The day of coronation arrived after 2 days and the whole city was in a celebratory mode. There was a lot of hustle bustle going on in and around the palace. The future queen of Jaigarh woke her husband with a kiss and a cup of coffee.
He sat up, gave her a big sleepy smile and went to sleep again! Muttering "kya yaar, sone bhi nahi deti'"
"dekho main 3 tak ginoongi, agar tum nahi uthe nahi na toh sach me balti bhar paani tum par daal doongi'phir mat kehna-" he was not at all listening to her, the lazy bum.
"arre DS, aap!" Manyata said with shock.
"DS! DS aagayi!'kahan hai?" Uday woke up with a start; only to be greeted with a loud laughter from Manyata for having fooled him. there was no DS in the room. He chased her around the room and she dodged him till they both got tired. Manyata stopped and so did Uday.
She suddenly felt her hackles rising seeing the feral feeling in Uday's eyes. She moved one step back and he came one step forward till there was no place to move back.
Manyata was pinned to the wall and closed her eyes in anticipation of what was about to happen next.
"Maa aap?" Uday said abruptly.
"Tum mujhe yedi samjhte ho? Mera hi trick mere upar? Achcha bachchu'abhi main-"
She opened her eyes to see Komal smiling a 'know it all' smile. She went away not willing to disturb the newly weds. Manyata was embarassed to her roots and now it was Uday's turn to laugh at her.
While he was busy laughing, Manyata jumped up; gave a sloppy kiss on his cheek and ran out the room leaving an amused Uday.
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By afternoon guests had arrived from various places especially for the occasion. J as usual had her act in place and greeted guests with biggest smile possible.
"Yeh leejiye saab, yeh zeher jo aapne khas mangvaya tha, par aap iska karenge kya?" the servant said handing over a small bottle to the man standing in the dark room. The man's face was not visible in the dark but his silhoutte itself was enough frightful.
"tumhara kaam ho gaya tum jao, khabardar agar yeh baat kisi ko pata chali toh.." the man said. The servant went away after promising that no soul will have a clue about it.
He held the small bottle in his hands and anticipated the havoc it was going to bring.
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The pre-ceremony rituals began for the coronation. Firstly Uday was to have the holy bath. He had the time of his life with scented oils and rose petals.
After emerging from the giant tub, Uday could already feel the change that had begun in his life. He felt his previous uncertain life slipping away and a new one taking its place.
The 'Raj dooth' (royal servants) came to take him downstairs where he would take the blessings of the elders before proceeding to the place of the coronation.
Uday came down wearing his ceremonial garb along with the royal sword in his hands. There were enamored glances from the gathered people as well as lustful glance from particular pair of eyes.
But the charmer himself was charmed by the beautiful kohl lined eyes that looked at him with mix of love and womanly embarassment. He met her eyes from across the room and she lowered her eyes smiling.
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There was still time to go for the auspicious muhurat and Manveer were seated together on the swing posing for the photographs. A waiter with a tray of flavored milk came towards them and Uday took a glass.
"Sir, ab aap khade ho jaayiye'aayiye is side" the photographer called Uday aside.
Manyata already felt claustrophobic in her heavy banarsi Sari specially ordered for the occasion and she was thirsty too. She took a sip of the flavored milk and got a repulsant feeling instantly. Was there some odd flavor to the milk?
She felt dizzy and stood up. Yuddha appeared and went on speaking about some unimportant matter. She couldn't really focus on what he was saying. The room revolved round round and everything looked a shade darker.
"Bhabi saa'aap theek toh hain? Lagta hai aap ki tabiyat theek nahi hai, chaliye aap thodi der kamre me aaram keejiye" he offered her a hand and she took it gladly; relieved to receive a helping hand. He held her hand tightly and she felt a subtle prick on the back of her hand for a spilt second.
Uday saw them and rushed to help. Yuddha handed her to Uday and said "lagta hai Bhabi saa ki tabiyat kharab ho rahi hai; aap inka khayal rakhiye'hume thoda kaam hai'hum chalte hain"
As everyone was busy doing their own thing no one noticed Uday carrying Manyata to the room. By the time he reached the room; Manyata had fainted and Uday's heart beat a terrified rhythm. She looked ghostly pale like there was no blood in her body.
He placed her on the bed and sprinkled some water on her face.
No Response.
He rubbed her legs vigorously and felt them go colder by the second.
Oh NO NO NO!! this couldn't be happening.
Holding his own breath he checked her breathing; 'Sigh' She was STILL BREATHING.
His mind had stopped working and he did the first thing that came to his mind. He picked up his phone with leadened hands and dialled the first number on the speed dial.
"Unnati'jald se jald mere kamre me aao..abhi isi waqt'kuch mat poocho" he cut the call.
"tumhe kya ho gaya Princess? Tum yeh nahi kar sakti mere saath' Tumhe pata hai na aaj kya din hai'.utho Manyata..utho'" he pleaded her.
"Main is din ko kaise bhool sakti hoon Veer? Main bilkul theek hoon" She wanted to say. But her voice was lost somewhere and her eyes were glued to their eyelids.
"Tumhe agar kuch ho gaya toh main mar jaunga Princess'meri hatya ka paap lagega tum par'aankhe kholo Manyata" he begged her.
"tumhari himmat kaise hui yeh marne ki baat karne ki! She wanted to reprimand him but she was constantly slipping. The ugly black nothingness was crowding her and it was just inches away from gobbling up her consciousness.
He held her lifeless hand in his own and touched it to his cheek. A drop of tear fell on her hand and that did it. She got the strength that she needed to push back the dark cloud. Manyata forced her eyes open and there he was. His handsome face stained with tears.
The first thought that crossed her mind was 'Im keeping him away from the Coronation'oh my gosh'how could I be so selfish'
She gathered all her strength and forced her throat to utter a word. "U..day'main theek hoon'tum jao'ek Raja ka kartavya nibhao" she said in a barely audible voice.
Unnati arrived with an alarmed expression on her face and seeing Manyata's condition she understood why her dada had called her in such a hurry.
Some of the color on Uday's face returned after Manyata regained consciousness but he didn't want to leave her alone and go. He was so adamant in his stance that manyata had to make him swear on herself that he would go.
Holding his hands tightly with as much force she was capable of, she said "Tumhe meri Kasam hai Veer'tum mere pati banne se pehle iss jaigarh ke Rajkumar ho..tumhe apna raj dharm nibhana hoga..ab jao"
Unnati promised him that she would take care of Manyata till the doctor arrived and Prince Udayveer left them with a heavy heart.
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Yuddhaveer replaced the ring that he had stolen from the Jewel box. A ring that was a heir loom. He looked around to see if anyone had spotted him. The ancient kings were really smart and they had their own ways to tackle the enemy. 'Kootneeti' his father had called it. He threw the bottle of snake poison in the nearby trash bin.
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Pre-cap
'Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown' Udayveer saw this proverb coming alive in front of him. Some one placed a crown on his head and there was loud noise all around. All eyes were on him but he was oblivious to all that was happening around. His eyes searched the one who was not there.
He remembered her words "Tum mere pati hone se pehle is Jaigarh ke raj kumar ho" true sign of a Rajwadan; who would give up her life for a promise.