Where My Heart Belongs

Chapter 108 " A Game of chess (1)"

Arjun leaned his back on his rocking chair that moved dully and squeaked faintly in the terrace of his royal room while he was watching the chess board in front of him and the organized in their places pieces closely as if those dull wooden pieces are a sight that is worthy to be observed with that concentration in his eyes that also have so much determination and delight in their sight that he didn't disturb till he took a deep breath of the fresh air and closed his eyes for a moment and smiled in peace at the sound of the cooing of the white like snow doves that were flying over the palace

Then he opened eyes and held the white pawn and moved it a move forward

(Knock ...knock)

Arjun closed his eyes annoyed and said in a high tone: I DON'T WANT BE DISTURBED IF YOU PLEASE

But the room's door opened anyway and he heard the unmistakable sound of Pratap's cough and the heavy sound of his two guard's shoes hitting the marble of his room floor

He stood in shock and looked out of his terrace entry, and saw Pratap entering the room and said

Pratap in low tone: Prince Arjun?

Arjun with wide eyes: Prince?!!

Pratap looked with his white cloudy eyes towards the terrace and the guard guided him towards it but Arjun got off his chair fast and held his hand

Arjun: Prince?!! I am surprised you didn't call me to come to you and came here yourself

Pratap in low tone: guide me to a chair here; I would like to join you for a minute

Arjun guided him to the chair across him and he reached to it and touched the back and the sitting area then sat and the two guards kept standing outside then Arjun sat across him and he looked at Pratap white eyes that were just looking forward, then his wrinkly hand that reached to the small table to discover what is over it lightly and Arjun frowned and looked the other way as Pratap dropped two dark pieces of chess by his touch and then frowned faintly and touched the pieces and then nodded and he raised them back to their places.

Pratap in low tone: you are playing a game of chess without a foe in sight like your father used to do, he never lost a game in his life as I remember, the foe that can make him lose isn't born yet he used to say, but it was never for your father just a game, never

Arjun swallowed then frowned as Pratap passed his finger over the pieces and touched a dark pawn with his finger and said to Arjun

Pratap in low tone: he used to take a decision after each game, I remember the last game I observed with my sight, I was his foe I assume because I lost my whole life in this game(then said strictly) move my pawn forward.

Arjun frowned and moved Pratap's finger a move then Pratap dropped the pawn and said

Pratap in low tone: Princess Malika once told me you never lost a game either, so let me see your move so I can play mine

Arjun reluctantly moved a pawn as well and said: I moved...

Pratap interrupted: It is alright, I already know my move...

And instead of holding a piece of the chess game, he opened his jacket and got out some rolled papers and presented them to Arjun.

Pratap in low tone: read them to me!!

Arjun looked at the papers and took them and looked at them one after the other then he frowned and said

Arjun: I thought this is the job of your guards!! Haven't they read them to you, uncle?

Pratap in low tone: they did but I would like to hear it from you again

Arjun looked at the papers and said: this is a copy of Shivaay Singh Oberoi's passport and ticket; he took a flight on air France this morning