ETRETR SS: A Royal Affair C47 P122 21ST SEP 2016 CONCLUDE - Page 67

Originally posted by: zelja89

Really loved this chapter 😊

Originally posted by: Geetdrashti

Lovely update

Originally posted by: saakha

Post update soon jag

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Chapter 40

As Ranaji rests for the night Subharna is sat in front of the writing paper Ranaji had put out for her. She attempts to put pen to paper but she is unable to put her feelings on paper.

...

When the king turns in a awakening of a new day in the Raj Mehel as was natural he makes a relaxed, timely move to get up for the day and in doing so sees Subhara slouched In sleep at the foot of the bed. Half of her posture leaning on the foot of the bed and the other half on the floor She'd spent all night here that way?

He pulled back the satin sheet still covering him a little and lifted himself away from his bed so he was closer to the sleeping queen. She seemed in deep sleep, regretful for not having been awake to have noticed her this way through the night Ranaji recalls yesterday. For a moment something made him reach out to her, her placed the palm of his hand over her head for a second caressing his hand over her hair in a caring manner he looks around for a moment and reaches for a blanket to cover her to provide her with whatever comfort was possible without waking her completely.

Careful as not to disturb her Ranaji walks towards the writing desk to see Subharna hadn't written a word but a she picked up the writing paper he did see it stained with what looked like tried tears, his expression straining for a moment he looks towards Subharna with the most compassionate of eyes.

...

She watched the king pass her by at a distance with his coffee to hand in one of the corridors of the Mehel he seemed busy and did not see her but that didn't matter to her. For Gayatri even morning prayer was now futile now she had caught site of him. Such was her love for him devotional, ever strengthening and mad. Mad because every now and again she would daze off into thought of him mid day, mid task.

Flashback

It was earlier on during the days post marriage to the king. He barely cared for her then but she was determined to make a place for herself in his heart, she'd ask for permission to be on his personal detail. With his maids and servants so she could spend her time serving him and he had allowed so.

She recalled it like It was just yesterday, Ranaji sitting in his chair reading his newspaper whilst she stood behind it cooling the air around him with a traditional hand held fan. Effectively a job a servant would do.

These acts of servitude, of care of devotion were slowly bringing her closer to him that she was sure of. He had now spoken her name the odd time. It was the smallest of things that mattered the most. As Gayatri went on with her task like many other times she was around him in a similar way she spent most of her time either in view of him or thinking of her aspirations. If she was given a choice she'd be the most insignificant belonging of his but a belonging that without his day would fall apart. His coffee', she would be his coffee how fortunate was this one strange liquid that touched the kings lips regularly come day or night it was one thing that the king would not live without regardless of his mood, of current affairs or anything else for that matter she would be his coffee!

Such thoughts were a result of being around him, it wasn't as if she could make conversation her job was to serve and speak when spoken to and so Gayatris thoughts were her greatest friend at such a times.

Some time in and the King aware of his young wifes efforts for him turns a page of his newspaper and casually makes a comment that she should rest for a while should she not want to suffer from arm ache the next day after all she was an armature to this.

Knowing that she could persevere but also that the kings wishes were never to be denied Gayatri swaps her place with a maid. In doing so she sees that some cutlery is remains astray from the kings breakfast this morning and walks off to a far table in the room to remove it. Seeing a remainder of coffee in the cup Gayatri is intrigued for a moment. She lifts her eyes to see that Ranaji was engrossed in his newspaper and the maid in her task. She didn't know quite why but interest was tasting the liquid which her husband was so fond of there was something about drinking out of his cup that lured gayatri. Maybe a strange sense of closeness like a teenager that was about to comit and act of guilt Gayatri made sure that no one was looking before she put cup to her lips but instantly as soon as she took a zip the taste was ghastly to that of her expectations. She chocked a little, her expression a mix of displeasure and discomfort. Hearing the coughing at once Indravarden looks from his paper rises from his seat and strides over to Gayatri who seems to be in a coughing fit. Ordering

the maid to bring water as he approaches her seeing her discomfort he sooths her back immediately

Passing her water he watches her settle slowly after which she comments on how he finds such a horrid taste so appetizing. She tried his coffee? He put he expression, and her unintended words together but he only finds it amusing.

That was the first time she had seen him laugh. His laughter like himself was charming.

