Page 19

Iblushed profusely at his words and snatched my hands away from his hold.

“Apne adhikaaroan ka gyaan hai, aapke kartavyoan ka kya?”

(You know just of your rights, what about your duties?) I mumbled, getting off the bed, but he clasped my dupatta.

I tried to walk off his clutch, but he held the strings of my blouse.

Not giving up, I tried once more to move away from him, but he seized my wrist and drew me closer to him on the bed.

Seizing me by my waist, he lay me under him, and mouthed, “You want to fight? Come on, let’s fight,”

I gave him an angry look.

How could he provoke me?

First, he was out all night without telling me, and now he was trying to make it up to me.

He couldn’t just leave and then return, expecting that I would forgive him.

“I don't want to fight, I don't want to talk, I don't want to see your face.

Just go away like you did last night,”

I gritted, emphasizing every word, and tried to distance myself from him, but he held my wrist, twisting my hand behind my back.

We were mere inches away, and I noticed his eyes falling on my lips.

My breathing suddenly turned heavier as he leaned closer.

“No,”

I turned my face to the other side, and his face dropped onto my neck.

His breath fanning over my ear made me blink nervously when he murmured, “You're hot when you're angry.”

I tried facing him, but he pressed his lips on the skin below my ear.

“Rudra, stop.

Go away.

How dare you leave the palace without informing me? You could've just told me.

I got so worried for you,”

my voice turned to a faint whisper by the end, his lips melting into me.

Moving his face away, he slowly muttered, “I’m sorry, .

But it was an emergency,”

he said, freeing my hand, and I held his kurta.

“Hum aapse din ka nahi pooch rahe, kintu humein ye baat katai sweekaarya nahi ki aap apni raatein humse door, kahin aur vyateet karein.

Aapki raatoan par keval humaara adhikaar hai,”

(I’m not asking for your days, but I cannot accept the fact that you'll spend your nights away from me, somewhere else.

Only I have the right on your nights), I stated in a firm voice.

His face became serious, and he asked, “Why haven't you eaten?”

“I was angry,”

I gulped and muttered in a low tone, looking away.

“I’m still angry,”

I instantly added, widening my eyes at him.

He smiled at my remark, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me closer.

“I’m sorry,”

he said.

I tried to free myself, but he kept me detained, tightening his hold over me, and made me look at him.

“A soldier needed aid.

I had to take him to my Guruji.

He is one of the best physicians,”

He reasoned.

My gaze softened, and all my anger melted away, calming my mind.

“How is he now?”

I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Letting out a sigh, he shifted a little to my side, weighing on his elbows and replied, “Critical.

He has a one-year-old boy and his wife passed away six months ago,”

he spoke with a heavy heart, “I'm worried for him, he is a friend to me,”

His voice sounded rough and tired.

Inhaling a deep breath, he gently and slowly raised my chin with his fingers so I could meet his eyes.

He slowly removed my nose ring and drawled in a low tone, “Kiss me.”

I immediately tried to shove him away, but he held my wrist and twisted my arm behind my back again.

“Kiss me, .

I'm in a terrible mood,”

He growled under his breath, placing his forehead on mine, closing his eyes.

My heart pulse quickened as he intertwined our fingers behind my back in a tight grip.

“You know, I hate you,”

I forced out.

“I hate you, too,”

He breathed right above my lips.

“Rudra, I’m angry and you shouldn't do it when I'm angry.”

He sucked in a sharp breath.

“So don't be angry.

Because when you get angry, you look hot, and when you look hot, I want to kiss you and make you feel even hotter.

And, if you feel hotter, no one will calm you.

So, don't get angry, yeah?”

he stated.

My lashes felt heavier with the proximity.

I could feel his breath tickling my lips.

He gradually bent towards me with his parted lips and brushed them over mine tenderly.

My eyes shut close, and my back arched in anticipation, making me dip my head into the soft mattress.

His lips moved over mine, causing an instant spike in my heartbeat, and hair raised on every inch of my skin.

The softness of his lips passed a fervent heat to my body, making my cheeks burn hot.

Tightening his hold on my wrist, he pushed himself closer to me, but pulled his face back slowly.

