SIX Months LATER
"Are you ready?" Vikram asked her and she nodded. They sat by the small table in their room and started their breakfast. Vikram ate at his usual pace while Meenakshi struggled to even gulp the second bite. Seeing her struggle so miserably, he paused and looked at her.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked, looking at her trying to gulp down the glass of water.
"Yeah, this just tastes weird." She mumbled, looking at the food. Vikram frowned and inspected their plates if there was anything extra or less.
"No, it doesn't. This tastes perfectly fine. And even better today, thanks to your special instructions to the head cook." He replied, taking a bite from her plate to see if anything was wrong with hers.
Meenakshi shook her head and tried to have another morsel, but the mere smell of the rice made her gag. "I don't think I can eat today." She said slowly. Vikram glared at her, while she rolled her eyes at his reaction.
"You need to eat. I can't let you have a day on an empty stomach." He replied and offered her a bite from his own. She reluctantly took it only to find it hard to even bite into it. She gulped the remaining water in her glass and reached for his. Vikram looked at her wide eyed and found her behavior oddly strange. She would never reach for water even when the food was spicy and now she was gulping it as if she was parched.
"Don't force me. I cannot eat anymore." She said and stood up from her seat to wash her hands. Vikram silently nodded and quickly finished his food and followed her. They then together left for the court.
Finishing their meetings and discussions, Vikram and Meenakshi walked back to their chambers for lunch before they had to head to the sabha to listen to the people. "I am not feeling great." Meenakshi mumbled, swaying a bit. Vikram quickly wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close, making sure she doesn't fall down.
"This is what would happen if you don't eat. You would obviously be tired and dizzy. I am going to feed you myself." He scolded her, making her roll her eyes at him.
Before she could open her mouth to retort, she fell limp in his arms, making Vikram panic.
Vikram quickly shouted orders asking the Vaidhji to be called. He picked up Meenakshi in his arms and ran to their chambers. Seeing their commotion, the maids quickly ran to their room and helped their king. They arranged the pillows and covered them with a blanket. Vikram sat by her side and rubbed her palms and patted her cheeks trying to wake her up. "Call for the Vaidji!" He shouted again, making the guards at the entrance run. His father meanwhile came running hearing the guards message. He found Vikram panicking and his daughter on the bed. He placed a comforting hand on Vikram's shoulder making him jerk up and look at him. "Paa, ask her to wake up. LooâLook at her, what's wrong?"
"Aditya, calm down, Vaidh ji is checking on her and she will be fine. Control yourself son, she will be fine."
"Paa, what is wrong, what if she she...." Vikram couldn't complete his sentences. His father engulfed him in a hug but Vikram kept mumbling something.
"Maharaj, I think we can call for a daima also. Maharani is perfectly fine but a few more tests would just clear everything." Vaidhji told them and Vikram broke the hug.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Vikram snapped.
"Yes Maharaj." The Vaidhji quickly sent for daima and she came in to check up on Meenakshi.
"Maharaj, there is no need to worry. Maharani is expecting." Vikram froze hearing her.
"What the damn thing are you guys talking about? Just get out of here." Vikram roared, making the others around him wonder what had gone wrong. But as he had instructed so politely everyone left except for his father.
"Aditya, what is wrong? Why are you reacting like this? Did you not want this?" He placed his hand on his son's shoulder who was sitting by his wife waiting for her to wake up.
"We all know what happened and we all know it cannot be true. And now, giving her a false hope when she wakes up. She will be hurt to know that this is not true yet experts like them cannot even come to a proper conclusion." Vikram sighed, caressing Meenakshi's hair.
"I think I shall leave you two. But why can't you hope it's real. Take care son."
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That's an end. We shall have an epilogue and bonus chapters and we shall meet in my next story, something that shall keep you hooked.