Chapter 3

Obsession : Personality

 

She was fuming!  That old lady, the moment she vowed to appease her, had to punish her!  What type of Rajmata was she, so easily influenced by that brat!  So easily siding with that pompous jerk of a father, someone who felt like it was necessary to tell people his name started with a "B" from a diamond incrusted pin.  Not only did these people have no clue about how much fabric they wasted, but they had no clue about how poor their perception was of other people.  'Learn how to act, she says, especially from that witch, no way!'

The bathroom door opened with a pop, cutting the silence which Manyata spent in furious contemplation, and she watched from the corner of her eye as Jai emerged out.  She tried holding her smirk as her dear little sister's expression seemed to have waned, her forehead beaded in sweat, and her arm clutching her stomach furtively.  The sound of Jai's moan of agony reached her ears, "God!  I can't handle this; I can't get this out of my system!"

"Jai jiji, what happened?  That's the third time in five minutes you've used the restroom!"  Her eyes were glinting at the predicament she knew Jai was in.

"Shut up!"

"Oh ho ho, I was just asking!  Especially since you're looking so pasty and I think those are dark marks under your eyes…"

"I just have a stomach flu, but it's none of your business."  The poor witch, she had no idea that this bought of diarrhea was going to last for more than just a few hours.

Looking contemplative, Manyata stood up and took two noticeable footsteps away from Jai's approaching form, "No wonder! I've been wondering what that stench was," hiding her smile with the hand she used to pinch her nose.

"You! You horrible –" Jai's sentence was cut short as her stomach loudly protested at her enraged movements to reach Manyata, "Aaah!  Somebody help me!"

Rushing over to the poor little brat, Manyata tried to put her hand around her, but Jai just turned away from her.  "Listen!  I feel really bad for you.  Why don't you go to the kitchen and tell the Chef Uncle your symptoms, he can make something to calm your stomach.  I tried talking to the staff but everyone is staying away from the room…"

"What!"

Looking into Jai's widened eyes, Manyata continued to build her up to diva potential, "Yes!  They seem to think something is rotten in the room, and are waiting for the sanitation staff to clean it – but I told Rajmata that you are unwell and she told them to help you."

"How dare they!"  Jai's lips curled into a snarl.

"My dear jiji, I know!  You really should get something on your own, otherwise you'll be in this state for a long time; and once you feel better you and LMNOP can yell at the servants all you want!  How could they think something is rotten in this room!"

Jai glanced back at Manyata and tried to give her best look of haughty disgust, "Of course they thought something must be bad in this room, have you seen yourself, piece of chawl trash!"  Satisfied, she left her room; and at the soft click of the bedroom door closing, Manyata's face broke out in a happy smile.

Dusting her hands, she merrily chirped out "Airhead!"

In midst of her small victory, she heard a clash of voices outside her door, inching towards it, she pressed her ear against it.  A calm and clear voice said, "Wow, Jai, all I said as soon as I saw you is 'feel better.'  How is it that I just teased you?"

"Listen, chutki, you don't need to interfere in things that do not concern you!  This smell is not from me!"

Manyata's eyebrows were creased together, taking in the conversation, slowly absorbing Unnati's confusion and Jai's expected brash accusations.

"What smell, Jai?  I just –"

"You know what, Unnati?  If your dada wasn't Udayveer, than you wouldn't even have the small amount of friends that you do!  You wouldn't even have that low-class maid!  Now move!"

Manyata's eyes widened and she eased away from the door, feeling extremely sorry for Unnati, 'She's really a witch!"  Hearing a soft knock, and the groan of the door opening, her eyes flicked over to Unnati.  'Poor girl, she's so nice!   But lonely, just like me…"

"Hi, Manyata, I just came to –"

"Look, Unnati!  I heard what happened, and when that brat comes back I'll set her straight!"

"Manyata –I mean, Moniya – don't worry.  Jai always says things like that, I just ignore it…"

"But I can't Unnati!  What does she think of herself?"  Walking towards Unnati and holding her hands within her own, "Look, I am your friend because I like you, Unnati.  Plus, your brother makes my blood boil!"

