Aadhya’s POV

Three days.

He has been away from three days, no letters, no messages, nothing. I was alone. I could not ask anyone and now my heart was filled with uneasiness. Maybe he really is with-. No, he isn't.

Soon my brother will arrive to take me back for the pagphera ritual, husbands accompany their brides but I don't think my husband will. I know nothing about him, where he is, who he is helping and when he will return.

I sat at the empty bed again this morning, wondering when I would receive his embrace, his touch. It was tough alone in a new family, I do not know how brides manage this. The sheer fear of anyone not liking you is frightening, I was always liked by everyone and so I have been accustomed to it.

I ran my hand over the silk bedsheet, it was cold on the other side beside me. I hugged my knees and cried, I can cry only now, when no one watches me.

I am getting habituated to being a Queen, you need to have authority, a strict aura and do whatever work a woman does. Rajmata has taught me this. She is a great queen and I aspire to be the same.

I woke up, did my prayers and then went ahead to the women's meeting room, I am learning from Rajmata a bit and then when I am ready she will hand me down the duties.

The day went by and I returned to the same spot, to stare at the entrance of the palace from my wondow, is he here yet? No. My eyes closed from dullness and I sighed. 

Fifteen days passed by, and he was still not here.

"Daughter be back soon", Father said and I nodded taking his blessings, Rajmata hugged me and I went to sit in the palanquin. She told me I could have waited for some more days and then Samrat would have followed me back home, but Bhaiya had already arrived so I was adamant about going back.

I went towards the convoy and Agastya Bhaiya hugged me, after so long I felt good. He patted my head, I never knew he would be so considerate considering we had been at odds since childhood.

"How are you?" he asked me and I nodded but he held my chin up and frowned, a tear escaped my eyes. He looked away and clenched his jaw, he was angry. I know he already did not like my husband and now that he has come to know he had been away for fifteen days, he is even angrier.

"Bhaiya hum thik hai Aur swast hai, Hume prasthan karna chahiye"

"Brother I am totally fine, we need to go" I told him, holding his hand and he patted my head, "You see what I will do now" he says and I shook my head at him.

"No, it is not what you think, he has gone to help some kingdom" I told him with a smile, a fake one. "Aadhya, no need to tell me anything, sit".

He was furious now and it was rare for him to get angry, I gulped and went to sit, I would talk to him after reaching home.

I with a heavy heart sat inside and the conveyance started moving, it was bleak but for some days I needed to be happy or try to be happy like I have always been, my family must not know that I am hurt.

The next morning we reached and I stepped down, lifting my veil I went to meet my family. They were delighted to see me and finally, after so many days I smiled genuinely.

"Aadhya" Abhyudit Bhaiya said and I hugged him, I finally felt a father's love. He has always been a father figure to me. I stayed like that, like a little child I was hugging him, not ready to leave and he was comforting me.

"Are you fine baby?" he asked me and I nodded my head after separating from him before I became too emotional, Bhabhi and Maa also kissed my forehead and we went inside.

"Rajkumari" I heard a squeal and turned to see my friend, she hugged me. "Meera, aap kesi hai, Hume yaad nahi kiya" (Meera, how are you? Did you not miss me?)

"I did, I was dying to meet you and then go back with you," she said in excitement, I giggled at her. Good that she did not go with me, she would have been devastated looking at my condition.

"Come on let's give you a bath" she said and held my hand, I nodded at her. The lavenders filled the whole chamber as she applied oils to my skin. "Hey, what about Samrat? He loves you right?" she asks me and I freeze hearing her.

"I do not know" I say, she is the only person I do not want to lie to. Her hand that was applying the oil over my back stopped. "What are you saying?" she asks me in a low voice but I stayed still. She did not say anything more.

"Eat more, you look pale" Bhabhi says and fed me with her own hands, I laughed at her. I took the bite in my mouth and then made one morsel for her, "You should worry about yourself, eat" I told her.

"Aadhya Hume sach bataeye kuch sahi nahi hai kya? Agastya bhi ukhde hue hai" 

"Aadhya tell me honestly, is something wrong? Agastya is also acting weirdly" she says and I gulp down a lump formed in my throat hearing her. 

"Bhabhi Hume darr lagta hai ki kahi humse kuch galti na ho jae?" I lied, but this was somehow true, I was scared now. (Bhabhi I am cared what if I make a mistake?).

She smiled hearing me and put her hand lovingly over my cheek before saying, "This is nothing new for a bride and you can make mistakes, that is not a big deal. But you need to learn with time and I am sure everyone will love you".

I hugged her and she told me to rest now, I wanted to talk more but she had some work. I went to roam around a bit, it has only been fifteen days since I left but now I know what this means to me, this place where I was raised. I missed it.

I was trying to be optimistic for some moments and just overlook all the things that happened. I do not know if he is betraying me or not. Only he can answer that now.

The day passed by and it was late at night, I was at my cozy spot. My mind was running with many thoughts and I did not know when I slept.

Third POV

The man entered inside, he was searching for her. The frown on his face intensified as he figured she was not hear and that she had left. For her home.

He fisted his hand over the curtains near the window and they fell down when he applied force. He clicked his tongue with frustration. 

"Aadhya," he said.

🤍

Who is the man and why is he angry?

Do vote and follow me guys, hearts ❤️