The Royal guestroom

Vansh stretched his arms and lifted the jug to drink water,it was then only his eyes fell on the tiny little arms.
"Supriti"? He was astonished to see her hiding behind the curtains.
"How long has she been hiding there?"

He instantly recalled that a moment earlier, he and Riddhima were engaged into something very intimate. "Did she witness us in such an intimate pose? He, for a moment,became a little embarrassed.

  "Suptiti?" He called her name lovingly. She was sitting on her knees, cowered. Her body was shaking in fear. "Supriti"? Come out dear!.He called.
"Why are you hiding their little one?" Come out dear! Supriti hid herself more around the curtains and nodded her head in no. She was sobbing.
"Why are you afraid little one?"He cooed. I am your friend. Come out!he insisted. Supriti still was reluctant,and hesitated. Vansh gently pulled her out behind the curtains. She shieverd by her touch,Vansh was shocked. Her body was burning in fever. Her eyes were puffed due to continuous sobbing. She was shaking in fear more than the effect of fever. " What has happened to her?". He lifted her in his arms affectionately.
"Why are you not in your room, '' he asked, checking her temperature. "You shouldn't be outside,in such a feverish condition.!"

"I don't want to go to..room" Will you hide me?" Please..she said,giving him a puppy look.
But my sweet girl!He kissed her forehead. "You are unwell,you have a fever.You need medication. But Suptiti was reluctant to go out of his safe embrace. Vansh patted her head and said "Where is your mother?Who is your mother?"
Before she could answer his eyes widened in shock to witness marks of whiplash in her tiny little hands and feet. He was now angry along with being shocked to his core.

Who could be so cruel to such a little girl? "How did this happen to you?" He pointed to the wound marks. The very next moment her eyes turned wide in fear,and she was shaking. Vansh realized that she had wetted her costume. Supriti was scared and ashamed. She started crying. Vansh's heart ached, to see the miserable condition of the child. He instantly knew that something was wrong. He didn't know what exactly it was! But his brain alerts him,Supriti is not safe in her own house.
"Pls dont send me anywhere! Pls..she was crying bitterly. Her eyes were red,and she ran to the corner of the bed and tried to hide herself.
"Did Rajkumari Supriti come here?" Vansh spun around,as he immediately recognized the owner of the voice, Ranisaye? He was astonished to see his wife standing near the door. Riddhima gradually entered the room and at once spotted Supriti hiding in the corner.

"Come to me Dear"! She stretched her arms lovingly. No one will scold you or beat you..Come…Don't you trust your Riddhima Didi…Come…
"You promise?" She asked hesitantly.

"I do". Riddhima assured her. Vansh was just a silent spectator of the whole scenario. He readily understood that Supriti..is familiar and comfortable with Riddhima.Riddhima smiled at her affectionately. Supriti ran towards her,and hugged her tightly.She immediately lifted her up,
"Rajasaye…I will tell you everything later..she assured her Aarya. But first let me handle her. Vansh nodded in affirmation. Riddhima sighed
The poor girl had wet her dress again.She left the room carrying Supriti in her arms.

The royal garden

The entire palace was decorated as if it was a newly wedded bridegroom. The entire palace was busy and engaged in various preparations as it was their king's 27th Birthday.Bhamini Devi had arranged for a Mahapujan on the occasion. Riddhima,along with other maids,were plucking fresh flowers from the garden that will be further used for the Mahapuja. She was walking slowly,as her lehengaa was continuously being entangled to the bushes adjacent to the garden.She was lagging behind.

"Ranisaye?How are you?"Riddhima jolted back,as a gruff ,familiar,voice entertained her. There he was…Rudra.. his scar still poignant in his face,hair grew a little,giving him more menacing look
"Rudra!" What do you want?" She made a safe distance from him.
Rudra tried to touch her waist.

"A little attention…that we missed at our last encounter" he smirked

…
"Are you not aware…Who…am I?"

..Riddhima glared at him.
"Certainly Ranisaye!"he smirked evilly.
"But none knows the truth here.."!in Manyabhum.

He again tried to touch her face
"Rudra!Stay away!" She shouted.
Before he could do more,an arrow touched his arm and a sprinkle of blood oozed out from his arm.
Aah!He screamed,and fell on the ground.

Vidhyutbharda appeared at the nick of the time.

"Are you alright Ranisaye?" Vidyutvadra 's tall figure bowed down near him.It was his duty to protect his king and queen wherever they go together or alone!

He glared at the fallen body of Rudra,and said, 
"I would have chopped off your head right now,for maligning the dignity of the queen of Udaykhetra.

How dare you?" You would have breathed last,if Rajasaye would have been here.he yelled.

"I am fine Senapatiji". Riddhima thanked him heartily.
"You don't need to thank me..It's my duty to protect you…

"Rudra!" Vidyut glared.

'It will be the last day of your life,if I ever caught you in her vicinity. Rudra stood up covering his wound by his hands.

"Instead of thanking me,for saving your life from that mud pit, You insulted me…" Rudra glared at her.

"Anyways, You will soon pay a very hefty price for it"! He left glaring at both Riddhima and Vidyut.
"It was him..who saved me?" Riddhima was shocked.
"Yes Ranisaye …It was him. Vidyut replied.

"But why are you here?" Plucking flowers and preparing for the Puja is not your Job.Vidyut asked him with a dazed expression.
" IWill explain everything later Senapatiji".But I think we should leave from here.

"Aagya "! Vidyut immediately followed her order.
Both left the garden,unbeknownst to the fact that the same pair of eyes,who was keeping an eye on Riddhima,earlier was smirking at them.

