Page 5

Days passed, yet I couldn't get over everything that had happened.

It had been a week, but no one talked to me, especially my father.

Stress and worry consumed us, as we knew the attendees had already leaked all the information, and everyone in the kingdom would learn of their princess’s tragic involvement.

No man or family would accept me anymore, as I had no reputation to be a part of an honorable family.

I confined myself to the four walls of my chamber, crying all week, not knowing what I was going to do anymore.

But suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, so I wiped away my tears and got off the bed.

He hated us.

And if he came here with the same hatred, it meant he now understood our strengths and weaknesses.

If he wasn't here for me, he was here to learn about us.

He wanted to know about us because he was seeking revenge.

And if he were seeking revenge, then this wasn't it.

Surely, I was no object he could use to avenge his family.

How could he use me for his revenge?

But all I knew was that I wouldn't let him ever succeed in his devious plans.

He punished my family for a crime they didn't commit and hurt their pride.

I knew he must be eyeing the throne of Suryagarh.

He wanted to be a king. Always.

But I'll never let you become a king until I am alive.

You shouldn't have done this to me, Rudra, to any girl.

You must face the repercussions.

I pledged to myself.

Coming out of my chamber, I walked to my mother’s and found her seated on the couch.

“Maasa,”

Going near her, I remarked, “I want to get married.

Please extend the invitation of my swayamvar to King Surgami Dev Singh.”

She rose from her seat aghast and shouted, “Are you out of your mind?”

I controlled my surging emotions and exclaimed confidently, “No, I’m not.”

She looked at me, horrified, exclaiming, “Surgami dev is an old man.”

“And one of the most influential kings of Indira,”

I imparted.

“No, we’re not sending him the invitation,” she said.

“You will, Maasa.

You'll have to,”

I appealed and stepped closer to her.

“With no heir of the king, Rudra is next in line.

And if he becomes the king, he will wage a war against Mahabaleshgarh.”

I filled her in.

“Since not for me, he, no doubt, was here to get a fix on all our strengths and weaknesses.

Besides, if he wages a war against us, I'll be the one to die a thousand deaths, maasa.

I cannot bear the thought of my father and brother fighting a war that I could prevent by marrying Surgami Dev Singh and conceiving his child.

I will give him an heir; ultimately, Rudra will never get his hands on the throne.”

I continued, taking her hands in mine.

“So please try to understand, Maasa.

Baapusa8 is getting older, and Abhinandan is too ingenious to face a man he thought was his friend in the war.

We shall not let Rudra succeed in his devious plans, and only a marriage alliance with Suryagarh can prevent such a perilous situation from arising,”

I quavered, and my mother stated,

“Your father will never agree to it.”

I shook my head, holding her shoulder.

“He will have to, Maasa.

You will talk to him, please.

I cannot let him harm my brother and my father.

He is powerful, earnest and has fought many wars, but our Abhinandan… he is inexperienced, and we are all too well aware of what we are capable of,”

She caressed my cheeks tenderly with her hands and affirmed, “You don't have to do this.

What if he wouldn’t attack us? What if Surgami Dev Singh will not let him be the next successor?”

I placed my palm over her hand on my face.

“Maasa, he will get the throne and attack us.

I have spent days with him.

I know who he is.

You don't know how deftly he manipulated me to spend a night with him.

Nobody can escape his trap, for he is a beguilingly skilful deceiver.”

I described his true self to her.

“So if we do not act soon, misfortunes will keep unfolding in our family.

He used Abhi and me as bait to divert our minds from political affairs.

He succeeded in weakening our insides.

But we must not give him the time to use that against us.

So, please invite Surgami Dev Singh to the swayamvar. I request you please…”

I joined my hands, and she distressingly said, “Fine, if that’s what you believe, I shall address the invitation.

But how will you spend the rest of your life with such an old man?”

“Maasa, my life has been ruined by me,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

She asked me worriedly, and I answered with determination.

“I've never been so sure.”

She nodded.

