by P. G. Van
Destiny Rules..
(The Pure Destiny Series – Book 3)
By
P. G. Van
© 2018 P. G. Van
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Introduction
Almost a decade of pain pent up inside her, Sameera manages to lead a simple life with her older sister as her roommate. She wonders if she would have lasting happiness in her life as every time she finds happiness, it is somehow yanked away from her.
Nick was her best friend in high school and is now back in her life after all these years, and it is very clear he wants more than just friendship. He expresses his need for her very early on in their relationship shaking up Sameera’s quiet world. Nick teaches Sameera how to stop bracing herself for the next big tragedy and learn to accept that she was destined for him to come back into her life.
Nick becomes the pillar of strength for Sameera to work through her challenges and internal conflicts. She trusts him and steps out of her comfort zone for Nick wanting to hang on to him forever.
When she travels to India to meet her grandparents, she meets a man whose family has been looking for her and her sister for years. To her surprise, she realizes the man belongs to Nick’s extended family. The reason they were looking for her was because they felt she could lift a curse on the family. She finds out about how a woman from Nick’s family and her ancestor fell in love a hundred years ago, and due to a series of unfortunate events, the couple lost their love when the man, Rajaram, abandoned his family.
Sameera’s happiness knew no bounds when Nick asks her to marry him. She accepts his proposal, and in the spur of the moment agrees to get married to the love of her life on the same day her sister is getting married.
Sameera was happy and so in love with Nick, but something kept nagging at her—a feeling or premonition that something bad would happen because she decided to get married without Nick’s family present, just like how the couple married a century ago. She knew it was not the right thing to do and tries to postpone her wedding with Nick, but he doesn’t give in to her, and they are married anyway.
Her internal conflict leads to a conflict between the newlyweds, but Nick and Sameera’s love proves to be stronger than anything else that could pull them apart.
Just as they are settling into a happy family life, Sameera is shaken up by a random attack on Nick, and she is convinced it had something to do with the chain—the chain she had gifted Nick for their wedding—the same chain that was handed down in the family from Rajaram.
Sameera keeps having visions of the original owner of the chain—the man who abandoned his family—and she urges Nick to help her find out why the man left his children and the love of his life.
In a rare coincidence, they soon find out that Reetu, Nick’s brother’s fiancée, wants the chain. When they find out why Reetu wants the chain, it shocks everyone, especially Sameera.
A chain she had inherited, the chain she had worn around her waist for years before putting it around Nick’s neck, was a token of identification, identification as an heir to a multi-million-dollar trust in India. Sameera is happy to find out she has an extended family, but no one seems to know why Rajaram left his family.
The Bhatia family is blessed with two girls, Nick and Sameera’s twins. Even when the family is rejoicing the lift of the curse that kept the family from having a girl child in over a hundred years, Sameera could not let go of the question of why someone would abandon the love of their life.
Almost two years after Sameera finds out about the existence of her extended family, she cannot get over a nagging feeling she has had from the time she found out about Rajaram and Jasleen, his wife. Sameera is the happiest woman in the world with everything she could ever ask for, but she still has one unanswered question. She needed to know why Rajaram abandoned his life and family. What could be more important than love?
Follow Nick and Sameera’s story as they embark on a journey to find the answers and realize their love is their Destiny.
Chapter 1
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Bhatia,” the young woman at the airline check-in counter at the San Francisco International Airport said.
“Good afternoon.” I smiled back at her.
It was almost two years from the day Nick and I found out the real story behind the chain. I was at the airport to take a flight to India to meet the family I never knew existed until recent times. I needed to find out everything that happened to the owner of the family heirloom—the gold chain. The antique gold chain that had been mine for years and now hung majestically around Nick’s neck.
My heart flipped making my lips curve up just like they did every time I saw him or thought of him. He had been away for the past few weeks on a new project in South America, and I had seen him for less than twenty-four hours when he flew home for our anniversary. I knew it was more painful for him to travel amidst the negotiations with the Brazilian government for the construction project that would take the company to a new level, but he did it anyway, for me.
Nick and I had talked about visiting the extended family in India a few times during the past two years, and he had promised to accompany me once our twin daughters were old enough to go with us. The last time I had brought it up, he felt so guilty about not being able to take me. I told him I would make a quick trip while he was away on business, and he agreed after a lot of hesitation about me going by myself. He had arranged a trip for me when I was pregnant to bring me the journals which promised to answer my questions, but the Board for the trust had wanted a blood relative of the founder of the trust to hand over the journals to.
Nate and my mom jumped at the opportunity to watch Anya and Naina for the week I was planning to spend in India. Nate had taken a break from work and was thrilled when I asked if she could take care of them. My mom jumped on the bandwagon and took time off to fly from Dallas to spend time with her granddaughters.
