𝑰𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 (previously Vaidehi) ✎

[16]

Dedicated to ShivinaJoshi 🩷

"Vaidehi!" Is the loud command I hear in the middle of the night.

I bolt up with a start. My eyes take a few seconds to adjust to the darkness but when they do, I register a dark figure who looks a lot like Raghavendra kneeling at the side of my bed.

He smiles. I smile back despite myself but the reality crashes down on me soon enough.
"Raghavendra! What the hell are you doing in the middle of the night?"

"I am here to whisk you away." He tells me with a straight face. I didn't get to see him at all last evening. He had some last minute urgent Royal court work and so I had dinner with Aditi all by ourselves in my quarters. So it's a pleasant surprise to see him right now.

"Uhhh, What?" I pull the blanket up higher, enclosing myself in the warmth.

He pushes the blanket away, shaking his head. "Come on, be a sport. I wanna take you somewhere."

I stifle a yawn. "What are you saying..."
"What time is it?"

"It's a little past one." He answers, pulling me up to my feet.

"Raghavendra," I gasp, "I am not going out at this ungodly hour. Its...it's illegal."

He chuckles, "Okay drama queen, come on. I am the Yuvraj and I command you to come with me."

"But where will we go." I ask relenting.

He drags me to the window and points straight ahead, "Outside. There is a really pretty- you know what, I'll just show you."

"Okay, let me get dressed first." I say.

"No...just take a dupatta, that's all. We'll be secluded where I am taking you."

Hmmm secluded....I like the sound of that.

"Okay..." I act apprehensive as I take my dupatta and tie it securely.

"Ready?" He asks.

I nod. He smiles. I expect him to go toward the door but to my surprise and utter horror he goes toward the window.
"I don't want any guard to see us, so we have to take this way." Is his explanation.

"Yeah, not in a million years." I walk backwards to my bed.

"Just trust me." He says. I roll my eyes.

"I don't want to die in a freak accident, Raghvendra."
I am seriously questioning his sanity right now.

"Vaidehi, just trust me." I repeats. He takes my hand and brings me to the window. I watch in horror as he pushes himself over the windowsill.
"Follow me." Are his parting words and then he jumps down. My heart drops, I immediately bend and look at him.
Oh-
Oh.
There is a balcony right below my window. So it's just a two metre jump. And safe.
I take a sigh of relief. Thank god my husband isn't totally crazy.

"Come on!" He whisper yells from down.

"Alright...I am coming." I relent and push myself on the windowsill. I take a deep breath and close my eyes before I mimic his jump. It might not be dangerous but it's still scary, come on.
I land in a pair of arms.
My arms immediately go around his neck.

"Oh...I am alive." I whisper,. opening my eyes.

Raghavendra chuckles. "You are alive, meri jaan."

"Alright now time to move." He puts me down on my feet and takes my hand. We climb onto the railing of the balcony and jump down to the ground, which is barely a distance of 250 cm. This time I don't freak.