Veer,

When I walked back into my chambers, I found it quiet. Moving in I found her sleeping sitting on the floor with her head on the bed. One of her palm on the crib. Where did that come from? I haven't ordered any. I realised, may be family must have send it for their little prince, they believe him to be their own. But not me, had she been pregnant I would have known. She wasn't. Slowly moving to her, I squatted down to come to her face level. I watched her as her chest rose and fell steadily. She looked calm. I gently removed her palm from the crib and wrapped it around my shoulder, I placed an arm around her back moving the other under her legs, gently lifting her up of the floor. Moving to the adjoining bedroom, I placed her gently on to the bed. She hummed a bit as her closed lids fluttered a bit. My eyes stayed glued to her face. I have missed her. A lot. And I am not going to lie about it. I have loved her with the intensity of madness. She had become a habit, a need, a drug I felt myself incapable to live without. I had confessed that to her, yet she decided to leave me.

I watched her face as she slept peacefully. A strand fell over her eyes and I gently removed it. Placing my palms on either side of her I leaned a little. I wanted to feel her breath. The situation I had brought her back had given me goose bumps. I wanted her alive, to face the pain I faced for these months. Anger surged my veins as my fingers curled on the bed spread. I wanted to wake her up, shake her hurt her and make her cry. I wanted the satisfaction of seeing her in pain. Instead of moving away, I leaned further, and she opened her eyes whispering my name, ''Veer!!!'' The way my name left her mouth heated my blood. My nerves started tensing and breath elevated. She lifted her palm and cupped my cheek. Her eyes started glistering, ''Veer, my Veer.'' And I lost all my power of rational thinking. Pinning her down on the bed, my lips came down on hers in a dominantly. She responded, the way she always did. She tried freeing her arms, but I didn't allow. I couldn't understand the urgency my mind and body felt at that moment. I wanted to absorb her completely, consume her till I felt nothing for her. She struggled to get free and with her growing struggle my dominance too went up. Finally, she surrendered letting me dominate her. With urgency I removed all which stood between her. Joining my physical self with hers. The touch of her skin, made me feel alive. I felt home. Moving my arm under her waist, I pulled her closer to my body. I asked, and she allowed.

A small voice in my brain was asking me to stop but the devil in me asked me to move ahead. It was my right, she belonged to me and just to me. As my thrusts increased, she moaned in pain. I was aware I was hurting her, and I stopped to watch her face. She was taking laboured breaths, her eyes closed, and cheeks wet with tears. Did she abhor my touch? Maybe she missed the touch of her child's father. The mere thought made me mad. My grip on wrists tightened as I came down on her again. She whimpered once and the her body tensed and I followed crashing over her. Rolling off her next minute, I turned away from her. I don't know if it was my anger or guilt of being animalistic with her. A minute later, I felt her soft arm surrounding my waist as she placed feathery kisses on my naked back. ''I missed you Veer.''

I preferred staying quite. She flattened her cheek on my back, ''Talk to me.'' She whispered . Lying on my stomach, I turned my face to her, ''You should sleep.''

''I want to , but in your arms.'' She said in a whisper roaming her palm over my back.

I watched her, her lip was chipped and had a trace of dried blood. Her wrists still looked red , so was her neck. Quickly jumping off the bed, I got into my clothes. I heard a shuffling sound and found her standing opposite to me, wrapped in a bedsheet, ''Where are you going?''

''To sleep''

''Why not here?'' She asked.

I read fear and pain in her eyes and it gave me pleasure. With a smirk, I leaned closer, ''because I can't sleep and breathe around you.''

''Then what happened few minutes ago?'' She asked, her voice choked.

''Well, its called need. I had, I full filled it. And why do you look so shocked princess. I am sure, you must have enjoyed it too. You always did.''

''Veer, Why?'' Her voice came shocked

''Why? You tell me princess, why do look so stressed. Wasn't I as good as your son's father? Or like Brijesh? Now, I am sure, you wouldn't have missed the opportunity with him too? Right?

She stumbled back, with her eyes on my face. She looked at me, then at the crumbled sheets and then at herself. She crashed on the floor and covered her mouth as a muffled sob escaped her lips. She pulled her limbs closer hugging herself. A new drama, but I am not falling for it again. ''It doesn't suit you princess, kill your act now.''

She kept sobbing, her face buried in her knees. She then suddenly stopped and picked her clothes running to the washroom. I heard the sound of running water and she came out fully dressed , her hair dripping. I watched as she frantically made up the bed and walked to the door when I grabbed her arm, ''where do you think you are going?''

She looked at me and then my grip on her arm, ''To the one who is my own, and will remain my own. You had your way. I have cleaned my traces of your bed. You can sleep peacefully your highness.'' Her voice came pained.

''Good! But dare you step out of this suite, I don't want my staff talking shit about my marital life.'' I warned turning away.

