Caged Princess and The King

6. Who did that?

Devansh

I made her drink bitter guard juice. She made faces on that. That made me smile but then I remembered who she was and that smile vanished as soon as it appeared. I want to torture her but not by hitting her or talking shit to her. I will torture her in my own ways. I will push her to an extent that she will break down completely and that jerk Eshwar will cry out tears of blood looking at his dear princess facing all this.

I took a bath and changed into my nightwear. I came out of the room to find her struggling to tie her Doris. She is really a pretty woman. But she is Eshwar's daughter and I don't trust any woman after that horrible experience.

She finally managed to tie it and turned to me.

"Your mother has asked us to join the dinner," she said.

I reached her in a second and smashed a vase to the ground. She jumped in her place. Her eyes widened with my sudden reaction. She was struggling to move away but I caged her between me and the mirror.

"She is not my mother. Get it in your head." I hissed going dangerously close to her ear.

I felt a tingling sensation due to the closeness between us. I moved back and stood two steps away from her.

She was shocked by my reaction. But, I don't like it when someone addresses that woman as my mother. She took deep breaths as tears rolled down from her eyes. She picked up the pieces of the broken vase and put them in the dustbin. She kept the flowers in another vase. She went out without sparing me a glance.

I felt bad for hurting her. I shouldn't feel bad for hurting her but I am. Maybe I should have said that in a calm tone but after that incident whenever someone mentions that woman as my mother, I just can't control my anger. I shrugged off the thoughts and went down. She sat beside Aneesh and they were having some conversation. They stopped looking at me and the room went silent. We had our dinner and went back to our rooms. She arranged her bedding and slept.

All this time she didn't even spare me a glance. It is now getting on my nerves. This is not supposed to happen. She shouldn't affect me but she is. Her tears are making me feel weak and her presence is becoming hard to avoid.  I too slept on my soft and comfortable bed after covering her with the quilt. Why can't she pick a quilt herself? I didn't deny her from using anything in the room, did I? I wouldn't have opposed it if she slept on the bed instead of asking me but when she asked, I didn't want her to think that I cared about her and asked her to sleep on the floor. I thought she would fight and I was willing to give in and let her sleep but she just walked away to make her bedding without uttering a word.

The next morning when I woke up she was sitting on the floor wearing a saree. Her wet hair is left open with a few strands falling on her face. Her hair is black and it is touching the carpet as she is sitting down. She is doing something on her laptop. She is not wearing any makeup yet she is so beautiful. She tucked the hair behind her ear and did her work. She bit her lower lip making my hormones sprung into action.

"It's all wrong. I shouldn't get feelings for my enemy." I said to myself. She is my enemy.

"Oh really? Whom did she kill to become your enemy?" My subconscious mocked me.

I shrugged my thoughts and went to the bathroom to complete my morning business. By the time I came out, she was on a call.

"Ji kaka sa. I did as you said." She said and ended the call.

She sat near the mirror and started drying her hair. Now all her hair is on her front giving me perfect access to her back. I can see her waist clearly. The water drops on her waist are testing my self-control. I desperately wanted to look away but I couldn't take my eyes off it.

My phone went off bringing me back to my senses. It was from my PA. He asked me to come to the office immediately as there was an emergency. I can feel the fear and restlessness in his voice.

I went to my office. My PA informed me that our new designs were leaked to our rivals and they released them in the market. We have to release them in 10 days and if we fail to do so it would cause us loss. 

The first person who came into my mind was Meera. Her conversation in the morning is adding to my doubts. She must have done this along with her Kaka. I drove back home at high speed and marched towards our room. She is sitting on the couch and reading a book peacefully.

How can she sit so peacefully after snatching my peace?

I went to her and grabbed her by her wrist. She was shocked by my sudden act.

"How dare you?" I yelled at her making her jump in her place.

"What... What did I do?" She asked with fear evident in her eyes.

"How dare you give my company's designs to my rivals?" I yelled again.

"I don't know what are you talking about." She said trying to get free from my hold. I tightened my grip and pulled her closer.

"Don't you dare lie to me, Meera! I know you and your kaka did this." I said in my cold voice.

"I don't know about Kaka sa but I promise I didn't do that." She said with tears rolling down her eyes. My hold on her wrist loosened on seeing her tears but I regained my composure and tightened it again.

"I heard your conversation in the morning," I said in a plain tone.

"You are misunderstanding it, Devansh. It was not at all related to it..." She tried to make excuses.

"Don't you dare call me that? Call me Ranaji." I warned her.

"And I know what you did. Once I get the evidence you are done. Get ready to face the punishment." Saying that I pushed her away and went out of my chamber.

I ordered my PA to get to the roots of this matter. I heard the sound of a vase breaking while coming out but I didn't care to check it. Maybe she is venting out her anger.

After some time my PA called me saying one of my employees was selling our designs to our rival for money. He confirmed that Meera and her Kaka had nothing to do with it. I felt bad for accusing her but I am sure they both are planning something behind my back. Still, I should at least apologize for blaming her in this matter. I went to my office at my home to free my mind. I spent a few hours there and had my lunch and continued working from home.

Finally, it was time for dinner. I went to the dining room and saw my dad, brother, and Mrs. Rajawat waiting there. There is no trace of Meera. I went and took my seat. I glanced at the kitchen thinking she was there but she wasn't. Where is she? 

"Where is Meera Beti?" My father asked.

"I didn't see her after breakfast. She refused to have lunch too. She said she is having a headache." Mrs. Rajawat replied.

"I'll go and call bhabi," Aneesh said and went towards our room.

After a while, he came back with her and she sat beside Aneesh.

"What happened to your hand dear?" My dad asked. I noticed her hand which is now bandaged.

"I accidentally fell on a vase and it broke Papa." She replied. I didn't mean to hurt her physically. Heck! I never want to hurt her like that. I hate her and her family but I would never want to cause physical pain to her.

She tried holding a spoon but failed. I was about to help her but Aneesh bet me doing it.

"Bhabi let me feed you," Aneesh said taking the spoon from her.

"No Bhai. I will manage." She replied.

"You call me bhai right? So let this bhai feed his sister." Saying that he forwarded a morsel to her and she ate it. Tears started rolling down her eyes.

"Shit! Is it too spicy bhabi?" Aneesh panicked.

"No bhai. I am just happy." She replied with a half smile.

Aneesh wiped her tears and continued to feed her. After she was done eating she sat there giving company to Aneesh while he was eating. After they were done eating we all went to our respective rooms. She neither spoke to me nor looked at me. But why do I care? Why her being hungry is affecting me? Why?

I should apologize to her for misunderstanding and hurting her but how?