NARRATOR'S P.O.V

The scorching hot and dry days of the summer in Rajasthan. The parched earth seemed to plead to be drenched in water. The reptiles hiding in the burrows awaited for a splash of water. Life in the desert is outright direful and parlous. The blistering heat and blazing sand, which is so torrid that it might smoulder the soles of the one who took a flyer to step on it bare foot. Besides the unavailability of water only results in exacerbating the situation. For miles and miles, one can only descry bupkis but sand dunes. And how can we fail to remember the dust storms which are famed to intercept the travellers from reaching their destination. Howbeit the people living in the arid regions have got used to the blazing hot desert. They have deviced some quirky yet effective ways to withstand the scorching heat and dust storm. Howbeit if you are fortunate enough, you would be able to discover an oasis or simply a water hole. Nevertheless majority of the time, people just have an optical illusion, generally termed as mirage. Besides the only verdure in existence in the desert is the cactus, acacia and a few more, hence making the life awfully parlous.

Hunchback and chirag stood alongside the females inside the room of the King of Jaisalmer. The females had veiled their faces and were giggling. Samrat stood near the foot of the bed, gazing at his beauteous Queen who slept soundly on the bed. Her right hand draped on her tummy while other hand was lying near her head. Her snores were barely audible. Samrat smiled as he behold her, she was flawless. With her milky white skin, her pink full lips, rosy cheeks, petite and fragile body, silky hairs, small hands, slightly puffy cheeks which he longed to squeeze and last but not the least her innocence which drives him to the verge of insanity.
"Awwwww she is so bewitching. " hunchback's pesky voice disrupted him from beholding his baby doll. Samrat glared at him.
"Will you stop staring at her, moron. " samrat said clenching his fist. He just couldn't abide any other male catching even a glimpse of her. She was his, just his. The only man who will get to behold her will be him.
"Brother stop being so proprietorial. Her beauty won't blemish if anyone will see her. Besides what's the benefit of having a beauteous Queen when you just can't show off her. " hunchback opined, trying to knock some sense in his obsessive and proprietorial cousin.
"Do you believe that I will listen to you. " Samrat asked folding his arms. Hunchback sighed and chirag cackled.
"Of course not brother, but at least try to hear me once. Look brother you just can't keep her fettered inside your room forever. Everybody deserves freedom and so does she. You should just stop being so obsessive and propreitorial. " hunchback said. Prior to samrat could respond, a soft moan caught his attention. He glanced at the bed to find nandini peacefully snoozing with a smile. She stirred a bit on the bed though. He smiled.
"Awwwwwww......." hunchback couldn't complete as the Mafia King glared at him. Hunchback sighed.
"Fine. I am not looking at her. " he said irked as he directed his gaze away.
"Boss the Chawla will arrive shortly, I reckon that we should keep the guns ready. " chirag said. Samrat nodded.
"I hate that chawla. " hunchback scowled. Samrat rolled his eyes.
"As if he loves you. " chirag chortled, so did samrat. Hunchback rolled his eyes. Samrat looked at the females.
"Do not disturb her, let her sleep as much as she wants, ok. And when she wakes up inform me right away. Am I clear, now get out. " he ordered the females. They egress out of the room. Samrat kissed her forehead and looked at her for one last time before switching off the lights and exiting the room.

Nandini woke up at 9:00 am in the morn. She slowly opened her eyelids. The moment she opened her eyes she was greeted with utter darkness as the lights of the room were off. She strained her eyes peering into the gloom. Howbeit a sudden bang from her right caught her attention. She peered in the right to find a lanky yet with a decent amount of muscle, man standing near the bookcase holding a knife. The man began to advance towards her and she backed away terrified. Tears started to form in her eyes. When the man was just a few steps away from the bed she shrieked. She buried her face in her hands and screamed harder. A minute later the room's door burst open and the lights turned on. She peeked through the tiny gap between her fingers to find samrat rushing towards her, followed by hunchback and chirag.
"Baby what happened.!!! " samrat asked anxiously as he dashed towards her. He sat near her and she hugged him. He was taken aback by her actions yet was contented with it. She was in his arms, that's all he had ever wanted. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed.
"Nanu what happened.!!! Please tell me. " samrat asked, softly patting her head. She sobbed more.
"Their.......a.......man........knife. " she hiccuped whilst sobbing. Samrat couldn't apprehend anything.