“Alright, I'll try talking to your father,”

“No…”

I urged, “Do not speak to him of this.

He is infuriated and will undoubtedly deny it.

You send the invitation and inform Baapusa that it is merely a peace proclamation between Mahabaleshgarh and Suryagarh.

I will take care of the rest.”

I concluded.

She burst into tears and sobbed, “But , he is an old man.

How will you spend the rest of your whole life with him?”

Turning my back on her, I took a deep breath and, wiping the tears off my face, I deadpanned, “Maasa, I will be a queen.

It is better to rule as a queen than live an ordinary life, marrying a man who will never love me,”

“Fine,”

she finally agreed.

“I will send the invitation.”

I nodded and made my way back to my chamber.

My Swayamvar was to take place after three days, and I had to choose a groom for myself.

The invitations had already been sent to everyone, and the wedding was scheduled for three weeks later.

My father was still angry with me; this was the least I could do for my family.

***

Three days went by, spent with utmost worry.

Whenever I had time and privacy, I tried recollecting my memories of that night to remember what had happened.

I couldn't recall him taking me, like doing ‘that’ with me, but physically, I felt the pain when I woke up the next afternoon.

And what about the broken bangles?

I wasn't able to decipher what exactly he did.

“, everyone is waiting for you in the palace hall for the celebration,”

Suman informed me, and I looked at myself in the mirror.

The attendees have spent a long time decking me up for the day—the day I had to choose a man to get married to.

Not every girl received this privilege of doing so, but it was of no use when I had axed my own feet, sabotaging my life.

I, on my own, destroyed my life by putting my faith in my enemy.

I thought he was different, unlike his father, but he turned out to be worse.

“Shall we go?”

Suman proposed, and I nodded at her.

A group of attendees followed me as I walked towards the palace hall.

I had to do this for my family, especially for my brother, who hasn't spoken to anyone since he learned the truth.

Rudra betrayed him, and I can tolerate anything but his unhappiness.

He did not meet me for once after that uneventful day.

As I emerged from my thoughts, my eyes fell on the beautifully decorated palace.

It made me feel both good and bad.

I knew life ahead was an uphill battle.

My father would get enraged, but this was the sole way to protect my family.

Suddenly, I remembered the infamous proverb, ‘An Enemy of an Enemy is a Friend,’ and walked towards the hall.

I saw my father standing on the stairs outside, waiting for me to set foot inside together.

I greeted him and he affectionately patted my head and breathed out, “Eshwar aapka bhala karein.”

(God bless you)

I felt overwhelmed and teary, blinking at the ground as the attendees opened the door for us.

After closing my eyes and calming myself, we entered inside.

As I walked behind my father, lowering my gaze, everyone in the hall stood up in honour of the royalty as the herald made our presence known.

Walking toward a couch, I took my seat and looked around.

I noticed young princes from small states waiting for the ceremony to begin.

However, one empty chair had me gulping anxiously.

What if he doesn't come?

I fastened my trembling fingers to keep my racing heart in check.

My extended family members were taking their seats, but my brother was absent.

I looked into my mother’s eyes, expecting a particular suitor, specifically an older suitor.

My father began addressing the royal guests as everyone took their seats.

“I thank you all for enriching us with your cordial presence.

You all have gathered here on the occasion of the Swayamvar of my daughter, Princess Rajnandani Mahabalesh, for whom you all have travelled so far.

The event will continue for three days, and she will choose a man by the end.

I welcome you all, and please seek what comfort you may.”

He completed his part, and everyone applauded in delight.

Suddenly, the royal herald announced, making me sigh in peace.

“Attention!!! The King of Suryagarh, Surgami Dev Singh, is entering the palace hall.”

“Finally,”

I mumbled under my breath and looked at my father, who frowned, holding onto his sword.

I watched the old man, well-built and strong, standing in all his glory.

His hair was grey, but his physique was healthy.

With broad shoulders and a tall body, he seemed nowhere near old.

A group of soldiers assembled behind him.

