1 THE FORGOTTEN PRINCE

*PROLOGUE*

It is said when something is bound to happen, all the pieces will fall into place.

The call of the destiny is the most powerful force. The truth when looked at it with an all seeing eye will always be a straight line.

Humans are conditioned with beliefs, functioning in what they believe it to be a structured society when in reality the society is always a happenstance one.

They see the truth from a keyhole perception. Hence the journey to pursue the truth is always regarded as a tangled path. Humans with their fragile minds often ponder the nature of such truth; sometimes they will know it in a lifetime and sometimes it takes several lifetimes.

And sometimes they rediscover the path of truth and hence bring forth the secrets long forgotten, waiting to be told.

*(Chapter 1)*

I rushed to Mr. Mehta, my boss in excitement.

"I have prepared everything. I got all the permissions necessary. Suresh, from the Archeology department called me this morning and said we can go in the sea and can see the ruins, if we want. I got call from the travel agency and guess what; we got that famous tour guide on board. We are set to make the greatest documentary, the country has ever seen."

"Keya, take a deep breath, how did you get permission to go into the sea?" Mr. Mehta asked perplexed.

"You remember I asked Mehul to bring his new thesis papers?" Mr. Mehta nodded, "I gave those to the department head. He was practically salivating all over them"

"How did you even know to do that?" Mr. Mehta asked.

I smiled, "I was prepared of course."

Mr. Mehta opened his mouth to ask something but then closed it as if he decided against asking.

"So have you called Mehul? And when will you leave?" Mr. Mehta enquired.

"I have called as soon as I got the call, granting permission and messaged what to pack and what not. We are leaving in two hours. We are taking flight to Ahmedabad and then take taxi to join our travel group."

"Do you want any more crew?"

"No, Stuvan takes care of all the camera and editing work, producer Shrey is coming to see where he is putting all his coins. Rohan will do our extra work, Mehul is our resident expert Geologist. They would have been enough but Tejas wants to join so badly, I just had to take him."

"Alright, all the best, I have high hopes that you will all make our network proud." Mr. Mehta said proudly.

I smiled. I'm so looking forward to take this challenge.

**

//Next Day night 9 PM (Travel Agency)//

I somehow managed to get my entire luggage on board.

"That looks like a lot of luggage", someone said. I saw who was talking and gasped, "Oh my god, Ira Deol, the travel blogger?" I asked.

She laughed and nodded, "The one and only and am I looking at famous investigative reporter, Keya Dara?

I blushed and shook her hand. I then introduced my crew to Ira.

Ira broke the silence, "So are you on a leisure trip or on work?"

I smiled, "Work actually. But, I'm looking forward to enjoy all the places too."

Ira nodded, "Likewise."

I looked around the travel bus, "Isn't she the actress from TV?"

Ira looked at where I was looking, "Yes she is. And those two girls who sat behind her are band leaders of rival upcoming indie bands it seems. There was a lot of shouting before you guys came."

I turned and looked again, "They don't look like rivals, see how they sat together. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought they are conjoined twins or something."

Ira sighed, "There was an incident with super glue."

"How?" I asked perplexed. Ira shrugged.

We both shared an amused glance.

"The tour guide is totally fangirling over you," I looked over with a smirk.

"Who? Aarav? He is sweet, just looking after me." Ira responded.

I raised an eyebrow at that but didn't comment.

The tour guide looked at Ira the same moment and came towards us. He stopped before Ira and said, "Do you want to see my notes about the places we go and give your opinion?"

Ira stuttered "Y-yea I would love to."

She looked at me. I giggled and gave thumbs up.

Totally fangirling.

I looked outside the window. The weather is nice today.

I felt someone sitting beside me and looked over. I saw a tall guy with black hair, and with what looks like softest teal cardigan. He has head phones in his ear and is pretending to be asleep without even making a polite small talk.

I saw Mehul looking over from his seat before me. He raised an eyebrow as if asking 'What was that about?'

I shrugged and saw that there is a woman with bob cut and severe red highlights beside Mehul.

He introduced her, "Aah she is Ms. Heer Ahuja, a private detective."

Oh wow.

I introduced myself too.

"So are you looking forward for this trip?" Mehul asked.

Heer smiled, "Actually, I was just sending off my assistant to the honeymoon, when a guy stole my pager. There is important information in that, I saw that guy getting in this bus. As for being here, somebody had an emergency and gave me their tickets and accommodation papers to half the prize. I took it."

"What about your clothes and toiletry?" I asked.

"I will buy from the shops around"

"Wow, that's brave. I had to prepare a lot if I'm planning to go on a trip." I said.

