"Remind yourself that

you cannot fail at being

yourself"

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Surprise!

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"Thank you for the ride." Khushi mumbled softly while getting out of the car, she smiled and waved at us, standing in front of her house.

I waved back and gave her a bright smile while Ranaji simply put his car in motion.

I shifted a little in my seat and placed my head against the window, feeling a little tired, "Do you want me to take you home directly or you want to stop by somewhere else?"Ranaji asked me gently while staring straight ahead, I simply turned my face to look at him, "Icecream." I answered brightly, I saw a small smile appear around the corner of his mouth, "Icecream it is then." He murmured amusedly and headed back towards the mall road while picking up his phone.

"Which flavour?" He asked me while pressing his phone against his ear, driving single-handedly, completely at ease. "Strawberry." I whispered softly as he was on call, making him laugh a little.

"Gowrish uncle can you arrange a strawberry sundae for me?Get it packed and send it to my car.....the earlier spot only." He instructed someone confidently and parked his car under the shade of the same tree smoothly.

"We can go and get it ourselves.....giani's is just fifteen minutes away from here." I told him hesitantly, not wanting to trouble his employee who must be busy with more important tasks.

Ranaji shook his head, "I can't go out without security and it's no big deal."he replied and removed his aviators. "Then why didn't you order something for yourself?" I asked him curiously, turning my body fully towards him.

"I avoid sugar as much as I can." He told me, patiently and looked at me, assessing my reaction with his golden brown eyes. I bit my lip and nodded, "because of some.....medical condition?" I probed further, not being able to digest the fact, how can someone say no to icecream.

"No, I just avoid it."he murmured amusedly, continuously staring at me, it was honestly making it difficult for me to hold a sensible conversation with him, so I simply started staring straight ahead, avoiding his gaze altogether.

" I saw your Instagram profile today." I started, trying to keep my voice normal after-all searching someone's social media is completely normal.

"And?" He probed me this time after a few seconds of silence, "You don't handle your own Instagram account, right?"I asked him softly and turned to look at him. Ranaji shook his head, "I have a team who manages all of my social media handles." He answered slowly, not understanding the direction of my conversation.

"Hmm." I murmured softly, reading his confused expression. I nodded, falling short of words for the first time in my life so I simply turned my face away and continued staring outside, counting butterflies in my head to prevent myself from tapping my feet in nervousness.

A man simply tapped Ranaji's side of the window, carrying my ice-cream in his hands, I mentally thanked god for saving me from the interrogation that was about to start after my abrupt silly question. Ranaji simply took my icecream box and passed it to me, waving the man away.

He sat next to me with his eyes closed and head leaned back, a peaceful expression on his face while I took a spoonful of my strawberry goodness and observed his beautiful sharp features, my hands itching to sketch him and capture this rare unguarded moment. I noticed that his thick brown hair were pushed back carelessly, adding onto his rugged dangerous look. He was not a conventional handsome guy like a Disney prince, he actually looked like a real life prince with sharp features and an aura that simply demands respect and attention.

Suddenly I was looking right into his golden brown eyes that were staring back at me, making me turn my head away instantly, " You are unusually quiet today." Ranaji murmured softly, I felt his fingers under my chin, gently turning my face towards him, so that I was under the direct scrutiny of his sharp eyes.

"I don't want to disturb you." I told him quietly, getting lost in his beautiful eyes, I could really spend all day staring into his magnificent light brown almost golden eyes, they were so unusual but also very intimidating.

Ranaji smiled upon hearing my timid response and shook his head, "You can never disturb me, Siya. You are my responsibility now and I take my responsibility very seriously." He stated firmly, looking deep into my eyes and letting me see his firm resolve.

I sighed and shook my head, "Let's take a picture together." I suggested cheerfully, lightening up the atmosphere. Ranaji upon hearing this simply raised his brows, I could see amusement lurking in his eyes, "Go ahead." He humoured my childish attempt of diverting the conversation and offered his latest iphone to me, making me give him a bright smile.

I turned myself in the opposite direction, trying to find the perfect angle but to my embarrassment , I kept squirming in my seat in vain. In the meantime Ranaji sat patiently behind me like a gentleman, "Thank you for everything." I told him sincerely, feeling much comfortable in this position, I knew that my little crush on Ranaji was developing into something else entirely but how could it not?

"Smile." Ranaji whispered huskily and leaned forward, extending his arm and pressing the click button, he didn't touch me but his close proximity was enough for me to turn bright red and smile like a doofus, staring at us. Next to me, Ranaji looked so composed and confident, clicking our picture and making me move my hand, finding the perfect angle, not even making me realise that he completely ignored my earlier statement.

**********

Rana Jai Singh stared at the beautiful girl sitting next to him, savouring her ice cream with a childlike enthusiasm, this was the first time he bought ice cream for a woman and saw her get this excited. "Do you want to try it?" Siya offered a spoonful of her strawberry goodness to him, her dark eyes twinkling with excitement.

