By

Taylor Swift

🤍🤍🤍

THERE'S A TARGET SET FOR THE RELEASE OF CHAPTER 14.

Early update because you all gave me beautiful 200 comments❤️

▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️

JODHPUR

"Wow."I whispered dumbly as soon as I stepped out of the car, admiring the beauty of the Ranas' Residence, lovingly named Durga Palace by the local inhabitants, even the main road in front of their majestic haveli was named Durga Marg.

I adjusted my simple long mint coloured Anarkali suit and looked behind me, only to see Ranaji's mother smiling warmly at me, "Welcome home,beta." She murmured lovingly, while wiping away her tears, making me hug her gently. "Thank you." I mumbled softly against her straight black hair, my own voice getting heavy with emotions.

Ranaji's father cleared his throat, making us pull away, "Lalita you made our daughter in law cry." He admonished Mrs Rana amusedly, a big smile etched on his face, making me chuckle out loud whereas Mrs Rana playfully shoved her laughing husband.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed my fiancé, looking authoritative and majestic like his house, in his staple tailored dark blue coloured suit, surrounded by his guards, giving out instructions, with his hands tucked casually in his pocket while his lion like eyes were covered by his dark aviators, oozing power and authority effortlessly.

A young girl dressed in red ghahra choli, carrying the thaal for aarti, rushed towards the huge majestic hand carved wooden door of the Durga palace, where we stood patiently under the shade of black umbrellas, thanks to Ranaji's guards who stood behind us, holding them above our heads. An old lady who followed the girl took the aarti thaal from her hand and motioned me to come forward with a blank face, making me look at Lalita aunty awkwardly who gently encouraged me forward, her light brown eyes same as her son, shining with excitement.

I kept my head bowed slightly, staring pointedly at my feet as soon as Ranaji came and stood beside me upon his mother's insistent coercion, the fresh Woodsy fragrance of his cologne, hitting me full on, making me more aware of his intimidating presence next to me. The old lady after the Aarti and removing our nazar, threw whatever that she used for the process in a black bowl of fire, making my eyes go wide in shock and unconsciously clutch Ranaji's hand for support.

"It's okay." I heard his deep commanding voice beside my ear, making me nod weakly and leave his hand instantly as if burned, stepping away from him. The old lady with a bow motioned us to enter with her wrinkled thin arms, Ranaji again proved to be an honourable man when he made his mother enter the house with me while he walked in protectively behind us with his father.

Contrary to the intimidating majestic exterior of the haveli, the golden and white interior was warm and inviting, the wall along the grand staircase was filled with family photographs and antique paintings. I looked around the house, my fingers caressing the miniature cannon lined with real gold.

"Let me help you settle down and later I will give you the tour." Lalita Aunty materialised next to me, startling me a little and pulling away my hand from the cannon.

I nodded meekly and gave her a small smile, "As expected your Ranaji went to work and took my husband also along with him."she complained out loud teasingly while shooing away the servants with her hands and pulling me behind her gently. My mind remained fixated on the fact that how good your Ranaji sounded but as soon as the thought came I brushed it away with the shake of my head, recollecting yesterday's memory.

"You will be staying in the east wing which is specifically designed for the guests as ordered by Brigadier Saab." Lalita Aunty informed me while pushing open the door of a beautiful large room with rich red and black interior, "this was the room I stayed in before getting married to Vikram." She murmured absently, making me look at her dazed happy expression with a smile of my own.

"Thank you so much aunty." I whispered sincerely and hugged her yet again, missing my parents badly. I felt her chuckle and pat my back lovingly, "Chalo go and rest, mera bacha. I will see you for tea later in the evening and if you need anything then the servants are present right outside your door and of course you can call me."she whispered against my ear, swaying me back and forth in her arms playfully while instructing the two female servants to set my wardrobe firmly.

**********

I combed my long black hair mindlessly while staring at my reflection in the wall sized mirror present inside the walk in closet, I was getting ready for bed after having a pleasant early dinner with Ranaji's parents, feeling a little low as Ranaji refused to join us, busy in his study with large amount of people coming in to meet him.

As soon as Lalita Aunty left, I laid down and fell asleep within seconds and dreamt about some vague terrible things which to my frustration I wasn't able to remember clearly and then Ranaji's absence really affected me despite my determination of remaining formal and aloof. With a resigned sigh I placed the wooden brush against the vanity and padded towards the bed, desperate to hear my parents' voice.

A soft knock against the door thwarted my plans, making me take a deep calming breath and chant positive affirmation inside my head, "Please Come in." I called out loud while settling down at the foot of my bed, expecting some servant but to my shock Rana Jai Singh himself, stood in my doorway, still wearing his pristine dark blue suit but his thick dark hair were tousled and pushed back carelessly.

"Can we talk?" He asked me politely upon noticing my startled expression, his one hand holding onto the wooden door while he was carrying an envelope in his other hand. I nodded and got up from the bed awkwardly while trying my hardest to maintain a cool careless exterior.