Heer glared at the guy beside me who is pretending to be asleep.

"I confronted him all morning and he didn't even answer," she said.

I looked beside me and frowned in disbelief.

Him? He certainly doesn't look like a pager thief.

And who uses pager these days.

She then suddenly signaled me to get closer. I blinked twice and scooted forward. She then proceeded to whisper, "Remove his headphones."

My eyes widened, "I don't think that is a good idea…"

"You can either remove them peacefully or I pour this mango juice on him…"

"Whaa-"

"one, two.."

"oh my god, stop"

"two and a half, thre-"

I removed his headphones in a lightning flash speed.

I closed my eyes and winced. Oh gosh. What did I do?

Heer shouted, "You, 'An axe forgets, but the tree always remembers'. With not answering my questions you have proven your guilt. I have my answer now."

The guy glared and said, "I have a better quote, 'Life is full of questions, and idiots are full of answers."

Ouch.

Heer glared back, "I'm a detective, not an idiot."

The guy answered, "I'm a CEO, not a pager thief. And who steals a pager?"

I nodded to that.

Mehul gave me a look.

What?

That's blazing truth, right there. Really, tell me, who steals pagers?

Heer scoffed, "Yea right, you are a CEO."

The guy looked at me and said, "Watch my stuff, I'm gonna get something to read". I nodded absently.

Heer mouthed to us, 'Fake CEO'.

The guy simply rolled his sleeves up to give us a peak of 'Rolex' limited addition watch, wore a jacket worth our entire documentary budget, donned shades that looks like a million bucks and got down the bus.

We all stared at each other silently for few seconds.

"Wow, that's one way to shut people up," I said.

Heer started her rant about rich people and their attitudes. She was still not finished even when the guy came and sat beside me.

"Anybody can be a CEO Keya, but not everyone can become a Geologist. Do you know, Mehul is a geologist?" Heer loudly announced.

I deadpanned, "Yeah I know, he's my friend."

Mehul puffed up and nodded, "Not everyone can be a geologist. It is a very demanding field. I once had to go near a volcanic mountain."

Heer gasped, "woahh."

"I know, I covered that story with him on field," I said enthusiastically.

Heer's eyes became so wide that I can almost see myself as a mirror.

I laughed and turned to the side to see the guy taking out the shiny new NX20 series tablet.

I gasped, "Oh my god, it is not even released, how did you get it?"

He smirked.

Mehul cleared his throat, "Don't you dare touch it."

I pouted. So unfair.

The guy raised his eyebrow and glared, "Your boyfriend?"

"What? No."

"Good"

"huh? Wha-"

"Do you want to see it?" he asked.

My eyes widened. I nodded. Gosh I love new shiny gadgets bu-

He smirked, "Then you have to request me by saying plea-"

"Please" I said fast.

He blinked and stared at all of us one by one.

Mehul sighed.

There is no need or such sighing

The guy gave his tablet to me. I opened to see all new features. Things were going smoothly and then there was a glitch and bAMm. The guy frowned and then proceeded to check what is wrong.

Mehul patted on my back.

I sighed. The thing is, I love new shiny gadgets but you never know when something goes awry with me handling gadgets.

"I can pay-"

The guy waved off. "The microprocessor got fried somehow, not your fault."

I grimaced inside, if only you know my record with gadgets. But, not looking gift horse in its mouth and all that.

The guy gave his hand, "Kiaan Kashyap."

I shook his hand, "Keya Dara."

The guide announced that we are starting our journey now.

He said, "Our next stop is Rajkot. We will be there in 3 hours 45 mins. There we have booked a three star hotel for you to stay at night. Tomorrow we will convene at lunch to discuss our plans, okay?"

Everybody made sounds of agreement.

Mehul and Heer are still deeply engrossed in the volcanic mountain story.

Ira and tour guide are in deep discussion.

Oh wow, everyone is already making friends. I saw Kiaan reading a book. With nothing to do I opened my 'Mark of Athena' book from HOO series.

I slowly drifted into sleep.

I was sleeping soundly when the tour guide loudly announced the arrival of our hotel. (More like screeched)

Dude, what in the world, my ears are ringing. I looked around to see and everybody getting down the bus.

I bit my lip to stop from laughing when I saw the glued-band girls are shuffling awkwardly through the door.

"Come on, let's get down", Kiaan said.

I nodded and mumbled, "I swear I saw your hair all black before. I think I have to eat more carrots, lest I go color blind."

He froze. I looked back and asked, "Aren't you coming?"

He nodded and disappeared with Mehul and Stuvan as they are a floor below us.

Heer, Ira and I are on same floor.

We bid each other goodnight (more like good morning) and retired for the day.