ok i'm away for a week and a bit now so no update till i get back i'm afraid but this ones a little longer just to make up for that - please leave your comments and hang in there until i get back!
Chapter 37
Ranaji had ignored two phone calls in the past hour. The phone would ring and he would simply walk past it as if he was oblivious to it where as on the other half of the mehel Gayatri sat at her balcony watching his shadow and how despite being in his room he ignored her calls. She had gone from staring at the ornate phone in her room to know staring out of the window to which she sat beside.
When Swarna walked into the room with Gayatris washed laundry an excuse to visit her friend of course she walked past the sight of Gayatri in her reminiscent mood and continued to mock her for her own foolishness.
Gayatri had confessed to Swarna about what had gone on between her and the king in his room yesterday and ever since that time Swarna had gone on about how silly her behavior had been.
Swarna had dropped a pile of Gayatris clothes on her bed and was sorting through them as she continued to stress her feelings on the matter.
"Bilkul pagal hai Gayatri bhugton ab. Phele ja kar ranaji se khudh bair laga kar ayi aur ab yaad kar rahin hai unko .. Jante ise kya kehte hai PYAAR.!"
("It's your own fault, first you cause the conflict and know you're sitting here dreaming of him you know what they call that LOVE!")
Gayatri could hear Swarna in the background but she was too occupied with her own thoughts she knew he was irate with her on the personal front. He refused her calls, he had not made any effort with her since yesterday and she understood why. Maybe her heart was changing on the matter after hearing Swarna out or maybe it was just the regret of having caused a feud in their relationship.
Swarna was still going on..
"Aisa kuch karne ki himat bas tum karsakti ho gayatri koi aur hota toh sar katva dete Ranaji unka.."
(Only you could have got away with something like that anyone else would have been sentenced to death)
"Raja'o ko khoobsurat aurton ki kami nahin hoti Gayatri palak japakte hazir hoti hai unke hukum par woh toh sukur manon ki ranaji aise nahin hai."
(Kings don't have trouble summoning mistresses Gayatri you're lucky that Ranaji isn't that sort of man.. )
She heard every single word of what Swarna had to say on the matter and her mind was made up. "Swarna kya tum mera ek kaam karongi.." (Swarna would you do me a favor.? ) Of course as a friend Swarna would not refuse even if that meant putting herself on the firing line.
...
Swarnlekha swore to herself under her breath stood at the entrance of Ranajis room that if he as much as raised his voice at her because of Gayatri she would never again commit to anything like this ever.
Swarna was forgetting that out of everyone in the raj mehel if the king would break his own norms for anyone it was Swarnlekha.
Even though he was in no mood for visitors she was a exception and as she walked in to his room and towards him in that chair with his feet up on the coffee table and his hand behind his back she wondered what response she would get.
Ham Rani Gayatri ka sandesh layey hai ranaji.. (I have a letter from Gayatri Ranaji)
He wasn't surprised their conversation this morning had started of this way but he didn't seem interested in it at all until Swarnlekha added that it was a letter of apology.
"Maafi nama hai" (It's a plea of Pardon.)
The king put his hand out to receive the letter on that note. Opened it, folding it out he read the contents and after a moment of completing the read he spoke.
"Gayatri se kahiyey woh shaam ko hamare niji kaksh mein hamara intaasar kare."
(Inform Gayatri that I wish to see her in my personal quarters this evening.)
Silently leaving with acknowledgement of the kings wishes as one would do in her position Swarnlekha leaves the king with the letter.
...
Come evening Gayatri was aware that Ranajis personal quarters were different from that of the royal bedroom in the palace. No one would be their without invite and no one would dare pry on what was personal to the king but even so Gayatri was conscious as she made her way to the room.
She found him stood with his back to her facing a window but he had heard her enter and so were his words for her.
(Ek rani ko apne apni manyaton ke liyey kabhi shama nahin mangni chahiyey apne rajon ko bhi nahin. Ayenda se dhyan rahe.. )
(A queen should never apologize for her beliefs not even to the king don't do It again.)
Even when she tried to do right by him she was wrong but she was also aware that ranaji knew more about the ways of this world they shared than she did but she wasn't here to talk about mundane things. Seeing the back of his posture predominately facing her Gayatri walked the length of the room took a moment to drop her expression over his back in an embrace to which the king sighed. Feeling her weight on his back knowing Gayatri would never express herself in such a way unless the times were testing.
