5K Votes!!!

Trishalini's POV

"Come, let me show you your chamber," Queen Nandani's voice caught my attention, and I could not help but feel slightly uneasy. It was past midnight and, ironically, my first night after the wedding.

Lowering my gaze, I silently walked away from them, and Maasa and Daadisa joined me.

The way my anklet bells pierced the silence of the night and dueted with the noise of night insects made me feel scared. I hated to catch attention, and everything about me was now getting attention.

I could feel the maids' and soldiers' eyes on me as we walked through the galleries. I could not see the wall, but I knew it was strong and heavy enough that it would never let my inaudible cries escape.

Our shadows were huge and moving every time we would pass the hanging light torch.

The gardens filled with roses of different colours were exceptional. It was perfect to make someone feel at best despite the thorns poking beneath them.

It resembled the kingdom's current situation. The roses settled like everything was perfect and delicate, but what I had just seen a few moments ago reminded me that even roses were meant to bite if not held right.

The relationships among people in the Kingdom were tearing apart. And I did not know what sides I meant to take.

"This is your chamber, Trisha." I heard Maasa's voice and lifted my gaze to notice a massive palace before me. It was a thousand times bigger than the cottage I was brought up in. Even its stairs were spread wide like the roots of a tree.

I gulped and looked at Maasa with nervousness.

"Come on," she said and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Do you know it was my wedding, too, when I first stepped into it? And, like you, I was not really happy," she said, and I lowered my gaze, hiding the beds of the river I had shed through my eyes.

"This is beautiful," I could not help but say. Appreciation was the least I could do for them.

As the three of them supported me, followed by a group of ladies workers, I climbed the stairs, and the enormous doors of the chamber opened wide before the soldiers standing outside.

I wondered if they were allowed to sleep or sit or stand up, which was their only job.

"They do not rest?" I asked, looking at Queen Nandani. She smiled and shook her head.

"The shifts change three times a day. They work at night and sleep in the morning. While the new group attends in the morning," her voice was low, only audible to me, and I nodded.

"It's a hectic job," I could not stop saying they laughed a little.

I lowered my gaze with slight embarrassment and noticed my red-inked feet stepping inside. It felt cold. The temperature was lower here.

The floor was covered with thick, mush carpets. It was way softer than my sleeping arrangement ever felt to me. And it tickled me a little.

"It's soft," I muttered, noticing them smiling and looking at each other.

"I mean, the carpets," I said, inhaling deeply, knowing that I was making it evident that I was awestruck.

"We will get this chamber arranged as per your taste soon. You can decide whatever colour you would like, the curtains," she said, and I looked at the curtains. They were drawn over the vast windows and flowing a little with the wind. "Draw the curtains," Maasa ordered, looking at the maids, and they began to work. I saw them pulling the thick fabric apart and tying them with the iron hooks engrossed in the walls. The moon looked whiter than ever from here. It was huge, and the stars spread like the ocean.

I could not stop myself from smiling. "The view is beautiful," I commented, and Daadisa replied. "We are glad you liked it,"

"Light the chamber," Maasa ordered the attendees, and in only a few moments, they brought fire torches with them and began to light the fire lamps. A chandelier resting on the floor was filled with oil and cotton thread. The attendees lit it, and the chamber immediately glowed brighter.

My eyes shone seeing it. It was huge. I could run from one end to another. There was a substantial low-height bed covered with a layer of thick curtains. It was in the middle and over a place with the height of two stairs. And I shivered all of a sudden, hearing the screeching sound of iron clanking.

My eyes immediately noticed the attendees pulling the chandelier up. As it reached the height of the ceiling, I noticed the carvings in it. There were floral designs among the mirror pieces. I could see myself in it. When light reflected in it, it spread across the whole chamber, taking my attention to every wall.

It was shaped like a heptagon. Every wall had a massive door. It was like a chamber in the shape of a circle, covered with thick curtains. When the curtains were drawn to the sides, we could see the windows and doors.

Suddenly, it was as bright as an evening.

I raked my eyes around the chamber, noticing a table with a mirror in a corner and a pair of royal sofas before the bed with a table in the middle.

"Do you like it?" Maasa's voice caught my attention, and I looked at her, all stunned. Surprised was the right thing to say.

And suddenly, Queen Nandani's anklets caught my attention, and I noticed her walking towards the bed. She signalled the maids to help her draw the curtains aside.

I inhaled deeply when my sight fell on the maroon coloured bed sheet, the vast round pillows and the duvet like silk.

There were windows near the bed, which had tiny holes in them. It must be for the air conditioning.

She clapped twice, and my sight fell on a group of attendees walking in with a massive plate of rose petals.

"The roses will help you feel at ease," Maasa said, and I could not help but feel timid. I knew what they were doing, and it was scaring me.

