Swept Off!

Pratap was in his office the next day, in a light yellow shirt and blue pants, with a pile of files when the cycle ring made him look out of the window. Within 5minutes she was knocking on his chamber door. She walked in, in a frog printed long top paired with her jeans.

" Sir..."

" You don't need to, now everyone knows."

" knows what?" She asked frowning.

" Leave it, say..."

" I need to leave around 2 today, Rohan's coming in the 5PM flight." She hid a smile.

" So? What will you do from two? Dress up and wait for him?" His taunt had anger.

" No, am going to pick them up!" She seemed excited.

" What? Why? He can get a cab!" He shrugged.

"Mahek doesn't ride cabs!" She copied Mahek's tone.

" Ohh Mahek! Take my car!"

" Excuse me?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

" Gaddi leke jao, bechari ko tumhare choti si gaddi mein takleef hogi!"

" Huh!!" She was about to leave.

" Main bhi chalunga!" He stopped her.

" Kya?" She asked surprised. “ Office chodke?”

" I will go with you to pick them up." He called the driver.

" Kaka woh guests wala car mangwa lenge please at 2pm."

" You have a guests wala car??" She asked amused. He shrugged.

They were on their way to Udaipur when Ajabde's phone rang.

Chadi Mujhe Yaari Teri Aisi Jaise Daaru Desi….

" Hey Ro! Ohh You are boarding? That's great ya we will reach in time. Okay! Have a safe trip."

Pratap placed his hand over her shoulder and pulled her close as she spoke. She rolled her eyes indicating at Kaka.

" What? He knows!" Pratap shrugged and whispered.

" I am warning you..." She said narrowing her eyes as he stared at her smiling.

" Stay away from Mahek!"

" Well... Main ladkiyon ke piche nahi ladkiyaan mere piche bhagti hai ... "

" Blah blah blah" She taunted making him smile.

At the airport, Mahek walked out in a short mini skirt with Rohan.

" Ohhoho! Garmi thodi badh gayi nahi Ajabde?" He smiled.She narrowed her eyes at him.

" Dekho... Tum..."

" Hi Mahek!" Mahek smiled at Pratap when she was coming to hug him and Ajabde came in his way and hugged her. 

" Ohh Mahek good to see you!"

" Hey Man!" Rohan shook hands as Pratap stared at him coldly.

" Chalo sab!" Ajabde was excited, " Hum pehle Mahel jaenge Ranima se milne!"

" Aww Mahel... wow!" Mahek was impressed.

" Yeah, I stay in it!" Pratap replied. Ajabde was fuming  red.

" Rohan! She called out. " Chal na. Let me travel back with you... we have so many things to talk of!" She gushed.

" Chal..."

" Nahin! " Came a loud protest from Pratap as Ajabde hid a smile.

" Mera matlab we have a guest car for you, Ajabde I need to discuss the school project and some stuff, you come with me!"

Before she could protest he was taking her to the car.

" Wow you have guest cars too! " Mahek was in awe again.

Back in the car, Ajabde said, " Listen Princy! I didn't tell Mahek about us...."

" Ohh Thank You!" She slapped his hand. " I mean, I said you have a coronation and all..."

" Plan kya hai Ajabde Punwar?"

" To give her the chance and see if you take it!" She gave him a wicked smile.

" Accha ji?"

" Haan Ji!"

" What if I take it?"

" I know how to kill with guns!" She looked ahead.

" Really? By practising an hour and two bullets?"

" Two are enough! Two people Two bullets!"

He held her hand. " I love this Ajabde Punwar and no silly Mahek is gonna come in between, but I can really really punch that guy any time soon!"

" Jus don't kill him, he is a good friend!" She suggested.

" Waise I have someone coming to meet you in the evening at the Palace lawn." He smiled.

" Who? Who? Batao kaun hai! Batao , Batao!"

" Surprise!" He replied in her tone. She frowned.

They reached the Palace and Ajabde introduced the duo to Ranima. 

" Ajab aap apne dosto ko kal Udaipu ghuma le ayiye... Aur gaon bhi dikha dijiyega."

" Yes Yes Ajab, please, lets go see Udaipur!" Mahek was excited.

" But... Hum Ghar chalke baat karte hai.... maine kabhi na dekha Udaipur...."

" Ghar kyun?" Ranima asked. " Inke rehene k liye hum guest quarter khulwa dete hai, aapki atithi hai na!"

