AADRIKA : The writer of the story

Chapter 10 : Best Friend

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"You?"

"My apologies, Rajkumari," the man in black said in a guilty tone.

Aadrika's brow furrowed in confusion. She was supposed to know him?, she thought. To not let him know that she was not the real Rajkumari, she decided to act the part. "Why are you here?" she asked in a calm, measured tone.

The man hesitated, glancing at the ground before responding, "I have brought the herb you asked for."

She studied him for a moment, trying to read his demeanor. "I asked why you were hiding here," she said, her voice steady but probing.

The man grew visibly nervous, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "After I was informed about an attack on you, I decided to protect you, secretly," he stammered. His eyes darted everywhere except towards her.

Aadrika raised her brows in a daring gesture, sensing his lie. But that wasn't her immediate concern. She needed to identify him without revealing her ignorance. From what she had observed so far, he seemed to be a trusted confidant of the Rajkumari.

Wait! A trusted man! There was only one such trusted man of the Rajkumari. And that was Lakshya. He must be Lakshya.

Keeping her expression neutral, she scrutinized him closely. "Lakshya," she said, testing the name on her tongue.

The man's eyes finally met hers, a flicker of surprise quickly masked by a composed expression. "Yes, Rajkumari," he replied, bowing slightly.

Aadrika exhaled inwardly, her guess confirmed. Now she had to maintain her facade while figuring out more about the real Aadrika's situation. "Very well," she said, her tone authoritative. "Continue with your duty. Ensure no harm comes to me."

She firmed slightly, "But before that, I have an important task for you."

Lakshya bowed and replied, "As you command, Rajkumari."

Aadrika nodded, her mind racing with the need to maintain her facade. "I want you to gather all the information on someone."

He nodded mechanically, his expression unreadable. "Who is it, Rajkumari?"

She turned, her back now facing him, concealing her own anxious thoughts. "Abhiraj Rao."

The name struck him like a thunderbolt. His body stiffened, muscles tensing visibly. His jaw clenched, and he balled his fists behind his back, a wave of suppressed anger rippling through him. Aadrika, lost in her thoughts, remained oblivious to his sudden change in demeanor.

Gritting his teeth, he managed to say in a hard tone, "Your wish is my command, Rajkumari." Without waiting for a response, he turned and left, moving silently yet swiftly, like a soft wind, his mind a storm of emotions.

As Lakshya departed, Aadrika remained standing, her back to the exit, unaware of the turmoil she had stirred within him. She exhaled a soft sigh knowing she would need to be careful, cunning, and always a step ahead to protect her true identity while fulfilling her new role.

*****

As Aadrika made her way to a secluded corner of the garden, a place where the vines hung low and the flowers bloomed in vibrant colors, she knew she would find Diya waiting for her.