The common chamber area of Manyabhum

Riddhima started detangling her necklaces one by one. The more she removed,the increasing jealousy and awe of the maids and the chaperones of Manyabhum  was evident. When she put the last piece of jewelry. Sudarashana,one of Ragini's maids, gasped.

"What are these red marks in your bosom?" She asked with a glint of mischief in her tone. Riddhima instantly blushed,recalling the moments she spent with her husband.
Jagruki immediately gathered her jewelry, and covered up the situation. "It must be some insect bites..I am also…Sudarshana cut her off midway, " Jagruki! Don't try to distract me Jagruki.. I am a married woman,I know the difference between an insect bite and a love bite.So tell us Riddhima..Who is the lucky man?"

It's her husband. They heard a familiar voice,and all the maids immediately stood up in reverence. Rajkumari Ragini along with her maids and chapereon entered the common chamber.

Rajkumari! Everyone except Riddhima,bowed to her.
Ragini came closer to Riddhima and smirked.
Didn't you tell them about your marriage dear?" Riddhima gave a death glare to her and was about to retort. But Ragini stopped her midway.and pointed out her mangalsutra.
Why are you hiding your Mangalsutra,Sindoor,Sankha and Pola amidst your ornaments dear?cooed She.
All the maids and her chaperone were dazed . They gave a confused and shocked look to her,quite not understanding why she hid her marriage to all. Jagruki was fuming in anger inherently.She whispered to Riddhima.
"This woman is really up to something,Why has she come here?"

"As per the rituals," Riddhima replied Rajkumari Ragini will distribute new clothes and jewelry to all the maids and chapereon.
"Didnt you offer puja to Suvarnighat for your husband Riddhima?" She asked.Riddhima immediately recalled her puja,before the Ranibhog ritual.
" She was even saved by Rudra…by her husband in the garden. Didn't he save you, Riddhima.
"Yes indeed! Rijula replied.
"I have seen Senapati Vidyutvadra to save her dignity. So Senapati Vidyutvadra is your husband! She asked gleefully.
So now our dearest Riddhima is part of the royalty. A wife of the Commander in chief is almost in equiminaity with the queens or the princesses. No wonder why she wears such expensive and heavy jewelry! blabbered she. Riddhima was silent. Toral and Jagruki were dumbstruck. They looked at Riddhima helplessly. They cannot reveal the  truth,except Riddhima commands them to do so.
Riddhima was shocked, and was burning with indignation . She was too angry to react. Ragini ordered her maid to distribute the clothes and ornaments. She gradually, came closer to Riddhima and murmured
"Didn't I warned you,that, You will have to pay a heavy price for what you did yesterday?"Now how will you prove that Vidyut is not your husband. You are bound by the promise. She arched her brow in mockery. Riddhima glared at her, she was feeling a tight slap on her cheek.
"How can she stoop so low?".Is she even the same Ragini,who used to love her like a sister?She could never imagineRagini could manipulate the situation in such a way. She cannot be the same Ragini….Her actions and projections were bold and nasty..as if someone else is making her do these activities. Ragini gave a royal attire and a jewelry set to Riddhima.
" Your presence will be welcoming, in the celebration of Riddhima! She murmured in her ears and left. The maids were eager to know more about the marriage details,as it was no less than a spicy gossip for them.But Jagruki, managed the situation, and sent all the maids to the pool side area.
What will happen when Rajasaye…would know this?" Toral asked in a shaky tone.

"Mahasarvansh "! murmured Jagruki, holding Roddhima,who still was dumbfounded by the happenings..
Such news doesn't take much time to spread.The flames of the news spread like hellfire in the palace.Vidyut was shocked and embarrassed. Riddhima was like his little sister,moreover she was the queen. Vidyutbuadra was so embarrassed that he couldn't met the eyes of his king.

Thankfully the soldiers were living miles away in a separate base camp. But the entire palace was gossiping about Riddhima 's predicament.

Rajasaye! Vidyutbhadra entered the room. Vansh was facing his back.

The Royal guestroom

"I sincerely apologize about the news that has spread. I think this is a conspiracy against all of us…Maharaj Kabirvadra is answerable for what his sister had done..We cannot let…
We will do nothing, Vidyut"
…He said in a calm tone.
But Vidyut knew that it was the clear sky before the storm ensued.
" Riddhima is bound by a promise and until and unless she decides…I will not do anything.
I performed my duty and….Vidyut sulked in annoyance. The link up of him and Riddhima was unfathomable to him.
"I completely trust you."

Vansh turned around.
"You did exactly…what a Rajput should do. Ragini is just taking advantage of the bride swap that took place in our marriage. None of the palace members are familiar with the truth…
"But…the way of the Manyabhum princess…
"Its now time to take the charge..I am just waiting the celebration of Gangaur to be ended. Now the palace of Manyabhum will know,What happens,when the Queen of Udaykhetra is humiliated!
Precap - Vansh adheres to a shocking truth. Kabir is even more shocked to learn the demand placed by Vansh. Vamini devi discovers the truth about Ragini and makes a decision. As the Gangaur festival started, Nandavadra and Sulochani Devi reached Manyabhum.

You must be wondering why still Riddhima is stick to her promise. This was the era when promises were given importance more than someone"s personal happiness and even life.

This is a short update…I could only write this much.I will try to publish a longer and substantial  update on Monday. But I cannot guarantee it.

No voting deadline. But I will expect you to fulfill the voting line of Previous Chapter.  You guys are still lagged behind 20 votes.
But still pls vote and make inline comments.

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You guyz have been supporting the story since its inception.thought to tag you.