ETRETR SS: A Royal Affair C47 P122 21ST SEP 2016 CONCLUDE - Page 8

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Chapter 10 A mere formality

Gayatri looks at the reflection in the mirror worriedly as Swarnlekha helps her with one of her earrings. She had only met Swarna a few hours ago yet Gayatri felt like she was one person she truly felt as ease with in the Mehel.

"Aap jaanti hai raaj gharano mein sughaag raat ke maayne kya hote hai?" (Do you know what the significance of a wedding night is for royalty? ) "Its about a king marking his queen his own as his wife and it doesn't have to be what you assume it to be Ranaji is a kind, gentle, soft man he is nothing to be scared of."

She said with a smile but instantly realized that Gayatri didn't understand a word of English but It was okay Gayatris eyes were filled with sincerity and that was the only thing one needed to please Rana Indravarden Singh Deo.

...

There were various trusted' servants walking in and out of Ranajis room decorating it whilst he sat in the balcony thinking in his armchair. He thought about today and a lot about Swarnlekha and what it would take to find out and resolve what was the underlying cause of her distress. To make sure his daughter in law was happy was a huge responsibility and not to mention the word he had given to Swarnlekhas father.

His thoughts were soon disturbed by the likes of Yashodra.

"Hukum kya, Rani Gayatri ko ijaasat hai .." ("May Ranigayatri now enter your room your highness?")

Having realized that he had been lost in thought for maybe longer than he anticipated Ranaji nodded a yes switching his attention to his new bride who was a matter in its self.

...

When Ranaji walked into his room from the balcony his eyes took to his new bride waiting for him in what would have been her bridal wear if they would have had a royal wedding.

He could see how uncomfortable the moment seemed to be for her but also made note how beautiful the youngest of his queens was. If she looked pretty without the attire and make up she looked incredibly beautiful with it too.

"Raniji .. he said in a very regal tone to get Gayatris attention and then held out one of his hands gesturing for her to take seat with incredibly comforting eyes which surely eased Gayatris nerves. "Baat kijyey hamse" ("Talk to me..") he said as he walked towards the dressing table in the corner of his room unbuttoning his shirt slightly so he could treat the healing wounds on his back.

"Aap ka phela din mehel mein kaisa raha?, ("How was your first day in the palace?") i'm sorry I missed the rituals but I had some urgent matters to attend to"

He went about medicating cotton wool as he looked into the mirror to see Gayatri behind him who replied honestly true to her innocent self which Ranaji was impressed by at first pulling a face but then smiling at.

"Ji kuch ajeeb hamara matab alag, yaha sab bohot alag hai."

"You will get used to it soon enough" she made out what he was saying from his eyes, he was indeed as Swarnlekha had described him very approachable, his eyes were very kind, warm as she as she'd always imagined.

As the king tended to his wounds Gayatri who was watching from distance shut her eyes tightly not being too good at pain and wounds herself she couldn't watch.

Even when Ranaji had finished as he swept his Shirt back over his back he noticed his young wife in the mirror with her eyes closed the wife of King yet so timid he thought?

He walked towards Gayatri for a moment and noticed how strained her expression was at the thought of just his pain and they had been married for what a day.

She opened her eyes as she felt her ghungat being slipped away from her forehead Ranaji had done that ever so discreetly with his fingertips so he could see his bride a little better.

She was a little startled but watched him pull up a chair in front of her. She was perched up at the edge of the bed and never imagined their interaction to be this free flowing.

"Mein aap se kuch puchunga Gayatri aur aap bina hitchkitchayey, javab denge aur woh bhi satcahi se"

("I'm going to ask you something Gayatri and I want you to tell me the truth without worrying about my reaction.")

It was the first time Gayatri had ever been so close to him after getting married or heard what her name sounded like In his tone of voice he was looking into her eyes in a way that was almost distracting to her mind but she did her best to listen to what he was asking her.

He asked her whether she was still happy with this relationship and from the minute he asked her this Gayatri knew that all her years of devotion to this man dreaming of him were justified.

