Adi

It has been 3 months since I fought her, saw her or heard her innocent voice. It felt like ages since I looked in her deep brown eyes. Yes, I miss her, with all of my existence. I do love her, but love never means accepting the wrong ideology. I love her and will always have her hidden in my heart, but I don't want a relationship that would be based on conditions and forced choices. Raksha pushed it too far this time. She never expressed her liking towards me, nor she accepted my feelings . Yet, she wanted me to dance on her tunes.

Shaking my head, I pushed the chair back lifting my body up. I stood at the window watching the endless sky. Since I fought her, I have buried myself into the work. We have few product launches and that kept me on toes. Even in this busy schedule, there hasn't been a single moment where I haven't thought of her. At times I had almost decided to go back and pull her in my arms, but her words halted my steps. There can be no love without trust, and love never demands. She never asked or understood my relationship with Anjali. She was aware that it was just her that I adored for years, yet she doubted

''How can wear such low standard clothes, it doesn't suit you.''

But its a gift Mom''

''We don't need gifts, just throw it off. Even our servants won't wear that'' 

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  ''No Adi, you will not see those kids again. They aren't fit to be your friends.''   

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''You will study science and not commerce. That's for  salaried  ones.'' 

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''You can go only if you promise to go by my rules.''

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''You  get your game only if you break your friendship with cook's son''

There so many instances of my life that remind me of my mother's controlling nature. Being a good son , I took her orders with silence. But she forgot that I too have a will and can lose my patience, and I did one day and bad. Since then I keep off her radar and she pretends to stay of mine. I know she keeps a tab on me through her resources.

 I had seen the marriage of my parents, out of love dad had a habit of agreeing to all mom said  and it gradually became a habit for her to get her demands fulfilled at any cost. Later, when he refused to budge , fights and quarrels became a daily routine. Dad distanced himself from home to avoid any kind of confrontation with mom. That didn't bring an change in her, on the contrary she turned all the way more bossy and now I am her latest target. She believes what she does or says is equivalent to universal truth. Her choices are the right ones and she keeps on pushing her choices and will on me. She wants me to chose everything she likes, even friends. Like my dad, even I decided to  create distance between us to avoid any confrontation, I shifted to London.  But that didn't deter my mom from pushing her choices on me or trying to control my life. What hurt me was that she tried manipulating the situations. I got extra camera installed and recorders in the common phones. That gave away the butler working for my mom and I chucked him out. I had confronted her but she seemed unaffected, she wasn't even sorry about it. I anger I told her I won't be stepping in Ranawat Palace ever again. 

I still remember how kids celebrated during the vacations , they would plan rant about everything they will do at home. It was just me, who didn't wanted to go home. I would just look for an escape from my mother's scrutinizing ways, one or two times what I went home, she picked out faults in everything. I hated that 2 months of year. It was during this time I had befriended Veer, I was really impressed by his calm demure. He never lost his cool whatever the situation was. Though, coming from a very powerful and influential family, Veer had no airs about it. His thoughts were divided in right and wrong, he wouldn't tolerate wrong and will do all to stand by right. He was patient and for the first time there was someone who appreciated me, we became best of friends and that's when he invited me over to Rathore Palace to spend the summer vacations. There I met young Raksha for the first time, bright brown eyes, pink complexion and innocence in voice. She would pester Veer on his experiences and this guy would cook up stupid stories to tease her. But there was one, for whom Raksha's smile mattered the most, Ranvijay. I adored their bond.

It was after 2 years that I went back to Ranawat Palace, on birth of my sister . She was 12 yrs younger to me and I was just over the moon to have her. She became my life, I was so glad that I finally had a member who would adore me the way I am , but that too didn't last long. She was born with a weak heart, and died at the early age of 4. I was devastated, I couldn't see her the last time. My visits to Ranawat Palace ceased. Veer became my support, he would never leave me alone and made sure I accompany him to Jaigarh on holidays. I don't know how and when I fell of her.

Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my forehead. More than physical I feel mental fatigue. I just want let go all and free myself of this pain. ''You should talk to her.'' Anjali's voice broke my thoughts . Shaking my head I moved to my chair extending my had for the file. When I didn't get it for five minutes, I looked up. She stood on the opposite side giving me a flat stare, ''You messed our friendship up and then came searching for me to sort things out, the why can't you just go hug her and tell her that you love her and just her.''

''Its not that simple and you won't understand.''

''Yeah, right I won't because I am not you. But you know what, this is the problem with men all around the world. They never do the things in a simple, they love to complicate. ''

''Anjali, its Raksha who has to grow up.''