Jai shook his head in denial, expecting her to insist further like any other person but Siya simply shrugged her shoulders and continued eating, respecting his choice. "I simply can't resist icecream." Siya told him as a matter of fact and looked up at him to make sure he was listening.

"I can see that." He answered amusedly,leaning his head back again but this time he continued staring at her, noticing her get back to her usual cheerful self. "So tell me something about yourself that I don't already know." She demanded freely oblivious to his heated gaze, she continued eating her ice cream while waiting for his reply.

"I did my Master of politics and economy from Dartmouth." Jai replied mechanically, not really paying attention to the conversation, he was too caught up in observing her enthusiasm which was like a breath of fresh air for him, this was the first time he was enjoying unwinding with a girl.

"I did my bachelors from Saint Bede's College." He heard her response, his eyes fixated on the dark stray lock that escaped her long ponytail and was teasing her face. "so how is London?" Siya asked him, deliberately keeping her voice casual but Jai could make out her genuine curiosity with the way she continued stealing glances at him, making him smile.

"It's just like any other cosmopolitan city but recklessly expensive." He replied dryly, still distracted by the stray lock, this time he couldn't help but extend his arms to tuck it away behind her ear. He could literally feel the blush creeping up her cheeks, making him groan out loud, wrenching his hand away as if on fire, closing his eyes and praying for control from everything holy in the world.

He could hear his heart beat faster and faster, to his surprise he felt a soft feathery touch against his cheek which made him close his eyes, inhaling her rosy floral smell now mixed with strawberry and keeping his fists clenched together tightly. Jai felt her place her hands hesitantly against his shoulder, trying to maintain her balance which made him automatically wrap his fingers around her delicate bicep, "Siya." He let out the breath he was holding and eased her back into her seat, refusing to acknowledge the embarrassed look on her face.

*****

I already warned you to be careful with what you ask from me." I heard him state angrily, I could make out that he was struggling for control himself from his rigid posture, clenched fists that were almost turning white but most importantly his usually golden brown eyes were now staring down at me frostily.

"I can either be your mentor or lover." He rebuked me coldly, making me look down and stare intently at my intertwined hands resting against my lap, I resisted the urge to cry, feeling extremely embarrassed and hurt, I was surprised by my own actions, when i felt him pull away from me earlier, my body instantly reacted with a mind of its own.

"Please take me home." I muttered under my breath in a small voice not sure if my voice audible , the soft purr of the engine was all the reply Ranaji gave to my demand. I could feel his mounting fury and formidable silence the entire way home, I wanted to break this sudden tension between us but cowardice kept me rooted to my spot, staring outside with my lips still tingling with the memory of his warm slightly rough cheek due to his light stubble.

Ranaji parked his car a little away from my home, I expected him to speak but he continued sitting silently, staring straight ahead with his jaw clenched. so I murmured a small thank you and turned around to leave, only to see my door get locked abruptly and his strong finger manacle around my wrist, whipping me around to face him.

Ranaji gave me a gentle tug, resting his forehead against mine and closing his eyes, i continued staring at his now composed face, his emotions hidden behind the mask of civility which I was getting to recognise now. "I am sorry." I finally grumbled through my teeth after victoriously finding my voice.

"There's nothing to apologise....I should have been more responsible." He brushed away my apology, his voice irritatingly polite and formal while gently caressing my back with his hands and swaying me back and forth.

It was then I felt the moisture beneath my eyes, making me bite my lips and fist his soft black sweater tightly to control myself.

"Siya I gave your father my word, I can't be your lover and mentor simultaneously. I gave you the choice remember.....I even warned you goddamn it."He almost growled, his arms tightening around me, I simply threw my arms around his neck and tucked my face under his chin, crying softly, that was all I could do after all he did warn me.

Ranaji simply caressed my hair and pulled me on his lap fully, letting me hug him tightly, "We have to be careful, there is this thin line, drawn by your father between us which we have to respect until we are married......or you can still change your mind and we can go about this the conventional way." he tried placating me tenderly while wiping away my tears.

I nodded and took a deep breath to compose myself and tried to give him my brightest smile, "I want to build a better foundation of my life first.....I own this to myself." I informed him softly and eased myself into my seat.

Ranaji simply unlocked the car upon hearing my decision, his eyes still assessing and calculating but behind all this I noticed that there was pride and admiration in his eyes which made me quietly turn around,facing the door, "Can you please call papa and tell him that I was with you?" I requested him softly and without waiting for his response left the car with a broad smile etched on my face which I tried shaking off with no success.

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Let's do three updates a week, I will publish chapter 10 this Sunday only and then give me at least three to four days so that I can type the chapters.

I will announce the date of my next update on my message board only, so stay tuned:)

Thank you for reading

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