and uncovered the lid, allowing the tempting aroma of spaghetti pasta to waft into my nostrils. I devoured every bite and tried to simultaneously brainstorm a plan. After a few spoonfuls, I suddenly felt the urge to vomit. I hurried to the bathroom and emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl. I flushed it away and stood up with wobbly legs.

I splashed water on my face and felt a bit dizzy, so I held onto the sink for support. My brain was supposed to provide a solution to my predicament. Instead, it filled my thoughts with a craving for chocolates, even though I wasn't particularly fond of them.

Letting out a sigh, I splashed some more water on my face, patted it dry with a towel, and stared at my reflection.

Pale, alone, vulnerable.

Those three words describe me perfectly. I was sure there were women who would bring out their child alone in the world for one or the other reason, and there was nothing wrong with that. But I craved to have someone by my side, someone to rely on, someone to carry me around if I faint, someone to hold me when I feel like crying. I was not a needy woman, but years of loneliness had taken a toll on me, making me feel like a pathetic loser. I wished to have something I could never have.

LOVE.

I yearned for something I knew I'd never attain, and it felt like a harsh slap to both my physical and inner self. At that moment, I despised my own existence, gazing at my tear-streaked reflection as a single droplet escaped my left eye. It was as if my reflection was mocking me, sneering at the turmoil of my life and the potential harm I might inflict on my child due to my own troubled upbringing. The mere thought of me hurting my baby sent shivers down my spine, and I wiped away the tears. With an effort to banish negativity, I attempted a smile for the sake of my unborn child, but my attempt fell short, miserably so. I took shallow breaths, resolving to be strong, yet unsure how long I could maintain that facade of fake bravery.

Leaving the bathroom, I worked to regain my composure, applying makeup to hide my blanched appearance and disguise any evidence of my recent tears. I refused to let anyone pity me, not a soul. With unwavering determination, I stepped out of the apartment, only to find Luca standing there, as motionless as a mannequin.

"I want some chocolates," I announced to him. He gave a brief nod and began reaching for his phone. I understood his intention that he was going to order one of the bodyguards who was downstairs to bring them for me and added, "No, I want to go get them myself. I'm heading to the store across the street, and I dare you or any of the security members to interfere. I'm pretty sure Signore wouldn't appreciate it either."

He emitted a disgruntled sound from his throat but seemed ready to follow me.

The moment I stepped out into the fresh air, it felt invigorating. Despite feeling a bit weak, the simple act of being outside made me feel alive, free from the confines of being treated like a captive. Before walking out I was told to wear a mask and a cap to hide my identity. I agreed because the last thing I wanted was for people to recognize me. When in the store, I spotted a wafer chocolate, picked it up, and casually strolled through the aisles. Normally, I wouldn't enjoy aimless wandering in stores, but it was my way of getting under Luca's skin. It was my means of sending a message to his Signore that I was not a naive woman to handle. I had planned to linger a bit longer, but then my phone vibrated. I pulled it out and found a response regarding Nicholas' whereabouts. Now, all I needed to do was outsmart Luca, as I couldn't allow him to tail me. Luckily, there was another exit at the back of the shop that led through the storage area. I hastily made my way there, blending in with a group of passing teenagers, and found my way out.

******

I was inside the hospital, just like the address mentioned. I knew I would soon be caught, so I had to be quick. With an army that would have been trying to find me and with zero knowledge of the world's affairs for the past two days, I was walking on eggshells. It was a lethal path, but Nicholas was right now the only hope I looked forward to. I had concealed my face already with a mask and since it was a hospital, there was no way one could doubt a masked person. Asking the receptionist about the whereabouts of the patient Nicholas did not seem right. All I knew was he was in the ICU. There was no point in going to him. He might have been unconscious, but I did not want to take a chance. Who knew he might have been fooling someone? Finding an ICU did not seem a laborious task. As I made my way through the bustling hospital, I trailed some staff members who were carrying a stretcher and discussing the ICU and an unnamed patient in there on the second floor. I knew I would find Nicholas there.

Walking on the marbled floor as soon as I was on the second floor, I followed the sign indicating the direction to the ICU. As I hurried toward his room, I had to halt when I noticed two nurses engaged in conversation just outside. Taking a deliberate, calculated approach, I pretended to be engrossed in my phone on a nearby bench.

"Has anyone come to see him?" one nurse asked, her voice carrying a note of pity.

"No, not yet," replied the other nurse with a sigh. She added, "What's the point? He's practically a lost cause. I'm sure they've abandoned him."

The first nurse nodded, and they walked away.

My hopes were instantly dashed. I was clueless about what had happened to Nicholas, but he was the only person who could have helped me. It couldn't be a mere coincidence that when I needed his help, he was in the ICU. Having spent his life working for the mafia, I doubted he would end up in the ICU without a sinister reason. I did not consider the possibility of an accident because of my strong intuition. Lucifer could be behind this, but it did make no sense why he would do that. He was not there with me months back so there was no chance of him being the reason for Nicholas' state. Something terrible was going on and I had the itching urge to find out about it. After all, it was the matter that involved my child.

Dismayed, I exited the hospital, my key priority being to return to my place before I could be recognized or before Luca and his team could track me down. I could think of excuses on the way, but getting out of there as quickly as possible was paramount. However, within seconds, a procession of vehicles blocked my path. These weren't ordinary cars; they were all opulent vehicles belonging to the royal family. Heavily armed men swiftly exited the cars, their weapons at the ready. Then, one of them opened the door of a pristine milky white car, revealing a passenger I hadn't expected.