"Stop crying my love. Just tell me what happened.!!! Don't get scared. " he said as he hugged her protectively. She gulped, afraid.
"I saw........a.......a...man. He was.......holding......a knife......he will hurt....me. " she sniffled adorably in his arms, pointing her finger at the bookcase. Samrat glanced at the bookcase to find no one.
"Shhhhhh.!!! Stop crying, there is no one. " he said softly, wiping her tears. She shook her head.
"No there was a man. He......he was tall and skinny...." she sniffled. Samrat beckoned chirag to see if someone is hiding behind the bookcase. Chirag nodded and sprinted towards the bookcase. He directed his gaze all around yet no one was to be located. Howbeit his eyes landed on the floor to find something. He looked up at the Mafia King.
"Boss can you kindly come here for a moment. " chirag requested. Samrat nodded. But prior to he could stood up, nandini grabbed his hand in her little ones.
"Please don't leave me alone. He.....will kill me. " she sobbed, clutching his hand tightly. He endeavour to resist the urge to kiss her right away as she looked too damn adorable.
"No one can even touch you, I promise. " he said as he kissed her forehead and stood up, proceeding towards chirag.
"Boss, queen is right. Their was a man here. See this. " chirag whispered as he showed him a shred of velvety cloth. Samrat observed the shred of cloth closely. The fabric seemed to be that of a suit.
"How dare he enter into my room without my knowledge. " samrat said, clenching his fist.
"I don't know boss. I reckon that we should increase the security. " chirag proposed.
"Hmm. I think you are correct. Chirag it's now your responsibility to increase the security and chiefly outside my room. And I will make sure that nanu is not alone even for a moment. " he said folding his arms. Chirag nodded.
"Brother I know who was that. " hunchback said. Samrat turned back in shock.
"Than why didn't you apprise us. What were you awaiting, Diwali. " samrat scowled. Hunchback gulped.
"Brother it was a ghost. You know since we had met that green eyed man in Viraj's house, I have started to feel a presence around me. I know it's a ghost. " hunchback said as his face turned pale as an outcome of sheer terror. Samrat rolled his eyes.
"Halfwit. " chirag muttered. Samrat walked towards nandini who was adorably sniffling. He cupped her face.
"As long as I am alive, nothing will happen to you. I will always protect you." he whispered, kissing her forehead. She looked into his eyes that manifested honesty, obsession and desperation.
"Where is my 'Hanuman Chalisa'. " hunchback wailed as he dashed outside the room. Samrat chuckled and nandini giggled.

"Who could it be??? " Samrat muttered, as he racked his brain to find the reprobate who had the nerve to set foot inside his room in the absence of his cognizance.
"Boss I opine that it could be Kabir, owing to the fact that he is head over heels in love with the queen. " chirag said. Samrat shook his head.
"No he is already locked up in the dungeon. He can't do it. Besides the manner the man had entered and escaped the room, it could only be done by a person who is aware of every corner of the castle quite well. Because it is impossible for an outlander to enter inside the palace without getting caught. I presume that it was someone from the palace itself. " Samrat said folding his arms. Chirag nodded.
"Than who could it be boss. " chirag asked.
"We'll have to find out, chirag. " samrat said clenching his jaw. Meantime hunchback's strident voice reached their ears. He entered inside and sat on the floor far away from them.
"jaya hanumāna gyāna guna sāgara।
jaya kapīsa tihu loka ujāgara॥ 1 ॥" hunchback sang in his grating voice. Samrat rolled his eyes.
"Hunch........" hunchback cut in.
"rāma dūta atulita bala dhāmā।
anjani putra pavanasuta nāmā॥ 2 ॥" hunchback continued to sing in his ear-piercing voice. Samrat clenched his fist.
"mahāvīra vikrama..........." prior to hunchback could sing further, chirag slapped his hand on hunchback's mouth.
"Not even a single word more, shithead. " chirag said with gritted teeth. Hunchback scowled.
"Nullifidian, why don't you let me read the Hanuman chalisa. Don't you know there are phantoms in the palace. " hunchback wailed like a toddler. Samrat slapped his hand on his forehead.
"Hunchback there are no phantoms in the palace. Please for God's sake stop being so puerile. " samrat said. Hunchback frowned.
"Yet still I can read the chalisa. " hunchback said folding his arms.
"No you can't shithead. Because your voice is so strident that even Lord Hanuman won't be able to bear. " chirag yelled. Samrat chortled.
