The Cursed Princess of Suryagarh: Book 1

5. The cursed princess of Suryagarh

The utter and deafening silence that befell the reception had Shreya conflicted all over again. There was a certain level of truth to his words and his cadence. There was no mistaking the imploring and the desperation. She could never forget the way his voice shook ever so slightly. She could also perceive his anxious reflection in one of the numerous mirrors lining the walls of the hall—the anguish, the slight twitch of his fingers as he balled them into a fist, the furrowed brows. The raspy puffs tugged at the girl's innocent and fragile heart.

"My sister's life," Aarush respired, "is contingent on you helping me. Please..."

Aryan tugged at her wrist. "Come on, Shreya. We have to go. The cab is waiting for us. You don't have to listen to all this bullshit."

A shiver rushed down her spine, and she gently unclasped his hand from her wrist. Her lips trembled as she peeked at him through moistened lashes, asking him to go back alone, pleading with him to not be angry with her, beseeching him to forgive her. Silently.

Aryan's eyes widened in shock. "No way in hell! I am not leaving you here," he screamed. "How can you even buy all the lies this man is coming up with? Blood ritual? Reincarnation? For real?" Addressing the already miffed Aarush, he said, "Find someone else to make a fool of. Just because she has a heart of gold and will believe in this emotional stuff you are coming up with doesn't mean I will let her be here. She is coming with—"

"I am staying, Aryan," she murmured and gently grazed the stubble on his cheeks. Briny tears oozed out of the corners of her eyes. "He is not lying. I know it."

Aryan groaned and rubbed his palms over his face. "I can't believe. I freaking came so far to pick you up because you were a crying mess this afternoon. He was the demon, wasn't he? Now he is the epitome of honesty, and I am the villain preventing you from helping someone in dire need?"

She shook her head and clicked her tongue. "I am not saying that. And thank you so much for leaving everything behind and coming to pick me up when it's Amyra's reception tomorrow. But I can't... he is not lying."

"I am not leaving you here," he said, holding her hand in a tight grasp. "Stop throwing tantrums, and come with me."

"She will be the safest here," Aarush said, his eyes lingering on the young duo's entwined palms for a moment more than necessary. "Her well-being and her safety is my responsibility. No harm can befall her as long as I am alive. I won't allow it."

"And what would you need her for?" Aryan said. "What stupid blood ritual do you—"

Shreya stomped her feet. "You go back, Aryan. You are getting late, and it's a long drive."

Aryan's mouth hung agape. "For real?" When she bobbed her head, he extricated his palm from hers, rolled his eyes, and started striding down the hall with as much agility as he could muster.

Shreya clicked her tongue again but didn't follow him. "Please don't be mad at me."

"I will be back on the fifth day to pick you up," Aryan said without swerving around. "You have your flight to Mumbai."

"Aryan!"

He huffed and swivelled at his spot, quirking his brows at her.

"You are mad at me."

"Who would not be!" He grimaced at her. "I get it that you are very compassionate, but agreeing to help a complete stranger in such a weird situation with tales of reincarnation and rituals churning by the minute is called lunacy. You are a lunatic, and I refuse to be in the vicinity of a madwoman."

A small and affectionate smile crept up her lips. "Thank you," she murmured.

Rounding on his heels, he egressed the hall, leaving Shreya and Aarush in the baffled company of Esha and her colleagues.