Everyone rose from their seats, followed by my father, who stepped off the couch and walked towards him.

“You, here?”

he asked.

The old king laughed boisterously, replying, “Yes, I am here.”

My father forced a laugh, and they both shared a formal hug.

“The preparations are marvellous,”

he assessed, patting my father’s shoulder.

My father countered, “Thank you, but are you here with a suitor?”

He laughed again, saying, “I am the suitor.”

“What?”

my father asked, astonished.

I watched as my mother stood up from her seat and walked toward them.

She greeted the king, taking my father by surprise.

Though the atmosphere was tense, they both led him to his seat.

My mother whispered something to my father, and he whipped his head around to look at me.

In dread, I turned my gaze south.

As my father sat back, the ceremony resumed.

Once I was introduced to the royal guests, we all retired to our respective chambers.

After coming to my chamber, I sat on my bed, exhaling tiredly.

My heart pounded absurdly, so I closed my eyes to get a grip.

Visuals of Surgami Dev Singh kept crossing my mind, and I was terrified.

It was just his age; he wasn't an old man! He seemed active and looked as young as my father.

“,”

a voice caught my attention, and I looked at an alarmed Suman getting inside the chamber.

She huffed in front of me.

Catching her breath, she sat beside me.

“What?” I asked.

She informed me, “King Surgami Dev Singh wants to meet you,”

and I wondered, with distress, why.

“Where?”

I questioned.

“In his guest chamber.

Badi Maasa9 told me to accompany you,”

she mentioned.

I frowned upon hearing her.

She called my mother Badi Maasa, and if my mother told her to do so, I would have to meet him.

“We’ll see him later after dinner,”

I said, and she nodded.

By evening, everyone was busy at the dinner table.

This was the right time to meet him.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I covered my face with the veil.

Suman tagged along as we walked towards one of the palace’s most enormous guest chambers to see him.

There was no enmity between Surgami Dev Singh and us.

Whatever the hostility was, it ended with the death of Prince Suryadev Singh.

And since we had to stop Rudra from becoming the king, it was a necessity to maintain this truce.

The noise of my anklets echoed in the hallways as I walked through them.

Reaching outside his chamber, I stopped at the doorways since I couldn’t see through the veil.

I looked down at a pair of feet before me.

A familiar voice asked me in a low tone, “What are you doing here, ?”

Acknowledging his presence, I immediately lifted my veil and found him standing outside, in armour, guarding the king’s chamber.

Anger rushed through my veins as I looked at his eyes, flaming in fury.

Inhaling a deep breath, I commanded, “Open the door.”

In return, he stepped closer and gritted on my face, “Do not do it.

He is my uncle.”

As soon as I looked at his face, his betrayal rushed back to my head and I spoke insolently, “So, consider me your aunt and the future queen of Suryagarh,”

He looked around at all the attendees present there and muttered in a warning tone, “Don't you dare say that,”

I smugly replied, “Actually…watch me do that.”

The doors swung open, making me cover my face with the veil.

He stepped back when the king looked at us.

“You are here,”

He exclaimed.

Striding forth, I greeted him, joining both my palms with respect.

“You invited me, your majesty.

Of course, I had to come,”

I replied gracefully, and he laughed.

“Come inside,”

he said, and I noticed Rudra balling his palms into fists, his knuckles turning white, and anger evident on his face.

Drawing a deep breath, I took a step forward, and from the corner of my eye, I saw him stepping forward to get inside the chamber.

“Rudra, you wait outside,”

the king said, but he affirmed with a clipped tone, “I'd rather be inside to protect you.

I do not trust Mahabaleshgarh yet.”

The king gave a steady, assuring laugh and said, “That is certainly not necessary.

She is Princess , my would-be wife.”

“Wife?”

Rudra countered with a frown.

“Yes.

and I are getting married this month, and I invited her to know something about her if she would not mind telling me,”

he explained, sitting comfortably on the couch.

“No, Your Majesty.

