Raj and his friends got up early next morning. They rode for an hour on their hprses. Falcon was the fastest. They planned all their strategies well.
" Its time for the royal heirs to feel the heat", said Raj as he smirked.
" We will have ponies not horses", said Parry. " Adjust the speeds."
" I bribed the club to give me the tapes of previous games", said Maddy.
" Good lets watch them", said Raj.
After they bathed they watched the tapes as they had a light breakfast.
" The queen's team is here. The CEO requested an audience", said Parry. " Her name is...", he was saying.
Raj raised a hand to stop him.
" She is not important. Arrange 15 minutes of my time for her. See that she remains blissfully ignorant. But pay them all well", he said.
How wrong he was!!
Meanwhile
" Defeat him", said Kamini to his sons. " You have been practicing for days now. The crown is yours. He cannot snatch it from you. GOT IT"
" Yes mother", they said.
" Prince Rajeev requested a five player match", said Bhanu.
" Cowboy style", queried Rahul.
" Yeah", said his brother.
" Let Mohit Bansal join you. He stayed in Texas for sometime", said Bhanu.
" This feels more like a war than match", Rakesh whispered to his brother.
Rahul sighed. He knew it was for their mother.
" He is your enemy", she taught the twins as soon as they learned to think.
Kenny was right. Who wants the throne? Rajeev can have it. He will be his own person. He loves Kenny and will become the respectable self-depending person she wants to be with.
" You are completely in your mother's clutches", she said to him in past. " I want to be with a man who knows what he wants and go gunning for it".
Well this is it. His twenty third birthday will be the day he will denounce the throne he thought.
Kenny he sighed.
" Lets go and get it over with", he said to his twin.
The match started sharply at 11 a.m.
Raj won the toss and selected his mallets and position. Rahul shook his head choosing the side he wanted. But Raj knew side was what his brother was looking for. He smirked.
As the match started it was clear who had the edge. Raj's team was uncoordinated, committed in line of ball fowls, suffered penalties and could not even score one goal.
The very first goal came after conceding five.
" It will be an easy win", said Rahul. " He is a good rider but he never picked a mallet in his life".
" Hope so", said Mohit.
" They are losing", said Salman.
" Relax Salman its just a game", said Alok.
" They can still win", said the old king. " What do you say Gaurav?"
" Where your grandson is concerned uncle he can even dissolve a Zebra's stripes", he replued. " Kenny didn't showed up", he asked Alok.
" No", he replied.
" She requested a meeting with the b*st*rd and he is ignoring her", he said." How will my girls cope"?
" Shai joins them", Salman was concerned now. " Numaan loved her. She is the only daughter in my family. Not sure I want her around either of them", he said.
" I second you", said Gaurav.
As the match continued Raj's team suffered. By half time they were trailing 15 to 4.
Meanwhile
" Ohh God we are so late", said Kenny.
" We worked late till night", said Myra.
" I mailed prince Rajeev", said Grace but his secretary says he will be busy for the coming week. He can squeeze in fifteen minutes though tomorrow", said Grace.
" What are we some charity to go and ask for alms", hissed Kiara. " He signed a contract and now is playing games with us".
" I'll take those fifteen minutes", said Kenny.
" When is it"?
" Kenny what are you doing", said Kiara.
" Working", she replied calmly. " We come across a lot of clients. Keep your egos aside and deal with them". To Grace she said,
" Take the slot".
" We can meet him today after the match", said Myra. " Ask your uncle for the favour", she said. " For Queens", she assured Kenny.
" Okay get ready", she sighed.
The match started after 15 minutes break
And the fortunes suddenly turned.
Raj's team was more coordinated now. The volleys improved, fowls decreased. And it reflected in scores too. Unanticipatedly the goals leveled in the first quarter of second half with the twins able to score just 1 as opposed to Raj's team who scored 12 goals
.
" He fooled us all again. He is a pro", said Salman.
Alok looked irritated too.
" What the hell is happening", said Bhanu.
Kamini clenched her fists. Raj saluted her from the ground.
" B*stard", she said.
" Ask Rahul or Rakesh to hit him", she said.
But the twins refused.
" No mother we should not cheat", said Rakesh.
" But"..
" Relax mother we can still win", assured Rahul.
Kamini scoffed.
But their match did improve. They did not give openings and match remained tied until last minutes.
" They are playing strong defense", said Solly.
" With man to man marking", said Ro.
" Classic ".
" Then lets be unorthodox", said Raj. " I don't want a draw. Its a win or lose guys".
" All for one and one for all", they shouted.
Meanwhile
" G", we are leaving the palace premises now. Please can you introduce us. Informally of course", said Kenny.
" Sure", said Gaurav. " The match is in final stages. You will be here in fifteen to twenty minutes. You will miss the match but there is an after party where you can meet him."
" Who is winning uncle", asked Kiara.
" Pretty neck to neck. Anyone's game from here", he replied.
" See you soon", said Kenny and hanged up.
" Hurry", she said to the driver.
The Polo Arena
Raj signalled his team. And Parry and Ro guarded by inexperienced Khuranas faltered giving them an opening and slipping ball towards them.
" Attack", said Amar.
He took the ball and ran . Raj's team ran back to defend. Samar was with his brother. Rahul and Mohit ran towards the opposition goal guarded by Maddy leaving theirs completely vulnerable. Raj and Solly marked by the two best ones Rahul and Mohit were free. As they neared the goal Raj and Solly rode the pony in oppisite direction.
Maddy easily saved the goal as he passed it to Ro and Parry.
" Go for the kill", he yelled as Ro rode fast with the ball.
" Damn", said Rakesh as he was alone at the goal.
Between Ro and Parry nobody was able to snatch the ball. Raj and Solly were now in commanding position . By the time Rahul and Mohit reached Parry landed Raj a neat volley which he collected and drew in the goals seconds before the final hooter.
" ITS A VICTORY BOYS", he bellowed. The public gave them a standing ovation.
Kamini was furious. Her face gave Raj his satisfaction.
" Congratulations ", said Rahul to him.
" Always a pleasure to defeat you baby brothers", he insulted as he got down.
" Your highness", said Alok. " There is an after party too".
" I am aware of it Mr. Shashtri", said Raj. " I'll join after a quick bath".
Alok nodded as the victorious team went for a quick shower amidst cheers.
After party
The girls have arrived by now.
" Who won", asked Kiara.
" Prince Rajeev", said Gaurav.
" Can we meet him", asked Kenny.
She was neatly dressed in a three piece cream business suit. Kiara matched her in a blush one.
" We wait outside", said Grace.
" Yeah", said Myra. " Guess I'll sample the fancy food and wine".
" Okay", said Kenny .
The girls moved in with Gaurav.
And the richter scale crossed the danger point.