Jaanki's POV:

Those grey eyes.

Releasing a breath I stared at the clothes in my hand and again I started laughing as the image of him running behind me. For a moment I thought he'd catch me and my heartbeat raised again as I kept thinking about him.

Hearing a knock on my door, I immediately threw the clothes I had in my arms inside the cupboard. I thought I managed to sneak in quietly but I guess I was wrong.

"Come in," giving the command I composed myself, as I glanced at my clothes I cringed and almost regretted letting them enter the room.

The door opened and a worker entered. She bowed before speaking," Rajkumari, Rana sa wants to meet you."

"I'll come in few minutes," I said as I started searching for fresh clothes.

"He said it's urgent."I clenched my fist to not say something stupid and nodded my head in reply. "He said, if you don't come within 10 minutes then you'll not be allowed to leave the palace for one week."

Now there was no other option for me, I moved out of my room in those dirty black clothes and entered my father's room.

He sat there on the chair with an amused smile on his lips," 3 minutes 25 seconds, that's a record breaking time, Jaanu".

I folded my hands and waited for him to continue. As it was going to be the same, old, everyday lecture.

Jaanu, you shouldn't go out without a bodyguard.

Jaanu, you shouldn't ride horse.

Jaanu, behave like a princess.

Jaanu, just don't be reckless.

Jaanu, think about what people will say.

I have heard it all way too much and have absolutely no interest in it.

But instead of being angry, like I expected he just smiled at me. "You went out without a bodyguard and without my permission, that's alright."

My eyes narrowed in suspicion, this wasn't his usual line. Ok, fine, alright : these aren't the words in his vocabulary. Then why now?

"Are you my Baba?"

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Yes, it's me, your baba. And I think you have grown up so I should give you the freedom you deserve."

"You're definitely not him" I said in disbelief and looked around. "Baba! Where are you?!"

"Ok enough of your drama. I'm still upset with you."

I pointed a finger and said with a smile," Now, that's my Baba."

"Jaanu, aren't you worried about your poor old baba?" he asked as I sat in front of him knowing well about my father's drama. It's obvious that I got my wittiness from him and still he keeps complaining about it. "I thought having a daughter will be so fun, daughters are obedient and care about their father but ---"

He stopped as I gave him an angry look, instead he shook his head in disappointment.

"Yes, I can understand."I placed my chin on my palm and pouted. "Shravani 's father never says no for anything. She can go anywhere she wants, do whatever she wants . Meanwhile my baba..."

"Hey, Don't copy me,"he said, clearly offended by how I compared him. Sometimes he behaves like a kid . "Anyways I called you to tell you that I have fired your bodyguard."

I shouted a 'yes' and pumped my fist in the sky. Finally, my plan worked and I managed to fire yet another bodyguard.

Ever since I returned from college my father had appointed a bodyguard for me and I absolutely hated it . I hate when people stare at me too much and with bodyguards around me it becomes 100 times worse.

Those bodyguards kept following me everywhere, kept looking at me and even tested my food before I could eat. Because of them I can't enjoy my life properly, it becomes difficult for me to even breathe in their presence.

I understand that they are just doing their duty but the other part of me was just not ready to accept them so I did everything I could do to fire them.

The strategy that I always used was to show how incapable they are to handle me. And just like every time today I ran away from the bodyguard and he was unable to find me.

There was no guilt inside me because I know my father may be strict to me but he's a nice person and by now he must have found a better client for the previous bodyguard.

"You just wait, this time I'll get the best bodyguard for you,"he said.

I smirked and replied while walking out," We'll see."

"Wow! JJ , you managed to get rid of yet another bodyguard," Shravani, my best friend, applauded in surprise.

I laid back in the car seat and enjoyed her praises, it's been a while since she complimented me. Shrugging nonchalantly I wiped the non-existence dirt from my pink suit.

