Dev couldn't hold anymore, two weeks were like 2 lives and now he had to see Rolli anyhow. Making the decision , he drove to her college and messaged her about his arrival. He was ready to beg , if she wanted him to. All he wanted was her company, he wanted to live before death comes knocking at the door.

Rolli was distracted, she had been sitting with her friends for long with her mind at Dev. He hasn't called in two weeks, she wanted to shake him bad. She kind of liked his company. he wasn't like other guys who just loved boasting trying to impress a girl, he was calm and a good listener. Someone who wouldn't mind her talking non-stop.  She took a deep breath to calm the fluttering heart. Her phone pinged and the message bought smile to her face. She excused herself and ran out. Her feet halted at a distance from him, he watched her unblinking mounted on his bike and accelerating it gesturing her join him. She smiled, locked her eyes with him and took steps to him. He offered her the spare helmet and waited for her to hop on. She did but stayed silent. He accelerated and drove off, she didn't ask and he didn't  brief about the location.  His eyes moved sideways to check if she was going to put her arms around him, when she didn't her jerked making her fall on his back, ''You should learn to ask what you want.''

''When you understand what I want, why should give words to it.'' He replied. She shook her head and leaned against his back wrapping his arms around his middle. He kept driving for sometime and Rolli sat with her eyes closed and head leaned against his back, she opened them once and realised they were little far from the city. He finally stopped, ''we have reached.''

She opened her eyes and smiled to the nature around her. She stretched her arms and inhaled deep the fresh air. He walked and stood next to her,  his hands pushed into his pockets, ''Won't you ask where I bought you and why?''

''No, but if you want to , you can brief me on it.'' She replied

''Aren't you scared being alone with me?'' he asked staring no where.

''Are you scared to be alone with me?''

''Don't answer me with a question.''

''Then don't question me, I never questioned or asked for an explanation. We understood the silence then why change it. Let's just enjoy the silence.'' She replied

''I don't like silence.''

''Why?''

''Because I want the noise, I want to hear you. Two weeks without your voice felt as if time had stopped, it felt life had stopped for me, and you didn't bother to call. Not even once, didn't you miss me.'' He asked agitated. he had never spoken so many sentences in one go . His heart and self felt incomplete without her.

She crossed her arms over her chest and took a step closer, ''You have known me for a month or may be more, and you are so bothered by my absence or presence.''

''I wish I knew the reason.'' He replied looking at the shoes, kicking the air. She grabbed his wrist and turned his face towards him, ''Somethings are better left without reason. Now, where did I punch you last time?'' She asked with a smile. He pointed towards his nose, she shook her head went on her toes and pecked it.

''You could have taken the advantage of the situation and I might have kissed you.'' She teased.

''I don't like to take advantage of of anyone anytime . Truth makes things easier.'' His reply made her smile more.Placing her palms on his chest she leaned more looking up into his eyes, ''I knew you were different.''

''And how?''

''It requires lot of patience and strength to silently hear me talk and since you speak less and that makes you perfect for me.'' he pinched her nose. Wrapping his arms around her he held her close. ''I want to live before I die and you are life to me Rolli...I mean Aahana.''

"You can call me Rolli...I guess you covered the distance ...don't know when. And talk about life because death is an escape.''

They stood silently in the arms of nature for long and decided  to go back, '' Dev, drop me to old library.''

''Its late, we can come back tomorrow.'' he suggested.

''No worriers, I am regular here. Don't worry and if required, I will call you.'' He agreed and dropped her to the place she asked him to. Rolli gave him a good night peck which made him blush. She chuckled and watched him drive off. 

Rolli made her way towards the library, a little guilty about missing her classes.  As soon as she entered , she picked a book and  dropped a message to Vikram asking him to pick her up after an hour. She wasn't aware of the danger that lurked in the dark thirsty for  his revenge. 

