'hey saviour, what's up.' Vikram's phone pinged with Sona's message. He smiled at endearment.

'You can call me Vikram!'' .

'I know, but saviour sounds macho.' He wanted to laugh aloud at her childish reply, instead he just coughed as he was in a lecture.

''Are you fine Mr. Rathore?'' The professor asked and Vikram coughed some more to look genuine. Professor gave him a stern frown going back the lecture.

Vikram kept his phone aside, he was tempted to chat but for now he didn't wanted to be distracted. Though, he tried all to focus on the lecture, his mind kept going back to Sona. He covered lower half of his face by his palm to look focused but it just a cover to hide the smile that covered his lips.

He moved out to find a peaceful corner where he could continue the conversation with her. He moved to the lawn and sat under the shade of a huge tree. Vikram pulled out his phone and opened the chat, he chuckled looking at the series of messages and finally a grumpy emoticon. He replied quickly, 'Hey professor caught me chatting with you...had to stop sorry!'

'Were you kicked out of the class?' the reply came instant

'No!'

'What's the fun then.'

'You wanted me punished?'

'Yup...because I got punished today for getting into a fight.' She replied

'I thought you to be a sweet little girl.'

'So you are not interested in a fiery maiden like me?' Vikram laughed he could sense her anger in that message. He decided to twist the game

'You want me to like u....or more?' There was no response for long

'I want the same what I feel for you'

'And what is that?'

'You know it...' She got irritated when he started pushing her

'I want to hear it...can you?' Vikram challenged

'I like you...may be more...and someday see my future with you.' Her response set him on fire. He stared at the screen for long caressing her words again and again.

'Say something..'

her message pulled him out of the haze, with a smiled he typed, 'yes ..but in future..for now you are a baby and we are good as friends.'

'You are so unromantic..' her message came with a grumpy emoticon

He laughed, 'I am pathetically romantic..just waiting for you to grow up enough and handle my madness.'

Sona blushed, she quickly looked around to notice if someone saw her blushing and smiling to self. Sona typed, 'I can...because I a equally mad. Will chat later..bye.'

Vikram smiled and then frowned, he turned around and found Rolli hovering over his phone , ''What the hell...?''

''She agreed! Yipee...my bro is committed.'' She jumped pulling him in a hug Her little act attracted lot of drama earning some laughs and few applauds. Vikram dragged Rolli away from the crowd, ''What's that?''

''Celebration!''

He groaned, ''You very well know what am I talking about, how can you just invade my private space.'' She freed herself and circled him, ''But I don't see a board or boundary around you mentioning it to be your private space.'' She replied keeping an innocent expression

Vikram scratched his head, ''What do you want?''

''Finally, I thought it will take more to bring you to the point.'' Rubbing her palms she extended one towards him, ''Money!!''

''You have a lots with you. You don't need from me.'' He replied

''Bro, you don't understand the fun of taking money or anything precious from the elder one'' She explained

He rolled his eyes, ''But I definitely know the pain of being looted by the younger one.'' He said putting few currency notes into her palm. She counted them greedily making him shake his head, ''You are a drama.''

''Yup, just like my mother.'' She replied pushing the money into her pocket

''Bhai, I am going to party with friends and then I will be visiting the old library . Don't wait up for the dinner.'' He nodded , she hugged him and ran away to join her friends.

***

A muscular man watched Rolli walking out of the exit, she waved at a group and fanned herself with the money she just usurped from her brother. Her friends cheered and she bowed accepting the accolades, ''That's the guy who knocked me out. He bought the curtains down of my fight career. He is going to pay for the loss I incurred...'' The man's eyes moved to the innocent young face enjoying with her friends, ''And he is going to pay it with her.'' He informed his aid as they drove off into the shadows to keep an eye on the carefree Princess.

The group cheered for the one who blew the candles off the cake. They took pictures and celebrated with food and music. After the party, Rolli decided to visit an antique store to buy a gift for her parents' upcoming anniversary. She picked few pieces and then kept them back not being able to decide on what to buy. She was still looking around when her sharp senses felt eyes on her. She quickly turned but found no one. Shaking her head she went back to her search. She walked along the different pieces and then moved to the next row.

Dev rubbed his eyes when he spotted Rolli with a group of friends. She was smiling and looked as if she was mimicking someone. He cursed his luck, the more he tried to distance himself , the more life bought her to him. He shook his head and turned away but his resolved gave up. His greedy mind bribed, what was the harm in watching her from the distance. He too deserved some calmness, and she always felt like a gush of wind. He followed her to the restaurant and then to the antique shop. She did turn once and he quickly moved behind a pillar. As if under a spell, he followed her enchanted as she moved from one row to the other and then she disappeared.

