Chapter - 8
The occupants of the chairs began to shift restlessly, as the two Kings paced the floor in front of them. The silence was beginning to seem like a torture. Nervous glances were exchanged between the siblings while sparks flew between the rest.
"This is not done!" the deep baritone of the King of Saharan sounded like a thunder clap in the stillness. "My own sons! Shameful!"
The King of Shahjahanpur stopped his pacing and sat on an unoccupied arm chair, his eyes tormented. Prachi could see the various questions in them and unable to answer a single one, she kept her head lowered.
"IâŚI really don't know what to say to you, Vikram," began King Inder Shah. "I ofcourse would understand if you wish to exact retribution in return for this trickery on the part of my daughters. I'm willing â"
"Enough, Inder!" the other King interrupted, holding out a hand. "Do not shame me further by implying that I would seek compensation for something that my sons have practiced too."
Turning on the four people concerned, he said gravely, "We are very disappointed in you all. We thought we had raised responsible childrenâŚresponsible Princes who would one day rule our KingdomâŚresponsible Princesses who would never dishonour the soil they have taken birth on!"
Glaring at the faces in front of him, he continued. "Do not think I cannot guess how the wrong people got married. I can trace every thought that must have passed through your minds, every emotion! I can tell that this plan to get Milind married in your place was your idea, Neev. I can tell that Prachi agreed to this plan because she loves you, Ayesha."
Ayesha scowled as she looked at Prachi who still had her head bent and then stared defiantly at the King. "So what are you going to do about it?"
"Ayesha!" shouted her father, getting up in a rage. "Aapne humari izzat mitti mein mila di and ab aapki itni himmat badh gayi ki aap inse iss tarah baat kar rahi hain!"
"Mujhe jis tarah baat karni hogi main karungi, Papa," she shouted back, getting up herself. "Iss mein saari galti inki and aapki hai! Aapne kaise soch liya ki main ek aise insan se shaadi karungi jise main jaanti tak nahi? Kya meri koi marzi nahi? Koi hak nahi? So what agar main Princess hoon! I didn't choose to be one!"
"And aap uss layak bhi nahi hain! Humare kuch traditions hain, jinhe na hum todh sakte hain and na aap," retorted the King, turning his hands into fists to stop himself from striking her. "Humein toh yeh kehte huye bhi sharam aati hai ki aap humari beti hain!"
"Don't bother to remind me about facts I have always tried to forget," she choked out, blinking back tears. "I have always hated you and will continue to do so. And just for the record â This whole mess is your fault and yours alone!"
Saying this, she ran out, banging the door behind her.
The King of Saharan put a comforting arm around his friend, worried by his sudden loss of colour.
"I wish to say somethingâŚ" said King Inder Shah quietly, looking at the silent group in front of him. "What has happened has happenedâŚWe cannot change that. Milind is now Prachi's husband."
Milind and Prachi looked up simultaneously and then at each other, both knowing that there was no way out of this. Both knowing what was going on in the other's mind. While Prachi was imploring him to forgive her for her part in the plan and to try to live together, Milnd was promising her that he would make sure she forgot what it was to actually live!
Interrupting the silent communication between them, the King continued. "And as for Neev and AyeshaâŚthey both would get marriedâŚas planned."
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Pulling her shawl closer, Prachi leaned her head against the side of the window. Its so amazing how your whole world can change in a momentâŚYesterday, there had been hope that Ayesha wouldn't continue with this mad plan of hers, hope that she would be miraculously saved from doing what her honour demanded she do.
And todayâŚToday she knew that she was doomed to suffer a life with a husband who didn't want her as a wife and if she had interpreted that look on his face correctly, it meant he wasn't about to let her forget that. And on top of that, her sister would be getting married to Neev! That was so ironic!
She started as the door to the chamber opened with a crash. Whirling around, she saw Milind stumble in and attempt to get a grip on the door to close it.
"Now that's what I call a fantastic beginningâŚ" she thought sighing. "My husband is drunk!"
Moving quickly, she managed to catch him before he fell and putting his arm around hers, led him to the huge bed.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked in annoyance, as she put a pressure on his shoulders to get him to lie back. "I'm not in the mood, ok?"
Flushing as she realized what had crossed his mind, she said firmly, "You need to lie down. Aapne bauhaut drink kar liya hai."
Letting her push him down this time, he grinned insolently at her as his gaze traveled down her frame clad in a red night gown. "So when do we get to the seduction part, sweetheart? That's what all this drama is about, right?"
Trying to hide her deepening colour at his insinuations, she turned her face away from him to pull the blanket over him. Just as she pulled it up to his chest, his arms snaked around her to pull her closer to him. Managing to maintain her balance so that she didn't fall over him, she tried to push away only to have his arms tighten.
"What's the matter, darling?" he asked softly, his breath brushing her cheek like a caress. "When you became so eager to marry me, didn't you realize intimacy is a part of it?"
Hadn't she realized it? Ofcourse she hadn't, her thoughts consumed by only the repercussions that would follow!
And it felt kind of niceâŚbeing held by him. If she just turned her head a little, she couldâŚFrightened by the direction her thoughts had taken, she managed to break free.
"That wasn't funny!" she said, glaring down at him. "I was only trying to help."
Yawning carelessly, he turned on his side. "Soch le," he advised. "Main itna bhi bura nahin hoon."
Making a frustrated sound, she walked quickly towards the balcony. Anything to get her away from this mad husband of hers!
She stopped short as she heard him say, "By the way, that was your lesson one, Prachi Shah. And it's just the beginning."
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