Long overdue but its ready now - here goes for all those who are still reading hope you enjoy this please do comment. :)
Chapter 41
The very next day Badi raj matas voice had returned and the king per his promises asked her to take her leave with clarity as well as honestly. He spoke about how the women in this mehel were equally important him as the men he would not tolerate them being bullied, disrespect. Although there was a little confrontation in the end the King was the king his words were law.
:Ham apne pote ka muhn sarur dekhne ayeyenge ranaji."
("You can evict me know but I will return on the arrival on my grandson") she claimed the truth was after hearing the reality of his grandmother Indravarden wanted nothing to do with her.
He commented on the fact that she would be waiting a long time for this mehel would have a princess's rather than a prince because he wanted his people to know that women deserved the same respect as men he was going to intiate change however slow it may be.
The mention of daughters caught the attention of the women in the house especially Gayatri and Subharna for the king seemed to look towards his queens Gayatri convinced he was looking at Subharna and Subharna Gayatri but both of the women internally a little phased by the kings words as wifes would be but proud too.
...
Govind Seth was shown straight to the king on his arrival in the Mehel he was treated with the upmost respect and importance, a sign of the kings whole heartedness for all, everyone was equal importance in the kings eyes.
It pleased Govind Seth to know that his daughter although married into a royal family had good people around her. Seeing that the king was busy alongside him a man whom looked like a diamond merchant waiting to be pleased with what he had brought today and to be paid well by the King for his efforts. However the king was no easy consumer.
He had great an eye for recognising what was before him. Using the merchants magnifying glass with great skill did he pick the worthy diamonds of the lot. As ever he would whomever approached him with a service pay more than the worth of what he was to gain and his older queen sometimes commented for she was wise to see the truth but he was a father to his people after all he took pleasure in giving so was his nature in such matters.
Seth Govind who was greeted by the king for a moment whilst going about his selection diamonds passes a comment worthy of the king. Of course a father would always compliment his daughters husband where possible but Govind Seth seemed to speak with admiration.
"Aap ko hire ki atchi parak hai maharaj." ("You have a great eye for the diamond your highness." )
Indravarden only smiled as he excused the diamond merchant and looked towards his father inlaw. A way with words was one of the things Ranaji did the best.
"Mera sabse kimti hera toh aap ka diya hua hai Sethji" (And my most prized jewel is a gift from non other than you Sethji.)
Govind Seth had laughter in his eyes when he realised that the king was not only a good character but his ways were equally as charming. As a father however Govind Seth was humble because he recognised his own faults and wrong doings with Gayatri, he wasn't able to look after her merely as well as the king did.
Govind seths age and fatherhood spoke in his response.
"Tarasha toh aap ne hai, hukhum" (that maybe so but you were the one to gave her contour. )
Putting his hand to his father in laws shoulders Indravarden identifies what plays in the fathers eyes and smiles. Milna chahenge ..? (would you like to meet her?)
The glow in Sethjis eyes and the look on his face was splendid as he nodded as if to say should the king allow it he would want to see his angle yes!.
Seth Govind watched Ranaji gather the diamonds on the surface before him put them into a small fabric bag and place the drawstring bag into the front chest pocket of his suit. The father could only hope and pray that the king kept his daughter as close to his heart as he had kept those diamonds.
Expecting him to summon a servant or a maid there was nothing of the sort which again surprised Seth Govind. Ranaji himself would go and find Gayatri to give her news of her fathers arrival whilst he was shown to comfort in royal lounge.
Choosing to search for Gayatri himself was with reason too, he had had been harsh with her yesterday, punished her actions and although a king was to feel no remose for someone who had wronged a husband was sympathetic with time.
She did not cross his path nor approach him this morning and understandably so.
He searched her quarters, some of the communal areas of the Mehel she was nowhere to be found but then finally he lays eyes on her as she walked the same corridor he was walking.
From the moment they shared the same space Indravarden could feel the clouded nature of unspoken terms they seemed to be on.
What was more surprising for him was that as soon as she acknowledged him she adjusted her saari over herself to cover her head. Apart from the fact that it reminded him of Gayatris first day or so in the mehel it was more a symbol of their differences and a formality that he thought was long gone in their relationship.
When he questioned it she spoke with her eyes downcast post her greeting.
Badima ke upastiti se ham sabhi ne shayad shahi sabyata sikh li Maharaj.
(We all learnt a few royal manners from badi rani mas arrival your highness.)
But the king could read between the lines, manners and royal conduct was in its place and that distance a wife created from a husband after being treated sternly was in its place.
He handled this with love because that's what it deserved. I was the first time they had interacted after the incident of badima's spiked tea. Stepping that little bit more closer he very gently slipped away the material of Gayatris saari from her forehead. His feel and warmth ever so affectionate at this time.
"Adab, sabyata aur lihaaz se hame koi shikayad nahin hai par joh fasla aapne badi muskil se te kiya hamare saath is mod pein aa kar ham aap ko apne kadam piche hatane nahin denge Gayatri. "
(I have no problem with display of manners but I won't let you fall back on what you have worked hard to achieve.)
He was talking about them and she understood that connotations of his words. There was no anger in his tone or disappointment which is what surprised her.
"Aap ke pita aap se milne ayey hai, intaazar ho raha hai aap ka.." (Your father is here to see you, he is waiting for you downstairs.)
Gayatri was happy to know her 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 to see her smile yet he wanted to make sure she knew one thing..
"One more thing Gayatri - 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 and his word was the only word she followed religiously however today she did wish her husband was not king for a normal man would have been easier to defy on such matters.
...
Rana Indravarden Singh was to host a party that night. Kings, queens and the officials of the British would attend. Whilst servants went about there tasks both queens Subharna and Gayatri happened to be in the same space when a Kingsman bought a summoning from Ranaji.
