The First Night : Chapter 13

"Are you sure that you didn't face any problem on the way?" Gayatri Devi sounded suspicious. "Did you face the dacoits?"

Lavanya immediately looked at the Queen while Virendra didn't expect that. The Queen slightly narrowed her eyes, feeling that her guess was correct.

"No, your majesty." Mahesh and Jyotimani said in unison.

"Mn?" Gayatri Devi averted her gaze to Jyotimani and Mahesh who were standing behind Lavanya and Virendra. "If you really didn't face the dacoits then why didn't Virendra and Lavanya reply to my question?"

"Your Majesty, I was startled by your question. So I couldn't reply instantly." Lavanya said in a soft voice, trying to make the Queen believe in her words.

"Mother, why aren't you believing when brother and sister-in-law are saying that they haven't encountered any trouble?" Saanvi interfered. "They seem so worn out. I think they should take rest. Moreover, it's going to be their first night together."

"I was just confirming the safety of my children." Gayatri Devi smiled a bit. "Take a rest. I will send dinner to your rooms. And...you already know that today is a special day for both of you."

Gayatri Devi smiled and did the Aarti before the couple entered into the palace. Lavanya excused herself and rushed to her room along with Jyotimani while Virendra retired to his room with his friend Mahesh.

After everyone left the hall, Saanvi looked at her mother. "Mother, why did you keep asking sister-in-law like that?"

"Because it's clear that they confronted the dacoits." The Queen said confidently, making Saanvi drop her jaws.

"What!? How do you know?" Saanvi asked curiously.

"Because when I first asked Virendra about being late, he was stammering while Lavanya quickly answered that question. Virendra never stammers unless he lies. Again when I asked about dacoits, Lavanya looked at me as if it was the most unexpected question for her while your brother just froze for a moment. Instead of them, Mahesh and Jyotimani answered and that answer didn't sound calm but it sounded somewhat nervous and rushed." Gayatri Devi paused and glanced at her daughter. "It clearly tells that they are hiding something from us. And if I not wrong, they faced the dacoits. That's why Lavanya rode a horse instead of using palanquin."

"But mother...when you already guessed that they were attacked by dacoits, then why didn't you ask them about this?" Saanvi blinked at her mother confusingly, unable to read her mother's mind.

"Because none among the four of them want to reveal the truth. Maybe they have their own reasons for hiding it from us. I won't pressurize them to blurt out the truth." Gayatri Devi let out a deep breath. "It's already late. I think you should have your dinner and go to bed."

"Yes, mother." Saanvi smiled and went to her room.

"Your highness, why are you dragging me?" Jyoti uttered while being dragged by Lavanya into her room.

"Don't speak!" Lavanya growled as she forcefully made Jyotimani sit on her bed.

"But princess..."

"I already told you that I hate being interrupted while I am talking and I hate it when people defy me." Lavanya glared at Jyoti, making the latter look down immediately, avoiding Lavanya's gaze.

Lavanya let out a deep breath before walking to her table and took out a chest beneath it. Opening the chest, she took out a few leaves, mortar and pestle. She lowered her head and brought the leaves near her nose, smelling them. The next moment she tore the leaves before putting them in the mortar and ground them well. When she felt that the leaves almost turned into paste, she applied a few drops of a liquid and mixed it well with the paste of leaves. She dipped the first two fingers of her right hand and rubbed it with her thumb, examining the texture of the herbal paste. A faint smile formed on her face when she realized that the medicine was ready.

Taking the mortar in her hands, Lavanya walked to Jyoti and sat beside her.

"Show me your neck," Lavanya said while taking a good amount of herbal paste on her fingers, without gazing at Jyotimani.

"Huh?" Jyotimani blinked, unable to understand why Lavanya asked her to show her neck.

"Jyoti, did the dacoits scared you that much that you cannot even understand my simple words?" Lavanya said with annoyance. "Your neck is wounded. I need to apply for medicine on it so that it will cure soon. Now show me your neck."

Jyoti gulped before tilting her head to the right side, giving Lavanya complete access to have a look at her wound.

"Tsk...those dacoits!" Lavanya hissed when she saw that the wound wasn't as mere as she had thought.

"Its okay princess. It doesn't hurt too much." Jyoti said in a soft voice, trying to assure Lavanya.

"I know which wound hurts how much." Lavanya shook her head before applying the medicine on Jyoti's neck. Jyoti winced in pain when the medicine touched her wound. "Does it hurt much?" Lavanya asked with a voice full of concern as she glanced at Jyoti.

"A little." Jyoti smiled gently.

"It may hurt a little but your wound will completely cure without leaving any mark by 2 days," Lavanya uttered while carefully applying the medicine. "It's done." She smiled a bit as she finished applying medicine and looked at Jyoti who had tears in her eyes while she was staring at Lavanya without blinking. "What's wrong Jyoti? Why are you crying?" Lavanya panicked when she saw tears rolling off from Jyotimani's eyes.

"Thank you so much, Your Highness." Jyotimani sobbed while looking at Lavanya. "It's the first time in my life that someone is taking care of me like this. After my parents left me, I have no one to take care of me."

"Its okay Jyoti." Lavanya smiled while gently caressing Jyotimani's hair. "You are like my younger sister. Then, why won't I take care of you, hm? Don't think that you have no one. I am always here with you. You can talk to me whenever you want." She pulled Jyoti into a gentle hug, trying to comfort her.