''Marital life? Is there any. You just made out with a slut and now when you are done. She is leaving. Have good night prince. '' Flinging those words at my face. She walked back into the room where her child slept. I heard the door being locked. For few minutes I watched the locked door and then threw my body on the bed to sleep. But that eluded me. After twisting and turning for good one hour on my bed. I left my chambers to get some fresh air. Moving through the narrow lobby I took stairs to the ground floor, moving towards the pool. Shedding my clothes, I stepped into the pool of cold water throwing my body at the mercy of it. Throwing my arms to duel the water, I started moving my limbs harshly in the water. My mind was running wild and I wanted to exhaust it completely. I took one leap after the other and missed the time. Tired I lifted my body up on the island. Lying down, I tried calming my disturbed breath. Staring at the star laden sky, my mind replaying all the events of the day. I hated myself for behaving the way I did, but a part of me was not sorry. I wanted her punished withering in pain, the way she left me. I still remember the days when I ran from one place to other, not sure how to kill the pain that twisted my interiors too the core. I would drive for hours along the lonely roads, trying to numb my pain. I still remember lying on the burning sand for hours and being rescued by bhai later. For days I had to be treated for sun burns over my body, but that pain too didn't curb the pain that she gave to my heart.

Sitting up I decided, she deserved all the pain I inflict on her, and presence of her child rubs salt on my wounds. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and decided to go in after few minutes, but few minutes turned into an hour and I was woken up by a staff, ''Hukum, should I serve your breakfast in the dine-in room or your chambers.''

''Did you send the food for princess?'' I asked.

''She refused and asked not to be disturbed for the rest of the day.'' I nodded, dismissing him. Pulling the robe over my body, I moved to my suite. I intentionally locked the main door with a loud sound, hoping the room opposite to mine to open. Instead, I heard a faint cry of the baby. Guess, I woke him up. I heard her voice, cooing the baby lovingly. Taking steps to her room, I stood outside thinking to knock or not. Giving up the idea I moved back to my room to freshen up.

After an hour, I decided to check on the guest area of the Palace. I hard started a small luxury resort few years back in the front region of the Palace, the back one I had reserved for my personal use. I still have 5 suites ad about 10 bedrooms at my disposal. The resort only can be afforded by people having big bank accounts. Its famous among the business circles for conferences and outings. Even foreigners prefer the calm surroundings and the luxury we provide. The desert is not too far from here and our desert bonfires have been quite famous. We give our guests a good tour of our colourful culture through dance performances. We even provide our guests the luxury desert safari, through vehicles and camels and even horses. As I moved in the building, many of my returning guests smiled at me. Exchanging few polite words, I moved ahead to check on the operations.

Moving to the reception, I checked on the operations of the day. When a laughter took my attention. Rajshri sat in the lounge area flirting with a blonde man. I shook my head, this female will never improve. She looked at me once and stood walking to me with a smirk, ''Congratulations, on being a father.''

I nodded, turning away from her. ''Whom does your baby resemble? You or your wife.'' I knew she was playing with my nerves. But I had to shut her off, ''Me, happy.''

''Wow! So, the baby is really yours. I thought...'' I grabbed her arm harshly before she could utter another word, ''Think less Princess, or might lose your limbs and I mean it.'' I watched wincing in pain for a moment before letting her go, ''Don't mess Rajshri, bhai let you go. I won't.'' Turning to the receptionist I ordered, ''Make sure she leaves soon and henceforth, she should never be seen around the premises of Rathore properties.'' The girl behind the desk nodded nervously.

The mention of the child had send my nerves burning again. I will never forget the mocking eyes of Rajshri, it looked as if she was laughing on me for being the father of someone else's child. My legs halted, if she thinks that. There must be others who would believe the same, only my family. They have been doting on him so much. I have finish this drama and soon. What if they get to know that child is not mine, will they force me to divorce Dipika. No, I won't let her ago. Not again, if I let her go she will move on happily and I will remain behind brooding on my broken heart. She will stay, with me. Till end of our breaths and suffer the way I am. I decided to move to my chambers to check if she stepped out. To my dismay, the door was still locked. My heart started pounding in fear when I couldn't hear a nothing. I quickly moved to my room and the to the porch, which connected with the porch of her room, through a narrow passage. As I pulled open the door, I heard her laughter which calmed my heart. Stepping out I moved out towards the balcony facing my room. I pretended ignorant of her presence. I pretended, but she was completely ignorant of my presence. From the corner of my eyes I watched her animatedly talking to the child in her arms and he replied with small sounds. Dressed in black skirt and full sleeves blue t-shirt and her hair down her waist, she looked fresh out of college. She twirled around asking her baby if he liked it. She twirled again , our eyes met and her eyes lost all emotions. Her face turned stony, she kept her gaze locked wit mine before turning them away. She picked the baby blanket lying on the floor and I knew she would lock herself again. Quickly moving to her side, I blocked her path, '' Why did you lock your door?''

''I don't feel safe.'' She answered in same stony expression.

''Why would you? I guess his father made you feel safer.'' I taunted. A flash of pain passed through her face and quickly vanished. After a minute, her lips curved on a side into a smirk, ''I curse the day I fell for his father and above all I curse the day I fell for you.'' Moving across me, she walked past me, ''The feeling is mutual Princess, and this is your fate for rest of the life.'' I threw words at her. With an I care a damn glance she walked back into her room shutting the door on my face again.

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