Green Suit, aviators covering eyes, and six feet height. 

Hair properly trimmed and immaculateness screaming from his appearance. 

His sturdy structure could have any girl swoon over him. He did not smile, though. No one had ever seen him smiling. Perhaps something to do with royal genes.

He removed his aviator glasses, and a pair of captivating green eyes came into the picture. Though he had everything to have a girl's mind blown over, he was not the owner of certain brown eyes.

"Ms. Saxena," he addressed me curtly, his voice cutting through the tension. He knew my name. I was undoubtedly in deep trouble, but I had no intention of giving in and stood my ground.

Before me stood Veer Rajvansh, a man whose very presence exuded an aura of danger. He was the elder brother of Hredhaan Rajvansh, and I couldn't help but think that things had taken a turn for the worse. Little did I know that the chaos was only beginning, and it would soon engulf me completely.

******

"Iced Latte," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, and my lips moistened instinctively. A glass of the same beverage was promptly placed in front of me on the circular table made of polished olive-green wood.

When Veer Rajvansh suggested a brief chat, I had a pretty good idea of its purpose. I could have declined, but I wasn't foolish enough to create a scene. His presence alone had drawn a crowd, with women entranced and men envious. So, I made the sensible choice and agreed. And now, here we sat in a sophisticated café I had never visited before, right in the heart of town, across from the elder Prince himself. The café's walls sported a blend of beige and teal green, and the ambiance intimidated me. I didn't appreciate how a mere café could make me feel so small and insignificant.

"I've heard this is your favorite," he remarked casually. His posture was rigid, suggesting that he had done his homework before approaching me. The café was virtually empty, and aside from the staff and his guards, no one else was present. However, none of them were within earshot of our conversation.

I took a sip of the latte to steady my nerves and then stated plainly, "This child isn't your brother's, so there's no need to be concerned about that."

"I haven't come for that, Shruti," he replied, his eyes hinting at a deeper, more complex agenda. I had hoped for a straightforward resolution, but it seemed Veer had arrived with a different plan in mind.

"I'm here to propose something," he continued, confirming my suspicion. I listened attentively, taking occasional sips of the latte to maintain my composure and remain seated without fainting.

"The chaos created will burn the royals and, more specifically, you. We will come out of it unscathed, but the same cannot be said about you."

His words kindled an intense fire within me. I had zero tolerance for threats, and that's exactly how his words felt. I rose abruptly from my seat, drawing the attention of the alarmed guards who bristled with readiness to shoot me in an instant. My voice surged as I addressed him directly.

"If you're here to threaten me, save your words. I've heard enough, and I'm well-informed. Either get to the point, or I'll leave this place. I'm pretty sure detaining or manhandling a woman isn't in a royal's playbook."

The Prince's guards were poised to take action to protect his security, but Veer silenced them with a single gesture, and they returned to their previous positions.

"Heard right about you. You are indeed zesty," he remarked, not in a mocking tone but with a hint of fascination.

"Sit down, Shruti. Hear me out first," he urged, his tone carrying an air of authority that compelled me to comply. I did so because he appeared genuinely serious.

"Do you know my brother is vying for the throne?" It was news to me. I was oblivious that Lucifer was running for the throne, to be the King. But then how would I have known? I knew as little about him as I did about Veer. At that moment, Veer read my confusion and realized I lacked knowledge about his brother's bid for the throne.

"He's the rightful candidate, but the ongoing chaos will prevent that from happening. Someone or the other would try to bring him down. We royals know how to defend themselves but you would get destroyed in the process and so will your child."

His words were nothing but facts, yet they burned through me, inflicting pain on my soul and serving as a harsh reminder of the wretched state of my life.

"There is, however, one way we can quell this chaos," he continued. I listened with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, knowing that whatever he was about to propose would likely bring even more mayhem.

"You will have to marry me."

I was stunned, shocked beyond words. My body felt like it had turned to stone, and I struggled to comprehend what he had just proposed. It wasn't until he cleared his throat to regain my attention that I managed to shake my head. The anger that had consumed me earlier seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of pitiful resignation. I felt pathetic for being caught in the schemes of two brothers—one keeping me captive, the other showing me pity when he knew nothing about my circumstances.

"I would rather face the chaos head-on, even if it means burning in its fire. I do know how to protect my child," I replied with seething determination.

He let out a sigh as if he had anticipated my response. My eyes stung, but I refused to let the tears spill. My anger had momentarily masked the feeling of vulnerability that now resurfaced.

"The proposal doesn't come without its benefits for you. I always offer equitable deals. If you marry me, I will ensure your brother's release from prison. Not only that, he will be under my protection, and no harm will come to him. The choice is entirely yours."

It felt as though someone had yanked me out of the ocean when I was drowning, only to thrust me back into the turbulent waters, watching me struggle for my life. It was as if life itself was enjoying watching me battle to survive. Everything and everyone I cared about was being exploited as weaknesses against me. My baby and my brother had become pawns, and I felt utterly helpless.

"I understand that this is overwhelming. You don't have to give me an immediate answer. Take your time to consider where your best interests lie," he said calmly. I continued to stare at him with a blank expression as he added, "I've always heard that you're a woman who makes smart choices. I trust you'll make one this time as well."

Veer rose from his seat, instructing a few of his guards to ensure my safe return to my place before he departed, leaving his card with me. I had received a proposal whose every clause charred my soul.