In my Devil's Arms

After Riya came back she got very busy with her preparations. Laxmi lent her a few jewellery items too.

The jewellery dated back to Chandbai asserting her view. Darshan's real identity remained a mystery but photographs carbon dated to the era. The diary was another evidence.

" Do you think photographs and their chonology is accurate", asked one of her interviewer.

" Absolutely as those off British era have photographs and articles to support them. So we are assured of it".

" Do you think any account on king written by his court witers can be manipulated by him", asked another.

" Yes but unfortunately most neutral writers were in British era. We can though from pictures and local folklores draw a conclusion though cruel he was a just king".

The viva lasted two hours but the first submission and presentation was declared successful.

" Yay success", she told Manav, uncle and aunty.

" Bang on", said Manav.

They all celebrated with Pizza.

She decided to go to palace next morning. She was so excited to meet Vicky after a long time she missed her breakfast.

" Mr. Oberoi is not here", informed a security. " He doesn't come much here", said another.

" Better check his office".

" Okay", she said weakly.

Probably he just forgot about me. After all I am just a friend. She did not want to appear clingy. So she busied herself inside the palace.

" She is a unique that one", said one security to another.

" She is not interested in him at all", said another. "Making him walk in circles around her".

" He is mad about her though. Do you think he will be successful with her", asked a male security.

" Nope", said the female security. " This palace is her top priority. Oberoi she just tolerate for it".

" She could be a witch", said a cleaner.

" Yes talk creepily to those dead people".

But Riya got so busy she did not hear their talks.

An hour later when she was leaving one of the security gave her a packed juice. As she was drinking he said sympathetically,

" Just few more days madam. Mr. Oberoi has already ordered to pull it down. Demolition crew will arrive shortly".

" WHAT? NO.NO." Juice fell down from her hand and she ran away.

They all tried to call after her but off she was on her scooty. Tears came out of her eyes. She found address to his office from Manav

" Riya don't over work yourself. He is a tough businessman", said Manav. " He won't listen".

"But I have to try Manav", she said. " Just one last time".

" Do you want me to be there", he asked.

He was such a sweetheart.

" No Manav its my fight", she said.

" Okay Riya. Take care kid", he said affectionately.

Riya reached Oberoi office. Manav concerned about her called security to get her an entrance. She sat in the reception.

" Do you have an appointment with Mr. Oberoi madam", the receptionist asked.

" No, but..I am a friend", she said.

The receptionist eyed her suspiciously.

She called Dipti

" Another friend of your boss is here. She looks from a good family and is pretty young", she said.

" The b*st*rd does not spare anyone", hissed Dipti. She felt bad for her. She decided to have a look and so came down.

" Her", she felt pity for that young girl when receptionist showed her.

" She is crying too", whispered Tina another secretary.

" Poor girl", said a female security. " He won't spare her a minute".

Riya was on the edge. All she could think of was the destruction of that beautiful palace. She thought she could at least make Vicky understand . She has forgotten that she was on an empty stomach. Her face turned red . She could not stop tears.

" She seems a nice girl. He fooled her and slept with her",Dipti said to another employee.

" Lets ask her to wash her face and give her some juice", said one of them. " Its almost lunch".

Dipti was a nice person. She went upto the girl.

" Hello miss I see you are waiting for Mr. Oberoi, I am his secretary Dipti Kulkarni.

Riya saw a girl dressed neatly in a saree. Her hairs were in a perfect neat chignon. Nice sandals. Immaculate make up. She on the other hand looked like she fell in a pit. In spite of being herself she felt inadequate . The girls here were tall and beautiful. Nicely dressed. She was no match.

" Yes can he meet me now", she picked her bag.

" Umm his schedule is packed for the day. I'll put you in some other day", she said.

" No this is urgent. I will wait", said Riya.

Dipti sighed. She did not want this girl reduced to tears.

" Okay", she said. " Wash your face and have something to eat. You look pale".

" I.. I am fine", said Riya. She was so embarassed.

But she went to rest room and washed her face. She accepted a juice and thanked Dipti. Then she sat at reception and started reading Lily's diary again.

There is a famous Shiva temple here that grants wishes. I went there today with my sister. There are many carvings on the stones here. While Rose the historian she is tries to find facts I marvel in stories.

Riya turned the page sipping her juice. She closed her eyes tiredly.

" Rajjo I am banned from temple now since I am courtesan", Gunjan said to a young girl.

Riiya's vision went away.

She knew the girl she saw in visions was named Rajjo. She probably was Gunjan's sister.

She did not mind Gunjan's vision as she knew that poor girl meant no harm to her.

" I don't want this palace Sahib", she said to nobody in one of her vision. " Just a small hut with a piece of land and a pair of bulls for farming".

Poor girl was molested. Her husband left her. But her love never died. She laid down her life for Srikant. She remembered her last words..

" Until we meet again...." And those green eyes closed forever.

Such was the intensity of pain Riya's tears flew again.

Dipti's threshold crossed. She called Vinod.

" Dipti I am very busy. Foreign client just left. Vikram the grumpy idiot is eating our brain. He'll break my phone if you keep calling".

" Well then he should keep his P*n*s in check", she hissed. " Each day I am given the job to clean up after him."

" You get good salary for it. If there is a girl send her away", he shouted. " And don't call back."

He cut the call. Defeated Dipti came back to Riya.

" Miss I promise you I'll arrange for you to meet him tomorrow", she said in a sympathetic manner. " I just called him. He's busy".

" Tell its Riya", she said.

Dipti sighed again. THEY ALL THINK THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR HIM. He probably even forgot her name.

" Miss listen", she tried.

" No Ms. Kulkarni", Riya's eyes watered. She did not ask anything just five minutes of his time. That too he can't spare. " Even if I have to be here for a long time; I will wait for him".

Her determination earned her the respect of all female emloyees there.

Dipti prayed,

" God please, serve Vikram Oberoi justice.

She did not have to wait long to see it.