25 - She is my wife! she is your queen!(S1)

"This girl? Does she have dignity? Or did she lose that too while seducing Yuvraj?" the lady spoke.

"Enough!"

A voice echoed in the background, high enough to make everyone present there known to his presence.

It made other voices drown.

Prithvi walked in, rage flowing through him like lava, a volcano about to explode. Everyone fell silent, all those ladies who just moments ago wouldn't stop were now all silent.

"Enough of your opinions, you old lady. Sit back," Prithvi said, walking in and standing in the center.

His eyes transformed into what looked like that of a monster, his face showing that they all were going to regret saying what they said, as he overheard some of their comments.

"How dare you all try to say anything ill about my wife?" he said, his voice echoing in the palace.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" he asked, the room falling more silent as Prithvi's presence commanded attention.

His voice was steady and firm, sending a chill down everyone's spine.

The tension in the hall was palpable as he waited for a response.

Rajmata stood still, and Bua Sa got shut.

"I didn't make my wife an open subject to your judgment or to give your ideology on her," he said with a steely gaze.

As Prithvi's words hung in the air, daring anyone to challenge him, his unwavering defense of his wife left no room for further discussion or debate.

"Did I?" he asked, his voice high and echoing in the whole palace.

No answer from anyone.

As all of them got silent, Niharika muttered something, and her voice fell on his ear.

He looked in her direction.

Niharika's words were barely audible, but they seemed to strike a chord with Prithvi.

His steely gaze softened slightly as he turned to face her, silently acknowledging her presence in the room.

He was shocked.

He got anxious.

The anger that his eyes were holding now turned into helpless worry.

He moved toward her, taking big steps, passing through Rajmata and Bua Sa. Sitting at her level, on his knee, he muttered to himself, "Oh god, she is! She is shaking abnormally."

His mother, who was standing still, said, "What?" in worry and started coming forward.

"Stop, Maa Sa. Don't even try to take a single step forward towards us," Prithvi said, showing his hand toward his mother while his eyes were fixed on Niharika.

He then uttered, "You, Maa Sa, better have a good explanation prepared to explain all these dramas."He then turned his whole attention to Niharika.

"Are you okay?" he said, looking at her.

He felt helpless.

How could he console her?

She opened her eyes slowly; their eyes met.

Her eyes showed how scared she was, 'Why did he leave her here all alone? Why was she left so helpless?'

Then he looked at her lap, at her hand which was trembling, which was tightly clutching her lehenga.

He moved his hand to her lap to get those hands unraveled from her lehenga fabric. Then he wrapped her hand in his hand like a knot.

He said, looking into her eyes, "Are you fine?" in a worried tone.

A tear escaped from her eyes like she was making a silent complaint, 'Why did he come so late huh?' She was breathing heavily.

Then she started crying like a child.

He became more uneasy.

He took both his hands, wiped her tears from her face, then took her face between his palms, feeling the coldness of her cheeks, providing his warmth through his palms.

"I'm here, okay?" he said while nodding, moving his head in the direction of her eyes.

"I'm here, okay?" he said again, telling her again, like he didn't care how the world saw him, how people around them saw him because he ignored everyone present there and showed her his soft side, not being afraid if anyone caught his weakness.

She looked convinced.

"No one is going to say anything to you. You are right; they are wrong," he said.

She nodded.

When he got that she was okay, he said, "Get up," getting up, her following him.

He turned around to face those cowards and pathetic women who were now looking fearful.

He took her behind his back, like he's letting that child inside her use him, as his shield.

He's here, and he will see who will mess with her.

His expression changed to that of 'fear me, because now it's your time to cry.'

He shouted, looking at all those women, "Vanshi!"

In reaction, Niharika clutched his shirt more tightly.

"Ji, Bhai Ji," Vanshi said, coming forward.

"Call Amar now and inform him," he said, this time his voice was low but still held the same chilliness and coldness.

"Write down each and every name of the lady present here and give it to him. This has to be handled by law. They all need to be sued for what they did, behind bars; that's the right place for them, that's where they all truly belong," he said, scanning each and every lady present there.

"Prithvi, listen to me!" his mother said, coming forward.

"No, Maa sa, I didn't permit you to speak right at this moment. We will come to you too. First, you'll need to explain how you let all this slide," he said.

