The love of my life

45. The day of the ball

The next day, Daman dressed up in a pastel blue band galla suit, with the dupatta pinned over her head. She paired it with small peacock jhumkis that had little pastel blue pearls hanging at the circumference.

"That's Tejas' suitcase and his outfit is already packed with your clothes." Daman said as Ekansh walked in typing something on his phone. 

"Don't you dare take off your tux and fold your sleeve in the middle of the party because Tejas will copy you. This is a warning!!!" She said zipping the small bag that enclosed her makeup, lingerie, toiletries and shorts for the night.

She turned to look at him, as he stood with a Cheshire cat grin on his face.

"What?" She asked, absentmindedly sitting on the bed.

He took 2 slow steps and kept his hand under her chin making her look up in his eyes.

"You know, I'm not a servant?" He said as she gulped her saliva.

"So?" She said, knowing full well he was trying to intimidate her.

"Nobody... I repeat... Nobody talks to me in that commanding little tone." He says as she smiles, batting her eyelashes.

"Except you." He added as he threw his phone away, bending down to kiss her lips.

"It's hot. It shouldn't be... But it's so freaking hot." he said, gently rubbing his lips over hers before claiming them in a french dance of passion with her soft plump lips, as there tongues fought for control.

"Ummm..." She moaned, putting a hand on his chest and pushing hin away.

"We'll be late?" He asked, guessing what she had to say.

"Yeah, that..." She said with a nod, as he put his forehead against hers.

"I love you." He whispered as she smiled in response and pecked his lips.

"Let's go, Your majesty." She said as he was ready to take a step back when she held onto his collar.

"Wait." She said standing up, toe-to-toe and sliding the neckline of his tshirt a little down to plant a small kiss.

"Ohhh..." he moaned grasping her breast in his hand, as she was aware when she ran her fingers through his hair. She licked the way upto his ear, slowly nibbling until she was sure he wouldn't resist.

Then she planted a kiss on the base of her neck slowly sucking and going in harder as he was too busy feeling the breast in his hand, and the feel of her mouth on the soft skin beneath his beard.

"Now, let's go." She said, taking a step back as he touched the soft yet sour skin, hissing at the sweet pain.

"You wanted to give me a hickey?" He asked, as she laughed.

"You'll be in high demand tonight. I can't babysit you and Tejas, both. So if someone's getting over the top, just slide the collar of your kurta and tell them who can command you." she said with such confidence in her eyes that he could feel all of his blood going south.

"You say that once more, and I'll take you right here. And I'll make sure you won't be walking straight after that."

"Only I CAN..."

"My... My... We don't want a future queen doing that at a public ball." Mrs. Sandhu entered walking in as Ekansh cleared his throat and Daman bowed down. blushing hard.

Her eyes rested on the purple mark forming on her son's neck as she looked at Daman. Ekansh set up his shirt, turning red.

"Let's go. The make up artist will reach there soon." She said, as Daman bend to pick up the little bag, but Ekansh intervened picking it up before her.

"I'll put it in the car." he said, as Daman was too red to speak. "Mom, where's Tejas?"

"He went with your father, Samrudhi and Sumit already. Narmada is with them, don't worry." She said.

Normally Daman would have been pissed at her, for sending her son without her permission but she somewhat liked that her son was slowly growing out of her lap into a fine young child, who will be more independent when he joins proper school.

+++++++++++++++++

They reached the Majestic Palace nestled high up in the mountains. Daman could see the snow covered of the mountains peak in the distance from the Jaguar's tinted windows. She stepped out and immediately felt the chill in the cold air.

She looked up at the venue as it stood in all its five storey glory, made of white marble and ancient architecture with beautiful roman balconies and African blackwood doors and windows.

"This way, child." Mrs. Sandhu said as they walked up a staircase with a red carpet laid out, guiding them through the foyer and entering a giant hall being decked for the party.

Flower arrangements rested on all tables, with a tulip in the center of all of them. The dance floor had a glass chandelier atleast six foot long and lit up with a magnificient white light the color of the walls.

A piano rested on the side, but there was also a stage being set for what seemed like a night of folk music as she identified the shehnai, harmonium, even a sitar with some men dressed in qawwalli costume preparing and setting things up.

"Your majesty." A woman in red blazer and trousers, with a white tank top underneath greets Mrs. Sandhu as she smiles.

"Ahh.. Radhika... Hello child. Everything's perfect. Good job done with the venue. Oh, this is Dr. Daman. She is a guest of the royal family and Daman, this is our event planner. She's the best on this continent I'd say." She says, as I smile at her.

"Hello Radhika, nice to meet you."

"Likewise." She said, with a curt fake smile and turned back to her.

"So, His highness, Ekansh should be back from his escapades for this party?" she asks, and I realized why I was forcing myself to like her.

"He already is. It's been almost a week since he's here." I say stepping out of my calmness to reply as her eyes narrow at me, before she regains the control of her facial muscles.

"Yeah, didn't you read the paper about that child trafficking he exposed the other day." Mrs. Sandhu said, and looks at me. "Let's go, the make up artist must be waiting." I nod and we say Goodbyes before leaving her standing there shocked.

"You don't need to lose calm over woman like her. She's just one of the many that will come for him. And it's not even Him, they want. It's the fame, power and wealth that comes along. Be formal and get your work done. Use them for their potential but keep them at an arm's length."

"I... I'm sorry." I say as we make a turn down the broad corridors with huge tapestries hanging out of the sides lining our pathway.

"It's okay. You need to be composed, like an idol of perfection and don't let that act break in public. You can't do all the little things on your own. You need people for that, some of them women who want to sleep with your husband. Trust your man, but never trust these women." She says, as we walk down, taking a left from another corner reaching a door where a maid stood waiting to open the door.

"Now, let's get you dolled up Princess."