Author's POV

" I can't believe you fired him, he was a good guard," the man in his late 50s said to his friend.

Surya Prakash Jadeja, the father of one and only Jaanki Jadeja, couldn't even look into his friend's eye. By now he has become famous for firing the most number of bodyguards and nobody actually knows why he does that.

What would he say?

That his daughter tricked them all?

And that she's smarter than them?

No, it'll only make her seem like some rebellious Princess.

Even though she is one, being a father he couldn't ruin her image in public. For everyone she's a gentle and innocent princess and he would like to keep it the same way.

"Atharva, I want the best bodyguard you have. The one who'll keep Jaanu protected without making her uncomfortable,"Surya demanded.

"All the previous bodyguards had those qualities. I just can't understand you," said Atharva Kapoor, the CEO of Kapoor Security, the best Security company of the country.

"Then I guess I'll have to take help from your rival RRR Tech & Security ,"Surya knew it'll make his friend agree with him.

Since this RRR Company came into existence 5 years ago it has been competing with all the other Security companies. In this short amount of time, they have grown into a multi-million dollar company and is one of the fastest growing businesses in India.

Hence, it was no secret that it was a sore topic to Kapoor's too.

"Don't remind me of that Wolf! He's already causing us enough problems."

Surya smirked," It's shocking how the decades-old company can't compete with a newly launched one. Did you find anything about that Wolf?"

He shook his head with a disappointed sigh," That person is very secretive nobody knows anything except the name- Wolf. We don't even know if it's a man or woman."

" I guess I'll have to find security from RRR then," Surya teased.

"Fine. Come I'll show you what I have," he sighed and they entered the building.

There were three floors with various rooms for bodyguards. Few for their exercise and others for rest and need.

There were dozens of bodyguards working in the gym , they were well built and had perfect posture and skills for a high profile bodyguard.

But none of that impressed Surya anymore. As the previous bodyguards of Jaanki had all of that but none of them could handle her, he now needed someone different.

Someone who can control his daughter with his mind not body. Jaanki had understood the algorithm of all the bodyguards and how to handle them so the only way to get her under control was to give her something she never expected.

" How's your son doing? Last I remember he was in the army right?" Surya asked.

Atharva sighed in disappointment and nodded," I had big dreams for him but that boy just crushed them all. Instead of joining business, he joined the army. "

Surya was about to voice out the idea that came into his mind, about Jaanki and his son but then he stopped when he saw a distant figure from the large window.

The person was doing something with a stick after looking closely he noticed he was practising sword fighting with a stick.

The skills surprised him a little as he knew how tough sword fighting can be; he himself had done it and understood it very well. Nowadays the use of such skill was not much needed so it was rare to see it.

Surya went closer to the window and took a glance at that person, the person had a good 6 '2 height and an athletic body. No doubt he was leaner than the other bodyguards but he looked more flexible than them.

"So, did you find someone?" his friend asked, standing beside him.

Surya nodded his head outside," Who's that person?"

"Oh! That boy just joined us a few week ago we're still checking his skills and strength."

"I want to talk with him,"he demanded.

"But he's not appropriate for being her bodyguard. That boy isn't even trained, he's nowhere good to be a royal bodyguard," His friend said.

Surya dismissed him with a wave of hand. " Look I'm not at all impressed by anyone over here so either you let me talk to him or should I just go?" And he started walking out but just as he thought his friend stopped him.

"Ok, I'll bring him here," he said but Surya stopped him.

"No, I'll go to him," he started walking while his friend followed him. "What's his name?"

"Raghav," he replied. "He's 26 years old, an orphan and got his bachelor's degree from some local college. That's all we know about him. He has zero experience in this business but he has some skills so we decided to give him a try. "

Surya nodded his head and walked closer to that person. As soon as he noticed him ,he placed his stick down and stood in attention.

"Raghav, this sir wants to ask you some questions," his friend said.

"Can you give us some time?" Surya more or less ordered his friend who nodded and walked away. He waited for his friend to be at a safe distance before asking the question ," Where did you learn sword fighting?"

Raghav's eyes moved away a little, then he looked straight into his eyes and replied," The owner of the orphanage where I grew up taught me this."

His reply was short and tone was emotionless, the one that most of the people in this profession have. They are expected to interact less with their clients. It was tough to decide if he was telling the truth or not.

"So, for what kind of people do you want to work?" he asked as he sat on the bench near him and patted for Raghav to sit beside him.

" I have not decided yet. And it's not like I'll be given a choice."

"But if you were then ?"

The younger man started thinking about it and Surya couldn't help but smile.

"Someone who doesn't behave poorly with people below them and doesn't do illegal work. But I know how most of the rich people are, so I won't be too surprised if it happens," he said.

"What if you're given a chance to work for a really nice person who is an honest and kind person?" Surya asked.

Raghav chuckled," then why would they appoint me as their bodyguard?"

Surya thought for a moment and was considering appointing him. Maybe an untrained bodyguard will be able to understand his daughter more and deal with her appropriately.

