Chapter 27
Ranaji required something other to focus on than what had been playing havoc on his mind ever since the incident with the Englishman and his chief queen but Ranaji was a man to forgive and forget he may not have seen Rani subharna since their confrontation the night before but he held no grudges but he also needed time to accept the facts. As he sat down to his morning coffee, he realized that he had not lay eyes on his younger gayatri this morning nor last night after visiting her room it was probably due to his own wishes to be alone yet he missed her and not seeing her was unsual.
Picking up his newspaper he looked towards RamSingh stood at the door of his room and then looked back at his paper.
"Gayatri ko kahiyey ke ham ne yaad kiya hai." (Make it known to Gayatri that I wish to see her)
"Ji hukhum.." replied Ramsingh as ever loyal to his king acted upon his masters orders.
Ramsingh returns a little later unsure of quite how to tell the king that his queen did not wish to see him.
Raniji ne mana kar diya hukum.." (The queen refuses master) The matter seemed to raise eyebrows for no one dared defy the king but Ranaji was a patient man, one with intellect, just because she refused to spare time for him did not mean that she was disrespecting him it could be a number of other things too. His expression was of thought whlst RamSingh suggested trying again this time in a more formal manner.
"Agar aap chahe toh ham darkwas ke baje aagayay sunayey hukum". (Would you like me to convey your wish as a command sir?)
Nahin .. the king spoke lifting his paper to a more readable position.
"Just tell her that we will take a road trip this afternoon and I will decide whether or not she is ready to start driving independently."
Ji hukum the old sevak bowed his head in confirmation but added proudly about his student - " Rani gayatri is a fine driver sir you will not be disappointed ."
Looking up at Ramsingh with greatful eyes the king thanks the old loyalist.
"Thank you Ramsingh."
...
A hot aftenoon in Amerkot Gayatri stood beside Ramsingh nervously at the entrance of the mehel as the old gentleman reassured her, "aap ko fikar kar ne ki koi saruarat nahin hai Rani sa..i have taught you all you need to know you."
That was easy for the old man to say, he'd been driving the king around for years but for gayatri the king was the one who put faith in her, she was stood here because of him and she didn't want to let him down. Soon enough Indravarden walked out in fine attire, sunglasses every bit the royal king. It was hard for Gayatri not to be distracted by how handsome king was and recall that she infact was very disappointed with him after hearing some of the things Swarna had to say about him in regards to Rani Subharna.
Ranaji .. greeted Gayatri with a nod of the head to which Gayatri just about made acknowledgment of. Ramsingh opened the respective doors to the car for the king and queen and handed the keys over to Gayatri before wishing her good luck.
The king sat by her in the passenger seat as Gayatri started the car and drove off, to begin with Ranaji noticed a slight nervousness in gayatri but soon enough they were driving along quite nicely, ranaji was impressed by Gayatri's driving what he did however question was the feeling in the car. The awakward feeling of resistance from his young wife.
Kuch hai joh aap hamse kehna chahti hai Gayatri.? ("Is there something you would like to say to my Gayatri. ")
Gayatri nodded a no keeping both hands on the wheel trying just to concentrate and not look at the king but he wasn't long before he asked for her to pull over the car and she did.
Now she would have to tell him what was on her mind and he would listen.
"Aap nirdaay hai Rana sahib" "(You're an unkind man sir")
it was a random and very harsh comment to make, the king took away his sunglasses so he could make better eye contact with Gayatri. In a very collected manner did he respond not an inkling of a king reacting just a husband.
"Koi khaas vaje hai joh hamari rani hamare bare mein aisa sochti hai." (Is there a particular reason my queen thinks this of me..)
Gayatri would never be so direct with her words did this not bother her but it did and so she was straight to the point something Ranaji had not seen in Gayatri till date.
When asked why she felt this way about him all of a sudden gayatri had one name "Rani Subharna"
The fact that Gayatri's conversation was breaching private matters between him and his older wife was seen in Ranajis expression. "Aap se is baare mein baat kar na ham zaruri nahin samajte Gayatri" (I don't feel the need to discuss this matter with you Gayatri.) What Ranaji didn't expect was for Gayatri to continue the conversation.
Kyun nahin ..? she said without a flicker which showed dedication for what really mattered to her no matter who it was that she before be it the king or her husband.
Kyun aap hamare subharna ka rishta nahin samajpayeygi jaise woh shaayad hamare aur aap ka rishta na samaj payey. (Because you will not understand my relationship with subharna the way she would not understand my relationship with you. )
Yet still gayatri was adamant. "Ham itna toh samajte hai ke woh aap se pyaar karti hai..yey samaj te hai ke unhone apni puri zindagi aap ko samarpit kar di aur aap ne unhe bas dukh diyey." (I understand that she loves you, that she has devoted her whole life to you and all you have done is hurt her ..)
She had overstepped her mark and the king's roar shook her soul GAYATRI..!
Gayatri was easily scared but that didn't mean that would change her feelings on the matter.
Maaf kare sahib magar agar aap is mamuli si ladki ki takleef dekh payey toh aap ko Rani Subharna ki takleef toh mehsoos hoti hongi. (Forgive me sir but If you saw my pain can surely see Rani Subharna's)
"aap ko nahin lagta ke hamne koshish ki hogi" (Don't you think I tried. ) he finally broke his silence.