"Yey asaan nahin hoga yey hamne aap ko phele se hein kaha tha gayatri .."
(I warned you that this was never going to be easy gayatri. )
There it was the I told you so from Ranaji' but she accepted for she knew there may a come a time where this may be the case right now she just wanted to be close to him.
When he turned to her for that one moment Gayatri had let her guard down and how much she missed him yet could not speak of it, how much she loved him and yet could not express it was on display to him.
Her eyes spoke of the pain of their distance but also an aspiration to please the wishes she had denied him earlier. She avoided his gaze for she knew the king looked down on those who were easily upset but he wished to see those eyes of hers and like he did many a time with his young wife he lifted her chin up so her eyes would be forced to meet with his.
They told him that there was a lot more conflict within her heart than she ever let on. Her innocence, her want to please everyone beyond herself was so overpowering. She had no idea that she was that one that deserved to be comforted. She was the one who deserved to be love and he would do just that.
Gayatri may have been trapped in her own morals but he wasn't. He had every right to make it known to his queen of how passionately he loved her and how much love she deserved.
Sadness in response to sadness was never the cure, but love was and that was what Rana Indravarden singh Deo had learned from non other than his young queen. He reached over Gayatri's right shoulder that little more so his lips were closer to her ear to make sure she could hear his every word.
"Agar Raniji ko itraas ho toh woh hame abhi rokh de" ("If the queen objects she should speak now ..")
His velvety tone should have been the give away, and if that wasn't clear enough then the kiss he placed just under her earlobe should have been enough. Yet there was no objection.. not now and not when one kiss became the lingering of many down Gayatri's neckline in fact Gayatris hold over the chest of his shirt was an indication to him that his intimacy was being welcomed.
Taking her in his arms in a comfortable sweep the king walks his queen towards his bed and in a moment or two as Gayatri feels the bedsheets mould beneath her figure the reality of the moment sinks in. Her innocence was apparent to him in the way she closed her eyes, the shade of crimson in her cheeks all of these thing only enlightening the kings passion for her. Gayatris submissive nature only reinforced the amount of dominance he had over her but he was also very considerate of his young wifes delicacy. She could hear him as he discarded his own clothes for a moment, the unbuttoning and throw away of his shirt before returning to her. The way he kissed her, caressed her, whispered sweet nothings to her as he disrobed her, tugged at all the right folds of her saari melted Gayatri. His ways were seductive, expressive of his love and need for her. Not only did the king fulfill his desires but he had also demonstrated his feelings for Gayatri despite the circumstances.
...
Their night was filled with passion, the king had his ways each of which gave Gayatri a sense of belonging, a sense of being loved, cherished and admired and throughout the night she saw how caring he was of her and not just his needs. As Gayatri lay awake beside him under the satin sheets she watched him for some time but then again her she thought about the what if's What if someone had seen her with the king, what if news got to the many ears that were always on the listen in the raj mehel. But it was as if Ranaji could hear her think even as he lay asleep he swept her up into his chest as if to tell her to stop and after a moment that security of being beside him helped ease her mind.
...
The sun shun into the room as it did in any room in the palace during dawn but for the king and queen of Amerkot it didn't necessarily bring joy. Gayatri wished she could stay beside him and the way in which she spoke very little after stirring out of her sleep is what told the king that this morning wasn't all that welcome. He knew what preoccupied her mind it was likely to be the reality of the new day and the night before.
He understood that and as Gayatri finally began to gather herself in bed a little embarrassed he took hold of her just before she could leave his side his eyes telling her that there was nothing to be ashamed of. She replied wordlessly with the look in her eyes too but he could see she wasn't convinced she was too much of an innocent soul for that but the kiss on he placed upon her forehead was small gesture of his understanding for her feelings.
...
A was a different tone between the king and queen that day but it was back to the norms of another day in the mehel. Gayatri had her responsibilities as did the king have is and in all this Gayatri was grateful that she did not have to face the older queen much.
That afternoon the Rani's had been summoned by Rajmata who went on to explain that Badi Rani was on her way to Amerkot and was due to arrive a day later that meant everyone especially the Rani's would have to be to their finest. From the way they walked to the way they talked even breathed had to be on point because Badi Rani ma set a royal standard of her own much more stringent and expecting of royal conduct than Rajmata ever was.
Rajmata only wanted to pre-warn the Ranis.
Gayatri had only ever heard of Badi rani ma but she took on Rajmatas words of caution and left when excused where as Rajmata wanted to speak to Subharna on her own for a moment.
