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Aadhya’s POV

"Yes," I said to Meera. She wanted to choose my outfit today. I happily let her do that. She beamed and went to the dressing room. I was taking a bath, this was my second day in Harshagarh after marriage. It feels distinct from earlier, maybe because I will have to leave it again.

There is a constant fear in my heart now, what will happen if I go back? And how will Samrat react if he finds out I left without him? I think he won't care much considering how he has been ignoring me.

I got ready and went to the temple today. I prayed and distributed grains to the people, it was a custom I did every month I visited the temple but no one knew when I might come back.

After all that I went back home, the weather was nice today so I decided to just sit in my personal gardens. I told no one to disturb me and started writing. I used to write a lot when I was younger but then when everything stabilized in my life, I was less invested in it. Still, every time I felt low, I wrote.

"I worship him but he left me the night I yearned for him greatly, my stares numbed due to tears when he did not visit me for days. I sat isolated on the mattress with nothing but dread of losing him to another woman. I am scared of giving him away, of him leaving me".

I wrote and tears blurred out the ink, making it scatter over the paper. My hands shivered and I palmed my face. 

"Kanha, Hume kab tak apne pati ki rah dekhni hogi, Ab humari Shakti ja rhi hai"

"Krishna, how long will I have to wait to see my husband's face? I am losing strength now" I spoke with hiccups, my body was shaking due to uncontrollable sobs.

I cried and cried, I was hurting myself with all the loneliness I felt. I did not know what more to expect now, from him or anyone. 

In the midst of all my emotions scattered like shades over the canvas, I heard the most unexpected thing I could right now.

"Samragi, Samrat padhare hai" I heard a voice and my whole body froze, he is here? My husband? (Queen, the king is here)

I just nodded at her, and she left. I stood up and wiped the tears away from my face. No one should know I cried. I moved out after correcting myself a bit, I am looking dull and tired now, not presentable but I can't hide my emotions every time.

I was nervous to face him, even more than on my wedding night. But there was a big difference, that time I was happy but right now I am no longer delighted to see him, instead, I am getting fearful.

I make my way inside my chamber, my anklets produce sound but I see no one there. He wasn't here? But-

"Aadhya" I flinch at the voice, it was from behind me. I gulped hard and instantly looked down, my heartbeat raced at the sudden call.

"Ji?" I said, my voice was slow, I wonder if he even heard that. I guess he did not because I heard nothing more. I was hesitant but turned around a little to face him.

My hands were closed tightly over my skirt fabric and it was difficult to not get intimidated by him. I looked down first, he was standing there wearing a white kurta, I progressed my lashes up to his chest, and the first buttons were opened giving a view of his muscular chest. 

"Hume dekhiye"

"Look at me" he said and I inhaled deeply before looking up to see his face. I was again enchanted by him, this was the man I fell in love with. I stared at those eyes that made me bite down my lower lip a little. 

"Ji," I said barely making eye contact with him, he had those calm expressions on his face, nothing new. But what was different was the way he was looking at me. He looked angry.

He stepped closer to me, I stiffened at his action, I wanted to run away. I turned away my face when he took another step, now my heart was ready to explode.

I thought I would ask him questions about his actions but I was not even able to make contact with him, he was too intimidating.

"Ji- Samrat..." I tried to say when he stepped even closer to me, his chest now right in front of my face, I wanted to step back but could not, my legs did not move.

"Aap rusht hai?"

"You are upset?" he asked me all of a sudden. "What?" I spoke with confusion.

He strode even closer and now I had to turn away from him, I was not able to keep up with the immediate proximity between us.

"Samragi, humne pucha aap rusht hai?"

"Empress I asked you if you are upset?" he asked me again and now I had to answer him. "I am not upset Samrat".

I said and instantly turned around to walk away but before I could do so, I felt a grip over my hand. I closed my eyes at the touch, my inner voice getting over-excited at the touch of the man I loved. He touched me for the first time after our marriage.

His hand was cold, as if he had been away chasing the winds and the toughness of his fingers made me feel my stomach twist. 

"You aren't?" he asked me again and I just shook my head, I am afraid if I try to speak now, shameless sounds might escape my lips.

I thought he would leave my hand at my answer but it just tightened, "Samrat h-hume jana hai" (Samrat I-i have to go). I told him with difficulty as he was not letting me leave.

"Go where? Away from me?" he asked me, his tone was calm but I could make out the anger in it, I frowned at the question. He was the one you went away from me. 

"Aap Hume chod kar gaye the, hum nahi" 

"You left me, I did not" I uttered, I thought I would never be able to say this but I did. I tightened my lips together, I must have made him more angry.

He did not utter a thing for so long that I regretted my words, I am stupid. I had to be calm but now I have done it, he will go away without me for sure and I will be alone again.

"Hume maff- aah" I tried to clear out the misunderstanding but gasped loudly when he pulled me closer by the hand he was holding, and my back collided with his chest. My breathing escalated like never before as he bought his mouth near my ear. 

His cologne made me feel weak again and he held my hand even more strongly. I was getting dazy with his smell.

"I had to leave, it was urgent," he told me in that deep voice and I tightened my thighs together, what was happening to me?

"Aur rahi baat humare aapse na Milne ki Toh uske liye hum shama prarthi hai parantu aapko humara intezaar karna chahiye tha. Hum kal Suryawat ke liye prasthan karege"

"And about why I did not meet you than I have regret about it but you should have waited for me. We will leave for Suryawat tomorrow", he said shocking me. I thought he would yell but he apologized. 

"Hmm?" he hummed in my ear and I nodded my head slowly, he finally left me, my bare back was separated from his chest by just some fabrics over our bodies but still, the heat managed to seep in me.

"I have to talk about something with your brother" he said and left me. I slumped over the bed, I was behaving differently.

I put a hand over my chest to enquire about my heart, it was insanely beating, I was not able to comprehend the actions he did, so swiftly and suddenly.

I wonder how we will work this marriage out.

🤍

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