THE CONQUEROR'S CAPTIVE

IS THIS IS A YES?

Surabhi's POV

"These should go to the first guest chamber and these to the other one. Make sure that each and every chamber has guards every minute of every hour of the day. Remember who is arriving. The strongest king of our country. We need to make a good impression in them. Now go".

I walked to Janaki who was instructing the attendees for the preparations of my brother's arrival. As soon as she saw me, she dismissed the attendees and turned to me. "How are you feeling about this?", she asked while biting her lips in hesitation. "I have no idea what to do. I was at the Ashram when your brother made this announcement. What do I do now, Janaki? I barely survived when my sister came here. I will not survive the pain of seeing the rest of my family and not meeting them even once", I rambled in one breath. She shushed me and held me by my shoulders and made me sit on a near by couch. 

"See, you know why you are here. And you also know what will happen if you go back. So, the only logical thing would be to meet them once and discuss like grown ups on what to do. Tell them that you want to stay back in here. And if they don't get it, we all will try our best. We'll negotiate and make some good decision. Don't worry. Whatever happens, I will be there with you", I nodded but deep within I still was worried what would happen when I finally reunited with my family. She smiled and got back to ordering the attendees something and I remembered to talk to Maharaj about what Guruji had told me. 

I stood up and told Janaki to call me if she needed any help and made my way to Maharaj's chamber. I walked up the flight of stairs and when I almost reached his chamber, my smile grew and I ran being unable to hold back my excitement. Guruji had given me a way to be with him and I couldn't wait to tell him that. I looked at the closed doors of his chamber and opened it without knocking like always and ran inside. But the second I shifted my gaze from the ground below me and looked up, my smile fell. 

Maharaj was panting and looked as if he was furious. And in front of him was Sunaina who was crying like someone had died. "Do you even hear yourself? Love? You love me? I am your brother for god's sake!!", he shouted making me flinch at the echo. My heart broke when I hear his words. I knew she liked him but love? I had not expected that. "My cousin, Bhargav. I have never seen you as a brother. And don't act like you did not know. I have always given you enough hints about this", she replied while wiping her tears. He ran his hands through his hair and breathed loudly. "Sunaina, I do not have any other feeling for you except for something similar to what I feel for Janaki. I have always seen you as my younger sis-".

"DON'T SAY IT, BHARGAV!! Don't break my heart anymore. You are saying all this because of her, aren't you? I wasn't wrong when I said you loved her. You love her. You-"

"It does not matter if I love her or not, Sunaina. We can never be together", he said pointing towards the both of them, "I don't see you that way!"

"Why don't you, Bhargav? Didn't everyone tease us that we'll get married someday? Why did you not say anything back then? Why did you give me hopes just to break my heart one day? Is it because back then you were not a king and your royal adviser wasn't in the picture?"

"Do you even hear yourself? We were kids. I did not have the maturity to understand the depth of marriage and I kept quiet. And that does not mean I was giving you any hope. I am not that boy anymore. How could you keep something like that in mind and say that you love me? We should not even be having this discussion right now. You should not even be here all alone with me".

It was all quiet for a few seconds except for her mild sobs but suddenly, she walked to him and hugged him around his chest firmly. I gasped in shock making him realize my presence. He rolled his eyes in frustration and pushed her away with all his might. "COME BACK TO YOUR SENSES!!! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?", he looked behind me and called for some female guards. As soon as he turned at me, Sunaina's gaze followed him and her cries turned into angry curses. The guards pulled her away and out of the chamber while she kept shouting at me. He instructed Chetan to make sure their family reached their home safely and appointed some royal guards to make sure they were safe even in his absence.