End of flashback

It took Gayatri a second to realize that she had dazed of for a moment but when she did realize she was left with a certain glow in her eyes and smile on her face as she picked up her feet and shunned herself playfully for being so dreamy.

...

With news of his grandmother being unwell the king drops everything to sit by his distressed grandmother as she tries but strains herself more as she attempts to speak. She had well and truly lost her voice. Indravarden tried to get her to relax for the doctor would take a look and all will be better in no time.

The verdict was that a mix of strange concoction is what had resulted into this.

The king was not impressed, it wasn't soon before he demanded to know whom it was that bought Badi ma the drink of tea that seemed to have been spiked. The old lady wanting to hell him all along is unable to be servant owns up. At first instance in disbelieve that his young wife would do anything of the sort surely it was either an accident or someone else was to blame.

When Indravarden happened to walk by a room where women of the Mehel were in laughter over the incident with Badi ma Rajmata, Gayatri and Swarnlekha all seemed to see the funny side of what today had bought but

from the women's conversation and fun of the matter it was apparent to Ranaji that non other than Gayatri was responsible. When making his presence known in the room the women at once went silent but it was far to late.

The king had overheard, and witnessed.

All expressions took a sudden turn, either into shock, fear or embarrassment of the situation but the kings eyes were on one person and one person only Gayatri and she could feel his glare upon her right from point at the entrance of room where he was stood all the way towards her.

When eye contact was made Gayatri saw the king make a rather masterful and cold gesture for her to follow him out of the room. The other women hoping and praying that king would see things from the right point of view and refrain from being too harsh on Gayatri.

...

He didn't want to hear a justification her expression was telling that she was ashamed of herself as much as he was of her at this time. She could not speak of her reasoning before him for that was the extent of his grandeur stood over her. Her king, her husband, her love, her mentor, her master.

"Is this what I have taught you?" he looked at her with disgust making her feel like she had let him down in the worst way possible. "Nyai toh koi bhi rah chalta vyakti kar sakta hai Gayatri par uski ahimyat tabhi hoti hai jab woh tareeke se kiya jayey. Anything else is just foolish behavior!

("Anyone can serve justice but unexamined, improper justice is worthless in weight.)

Gayatri was aware that she had wronged and he wasn't going to understand her reasons at this time her eyes were filled with regret. Not for what she had done but her method, regret for having disrespected him, for broken his expectations of her, for stooping in his eyes.

The king saw all of this in her eyes along with it he saw that Gayatri's eyes were apologetic for everything but the act committed.

His expression was stark he wanted her to be sorry but she wasn't she just wasn't sorry for the way she had acted.

There was a huge part of Gayatri that feared his anger to a great extent, that part of her that was easily shook by the raise of a voice especially his was still very much the same as it was the first time Ranaji had shown a firmer shade but at the same time Gayatri stood at ease for he was after all the man she loved she would accept whatever consequence he decided on for her.

His ways were always of a unique sort whether it was his display of affection, his care, his mentoring or his punishments his methods left a distinguished mark at the right time for the right reasons that was what made him the man he was. The king.

Watching him move the porcelain cup and saucer her way on the table that stood between them, Ranajis eyes demanded that Gayatri consume the coffee intended for him.

It was personal and the surprise of it being the course of his choice for her was seen in Gayatris eyes . Only he knew of her dislike for the drink and what coincidence that it was the very moment she had reminisced on earlier in the morning. He stood in watch of her as she did as was asked of her. She drank from his dark cup of bitter coffee her expression creasing as she gulped it down slowly, she endured and he watched. A fair penance she thought. He watched with a solemn expression and left the room equally as silent when the deed was done.

...

The kings anger was of the sort that would thaw with time, Gayatri and the other women were aware of that and so patience and the right moment to speak of the truth was what they awaited.

In the mean time the king gave his personal attention to the well being of his grandmother after all his own had let him down and so left was himself and his older queen Subharna. Subharna having heard of the grandmothers illness but oblivious of the culprits remains by the kings side when he asks her to be on this occasion.