His mother stopped; he spoke again in the same chilly tone, looking at the women's present there.

"There will be at least one lawsuit on each of them, for bullying someone whom they think or take as weak, recessive. I'm not letting any of you go home after how you bullied my wife," he said.

One of the ladies spoke, "Rajmata, please do something; we are sorry, we apologize, even to her. Stop Yuvraj; only you can stop him."

Other ladies too joined and started apologizing.

Prithvi spoke again indifferently, "And yes, you're right there! you are going behind bars for at least a year," Prithvi said, pointing his finger at the lady who was speaking when he entered.

She too got nervous, started apologizing for her behavior, asking for mercy.

But none of the apologies fell on Prithvi's ears—all he cared about was his wife. All he could see was how they insulted her.

Rajmata spoke finally with joined hands, "I'm sorry to Prithvi and to his wife and everyone. I take responsibility for all this; it won't happen again," she said.

"Bhabhi Sa," Bua Sa said, coming forward, trying to stop Rajmata.

"Argh, phir se yeh chipkali si boli, iski beech mein tang adhane ki aadat kib jaweagi, kaha se mahri chori lage hein, iske itni si bhi khopdhi(brain) nai," Dadi Sa commented. As she witnessed everything taking huge turns, her daughter-in-law bowed down.

Rajmata stopped Bua Sa, showing her hand."Stop, Ashwini," she said.

While Prithvi listened to her coldly, she continued, "I make sure it won't slide again; let these ladies go."

Again, a huge silence followed.

"I hope you don't repeat this again," Prithvi said, warning her.

Then he turned toward Niharika, looked into her eyes, and again, his eyes transformed into a softer one.

He took her hand first, but her hand was still shaking abnormally. He held her hand more tightly, then started marching toward their room, with big steps and Niharika following him, matching his pace.

On the other hand, the ladies present there spoke, "Rajmata, we take our leave," and Rajmata nodded in response.

In front of his room,

he called out, "Vanshi."

"Ji, Bhai Ji," Vanshi said, coming out in a rush.

"Please take her inside, make her sleep or relax," he said, moving only after looking at Niharika, who was still shaking immensely.

She was trying her best to hold herself back and behave normally, looking down and picking her fingertips with nails aggressively.

His eyes held worry for her.

He moved, and Vanshi took her inside, nodding.

He took his steps toward the hallway balcony and started walking back and forth, deep in thought about how to help Niharika overcome whatever was troubling her.

As he paced, he dialed a number impatiently and put the phone to his ear with one hand.

The person answered.

"Yes, Mr. Prithvi, you called, anything urgent?"

Prithvi closed his eyes while running his hand through his hair in impatience.

"Uh... Mr. Veer, I called you to ask something about your sister," Prithvi spoke.

"My sister?"

"Yes, please answer my question without any further a do. Does she have any history of panic attacks or something similar in the past? Or does she mutter something when she is insanely nervous or anxious, especially when surrounded by people, as a way to cope up?" Prithvi asked, running back and forth.

His hand constantly in movement, maybe he, too, started building a sense of anxiety inside him.

Prithvi impatiently waited for Veer's answer as he paused and then spoke.

"No, Mr. Prithvi, I'm sorry to say, but unfortunately not," Veer answered with disappointment.

"What?" was the only reply Prithvi could form.

"I mean, I don't know, really. I don't know anything about her or hear—"

"What? How could a brother not even know his sister? Are you serious?" Prithvi said in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Prithvi, for being a huge disappointment to you. But if something happens to her, I'll ask Ishita Di if she knows anything?" Veer said, showing his concern and suggesting.

"No, it's okay, but here's my little advice. I think, Mr. Veer, you should try to be a better brother, if not act like one," Prithvi suggested. He couldn't stop himself.

His wife's condition is not getting any more normal.

He doesn't know how to react or act. There is her brother, to whom she is a total stranger.

He ended the call abruptly without listening to anything more from Veer's side.

He turned around, and Vanshi came out of the room.

Vanshi reported to him, "She isn't talking with me."

He started moving towards their room but was halted by Vanshi's words at his very position.

She said, "She doesn't want to see anyone else; she requested me," and she went her way. Prithvi stood still in front of his room, staring like he wanted to see her.

