Behind The Veil

"You must be kidding Papa! You do not understand a no for an answer?" Bhumika seemed to be having a heated argument over the phone with her father.

"Mch..." Misha smacked her lips appearing disturbed by her talks.

"See, Deewan Sahab asked for you on his own.It appears that he liked you the moment he spotted you at Girija's residence. After he got to know of yours and Alok's alliance falling through, he approached Girija for you. She could not deny. I dare not deny. He is a big man. Consider yourself lucky to be becoming the Crown Prince of Ranathambhor's wife. You would get Princess like treatment even after marriage." Mr Kaul urged her.

"You are not getting my point Papa. I am not a show piece kept for display. You are giving me away to the person who offers the highest bid for me. Am I some commodity?" Bhumika quarreled back.

"If not my word...at least keep your Aunt's word. Your Aunt could not deny him a meeting with you. I have sent your picture and bio data to Deewan Sahab. Hopefully he would contact you to give you the venue, date and timings after Kuversa approves of you." Mr Kaul informed her.

"Who is he to approve of me, Papa? Stop making me feel so miserable." Bhumika fumed back.

"He would become the future Ranaji of Ranathambhore. I told you I am not compromising with my expectations of a son-in-law." Saying so Mr Kaul disconnected the call giving her no room for argument.

"Hang on! Your father has fixed a date with a Crown Prince and you are refusing to meet him? Are you so full of Raghav that you refuse to meet other candidates? Thousand Raghavs are equivalent to one Rajputh Prince, monetarily speaking." Misha rattled her.

"You should not have over heard our conversation." Bhumika groaned at her.

"Come on man! Your father gets such high profile chaps for you. Had my father done that I would have licked his feet." Misha giggled out.

"Come on, be my guest. Live my life for a day." Bhumika pointed at her salwar kamiz.

"Yuck!" Misha jumped back in disgust.

"Whatever...you should meet the crown prince. You should not act the spoilt sport. If he rejects you announce it to the entire world with pride that you got rejected by a dashing Crown Prince not some random chap. It's loads better than getting rejected by Raghav." Misha tried to seep some sense into her.

"What will you take to keep your opinions to yourself?" Bhumika questioned her.

"Even a one night stand with that chap is cool with me." Misha informed her.

Bhumika chose not to comment on her statement.

In the Evening...

Bhumika's mobile phone rang as she prepared to sleep. A private number flashed on her screen.

"Am I talking to Ms Kaul?" A man spoke from the other end.

"Ah...yes, how can I help you?" She sat up.

" I am Sushanth. I hope you have been appraised by your father regarding the meeting. I will forward the venue, timings and date to you. Shall I send a vehicle to pick you?" Sushanth addressed her politely.

"I....I...er...no I am fine. I can come on my own." Bhumika landed a fist on her forehead out of awkwardness.

"I am sending my picture and bio data to your whatsapp. You can check on my details yourself." Sushanth informed her.

She hung the call after exchanging pleasantries and well being with him.

"Handsome! If you are so nervous to meet him. I will come along to boost your morale." Misha snatched her phone to have a look at Sushanth's photograph and details.