It was time for Badimas medication, Subharna accompanied him on his request the only person he trusted at his time was now was her. It wasn't like she did much she carried the tray that held the water and the medicines and the king mixed the right combination and handed it to his grandmother as detailed by the doctor. There was a strange distance Subharna kept from Badi ma not respect that was in its place but a uncomfortable distance the king noted. She hadn't realized when she had asked her a question for she was too busy in her own reservation of being around the kings grandmother. If yesterday wasn't bad enough Subharna seemed to catch site of a piece of jewellery on Badi ma that bought back an atrocious memory.

Indravadren repeated himself not once not twice to get Subharna attention he wondered what it was that she was thinking about that took her so far from the present moment and more so why it caused disarray on her expression.

...

The behaviour from those whom he was most proud of is what let him down he thought as he walked through corridors of the Raj Mehel later that evening. Maybe he had been too harsh on Gayatri he thought as he walked past her chambers but no because he expected a lot from her, he expected a lot from all of them.

Indravarden often used just walking around the Mehel grounds as a way to gather his thoughts but today someone other than himself playing the piano caught him off guard.

When walking towards the melody and in the direction of the hall to where the closest piano resided Indravarden is surprised at first glance to see Subharna at he piano. Of course he thought to himself forgetting that his queen had been bought up with many a talents. She played well, he stood for a moment without his presence being announced so he could hear a little more. Her music was beautiful in some ways she replicated some of his but there was an addition of her own uniqueness that was beautiful. It was then that she got a point of error, stopped for a moment and tired again, it was sometimes common in music. The art was a challenging one and each musician had their own challenges this particular note seemed to be hers. Or maybe she had just forgotten what followed.?

He watched her correct herself and re-correct herself when she was still unhappy she paused for a moment and It was then that the melody she had intended was heard but she hadn't been the one to be hands to the keys it was another. It was ranaji as she looked over her shoulder surprised.

"Shukriya" she said .. a little surprised by the presence of the king at such a time and unaware of how long he had been stood behind her.

You play extremely well he complimented her as he took a seat beside her on the stool in front of the piano.

He played that closing melody again and she watched his fingertips run along the keys this time.

"Now you try" his eyes told her.

She did a little hesitantly knowing that no matter how many times she tried over the years she was hardly ever able to accomplish this.

Never the less tried, he observed, she struggled yet again ..

He demonstrated one more time and she tried again ..

Still there was error..

A third time and this time before Subharna could stray the king placed his fingers over hers just at the right moment guiding her across the correct keys. It left the queen feeling ever so conscious, it was hardly ever that he was so close to her and her heart and mind drew attention to him rather than his attempt in helping her.

In the end both of them smiled because they had persevered and only a pianist could understand the struggle and triumph of another.

When the moment had come to a pleasant silence Indravarden looked towards her warmly as he did all others no one was ever exempt from the kings kindness.

I was always fond of music above all during education he commented she also matched his feelings but she didn't mention that he had always been her inspiration to do so.

The topic of the conversation then drifted off into more of a routine conversation by the king. He was going to need to make some visits to some near by kingdoms in the coming day or so he asked her whether in his absence she would take on care of badi ma.

He could ask anything of her this was unthinkable.

Aap iske alava koi bhi hukum kare mahraj magar Yey zimidari aap kisi aur ko de.'

- Ham phuch sakte hai kyun, thinking it may have been his temperament for error that but her off.

"Ham badi ma ko na pasand hai.." (I am not to badima's) she said every bit honestly. She had never spoken of this to anyone really but there was so much more to this and when she caught the kings eyes there was something within them that was affectionate. Something that told her he would listen to her without .

He waited but she chose not to speak on not until she could feel him adjusting his posture a little to rise from the piano stool. "Very well" he said about to take leave but she closed her eyes tightly as if to ask her god for strength and he provided it. When it seemed to him that she hadn't quiet finished he resumed his posture.

"Batchpan mein raj mata ne hame shikya tha ke is mehel ki har ek cheez aap ki, ham bhi. ..."

("When we were younger Rajmata would tell me that everything in the palace belonged to you..")

He sat down when he realized that she wished to speak to him and gave her his attention.

.."Aap hamare Mahraj aur joh aap ka woh hamara." (and you my king whatever is yours is mine. ) He smiled for those words sounded like they came straight from rajmata however he could also see that Subharna was trying to share something more with him. He gave her the perfect silence, and warmth of the eyes to say, share her heart with him but he could see that there was a sense of struggle.