''You fell for her innocence. I still remember you bragging about her being naive and now you are complaining about it. Have you lost it.''

''She can't make me chose.''

''Adi, you are messed up. You love her and wantt her, but your Royal male ego is not allowing you to go and confess same to her. Adi its you who is complicating things.'' I decided to stay quiet, she wouldn't understand how I felt when she asked me to chose, I saw my mother trying to control the strings of my life and i won't let any other girl do that ever again.

''Let me talk to her.'' Anjali suggested

''NO!!! Just no.'' I spat. She huffed , cursed and left.

Moving my fingers on the scrolled pad , I bought the screen to life. Her picture smiled at me lighting my whole being. My heart started beating faster and heat started creeping in my body . I have to see her, in person breathing and talking. Picking my keys I dashed out of my cabin. ''Hey, where to.?'' Anjali asked as I ran to the elevator

''Just cancel all meetings or take over.'' As the doors slid closed I noticed her bored expression. She must be tired of my tantrums.

''Where?'' James asked leaning on driver side.

''I don't need you to come.''

''You are not leaving without me.''

''James, I will be safe.''

''Not happening, decide with me or back to office.'' He said with a straight face. Least I wanted right now was an adamant mother and I got blessed with in form of James. I gave up, he extended his hand , defeated I placed the keys on it. I called Hansa to check on Raksha's whereabouts; she informed that they were in a mall, as Raksha was leaving for Jaigarh next week to attend her nephew's grand birthday celebration. I realised, I too had an invitation but had no intention of attending it. I am aware my parents too might have got the invitation and they will for sure attend the gathering of most powerful folks. I thought, I too should buy something for Veer's son and send it through Raksha, after all he is my best friend and it's my duty to be a part of his happiness in some way.

Hasna asked if she should let Raksha know, I refused. I didn't want her to gain any kind of power over me. As I stepped into the premises of the gigantic mall, my heart picked up. I was scanning every face like mentally challenged, excited yet nervous about accidentally running into her. I smiled to myself racking my fingers through hair, feeling like a teenage boy. I hope she wore red today, she looks so damn mesmerizing in that. ''Weird!'' A girl passing by commented on me, watching me grinning ear to ear. Shaking my head, I fixed my hair and ran to the escalators. Wait! But how am I supposed to know where she is, I cursed myself for being a jerk. ''Are you going to stand there for whole day?'' Some one asked and I apologized moving away realizing I was blocking the way to escalator. 

Just when I was thinking what to do, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Hansa, I looked up and found her smiling down at me from the 2nd floor. She messaged the shop name, my smile returned. I did another dance scaring the onlookers once again and dashed up to have the glimpse of my innocent girl. It was a kids store and I entered making sure to stay hidden from her eyes, she was checking some toys . I stood hidden behind a giant teddy on the rack, watching her with greedy eyes. She had worn a yellow top with a skinny jeans, her hair rolled up in messy bun. A thin stoke of Kohl with a dash of pink on her lips. She looked breathtaking, her pale skin looked bathed in morning dew.

She picked few stuffed toys and rubbed them across her face to check the softness, her little act gave me Goosebumps all over my skin. She selected a few and then moved to the gaming section, I guess she buy something techno for her nephew. The sales guy explained her few and she picked one up, turning around immediately. In order to hide, I moved suddenly to step on a skates left by a kid and fell on my back groaning with pain. To prevent the fall I had tried grabbing on the rack, instead I got buried in the heap of toys. I heard few gasps and then footsteps, two of the sales guys helped me up removing the toys off my body. Just when I was about to be up the giant teddy decided to bang me down, "I will take this one.'' I said trying to ease the situation a bit, fixing my animated looks I moved to the billing counter to collect the toy I bought. That was for Raksha, I don't know what stuff I am buying for Rathore kids. But I felt content after having the glimpse of my girl.

I walked back into the parking with a grin on my face and teddy in my arms, ''Who is getting that?''

''raksha'' I answered James.

he made a face, ''No wonder you are single and she isn't growing up. Send her stuff about what yo want to do with her.'' I asked James to shut up, only if he knew such stuff would bring Rathore swords to my neck.

Third POV

''Why are you hell bent on calling Adi back?'' King Naren asked his stubborn wife.

''Its good for him, that's why'' She answered unaffected

''Your stubbornness and controlling nature will one day cost you our son. Its still time, mend your ways.''

''If you done, I will take your leave. I have more duties to attend to.'' The egoistic queen walked off with her chin held high. Naren crashed on his chair, he knew she would do all to bring Adi back for the event , only he wasn't aware of her other plans.

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