Sona woke up with a smile as she recalled the beautiful night of her union with Vikram . He had handled her like a precious doll and she felt on the moon. She had started having second thoughts about leaving him. She smiled stretched her arm to find Vikram but he was gone. Sona pouted, fixed her attire and moved around the suite to find the husband calling him out.

She blinked not being able to find him. Sona thought of giving him a call and just then she heard the shuffling in the main hall. A smiled sputtered across her lips as she ran to greet him.

Sona found Vikram facing the big cupboard, his back to her. With slow steps she stood behind and then hugged him, ''I missed you.''

Vikram closed his eyes for a moment, he stayed frozen but gave no reaction. Sona kissed his back, ''Why are you so quite.''

''There is nothing to speak.''

She sensed the coldness in his voice, her arms dropped. She walked around and stood opposite to him, ''Why are you behaving this way?''

''What way?''

''This...cold and distant.''

''Really? You were the same for almost 2 weeks.''

''So this is some kind of revenge?'' She asked, her eyes brimming with tears. He laughed, ''Revenge would have been if I had used you like a tissue and discarded. Just like your brother did to my sister.'' She stepped back and he took one to her, ''I know you speak to him. Convey your pain to him, I will have some peace about being able to avenge my sister to some extent.''

''Where am I at fault in all this?'' She asked broken

''Where was Rolli at fault and you knew about them yet you kept it hidden. You spoke big words about me hiding my Royal lineage, what about you? Isn't that counted as a betrayal. My sister lost her smile , I haven't seen her smiling once in these months.'' Vikram grabbed Sona by shoulders lifting her off the earth, ''Tell that brother of yours, the day I find him. I will kill him.'' She knew he meant every word. He let go her as she dissolved on the floor not sure what to do next. She heard the ring of her phone from the distance but her legs refused to oblige. After several minutes, she got up walking back to the bedroom. There was a missed call and a message from Dev. 'I am in Jaigarh!'

***

Rolli sat on the highest podium of the Palace , her eyes scanning the length and breadth of Jaigarh. This was her favorite place in the Palace since she was a kid.

The highest point of the building was being used to keep an eye on boundaries in olden days, but for Rolli it was a palace of solace. Though she had been scolded many times for climbing the dangerous area, she still enjoyed the magnificent view over Jaigarh. For now, she just was looking for solitude. Since Vikram's arrival, she had avoided any interaction with Sona fearing an outburst. She knew SOna wasn't at fault but She too was a human, and the state she was in being friendly with enemy's sister was out of picture.

''Rolli, come down and what the hell are you doing there.'' She jolted out of her trance hearing the angry voice. She turned and found her dad standing at the end of staircase with arms crossed against his chest. With a shake of her head, she stepped down carefully, making sure to take one step at time down the dangerous stair case.

''What were you doing there?''

''Enjoying the wind.'' She replied

Ranvijay frowned staring at her, he could see she wasn't herself. He huffed and decided to give her some time. Throwing an arm around her shoulder he walked her to the stone bench on the terrace, ''You have couple of invites.''

''One of them must be from Raina. She invited me because she wants Siddhant to join. I am not going.'' Rolli made a face at her cousin's fascination for her friend.

''She is a kid. She will get over with her infatuation.''

Rolli shook her head, ''Doesn't seem that to me. Dad she can't just tolerate me around Siddhant. It becomes very uncomfortable for me and him when she tries all to get his attention and he uses me as a shield. She has already started disliking me and I don't want her to hate me.''

Ranvijay huffed, he knew there was no point dissuading her. In a way she was right. Raina Ranawat was indeed a pampered Princess used to getting all she like. Being the only daughter of the Ranawat clan she was being cared and protected like a precious diamond. Ranvijay had time and again pointed out to Raksha that Raina was turning stubborn but he knew better. The male brigade of Ranawat clan could never stand a negative word against their beloved Princess.

''Fine, there is one more. One of our family friend daughter's birthday, I am not available. Will you do the favours.''

Rolli nodded, ''Better than attending Raina Ranawat's party. Dad, please send her an apology with a bouquet on my behalf.''

Ranvijay narrowed his eyes at his daughter who gave him a wide dimpled smile. He pinched the tip of her nose pulling her in a hug, ''Remember Princess, you are my pride.''

''I know.'' She replied enjoying the comfort of her father's arms.

***

''You are going to Suryagarh? Again!'' Veer asked Dipika who was all ready to visit the lands she was still the Queen of. 

''You know I have to. I don't want her to forget me.''

''Her? Only you can address it as her.'' Veer joked

''She is precious and has to be ready, our enemies should get the taste of their own medicine. I want to see their faces on the day they meet her.'' 

''It can be dangerous to us.'' Veer tried to alert Dipika

''I saved her Veer. I was her mother for 1 complete year, she won't betray me. That's the trait of humans.'' She took a deep breath, ''I will leave, see you in evening.'' Dipika walked out, she gave Baljit a single nod as he followed her out.

After few hours of drive she was standing opposite to the Palace where once Brijesh had kept Ananya captive. She huffed,''Sorry Veer, there are certain things you shouldn't know.'' She walked into the Palace and then into the dark dungeon ,''Where is Rani?'' She asked

A man bowed and walked inside into the other side which looked like and old age cell to keep criminals. The man walked out holding the chain of a big cat which made low growls. Baljit stepped back as the big cat approached Dipika who squatted down to welcome it.