"Nobody loves me. " hunchback wailed stomping his foot on the ground before storming out of the room.
"He is a cartoon. " samrat chuckled.
"Indeed. " chirag replied with a chuckle.

Nandini sat inside the room, surrounded by the females. The females were chatting and giggling among themselves. She paid no heed to their witless gossip anyways. Perhaps for the reason that she was too engrossed in musing about her family. She badly missed her brother, Martha and nanna. She wondered what they must be doing right now.
"Ranisa where are you lost.!!!! " one of the females asked. She blinked her eyelids and glanced at them.
"No where. " she replied with a smile. She chuckled.
"Ranisa tell me the truth, what spell have you casted on hukum. " the other one asked. She looked at her, puzzled. She couldn't apprehend what she was saying.
"What do you mean. " she asked innocently, tilting her head.
"I mean that since he had seen you, he thinks about zilch but you. You are always on his mind. He just can't stop talking about you. " the lady said. Nandini looked down. If only these females knew what she was going through. She was abducted from her home and was forcibly brought here. She is being kept immured inside this palace and these women are endeavouring to show his love for her. She doesn't wants his love. If anything she wants from him, is freedom. She longs to get back to her house, to see her beloved brother, Martha and nanna.
"Ranisa, I reckon that you should accept hukum. Submit yourself to him. " the women in the shell-pink Saree said. Nandini looked at her in incredulity. She couldn't trust her ears. And why would she, a woman asking a girl to submit to her captor was shocking yet distressing. How could she ask him to accept and submit to a monster who is keeping her immured inside his palace. Besides samrat was sick, demented and obsessed. He had fettered her inside his room previous night, he was undeniably unhinged and barbarous.
"How can you even say that. " she whispered as tears build up in her pretty eyes. The women sighed.
"Look Ranisa, hukum will make you his anyway. Besides what's wrong in him, he is handsome, wealthy, powerful and on top of that he is madly in love with you. What else you need.!!! Take my advice, accept him. Trust me these man are gullible, they might be physically strong but when a girl flicks her hairs and enchants them with her beauty, these halfwits just go crazy and fall in her feet. You can keep him wrapped around your little fingers forever. Think about it. " she said. Nandini looked at her in disdain.
"I am sorry but I can't submit to a monster, no matter what. " nandini said looking away. Prior to the lady could respond the room's door clicked open. The females looked in front to see the Mafia King entering inside. The females stood up and bowed down. Samrat beckoned them to leave the room, they egress out of the room as per his ordinance. He slowly walked towards her.
"How are you my little princess. " he said as he laid on the bed. He placed his head on her lap, much to her dislike.
"How do I look like to you. " she said looking away, striving hard to suppress the tears which were threatening to cascade down her eyes. He chuckled as he played with the strands of her hairs.
"You look like an angel. " he whispered taking in the scent of her hairs. She wiped her tears.
"You are so beautiful. " he whispered stroking her cheeks with his fingertips. She jerked his hand away and he chuckled.
"Fiesty. I like it. " he chuckled. Nandini stood up from the bed.
"But I don't like you. Why don't you set me free.!!!! " she yelled as she sobbed. He sighed.
"Ouchhhh!!!! That hurts, I swear it does. " he said as he got up from the bed.
"Why don't you like me, my love. Am I not handsome or is their something wrong with me. " he asked stretching his arms as he approached her. She backed away terrified as she sobbed.
"Everything is wrong with you Sam. Just look at yourself, you are sick!!!!! You have abducted me and are keeping me immured here, don't you think that something is off with you. " she yelled crying. Samrat clenched his fist.
"Please Sam, please.......I.....I saved your life.....have mercy on me.......let....me.....go..." she hiccuped whilst sobbing. Samrat's jaw was clenched, he appeared furious.
"You. Are. Not. Going. Nowhere. " he paused between every word, gritting his teeth. She backed away scared. Samrat looked so scary, he seemed like a demented man.
"Please stay away Sam. " she whispered as stepped back, afraid. He walked towards her, in a manner as a predator walks towards it's prey. She kept on stepping back until her back hit the wall. She gaped at him as she realised she was now trapped. He dashed towards her and grabbed her waist prior to she could attempt to run. She struggled.
"Sam please let me go. " she whispered, sobbing. Striving hard to disenthral herself. She looked in his eyes. The brown orbs of his yelled barbarity, obsession, madness and a bit of agony. Not even for a second his eyes left her face. His grip on her waist tightened and she whimpered in pain. She was positive that it will leave a bruise later.
