99

-Jane Austen-

Pride and Prejudice

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(Officially)

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Siya was sitting at a bench in front of the famous Christ Church, waiting for her childhood friend Khushi. She observed the families clicking pictures and children riding horses, blowing bubbles with a smile on her face. She was feeling like her old self after a very long time, she replayed the events of last night.

Last night Ranaji dropped her home and as promised headed for her father's small study after greeting her mother, the the two men locked themselves in the office, her mother joined them with tea and refreshments, leaving Siya sitting all alone anxiously in her room, praying frantically for Ranaji's success in convincing her father for late marriage.

It was around midnight when the soft purr of Ranaji's car startled her awake, she hurriedly rushed and peeked outside her window only to catch a glimpse of Ranaji's car, speeding away from her driveway. She then very softly tiptoed downstairs and saw her mother keeping away the dishes in the kitchen, "Ranaji just left.....he made some very unusual demands tonight, I am guessing you know everything about this?" Mrs Rajput questioned her beautiful daughter who simply walked in and pushed herself up on the kitchen slab, "Was papa convinced?"she asked her mother indirectly saying yes to her question.

Mrs Rajput without looking at her daughter smiled, "He is not happy about it but he has agreed.....after all Ranaji gave us his word to take care of you no matter what, he eased all of our worries, so your papa had no choice but to say yes." She replied happily and threw her arms around her shocked daughter who was sitting with her mouth wide open, "Mera bacha, you will do your post graduation from Rajasthan and will work as an intern under Ranaji only......I am so happy for you." Siya heard her mother whisper gleefully, she finally smiled, absorbing the news and pulled back a little to stare at her mother abruptly, "So I am not getting married?"she murmured dumbly, wanting to hear it from her mother directly.

"You will get engaged this Friday but your papa has agreed to let you decide the marriage date whenever you feel you are ready."Mrs Rajput informed her daughter who nodded excitedly and tightly wrapped her in a tight hug, making her laugh out loud.

"Thank you for meeting me, your highness."Khushi's voice pulled her out of her trance and Siya looked up at her angry friend who was glaring down at her. "I am sorry, I was a little busy these past few days, "She apologised sheepishly, feeling genuinely bad for neglecting her sweet friend during all this chaos.

"Doing what exactly?"Khushi asked her, ignoring her apology, refusing to let go of her anger without a valid explanation. Siya ignoring her friend's anger simply pulled her in a tight hug, inhaling her fruity floral sweet smell that almost smelled like home to her. She made her slightly annoyed friend sit next to her, " I am getting engaged this Friday and going to Rajasthan for my post graduation....also I will do my internship under the chief minister of Rajasthan." I laid out the headlines in front of her quickly and then waited patiently for her to absorb this abrupt information.

I expected her to yell or scream but Khushi continued staring at me, blinking dumbly at me, "huh?" She finally retorted and frowned, probing me for more details. With a sigh I started narrating my meeting with Ranaji from the beginning, Khushi very patiently heard my entire story without interrupting me even once.m

********

"Wow!"she finally exclaimed, her eyes still wide with shock but I could see a bright smile spreading on her face, "Why is your father so eager to marry you off? I mean, Mr Rajput is strict but you are still very young.....not that I am not happy, you finally have a man in your life."she murmured and ran her fingers through her short pixie hair, she placed her bag on my lap, trying to control her tears.

I simply hugged her bag tightly, "I have no clue but the good thing is that I am not getting married for at least a couple of years." I replied softly, keeping my volume down. I observed my tough friend who was looking up at the sky, trying to control her tears,"Damn... I will miss you,mouse." She grumbled her voice heavy with emotions, my lips wobbled upon seeing her breakdown and I hugged her tightly. I heard her chuckle nervously, "you better call me daily and don't you dare forget about me , I will personally come and beat your ass." She growled and wiped her face against my white shirt, making me groan and pull away from her, " Khushi!" I moaned and wiped my shirt, my silly friend simply laughed and stared at me with a smile on her face.

I was trying to not think about the going away part as I didn't want to cry more, Ranaji was kind enough to find a loop hole for me to delay this marriage situation and offer such amazing professional opportunity, I was determined to focus on the positive side and not make the situation more tough on anyone.

"Anyways, the most important question, do you like him?"khushi asked me gravely and placed both her hands on my shoulder, scrutinising my every action. I laughed out loud and nodded, "I still don't believe my luck, he is a true gentleman......so respectful and kind." I answered sincerely, suddenly missing him a little.

"Also unusually handsome for a chief minister." Khushi added and winked naughtily, making me sway her shoulder lightly. "Have you seen him?" I asked her curiously to which Khushi gave me a dirty look, "Mouse I know your general knowledge is bad and you live in your own little Disney world but babe he is a chief minister, of course I know about him."Khushi muttered and shook her head, her voice dripping with sarcasm,I simply rolled my eyes ,"it's okay." I mumbled defensively, not being able to think of a better response. I started deleting random mails, trying to avoid looking at my best friend...like her Ranaji must have thought the same about me when I didn't recognise him initially I thought to myself and groaned inwardly, feeling stupid.

