A Pull Of Destiny

9| A Race

|CHAPTER - 9|

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The vast palace of Sagara was brightly lit with several dias and oil lanterns hanging around the corridors, after all, it was Maha Shivratri, a grandly celebrated festival all-around their empire and for Rani Anasuya tonight was more than important. Out of her ocean full of tries to put her son in the spotlight, this is just another water drop of a try. 

Anasuya was on her way to her son's quarters to make sure that he was all prepared but the moment she entered his chamber a huge scowl laced her face. His chamber was filled with the cheap perfume of a prostitute and was reeking of alcohol. 

And the prince lay unconscious on his bed completely lost from this world. Rani Anasuya’s eyes swirled with anger and pain, not because she was getting to see her son in this pitiful state but because how gods have punished her with such a stupid as her son. 

“Dipankar!” Anasuya punched his shoulder trying to wake him up, “Wake up!” 

The prince finally woke up unable to bear his mother's screeching voice and Anasuya handed him a glass of water as she spoke, “Look, all you have to do is stay sober and I will see to it that you win.” 

Dipankar’s loud mirthless laughter echoed through empty chambers and he stepped down his bed, “How?” He asked, stretching his arms to relax his muscles. 

“I have placed my men in between the race track where there is no audience and they will take care of your father's bastard.” Preaching all her pious plans his mother soon left his chambers and Dipankar threw the glass in his hand to the floor in frustration and soon he couldn't help but toss all the furniture in his chambers and break them to bits and pieces.

His stung with tears as a piece of wood pierced his palm in that process. If anything he loathes his stepbrother Raghuveer to death and tonight he will not lose. He will win this race at any cost and will see to it that his bastard of a brother will know that he can never mark his place in this palace.

••

After a long bullock cart journey, they have finally reached the place where the race was being held. Riya couldn't help but frown, dangling her feet down the cart, once again the cart was too tall from the ground making it impossible for her to jump and Raghuveer sat behind her silently massaging his forehead as he impatiently waited for her to step down.

"Will you keep staring like that or-" 

"This is too tall again." Riya huffed sadly as she leaned her head backwards on his shoulder and Raghuveer rolled his eyes shrugging her head off. 

"Move to a side so that I can step down and help you." Saying he slowly tried to move forward pushing Riya behind but unexpectedly he hit his head to the roof making him scrunch down and unexpectedly Riya rubbed his head trying to reduce his pain as she laughed saying, "You are too tall to stand up in this little space." 

Dhruvan's eyes widened seeing this scene, that woman patted Rajkumar's head mocking him and in return weirdly his prince suppressed a smile at her making Dhruvan suppress a scream. Did she do some black magic on his master that he was smiling around her? 

Soon Raghuveer got down and placed his hands near her waist trying to help her and Riya giggled loudly seeing his discomfort. Laughing she placed her hands around his neck jumping in his arms and Raghuveer was surprised with her sudden jump making him stumble backwards with her in his arms making Riya laugh a bit more. 

"I told you to step down, not jump on me!" Raghuveer scolded her as he looked straight in her cheerful eyes, his hands perfectly placed around her waist trying to keep the balance.