The Prince's Indentured Bride

speed dial

I was craving for some sweet, maybe a milkshake–the ones with bubbles in the base–what us it called, again, gum and gum shake?

That doesn't sound too right. Carrying back the bribe bag I walked to where I've parked my car. How cool it would be if Valet service existed when we go to threaten someone.

I opened my phone and saw some urgent notification, well, that's what notifications were for: to let me know that attention is required with an open set of eyes from me.

Can you make a strawberry pudding? I will come and collect it from home. I messaged Tessa, our cook at Ashtrick Mansion. Her puddings were to die for and I could also see how eventful Mom was doing; was it kitty parties this time or some foundation meetings. She really wasn't interested in knowing and catching the murderer at all, was she?

"I believe in the system. They will eventually bring that bastard's face in front me. Why should we live in a peril till then?"

She really said that after the memorial evening where I was drunk, and thankfully managed not to create a scene. Daddy dearest deserves justice and how can she sleep her nights knowing that the man who killed father was still out, free and living a life after taking one.

Yes, My Lady.

–Baby Henry's Mom

Gosh! Tessa and her prior independence manners where I can't even object because knowing that Grandfather was the one who saved her family from bankruptcy and starvation makes her want to serve our family for generations can't be reversed.

Maybe these are the times I understand that Grandfather is not only a person who holds power, is manipulative, dresses in money and lives off politics; but was also a poor man living on a river shore and a living human being.

This bag is heavy, and where on earth did I park my car? There were no cars in the alleyway; not even a damn Nano.

I called Rashmi: The number you are trying to call in unreachable. Please try again - Did she h****k the car and go out to eat ice cream by herself? Even I was hankering for some.

I tried calling her number again but it was the same result as earlier.

It is still not too late. I think you really want to be the sacrificing goat for us.

- Way to go Ù Ù

I stood there jumbled, and being jerked into a reality I didn't want to face. They were making their move, they knew I came to meet Meher and, then warned me. Meher: she must be a pawn or an unpredicted player in their game, if that is what it is.

"Meher. She must be a key." I spoke to myself and ran inside without tripping on the doorway frame, "Where is Rashmi? What did you guys do to her?"

I shouted and set my eyes on the spot where Meher was seated when I last left her, it was empty. She was not there but I didn't see her leaving from the door I used, where could she disappear?

I looked around, there must be another exit, a backdoor? For a Garage? Who could've taken Rashmi?

For what reasons: she held a power over me nobody can have, she knew things she knew and who knows that can easily use her against me. I need to find her before whoever is behind all this makes another move. I'm already in a deep pit of fiery, not knowing answers for the piling up questions.

"Abhi, someone took my assistant along with my car. I need to find her. Now!" I blurted out non-stop after he picked the phone on the third ring, without listening to what he had to say.

"Calm down. Location. Where is Lokesh?" Who is Lokesh, now?

"At some garage at bridge road–check your WhatsApp." I said and sent him my live location, that's easier. Location. The car's location, Well can track it. I need to keep some calm in my nerves. That’s it. It will be over.

"I'm leaving." I ended the call and dialled Well's number. "Give me some time to work–"

"Give my car's live location. Like now!"

"What? Okay!" After a few seconds pause he shared it, "Kismat Road, I'll send you the location."

Great. Hopefully Rashmi is along with the car. "This is my car's location. I'm heading there." I sent a voice recording to Abhishek and searched for a vehicle to drive, only a broken auto rickshaw was in the radar, and a lifeless car. "Stay where you are. I am picking you. Lokesh can go to the car's location but he isn't picking up his phone."

I can't wait here helplessly. What if they have already started torturing Rashmi for information they wanted to collect? Loyalty dies the moment pain takes over emotions.

Forcefully inserting the rusted key inside the cranked car, I tried bringing its engine to ignition; it only roared once and died again. What a mess!

"You need to live!" I ordered the car, more like begged it. Maybe it was a living machine after all as the tyres rolled and I skid in the seatbelt–less seat. "Yes baby. Be a hero!" I just prayed that the steering didn't come out mid–way, I wish I even owned a taxi business too, well wishes are daydreams for a reason!

With a glassless side window, and painfully rock seat, in addition to all sort of rocking and rolling sounds from the car I came out from the junk yard: one step at a time, good.

Passing a few streets, I put on my glasses back because people were now staring at me with alien eyes and this is when I wished I could speed up, but seems like the engine was having a field day in controlling the backdoors of the car: open, shut, open and shut again!

The navigation app in my phone disappeared as Rashmi's caller ID took over the screen; wow, now she calls me. Wasn't she kidn*pped all this time?

"I am going to kill you. Where are you?" I screamed after lifting the call and putting it on speaker.

"She is already on deathbed. Keep your threats unsolved for now." A female voice spoke; it sounded familiar, then where is Rashmi. kidn*pped?

"What did you do to her–where is she?" I tried getting the prioritized question among all the right questions. "At Cloud Hospital."

Hospital? But my car was located at a local sand site and Cloud Hospital is nowhere near to it.

With the highest speed of forty Kmph I managed to reach Cloud Hospital in the next half an hour, not before leaving the junk in a sideway alley and grabbing a taxi to the hospital. I need to at least maintain my dignity and position when being threatened, too. Whoa! Why didn’t I take the taxi earlier?

"Where is Rashmi Prasanna?" I asked at the reception. "Time specification please."

I didn't know. "I'll take her from here." The same familiar voice, which was on the phone too, said to the receptionist from behind me. Do I perhaps know her?

"Destiny. Nice to see you again." It was her again. How does she always find me in my worst moods at all times?

Maybe you need a special knack to have to do it. "Not likewise. What are you doing here?"

"I work here. I am a nurse." When did she change professions? Wait, what did she do after college–I didn't know! "Not something that suits you. Where is Rashmi and whom else did you call?"

"Only you. Your number was on speed dial." Emmet said.

Huh. Speed Dial: It is something used to keep the most trusted and quickly reachable person's information.

I'm none to her. Or, was I?