It would be an honour to take you as my husband, and I look forward to conversing with you before the wedding to clear all the doubts,”

I expressed graciously, masking my inner turmoil.

“,”

the king responded, “I hope you know I wish to marry you at this age to secure an heir to my throne.”

I stood there timidly and answered, “Yes, your majesty.

I’m very well aware of it.

And I shall try my best to give you an heir,”

I announced.

He smiled and suddenly asked, “But I want to know if you are pure.”

From my peripheral vision, I glanced at Rudra, who stood blank-faced and still.

After a brief moment, I meekly replied, “I am Your Majesty.

I am untouched,”

I answered.

“But there is a hearsay of you being involved with a man,”

He queried.

Blinking rapidly, I swallowed the tightness in my throat.

“Why don't you examine me with your trusted vaidya10, your majesty?”

I suggested, curbing my rage.

Not because the King questioned my dignity, but because the man who had ruined it was standing in the same room as me.

I don't understand why he had to feed me some hypnotising herb when I was entrusting myself with him.

Why did he have to make me unconscious to do it?

The King, walking closer, pulled me out of my reverie.

I could see him, through the veil, standing in front of me when he said, “A sensible idea, perhaps.”

My heart kept pounding in worry, but I tried to calm my demeanour as I agreed with him.

I was determined to stop Rudra from obtaining the throne.

He toyed with me for it, and so I would engage with anyone to thwart his success.

“I shall take my leave first, then, Your Majesty,”

I said, and he replied, “Yes, you may.”

I was leaving the chamber when I caught sight of Rudra following me out of the corner of my eye, but the king immediately called him back.

Feeling apprehensive, I walked towards my chamber.

As soon as I stepped in, Suman voiced her concern, “How will you prove it, ?”

“What?”

I asked.

“That you are untouched?”

She counter-questioned.

Lifting my veil off, I threw my dupatta aside and sat on the edge of the bed.

“He didn't have to drug me to lie with me,”

I let tears trail down my cheeks.

“I was willing to do it, anyway.

There was consent, intention, and trust.

There was everything, yet he had to drug me and make me lose my consciousness...

Do you know what that shows?”

I asked, looking at her.

“It means that...

that he incriminated me falsely.

He actually did nothing,”

I hypothesised, but she became worried.

“But what if he did? What if he did, when you were not in your senses?”

I closed my eyes, chewing on my lower lip.

“He did not, Suman.

Because if he did, he wouldn't be here.

I’m unsure, so I want to know what his next step is.

Why did he come back again? What’s his motive?”

She nodded, muttering in a slow voice, “Okay,”

“Can you please not mention what happened in the king's chamber to anyone?”

She looked at me, taken aback, and I added, “If Maasa asks you what we talked about, just tell her we had a casual exchange about our common interests and the King wanted to know about my perspective on political matters.

Will you?”

I pleaded with her, and she asked, “Why?”

in a confused tone.

Standing up from the bed, I walked towards her and held her shoulders, “If you tell her the truth, she will never let this happen.

And I want it to happen, at any cost.

Do you understand?”

I asked, and she nervously nodded.

“Now, please leave me alone for some time,”

I said, and she left the chamber.

I heard the door closing and sat on my bed again.

Suddenly, a thudding sound invaded my privacy, and I instantly looked towards the window, astonished.

I got up from my bed and found him standing there.

He sneaked into my chamber over the window?!

Taking furious steps, he swiftly strode toward me and clutched my neck, pushing me forcefully against one of the tall bedposts and looking at me menacingly.

“Whatever you are trying to pull, drop it,”

he growled in a low tone, his chest puffed up, his nose flared, and his eyes glaring daggers, proving how furious he was.

I held his hand and tried to loosen his hold on me, “Leave—”

I was struggling for air, and my lungs were suffocating with the way he tightly suppressed my throat.

“He is my uncle, .

Anyone but him,”

I snickered, wiggling under his hold.

“Anyone but him.”