He regretted everything he said to her, at least not console her, to try, then. But her request hung over him; he stopped himself, then turned around and went downstairs.

***

Niharika's POV:

"Jugli..." I said to myself, forcing myself to repeat and try to get back to normal.

But I can't. My eyes teared up again, and I muttered, "It's n..not wo..r..rking." What I was scared of has now happened.

Like Everyone in the past judges me. I will now be the same way here starting to judge too, just like in my past.

Some might have seen how worst I am, how weak I am, and they must have already started hating me, coming to their own conclusions.

"Are you okay, Yuvrani?" Vanshi spoke.

"Should I get you some water or something?" she asked while my back was turned to her.

I don't want to face her or anyone.

I said, "Ple...ee..ase, c..can y..o..ou le...eave me a..alone," while trying to be normal at least in front of her, holding back myself, not letting my voice break up in front of her.

I'm ashamed; she is the only person who takes me here as normal. If she too turns against me, I don't know how I'll bear it.

"I can, but first—" her words.

"Ple...as..e, I r..request, I b..e.eg, leave m-me alone!" I said.

My voice was on the verge of cracking up. I held back that big lump inside my throat, which obviously made my voice dry gradually.

"No, Yuvrani, please don't beg in front of me; I'll go," she said.

I couldn't see her face, but she genuinely looked concerned or serious about her words.

But I don't want others to suffer because of my problems, my burden. I can't burden them with my problems.

"Ca..n..n I m..make one m..o..ore req....uest? P..p.please don....'t let an..y..yone e...enter th..e ro...o..om. Anyone, for m..m.my sake," I made another request to her.

"Ji, Yuvrani, as you say, but if you need something, you can call me or ring that bell beside the nightstand; I'll be there," she said.

And I heard the sound of the door behind me closing.

I stumbled first, then my knees started going weak, and I reached the near sofa, buffing my legs and fell down there.

There's no way I can make my place in this palace or in the hearts of the people in this palace. I'm stuck. For my whole life, I will never be that girl whose knight will come and save her. Of course, because I'm abnormal, the outcast dadu was wrong.

I'm forever a side-cast and outcast person. Neither do I deserve a knight nor someone who likes me, who likes Niharika, the way she is. Or am I?

Hate is what I deserved, hate is what I'm getting. It's the conclusion of your life, Niharika. It's your curse that will never let you be happy.

But why do I still own expectations? If I knew all of this was going to happen, then why can't I stop crying? Why can't I hold these tears back? Why? If I knew it from the very start that it's my fate to be tied in a loveless marriage, then why? These tears are mocking signs that somewhere, I wanted to be rescued.

"Why...why," I shouted to myself.

"Because hope is what we live for, Niharika. You are hoping that your life will turn out well. You are waiting for a miracle to happen that will change your life. Niharika, this is what you were taught by your dadu. Do you forget the day you lost hope, you will become a living corpse?" My bright side, sitting beside me, commented.

She looks like me, like my clone, but unlike me, she is positive. Which I'm not.

Somewhere, maybe she is right. I held onto hope, which isn't good because, in the end, it will be the reason for my destruction.

Like the way he looks, his eyes were warm, he held my hand, he is the same person who said he hates me, but he's also the same person who defended me.

"Prithvi deserves better. What a naive girl, she doesn't even match the standard."

But it's a very natural thing. They were right; he deserves better, and I deserve to be an outcast, like always. Because in that way, at least I was in peace.

But this place, its coldness, and his eyes, which held warmth for a second, are giving me false hope.

"Destroy them," another clone of mine ordered me.

"Yes, Niharika, destroy, because eventually, it will destroy you," they both agree, keeping their hand on my shoulder, then vanishing into thin air. While I sob.

***

Once Prithvi reached the hall, he stopped and met his mother's eyes before leaving the palace.

He asked his mother with rage, "Will you explain what show you were telecasting, Maa sa?"

"Bhabhi sa was just holding a ceremony for you," Bua sa said.

"For me? Did you all ask for my permission? Tell me, don't you think you should ask for my consent?" he said, looking towards his mother.

His mother didn't reply.

"Prithvi, first explain, is it true she can't even speak properly? Then why did you marry her?" Bua sa asked.

