Trials of Love (One - Shots)

9.1 Modern Cinderella (Part II)

Hello Fam :)

A/N - Nothing Cinderella here. Just an extension of the previous part. :P

Warning: It's roughly 12k words. Feel free to take a break in between if you need. :)

Happy Reading...

"I am going to get lost in this supermall within the next ten minutes. Why is official bonding forced on employees? Who even watches a movie with their boss? That too when the boss is our beloved sadist. Why can't someone kidnap me already?"

"Maybe because your dad might file a case and argue until they are thrown in jail?", said Cabir, interrupting her words.

Nandini has been more or less repeating the same thing over and over again for hours now. Hence, she rolled her eyes and let them wander around the mall for a distraction and she was surprised to find the distraction in the form of the Prince of Amritpuri. He was wearing a full-sleeved sweatshirt, paired with jeans and sneakers and looking nothing like the Prince that he was. There were a bunch of kids surrounding him and two women as they looked at the Prince smiling. The Prince himself was talking to the kids, probably instructing, as the kids kept on nodding at him.

"Interesting. What's he doing here?", asked Cabir, from beside her. He had spotted the Prince too.

"Cabir, my good friend, my savior, my brother from another mother, a piece of my heart-"

He waved his hand, brushing her casually. "Yeah, yeah. Sneak off. I will make up an excuse if Harshad notices you aren't there."

She squealed in delight before pulling him in a hug. "I knew I had a reason why I kept you around for so many years." She turned around and walked towards the Prince, who still hadn't averted his gaze from the kids.

"Hey, there, Princess", said Nandini when she reached near the man. She saw the women frown at her in confusion and it took the Prince a moment to realize her presence before his eyes widened. He looked panicked?

"He is not a Princess. Princess is used for a girl", commented one of the girls from the group.

"He could be a Prince", said another girl and she turned to the Prince. "Are you a Prince?"

Before he could reply, a boy interrupted. "He is not a Prince. Princes are stupid. They carry a sword and ride horses and make stupid decisions. He is a hero", he declared pointing towards the Prince.

"Okay", said Prince Malhotra, somewhat uncomfortably. "Everyone, that's Nandini, my friend. Mishti, no, I am not a Princess but she teases me like that, like how your friends tease you by calling you an 'Angry Bird'". The girl huffed but Prince of Amritpuri only smiled before he turned to the second girl. "Sanya, no, I am not a Prince either", he said and sent a discreet look towards Nandini. Even confused, Nandini nodded. "And Rahul", he continued to the boy, "if you don't like the Princes, why did you agree to a Disney movie?"

"Because I love princesses. They are beautiful and badass", he declared.

"But isn't that-", started Nandini but she was cut off by the Prince.

"No, don't argue with him. He is a menace. You agree with whatever statement Lord Rahul gives. That's what happens here", said the Prince, cuffing the boy lightly on the head which he ducked easily.

Nandini chuckled and bowed low until she was close to the height of the boy. "Of course, your majesty."

Rahul grinned. "Doc, I love your friend."

The Prince rolled his eyes. "Of course, you would", he told, and smiled at Nandini. "Nandini, what are you doing here?"

"Movie. Office bonding session with my sadist boss. I sneaked away."