Ek kali raat jaisi khwaish hain
Tumhe pal pal dekhne ki guzaarish hain
Chaand ko tho dikkat hain
Akhir uski bhi toh bigadi fidrat hain

(My wish is just like the black night
The request is to see you every moment
The moon has a problem
After all his intentions have turned bad too)

-Aditi

(This sounds so shitty lol😭)

Instagram :- @/thegrlulook_for

The cool breeze blew calmly making the curtains change their positions. The black curtains covering the bed created a hindrance for the sun rays to enter the area covered, still, the mischievous rays peeked between the curtains and entered the covered area, the wind playing a major role in the constraint.

The King was laying on his back, his face tilted towards the window eyes stuck on the movement on the branch where two birds sat and giggled in their language. He glanced at the woman sleeping on his arm, her beautiful tired face was lying on his chest as she snored peacefully. He moved his index finger lazily on her exposed arm making her groan in sleep.

He chuckled looking at his queen as he pressed her nose gently blocking the oxygen supply of her body. Tanirika groaned in her sleep, clearly bothered by the problems created by him. She pushed herself away, stretching her left arm straight, she turned on the other side. The King chuckled looking at his wife who thought she could escape him this easily. Balancing his weight on his left side, he moved towards her before his arms could hold her back again in his hold she pushed him strongly making him fall off the bed.

Zravasya caught in surprise fell directly on the floor, hissing in pain. He composed his fallen state and glared at the woman who pushed him. A sleepy tanirka giggled looking at her husband laying on the floor.

"My king, the floor is cold what are you doing there? " She pretended to be surprised. Holding her laughter, she tried to sound as calm as possible.

"I will behead you"

"I would like you to try that" She sassed wrapping the red comforter around her naked frame. Zravsaya ran a hand around his messy hair and stood straight on his feet. He glared at tanirika who was busy picking her clothes up sprawled on the floor. He recorded her movements which seemed more like a struggle forced by her petite frame. Shaking his head in denial he walked towards her slowly, making her sit on the bed he clapped for the attendees to show up.

Tanirika slides deeper inside the bed as the attendees entered the chambers, laying her head peacefully on the bedpost she looked at her husband who was instructing the attendees to bring a fresh pair of clothes for the queen. The attendees nodded their head in respect and turned away to carry their respective jobs.

It took Tanirika two hours to get ready for the day. As ordered by the king, the attendees entered the chambers after few minutes with some fresh clothes led by her ladies in waiting. Lekha and Rakasa helped her to start her day. Zravasya being the king needed to be quick in his movements as the court started an hour ago, she rested on the bed the whole time he got ready.

Unlike tanirika, the king needed no servants to get ready, he loved to do his chores on his own. Her eyes recorded his every moment till he left her alone in his chambers. With a breathtaking kiss on her dry lips, he left her.

"Your majesty, Queen mother requests your presence in the west wing " A maid entered the queen's chambers after some time breaking her conversation with one of the high-class ladies of the court.

Tanirika nodded at the maid dismissing her. She smiled towards the pregnant lady who came to visit her, the lady smiled back bowing her head in respect and leaving the chambers.

Tanirika walked gracefully towards the west wing where the queen mother sat. The guards stationed in different parts of the corridor bowed in respect as their queen walked past them.

She entered the room filled with various servants, the Import minister Raghavendra and her mother in law. She nodded at lekha who settled herself at the entrance of the room. Tanirika smiled at her mother-in-law and nodded at the minister who bowed at her in respect.

Import minister Raghvendra was a very cunning joyous person, he loved to please the people higher than his status in the court. Complimenting his job, his personality was similar to the vendor seeking fruits, a gracious smile and a smart mouth hiding the cunning intentions to steal the innocent minds of the people. Tanirika didn't blame him, everyone had their way of surviving in this world.

"Tanirika, come here. Sit beside me. The cargo of ships from Romania and other native nations arrived yesterday, I would like you to select your favourite pieces. There are many gifts for you from different kingdoms, the kings and sultans are paying their respects to the Queen of Rakshatra" She gleamed placing a red box studded with gold in its intricate places. Tanirika smiled at her as her eyes roamed in different parts of the room searching for something pleasant for herself.

"My queen, the servants from the different kingdom are lined up to present their gifts at your feet" Royal import minister chipped.

"Gifts are not placed in the feet Minister they are gifted, if a gift is a gifted happiness then I must take it in happiness."

Palasha smiled rummaging in the stuff hearing the kind words of her daughter in law.

"Minister Raghavendra, There are thousands of gifts Tanirika will be tired just allow the important ones to enter and separate the other ones based on requirements. I hope you have recorded the products in your book."

"Yes, your majesty everything is recorded in our treasure detailed book. "

Tanirika spent hours sitting at a place examining and accepting all the gifts sent by thousands of people for her and the kingdom.

She looked at palasha who was staring at something so deeply with a sad expression on her face. Tanirika furrowed her brows in confusion dismissing the minister and servants she gently walked towards the sofa where palasha sat.

