Prem-Leela Series Book- 01
(Art of seduction)
𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 (𝐀𝐝𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐣 𝐱 𝐒𝐢𝐲𝐚)
"Marry me, Siya," his voice whispered.
I should have laughed. I should have refused. What place did I have in his grand world of palaces a...
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The city of Raipur stretched out beneath my penthouse. It was late night. Today, I've came to my penthouse. We were sitting on the terrace.
Tanishk was lounged on the outdoor sofa with a mischievous glint in his eye. He had always been the prankster, the one who could turn any situation into a comedy routine. Yuvan, on the other hand, sat quietly nursing his drink. Despite their differences, the three of us shared a good bond.
"Remember that time in college when Tanishk tried to convince the dean that the library was haunted?" I said, leaning back in my chair.
"It wasn't my fault the dean was superstitious! Besides, it was worth it to see his face when he found the 'ghost'......which, for the record, was just a white sheet," Tanishk smirked, shaking his head.
"I can't believe you didn't get expelled for that," I muttered.
"I have a certain charm that's hard to resist. Isn't that right, Adhiraj?" He scoffed.
I smiled but my mind was elsewhere, swirling with thoughts that never seemed to settle. My father's disappearance had left a void in my life and then there was her, the love I had lost and had been searching for ever since she left.
"So, what's been on your mind, Adhiraj?" Yuvan's voice broke through my reverie.
"Just... family matters," I replied, trying to sound casual.
"Family matters, huh? Care to elaborate?" Tanishk arch an eyebrow.
I sighed, knowing that there was no escaping.
"As usual about my father. His disappearance still haunts me. And then there's... someone I've been trying to find," I reasoned.
"Do you have any new leads?" Yuvan asked, leaning forward.
I shook my head.
"Nothing. Just fragments of information that lead nowhere," I sighed.
Tanishk clapped on the shoulder.
"We'll find him, Adhiraj. And as for her, you know we've got your back," he assured.
Tanishk and I had been inseparable since college, partners in crime in every sense of the word. Yuvan, we had met under less conventional circumstances: An accident that led to a chance encounter at a business party. Despite the chaos, we clicked instantly, forming a friendship that felt like it had existed for a lifetime.
As the night wore on, our conversation drifted to lighter topics.
"You know," Tanishk began with a grin, and I knew what was coming next.
"If I ever get reincarnated, I hope I come back as a ghost. That way, I can finally get some peace and quiet. Imagine haunting my own grave....'Sorry, no visitors, the dead are resting," he said and laugh out loud.
"Just make sure not to haunt any libraries. We don't want another dean having a heart attack," I added, joining in the laughter.
"Speaking of haunting, Tanishk, didn't you once scare off that girl by pretending to be a zombie?" I scoffed.
"Well, she did say she liked men with a bit of bite. I just gave her what she asked for," He shrugged.
"Only you, Tanishk. Only you," Yuvan shook his head, smiling.
"So, Adhiraj, when are you going to stop being the king of Raipur and start being the king of someone's heart again?" Tanishk said.
I laughed, shaking my head.
"Only kingdom, Tanishk. Besides, managing Raipur is a full-time job. You have no idea how many people rely on me."
"Speaking of managing, how do you handle all those charity events without losing your mind?" Yuvan asked, gulping down drinks.
This man is obsessed with drinks!
"Easy, I just imagine everyone in their underwear. Makes the whole thing a lot more bearable," I replied with a shrug.
"Now that's a mental image I didn't need!" Yuvan scoff.
"Seriously though," I said, turning more reflective. "Being a king isn't all about the glamour and power. There are responsibilities....expectations from the people, the need to make decisions that affect thousands of lives. It's like juggling knives, except each knife represents someone's future."
"I can only imagine the pressure. But you handle it well, Adhi. You've brought so much progress to Raipur," Yuvan appricated.
"And let's not forget all those charity galas where we get to dress up and pretend to be civilized," Tanishk stated.
"But those events are important. They help raise funds for the projects we're working on...schools, hospitals, infrastructure. It's all part of the job, bastard!" I growled.
As the clock ticked past midnight, we settled into a comfortable silence. Tanishk had fallen asleep on the sofa after a drinking heavily with a contented smile on his face.
I walked, finding Yuvan standing by the edge of the terrace, gazing out at the horizon.
"Do you ever wonder what it would be like if things had turned out differently?" He called lost in the night.
"Every day, but wondering doesn't change anything. We have to keep moving forward," I admitted, joining him at the railing.
"You're right. But it's okay to look back sometimes, to remember why we're moving forward," His words resonated with me.
We stood there, side by side for few minutes, gulping in our drinks.
Eventually, we retired for the night,
We departed ourselves in respective rooms. I in my room, while they adjusted themselves in the guest room.
As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts drifted once more to the woman who had captured my heart. Why did you left me? Without saying anything? Leaving me all confused.
For now, I allowed myself a moment of peace, surrounded by the warmth of friendship.