She received the message of Vikram that he would be reaching in few minutes. Rolli picked the books she wanted to rent for a week. She was greeted by chilly cold winds as she stepped out of the cosy warm building. Pulling her arms together she exhaled in the cold wind and walked towards the place where her brother would be waiting. The surroundings were cold , dark and lonely. A normal person would be worried about his or her safety  but Rolli wasn't scared or worried, she was bought up to be tough. She was aware her shield was near by and nothing can harm her. She heard footsteps and halted, staring in the darkness  where her biggest support stood. She smiled, waiting for the jackal to attack from behind. She was being bought up that way to stay alert, pushing her hands into the pocket Rolli walked towards the deserted parking humming her favourite song, ''How did I get so lucky?'' Came a gruff voice, but it didn't scare her, ''You are doomed Simon , get lost.'' 

''Oh, so you know me.'' He was surprised

''Yes, and I know you have been following me for long. Like you, I too gathered all details on you. Now, time over so get lost.''

''Not so soon honey'' He grabbed her arm pulling her petite form to his large one. ''Today he will know, what it means to mess with a bad guy. Your brother will pay for ruining my career. I want to see him cry buckets watching your ruined form.'' She didn't struggle but just watched him as if he was a specimen, ''You are doomed.''

''Think about yourself sweet heart. I don't know how much your body can take and how much it would  pierce Vikram's heart.'' Simon boasted

She frowned and then laughed hysterically , ''You don't get it do you? When it comes to him, he is the ULTIMATE BAD GUY.'' With that her leg moved bringing the bulky man on his knees. She lifted her eyes to return the sinister smile of her brother, who had now stepped out of the darkness into the flickering light making him look dangerous, ''You called me a bad guy, you broke my heart Rolli.''

''Finish the drama here, I will be in the car.'' Rolli kicked Simon hard walking off. She knew what her brother would do with the who dare to threaten her. Vikramjeet Singh Rathore didn't know what mercy meant.

Getting in the passenger seat, she focused her eyes in the front where Vikram de-robed Simon of his pride. Rolli knew, Simon was no match for her brother, specially when he was angry. Slowly, the screams turned into muffled sobs and finally pained breaths. He walked back to his vehicle and drove off from the place, ''What happens to him?''

''He will be arrested in few minutes?'' Vikram replied

''But you are the assaulter and he is the victim.'' She joked

Vikram stared at her with hooded expression, '' I am not in the mood of fun Rolli, you could have been hurt.''

''You think I wouldn't have been able to handle that guy?'' She asked

''They could be more. If you knew they were stalking you should have told me.'' he scolded her angry

''Any idea where the second one who followed me?'' Her question made him apply quick breaks, ''What do you mean?''

''He met with an accident but I don't have anything to do with it.'' 

''Then who?''

Rolli smiled, ''Princess Aahana Ranvijay Rathore.'' He rolled his eyes hearing the pride in her voice resuming the drive. Though they had kept things low and hidden their identity, they still had the security at their  tips. There were guards who would kill and disappear in shadows for the young Royals

***

Sona kept glancing at her phone while studying to check if there was a message from Vikram. Her lips twisted not finding any, it had been eight hours since he last messaged. She grumbled cursing him for not caring enough about her. She decided to give him an earful on the same.

''I think you should keep your phone aside while studying.'' Sona jumped hearing Dev behind her. She quickly followed his instructions going back to her book. He pulled a chair and sat beside her, she kept fidgeting not sure if he saw her messaging Vikram.

''How are things at school?''

''Good''

''Should be great. We have high expectations out of you and Sagar.'' Dev replied mentioning her younger brother. He noticed she wasn't looking at him, ''What's wrong?''

''Are you angry?''

''No, and I can never be with you.''

She smiled and looked up, the guilt of hiding things from him pushed her to explain, ''I was getting bored so decided to chat...with my friend.''

He stared at her face with a smile, ''Did I ask you anything regarding that?'' She shook her head, ''Then don't explain, I trust you. If you are bored, take a break and come back. But just don't get distracted, do one thing at a time.'' She nodded. Dev placed and affectionate peck on her forehead walking out. Sona took a deep breath, dumping her phone in the drawer she decided to concentrate on her studies.    

