The Knight And His Princess

CHAPTER 20

Rainah’s POV

“Stop biting your lips, that’s my job” his deep voice kept on playing in my mind as I stepped outside the lobby spotting the familiar mate black Bugatti Divo. I head towards it doing my usual prep talks with myself completely forgetting the fact that the call is still connected and he can hear everything.

“Its ok Rain, it’s just a decent meeting. He said he has something to discuss, just don’t get nervous okay?” I nod at my question and took a deep breath and finally reach the car. I open the front door and got inside the car. The familiar smell of his cologne hit my nostrils and I tried to calm my nerves.

“Hey” I spoke in a meek tone after sensing his gazes on me.

“How are you Rainah?” he asked in his usual deep tone.

“Great” I answered curtly as I look forward to the road.

“Shall we?” I heard his voice again and I gave him a simple nod which earned a deep chuckle from him. I have no idea what is so funny. Is it me which he found so funny, may be, I can be weird at times which cause people to laugh at me. I shook my head at that thought; I am a hopeless person, but hey I am not complaining at all.

“Penny of your thoughts?” I heard his voice which made me tear my eyes from the road to his beautiful face.

“Wh—where are we going?” I mentally cursed myself for stuttering, is it necessary to make it obvious to him that I am nervous right now.

“You will see love” he smirked leaving me shocked. Did he just call me love? He used that endearment for me? Why?

“What did you just call me?” I asked with my wide eyes gazing directly at his cool figure that is looking ahead into the road.

“What did I just call you?” he playfully asked, still having that annoying smirk on his lips. Argghhh I want to wipe that smirk from his lips. He is bullying me; I won’t let him do that.

“Nothing” I look outside the window with my shoulders slumped, I heard him chuckle but I successfully ignored him after that.

In less than an hour the car stopped and I sighed in relief. Arthur got out of the car and jogs towards my side and opens my door like a gentleman. I smiled and whispered a ‘thank you’ while getting out. I look around to get familiarize with the place, the sky is already getting dark so it’s a bit difficult to analyze the exact place where he brought me. In front of me is a small bridge decorated with fairy lights surrounded by beautiful red Flamboyant trees. Arthur asked to hold my hand and I meekly gave him nod. It is logical to let him lead as I am not familiar with the place. The view in front of me is quite enchanting, giving it a dark but comfortable look.

After we crossed the bridged, I saw a pavement that leads to a small cottage. As the cottage which was again decorated with fairy lights was surrounded by the trees, it looks cute in my perspective. When we reached the front of the cottage, Arthur pulled the string of the antique metal door bell which was hanging beside the door.

As I was looking around the place I felt like we have entered in some fairytale, at a point I even thought that snow white will be the one who will open the door. I heard the sound of doors to open and I move my gaze to the door.

“Arthur” a man in his late 50s exclaimed.

“Joy, how are you?” Arthur said offering him a hug.

“I am awesome as usual” he said excitedly and move his gaze towards me, “but you tell me who this beautiful lady beside you is?” he asked giving me a warm smile; I blushed when I heard him calling me beautiful. I felt Arthur encircling his arm around my waist and pulled me towards him softly. I felt the heat radiating though his body and instantly I felt the tingling sensation running through my whole body.

“She is Rainah” he said, and I gave Joy a smile which he returned as well. Joy look at Arthur as if expecting him to be more detailed about me, but Arthur just give him a knowing smile. I look between the two but didn’t say anything.

“Nice meeting you Rainah, please come in” he opened the door wider for us to enter. When we entered the place, then only I realized that it’s a small and cozy restaurant and not a resident. I saw three couples sitting in different corners enjoying their partner’s company. I am quite relieved when I saw that they didn’t bother to look at us; they were just busy in their own world.

“This way” joy lead us to a double door, opening which a beautiful pond came into our view. The large reflecting pond with a ceiling of twinkling lights brightens the shady areas near it. The outdoor patio made me feel like I have stepped into an alfresco fairytale wonderland. The soft yellow lights are cozy and cocooning in the outdoor space. Joy led us to the centre of the patio, where I can see the beautiful setup of table for two.

“Please make yourselves comfortable, I will be back in moment” Joy said happily and left us along in this gorgeous place. I saw Arthur pulling a chair for me and I thanked him. After making sure that I am comfortable enough, he took the seat opposite to me. I look around the place feeling mesmerized.

“This place is so beautiful” I said when our eyes met, and then only I realized that his eyes never left mine from the very beginning.

“But not more than you” he said with his intimidating gazes still on me, and again the pink tint found its way to my cheeks. I just gave him a smile and look around awkwardly. Soon Joy came back with two menus in his hand.

“What would you like to have?” Arthur asked me, keeping his menu on the table.