Queen Nandani helped the attendees cover the bed with rose petals. Not a single spot was left without them, and she playfully scattered them over the chamber, too.

"Dim the lights and only let a few burn," Daadisa said, sitting on the couch and caressing her knees. "I am tired now," she exhaled profoundly, and I noticed the attendees blowing half of the lights on the chandelier with a hollow rod.

The light in the chamber turned dim, and I felt Maasa's hand on my shoulder.

"Come, let's take some rest," she said, and I gulped nervously. I stepped forward towards the bed, climbed the two stairs, and placed my feet on the bed's floor.

It was covered with similar maroon-coloured carpets, and I looked at the bed. It looked even more significant with the closeness.

"I shall bring a glass of milk for you," Queen Nandani said, and Daadisa called for her.

"Nandani, leave me to my room too," she asked, standing up, and Queen Nandani replied to her. "Ji, Daadisa,"

"Alright, sleep tight, Trisha. Do not dare to stay awake. He can wait," she said, and I immediately lowered my gaze with the blush.

"But, I bet this filth would not have waited," she said, teasing Queen Nandani, and she cried. "Daadisa! It was not like that,"

I smiled a little, hearing them.

"Yes, I know," Daadisa teased her even more, and I noticed both of them walking out.

"Come on, sit down," Maasa said, and I lifted my heavy dupatta and sat on the edge of the bed. She lifted my lehnga a little and helped me put my feet up, too. I immediately held her hand.

"Maasa," I said, and she looked at me with a weak smile.

"I am sorry," I said. She lowered her gaze, and I gently pulled her hand to make her sit before me.

"Why are you sorry? Trisha," she asked, and I shook my head.

"It was because of me. I should not have hid things from him. Otherwise, he would not have done whatever he did. He would not talk to his father like that," I said, and she chuckled a little.

"He is at that phase of life where everything would seem wrong to him. His inner self is confused and broken, and whatever he is doing reflects his feelings. Whatever he said to his father is not what he meant but a bit of his expectations of himself. He wanted things but in the shadow of his father. And he has been like this only since childhood. He would grow impatient and frustrated when his demands would not be fulfilled. Do not worry. The father and son love each other. They will sort it out. That's why I do not interfere much between them," she said, and I nodded.

"Also, they are not just father and son. They are a King and the next King. Their fights are based on their opinions, and trust me, two Kings can never agree on one thing. One always desires to make the other feel low. It's an order of things," she added, and I smiled a little.

"He is very childish many times," I said, and she laughed.

"I am glad you know about it," she said, and I laughed even more.

"But Trisha, Raj was not wrong when he said that the throne will not accept you. My baby, your life is a literal definition of hard work, but now it will be hard work, smart work and judgements. Every step of yours will be overseen by thousands. The Kingdoms might seem safest, but they are vulnerability at its best. The maids, the attendees and the soldiers are the observers of the realm. They notice us, judge us and sell the information outside. Even the night you will consummate will be known to everyone," she said, and I lowered my gaze timidly.

"It's scary," I said, and she placed her finger on my chin and made me look up at her.

"It is your life now," she muttered. Her eyes held power, truth, and years of experience. "You are not the same person you were yesterday. You are different now. Every word of yours should be of a Queen, not a regular lady. You must not bend before anyone except its goodness, peace, and the desire of your heart," she said, and I knit my brows with confusion.

"He must be your husband now," she said, and I blinked nervously, hearing her. "But that does not mean he owns you. He deserves to realise his mistakes. You know what I am talking about," she said, and I held her hand.

"I am afraid he would not like it," I said, and she questioned.

"So, what?"

I immediately looked up at her.

"To make your child sit on the throne, you will have to become a Queen first," she said, and I closed my eyes. This was not why I was here.

"This is not the option I am giving you," she said, her words feeling like sharp blades.

"It is an order from a Queen," she said, and I immediately looked into her eyes.

"He is your son," I said, and she looked into my eyes.

"And you are my daughter,"

Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I immediately leaned in closer to hug her.

"Do not let him touch until you want," she said in a slow voice, and I asked.

"But the King desires a grandchild," I said in a slow voice, and she caressed my back gently.

"Let his destiny decide if he deserves to see the grandchild or not," she said, and I could feel the pain in her voice.

She pulled slowly and kissed the side of my forehead. "You called me, Maasa, right?" she asked, cupping my face, and I nodded.

"Then let me be one," she said, looking at me.

Suddenly, Queen Nandani's voice caught our attention, and I looked up at her, walking inside with a glass of milk.

"Here, this is for you, Bhabhisa," she said, smiling and sitting near Maasa. I looked at the big glass of milk, and I chuckled.