"It wasn't that tough,"actually it was. That bodyguard was really stubborn and strict and smart too. It wasn't easy to trick him yet I did it.

"I still don't understand why you do this, can't you just tolerate them?"she asked, leaning towards me .

"I would only tolerate the things which are right. If they give me the freedom, respect and privacy I deserve then I have no problem but they just follow my father's command and behave like I'm some kind of fragile doll" I grimace remembering how they all behaved with me.

Being a Princess is not easy , I got that knowledge at an early age and I still accept every responsibility that comes to me. I wear clothes according to the rules, dress as they tell us, behave like they taught me and obey every rule of the Royal University. As a Princess, I have a reputation to maintain. I can't behave like a normal girl .

Still, can't I just behave normal for like once a week? Is it too much to ask?

My thoughts came to halt as the car stopped with a jerk, both of us moved forward and held on to the seats.

"Kaka, are you okay? What happened?" I asked and looked at the driver.

"Yes, Rajkumari. I'm fine, a dog came in between all of a sudden," he walked out.

I peeked through the window to get a glance at the dog but I couldn't, at first I decided to ignore it and let driver Kaka handle it but then I heard something.

A really slow and soft whimper. A small cry.

My hand circled on the handle and I opened the door, Shravani called me but I didn't reply. My legs moved towards the cry , it did something to my heart.

"It seems like this leg is injured,"Kaka said and I finally got a look at the dog.

It was not a dog, it was just a puppy. A Baby Dog.

His cries got stronger as Kaka touched his injured leg. I couldn't control myself anymore, kneeling in front of him. I touched his back gently and his crying stopped immediately. His big brown eyes met mine and he blinked.

And with that small movement. My heart was gone.

I love dogs, especially puppies but this one seems really special. I can't point out what exactly was so special about him but there was some sort of connection between us.

"Let's take him to the doctor," I said, still patting his back. He moved closer to me but whined as it caused pain on his leg. I got a strong urge to coo at him but controlled myself as there were already people gathered around us.

"Are you sure , Rajkumari? Your father might punish you if you went anywhere other than Ms. Shravani's house,"he warned me.

Here I was enjoying the freedom from a bodyguard but I guess I was wrong, with Ramu Kaka's presence I don't feel the need for a bodyguard. He's doing a good job to cover for them.

"Kaka, this baby needs immediate treatment. Don't worry about Baba, I'll handle him. Let's go fast", without wasting any second I scooped the little boy in my arm and sat inside.

"JJ it's bleeding on your dress", Shravani gasped as I sat beside her. "At least put a cloth or something over it, so it doesn't ruin your 50k dress."

The pink fabric of my dress was turning darker due to the blood but that was least of my concern. I rolled my eyes at my best friend. She loves this dress and is waiting for a chance to wear it but it seems like she's not getting any now.

Another fact is that she has some sort of dislike for dogs. It isn't hatred but just mild dislike .

I ignored the faces she made as we drove towards the hospital and focused on the poor boy , laying on my lap. His fur was light brown and covered in slight dirt, he looked malnourished. My finger accidentally touches his injury and he lets out a whimper.

"I'm so so sorry Baby,"I rubbed his ear.

"JJ, it's a dog. They don't understand human language," she cringed looking at him. " And stop touching it, you might get an infection."

"SS, stop being rude,"I hid my baby boy from her evil eyes.

Soon the hospital came, I refused to give the Baby to Ramu Kaka as he asked for him again and again and continued to walk ahead.

"Where is the veterinarian's clinic?" I asked the receptionist.

She glanced at me for once and pointed at the left side then again turned towards me," Princess Jaanki!" she gasped. " O-oh god, come I'll show you. Let me take this puppy."

"No, it's fine." I moved my back towards her and continued to walk in the direction she pointed.

The doctor stood up from his place as he saw me," Princess Jaanki, how can I help you?"

"He accidentally got hit by my car, please check him," I lifted the little boy in my arms. The doctor came forward and tried to take him from my arm but he started whimpering.