"Ham tera sal ke they jab mehel mein khelte khelte hame ek abhushan mila, hame sundar laga toh hamne apne paas rakh liyay. Kuch dino ke baad hamara dyan phir uspein gaya aur hamne phen liyay .."

("I was thirteen playing in the Mehel one afternoon like a child would and a piece of jewellery caught my eye. It was brooch; it was beautiful to a little girl like me at the time. I kept hold of it and a few days later I remembered having found it and I put it on. I didn't know it was a belonging of Badi ma she had lost.")

"Amerkot mein chori karne vale ko sirf dand diya jata hai.."

(The punishment for a thief in your kingdom is not a forgiving one your highness..)

Appalled to here this the king was left in all kinds of disarray, the punishment for a thief was a grave one he knew because he had administered it himself as a king but only to those deserving. Subharna was not.

Children were not punished under Ranaji's reign.

Although the king looked unsettled by this Subharnas expression told him that it wasn't this that troubled it was badimas spite more than any of her actions.

Just as indravarden is about to get up to deal with this for himself Subharna catches hold of his arm.

A furious mind was not a controlled one spoke her eyes but not only that she more to get off her chest. He paused to hear what she had to say in which time his anger would see more sense too. It took her a little time to put the words together and again her struggle was clear.

"kal joh hamne sabha mein bina ijasat pravesh kiya toh.." (Yesterday interrupted the court .. I .. )

He paid her greater attention now, because he had seen her upset for himself that time and his queen was rarely shaken by anything minor.

She spoke with her eyes downcast on the matter whether it was her own grief that allowed her not to look at him or the nature of the conversation but the king could hear every ounce of helplessness in Subharnas voice.

"Badi ma hame hamesha hamari nakabiyabi yaad dilati hai..

...ham aap ko aaj tak waris na de sake woh baat baar baar hame jatayi jati he aur hamare paas koi javab nahin hota."

(Badi ma constantly reminds me of my failure towards you, the fact that I have not yet be able to give you an heir is always questioned and I have no answer.)

Indravarden having heard the truth takes a regretful sigh no woman would lie about such a thing and Subharna he trusted greatly. Her every word was filled with honestly.

He would not let this go on he began to walk out of the room with intention but

was a again surprised when Subharna defended the woman that caused her so much pain the king was stood speechless wondering how this lady encompassed so much compassion within her others.

Shayad galti unki nahin hai maharaj, unke nazeeb mein aap jasie maharaj nahin they joh apni raniyo ko issat aur samaan se rakhe. (Maybe she isn't soely to blame she wasn't fortunate to have a king who respects his wifes and gives them the importance you do. )

She may have been able to see the reasons for badimas behaviour but he couldn't.

He would see to it that this matter would be settled.

...

The women of the raj mehel were summoned by the king in privacy. Whilst Gayatri remained a little quiet after the kings outburst at her she spoke when it was appropriate but the awkwardness of it still apparent.

The king questioned Swarnlkeha, Rajmata, on Badimas conduct in the mehel the story was the same over and over again. Be it a lady of the family or a servant they all reluctantly spoke about badima's foul conduct .

Ranaji made it known to the women that he was disappointed that they not come to him earlier that they did not trust enough to confide in him but also understood their reservation to some extent.

When alone in the room with just Rajmata who wanted to know how the king would now deal with this. His honest answer was that he would have liked to make her pay for every scar, every insult, every tear but he had his own conscious that was aware of what was appropriate for a lady of badimas age.

Badi ma would leave the mehel permanently once she had recovered was the kings decision.

...

Next Chapter:

The king himself made search of Gayatri in the mehel to inform her that her father was here to see her.

This was the first personal encounter they had after Indravarden was angry at Gayatri for spiking badi ma's tea. There was a sense of unsettlement in the air.

Gayatri was happy to know here father was here after all which child wouldn't be her eyes lit up and she at once looked to turn in the direction of the staircase to go find him.

Indravarden was pleased yet he wanted to make sure she knew one thing..

"Aap ko apne pita ke saath ghar jane ki ijasat nahin hai" (I forbid you to leave with your father should he ask.)

She stopped to look at him for a moment she had never known him to be this way but when she looked at him she saw in his eyes that it was because he had other intentions for them. He wished to make up for his treatment towards her said his eyes with intention.