"Kaash hum bhi wo nazaara dekh paate" Raja saahab was still finding it impossible to control his laughter. They had had lunch an hour back where Cabir, easily ignoring the scowls and growls of Manik had narrated the whole incident in detail, causing Aryaman, Mukti, Raja Saahab and even Dhruv now that he was amongst the people who could protect him from Manik's wrath to roar with laughter. Only rani sahiba had taken Manik's side and had readily agreed with every bad thing he had said about that girl though the amusement in her eyes was telling a different story.
As for raja saahab, after getting out of Manik's sight he had laughed his heart out. More than laughter, he was amazed at the girl's bravery. Not only had she not gone weak in her knees after seeing Manik (he was well aware of the effect his son had on girls and secretly enjoyed this fact as it reminded him of his days when he too had been a crowd puller) but she had also stood up to him like no one else. Personally, he admired her spirit.
The king and queen had been wise enough not to comment on the half-naked driving incident knowing that it would take only a word and Manik would leave before anybody could say 'Jaipur'. After a hearty family meal, rani sahiba had retired to her chamber with all the children and their respective mothers where they could spend the much needed quality time. But raja saahab knew that soon she would kick everybody out so that she was left alone with her son.
Promising to join them after settling the important events of the day, raja saahab had come to his office along with Dhruv and Cabir. Cabir was training to become his personal advisor. Keeping his humorous personality aside, Cabir was a champion of knowledge, debating and negotiation and raja saahab knew he was on his way to become a huge asset for the kingdom. And Dhruv was starting a branch of his well settled business in New Jersey in Jaipur after seeing high potential in the place. According to him, his business had possibilities of great success here. He needed to cross-check the location plans with uncle and Cabir.
"Abhi aapko hasi aa rahi hai mausaji" said Dhruv "hume to samajh mein nahi aa rahaa tha ki hum situation ko kaise handle karein. But all said and done, I must say that that girl, Nandini, she's very perceptive. Usne hardly Manik k saath five minutes spend kiye honge and she understood that despite being born in India, Manik doesn't know his own country."
"Yup. He's a guest in his own home" agreed Cabir.
Raja saahab's smile dimmed at that statement and Cabir's sharp eyes caught it immediately. He sighed. He had great amount of love and respect for his uncle and working under him had always been his dream. He was one person for whose happiness Cabir could do anything but sadly, despite being the master of solving problems, he had no solution for uncle's personal problem. Neither did he know nor he could think of any way to make Manik stay in India. Calling him for just one day required months of convincing. Forever was out of question.
"Kaash koi aisaa hota to jo Yuvraaj k dil mein apne ghar k liye pyaar jagaa paata" Raja saahab said in a heavy voice. The day was nearly over. Six more days to go and then his son would leave again, only this time it would be forever. "Humne to ab yuvraaj k baare mein sochna hi chhod diya hai."
"Kya matlab hai aapka uncle?" asked Dhruv.
Sitting on his chair, Raja saahab leaned against the head rest and closed his eyes. "Kya kahein hum yuvraaj se? Unhone soch liya hai ki wo New York mein apna business start karenge, aur phir wahi settle ho jaayenge."
"When you say settle..." Cabir said slowly.
"Yuvraaj shaadi bhi baahar hi karenge" the desolation in Raja Saahab's voice was so heart wrenching that for a moment Cabir felt like boxing Manik's ears to drive some sense into him. How and why wasn't he realizing the hurt he was inflicting on his parents by his decisions? Didn't he know how much they craved for their son to stay with them? They were aging but instead of thinking about them Manik was too selfish to pursue his own dreams. There was nothing wrong with that but he was not giving them any hope either. Why wasn't he understanding that his parents could not simply abandon Jaipur? It was their kingdom but unfortunately, Manik was not the one cut out for royal duties.