"Hey hey, it's fine. I'm here,"I whispered to him and laid him on the small bed. I sat beside him on the chair throughout the check up. "Is there anything serious?"

"No, it seems like a small injury. This boy will be healthy in no time but he's a little underweight , with proper care he'll be back to his healthy condition," The doctor informed.

" Do you know any good places for him?" Shravani asked. It made me narrow my eyes on her, it seems like she's too eager to get rid of him.

"Yes, there is a really good place for animals like him. I'll contact them immediately," he started typing on his phone.

Shravani smiled and turned towards me," Shall we go then, Princess?"

I looked at the puppy sleeping on the soft mattress with a bandage wrapped around his leg and sighed. Nodding my head I started walking away, I couldn't help but take glances at him.

Why does it feel so wrong to leave him?

"JJ, don't be upset. They'll take good care of him, he's at a safe place",Shravani assured me.

"I know," I breathed out. " But my heart doesn't want to leave him."

My lips turned downwards as Shravani opened the door and motioned me to sit inside. I stopped and turned towards the hospital again, still not sure if what I was doing was right or not.

After getting a hard push from Shravani I finally sit in the car, she followed me and groaned," Stop making a face like I ran over your puppy."

"You don't like him, do you?"

"I just met him," she justified her answer. " How can I like someone I just met? It took me a whole week to even like you, The most likeable girl of the School."

Now that was true, Shravani is not an easy person to talk with and it's even tougher to be friends with her. But I'm also Jaanki Jadeja. I knew I needed her as a friend and she needed me so I made it my mission to befriend. And that was my first ever mission at the age of 5 which as you can already guess, was a big success.

I smiled remembering those memories and turned my head towards the hospital gate and shouted," Ramu Kaka, stop!!!"

The car stopped with a jerk and I opened my seat belt and ran outside, there he was, my baby boy running towards me.

Running with his injured leg and weak body.

I gasped looking at him, the doctor was running behind him but the little creature seemed faster than I imagined. I ran forward and kneeled as he came closer.

He whimpered and nuzzled himself into me , I patted him gently," Baby you're injured. You shouldn't run."

"Again talking like your baby can understand you," Shravani mumbled, I glared at her in response.

I bit my lips nervously as an idea came to my mind. Looking at the doctor I said," I want to adopt him."

"What?!" Shravani,Ramu Kaka and the doctor exclaimed, making both me and my baby jump.

"It's possible, right?"

Doctor nodded his head," But are you sure, Princess? You can always find a better pet than him and he's stray."

I stared into the honey brown eyes staring back at me shining with tears. How can someone leave him?

"He is not a stray, he's my baby from now,"I said and got up with him in my arms. I gave a pointed look to the doctor." Thank you for your service and he's Jadeja from now on so mind how you speak to him."

He gulped looking at the puppy and nodded his head.

As we sat in the car for the second time Shravani kept glaring at me, I avoided her gaze and kept playing with him. This was silence before the tsunami.

"You stupid girl! How can you just take an animal as your pet? You barely take care of yourself and you want a dog?!" Shravani shouted. I moved away with every word till I was flat on the door.

"SS, you're scaring him" I pointed at the baby again whimpering in my lap.

She clenched her fists and groaned, huffing loudly she waited for a few minutes to settle.

"He's a good boy," I whispered as she seemed a little calm. "Just few days and you'll also fall in love with him."

Shravani clenched her jaw and looked at both of us. We both looked at her with puppy eyes.

"You both really look like mother and son," an accidental smile came on her face.

I lifted him in my arm and stared at his face carefully, he licked his nose with that small pink tongue of his and stared back at me. He does look like me.

I chuckled and shook him playfully keeping in mind his injury, he let out a laugh and his eyes started shining.

"Of course he'll be like me. He's my son," I said, patting his head. " He's Guddu Jaanki Jadeja. "

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