"I want a bodyguard for my daughter",he said directly. "And I'm thinking of you."

"Why me?"

"I have appointed a few bodyguards before but none of them seemed fit to her. They were too intimidating," he lied as he didn't want to tell the real reason.

"But what if I failed to protect her?"

Surya smiled," Don't worry I don't need someone to protect her." He got up and walked away not before completing his final words," I just need someone to look after her."

* * *

"Where are you going, Jaanki?" Surya asked as he saw her sneaking out of the door slowly. "Come back."

Jaanki huffed in disappointment and walked towards her father with a sad face. He held back a chuckle and put on his straight face. He motioned her to sit in front of him.

"Baba, I have been inside for 5 days. I can't take in anymore," her voice sounded on the verge of breaking down but being her father he knew better.

It was just an act, a drama by which she made people emotional. He could confidently say if she tried her career in acting she'll do good but unfortunately she doesn't want to. But at times her acting skills work in her favour .

But that's not going to happen right now.

He still hasn't got any reply from Raghav. He thought being unemployed he'll eagerly jump to this job. Surprisingly that young man proved him wrong, he told him that he needed some time to think about it. Surya agreed and was waiting for his reply right now. For some reason , he thought that Raghav can be the person who can control his daughter and her rebellious act.

"Your grounding is for 7 days," he reminded her of the punishment.

She pouted," You're so cruel."

"Guess you got it from me," he rolled his eyes and went back to reading his book. "Now go to your room."

"Is this how I'll stay all my life?" This time her voice sounded genuinely sad. "Behind the closed doors. Throughout my life my father stopped me from achieving my dreams and after my marriage my husband will take his place."

He sighed and placed his book aside to give her the complete attention.

Jaanki was looking away from him, looking at her face he always got a glimpse of his late wife. She looks just like her mother. And that made it more difficult for Surya to see her like that.

"I am not stopping you from doing anything ," he said in a gentle voice. "You can do whatever you want, I just want you to be safe."

"So, if I say I want to go to Mumbai will you let me go?" she asked.

His answer came back almost immediately," No."

She scoffed," See, you just want to hold me back."

"What's that you can't do here? Why Mumbai?" he asked.

" Then will you let me go to Delhi, Kolkata or America?" she asked .

"No, definitely not that far but you can go to another city if you want." She leaned back on the couch with a sigh of disbelief. "But what do you want to do? You never tell me about your ambition or dreams and then expect me to just let you without any security?"

She bit her lip and started thinking about the words. Is it the right time to tell her father everything? What if he still doesn't believe her? And laughs at her like everyone else?

"I'll tell you but only if you will think of letting me go out," she states. Before he could argue she continued," I'm just asking you to think about it."

This time he decided to be understanding father and listen to her carefully.

In the past, he had already done mistake by not listening to her. But now he won't repeat it, she's an adult and can decide for herself. Now it's time for him to support her rather than control her.

"Ok, I'll think about it," he said truthfully.

She nodded her head and took a deep breath," I want to become a social worker."

He didn't reply, just thinned his brows making her even more nervous. She waited for him to say something but he didn't.

"Baba, say something," she asked in frustration.

"By social worker, what do you mean?" he asked with genuine curiosity.

"I want to help people in need,woman and children."

"And how exactly are you going to help them?" he asked rubbing his chin..

She leaned forward with a smile.

"I'm going to open an NGO, through which I'll provide employment to poor people, women who don't get paid properly or are not provided proper work conditions can also work. I have decided to build a handwork clothing business for them and through the profit we can pay for the education of children," she completed her plan.

Surya looked at her with wide eyes. Completely shocked by her words.

His naughty, rebellious and short-tempered daughter was thinking about other people. And not just thinking but also planning on doing something for them.

He couldn't believe it's his Little Jaanki, or did he just not notice her changing?

He smiled," I guess you have planned a lot. But where are you going to get your funds from ? Because I'm just not investing for being your father."

She leaned back on the couch with a smirk.

"Don't worry, my dear Baba. I have already arranged investors, I just need to go for a meeting that's in Mumbai," she said. "So, tell me Baba will you let me go?"

"Jaanu, you know I can't let you---" she got up and started walking out before he could complete. "But I have a condition for you."

She stopped and turned towards him, he got up and placed a hand on her head patting it gently.

"I'm your father, I only want the best for you," he said. "So, I'll allow you to go but only with your bodyguard."

"Baba," she whined.

"No Jaanu, I'm not letting you go alone,"he declared without leaving any room for argument.

"Fine." she huffed but agreed.

"And I have one more condition." She raised her eyebrows in question. "You're at the age of getting married but I'm not going to force you into doing it with some random guy."

Jaanki knew this was coming as she was in her early 20s and in their society almost all the girls were married or at least engaged . She was one of the few girls who was still single.

"So, I have selected a few guys for you and I want you to go on a date with them," he said.

"Date? Are you sure ,Baba? I mean, are you not thinking about your society? What will people say?" she exaggerated.

" I might be a king but I'm also your father",he said. "So, princess, will you go on a date?"

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