Heaving terribly, I looked at his wet lips and found his eyes still set on mine.

“Rudra, don't play with me,”

I grumbled.

Bringing his gaze to my eyes, he muttered in a deep tone, “I’m angry, you’re angry, so come on, show me how angry you can be.”

He crashed his lips onto mine in a flash, leaving my wrist.

I couldn't suppress the moan erupting from the back of my throat when he placed his palm on my exposed back to pull me closer in his hold.

He gently sucked my lower lip between his lips, sending the warmth of his mouth coursing through every inch of my body.

I closed my eyes and held onto his arms as I felt a lack of air with his lips locked on mine.

His sucking on my lips intensified fervor as his teeth nipped at my lower lip.

The intensity of the kiss made me pull my knees high, causing my anklets to jingle, and I moaned over his lips.

“Ahh…”

I pressed my thighs together as I felt my core throb with the heat.

Seizing my hair, he angled my head from behind to get better access to my lips.

I felt the flapping of a thousand butterflies in my stomach as the kiss became harsher.

He grasped my blouse from behind, making it tighter for me to even breathe.

My nipples perked up, feeling the roughness of his palm against my back.

His hand was so big that it froze me under him.

“Ranaji,”

suddenly, an attendee's voice startled me, making me withdraw.

He immediately detached his lips from mine and looked at me.

His expression shifted, as if he were suddenly alert, and he straightened up.

“Yes,”

He regarded.

“Ranaji, a soldier outside has come to meet you.

He says, Mohan has passed away,”

the attendee informed him, and I looked at his aghast expression.

“No,”

He immediately stepped down the bed, parted the curtains, and scurried out.

Taking my dupatta, I covered my head and ran past the attendee behind him.

We both rushed to the spot where the deceased soldier lay.

The area reverberated with the cries of a baby in an attendee's arms.

“Mohan,”

Rudra dropped to his knees beside his body and shook him.

“Mohan, get up.

You've got to stay alive for your son.”

I heard his voice waver for the first time since I knew him.

I saw him breaking in front of me.

Tears fell from his eyes as he looked at the baby, crying loudly.

Tears collected in my eyes too, seeing the whole scene, and I walked towards the baby to try to console him.

“Someone has to take responsibility for his child,”

Rudra said, and I looked at everyone, their heads bowed down.

No one answered.

The baby looked at me with his red nose, and I asked the attendee in a low voice, stroking the baby’s cheek, “Has he eaten anything?”

The attendee instantly answered, “Ranisa, I don't know.

His father used to take care of him.”

A tear fell from my eyes, and I took the baby in my hands, patting his back.

He started crying louder, and I told the attendee to bring food for the baby.

I turned to look at Rudra, who was watching me holding the baby and looking at the dead soldier again.

I could guess what he was referring to earlier.

“I think you should take the baby away.

He is crying more, looking at his father,”

He said, and I nodded.

I brought the baby to our chamber and walked back and forth in the courtyard, rocking him in my arms, to calm him down.

But he didn't stop crying at all.

Finally, the attendee arrived with a plate filled with milk and food in her hand.

Holding the baby in my arms, I sat on the carpet while Suman joined us.

I fed him milk with a spoon and some food, which he accepted, but he kept crying.

“Oh, little one, please calm down,”

I sang softly, rubbing his chest to distract him.

Holding him against my chest, I gently patted his back to help him burp.

I softly touched his head.

“My child, I am here, I'm right here, baby,”

I spoke to him sweetly, soothing his back, comforting him with my warmth.

He calmed down a little, gripping my dupatta in his tiny hands.

He was such a cute boy with curly hair.

I washed off his tears and stood up to walk around.

It was dark by the time Ranaji came back.

He came closer, finding the baby in my hands.

Lying on the floor, he rested his head on the pillow and uttered, “I have to think about the baby.

Someone has to take the responsibility.”

I went near him and sat down as the baby had fallen asleep.

“Ranaji, I'm ready to take this responsibility,”

I said.

“I want to adopt him.”

he looked at me, stunned.

“But, , you're so young.

How will you care for a baby when you have responsibilities for the whole kingdom?”

I shook my head and placed the baby carefully on my lap.