"Is everything fine mother? " She asked looking at the box resting on palasha's hands. Palasha smiled softly at her, wiping the tears oozing out of her eyes she cleared her throat.

"This is for you" she whispered. Tanirika looked at her before accepting the box hesitantly.

"Open up "

The box held a broken waistband, the gold rusted from its surface, few beads of jewels leaking out of the piece. It was a thin thread of waistband yet so majestically beautiful. Tanirika held the waistband in her hands staring at it with a smile.

"It belonged to zravasya's mother and the previous Queen" Palasha whispered in pain. Sadness laced out of her wrinkled skin as her breath started to become uneven. Tanirika placed a soothing hand on her arm, assuring her that it was ok.

"She would have gifted you with something more magnificent but I dont know if she is-" She choked on her sobs and memories flooded in her brain, memories filled with the face of her friend, her sister and the queen who sacrificed it all.

"Mother "

"I didn't birth him, she did. She sacrificed herself and made him what he is today." Her cries grew more as words threatened to fall from her mouth. Tanirika hugged her tightly calming the storm of emotions running inside her brain. Palasha held Tanirika close to herself trying to compose herself.

"Tell me about her, I didnt even know she existed" Tanirika whispered, her head still resting on her mother-in-law's shoulder.

"I am not a royal, I was her lady in waiting. This palace was a very evil place before Zravasya conquered it, People were out for each other's blood for the throne. And between all that an innocent soul got caught up, Princess saya was innocent she was young, barely 18 when she birthed the heir ofRakshatra. But she got caught up in a very malicious game laid by the demons living in this palace. Her own husband, Zravasaya's own father ordered the soldiers to kill him. The crowd was thirsty for the blood of the future king"

She breathed deeply, calming her dishevelled self.

"I remember how she walked in pain after giving birth just to save her children. I saw how she wanted to end everything that day. How much a poor soul could handle? We are trying to search for her for years, I want to deliver her son back to her. But there is no lead. Master junious thinks she is dead. Somewhere Zravasaya has lost hope too. "

"Do you believe she is alive?" Tanirika asked her with determination filled in her eyes. Palasha broke the hug and looked at the queen's eyes.

"I do " She whispered positively. Tanirika smiled holding the waistband again and putting it inside the box.

"Then she will come to us. There is more power in belief than any search party and person. We will find her. I promise you we will find her. And let me tell you this mother, she will be very proud of you. I am jealous of my husband he has two mothers. " she smiled wiping the tears away from her mother-in-law's cheeks. Palasha nodded positively staring at the red box.

Tanirika didn't know many secrets running down in the old walls of the palace. But she knew one thing not everyone was a good historical tale, everyone's past was tainted, Secrets rested in every brick of the palace maybe the throne held some too.

The rest of the day was a blur as Tanirika tried to gain her concentration back. The conversation with her mother-in-law played like a loop in her brain as she tried to digest the secret unveiled infront of her.

So everything was lie, Zravasya was no stranger who came from the other land, he was born here in the kingdom of Rakshatra. The rightful heir of the throne was made to fight for his claim. A queen was chased down by her own people. A husband wished death on his wife. For what a Throne.

An Antique made of stones and bricks held more power than the lives of people. What is the use of a throne if it can't protect the people who lived under it? What is the use of being a king when you can't see the truth? What is the use of a king who can be tricked by some pawns who dreamt to sit on the throne?

She travelled kingdoms, sacrificed her life for her people, for her father. What was the use of the throne when you cannot hold the power properly?

There were many loopholes in history. Where was Queen saya? What happened to the king? How did everything reach here? And why did her mother in law said, children?

Did her husband had a sibling?

If yes then where was his brother or sister.

"My Queen, you are stressed. Is everything fine " Rakasa whispered. Tanirika fluttered her brows and nodded back with a smile.

"I am just worried about jugnu. It's been days since I last saw him," she said watering the plants.

Rakasa smiled following the queen as she sprayed the water on the plants.

"He is fine. Master meglos is taking care of him. If you want I will ask him "

"No no, I will visit him on my own. I need to discuss something with him. Can you tell lekha to make sure that the king has eaten his dinner? He has some political matter to attend he won't be joining me tonight "

Rakasa smiled mischievously looking at Tanirika. The queen glared at her friend who laughed it out before rushing out of the place.

The chapter is so messy I know trust me I didn't plan to write it this way. I don't know what has happened to me today. AHHH!!

I am sorry. I am just a little sick I guess. My chest burns like hell.

Anyways I hope y'all liked this chapter.

I am going on a break till 23. You will get your next update on 24 after my exams.

Please share this book with your friends.

I made an Instagram account where I post spoilers and interact with my readers. The link is in my profile description and conversation board.

I'd:- @/thegrlulook_for

Follow and message me there let's make a group chat lol!!

Loki and jignasa's book is coming soon will post the first chapter and prologue after my break stay tuned. 📥

ARE YOU GUYS EXCITED!

Stay safe

Wear a mask

Wash your hands.

Love Aditi. ❤