She nodded because she understood the effort he had gone to for her and for where all others had called it her fate Ranaji was the one man who had overlooked the unlucky' name tag around her neck and viewed her as valuable and as worthy as any other girl.

Ranaji was a gentleman although he knew the significance of a sughaagraat and thought a lot about being fair to his new bride and queen he was aware that like his two others queens Gayatri was entitled to a wedding night and as orthodox as It was important the ritual was branding Gayatri as his own for as soon as she was to leave his room not only others would question her but she would question her own worth to him as his wife. With all this in mind Rana let the night pass with him resting on one side of the bed and Gayatri beside him. He must have had his reasons she thought but like a bride would she drifted off with mix feelings and view of her husband.

...

Sunrays make way into the Kings room disturbing the couple from their sleep ever so slightly whilst Gayatri moves a little she is astonished when she feels a pull grip tighten around her wrist and the weight of Ranajis posture crush her.

Surely he was still half asleep to be suddenly so bold yet Gayatris poor heart had no clue how to react when she felt her husbands posture on top of her and his legs entwining her in a lock. Her lips taking to the crux of her neck, exploring her neckline in a warm caress Gayatri had never been this close to a man in her life. She closed her eyes tightly but soon adjusted to the feel of his touch the only thing was Ranaji hadn't intended this for her. His muffled voice on her skin gave out the name Sona'

Gayatri didn't take offence she was more than aware that she wasn't the first lady in his life but was a little unsure of how she should now make him aware that she wasn't the queen he misunderstood her to be. But she finally did string some words together even if they were a little broken.

"Mein Gaya..gaayatri rr.sahib ." (I'm gaa...gayatri.rr.sahib)

The moment those words fell upon his ears, and his mind made sense of them Rana moved away at once and found that it was Gayatri beneath him and not Sulkashana. His eyes became very altert..they almost looked to check Gayatri was okay. She didn't look at him, in that very moment there was a knock at the door and Swarnas voice behind it telling them that there was new attire for Gayatri outside the room when she was ready.

Looking at up at him a glance as if to ask if she was okay to go and collect the clothes Swarnlekha had left her Ranaji nods a yes whilst watching Gayatri walk towards the door and bring in her new saari and walk towards the washroom. Throughout the whole phase she managed to avoid looking towards him for make out what was going in her mind.

...

Rana Indravarden Singh Deo wasn't one to dwell he stood in the balcony for a moment to catch the sunrays amongst the breeze of the morning the expression of thought as well as concern for Gayatri. She wasn't like Sona that's something he knew, neither was she like Subharana she was new to everything around her and unaware of what being Royal brought with it but he wasn't going to make the same mistakes he had made with Subharna with Gayatri.

...

Gayatri who was showering behind the washroom door in Rana's room freezes as she hears the sound of the door open.

She didn't need to make a move to know it was Ranaji she held her towel closer to her body and turned to leave when she found herself stood right before him.

When Gayatri looked up at her shirtless husband she what was concern in his eyes for her. They asked if she was okay and she happened to answer back with her eyes without even realizing ."Ek rasam hai hamne abhi tak puri nahin ki hai aur satch kahe toh hamara irada shyaad ise udhara rakhna tha." (There's a custom that remains incomplete between us and to tell you the truth I probably intended for it to stay that way.)

Puchungi nahin kyun.. (Will you not ask why )

"Kyun ke jab hamne pheli baar aap ko ankon mein dekha tha tab hein jaan liyay tha ke hamari mohar aap par kab ki lag chuki hai. . (The first time I lay I eyes on you I could see you were already mine. )

This is just mere formality."

Gayatri braced herself she didn't know what was coming next but anticipated whatever her king come husbands choice for her was with an anxious heartbeat and closed eyes .

To her surprise she held still for some time but felt nothing but maybe a kiss to the forehead and little chill over her body and that was because when she did open her eyes she saw that Ranaji had disrobed her of her towel and she was on complete display to him, his eyes told her that this was his way of conveying that she was his and only his to be seen that way. To save her from any awkwardness he walked away to facilitate his morning bath leaving Gayatri in a whole heap of feelings she had never encountered before.