“Umm I don’t know what to order, can you help me” I asked him biting my lower lip; this is me, always confuse about what to eat, at home mom is one who always decides my food. I heard him sigh and saw him looking at my lips intently.

“Joy what’s special today?” he asked Joy not moving his gaze from my face.

“Ahaa I knew it, I knew it that you will ask for the specials. Its Indian today, so our special dish from today represents the culture of India” joy said happily. My eyes instantly lit up after what he said; anything related to India always brings this warmness inside me that I can’t explain. I always feel this connection towards that country; maybe because mom is from India and she have spoiled me with her Indian cuisine.

May be Arthur has already noticed the change in my mood as his eyes never left my face as if fearing I would disappear, therefore he asked Joy to bring the specials.

“So…” I started nervously making sure not to bite my lips this time. I saw him pouring some water in both the glasses, pushing one towards me which I gladly accepted.

“So will you marry me Rainah?” he asked casually like it is everyday thing for him to propose for marriage. I nearly chocked at his question. I cough a bit seeing what he walks to my side and rubbed my back slowly. The movement behind my back helps me to regain my calm as I again took a sip from my glass.

“Are you okay Rainah?” I can hear the concern from his voice, and I nodded as a reply. After making sure that I am fine and comfortable enough, he walk back to his seat.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that” he apologized and I shook my head.

“Its okay, I was the one being clumsy as usual, hehe” I laugh awkwardly and played with my fingers. Again the unwanted box of never ending questions opened filling my mind.

Did he just ask me for marriage? For real?

Why?

Did he fell in love with me?

Why would he ever fall for someone like me?

Is he mocking me? No he isn’t his eyes looks sincere.

“Rainah did you hear me?” I heard him say and I shook my head.

“Why?” I asked.

“What do you mean Rainah?”

“Why do you want to marry me all of a sudden? Its not like you fell for me, I mean you have far better options to choose as your bride, then why me? “I asked him.

“Is it that difficult to understand?” he asked me disappointedly leaving me confuse.

“Few days back you were a complete stranger for me, and now you want to marry me. So it is difficult for me to understand” I said almost pouting, but then I realized it is too childish for me to do that, especially when I am discussing stuffs like my marriage with this man. He sighed and leaned forward putting his elbows on the table.

“Look I have been in business world forever, so I apologize for being a non-romantic guy. Actually it’s my first time proposing a girl” I saw him blushing which seems cute to me. He said he is proposing a girl for the first time, well of course he never had to approach a girl before because I can say he have a huge queue of different types of girls waiting for him.

But one question is been raising in my mind again and again that why me?

“My parents want me to get married, because according to them it is the best time for me to settle down. More or less before meeting you I never thought of getting married and stuffs like that, but now I like the thought of having my own family with you” he said with a gentle smile.

‘Having my own family with him’ he made it sound so sweet that I almost imagine little version of us running around us. This thought somehow created a sense of warmness around me.

“I don’t know what to say, umm… are you sure about this marriage? I mean we barely know each other, what if tomorrow after our marriage you started disliking me and wanted to abandon me?” I almost whisper at the end and look at my lap.

There is no doubt that I am attracted to him, not because of his looks or his wealth but because of his nature, his personality. I saw him with the kids back in the orphanage; all I could say is that he is different from others. But still I feel scared that he is someone else when nobody is around, it’s just a small gut feeling. I want to be sure also I want him to be sure about this whole marriage thing.

Also I want to fall in love with the man with whom I decide to spend the rest of my life.

“I would never leave you Rainah, never. You can trust me.” I can the sincerity in his eyes. Those eyes look so familiar and warm that I can’t help but agreed to his proposal in my mind.

“Can I ask you one last question?” I asked and he nodded.

“What if you… what if you fall for someone else, because I know that we don’t love each other, so…” I started fidgeting with my fingers looking down at my lap. I don’t want to see his reactions.

“Is it that hard for you to fall for me?” he asked slowly and I instantly look up shaking my head.

“No no I didn’t mean that—“ I started but he cut me with his deep voice.

“I don’t think it’s that difficult for me to fell for you, but if you ever feel that it’s not possible for you to fall in love with me, then I will make sure to do every possible thing for you to make sure you fall for me. I will always respect you, and will stand by you no matter what. I will always protect you from all the evils and will always care for you. I promise” he whispered as he lean forward and removed a strand behind my right ear. He slowly rubbed the back of his palm on my cheek and as on queue the sparks showed there way to all over my body.

Looking at his eyes all I could see is sincerity, care, determination and love?

“Don’t think too much, lets have our dinner hmm?” he said removing his hand from my cheeks and I already started missing his warmness.

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*So sorry for not being active for months, but I will try to update more frequently from now on*