" Jaisa aap chahe Ranima... " 

" Aur baat rahi Udaipur ghumne ki to Pratap le jaega kal, Pratap! Chale jana inko leke." Ajabde didn't know when he walked in there but he was grinning.

" Surely Ranima no problem!"

" Then subah chale jana Eklingji Darshan pe waha se Udaipur, thik hai na Ajab Beta?"

" Ranima, isse kyun pooch rahi aap, guests se puchiye na... Mahek no prob na?"

Ajab made a face as Mahek gushed, " No No, No problem."

In the evening, the sun was about to set and Ajabde was in her room, arranging the things when she heard a noise and turned around to see him climb up the window.

" What the.."

" hushh!"

" Why are you here? You Thief!" She taunted.

" Thief?? " 

" Haan Thief!" She giggled.

" Kya churaya maine?"

" Mera Dil!" The moment she said it she was like Ohh Shit!! as he stared at her teasingly.

She was about to make a run for it when he held her wrist and said, " Kya bola tumne?"

" Kuch Nahi Jaane do!"

" Kya kaha?" He held her by the waist.

" Jaane do!"

" Hush!" He stopped her by the hand. " Stop shouting! Hansa Mausi aa gayi toh?"

" Toh tum bolna, Mujhe kya pata, kamre mein tum aye... waise kyun aye?"

" Thank God pooch liya, suno, abhi mere jaane ke 30 min baad, mujhe Mahal ke piche waale ground pe milna!"

" Kyu..."

" Koi sawal nahi! Aur kisiko batane ki zarurat bhi nahi!"

" Hum bhaag rahe hai kya?" She was amused.

" Aa jana bas!" She smiled. He walked towards her with a teasing smile when she stopped him by her hand, giggling, " Tum Jao toh pehle!"

Ajabde walked out of home in her baggy jeans, a pink top and a blue cap. She walked towards the Mahal then took the servant’s quarter’s route to the ground. She stopped at the sight ahead.  Two beautiful horses stood in front of her eyes, one white and one black. She leaped in joy as Pratap smiled at her.

“ Eeeee! Horsy!!”

“ No No, I can tolerate Princy but you dare not call my Chetak any names! “ He protested aloud.

“ Meet The Love of my life Chetak! Chetak this is umm… someone who is going to try to snatch me from you!”

The horse neighed. “ See he talks!” Pratap flaunted.

“ Hi Chetak!! You are beautiful!” She stroked him.

“ Ohh, by the way the black one is for you, it’s a gift!” He smiled as she looked surprised. 

“ Wow shit really? I should thank Ranima!”

“ Actually, it’s a gift from me… you always wanted horse riding lessons when we were kids…  and it's better than dogs running around in the palace...”

“ Yeah, I used to chase your ponies!” She laughed.

“ They were not ponies, just smaller horses.”

“ Ponies!”

“ You like him?”

“ Wow Black beauty, no offense Chetak, he is more beautiful.”

“ So you have a name?”

“ Yeah … let me think… no… no… not that… I know! Sarang!”

“ Sarang?”

“ As in the musical instrument! Coz I love music! Hi Sarang!”

“ So this is my first official gift to you, now you can flaunt this to people.”

“ I don’t flaunt!” She cut him.

" Let's ride." He helped her up on the horse. 

" Woah this is so... I should click a selfie." She took out her phone. He nodded.

" Now listen carefully, you will just sit, I will guide both the horses. Okay?"

" All right, Yay! Go Sarang!" She turned to him taunting, " Eww Prince in a white horse!"

They rode in the grounds laughing and enjoying the cool evening breeze. Her hair blew in the air making him stare. His stare made her uncomfortable as she spoke nervously. He got down from Chetak and was instructing her to get down, when Ajabde accidentally put her wrong foot up resulting in her stumbling from Sarang right on Pratap who caught her from falling to the ground. Eyes closed in fear she could feel his strong arms on her back and legs as she grabbed his shirt. He smiled at her pale face as she opened her eyes and blushed red. 

" So much of a braveheart you are!" He smiled lovingly.

" I... someone might see..."

" So?" He held her up, closer to him, " you know what?" he whispered.

" What?" She asked blushing.

" The prince in a white horse just swept you off your feet Ajabde Punwar!" He kissed her forehead as she hid her face in his chest.