Subharna would not say but Rajmata was aware that Subharna had reason to feel unhappy on Badimas arrival. She had never made life easy for Subharna.
Stepping that little closer Rajmata reassured Subharna by placing her hand over Subharnas shoulder who seemed a little preoccupied.
Fikar mat kare rani.. Ham hai na, (Don't worry Subharna, you have me by your side. )
"Fikar toh hame choti rani ki hai." (but I am concerned for Gayatri. )
...
It was the day of Badimas arrival in Amerkot preparations in the Raj mehel were well under way.
In Ranajis quarters Subharna first passed him the tray that carried his watch and ring and then stepped that little closer as he turned to her so she could fasten the buttons of his waistcoat. Subharna had now become better her responsibilities for the king as was Gayatri better at hers.
Subharna couldn't help notice that the king usually happier than the norm as she watched him adjust his watch a little. It was due to the arrival of his grand mother who he was tremendously fond of.
Subharna in fact non of the ladies in the mehel shared that feeling for badiranima but neither could they ever make that apparent she was the eldest and deareast to Ranaji and he was too much of a good man to see what his Grandmother but the women of the mehel through particularly Subharna.
"Badi ma should have nothing to complain about whilst she is here"
He spoke as if he delegated that responsibity to her and she knew that he meant every word of it. His grandmother was important to him.
Subharna simply aknowleged his words devotedly. "Ji maharaj. " good at not letting her feelings display on expression but what took her mind off the dullness of the matter was Ranajis ease for her. He placed the palm of his hand over her shoulder with a smile and thanked her before passing her by. It was the little things like this that were so meaningful to a wife like Subharna and each time he did something so insignificant but with so much care Subharna could feel herself drifting closer to him.
...
Gayatri watched Ranaji take his grandmother into his arms when she arrived into the palace. It seemed like an adorable reunion, he obviously loved her but when it came to other members of the family things did not seem as comfortable.
Badirani ma was certainly old fashioned and very stronged willed enough to even mock Rajmata of the way in which she had greeted her mother in law but Rajmata as ever had fitting response.
Badima seemed to not approve or be fond to see any of her daughter in laws, as Subharna touched Badi mas feet it was more of a case of looking down on Subharna then joy at seeing her but that was between the two of them and Rajmata. The king was never given any notion to notice this.
Later as all else had finished greeting badi rani ma Ranaji finally introduced Gayatri.
"Aur yey badi ma... Gayatri ..." ("and this badi ma is gayatri) He said proudly looking towards Gayatri who was stood a little at distance but on the kings prompt walked closer to greet Badi ma remembering to make use of her saari over her head whilst she bent down to take blessing from the grandmother.
There was something very different in the old ladies eyes which gayatri noticed, she seemed very firm in her ways almost as she was judging Gayatri at first sight but then smiled. It was a concoction of many things this first encounter and Gayatri could feel that it wasn't all as positive as the old ladies smile tried to make out.
...
Ranaji spent most of his day with his grandmother after her arrival as one would when a loved one visited and so all other responsibilities were put aside by the king for the time being.
Late afternoon at the dinner table with Badi ma sat beside Ranaji everyone seemed to be present at the table. The queens served food as to make a respectable impression on the grandmother. When invited to eat alongside them Gayatri made it known that she was fasting which caught the kings attention whilst it seem impressed Badi rani ma.
This wasn't something that was normal to her thought the king his eyes observant of her for second but then he also knew questioning her in front of the family would be impolite.
As dinner time commenced it wasn't long before Badi ma struck out in a coughing fit and the king had to stop his in the middle of his meal to comfort her.
The food was too spicy was what his grandmother had to say.. not seeing being able to see his grandmother so uncomfortable Ranaji's disappointment at the such a silly error was seen in his eyes that looked mostly towards Subharna. She should have known better. Feeling like she had silently been the subject to his anger Subharna dipped her expression a little but Rajmata knew better. She knew her mother in law was one to dramatize things more than necessary and Ranaji was too good a personality to see it.
Showing her away from the table whilst he comforts his grandmothers back who seemed to have been very distressed Ranaji announces that a fresh meal be prepared for badi ma and a glass of water be sent as he takes her away leaving his own meal too. After their leave Rajmata's eyes reassure Subharna that she should take no notice and witness to all this seemed to be Gayatri who was a little unsure as to what she was seeing between the family members.
Hindi TV Shows
