❝The only kind of love I want is one where even if it is just for a short moment, it feels like I have lived a lifetime in that moment with that person. ❞ - Jhanvi Raichand.
**You CANNOT read this as standalone. Read Dare to Be before reading this...
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2.28 Dangerous Bet
I notice the pendant resting between her collarbones through the net of her light pink tippet before she turns and navigates the crowd to reach her room. I don't know how I did not see it before... or why I thought three months ago that she might be humoring me, asking me to put it around her chain but only wear it for a day or two. When did... no why did she make it a part of her?
Eva snaps her fingers in front of me and I blink back at her to realize Aarav wasn't with us. When did he excuse himself? Eva demands, "So, what are you really doing here?"
"Attending your wedding, ofcourse."
She crosses her arms over her chest in a stance of intimidation. "Rawal, you know better than to bullshit me. You were pretty insistent in your emails that you couldn't make it."
I debate internally if this is something I should tell her. It's her wedding. The only thing on her mind should be looking ahead to her married life.
She adds in a question, "Is it Jhanvi?"
I catch the unsaid question, if her life is in danger again. "No..." When she gives me a stern look, I give in, "Maybe. I came across some encrypted communication two weeks ago."
"About?" She presses for more information.
Looking around, I reach for her elbow and walk to a more secluded corner, away from any prying ears. "Her father is in town and there's only one reason he'd be here."
I don't need to say it explicitly for her to understand.
Seeing the concern rising on her face, I ask. "Look, don't worry, okay? He's not going to get to her. Just focus on your wedding."
She sighs, a soft smile on her lips. "Aarush, I'm not worried about her. I'm just... mad that this keeps happening. A cycle of violence towards her when she has done nothing of fault except be born into this royal family. It's not fair, you know? That poor girl has seen enough in her young life so far. We have too, yes, but we chose to be in the army. We chose this life for us. She didn't."
"Royalty is still in her blood. She is a fighter, Eva."
She chuckles lightly, "Right. Who else would be able to better connect to her than you."
"Eva." I say her name in a warning for this is not a part of my life that I like to talk about.
"What, Aarush?" She challenges, "For how long will you keep running from the reality of who you are?"
"I'm an army officer and that's all."
She shakes her head in disappointment, "That's what you keep telling her, right? That protecting her is just your job?"
