003

ZAINA got to her and helped her up, she then turned to the girls, glaring, but she needed not, they had all already dispersed on seeing her coming.

"God save those girls," she spat out, then handed her face napkin to her.

"Here dear, help yourself," she smiled.

Rina sniffed, cleaning up herself with the napkin.

"Thanks Zaina, I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't come," she said.

Zaina smiled.

"Nothing dear Rina, hope you didn't get a sprain?" She asked, looking her over.

Rina shook her head. 

"No, thanks."

"Come on, let's leave here. I was actually out looking for you," she held her right hand.

"Oh really?" A smile played on her face.

Even though the whole world turns their back on her, she was damn sure of one soul who wouldn't.

"Yeah, the class was really boring and this book..." she held up the novel for her to see, "though interesting, but not when you aren't around. So I had to come looking for you."

Rina smiled again, she couldn't help it, and she held her in a tight hug. Zaina laughed.

"It is nothing Rina," she said.

"Thanks," and they disengaged from the hug.

"So how was your night?" Zaina asked, they began walking toward their classroom.

"Very okay, yours?"

"Good as well. How do you see this Prince talk of a thing? I'm really getting fatigued by it," she diverged.

Rina sighed.

"Me too, getting fed up."

"One of the reasons I left the class, the students were all just discussing about it," she licked her lips.

Rina’s eyes widened.

"Even in the classroom?" She couldn't believe it.

"Yep, in the class. Meanwhile all these ladies going head over heels for the Prince should better know it that a more beautiful girl is available anyway," she winked, a suspicious smile on her lips.

Rina gasped.

"Zaina," they laughed.

"Yes, if ever the news that he is coming to pick a bride is true, then he will have you to look at first, before looking elsewhere."

Rina laughed and slapped her shoulders.

“Silly!” She cussed.

"You are obviously the most beautiful in this school, and I guess that is why most of the schoolmates hate you so much."

"Ahh! Zaina."

"My opinion though, who knows?" She shrugged.

They looked at each other and laughed, then walked into the classroom.

***

        🇺🇲New York City🇺🇸

         |•Raghav Estates•|

Prince Raghav sat on one of the large couches in the room, his head laid on the headrest, and his legs stretched out. His eyes were closed as a lot of thoughts were going on within him.

In a few weeks time, he actually would be going home, going back to his town, his hometown, his kingdom.

Eight years ago, he had left the kingdom in search of greener pastures in education. He had actually left for studies, he needed to further his education, and so leaving the kingdom was the only way out.

Not that he couldn't get the best education in Shimla, no, but because his father, King Neel wanted it so. He wanted the heir to the throne out of the kingdom for studies, according to him, to get refined, more refined as a soon to be king.

Now, he had been able to graduate from the university as a Medical Doctor, a general practitioner in medicine and surgery, bagged and acquired all the degrees acquirable, and going back to the kingdom wasn't in his agenda at all.

Infact, he never wanted to go back, and that was why he had not been there for eight years. Even at least, a brief visit, he never visited.

He had even told his father, the King, that he won't be coming back home. But trust royalties, he threatened to disown him as his son if he doesn't set his eyes on him again.

"You have to come home and develop your kingdom with the knowledge you have gotten, to be like the others, it was people like you who developed the one you are enjoying today," he had said.

"Phew," he mouthed getting up, then shifted the side table which he had used to write down some things, and he walked over to the French window to overlook the city's beauty.

It was a glass ceiling to floor window, very large and so, he saw the beautiful landscape of the city in full view.

It was evening and so the setting of the sun was highly visible, as it shone few metres away from him, it was a golden sun. Its hue cascading over the city buildings.

He was still looking out when he heard knocks on the door, he didn't turn, neither did he care to answer it. He just stood looking out the window. That was typical of him.

Whoever was at the door should knock and when he or she gets tired, he should go and come back later, but if it was some daring souls, they can come in after incessant knocks.

Soon the oak door opened and Bella entered. It was a daring soul. She looked round the room and swallowed hard.

This wasn't her first time of actually coming to that room, she has been there countless times but its beauty and opulence never ceases to amaze her.

It was a large spacious room. The floor covered in brown 3D flooring, and at the middle was a mini rug with the portrait of a roaring lion on it.

A small glass table stood on the rug, there was a flower vase with beautiful colourful flowers on the table as well.

A golden coloured chandelier hung from the ceiling. Couches surrounded the corners, all embedded in a leopard’s hide. 

Pillows with same casing strewn all over the couch, about two were on the floor.

She smiled, he must have dropped it mistakenly and left without picking it up.

The walls were practically designed with intricate designs of lions and tigers, depicting royalty.

Lights of different colours graced the room at intervals, going on and off. The cool breeze from the air conditioners relaxed her nerves.

By the right was the dining, a complete family dining set with strong chairs and a large long table made of strong obsidian wood.

By the left stood his piano set, where he sits and play musics at his leisure time. He wasn't a pianist, but he was damn good with the piano.

Bella looked round, right, left, some other doors stood, leading into the little rooms. She had never been into any of them and never dared to, the Prince had given a stern warning never to.

She then looked toward the window where he stood and damn! She swallowed hard, totally mesmerized, he was shirtless.

His hot muscular body radiated under the little lights in the room, seeing him shirtless again was something, she tried waving it out of her head, tried to fight it.

She couldn't hold herself anymore and so, she gave up. Slowly, she began making her way towards him, got to where the pillows had fallen on the floor and picked them up, then tossed them to the couch.

All these while Raghav never turned to even have just a look at the intruder, he just kept looking out of the window.

Bella got to him and slowly wrapped her hands around him from behind, feeling his body, his scent, his cologne. It was warm, hmm, she closed her eyes. Was this what she gonna miss?

Leaving him going back home alone and… and then another lady begins… she stopped, she never want to think that would ever happen.

"Mi amor," she said in a whisper.

Raghav didn't flinch, neither did he turn or even reply, he stood, still looking out of the window. Unmoved, unbothered.

Bella had held him in a tight hug that way for like ten minutes, before she decided to speak out, she couldn't envisage herself standing there like that for another ten minutes, she had to speak up.

"Um… my Prince I..."

"What do you want Bella?" His deep emotionless baritone spoke.

Jeez! Bella flinched, and she withdrew her hands.

"I really want to go back with you mi amor, please," she pleaded.

Raghav said nothing, he still stood looking out.

Bella frowned, why was he behaving like she was nothing? Couldn't he notice her presence?

After about three minutes, he turned to look at her, his hair waved under the gentle breeze coming in through the window.

Holy Moly! Bella gasped, he was damn more handsome today.

"Bella have I told you anything concerning this before?" He asked, his Adams apple moving up and down as he spoke.

She looked downwards, avoiding his gaze.

"I'm talking to you", he blurted, his pitch a bit higher.

She flinched and slowly raised her head to look at him.

"Yes my Prince", she replied.

"Good, I don't like repeating myself," he said and began walking toward the couch where he had gotten up from. She turned, her gaze following as he walked.

"But my Prince, I'm still pleading, please," she rubbed her palms together, her voice shook.

Raghav scoffed, was she really going to cry? He relaxed comfortably into the couch and picked up the magazine on the side table and began flipping through.

Bella felt ignored, what kind of man was this? How could he deny her following him back to his kingdom, not just her, no she wasn't just her, as far as she was concerned, she was his girlfriend.

"My Prince?" She called again.

"Use the door Bella," came the command.

On other occasions, she would have began begging, but now, presently now, this command sent chills down her spine, she didn't want to envisage what would happen next.

The tears she had been trying her best to hold immediately came rushing down her face, and instantly she ran up to the door, and ran out.