''Looking for me!'' Dev closed his eyes in embarrassment. Getting caught stalking her was not in his list. Taking a minute he turned and stood facing her, ''No, I was here to buy my sister a gift.''

''Oh, so you were getting inspired by my choices.'' She replied tongue in cheek.

He felt all the way more embarrassed, she had definitely caught him tailing her and there was no escape from it, ''Yes, I was.'' He admitted

She smiled wide, giving the tantalizing view of her dimpled cheek, ''Good! I like the one who admit soon. Now,why were you following me?''

''Is it necessary to answer this question?'' He asked a little uncomfortable.

''Yes, I want to know.''

''Isn't it obvious that I like you.'' He replied irritated. She watched his face, he lowered his eyes feeling foolish. She took a step forward, ''Which side did I slapped you the other day?'' She asked unaffected

He glared at her with shock, then answered, ''Right one!'' She smiled, went her toes and placed a peck on his left cheek, ''We are even!'' she said walking out.

It took Dev a minute to regain his senses, he ran and caught her, ''hey, what's that?''

''Its called a peck in English!''

''I know but why?''

Rolli stared at the man opposite to her, ''I don't watch or stalk what I like, I just express it.''

He was again speechless. She walked off and he chased her again, ''You forgave me for punching your brother.''

''Yes, you are protective about your sister and this something good.'' She replied.

''You said you like me, what's that?''

''You should have been a science teacher, you ask too many whys.'' She grabbed his arm and dragged to a store. Making him stand opposite to a mirror she said, ''I hope you can see you are very good looking and attractive. Then you have been giving me some attention, I like it. And above all you are honest, something I adore.''

''Rolli...'' She stopped his word. ''For now I am Aahana , you will have to make the journey to reach Rolli.'' He watched her, his heart asked him to back out but he couldn't . For years he had been taught just to avenge and the girl opposite to him was like a sweet escape. He decided to live in the moment till it lasts.

He extended his hand, ''Devansh!''

''I will call you Dev, and you can't copy me asking me to make journey from Devansh to Dev.'' She declared making him chuckle. ''So where are you taking me on my first date.''

He stared at her for long, his possessiveness growing deep. He grabbed her hand and walked towards the parking. He hopped on the bike and offered her the other helmet, ''Are you game for it?''

''Yes!'' She squealed jumping behind him.

''Hold on, I am quite rough in driving.'' He teased

She leaned on to his shoulder, ''Bring it on, I am no wuss.'' He smiled and fired the engine, driving the beast out on to the road. In this moment he wanted to forget all he had been nurturing for years.

***

Vansh sat with his back slumped against the hard wall. He had discovered a journal of his later great grand-mother which had the details about Suryagarh and the endless torture Dipika incurred during her stay. He couldn't imagine someone stooping so low for wealth. He was filled with rage, he wanted to kill all those greedy men again. He had concluded that Netra and her son were alive but there was no mention of Dipika's mother. He thought and came to a conclusion that either the late queen was dead or hiding somewhere , waiting and plotting their destruction.

He wiped his forehead and got up. Pushing the journal back into the shelf, he slowly locked the door of the main library. He took slow and calm steps to his suite, when he came face to face with his aunt, ''Vansh, why are you still awake. You have your exams in a week, you need rest.'' Dipika's voice was laden with concern.

He stared at the woman opposite to him. All she had given was immense love, he couldn't come to terms that someone could torture such a beautiful soul. He hugged her, she was surprised but closed her arms around his tall form. He had been the baby of the house and they still considered him the same when he was 15, ''Hey, what's wrong.''

''I love you so much!'' Vansh sobbed like a baby.

''Vansh, did some girl break your heart or you are practicing a proposal.'' She teased.

He stared at her, ''Can you please take me seriously, for once.''

''No, and I don't want any of you serious. We are here to handle all that, we want all three of you to smile all your life.'' She replied patting his cheek

''I can fight too.'' He said his eyes boring into hers

''I know, but it won't be needed. We are here to take care of all.'' She answered firm but her instincts told her Vansh knew more than he said. She rubbed his back, "okay my little hero, its time for bed. " She pecked his forehead and pushed to him towards his room . Once he was out of sight, Dipika made her way to the library. She roughly scanned the shevels and then moved to a particular row. She smiled, she pulled out the journal and clipped its pages. Few pages were being folded at the corners. She knew it was Vansh.

Jouŕnals were wriiten to let future generations take a better desicions on th basis of their ancestors past. She knew, one day all the three would know of it but she never expected the youngest of all to find it first. He was the most intelligent and calm one but he too was a Rathore. His blood too must have raged reading her dark past. She kept back the journal and made a decisionto speak to Vansh and then Ananya.

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