"This is too much, Jiji," I said, calling her, and she shook her head.

 "You need a lot of energy for tomorrow," she said, and I knit my brows in confusion. Then I looked at Maasa.

"We will do Kul Devi's Pooja tomorrow," she informed me, and I nodded.

"Our Gods will be happy to meet their new bride," she added, and I smiled.

"Come on, drink it," Maasa said, and my cheeks grew flushed.

"Um, I think you both should also take a rest. I will drink it," I said, and they looked at each other.

"Alright, good night, Bhabhisa," Queen Nandani said, standing up first. Maasa smiled before standing up, too.

They both walked out, and I heard the door closing.

Once alone, I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes, palming my face. Everything was making me nervous. It was too much.

Especially this heavy jewellery and attire. I tried to move, but the glass was about to fall. I immediately held it.

I thought of drinking it first. But it was too much, and I could not even have half of the glass. I kept it on the side table so that it would not fall.

The sleep was nowhere around for me, especially in such a vast place where I was alone. I wondered where Yuvraj would be.

Noticing the mirror in the chamber, I put my feet down. I had never seen myself in the mirror. I wondered how I looked.

When the rose petals fell off the bed, I glided down. The Lehnga felt way too heavy even to walk. Lifting it, I marched down the stairs and reached near the mirror. Two light lamps were burning around it.

As soon as I stepped in front of it, my gaze met mine through the reflection. I stood stunned. I could not recognise myself. All I could see was my face, jewellery, and red attire. My eyes were brown. And I could see the tint of haldi on my face. I was not that short.

And then my sight fell on the nose ring. It was brushing against my lips, and I took my hand closer to it. It was disturbing me. I gently pulled the ends off and placed them over the table. I had a mole near my lips. I never knew that. Seeing my lips, I could not help but remember when his mouth was closest to me.

And, seeing the nose ring, I could not help but remember that he accused me of seducing him for the money. I did not have a heart for money or luxury. All of this was making me uncomfortable at best.

The gold wrapped around my neck choked it. Its weight made me feel like a buffalo tied with chains. I inhaled deeply, pushed the dupatta down my head, and reached the knot. It took me a few moments to unhook and remove the heavy choker necklace. I placed it over the table, too, and looked at my neck. Finally, I could breathe.

Another necklace was hanging on my neck. I pulled it up through my neck and kept it on the table. I only let the plain gold chain hang on my neck. It was from my father.

I turned around and noticed my long braid. There were golden ornaments tied to it, too. I began to unbraid my hair and carefully removed those, too. My head felt lighter. I was on the verge of passing out. I could never sleep with these on.

Suddenly, the golden bangles in my hand stuck in my Dupatta, and I sighed deeply and frustratedly. I began to pull the rings out first and unhook the Kangans. I glared at my henna, and Mahavar inked my fingers. My hand looked different—more feminine.

I also did the same with my other hand and removed the armlets. I straightened my hand over my head and felt an ease. Finally, I could feel the blood flowing in my veins. It was not even a day, and I felt done with being married.

I took the dupatta down my shoulder and noticed the heavy waistband around me. I looked down to find its hook and took it off. I felt a kilogram lighter.

And, then suddenly, my sight fell on my forehead. I noticed the vermillion in my hair beneath the Maang Teeka. I gulped, staring at it, and lowered my gaze while removing it.

Closing my eyes, I replayed the moment when he filled the partition of my hair with vermillion. He claimed me as his—not only my body, but he captured my soul and heart with it. Despite my discomfort, I could not forget that he was my husband now. And I had no reason to keep him away from me.

But there was no reason to stay near him, either.

We got married to bring the grandchild of the King into the world. And I would be free after that. I had no intention of becoming a Queen.

Every piece of my attire reminded me that I had to become one. But I could not force myself. I kneeled down to remove the anklets from my feet. They weighed too much, and I was not capable of bearing them.

And, while taking them off, my sight fell on the toe rings. They were big for my tiny toes. Nothing could be smaller about being a royal. I knew they held important significance in marriage. But, I could not settle my thoughts around marriage. It was an order of the Prince.

I pulled them off of my toes and stood straight. Lifting my gaze, I looked at myself, without a piece of his money or luxury.

I was startled all of a sudden when I heard the noise of the door opening and then closing after a few moments. My fingers froze, and I grabbed my dupatta to keep it over my shoulder. I noticed his faded footsteps while tucking one end of it to the side of my waist, covering myself.

"You are still awake?" His words made me lift my gaze off the table and turn around to look at him. He had changed into white, plain attire, and his face looked as if he had just taken a bath.

I followed his gaze, noticing the jewellery on the table and looking at my face.

Another Update!!!

Do not forget to vote, comment and share the book.

Love You All ❤️❤️❤️