Ranaji gave me a brief look while entering my room which I wasn't able to analyse as I was fixated on the fact that he deliberately kept my bedroom door ajar, making me clench my teeth in irritation.

"The list of best open universities that you can choose from, my team shortlisted these as they are not so demanding and you will be able to work in my office." He informed me all business like and handed over the khaki Manila envelope to me, making me clutch it against my front awkwardly.

I continued staring at a small spot on the wall behind his shoulder, stubbornly refusing to look at him. I twiddled my toes nervously and pressed the envelope protectively against my front, "Thank you." I murmured softly and smiled politely, my nature not allowing me to be rude.

I heard Ranaji sigh out loud and run his fingers through his hair frustratedly, "Fine......we will leave tomorrow at 8AM." He grumbled and was about to storm out of the room but I grabbed his wrist swiftly, "I will not commute with you." I told him hesitantly while looking down at the simple gold band shining proudly from his ring finger, I curbed the urge to caress the piece of jewellery symbolising our union with an iron fist.

"Excuse me?"Ranaji retorted, his voice growing icier with each passing second. "I don't want your staff to gossip."I stated nervously, not wanting to disrespect his generous offer. Ranaji chuckled dryly and tugged me towards him, taking me by surprise which led me to place my hands against the white expensive fabric covering the broad expanse of his muscular chest for support, my soft front pressed against the hard muscular contours of his strong well toned body. I simply closed my eyes and clenched my fists, refusing to fall for his charms and was about to push back but his arms snaked around my waist, making me gasp out loud and place my forehead against the base of his neck.

"8AM, Siya."he reiterated smoothly while bending down to whisper against my ear, his minty breath blowing against my ear and his thick dark locks caressing my cheek. His hand playing with the ends of my long hair while his other hand kept me firmly pressed against his front, making me nod dumbly my mind going all mushy.

Satisfied with my response, he turned his face sideways and pressed his lips against my cheek softly, "Good girl." He murmured appreciatively while making me sit on the bed and storm out of the room, I continued sitting with my hands clutching the sheets, reminding myself to breath evenly, still dazed with the onslaught of his sudden intoxicating tenderness and charm.

*********

The next morning Siya Rajput sat down next to Lalita Rana for breakfast , looking extremely fresh and beautiful in a front cut long sheer white kurti and blue denims, her long black tresses tied in a low loose pony tail, the ends brushing against the curve of her hips enticingly.

"Namaste." Siya greeted the husband-wife respectfully but with enough exuberance to make them both smile broadly at her, their hearts bursting with happiness for having selected such a nice girl for their only child. Lalita Rana gave a quick peck against her cheek, making her blush and smile broadly while Vikram Rana ordered the servant standing next to their table at a distance to serve their daughter in law.

"It's okay...I just want to have a toast with a cup of tea." She brushed away the servant respectfully while serving herself shyly, not comfortable with such extravagant attention and luxury.

A quick soft caress against her cheek, made her drop her toast on her plate and look sideways, "Morning." Rana Jai Singh greeted his parents and sat down next to his blushing fiancée, ignoring the empty chair at the head of the table.

With his authoritative aura and cool confidence, his mere name was enough to command obedience and attention, the servants started serving him his protein rich bland breakfast, making Siya frown and butter her toast generously. "Go easy on my daughter, CM." Vikram Rana commanded his son playfully, making Siya smile cheekily at him.

"Yes beta and both of you will have lunch together." Lalita Rana continued after her husband and gave her now glaring son a pointed look. "Siya his bark is scarier than his bite, so make sure that you stand up against him."his father continued provoking his angel, making him grimace tightly, he simply grabbed her hand and walked out of the hall while pulling her behind him. He shook his head upon hearing his father's booming laughter and his mother's soft admonishment.

Siya Rajput tried matching his fast pace and clutched his wrist that was holding her other other hand imprisoned, "I need to get my bag." She told him meekly as Ranaji turned around and arched his brow questioningly, his gorgeously sculpted face turned a little less stoic upon seeing her exotic dark eyes staring pleadingly up at him and with her pink full lips arranged in an unconscious pout. She tugged her hand away gently and almost ran to get her bag, not wanting to agitate him further.

Rana Jai Singh simply walked up to his white Rolls Royce Ghost, covering his eyes with his dark aviators and buttoning up his black coat. He took the keys from his trusted driver, "Get the Mercedes out, you will drop the girl at the office." He commanded sternly while sliding behind the wheel without waiting for a response and raced away from the Durga Palace while his angel stared at his speeding car with a confused look on her face and her simple white cotton tote bag clutched tightly in her hands.

▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️

So please VOTE,COMMENT and SHARE as much as you can, it will take only a few seconds but will give me loads of happiness and motivation to keep working hard.

Thank you for reading ❤️