Hrudayam-part 2

Coincidence?

Aditya's pov

Two days later in Nainital...

Thousands of memories came flooding back to me as soon as I stepped out of the car...Unknowingly, my gaze travelled to the same place where I saw Siya for the first time...my heart started to beat anxiously when suddenly her melodic voice echoed in my ears, faintly and her smiling face came flashing in front of my eyes when I closed my eyes...

'I hope I didn't make a mistake by coming back here...'

"Son.." Mr. Verma interrupted my thought.

"Pa—  I paused before calling him 'papa'.

"Mr. Verma, How are you?" I asked.

"Good, the King is waiting for you." He said noticing my seriousness.

After walking through majestically decorated doors and corridors, we finally reached to his majesty's room.

"Come in." He ordered.

"My king, Mr. Raizada is here."

"Please excuse us, Vermaji." The King said.

This was the first time when I officially met the King...he stood from his throne like sofa-chair and walked toward us, he didn't look older more than mid fifties...his slightly greyish hair was combed neatly, and he had a well trimmed beard. He placed his right hand in his dress pant's pocket whilst walking towards me with stoic look on his face.

"So..Mr Raizada, I hope Mr. Sunil Verma have already informed you that I have an important job for you...and I have heard you are a good detective," he raised his eyebrow looking at me assumingely.

"I used to be...your majesty. But if you want me to find someone then I am ready, just say the word and I will bring that person—

"—I trust you, Adi, your dad was one of my the most trusted, Royal Security staffs. And I know you wouldn't disappoint me...but before I give you any details about the person, you need to sign this non-disclosure contract...just for some privacy reasons." He shrugged.

"Okay, your majesty," I nodded solemnly.

He handed me a pen and the contract, which I quickly read it and gave it to him after signing it.

"Thank you, now pick up that brown envelope, it contains all the information about the person, you need to find."

Slowly I opened the sealed envelope, and took out a photograph...to the sight my eyes widened in shock...

'Siya!?!'

"This is my, daughter Jaanvi and the heiress of Singh family...you need to find and ensure her safety until you bring her back..." He stated pointing at the picture, which was clutched in my hand.

"I am sorry, your majesty, but d-did you call me to make fun of my misery?!!!" I asked in utterly-emotionally confused manner while trying my best to control my raging anger.

"No."

"No?! Then why are you assigning me to find my own dead wife?!" I showed the photograph in my hand alongside with Siya's photo.

"She's not your, wife! She's my daughter, a princess, and she's not dead!!" He replied, grittily.

I was angry and anxious at the same time. The envelope fell from my hand and the papers inside it scattered on the clear marbled floor, messily.

I picked a paper, and read it throughly.

'Princess Jaanvi Rajnandini Singh, age 22, height 5"4'... no, it's not possible!' My hands trembled anxiously.

"Adi, it's just a coincidence that your wife and my daughter Jaanvi looks alike...Even I was surprised to find out when Mr. Verma mentioned it." He replied calmly.

'Siya's dad knew this?!' I fisted my hands.

'Siya is dead!—there's no way she could be alive...Calm down!' I told my inner self.

Reluctantly, I composed myself and listened to the king, who told me that his daughter ran away two years ago, somewhere, and he's afraid that she isn't even in the country.

When I asked him why she ran away he told me nothing which obviously didn't help...confused enough yet still I didn't had any choice—so I decided to go along with the king demands.

"...and when you find her bring her to my old palace in Jaipur." With that, he excused himself.

_____
After my meeting with King JaiSingh, I went to my old house, I stopped at the main gate and stared at it from a small distance...As I didn't had any courage to go inside...because I knew if I would go inside, I might scratch my old unhealed wounds...this house wasn't just a house....it was a home of so many memories...which will always remind me what I have lost...and what I'll never get back...

"Adi." 
"Mr. Verma?" I turned my heels and walked to him.

"I am sorry Adi..but—

"—Mr. Verma...please, I came here only to help the king...nothing else..I have moved on and you should to..." I said coldly. "Although I have question for you?" I said demandingly.

"Sure," He replied almost nervously.

"Who's this look alike?!—are Siya and Jaanvi related?!" I asked sternly.

"N-no...that's impossible! What are you saying?! she's a princess! A royal heir and my daughter was an ordinary girl..it's just a coincidence.."

"I must admit, what a very bizarre coincidence!—Mr. Verma, I think you are forgetting that I once was a detective—And I can smell lies! But don't worry—I'll find the truth by myself!" I said in a challenging tone.

"Adi...beta...wait..Where's my granddaughter?" He asked looking at me with hopeful-eyes.

I gave him a brief look and turned my heels.

"Please excuse me, Mr. Verma. I have to go!" I abruptly walked away without answering his question.

During evening I went back to the hotel where  I was staying for the night and called Tia to inform her that I'll be coming a day-after tomorrow to pick Savi from her house...

Five days later...

I flew back to Mumbai before I enquired and started to find clues about Jaanvi's whereabouts....
I called Raghav and asked him to locate a few numbers that I had found in my last search of her... and without delaying anything he sent me all the details regarding them..

"Thank you, Raghav..I really appreciate your help..."

"No Sir, what are you saying? If it wasn't you I wouldn't be working at such good position in a government job..you have helped when I had none...you are my only family...so please don't thank me..."

"Okay, Raghav...I'll call you soon...right now I need to work on something...bye" I said.

"Bye, Sir." He said before ending the call.

She can't run away all by herself...there must be someone who helped her...I need to find her as soon as possible.

'Where are you, Princess?'

To be continued....

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Until then #Staysafe
❤️Swati