Ghosts Of Her Past Part - 5

“Ashna!” Veer couldn't believe his eyes as he saw her waiting for him in the parlour of the Rathore Mansion.

“Sorry Veer,” she said as she rose to her feet, “I missed the train. Actually, I overslept and was able to reach the station only half an hour after the train left. But then I drove the whole way to Rajgadh and reached here just now.”

“Thanks for coming here Ashna,” he said as he pressed her to him in a tight embrace.

“I am really sorry Veer,” Ashna said as she realised the angst he may have suffered due to the delay.

"That's okay," he said as she hurriedly disengaged, "go and freshen up. There are only 15 more minutes remaining to execute our furtive plan."

"Okay, sir!" Ashna saluted him.

“Anand, please show her the guest room.” Veer said to a servant.

* * * *

“Happy birthday, Mom” Veer placed the cake on the bedside table and whispered into her ears.

“Oh Veer,” Samyukta Devi instantly woke up from her slumber, "You are such a darling. Thank you so much, sonny."

“And get ready for a surprise gift.” Veer hurriedly walked towards the door and pulled Ashna from behind it.

“Ashna!” Samyukta Devi said with a knowing smiling leaving the young couple dazed.

“How do you know Mom?” Veer asked as she sat beside her on the bed.

“You keep talking about her day and night, that’s how.” Samyukta Devi said giggling, "Come here, child." She beckoned Ashna with open arms.

Ashna walked up to her bed and touched her feet.

“She is so beautiful.” Samyukta Devi said as she patted her lovingly.

“Well then let’s begin the celebration.” Veer said as he handed her the knife.

“I wish Dev was also here.” Samyukta Devi said as her face fell.

"Oh, Mom!" Veer gave her a hug and she immediately composed herself.

Samyukta Devi blew the candle as Veer and Ashna happily sang birthday wishes for her.

* * * *

The dawn was about to break when Veer stepped out of his mother’s room with Ashna.

"Thanks, Veer," Ashna said, “I never had such a good time in my life.”

“Let me show you my room,” he came close to her and whispered into her ears, “our room!”

He dragged her by hand as she blushed.

“Wow!” Ashna’s eyes widened with amazement as she stepped into her future bedroom.

Veer jumped over the bed as Ashna marvelled the exquisite interiors of the room.

"Come here," he gestured with a wave of a hand.

“Your room is so beautiful.” She said as she walked to him and sat by his side on the bed.

“Our room,” he said as he pinned her down on the bed and pressed his lips on hers.

“Don’t you think we are a bit too fast,” Ashna twisted uneasily on the bed.

“I think we are too slow.” He said as he planted another kiss even more passionately.

Ashna knew she shouldn’t object though she badly wanted to. She came here against her wish only to please two people whom she cared for a lot. One among them was her cousin Kavita who thought Veer was perfect marriage material. And the other one was the ever-smiling Veer whom she can't afford to see heart-broken. Ashna silently let him do whatever he wished to do to her. Veer was mad with the ecstasy of having his beloved Ashna in his arms and very soon in his life as well. He showered the clandestine love he has been hiding from her till now in the form of fervent kisses upon her. He disengaged from her for a second, took off his shirt and was about to return to her when Ashna let out a horrid scream and pushed him down on the floor.

“What happened, Ashna?” Veer was astounded.

"The tattoo,” She said pointing a shaking finger at his right arm, “the tattoo of the two lions!”

“Oh, this one,” Veer said heaving a sigh, “it’s the royal symbol of our Rajgadh. It is engraved only on the right arm of the King of the Rajgadh. And also on the arm of his eldest son as a symbol that he is the next heir to the throne.”

“How could you do this to me?” Ashna hissed like a wounded snake, “You are neither ashamed nor repentant for what you have done to me. How could you act so innocently in front of me as nothing has ever happened?”

Veer stared at her for a while in absolute bewilderment as he couldn’t understand even a word of what she has just said.

“I am sorry Ashna,” he said as he got up from the floor, “if you don’t like the idea of getting intimate before marriage then let it be. I am ready to wait till …”

“You are so disgusting, Mr Masked Man!” Ashna said as she angrily stomped off out of the room.

“Mr who?” Veer asked in utter disbelief as what has made her so aggressive within a split second, “Ashna, where are you going?”

He ran after her as he saw her rushing towards the guest room.

“I am leaving this place,” she said as she packed her bags, “And I am leaving you.”

“What wrong did I do, Ashna?” He asked as a lump built up in his throat.

"You know that very well," Ashna said as she walked out of the palace and flung her things into her car.

Veer kept helplessly watching her from the doorstep as she quickly drove off. While Samyuka Devi who was woken up by the noise of their argument, saw them drift apart from her window on the first floor.

* * * *

“Hey, how was your date with your Prince Charming?” Kavita asked teasingly over the phone.

“Didi!” Ashna broke out crying into the phone.

“What happened, Ashna?”

“It’s him, Didi.”

“What?”

“Yes didi,” Ashna sobbed, “The man who has kidnapped me 8 years ago was Veer.”

“No that can’t be,” Kavita’s voice quivered, "Veer is a suave and kind-hearted gentleman. He can't be a hard-core criminal like that monster."

“No didi,” Ashna said as her tears stopped midway down her cheeks, “I saw the tattoo of two lions on his arm same as that was engraved on the arm of the kidnapper."

“What!"