The Little Girl You Saved
JEEZ! Her royal majesty, Queen Arya walked up to them.
Rina almost jumped out of her skin, she felt her body go cold, she was shocked to the bone marrow.
What! What was the Queen doing here? Why at this minute? Why? Oh Jesus, she doesn’t want to lose her job, at least not at the verge of just resuming.
“Oh mom, long live Rani”, Raghav bowed, smiling.
“Your Majesty”, Rina genuflected.
She turned to her and their gaze met, Rina looked away immediately.
“Raghav, I repeat my question, what are you doing here?” She asked again, turning to him.
Rina looked at her, and studied her properly. She was looking divine that morning in a long wine red sleeveless flowing royal robe, her neck, fingers and wrists decorated with all manner of gold jewelries.
On her well primped hair stood a small golden crown, glittering with pearls. She was looking heavenly.
“Mom, I am doing exactly what you see me doing”, he said, still trimming, Rina stood, her head in great turmoil.
“You… you are working with a maid?” She asked, pulling up a disgusted face.
Raghav sighed, turning to her.
“If that is how you want to put it, Rani, fine. I am working with a maid”.
“Oh jeez, Raghav!” She shouted, vibrating in anger.
“Oh mom, this is actually fun”, he laughed, “I didn’t know this until today I tried”, he turned back to work, still laughing.
Arya fumed, fisting her right hand. She turned to look at the maid, she noticed her shaking in fear.
“Mmm”, she gritted her teeth and turned, walking away.
Rina watched the retreating figure of the Queen as she took the route to the garden.
For the few minutes she stood watching, she was in great fear, the actions of the Queen had thrown her off balance.
“Will you just stand there?” The Prince asked, jolting her, she had even forgotten he was there. She slowly turned to him.
“Come on, the leaves on the ground are waiting”, he motioned, tilting his head.
Rina sighed, what was wrong with this Prince? What the hell was wrong with him? His mom just left here now so angry, and he is still willing to continue? Gosh!
“My Prince, didn’t…”, she paused, “didn’t you get that? I mean your mom, her royal highness, just left here”, she sighed, closing her eyes.
Awwn, Raghav smiled. She also looks more beautiful whenever she does that. He slowly walked up to her.
“… and she was damn angry”, she opened her eyes to see him standing right before her and smiling.
She flinched. Jeez, he was so close that she could feel his breath on her. His cologne and scent filled her nostrils.
“You talk too much Rina, why not save your strength for the jobs ahead”, he winked.
Awww, she felt butterflies in her stomach, as it tightened.
“Huh?” She said.
“Yeah”, he nodded, “back to work alright?”
She nodded.
“Al… alright”, she stuttered.
“But my Prince”, she continued again, “I want to beg you for something”, her eyes pleaded.
“What is it?” He asked.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
She sighed, hesitating.
“I want you to leave me”, she finally said.
Huh? Raghav stood in disbelief, watching.
“Leave you? Why Rina?” He demanded.
“I… I don’t want to get into trouble please, just leave me”, she lowered her gaze to the ground.
He smiled.
“You get in trouble, we both are in that trouble, because I pushed you into this”.
“Huh?”
“Yes, now get back to work”, he motioned, then turned, walking back to the flowers as he commenced trimming.
Holy moly! Was he not really getting the message, or he was just playing ignorant to it? Rina wondered as she watched him work.
She looked around and true to her thoughts, they were maids around watching. She ignored them, shrugged and continued working as well.
“Hey!” Someone shouted almost immediately, and they both turned. It was from upstairs.
“Hey big bro”, the owner of the voice waved from her window, it was Prisha.
She had actually been watching them even up to when the Queen had interrupted.
“Hi Rina”, she waved at her.
Rina smiled and bowed her head slightly in greeting.
“I can see that bro”, she said, grinning from ear to ear.
Huh? Hold on, did she just say bro? Wow, she just called the Prince bro, how sweet.
Rina looked at him, their gaze met and she looked away immediately.
“It’s enough Prisha, now get going”, he said.