"Thank you, your highness, for considering me your younger sister." Jyoti sobbed.

"Since you already know that I consider you as my sister, then I think you should call me as sister instead of your highness." Lavanya smiled.

"As you wish, sister." Jyotimani smiled.

"I think someone will bring dinner here. Can you prepare a herbal bath for me, Jyoti? My body feels so uncomfortable after such a long journey." Lavanya said.

"I think you should have your dinner first and then take a bath. Because...you know today is your special day." Jyoti grinned while looking at Lavanya.

"Prepare a bath, Jyoti." Lavanya glared at her while the latter chuckled before disappearing from there.

"Jyoti, help me wear this jewelry," Lavanya said as she sat beside her mirror. "And you also have to help me with hair today."

"Sister, can I ask you something?" Jyotimani who was standing behind Lavanya gawked at the jewelry as if she couldn't understand what was going on.

"Sure," Lavanya said while combing her long hair.

"Why are you choosing such heavy jewelry and heavy saree on your first night?" Jyotimani asked while combing Lavanya's hair. "Normally women choose light jewelry with some light saree, but you chose the perfect opposite."

"You know Jyoti, if I wear this heavy jewelry then it will take forever for the prince to take it off." Lavanya giggled. "I don't want him to cuddle me to sleep."

"Huh!?" Jyoti's jaws slacked listening to Lavanya's words. "S-sister, do you know what people do on their first night?"

"Of course I know. I am older than you, so I know more than you." Lavanya said proudly. "On the first night, the husband helps his wife to take off the jewelry and after that, they will cuddle to sleep."

"Huh!!" Jyotimani's jaws almost dropped to the ground while eyes almost popped out of the sockets. It looks like a princess doesn't even have an idea about it! Gosh! What should I do now? Should I tell her about what actually happens? No no...its the matter between the prince and the princess, I think I shouldn't interfere. But...what if the princess runs away after learning what actually happens? Oh God! I think it's better to keep my mouth closed.

"What are you thinking Jyoti?" Lavanya said while trying to tie her hair. "Help me with my hair."

"Yes." Jyoti came out of her daze and took Lavanya's soft hair into her hand.

"Can you make the hardest braid, please?" Lavanya said while putting on the earrings. "Make as many braids as you can."

"Sure." Jyoti smiled while she internally panicked at Lavanya's choices. After a huge time, Jyoti finally did the hairstyle which Lavanya wanted. "Princess, is this okay?"

"It's perfect!" Lavanya giggled. "It's so beautiful, Jyoti."

"Let me help with your jewelry." Jyoti smiled and helped Lavanya to put on her jewelry.

Lavanya's look completed with a mang tika on the head and a lot of flowers on her braid while heavy jewelry ornate her neck and the golden bangles with armlets increased the beauty of her hands.

"You look beautiful, sister." Jyoti smiled while looking at Lavanya.

"Thank you Jyoti for helping me." Lavanya smiled. "Without your help, I won't be able to do anything."

"Sister, can I ask you something?" Jyoti said, unsure if she should ask her or not.

"Go ahead." Lavanya nodded putting the waistband around her waist.

"Today...y-you threw the dagger at the dacoit. W-will he survive?" Jyoti stammered a bit while biting her lip nervously.

"He doesn't deserve to live," Lavanya said in a cold voice. "He dared to hurt you and you think that I will let him go!?" She growled before averting her gaze to Jyoti.

"B-But sister..."

"No more buts Jyoti." Lavanya let out a deep sigh. "If we had enough men, then I won't have stopped the prince from capturing Baldev."

"Sister, I think you should go to the room and wait for the prince," Jyoti said, diverting Lavanya from the dacoit matter.

"Yes." Lavanya smiled and Jyoti accompanied her to the room.

"Why isn't the prince arriving yet?" Lavanya huffed while sitting on the beautifully decorated bed. Putting her hands under her chin, her lips formed a pout. "Is he so tired? Did he already sleep in his room?"

Amidst her thoughts, the sound of the opening door made her look at the source of the sound, only to find her husband walking towards her. All of sudden, she didn't know why but she couldn't look at her husband. She immediately looked down, avoiding his gaze on her.

"Prince..." Lavanya uttered in a low voice as her eyes met his.

"How dare you!" Virendra growled, making Lavanya flinch.

"Prince!?" Lavanya immediately stood up.

"How dare you to stop me from chasing the dacoits? Do you even know how tough it is to find their entire troops?" Virendra roared.

"But prince, we didn't have enough men back then. How could you have captured them?" Lavanya questioned back

"I can singlehandedly fight around 20 men," Virendra replied in a harsh tone. "How will you know that? Why on the earth did I marry you?" He huffed before rolling his eyes.

"Prince Virendra, it isn't my fault. I was forced to marry you." Lavanya tried to stay calm but her tears betrayed her.

"It wasn't my fault either," Virendra uttered as he looked away from her.

"But prince..."

"Don't talk to me." Virendra glared at her before leaving the room. "And don't try to come close to me."

"Prince..." Lavanya uttered, watching Virendra walking out of the room. "Did I expect too much from him?" She looked down, letting drops of tear escape from her eyes. "I thought he changed..." She gulped, trying to get rid of the uneasy feelings. She immediately wiped her tears and looked at the door. "It's better for you not to know about my real identity and my power otherwise you cannot withstand me. And...I won't sleep with you until you yourself come to me and ask me to sleep with you."

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