She later forgot to switch on her phone and slept off after completing her book. Morning, in a hurry Sona packed her stuff and dumped her phone into the bag without switching it on, forgetting about the several messages she had send to Vikram. 

Sona greeted her friend Rachel with a hug, ''Where's your phone?''

''In my bag, but why did you ask?''

''Sona, your boyfriend has been trying to reach you all night. he got worried and came to my house in the morning to know your whereabouts. Luckily, I met him before dad could or both of us would have been in serious trouble.

Sona blinked, she realized she had forgotten to switch on her phone but thought of Vikram being worried about her amused her, ''I will careful next time.'' She thanked Rachel as the two walked back to their class. ''here, he gave a note for you.'' Rachel whispered . Sona quickly grabbed and pushed the piece of paper into her bag. She wanted to torment him more for ignoring her for hours, on the other side she was impatient to read what he had written on the note.

As the day proceeded, she couldn't make time to go through the same and when her day ended, she found him on the opposite side of the exit. His eyes looked murderous, as he stood leaning against his black sedan. ''He seems to be in love with Black.'' Rachel commented

''yeah, and that looks trouble to me.''

''Any help required?''

"Please ask him to meet me outside your house in evening.'' Rachel nodded, Sona lowered her eyes and quietly got  car. She knew, she invited trouble.

Around five in the evening, Sona stepped out of Rachel's house to meet Vikram, who still looked pissed, ''Did you read the note or my messages.''

''I am sorry, I had switched off my phone and forgot to switch it on. '' She replied staring down at her feet.

''OH! So is it still off?'' She shook her head negative. ''Then I wonder what stopped you from replying just to one of them.'' Though, he whispered but his voice held such anger that for a moment Sona shivered.

''I said I am sorry.''

''Sorry is not enough. I was sick worried about you for one whole day and you are just sorry.''

''I was angry about you not responding to my messages. Don't make it an issue out of it.''  She replied angry

he took a step forward making her step back, ''Fine, from now I won't bother about anything. Goodbye.''

''Wait ! Why Goodbye?'' She asked, her lips trembled in shock and pain

''I don't think we are compatible enough.'' He replied getting into his car, she stood shocked . She wanted to talk it it out and stood opposite to his vehicle in order to stop him. He stared at her through his shades,  accelerated warning her to move aside. When she didn't, he drove backwards and then drove past her leaving a gush of air on her form. She stood there for sometime, expecting him to come back. He didn't. Sona, pressed her lips, wiped her cheeks and walked back inside. There was nothing she could do about it.

***

Vash accompanied Veer to Grand Palace of the pretext of getting bored at home. Veer knew his nephew better but he didn't inquire much on the same. When Veer got himself busy with the operations, Vansh decided to tour the place. He needed time alone to notice if his father and uncle were missing something. The staff knew him, they greeted him as he walked past them. Vansh stayed alert, his eyes reading the eyes of the every man that walked past him. Some smiled, some had respect. Some were happy while few looked nervous. He smiled, his eyes had scanned many corners and perfect places to set his spies. He wasn't going to trust anyone but himself.

Vansh walked out into the huge garden area, which had a beautiful man made lake on one side and natures miracle desert on the other. Leaning against a pillar he watched as the guests enjoyed rides of different kinds, he just smiled. Pretending to bothered by the bright sun, he wore his shades , his eyes now scanning all. He knew, he was being watched but watchers weren't aware that he had already caught them.

There was a commotion and after few minutes Veer came and stood behind him, ''You were right about those two.''

''There are more. If I am right, they are targeting Grand Palace.'' Vansh whispered not looking bothered

Veer stared at the young lad who was fast matching his height, ''What do you suggest?''

''Let's change the uniform.''  Vansh said making Veer frown, but agreed. Vansh smiled and decided to go for a horse ride. Veer watched him from distance, 'You are just like bhai. Unpredictable, dangerous yet calm.'

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 Hope you had an awsome diwali.May the festival of lights mark the beginning of happiness and prosperity in your and loved ones lives. Stay blessed

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