Satisfied once Unnati's face broke into a soft smile, Manyata hugged her and they both laughed.

"Look, Moniya, Rajmata called because she told us you want to go out but she punished you…"

"I know, she wants me to learn how to be like Jai!  Can you imagine!"  Smiling, Unnati just shook her head at Manyata.  Regardless, of how the princess had spent her last sixteen years, it was obvious that she had enjoyed her life despite the poor circumstances.  She tilted her head in interest as Manyata began going through Jai's closet mumbling.

"Moniya, why are you looking through Jai's closet?"

Looking over her shoulder Manyata said, "Look, until Rajmata decides if I can leave this huge museum for a while, I am going to show her what being Jai means…"  Grabbing a forest-green dress, she twirled with a grin and entered the bathroom.

Unnati became startled as the bedroom door swung open and her brother walked in.  She watched as he raised his eyebrow, and made a gesture asking where Manyata was.  She pointed towards the door, and twitched her eyebrows upwards twice while doing a hand movement as if asking her brother, "What happened?"  Udayveer's lips broke out into a grin, and he gave her a thumbs-up, and she smiled.  'I guess Princess Manyata's wish to go outside for a bit has been fulfilled by Dada.'  Her brother decided to lean against the wall, a little out of direct eye sight from the bathroom, and joined her in waiting for Manyata. 

A few moments later the bathroom door slammed open, and Manyata emerged.  "Tauba!"  Looking to the side she saw a pair of black heels and wore them.  "Okay!"  Looking towards her, Manyata swung her head around a bit and then patted the back of hair, "U!  Gosh babes!  What took so long?"  Unnati's eyes widened incredulously.

From his corner Udayveer felt frozen in place, he had initially entered the room to see if Unnati had managed to convince Manyata to wear some decent, proper clothes, and to tease Manyata.  Dadisa had called him earlier to tell him that Jai was not feeling well and Manyata wanted some fresh air.  Although, Dadisa was worried about the Princess' intentions and needed him and Unnati to calm her nerves and alleviate any worries associated with Manyata stepping outside of the palace walls.  Little did he expect to see Manyata doing an impersonation of her spoilt sister. 

In fact, Uday was surprised that Manyata was able to find a dress in Jai's closet that reached her knees, but the sight of her exposed legs and open hair was mesmerizing.  She truly was a natural beauty.  As the Princess tried to swing her hips in a grotesque depiction of Jai's impression of a seductive walk, he almost choked.  He smiled as Unnati held onto the bedpost, the strength of her laughter causing her body to shake.

He admired the silhouette of Manyata, highlighted by the slight tightness of the dress around her derriere, while her legs looked lengthened and her chest jutted out slightly due to the heels.  She simply had no idea what images she was giving birth to in his mind.  Her steps faltered minutely, and she covered her imbalance with a flick of her hand which caused him to erupt in laughter as she said, "Oh mah gawd!  Who do these heels think they are?  I am Gamandhini and they have no right to make me fall flat on my spoilt face, especially since my air-head is enough to keep me standing straight!"

He came forward, clapped and said, "Wow, Princess!  Really, you must have done some good sisterly bonding!  Jai finally adopted that chawl smell, while you have her attitude down right!"  Her jaw became slack and her mouth opened.

"Dada!"  Unnati laid a hand on his shoulder.

Manyata clasped her hands together, "Please, not today!"

"Actually, Princess Manyata, I think you'll like my presence today!"

"Not really!"

"Not even if I said that I got Dadisa to give you permission to leave Raj Mahal?"  He curled his lips into a tight smiled, tilting his head to assess her maelstrom of emotions that flitted past her face.  The shock, the relief, the happiness.

"Really!"  Her eyes came alive and she gave Unnati a huge grin.

"That's great, Manyata!" Unnati quipped; he could tell that his sister was thoroughly amused by this whole situation.

"Although, darling," he gave her a cheeky grinned as she glared in response to another of his pet names, "there is a catch…" She kept silent, waiting for him to continue.  "You need to wear one of the outfits that Chutki brought you yesterday." The minute break of silence was broken by her happy exclamation.

"Okay, deal!  I agree to everything!  Unnati! Please, bring me any one of them – I'll wear it!"