"Maharaj ne raniji ko yaad kiya hai" (The King requests your presence your highness. )
But of course there was no definition of which queen the king wished to see, both ladies looking at one another Subharna insists that Gayatri go for she was aware that there was some upset in the air between the king and his younger queen and Subharna did not wish to be cause for their argument which she already felt she was.
...
When Gayatri approached the kings quarters and was just about to knock on the surface of a partially open door Indravarden who was stood in front mirror trying on his attire for the evening happened to catch sight of her. It wasn't actually Gayatri he was expecting but it was a pleasant surprise. When she realized it wasn't she he required judging from the try on of the clothes and the bow tie she could be no help with without much eye contact she talks of calling Rani Subharna and Is just about to leave with the king stops her.
"You can do a good a job as Subharna."
Come here his eyes almost commanded via the mirror he was stood in front of and she did. Although she was convinced that this was not her forte, unlike Rani Subharana Gayatri was never taught any English particularities. It was all beyond her knowledge.
The king as ever looked regally handsome in his attire enough to make any girl weak at the knees but there was that air of unease from Gayatri more so than him. Turning around to face her he instructed her on how she could help him with his tie. She did as he instructed, step by step he talked her through which fold should go where and corrected her required the proximity of between the two of them rather intimate.
Now she was more engrossed in the task at hand than feeling conscious of him it was a good time to touch on a conversation that was much required.
"Tell me how you feel .." she understood him without the translation but she wanted time to find the right word. She continued trying with the tie as she spoke.
She wanted to know if she as doing okay she asked respectfully politely, submissively even. Did he still feel that she was worth mentoring worth being a queen after all the disappointment she saw in his eyes yesterday stayed with her so vivid. Was she still worthy in his eyes.?
She was forgetting that her husband was not just a ruler but he was human too. Even he wasn't perfect.
Galtiya sab se hoti hai Gayatri.. aur aap ki galti toh galti bhi nahin jasbat they you are doing just fine.
So he still thought she was worth the effort and attention that made Gayatri feel better it was like a weight of her shoulders in some way and the relief showed in her eyes when by chance alone she looked up at him instead of the tie and again lowered her eyes.
He watched her intently because watching someone sometimes told you so much more than listening to them or talking to them did.
"Abhi bhi thode shaas aur sparshta ki kami hai par woh bhi aap samay chalte shikh jayeygi.". (However you seem to still lack courage & confidence you are easily frightened by there isn't much I can do to help you with that it will come in its own time.)
She knew that when he spoke about courage, when he spoke about confidence it was about how she reacted to some people in particular him included. Gayatri was still very easily frightened of some instances, the raise of his voice or just him at times of confrontation but once she overcame that she would be the perfect queen a match for Subharna if not better.
They weren't getting very far with the tie so he stepped a little more closer to make it easier there was struggle but he enjoyed watching his pretty little wife try her best she wouldn't expect but he couldn't hold back either. They were at the perfect closeness he took the opportunity and moved into the crux of her neck a little more and traced his lips against her neckline.
Gayatri froze for a moment when she felt the king change his expectations from the moment. she held onto the tie feeling him caress her neck..crux of shoulder what he indented for this evening he had begun to initiate now. Whilst Gayatri tried to resist tried to think of away to defer him from this at a time such as this feeling his ways there was nothing really she could do to stop him. One thing led to another and Ranajis chamber was soon of limits to anyone. He was making love to his queen and would not tolerate intrusion.
...
That evening in the party there was again a sense of guilt that encompassed Gayatri but she let it go. The afternoon had past the deed was done and no one but the two of them knew what had gone on in that chamber.
An exquisite party was being held in the mehel but Gayatri wasn't too fond of it she snuck away quietly too a more quieter part of the mehel the libarary but as soon as she opened the doors she realized that the room was already being used.
Ranaji had already felt the same about his own party and retired here. In one hand he held a glass of wine from the party and in the other a book, he seemed to be looking at one of the shelves of the book case.
"Maaf kare ham""about to apologize for interrupting him and is about to leave but he stops her.
There was room for her too.. just as both converse over how they did not really like the atmosphere of the party Rajamata who searches for them everywhere finds both of them here at last. The look on Rajmatas face is a discontent one. This was no time for the king to be choosing his queen over the whole host of people out there for him.
...
Next chapter
Seeing Indravardens growing love Gayatri over Subharna Rajamata has concerns she discusses with Ranaji in privacy.
"Badi raj mata galat hein sahin Ranaji par unka mudda galat nahin tha.."
(Badi raj mata might have been in the wrong in her ways but she made a valid point.)
Is mehel ko ek waris chahiyey, aur raj dharam yey kehta hai ke aap ko dono raniyon ko barabar ka haq dena hoga aur agar aap yey nahin kar payege toh vakt aagayay hai ke aap Subharna ke bare mein soche.
(This family needs an heir and raj dharma says a king should be fair to ho each of his queens that means subharna too if you cant then it is about time you thought about her. )
"Ham jante hai ke aap koshish kar rahe hai par agar aap use Gayatri ke barabar ka pyaar nahin de sakte toh shayad vakt aagayay hai ke aap use apne hise ki khushi loat ayey."
(I know you are trying but if you can't love her equally to Gayatri then its time you though about giving her a share of happiness which she deserves. )
The king wasn't sure what Rajmata was suggesting and that could be seen on her his face.
"Woh angrez ranaji, Mr Fitzgerald". (The Englishman Ranaji, Mr Fitzgerald) raj mata clarified but in the background Subharna who had heard the whole conversation is left distort at the nature of the conversation between the king and his mother. The crashing of procaine on the floor makes them aware of her presence. She had heard all and so had Gayatri who happened to be out in the corridor.
...
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