“I will fulfil all my responsibilities like I would've done if I had my baby.”

He took a deep breath and touched the baby on his cheek with his finger.

“Are you sure?”

he asked, and I nodded.

He smiled weakly as an attendee arrived with food and plated it before us.

“You have not eaten yet?”

I asked, astonished.

He shook his head, shifting closer to me.

“How can I eat when my little wife is starving and cleaning our home?”

I bit my lip to restrain my smile.

He brought the plate closer to him and fed me the food.

I ate in silence.

“You're not angry now?”

He questioned, and I shook my head in disagreement.

“But, please, if you ever have an emergency in the future, inform me in advance,”

I emphasised, and he nodded.

Suddenly, the baby started crying again, and I tried to console him.

“Here,”

I looked at him, quickly washing his hands in a vessel and drying them with the corner of my dupatta.

He took the baby from my lap and said, “You should eat.”

He held him close to his chest and patted his back lightly.

I was surprised at how fast the baby stopped crying in his hands.

“Hey, Hridhaan,”

he called to him, and I asked, amazed, “His name is Hridhaan?”

He nodded, and the baby immediately slept in his arms.

I smiled, looking at the sight in front of me, and fed him a few bites.

Once we were done eating, I asked an attendee to take the plates back.

While washing my hands, I beckoned, glancing at him, “Should I bring the comforters here?”

He nodded.

I didn't ask why he wasn't even trying to change.

I wanted him to take some time for himself.

I couldn't change myself for him in a day; therefore, I wouldn't expect him to change for me so soon either.

Going inside, I returned to the courtyard with the comforters and an extra mattress.

He moved aside, allowing me to lay the mattress on the floor and place the comforters.

He settled himself and placed the baby on the mattress.

Moving towards the pillars, I pulled all the curtains low so the baby would not catch a cold.

Coming back, I sat down and took off my earrings.

I felt his eyes on me, watching my every move, while patting Hridhaan’s chest with his elbow resting on a bolster pillow.

I kept my earrings aside and removed my anklets so the noise wouldn’t disturb the baby's sleep.

After keeping them near my earrings, I lay between him and Hridhaan, facing the baby and covering him with the comforter.

He looked so adorable and calm while sleeping.

Suddenly, he shifted closer to me, holding me from behind.

He moved his arm beneath my head so I could rest.

The warmth from his chest comforted my body, and I kept my hand on the baby’s chest and over the comforter.

With his other hand, he held mine atop the comforter and kissed my temple from behind.

“You'll make a great queen,”

He slowly whispered, and I smiled, turning my face sideways to look at him.

“Aapke kaaran humaare poore shareer me peeda hai,”

(My whole body is in pain because of you), I complained in a low tone.

Shifting closer to my ear, he muttered in a very slow yet dangerous voice, “Aap kahein toh ek maheene ke liye aapka bistar se neeche utarna dushkar kardein,”

(If you say so, I'll make it difficult for you to get off the bed for a month).

He teased.

My stomach somersaulted at his words, and my cheeks heated up instantly.

“Ranaji, don't try to seduce me,”

I warned playfully, and he shifted even closer, enveloping me in his arms, connecting my feet with his.

“Ranisa, do I even have to try?”

He mimicked my tone, playing with our entwined fingers.

And just like that, I fell asleep while talking.

I woke up early in the morning and spotted him beside me, patting the baby, lying on his chest.

“Was he crying?”

I rasped in my sleepy tone, and he turned his face to look at me.

“Yeah, he woke up probably because he wet the bed, but I've changed his lower,”

He said, and I touched the mattress beside me, it was damp.

I raised myself and saw the baby resting peacefully over him.

Tying my hair in a bun, I pulled my dupatta from under his knee.

“You get ready first, I'll take care of him until then,”

He suggested.

I nodded and picked up my wedding bangles in the first place to wear, as I didn't want to fall prey to any bad omen.

I then retired to our bedroom, took a quick bath, and changed into a red and green lehenga.

I returned to see him tossing Hridhaan up in the air, causing him to laugh heartily.

“Hahahah…”

The sound of the baby’s giggles filled the air.

Smiling at the pleasing view, I went near them.