“Thank you for choosing our airline, Mrs. Bhatia, and being part of our preferred members’ group.” The warm tone of the woman brought me back to the moment. I missed my babies already. I missed their smile and the way their eyes sparkled every time they saw me.
“Thank you!” I managed to say.
“As a gesture of appreciation for being a preferred member, your seat has been upgraded to First Class. Have a pleasant flight and a safe trip. You have been pre-screened for security, so please go through the line to the very right when you get to security.”
“Nick,” I said, under my breath, smiling at the realization of how much Nick took care of me even when he wasn’t with me. I remembered him mentioning about adding me to his membership and setting up the security clearance.
I thanked the friendly woman and walked toward the security gate. I had arrived at the airport a bit early, so I didn’t have to scramble through check-in and security. I was at the gate in no time with lots of time to spare.
I found a corner table at the lounge and dialed Nate’s phone number.
“Say hi to Mommy.” Nate cooed to my babies.
“I miss them already, Nate.”
“I know, but you don’t get to come back. They are mine… all mine.” Nate laughed.
“Thanks, Nate. I trust you more than anyone in this world with them.”
“And it is so muc
h fun with them. I’ve always wanted to have a sleepover longer than a day with them… Hang on, Mom wants to talk to you.”
“Meera?”
“Ma… I miss them already.”
“They are happy and having fun with us. I know this is something you have wanted to do for a long time. Just go get all your questions answered.”
“Thanks, Ma. I really wish Nick was with me, but I feel guilty about asking him to go with me when he is so busy with work.” I looked at the large plane being loaded with suitcases.
“Do what you feel is best, Meera.”
“Thanks, Ma… thanks for being there for Nate and me.”
“Stop sounding so formal. I can’t wait to spend time with these cuties.”
I hung up after seeing my babies on a video call and put my phone away. I knew all along it would be terribly hard to leave without them but never expected it to be so heart-wrenching. I remembered the first time Nick and I went out for dinner after becoming parents. We were both antsy and almost gobbled down our food.
Over the past few months, we became better at being a couple and were able to spend the night away from our children for our anniversary. Nick’s mom watched them for the night, and it was the first time in weeks that Nick and I were together since he had started the project in Brazil.
I miss you, Nick.
I couldn’t figure out if I was missing my daughters more or was more upset about Nick not being with me. He was my life, my strength, and my key to everlasting happiness.
Almost an hour and a half later, I heard the boarding announcement. I looked up from the book I was reading and looked around the lounge. Most of the passengers seemed excited about the travel, and some looked like they were dreading the long flight, but I felt numb. I should be excited. I should be looking forward to finding all the answers I wasn’t able to find out from Reetu over the last two years, but I wasn’t.
Reetu was arrested on multiple counts of assault and attempted kidnap, and in spite of the numerous offers that were put on the table for her release in return for any information about Rajaram Vaasi, she bluntly refused and continued to serve her time. She refused to talk to me or anyone else, not even her uncle. Her cousin, Roy, served time for similar offenses.
My phone started to go off as I was about to walk into the plane, and I pulled it out hoping it was Nick. If only I could talk to him before I boarded the plane. Rhea was calling me.
“Sam, are you all set?”
“Yes, Rhea… about to board the plane.”
“Well, you have fun. I am going to stop at Nate’s house before Samraat and I head out for dinner.”
Rhea and Samraat have been together for the past two years, and I was sure a wedding was just around the corner. Samraat was just taking it slow and not rushing it as he did with Reetu, and Rhea knew and understood every bit of his apprehension.
“You guys better not elope and get married while I’m in India,” I teased.
Rhea laughed. “Sam, you know that won’t happen.”
“I know, I’m teasing.”
“You have a safe trip and enjoy time with the family. Say hi to your grandparents for me.”
“Will do. Thanks, Rhea.”
I walked through the walkway and stepped into the behemoth plane and smiled at the friendly flight attendant.
“Mrs. Bhatia, welcome aboard.”
“Thank you.”
The flight attendant guided me to my seat and helped me stow away my bag. I sat in my seat feeling the numbness growing inside me. Nick was away on business, my children were in good hands, and I was about to embark on a journey I had wanted to go on for the past two years, and yet, I had no idea why I was feeling what I was feeling.
I waved to the flight attendant and asked for some tea to calm my nerves. I wasn’t nervous, just had a feeling of emptiness. I shut my eyes blocking out the commotion around me.
The captain’s voice came through the intercom as the flight crew started preparing for the takeoff.
“We are just a few minutes away from closing the door, and we… oh, it looks like we have a passenger on route, and they should join us momentarily.”