"You are hurting me Sam. " she whimpered in pain as she struggled to push him away. He squeezed her cheeks with his right hand while the other hand was placed firmly around her waist.
"And your words hurt me. " he said with gritted teeth as he roughly grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. She sobbed harder.
"They pierce through my heart like an arrow. " he said squeezing her cheeks. She cried in pain. She applied all her strength and at last was able to push him away. She panted heavily.
"If my words hurt you so much than why don't you set me free. " she yelled sobbing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, endeavouring to keep himself calm and resist himself from committing something which he might repent in near future.
"I can't do that. " he declared looking away. She looked at him incensed.
"Why not. " she yelled. He clenched his fist. She awaited him to reply howbeit the response she was awaiting so eagerly sadly didn't come from her captor.
"Why aren't you answering Sam. Is it because you don't have anything to say.!!!! " she said eyeing him in disdain. This was it for Samrat, he dashed towards her and clutched her hairs in his fist. She whimpered in pain.
"IT'S BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH DAMMIT!!!! I HAVE LOVED YOU SINCE THE DAY I SAW YOU IN YOUR HOUSE. I HAVE NEVER LOVED ANYONE SO MADLY AS I LOVE YOU. YOU SAVED MY LIFE, YOU SHOWED ME KINDESS EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T WORTHY OF KINDNESS OF AN ANGEL LIKE YOU, BECAUSE I AM A MONSTER BABY, I AM A MONSTER. AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IMMURED AND FETTERED INSIDE MY ROOM BECAUSE YOU ARE MORE PRECIOUS TO ME THAN ANYTHING ELSE. AND TRUST ME IF ANYONE TRIES TO COME BETWEEN US, I WILL KILL HIM. I WILL DRINK HIS BLOOD, I SWEAR. YOU ARE MINE, JUST MINE. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU ARE TRAPPED WITH ME INSIDE MY PALACE FOREVER. " he yelled clutching her hairs roughly. She sobbed harder. He released her hairs when he came back to his senses. He sighed as he kept his hand on his forehead.
"I am sorry.....I didn't wanted to do that. " he said in a remorseful tone. She sobbed.
"Brother was right, I shouldn't have helped you. I......I.....was an imbecile who snubbed Martha's warning, she always warned me that you are not what you seemed like. But no, I didn't listen to her. And see what has happened. " she sobbed.
"No she wasn't right, neither your brother was. I am a monster, I am not repudiating. Yet you were meant to be mine. We both are meant to be together, you are in my destiny alone. Did you get that, so now be a good girl and start accepting me and my love. " he declared as he stood in front of her, towering her with his colossal height. She didn't respond perhaps she was too occupied in crying her eyes out. He gently wiped her tears.
"I may be a monster but for you I will always be a lovesick man. Trust me, I will keep you very happy. " he whispered as he placed his hands on the either side of her head, gazing at her beauteous tear drenched face.
"Baby please love me. Please. " he pleaded as he gently pecked her cheeks. She didn't respond, her eyes were focused on the door, as if they awaiting for someone to open the door so she could run away from this monster's cage. He slowly and gently pecked her face, his lips trailed down to her lips but before he could taste her luscious lips, a voice disrupted him.
"Nanu. " a yell came from downstairs. The voice was rather familiar to him. His eyebrows furrowed and his lips turned into an obnoxious frown. Howbeit nandini had a huge smile on her face after all the voice was a witness that her hopes of freedom had not completely faded.

_______________________________________
Author's note :
Hey guys I have a very small and humble request for you all. So there is a readers choice awards in which the users are nominating their favourite books. Umm so in their is an another set of awards in which the winner is choosed by the jury. So can anyone of you nominate my book in the beginners book option in the readers choice awards, I will be really thankful to you. Trust me I didn't wanted to disturb anyone but it can be nominated by anyone besides for writer. Anyone can nominate it, even the ones who don't vote and comment on my story can also do that. It's not mandatory though, if you feel to, you can otherwise no problem. Besides I am pretty new to all these awards, and I just want to try. Here is the genre of my stories.
His queen : Random
Just his :Random
Nataraja mansion : horror
The Dark King : fantasy
Silhouette : Mystery/thriller
So yeah, that's it. Don't forget to like and follow me if you like my stories. Love you. 💕💕💕💕