"Sure, Manyata, I'll be right back."

They both watched Unnati leave, and Udayveer turned back to Manyata, "You're looking really nice, Manyata.  I can't believe you found a dress this long, didn't think Jai owned one…"

"Ha. ha, Uday!  Just because I owe you for helping me get permission, doesn't mean I want to talk to you!"

"There's another thing you need to know that you promised to, Manyata."

"What?"

"Well, Unnati and I will accompany you."

She groaned, "Fine, whatever!  At least Unnati will be there!"  Twirling on her heel, Manyata lost balance and crashed into Uday.  He reflexively held her tight and they fell onto the bed, Manyata leaning on top of him as her legs were in between his.  The faces were not level, as hers was slightly above his, saving Manyata from Uday seeing her face redden from embarrassment for one of the first times in her life.  She felt so highly self-conscious, he could probably hear the fast beating of her heart, and Uday's warm breath fluttering over the bare skin exposed by the v-neck of her dress caused a fan of heat to take over her body.  Meanwhile, her hands were crushed between their bodies, her palms pressed firmly against his broad chest, leading her to feel the strength of his physique.  His own hands were splayed along her back, in his haste to break her fall and absorb the impact, that his fingertips felt as if they were causing pulses of heat to shoot into her. 

She wanted to desperately move, and tried hoisting herself off of him, to only slip and fall deeper into his embrace.  Goodness, was she suffocating him?  His nose was nuzzling the column of her throat as his lips were barely brushing her chest.  She wished she could scream at him, but Manyata knew he wasn't daring to move.  How could he, when she was lying on top of his fully inclined and prone form?  "One minute Uday, I'll get off of you …just let me get a good grip…"  Manyata slid her hands down towards his stomach, gliding along the chiseled planes of his body, and gripped the material of his shirt.  She was so uncomfortable from the predicament that she put herself in that she couldn't thank god enough that the prince couldn't see her face, and that she couldn't see his!  With a fervor of energy, she pushed herself up quickly, happy to not be fullly pressed against him anymore.

He saw her look down at him, her hair slightly shadowing her face twisted in an expression of apology.  If only she knew that this was probably one of the most rewarding moments for him, than instead of looking sorry, she would be hitting him.  As he made to prop himself up on his elbows, feeling as if he was breathing in the air laced with tension as though it was thin air, he heard her squeak.  Immediately her body collided with his again as her ankle rolled due to the heels.  Her hands had now slid into the space between his body and elbows, created when propping himself up, and were effectively squished behind his back.  It felt like her body was totally fused with his now, their legs entwined, and her chest pressed against his.  Not sure whether to curse or praise her dress for enhancing the feel of her body, he chuckled.

"Look Princess, you are my to-be wife so no need to feel shy concerning me."  He reveled in her look of indignation as he took the liberty of sliding his hands from her hips, along her sides, and held her tightly near her rib cage.  With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he flipped them over and propped himself over her.  His arms supporting his weight as they were still touching form the waist downward.  "See, Princess, no matter the situation – I can help you."  Taking delight in her constantly flicking eyes which finally seemed to just stare away from his own intense gaze, he rolled away and lay next to her. 

"I could never become a Jai Nandini – these clothes, these things, I am not meant for them." 

Rolling his eyes at the ceiling, he listened to the nervous tapping of the Princess' feet against the sides of the bed.  Understanding that she was creating a subject to alleviate the tension formed by the previous moments, he sighed and said, "Princess, I told you – you are fine the way you are.  Even in these clothes you were a wild cat," laughing at his own double joke he felt Manyata nudge him and get off the bed. 

She watched him as he laughed, eyes closed and resting contently on the bed.  He was the essence of elegant self-confidence.  This annoying prince was truly enigmatic and she smiled, aware he would not witness the first time she ever bestowed one upon him.

The gap between the main doors opened wider and Unnati strode in with a bag containing all the outfits she had presented the day before.  Taking the bag handed over to her, Manyata peered at its contents and took a quick peek towards the still resting Prince, uttering, "Not so bad, after all."

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FIN

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Hope you liked it!

Happy new year once again