Getting frustrated, Prithvi gave an answer more to his mother, "So what if she can't speak the way you want? Why is that supposed to be an issue?" he said.

His mother still didn't say anything.

"So what? She is not fit for the royal family, our family," Bua sa stated.

"It's a matter!  how do we accept her?" she said.

"Bua sa, first don't you utter any word. I'm asking Maa sa," Prithvi said, still waiting for his mother to reply.

He then turned towards Bua sa and said, "And right now, Bua sa, you are the one who's not fitting into our family, our traditions, values. You look more like a pathetic, jealous woman with degraded, cheap thinking."

Then he looked again at his mother, "Maa sa, explained to me why it matters if she can speak or not the right way. Isn't she human? Consider her like one. That's what you taught me, right? That's what your teaching was about? To insult someone using their weakness against them? Didn't you see her? She was trembling in fear?" he asked.

His mother looked guilty, guilt starting to take over her.

"Maa sa, from Bua sa, I don't have any expectations. But you, Maa sa, you also lost a little bit of the humanity this whole family had for others," he said very clearly.

His mother finally spoke, "Prithvi! I didn't know about her condition. I didn't notice she was getting affected this way by others' comments. I was holding back too, listening to everything. I didn't think it'd take this turn," she explained.

"You disappointed me, Maa sa! And listen now, everyone, anyone in this palace has no right to insult her, make fun of her. She is my wife," he stated with seriousness.

"Not Rajmata, but she is your queen. So, give her the respect she should be given. And if you don't or try to mistreat her, then try me," he said, making an announcement to the workers who were present there at that time and family members, and walked away.

***

"Good work," a mysterious woman spoke, her face covered with a veil, making her identity impossible to discern.

"My payment," the same woman spoke, who was previously insulting Rajmata for rejecting her proposals and was trying to turn others against Niharika, spreading ill talk about her.

"Here!" the mysterious woman said, putting an envelope in the woman's hand.

The recipient grabbed the envelope impatiently, reflexively opening it and starting to count.

Her eyes widened as she counted the folded bills, a greedy expression twisting her features.

The mysterious woman eyed her and said, "From now on, we don't owe or know each other."

"Yes," the woman replied, still engrossed in counting the money.

"Remember, I didn't give you anything. You will forget our meeting," the veiled woman declared.

"Okay," said the same greedy woman, who then put the money back in the envelope and left.

The mysterious woman also disappeared after scanning her surroundings, noting that no one was suspicious of her around the palace.

***

|IN THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, HE RE-ENTERED THE ROOM.|

Scanning the whole room, he found her sleeping with her head against the sofa.

"She sleeps on the cold floor," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"She should at least take care of herself if she decides to leave on her own," he muttered, coming near her.

He took a seat beside her, settling on the same cold floor.

As he looked at her face, he gently removed a few strands of hair falling on her face, tucking them behind her ear.

Her face bore stains and traces of tears, visible under the light filtering in from the window.

She looked innocent, yet almost divine, in the dress she was still wearing, meant for a much grander occasion. He sat there, looking down at her lap.

Her fingertips were half-peeled, as if she had picked at them too much.

Unnoticed by her, dried bloodstains marked her fingers.

"You almost scared me out of my life. I'm sorry for coming late; you had to wait too long," he murmured.

He then paused, contemplating the questions he wanted to ask but hesitated, wondering if it would be an intrusion into her personal space.

"I had no idea that you were this tormented and wondered what surprises lay ahead next. It's not even been a day, and you've already started this roller coaster ride of emotions inside me, turning my world upside down," he confessed to her sleeping form.

He observed her disoriented position, sighed, and tried to pick her up.

However, his injured hand gave up on the first attempt.

On the second try, he successfully picked her up in his arms.

She sleepily bear-hugged him, circling her arms around his neck. He carried her towards his bed, gently placing her there.

She curled up reflexively, and he covered her with a duvet, sitting beside her and looking at her for a moment.

Another confession escaped his lips, "We could have been better," he said, his eyes changing as he continued, "But how can I forget that you are the one who stopped us from being better? You see, I could have fought away the whole world for you, but you are the one who ruined everything here."

He paused, his voice growing heavier as he spoke, "That's why I have nothing to share with you more than pity for your vulnerability and hate. Hate for your motives," he declared, then got up from the bed and walked out of the room.