Suddenly Khushi snatched my phone and opened my Instagram, "Khushi what are you doing?" I asked her while leaning towards her to peek at my phone, so that I could see what she was doing. To my absolute horror she searched Ranaji's profile which was verified and followed him within seconds, making me gasp out loud, "what did you do!" I whisper yelled and tried snatching my phone, ignoring the weird looks of the people passing us.

"Siya, oh my god...he knows the royal family of Jodhpur and Shekhawati.....look he is following the crown king of Jodhpur who I heard got recently married with a commoner and the insanely handsome prince of Shekhawati." Khushi swooned, her eyes dreamy and bright, my tough friend was almost blushing.

I shook my head at her antics and scrolled his professionally handled profile, I noticed he was following just nine people, out of which three profiles were of his party which I instantly followed, wanting to know more about his professional life. He was also following his mother, Lalita Rana; Kabir veer Singh rathod; viraaj Singh shekhawat; maya Singh shekhawat; Rudra Singh tanvar, I wondered who he was; and Amaira Singh Rathod.

"I am guessing that maya Singh shekhawat and Amaira Singh Rathod are the sisters of the two crown monarchs?" I asked Khushi who was swaying back and forth with a stupid smile on her face, instantly I googled Ranaji, cursing myself for not doing this earlier.

Khushi placed her head against my shoulder and let out a deep breath, " Uh huh.....Rudra Singh Tanvar is an oil industrialist, philanthropist and is almost disgustingly loaded......you are one lucky girl, Siya Rajput."she whistled, making me gasp and look down at her, "Shut up Khushi, I don't care about these people....you know this." I whispered softly and kept my phone aside, not wanting to read any further. I do rather have Ranaji tell me all this himself without me stalking him online like a crazy girlfriend.

"Hey did you thank your Ranaji?"khushi asked me out of the blue, making me frown and shook my head. "Then thank him already after all he is doing so much for you, I am sure it must have been a mammoth task to convince your father for a late marriage."she murmured as a matter of fact and stared pointedly at my phone, making me groan, " Khushi he must be busy...... I will thank him in person later."I tried changing her mind, not wanting to pester Ranaji again and again.

"Just text him na..."khushi continued badgering me, I knew that my stubborn friend will not let this go. So I gave in, begrudgingly and texted him a small thank you with a white heart emoji, not expecting an instant reply from him. Khushi whooped with excited laughter and I stared at his reply with my eyes wide.

🦁

"Mouse, you actually saved his number as Ranaji that too with a lion emoji, are you serious?"Khushi guffawed while staring at my phone, making me turn bright red, " Khushi please, don't." I groaned, feeling bashful all of a sudden, my mouth almost hurting because of the permanent silly smile etched on my face.

*********

I saw Ranaji's white car, parked at a secluded area under the shade of a huge tree. Beside me khushi adjusted her small hair and let out a nervous laughter, " I can't believe I am meeting Rana Jai Singh." She mumbled under her breath, "Same." I replied nervously, staring straight ahead at his white car and grabbed Khushi's hand, feeling a little shy.

Ranaji stepped out of his car as soon as he saw us, looking casual for the first time in his white turtleneck sweater and black denims, his predatory eyes hidden behind his Ray-ban aviators, looking like a movie star rather than a politician. Next to me Khushi discreetly shook my hand but I continued staring ahead, " Ladies." Ranaji greeted us smoothly, making Khushi giggle shyly.

"Please meet my best friend Khushi Rai."I murmured nervously and took a slight step back, "Hello, I am also your sister in law." Khushi stated confidently and extended her hand, ranaji gave her a polite smile and shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you." Ranaji replied softly and gave her courteous smile like a true gentleman, "can I drop you ladies home?" Ranaji asked us while looking only at Khushi and ignoring my presence completely. Khushi let out a nervous laughter, not immune to the charisma of Rana Jai Singh after all.

"I can walk....my house is just around the corner."she murmured bashfully and tightened her hold on my hand. "I can't let my sister in law walk now, Can I?" Ranaji retorted and held open the back door of his car, making Khushi chuckle and mumble a small thank you while getting inside his car, making me raise my brows in shock.

"Do I have to convince you also?" Ranaji asked me teasingly and extended his hand towards me, invitingly. I stared at him dumbfounded, placing my hand against his and shaking my head. Ranaji gave my hand a gentle tug so that I was standing right next to him, our bodies almost touching, "your welcome." He whispered softly, his woody cologne teasing my senses, making me crane my neck up and give him a full on goofy grin.

🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Immense gratitude.

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Thank you for everything.

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