The big cat lifted its front paws to hug its mistress. The woman who adopted her after it was being left by its own pack. ''Your legs looked fine, you are now stronger. That's my girl.'' Dipika caressed its head. She still recalled the trip  to a bird Sanctuary  she had taken with Veer a year back.    The forest officer who accompanied   them had picked up a lion cub, which looked weak and had been left by the pack. The officer decided to hand it over to zoo authorities , everything seemed fine till the little cub crawled onto Dipika's lap, and there on she it was called Rani. 

The lioness now was an year old and healthy . Dipika had kept it in an aloof Palace so it can freely roam about, she had hired the best trainers to train and make it strong. Dipika caressed its head again, the painful childhood, her difficult pregnancy and all the her family made her grow through flashed right back.  ''When right time comes, you will help me to make them realise what fear of death is. What being held captive means. I will show what being  Mahendra Singh's captive felt like. For years I have suffered the pain and anguish, and I am going to give it back. With interest.'' Rani stared at her like a kitten, Dipika pecked its head, ''One day I will find a place where you are being taken care of.''  After spending some time with Rani, Dipika instructed the trainer , a man who trained wolves and other wild beasts  for Mahendra Singh and had switched his loyalties for Dipika after latter cleared all his debts .

''Hukum, are going to do the  same what your father did. Feed the enemies to the beasts.''

Dipika smiled, ''I am not him yet a part of him. Keep her safe, the time will be soon here and don't call Rani a beast. She understands affection which Mahendra Singh couldn't.''  With that she walked out. With each step out of the Palace she recalled how her father would lock her in a cage and leave hounds around her and The days of punishment in the dungeons. On reaching her car, she turned once, ''Payback time mom. Very Soon.''

***

Rolli walked into the party hall of the luxury hotel dressed in a fusion attire. She was being greeted by the hosts he made her acquainted with various guests. He father's friend led her to another room where the party for the youngsters was being held. As she was being offered the mask as per the theme, she couldn't help but rolls her eyes.

She knew no one here and realised it was a bad idea to accept the invitation. After formal greetings and few pictures she made her way to the bar ordering herself a fruit mock tail.

Dev made his way into the party after stealing the mask and the jacket of one of the guest he just knocked out. He had received the details of Rolli attending a party from Sona, it wasn't difficult to make arrangement in the same hotel.

Dev's plan was simple. He wanted to capture Rolli and exchange her for Sona. He knew he could use Rolli as a tool for revenge but Sona was more important than any of it.

Dev scanned the room and found her sitting at the bar. He swallowed the dryness, she still held his heart. He felt his eyes watering as he recalled the moments spend with her, and then the harsh words he said to her. Dev closed his eyes to take control over his heart.

Dev scanned the crowd, it was impossible to get his hands on the Royal Princess. He had to pull her out of the room and he knew how. Dev bribed a waiter to spoil Rolli dress, he knew she wouldn't give back or reprimand the waiter as she was too good for all such tantrums.

As predicted, she stepped out and moved towards the wash rooms so did he. He decided to keep the mask on to prevent the cameras taking his images. On his way he made sure to greet people like a long lost friend. He knew, this was his golden chance but he forgot who he was dealing with, he underestimated the Rathore Princess.

Rolli turned alert when she heard footsteps behind her, she kept walking without giving the stalker a chance to doubt. She pushed open the door to move in and so did he, but she wasn't there.

''Looking for something?'' She asked standing behind him holding the huge door. Dev shut his eyes, she was just too sharp for him. He turned without removing his mask or uttering a word. He was thankful for the dim lights or she would have recognised him

''DO I know you?'' Now he was alert. He decided to act before it was late. He leaped to grab her but she dodged replying with a hard punch on the nose. Dev knew he was bleeding, she had turned fiercer than before. He didn't knew that she had channelized her anger into the practice. She attacked and he grabbed her arm twisting it behind her back to lock her movements. He smiled as her scent hit his nostrils.

Rolli knew the man was huge but did he knew that being smaller and lighter had its own benefits. She used her foot kicked his shin losing his grip. She rolled out, grabbed his wrist and bit it so hard that it started bleeding. She spat the blood, walked behind him and kicked his back hard to make him fall on the hard tile.

Dev felt the stinging sensation on his wrists, it was foolish to underestimate the Rathores. If the princess was this fierce, he could easily predict what her brothers were. He knew he needed more time but Sona's freedom was important. He geared up to attack and just the door flew open a girl in 20s walked in swinging something shiny towards Rolli

Dev knew its was time to step back but before he could act, the knife went into his arm. She pulled it out without any remorse, ''Next time, face me without any mask.''

''Hukum don't let him go.'' Agni intervened. Dev knew he had to leave. He collected all his strength and pushed the two girls away taking the flight. He reached his room before anyone could notice the blood, courtesy his black attire.

He took deep breaths as he tore off the shirt. He stared at the oozing red liquid. Addition to all the wounds given by Rathores , ''Next time I will you in eyes and take you with me. Soon Princess, VERY SOON!''

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Done.