"Fir se kijyey ..koshish.". (try again) she suggested and god that look in his eyes was one she had never seen before. She didn't know if it was displeasure at her behaviour, thought or something else altogether.
Aur aap Gayatri ? (And you ..) Aap ko kaisa lage ga? (How would that make you feel?) he looked her in the eyes as he spoke the question was serious one maybe the king was trying to stress why Gayatri should let things be the way they were but again she surpised him.
"Shyaad taaklif ho..par utni nahin jitni is vakt hoti hai, hame socha tha ke hamare Maharaj alag hai." (it will probably hurt, but not as much as it does at this time, I thought my king was different to all others you see.)
The drive back was silent but left Ranaji with a lot to think about where as Gayatri was unsure if she had said too much but she was glad that she had it all out in the open for him to hear.
Just as the car comes to a hault infront of the mehel ranaji has the last words.
"Aap ko apne maike gaye hue kafi din ho gayey hai gayatri ..ho ayey shayad is mehel se bahar kuch vakt aap ko ko sakoon de."( Its been a while since you have been home take a few days away Gayatri that will help ease your mind.)
Gayatri got the feeling that this was the kings way of punishing her for speaking out before him and at this very moment he was far from her favorite person. !
As Ranaji leaves the car he walks up the staircase of the mehel Ramsingh waits for him at the top of the staircase.
Ranaji would announce his verdict on Rani Gayatris driving skills and it was as much a test for Ramsingh as it was for Gayatri but Ram singh couldn't be happier when the king handed him the keys with approval.
"If the queen wishes to do so she is free to take the car along with her to Seth Govinds home." He said before walking away into the raj mehel.
On the other hand smiling expressively Ramsingh looks towards Gayatri who proudly pointing out the keys to the car which was now rightfully hers.
...
Gayatri had surely given Ranaji reason to think, although her confrontation was bold she spoke the truth. The truth Indravarden had known for a long time just ignored. Gayatri had left for her home that very afternoon and when Ranaji looked out of the window of his room the next morning Gayatri's car with the number plate reading her name was still parked outside.
Ramsingh informed the king that Gayatri had chosen to take her cycle with her rather than the car and thought for some reason made Indravarden smile.
He missed gayatri, he thought about her and her words deeply.. maybe that was provoked him to walk the corridors close to Rani subharna's quarters that morning something about her words had left him a stray. It was Something he had not done for a long time walk the corridors of his older wifes quarters normally it would be Subharna would be summoned to him. Walking the length of the royal corridors in a very kingly fashion with his hands behind his back Indravarden stops when seeing the door to Rani Subharnas room open, inside her room filled with the mist of incense from her morning prayers. Stood at pause for a moment Ranaji catches Subharna stood before a portaite of himself, portrait leaving him with an uneasy feeling of torment. Making that regret of neglect upon this lady all that worse but as Subharna raised her head to look at portrait of her king in its reflection she saw Ranaji at first it was disbelieve but then soon it became clear that non other than the king was stood at the entrance of her room.
When realizing the king awaited her Subharna, turned to face him this was the very first time after their dispute had they been in the presence of one and other. Subharnas downcast eyes were telling of her hesitation before him after that incident.
"Aap ne takleef kyun ki hame bula liyay hota .." (Why take up the trouble when you could have summoned me.)
For the first time in a long time Ranaji took time to observe Rani Subharna beyond the exterior she was so good at putting on.
He saw a lady who looked like she had been shattered many a time and put back together and even so seemed the ideal queen. The truth was he had no reason to be their maybe he wanted to check up on her. A excuse wasn't that far off the tip of the kings tongue as he watched his eyes were more for observing his queen.
Kuch rehasat ki bate hai jis par hame aap ki rai chayey thi .. (There are some political matters i would like your opinion on..)
He told a white lie but so apt to that of the kings nature that Subharna would not know.
Ji ..maharaj.. she said without raising her eyes.. a weight of her shoulders almost because after their confrontation she worried as to what the kings stance on her would be but he seemed to not be aloof towards her as she had anticipated.
Ranaji knew not what more to say, but his eyes, his mind throughout were analyzing his wife and experiencing for himself all those things that Gayatri had pointed out .
There was nothing more to say.. he nodded, began to walk the corridors but then stopped to turn back.
"Subharna .."
The way in which he used her name created a strange sensation within the Queen it wasn't something he did which baffled her a little. It was personal very different to what their relationship had been like for years or even ever since their marriage.
Maybe he had done it without realizing she thought and responded respectfully.
"Hukum maharaj .."
"If you wish to approach me on matters other than the rajya (Royal affairs) you may do so."
She nodded in acknowledgement, he had never made comments such as this maybe seeing her stood before his portrait is what prompted him to mention saw but even saw it was enough for Rani Subharna.
Next chapter:
Gayatri was stood in the fields along with the other men and women that were helping build the local school for their village. Her curly hair tied back and brushed over one shoulder, her cotton saari tucked into her waist to allow for the nature of the task despite the refusal of all in the village whilst Gayatri was here she insisted on helping but little did she expect that a car from the raj mehel would stop at that very location in all its royalty.
Hope you liked it guys -- possibly some village based romance coming up now ..maybe the bit of jealousy you've all been asking for .. what do you think?
Edited by jagrutid - 9 years ago
Members Lounge
CID