She laughed.
“I am in my room, have you forgotten?” She laughed.
“Alright, stay there all you want”, he said and turned back to his work.
***
Arya walked into the garden and sat on one of the benches, thinking so deeply.
She had never seen her son do this before. Even for his so-called favorite maid, he had never joined her work… never.
So why this now? Why was he working with a maid? And who the hell was that maid? She sighed, placing her index finger on her lower jawbone.
Goodness, this was telling something, yes, it was a sign of love. Her son might have fallen in love with that maid, maybe, she never can tell.
Gosh! She really needed to do something about it before it escalated into something else.
It’s high time she talks about Vidya, his intended bride. Though she was scared, she didn’t know how he was gonna accept it, but now, she surely must bring it up, no matter what.
“I have to tell him about Vidya, now or never”, she said and got up, then walked out of the garden.
***
Alina yawned, getting up from her bed. She had been asleep for about an hour.
She had gone to Prag after leaving the dining hall after breakfast, told her she wasn’t feeling well, but pledged to assist Rina do the work.
But meanwhile, she had gone to her room to sleep, and now she was awake. She needed to go see how far Rina had gone.
She got off bed and walked out her room, locked up and took the route downstairs.
Few minutes later, she was at the sit-out, and there Rina was, carrying out the job, but what! Hold on.
Jeez, she wasn’t alone. Oh my, the Prince was with her, goodness!
And holy moly, he was working with her, he was actually working. Oh Christ, she felt like crying, she felt like strangling herself.
Why had she left the work for her alone? Why? She walked up to them.
“My Prince… you aren’t supposed to be doing this”, she said, trying to take the secateur he was holding.
“Alina”, he shouted and she halted immediately.
Rina looked at her, she looked at her as well, their gaze met.
“But my Prince…”, Alina wanted to talk again.
“Hush it there”, he interrupted and she went quiet.
He turned to Rina. She was already getting fatigued, he could feel it.
“Are you tired Rina?” He asked.
She nodded.
“Yes my Prince, I am”, she said, twisting her neck.
Alina saw her and her face went sour instantly. What the hell!
“I see”, he turned to Alina.
“You take up from here, thanks for coming, you actually came to complete the work”.
What! Rina’s eyes widened in shock, was he actually handing over her job to another maid? My gee.
“You can go Rina, go get a rest for another job”, he said.
She smiled and bowed.
“Thank you Maharana”.
“My pleasure Rina”, she turned and left, Alina glaring at her.
“You know she is just starting and it’s new to her, so complete the task”, he said and tossed the secateur to the floor, then walked out.
Alina, already whimpering, picked up the secateur and began working.
Rina ran all the way to the kitchen, thank goodness, it was empty, they were no maids around.
She walked up to the refrigerator and selected out some snacks, then walked to her room.
At the instant she opened her door and walked in, the ringing of her phone welcomed her.
Oh jeez, it must be her mother. She closed her door then walked to the dressing table, dropped the snacks on it and picked up her phone.
“Hi mom”, she sat on the chair facing the mirror.
“Rina, I hope I am not disturbing?” Selena asked from the other end.
“You sure know you are, mother”, she said.
Selena laughed.
“I am sorry my princess, but this is important”.
“Go on, I am all ears”.
“It’s about your brother, I saw him in my dream last night and I know he is alive”.
“Alright, what happened exactly?”
“It was in a building site, a building construction was going on, there was a particular brick which the builders ignored, meanwhile the building they were trying to put together wasn’t staying.
“And then Siddharth came from nowhere, picked up the brick that had been ignored and gave it to the builders who added it to their building and surprisingly, the building stayed”, she sighed.
“Hmm, it’s a strange one mother”, she licked her thin lips.
“It’s not my daughter. This just means Siddharth is alive, and he is gonna show up when everyone least expects, and he’s really gonna show up to make things right”, she concluded.
Rina nodded.
“I see. Um mother, gotten that now, can you please let me do my thing now?” She asked.
“Hmm Rina, since you began working in that palace, you never seem to have time for me”.
