The Royal Deal

5.

Sometimes they didn't want
to hurt you. They just
didn't care enough.
-Unknown

*****

Singhania Residence,
New Delhi.
11:30 PM

"What was that, Nayana?" Arjun entered the room and Nayana dreaded this conversation. She also managed to avoid him ever since Shekhawats left and Shaina got no whiff of what the deal actually was.

"I protected my child from your greed." She answered as she closed her literature book and stared at her husband in the eye

"Well congratulations in failing miserably at it. Shaina is deeper into this mess, they'll be back this Friday, that is, four days from now with Yuvraaj for the engagement. If only you didn't pull that stunt, I could've borrowed myself some time to break out of this deal!" He exclaimed and Nayana felt her blood running cold in her veins

"Shaina doesn't know... Oh lord!" She whispered while tension weighed heavy on her chest

"That is an ultimatum King gave to me. Either we tell her or they will on Friday. And no isn't an answer they'll hear." Arjun said and Nayana felt like bursting out in tears

"Does this make you happy, Arjun? Our children always suffer! Always!" She slammed her book on the side table and stood toe to toe with her husband

"Shaina must not be forced into this and suffer. I'll-"
"Our company will if not our daughter."

"Your company and my daughter, Arjun. I kept telling you not to decide for her. If she goes against you now, she won't stop at nothing. You saw her defiance with the Queen, she would do nothing that trades her confidence and power, I can give that to you in writing." She hissed through her gritted teeth and stomped out of the room.

Arjun slumped down on the bed while his wife's words sank in. He didn't want to see his child going against him, it would be worse than a tortured death. Not Shaina, that girl has the softest corner of his heart.

And that was exactly when he realised, he couldn't tell Shaina what he did to her and cannot rectify it either, everything goes down. His hardwork and Shaina's hardwork as well.

Just as Nayana was crossing the kitchen she heard Shaina and Siddharth chit chatting in the kitchen which she was going to ignore for she knew the twins know everything about the other and it was their routine marathon to full each other about their day.

"Dad took a stand for me." Shaina spoke to Siddharth while she dug her spoon in his ice cream

"It felt special, I mean I didn't expect him to but now I know, in this Royal thing, I would have someone I didn't expect to stand by me. Dad!"

If only she knew that wasn't how she looked at it. Her father's pride was bigger than her trust and his greed even bigger than his own pride.

"Oye, I forgot to tell you that Rodrigues' assistant called." Siddharth ignored her happiness for he doesn't repeat the same mistake again. Their father was like a thankless snake who would come biting you in the ass no matter what. And Siddharth knew it.

"Yeah?" She urged him to speak further
"He wants an online meeting this Friday." He said and Nayana's head spun in tension

"Ok." Shaina nodded
"I'll get a meeting fixed." She said and they washed their utensils while bumping each other's shoulder for space.

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The Next Day
The Royal Palace,
Rajasthan,
7:00 PM