His grip on my neck tightened, and my head tilted back with effect, making me look into his eyes.

“He is an evil man.

He will use you,”

he stated, and I gulped a huge lump down my dry throat.

“You already did,”

He pulled me closer by my neck, our lips merely away.

“He insulted you by asking about your virginity.”

He said.

I made an effort to inhale, my neck hurt gravely, and a lone tear of anger escaped my eyes.

My face definitely would have turned pale, getting choked like that.

My lips quivered as I struggled to speak.

Ultimately, he loosened his hold, only to cup my cheek.

I panted and looked back into his eyes with the same vigour.

“He was just concerned about the child’s legitimacy, the heir of Suryagarh's throne,” I said.

He clenched his jaw and drew his face nearer to mine.

Hooking his fingers into my kamarband11, he, with his other hand, abruptly pulled me closer to him by my waist.

My stomach flipped with extreme anxiety, and my knees turned wobbly.

“You will never bear his child in this belly of yours.

If you'll ever bear a child, it'll be mine and only mine,”

he emphasised, stroking his cold fingers up and down my waist, making my insides shudder.

Due to our height differences, his face leaned over mine.

His wild breaths fanned over my face, leaving me gasping for air.

Holding my breath, I grumbled, “Watch your mouth.

You cannot abed your aunt, boy.”

In a flash, he had me in a chokehold again, and I could feel anger dripping from his eyes.

The firm grip of his fingers broke my gold kamarband11, and he brought his lips close to mine.

“I will...

and remember, when I do, you will not be able to walk for weeks,”

I chuckled humorlessly.

Inhaling sharply and with my twitching lips, I tried to remark, “Keep dreaming!”

He suddenly pushed me onto the bed, pinning both my hands over my head.

“Rudra!”

I squirmed under him, and he immediately turned me over to my front, shifting his weight entirely over my body.

I went immobile in a fraction of a moment, and he fisted my hair bun from behind to keep me still.

“Ahhh…”

I wailed and sensed his hand streaming down to my nape from my hair.

He had me frozen within moments.

I shivered as I felt the graze of his lips on my revealing back.

“Rudra, please...don't ruin me anymore,”

I wriggled to get off his hold, but he sucked intensely on my back.

“Ahh,”

I whimpered as soon as I felt his lips instil tension in my skin.

Gripping the bed sheet, I pushed my face against the mattress, biting my lower lip to restrain the sound.

“Sss….”

I hissed, and the moment he left my hand, I turned to slap him with all my might.

His face jerked, with a little cut on his cheek caused by my ring, and he moved off me.

“How dare you?”

I lunged at him, clutching his kurta12, pushing him against the headboard.

He had me fuming with anger.

“I can dare more.

But dare you marry him, , and you will see my wrath,”

He seethed, holding my wrists to push them off his collar.

Looking into my eyes, he added, “Many would want to marry you.

You can marry any man but him.

Not him. Never.”

I stared deep into his raging, bloodshot eyes.

“It is only him whom I will marry.

I’ll let him touch me, do anything he wants to do to me in bed, and I will bear his child.

And you'll not be able to do anything about it,” I said.

He sucked in a deep breath and nodded his head.

“I have my eyes on you.

You still have time to think about this, and if I ever, ever, ever catch you thinking about marrying him or see you anywhere near him again, you must bear the consequences,”

he warned me.

“Get out! Get out of my life,”

I yelled at him.

His knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists and walked towards the window.

My heart wrenched with fury as he paused and turned around to give an ultimatum before stepping over the window.

“If you do not want me to do something, we both will regret it.

Drop this plan, .

This is no joke.”

Turning back, he jumped out of the window.

“I will not,”

I screamed confidently, running to the window, seeing him leaving.

When he left, I closed the windows and walked to the mirror to see what he did to my back.

I held my breath when my sight fell on a dark bruise forming right below my nape.

“I hate you,”

I cursed under my breath and went to my bed to get some sleep.

The visuals of his actions kept running through my mind until I fell asleep.

***