His sight fell on me as I sat beside him and grabbed my earrings and anklet bells.

He put the baby down and said, “Wait.”

He stood up and left.

Hridhaan crawled behind, trying to catch him, but I picked him up.

“Hridhaan, my boy, you want milk?”

I spoke sweetly to him and he cooed enthusiastically.

Rudra returned with a bowl in his hand and sat down in front of me.

He said, “Turn around.”

I stared at the oil in the bowl and at his face, not believing he would give me a massage again.

I turned my back to him, and he moved closer behind me, sliding my dupatta aside to access my back.

I lowered my gaze in timidness when he pulled open the strings of my blouse.

I placed my hand over my chest to keep the blouse in place.

“Is it hurting in the same place?”

He asked, and I nodded. “Yes,”

I heard him say, as he rubbed his palms together with the oil.

“Bend forward,”

I gulped and asked nervously, “Forward?”

“Yes,”

he added softly, lightly pushing me ahead and placing his palm on my back.

The warmth of the oil made me close my eyes as he poured it into the middle of my back.

Moving his fingers in a circular motion, he applied the oil all over my back.

I moaned when he put a little pressure while massaging my back in the same motion for some time.

“Does it feel good?” He asked.

“Ahh… yes,”

I replied distractedly, lost in the sensation of his hands working wonders on my sore back.

He then glided his hands up to my nape from my lower back.

Massaging my shoulders in a circle a few times, he moved his hands to my nape and gently kneaded the muscle, which had my heart racing.

Again, he slid his hands down, rubbing the side of my waist with a stronger pressure to ease all the tension in my muscles.

I felt his long fingers accidentally grazing the side of my breasts while massaging the middle of my back.

“Are you relieved now?”

He asked, and I nodded, sitting up straight.

Suddenly, Hridhaan laughed, looking in our direction, and he chuckled, asking him, “You think Maa39 is beautiful?”

Hridhaan chortled even louder, and I smiled at how he addressed me as Hridhaan’s Maa.

Tying my strings back, he rubbed his oiled hands over mine, greasing them.

I looked at Hridhaan, playing with his toes.

“I'll go and get freshened up.”

Having said this, he went away.

I played peekaboo with Hridhaan for a while and put on my jewelry.

“,”

Suman walked in with some attendants and began parting all the curtains.

Suman sat across from me and looked at Hridhaan.

“Oh, baby boy is awake,”

He gave her a toothy laugh, and I said, “He was crying so much last night, but when Ranaji held him, he calmed down.

Maybe he found the comfort of his father in Ranaji’s arms,”

She nodded absently.

“But, , don't you think caring for an infant will be too much for your newly built relationship?”

I smiled and looked at Hridhaan, gaping at me with his big doe eyes, while playing with my dupatta.

“I know, but he lost his father because of us.

He was fighting on Ranaji's side and was martyred.

This is the least we can do for him,”

I said, caressing his head.

“Moreover, he was his friend, and I sensed he wanted to adopt the baby but just couldn't say it, thinking of me.

So, I made this easy for him.”

She smiled, saying.

“Don't worry, I'll help you take care of him.”

I nodded and took Hridhaan to the bedroom to let the attendees clean the courtyard.

I fed him breakfast, later in the morning, right after which he pooed in his dress.

“Bad Boy,”

I ruffled his hair and asked an attendee to bring warm water and a cotton cloth to clean him.

Once done, I changed his clothes and put him to bed.

But the little devil wasn't ready to sleep, so I left him with Suman to play and trotted to the courtyard.

I saw the attendees dusting the rugs and asked one of them, “Where is Ranaji?”

She turned to look at me and answered, “He is in the bathing room, Ranisa.”

I make my way to the bathing room with the medicinal paste and a cotton gauze in my hands.

As I stepped into the bathing room, I found him taking a bath, sitting on a brass stool.

The sound of him pouring water and the tinkling of my anklets blended into a sweet melody that resonated in the large, quiet room.

My sight fell on the cuts on his back, healing slowly.

I raked my eyes at his shoulders—they were wide and broad, and his arms seemed thicker and muscly than my waist.

Sometimes, I wonder how small I appear next to him.