Rina laughed.
“When the hell did I start working momma? It’s just yesterday”, she laughed again.
“Whatever”, she ended the call.
Rina felt guilty and wanted to call back, but she stopped, she was damn hungry and needed to refresh.
? Evening ?
The kitchen was damn full that evening as each maids carried out their duties carefully, chattering and laughing as they worked.
Rina worked with the maids chopping some cucumber and carrots, she helped with the washing of the vegetables.
The day had really been hectic, but the encounter of working with the Prince that morning, helped to lessen it.
By evening, the news had already spread round the maids that the Prince worked with the new maid, and most funny of all, handed over the remaining work to Alina.
This part alone got them laughing, as far as they were concerned, Alina has been put in her position.
To them she was just proud and full of herself, just because she was the Prince’s favorite, now, she has been put in her place.
Rina worked silently and wondered why the maids took it as important as they did.
Tanu walked up to her.
“Hey girl, the Prince’s new favorite”, she said smiling.
Rina turned to her.
“Oh, cut that crap off”, she pouted.
Tanu laughed.
“Come on girl, this is awesome”, she said, joining her to wash the vegetables.
“Oh no, don’t tell me you don’t have your job?” Her eyelids flickered.
Tanu laughed again and Rina sighed, she was fond of laughing.
“Am I not working? Well Rina, you actually worked with the Prince? What was it like?” She asked.
Rina rolled her eyes.
“Oh, don’t tell me he hasn’t done this before?”
“He hasn’t Rina”.
“Even with Alina?”
“He hasn’t. He’s never worked with any maid, never. Can’t you see how they are all talking about it?” She looked round.
“Hmm, well it’s nothing though, I felt butterflies in my stomach all the while we were together”, she winked.
“I knew it, I’m sure going to die if it was me”, they laughed.
“It was divine though, I felt like I was in the ninth cloud”, she rolled her eyes.
Tanu laughed.
“Oh don’t you think that way”.
“But I did, I actually did”.
“Would you like him to work with you again?” She asked, winking.
“Why not? I enjoyed it, even though it was scary as well”.
“And the part he handed the job over to Alina?”
They bursted out laughing and just then, Alina entered, they sighted her.
Alina entered and stood for a moment watching Rina as she worked, then she hissed and walked away.
“What was that for?” Tanu asked.
“Maybe she wants to continue from where I stopped again”, and they laughed.
About an hour later, they were done preparing the dinner.
The maids allotted for each duty as usual, began carrying out their duties.
The King’s and Queen’s dinner was taken to them, Alina as usual, carried the one meant for the Prince. It was the Princess’s dinner left again.
“Her Grace says you are to take her dinner to her tonight”, Prag said to Rina.
“Huh?” Rina turned to her.
“Yes, up… up, she’s waiting”, she said.
Rina shrugged and made to carry out the task, the Princess should just make her her personal maid let her rest.
She carried the tray and went out the kitchen, then towards the chamber of the Princess.
She got to her door and knocked.
“Come in”, she heard her tiny but firm voice from behind the door, and she opened and went in.
The Princess was actually seated on her dining, reading a book.
“Good evening my Princess”, she genuflected then dropped the tray on the table.
“Evening Rina, how are you?” She asked.
“Huh… I’m fine my Princess. Do you need anything?” She asked.
The Princess was staring at her and smiling, making her feel uncomfortable.
“I actually don’t”.
“Alright, I beg to take my leave”, and she turned to go.
“Rina”, Prisha called and she halted, then turned back. She was nervous.
“Ye… yes my Princess”, she lowered her gaze.
“So you still mean to tell me you don’t remember meeting me anywhere before?” She asked.
Oh jeez, again?
“I haven’t met you Princess, how would I have met you without knowing?” She asked, shrugging her shoulders.
She nodded, smiling.
“I see, but I want to tell you that you have met me”, she got up, “you have even helped me”.
“Huh?” She looked at her.
“Yes, alright. Let me remind you”, she faced her.
“I am the little girl you saved from the woods”.
What!