I took a deep breath to slow down the blood pounding in my ears. Every passing second told me I should not be going to India by myself, and that I had to go with Nick. He promised he would go with me. If I went by myself, he would not be able to keep his promise, and I could not let him do that.
I unclipped my seat belt and stood up.
“Mrs. Bhatia, we will be in the air momentarily, please take your seat,” the flight attendant instructed.
“I got to go, sorry.” I grabbed my bag and took a few steps toward the door.”
“Ma’am, you cannot leave the plane after all the passengers have been reported to security,” the gentleman at the door told me curtly.
“I can talk to whoever I need to, but I need to go.” I could not get myself to go without Nick.
“We can’t let you get off the plane without further clearance. I need to get the clearance to let you get off the plane,” the man said authoritatively.
“Fine.” I knew I should have been apologetic, but nothing was more important for me than getting off the plane at that moment.
I stood by the door as the man spoke on the phone silently standing as if he was on hold. I took a deep breath debating if I should just walk away, but something told me to stay put.
I looked up when I heard heavy steps on the metallic jet bridge and looked in the direction of the sound. I watched in awe when I saw the overly familiar figure run toward the door.
Our eyes met, and my heart drummed up a parade as he stopped a few feet away, and nothing in this world mattered at that moment.
“Nick,” I cried, happy tears brimming my eyelids.
Chapter 2
Nick walked to where I stood and gently brushed his lips against mine.
“I missed you, love,” he murmured.
“Nick… I…” I buried my face in his chest taking in the spiciness of his cologne that I had missed.
“I can’t let you go to India by yourself. I made that mistake once, and I’m not letting that happen again.” He planted a kiss on my cheek, and the numbness I had felt earlier that day melted away. I felt alive in his arms.
“I missed you, Nick.” I held on to him.
“Me, too, baby. We should go sit down if you want to go to India.” He chuckled.
“I couldn’t go without you.” I sniffled.
He hushed me and helped me put my bag away along with his and sat next to me. The captain made the departure announcement and added, “For the inconvenience caused by the delay, all passengers will be given a travel voucher that can be used for future air travel.”
I looked at Nick suspiciously.
“I knew you would give me a tough time about causing delays to everyone on the plane, so I took preemptive measures.” He grinned.
I smiled and reached to my side to put my arm around his elbow and rested my head on his shoulder. “Why do you put up with my quirks?”
“Because I love it, every bit of you.” He turned to plant a kiss on the top of my head.
“Are you really spending the week with me?”
“Yes, why would I be on this plane?”
I sat up to look at him. “You remembered I was leaving, but you were supposed to meet with the Brazilian government officials today.”
“Nothing more important to me than what you need to be happy.”
“Nick, I’m happy… very, very happy,” I whispered fighting back happy tears.
“I know, but you will be happier if you can find out what really happened to Rajaram Vaasi.”
“Yes. It feels like… I mean look where we are… I was supposed to be home with the girls and you in Brazil and yet…”
“I know, love. I know what you mean.”
I was convinced Nick and I were destined to get together and ultimately find the answers to all the unknowns.
“Who reminded you I was going to India?” I asked.
“Nobody.”
“How long have you been planning to go, and how come you didn’t tell me?”
“Long enough to wrap up business and stop to see the girls and then head to the airport.” He smiled.
“I’m sure they were happy to see you.”
“Yes. I missed them, but I missed you more.” He pecked my lips with his.
“I’m glad you are here. I was about to get off the plane.”
“I saw that… you missed our girls?” He smiled.
“I missed you… I couldn’t…” My voice trailed off as he pulled me into his arms.
“I’m here, sweetheart.”
*****
I woke up to the sound of steady typing on a keyboard a few feet from me. My seat was reclined all the way, and I could see Nick was working on his laptop. He and I spent time talking like we had not talked in ages, watched a movie together, and had dinner without a baby in each of our laps.
“Nick… why aren’t you sleeping?” I sat up running my fingers through my hair.
“Did I wake you?” He put his arm around me.
“No… I miss the girls, Nick.”
“They are in good hands. Nethra was worried I was going to bring the kids with me to India.” He smiled.
“I know they are having fun, but I miss them.”
He smiled, nuzzling my cheek. “Should we make another one then?”
I laughed, pulling away from him. “Here?”
“I can make it happen if that’s what you want.” He winked.
I laughed and gently slapped his arm with the back of my hand. “Back to work. I don’t want you to work when we are in India.”
He suddenly stiffened and closed his laptop and looked at me. “About that… I might have to work for the week but only during the day. I promise to take you around Jaipur at night.”
‘What? Wait… we are going to Jaipur?”