His height, physique, and strength—his palm was so large it could cover my face.

I stood there, gawking shamelessly at him as he took a bath.

He stood up and covered himself with a white cotton cloth.

Turning around, he looked at me, patting himself dry with the cloth and sauntering in my direction.

“Lagta hai ki praatahkaal mein Ranisa ke paas karne ke liye koi kaarya nahi hai,”

(Seems like Her Majesty has no work to do this morning).

That little drop of water trailing down his sharp jawline and dropping on his bare chest via his chin put me in a daze.

I looked away and took a breath to get myself together.

“Hai na! Apne Patidev ki chot par lep lagana, yahi humaara pratham kaarya hai,”

(I do! To apply medicinal paste on my husband's wounds, this is my primary job), I replied in a teasing tone, biting on my lower lip.

He smiled, shaking his head, and ambled towards the dressing room, and I followed suit.

Taking out a fresh pair of his clothes from the almirah, he placed them on the settee and settled himself on the couch.

He moved his head, gesturing for me to get nearer.

I went up to and sat beside him.

Collecting the paste through my fingers, I started applying it to his affected areas.

“Is your back better now?”

He asked in a soft voice, and I nodded in reply.

I moved my head a couple of times to push aside a strand of my hair that hung loosely over my face, to keep it from getting in my way while dressing his wounds.

He brought his hand close to my face and swept the lock away.

I bit the inside of my cheek to restrain myself from smiling and focused on treating his injuries when he asked in an amused tone, “, who cleans when they're angry?”

I raised my gaze, and just by looking at him, I could tell that he was controlling himself from bursting into a fit of laughter.

“I do,”

I stated, and he immediately remarked, “You should be angry at least once a week.”

I glared at him playfully, and a light chuckle left my lips.

“And you should never get angry,”

I said, referring to his wounds and what he did in his rage.

“It wasn't anger, it was you,”

He weighed in, and I furrowed my brows at him.

“Me? You definitely didn't care about me.

If you did, you wouldn't have left me after what you did to me,”

I commented in an undaunted tone, and he took a sharp breath.

“Seems like I have to hear this until my last breath,” he said.

I was very much pleased with his reaction.

Kneeling low in front of him, I applied the paste to his abdomen.

His eyes, all the while, were set on me.

“Rudra, can I ask you something?”

I questioned, applying the paste to his chest.

He hummed slowly, “Hnnn-hmmm,”

tucking my hair behind my ear.

I kept my eyes low on his chest and asked in a low tone, “You never loved me?”

I saw his chest heaving up and down as he breathed.

The silence followed for moments until he answered in a subdued tone, “I don't know, .

It's not that easy,”

I swallowed, pushing further, “What is not easy?”

“To love someone,”

He responded, and I kept the bowl aside.

My heart beat raised as I held his wrist and looked at the mark of my name on his forearm, slowly fading away.

Bringing his wrist closer, I caressed the mark with my lip, and he sucked in a deep breath.

“Why can it not be mutual, Rudra?”

I asked, tears welling up in my eyes, and when I added weakly, “Kab tak tadpenge hum aapke liye… kab samaapt hoga ye.

Aur kitni pareekshayein lenge aap humaari, Rudra? Aapse prem karke humse koi apraadh ho gaya hai kya?”

(How long do I have to yearn for you...

When will this end and how many tests are left yet, Rudra? Have I committed a crime by loving you?)

His gaze softened, and he cupped my neck from behind.

His touch on my skin, grazing the side of my cheek, made me blink my eyes rapidly.

I leaned in, giving in to the warmth of his hold.

“Akeli nahi tadap rahi hain aap,”

(You're not the only one suffering).

I got on my knees and looked into his eyes.

“Toh humaare madhya ye doori kyun? Kya ab aapke layak nahi rahe hum?”

(So why this distance? Am I no longer worthy of you?) He leaned his face closer to mine, staring intensely into my eyes, and shook his head lightly.

“You were, you are, and you will always be worthy of me.

You are my pride, my power, my strength, and so much more, I cannot explain,”

I gulped a hard lump down my throat, and a lone tear slipped from my eyes.

“Phir ye pran kyun ki aap humaare kabhi nahi honge.

