She bowed her head down and nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.

“I cannot change what has already happened. But I will do now whatever you want. So, you tell me, what you want. If you want to go away from us, I will make arrangements.”

“Go away?” she was alarmed, “Where… where do you want to send me?”

“Oh God! You manage to infuriate me still. I don’t want to send you anywhere! You were the one who went to the extent of killing yourself to get away from me. I just want you to know that there are less fatal ways of doing that.”

“Maharaj,” she said in a quivering voice, “I may be guilty of keeping certain things from you. But whenever I have spoken, I haven’t lied. I hadn’t lied when I had told you that I love you. Death was the only way to stay away from you. If you aren’t going to grant me that, you can’t keep me away from you.”

“Chadrika!”

“I have made mistakes. I might make more in future too. Punish me for them, but not like this. Not by ignoring me like you have been doing. I beg you…”

“I wasn’t punishing you, my love,” he interrupted urgently, “I was punishing myself, for not having understood you…”

She stood up and walked to him. “I hadn’t greeted you when I came. Let me greet you the only way I am allowed to, in private.” She tip-toed to bring her lips to his level. But did not have the courage to initiate the kiss. She closed her eyes and waited for him. He smiled and obliged her with deep, long, passionate kiss.

But he looked amused when they separated, “You are an eccentric woman, Chandrika. Do you realize that this is my chamber and anyone could come here anytime?”

She blushed and downcast her eyes.

“Go to you room,” he whispered in a voice thick with desire, “I will be there tonight. I must go to the court now.”

Her face crimsoned, and she practically ran away from there, leaving his amused and amorous eye to follow her in silence.

—

The entire day and services of four maids had not been enough for her to get ready to her satisfaction. Giving up on alternatives, when the time of his coming approached, she applied to her sister.

“What happened?” Madhu looked curiously at the disarray Chandrika’s room was in.

“Madhu. Help me, please. I can’t figure out what he would like. You know the best.”

Madhumita raised her eyebrows and then broke into a smile. “Made up, then, eh?”

“Don’t tease me, please.”

Her jungle-trotting little sister was desperate to please her husband today. She hadn’t been so concerned on her wedding day and had demurely accepted whatever others had done for her makeup.

She looked fondly at her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Let me get you ready,” she said and started on it right away.

—

Bhumimitra stopped in his tracks on spotting her in the room. She was beautiful, he had always been aware of that. Even on their wedding night, she had looked exquisite. But today it was altogether different. It took him some time to put his fingers on what was different. It wasn’t about her dress, or jewelry or makeup. It was about the glow on her face, the excitement and ease in her demeanor and the happiness radiating from her countenance. It was funny, but the only other time to which he could compare how she looked was when he had met her for the first time.

He walked up to her and she smiled shyly on seeing him.

“No greetings?” he teased her.

She didn’t reply and downcast her eyes.

“Come,” he held her and led her to the bed, “I want to talk to you. Do you remember the first time we had met?”

She nodded.

“You were wearing something ridiculous.”

She grew red with embarrassment. “I am ridiculous, then?” she tried to act pouty.

He laughed softly. “You dress was ridiculous then. But yes. You can be quite ridiculous even otherwise. If I deny that, I’d be lying.”

She pursed her lips.

“But what I was trying to tell you that you looked as beautiful then, as you are looking now. And I love you, not despite your ridiculousness, but because of it.”

She was so startled that she forgot to be shy for a moment and stared at him agape. He chuckled and she averted her eyes.

He held her hands and continued, “Because what makes you beautiful is not just how you look, though of course you look great, but also how you are in touch with nature. The nature outside, and also the one that sits deep within us. You are in touch with what is naturally good in our soul and you do not hesitate in voicing it, or demanding it. In a world that is marred by too many lies, too much deception, and too much manipulation, you may appear ridiculous and people who love you may want to protect you from it. But the fact remains that you are so beautiful because of who you are. And I am not surprised that you ignite a passion in me that no other woman has been able to do in past.”

Her lips quivered as she replied. “What you said seems like a lot of praise. I am afraid I don’t understand half of it. I doubt I deserve it.”

“That’s a part of your charm, Chandrika. But let’s not quarrel over it. Just know that I really love and respect you.”

She could not hold back her tears on hearing this.

“Why tears now?”

“Only out of happiness.”

“Yes. Be happy. Always. Don’t worry about anything. I am devoted to your and your sister’s happiness and I promise that there will always be enough for both of you and your children. And I have already promised it, but you may not know, because you were unconscious. I will not marry again…”

“Swami… I didn’t ask for anything like that…” she remembered her sister’s words from her wedding night and hastened to clarify.

“No. You didn’t. It is my decision. I don’t need anyone else. Just make sure you give me enough sons and daughters, who I can marry to worthy princesses and kings, if political needs must arise.”

She blushed hard and looked away.

“And now,” he held her chin and made her look at him, “I have waited to be greeted long enough.” She gasped as he crushed her lips with his own.

– The End –