The Prince's Indentured Bride

Sadness, Happiness and Wine

“Please forgive them Your Highness. It was a mistake.” Julia immediately pleaded, as the workers came rushing down and went on their knees. They knew who I was?

“I need to bath.” I declared and didn’t spare anybody any other look and walked straight inside the palace. The guards seemed to be confused at first seeing my state of affairs, and then immediately lowered their eyes as Julia came running behind me shouting something between not his way and your highness.

“Please stop Your Highness. That is the wrong way. It’s on the left. Your room.” Julia must have used all her energy to shout it to me that I stopped, and suddenly my feet felt the burning sensation, making me look at them with pity.

As I turned back, I saw how the entire path I just walked in is drenched in water droplets and the carpet was decorated in muddy footprints. It looked no less than a cyclone swept area, in a mini scale.

If you know, just now that was over exaggeration.

I didn’t know what was I thinking when I barged in. It wasn’t like I knew what this place looked like and how it was designed. Following the left I walked straight into just any room, and hoped it had a bathroom.

Thankfully it had. Even a bathtub, a luxury I didn’t ask for just now.

“Your Majesty please stay here and let me arrange for the required materials.”

I was already wet so I didn’t care at all when I switched the shower on right in front of Julia. Letting the water drip on my hair, slowly creeping onto my neck and falling on my eyes, and lips, down to my body parts, I could feel each and every drop giving me the relief of living.

“I am sorry.” Julia apologised for which I didn’t find any reason to reply again.

“I would like a hoodie set.” I shouted before she could close the door.

I let the cold water take me over. Maybe I was finally getting the heat of the decision I’ve taken.

Finally, the registration, and toll, that in this place I had no friends, foe, family or anyone I knew. Everybody were strangers and if I am in danger, I wouldn’t know whom to ask for help for.

Screw that. I didn’t even know whom I could trust with just my eating schedule.

Rashmi was right to worry about my safety here. I shouldn’t had let Olivia take all my stuff.

Where was my phone? Did anyone get my letter or not?

Holding onto my neck chain tightly I let my tears flow along with the falling water from above.

Is this how newlywed girls feel in arranged marriage when they go to their in–law’s home?

I am hungry. I wish I could sleep. I need to sleep for my brain to function and figure out what type of mess I am entering myself into.

Wait. Where was that wine bottle of mine which I prepared for Gabriel?

I suddenly laughed, even chocking on my tears, remembering that stupid story behind the wine bottle.

Somehow the dripping water on my head magically took me to that night in Jay’s Pub after I have finally won the bid for signing Pooja Naimar, a hotshot actress with brand value more than a veteran, against Kiran Jaikar.

“Some people may have won the world today but let me show them I too have got the money!” Jaikar almost shouted for me to hear, I so wished that Yash could’ve chosen a different place to celebrate tonight.

“Will that old uncle keep his mouth shut.” I said to Yash, already being a lightly tipsy from my vodka. “I like your free spirit when you are drunk Ma’am.”

“The hell with the Ma’am! Call me Vhrea. No, no. I hereby allow you to call me Destiny. A privilege!”

Yash’s laugh was the childish innocence types, but he was like a big brother to me; always standing like the rock in front of me. Maybe that’s what makes it harder for me to not ever see his imperfect sides.

“Yeah, some people are so privileged. But they still put on show and drink the cheapest liquor to celebrate. Young man, get me the most expensive drink of this place!”

I rolled my eyes and looked at Jaikar; with a half potbelly he really didn’t look like to be in his late forties, especially with a continent sized ego which he didn’t know how to give up.

“Someone’s got a dirty loss today. Hey cute man, get me a jar of the same expensive drink you are going to serve that loser there!”

The waiter was not really the cute type, with the name tag of Girim, he kind of looked grim with my notion of cute, but then again, he must have seen worst customers than today.

“Five jars!” Jaikar shouted with an unknown zeal of competitiveness.

“Destiny, there are no jars here.” Oh no! Yash calling me Destiny felt so awkward right now that I took in another shot, although I don’t see the relation.

“Five bottles!” I screamed and attracted a ton of other people’s attention around us.

“I think you should put on your jacket.”

See, I said you–the big brother role he has taken–and he actually put that jacket to cover up my bare arms, which felt kind of funny.

“Ten!”

This turned out into a useless business bidding, which was going to only profit the owner of Jay’s pub and I guess tonight is going to be his jackpot.

“Are you both giving a party to everyone in the club?” Girim asked in complete curiosity, not knowing what to do of this situation.

“You two. If you want to buy drink bottles go to a wine shop!” Yash chided the both of us. Yet, Jaikar’s ego made him shout, “Fifteen!”

“Yes guys, I am the CEO of Fifeteen! Please give us a lot of love. Thanks for the promotion, Mr Jaikar!” He rewarded me a ridiculous stare, as I continued. “THE ENTIRE STOCK!”

“Ma’am it is sixty bottles. And I am not allowed to sell them all. Are you sure?” Girim confirmed with suspicious lingering’s at this stupid unfold of events.

I could see Yash holding his face in utter embarrassment while hiding behind a stool beside the counter.

“You can’t be doing that–”

“I can and I am doing it. Like you said I am privileged. I will use that card of mine well.” I smiled at him to just infuriate him, which worked well as he slammed the slab with his fist.

“Tell Ung to collect the bill from my father. And ship the bottles to my home, he will know it.”

I felt the happiest woman living in this world after seeing the priceless reaction on Jaikar’s face. He always had something to say about my family hierarchy and there is no point in defending my self-growth and establishment to people like him.

“Get an Ashtrick Father Mr Jaikar, you too will have privileges.”

I was out of there in no time, but it wasn’t the end. “I didn’t like the way you flaunted your rich vibes there. And what are you going to do with those many bottles?”

Yash complained the moment we were inside the car and I simply laughed at him.

“I am rich Yash. And you too are. There is no harm in showing it off to people who want to put your efforts down just because they can’t handle a loss.”

He just kept mum for a few seconds, maybe realising that he too was earning very well being the integra part of Fifeteen’s success, “Even drunk you talk sense.”

“Yes, and the first bottle is a gift to you. And the rest will find their owners in time.”

And now, the time had come for the twelfth bottle to find Gabriel, but I don’t remember where exactly I had packed it in.

Anyways…

The bathtub felt oddly inviting, and I gave in. Stripping off from my dress I let the tub fill till the half quantity and slid inside.

The water was warm and my eyelids were drooping enough to close. The much-needed sleep I deserved.

Catching on to the four–leaves of the chain I let my mind relax and slept like there is no tomorrow.