Poore jag ki chinta hai aapko, humaari nahi?”

(Then why this promise, that you'll never be mine? You worry about the whole world, but not me?)

He sat up straight, groaning softly and muttered in a low tone, “Jaisa aap soch rahi hain waisa nahi hai, ,”

(It is not what you think, )

My lips wobbled, and a sob left my mouth when I commented, “Or jis bhaavna ka hum anubhav kar rahe hain, keh dijiye waisa bhi nahi hai,”

(And, what about the feelings I have, tell me, even they aren't true)

Inclining towards me, he placed his forehead against mine and mumbled under his breath, “Right now, I cannot give you what you want.”

Tears streamed down my closed eyes, and I whispered, “Okay,”

I stood to take my steps away from him and said, “Maybe, for you men, this material, untouched body is the sign of purity,”

But he yanked me closer by my wrist, making me sit on his lap.

Clinging to his arm around my waist, he wrapped my neck from behind with his other hand with an urge and possessiveness.

My lashes forced closed in fear with the sudden change in his mood.

“It might be a sign of purity for others, not me.

For me, you were, you are, and you will always be mine until I’m in your heart. But…”

He dragged.

His breath fanned over my lips, battling with mine, and he crept closer, tightening his grip around my neck, making me part my lips.

“Rusht hone ka adhikaar toh hai na humein, jaise aapko tha,”

(Do I not have the right to be angry, like you did?)

I held his hand on my waist, and my gaze moved back and forth between his eyes and his lips, which were precariously close to mine.

“Kaise manayein hum aapko?”

(How do I convince you?) There was an underlying fear in my tone.

My cold fingers trembled in nervousness as he caressed my lower lip with his thumb pad.

“Samay toh dijiye humein, .

Ye sab humaare liye sookhe rann mein baadh aane jaisa hai.

Isme humein sambhalne to dijiye.

Aap hi ke to hain hum.

Ek baar bhool karke aabhaas ho gaya hai humein ki aap humaare liye kitni vishesh hain. Aaveg mein aakar ab hum aapko aur kasht nahi dena chaahte,”

(At least, give me some time, .

It's like I'm flooded with things I never thought I would get.

Let me get used to this.

I'm yours after all.

One terrible mistake made me realise how important you are to me. I don't want to cause you pain by rushing things now.)

It seemed as if he was casting a spell on me, using words in his breathy voice, which worked wonders.

He blinked his eyes weakly, as if heavy emotions pressed upon his lashes.

I couldn't say anything anymore.

Every time I got close to him, it felt like I didn't have the sanity left to speak or make sense.

I would be at a loss for words, and somehow he knew it.

“You have not kissed me yet,”

He reminded me, and I tried to cover the tremors in my tone behind the braced confidence.

“I will not, until you let me do everything I want to do.”

His hold tightened on my neck, and he brought my face closer to his, crashing me against his hard chest.

“Be a good little wife and kiss me, .”

My breath became erratic at his demand.

Every time he called me 'little wife', I'd feel something coil in the pit of my stomach, sending jolts of current through my spine.

“On one condition,”

I said, and he crushed my waist hard, making my breath hitch.

“Ah… Rudra,”

a throaty moan slipped from my mouth as his fingers felt cold on my exposed skin.

“What is it?” He asked.

“You'll let me…”

Breathing heavily, I added, “...kiss you on your jaw,”

“Just kiss?”

He asked huskily, his eyes lingered on my lips.

I narrowed the distance between our faces and saw him closing his eyes.

Parting my lips, I slowly landed them on his.

He wanted me to lead the kiss, yet his clasp on my waist and hold on my neck told me who was in control.

I shut my eyes, feeling the undeniable heat building between us, slowly luring us into its spark.

I pressed my lips to his in a gentle peck.

We, breathing in each other’s air, the cold touch of his soft lips over mine, like his magical, magnetic force, was pulling me.

It all felt so sensual, I could feel the moistness erupting down there, which made me press my thighs.

“I’m aroused….”

I whispered over his mouth, my breathing uneven.

“For you,”

and as soon as that, he crashed his lips onto mine in a fiery kiss, eagerly moving his tongue along my lips.

My heart raced with the sudden shift in pace.

“Please touch me, Rudra,”

I moved slightly away and purred over his mouth.

He tightened his grip on my neck, earning a loud moan from me.

“Ahhhhh….”

Drawing my face closer to him, he sucked on my lips passionately, intensely, teasing me with slow and steady tugs, making my stomach roll over.

Pulling away, he looked into my eyes and rubbed up my swollen lips with his thumb and said, “Like a good girl, show me how you touch yourself.”

He was such a sly monster.

The game I thought I was playing was actually led by him and won.

He wasn’t being seduced by me; he was seducing me.

His demanding tone stirred my insides, and I blinked rapidly, because our conversation left me feeling hot and timid.

“I don’t touch myself; I never did,”

My voice came out airy for the way I was quivering in his hold.

He placed his lips on my cheek, letting them linger there.

Moving closer to my ear, he muttered, “Wait for me tonight.”

As he moved back, he looked into my eyes and added, “I want to see how you want me to touch you.

I’m terrible at it.

So you’ll teach me, right, my little seductress?”

I shut my eyes, deeply affected by his deep voice.

“Ranaji,”

I shivered and abruptly got up from his lap, hearing an attendee's voice.

But he yanked me back onto his lap and asked the attendee, “Yes.”

His eyes, not leaving mine, made my heart pound insanely, getting over his wild words he just said.

“Ranaji, Lady Chandramukhi is waiting to meet you,”

she informed him, and his face distorted.

“Maasimaa40?”

he mumbled under his breath, squinting his brows.

“Alright, I'm coming,”

he told her, looking at me.

He was about to get me off his lap, but before he could, I held his face and leaned into his neck.

Inhaling a sharp breath, I whispered, “You promised me you'd let me kiss you on your jaw,”

I reminded him and pressed my lips under his jaw.

Sensing no disapproval, I drifted my lips to his neck and deepened the kiss.

“,”

He groaned my name, wrapping my nape, but I deepened the pressure of my lips and bit on his skin, not caring if his finger would choke me to death.

Moving my face back, I looked at a fresh bruise about to darken on his skin to a bright red shade.

I gently pecked him there and looked at him.

“You really think I would've left you so easily had you left a mark on me?”

I smiled and stood up from his lap.

He dashed toward the mirror and checked his neck in the reflection.

“I hate you, ,”

He said, looking at me through the mirror.

I smirked and said, “I hate you, too, Ranaji.”

He tried to rub his neck, as if doing so would manage to vanish the mark, making me snort.

“You little creature, I'll see you tonight,”

He said, turning around, and I stuck my tongue out.

He went behind the room divider to put on fresh clothes.

I saw him running his fingers through his hair as he walked out after getting dressed.

“You should join me to meet Maasimaa.

She is like my mother,”

He said, and I remembered what my mother told me about Chandramukhi and how she tried to trick my father into breaking their marriage.

“Sure,”

I nodded and joined him in the guest chamber of the main palace.

I found her sitting on the couch.

Tied into a braid, her lengthy hair rested neatly at her side.

“Maasimaa,”

Rudra called, lurching near her.

“Rudra,”

she stood up, calling him back.

There was something in her voice that didn't sit well with me.

It gave me bad vibes.

I couldn't understand what my father saw in her.

He bent forward to touch her feet, and she gently placed her hand on his head.

Ewww.

Just seeing her touching my husband filled me with disgust.

She turned her eyes in my direction.

“Who is she?”

Parading, I joined my palms in front of her.

“Pranaam, Maasiji.

I’m ,”

she blinked at me as if waiting for me to touch her feet.

Under no circumstances would I have bowed in front of someone like her.

“Maasimaa, she is , my wife,”

Rudra answered, and she looked at him, furrowing her brows. “Wife?”

she gaped at him, and he nodded.

“Yes, I'm sorry, but our wedding happened under compromising circumstances,”

She smiled and looked at me.

“, who?”

she asked, scanning my face.

“, Princess of Mahabaleshgarh, Daughter of Rajvardhan and Abhishree Mahabalesh and now Queen of Suryagarh,”

I said with a wide smile, and she turned her gaze down, as if trying to recall something from her memories.

And the moment she did, her face turned pale and her eyes widened.

“She is our enemy, Rudra.”

She wobbled in a higher pitch, pointing her finger at me.

“Do you not remember what her parents did to your father?”

She said, looking at him, and I glowered at her.

“Maasiji, you seem to know so much about my parents.

How? Where were you when Rudra's father died?”

I retorted.

“,”

he suddenly warned me in an authoritative tone and gulped my anger down to calm myself.

“Watch your words,”

I lowered my gaze.

“Kshama kijiyega Ranaji, kintu jis prakaar aap apne mata-pita ke viruddh kuch anuchit nahi sun sakte, usi prakaar hum bhi apne mata-pita ke viruddh kuch nahi sun sakte,”

(I apologise, Ranaji, but just as you cannot hear anything against your parents, I too cannot bear to hear anything against my parents.) I said, and he looked at her.

“Maasimaa, she isn't our enemy; her parents are.”

Her face changed at the very moment, as if she were taken aback by what he had just said.

“It must have been a long journey; you should rest,”

He said, and she nodded distractedly.

“Of course, but I'd like to talk to you later,”

He nodded, and she left from there.

He looked at me and, arching his brow, gestured at what had just happened.

“She was my father's mistress.

She tried to break their marriage.”

I glared at the exit, and he inhaled sharply.

“Shut up, .

My mother, too, was my father's mistress.

Additionally, you should not disrespect her in that manner.

They are humans, we are humans,”

He said, emphasising 'we'.

I instantly regretted what I had said.

He was the son of a slave mother.

I shouldn't have said that.

“I am sorry, I'm sorry, please.

I did not mean that,”

I said, walking closer to him.

He abruptly strode away, saying, “I have some work,”

I gritted, fisting my hands when he left and exhaled heavily.

I cannot expose her, so allegedly, when he has such blind faith in her, and is emotionally attached to her like that.

Next time, I'd have to be clever with my words in front of her and him.

I thought about it and came back to my chamber to look after Hridhaan.

But he was asleep, and Suman was already looking after him.

I sat on the couch and started pondering things.

He was still after my family, even after our marriage.

For him, they still were culprits.

But it was not his fault.

It was all Chandramukhi, his dearest Maasimaa, who must have kept the truth from him.

Later, an attendee informed me of Badimaa’s arrival in my chamber.

I immediately went to the guest chamber to meet her.

“Badimaa, you should have called me,”

I said, going to her, and she gave me a tender smile.

“I was just strolling around and then came to see you.

Please sit,”

I said, sitting beside her on the couch and smiling.

“How are you feeling now?”

I asked her politely.

“I am feeling better.

Now, I can die in peace,”

she said, and I gulped, not understanding what she was getting at.

“When all my sons were martyred in the war, my hope died because my husband was no good—as a husband, as a ruler, as a man.

I was worried about our kingdom and my daughters-in-law.

But, now I believe, under Rudra’s wing, our kingdom will be managed fairly and squarely,”

she briefed her concerns.

“Your daughters-in-law, where are they?” I asked.

“They've paid a visit to their maternal home.

Will be back by evening today,”

she informed me.

Suddenly, Hridhaan’s cries echoed as Suman brought him out.

“, he woke up crying,”

Badimaa looked at him and asked, “Who is he?”

Suman handed him to me, and I stood up to calm him down.

“He is Hridhaan.

His mother passed away six months ago, and his father died in the war.

He was one of Ranaji's friends.

Ranaji and I have decided to adopt him,”

she listened to me and stretched forth her hands.

“Ohh, give him to me,”

she said, and I handed him to her.

She patted his back and asked, “You know how to care for a baby?”

I shook my head and said, “No, I don't.

But I will learn with time,”

She remained silent for a few moments and reluctantly inquired, “One of my daughters-in-law lost her baby and then got widowed.

She is in that trauma and has isolated herself from the world.

If you don't mind, can she foster him?”

I pursed my lips, unsure of what to say.

“Badimaa, I think you should ask Ranaji regarding this,”

I said.

She nodded and instructed one of the attendees to inform him to come and meet her.

***