This was the first time, it had happened that her mind refused to bring itself to a still. Nayani picked up the flower garland she had been sewing and placed it over the neck of the small idol of Lord Krishna, in front of her. 

"Chodke apne kashi mathura
Aake basao more nain
Tum bin paun kaise chain
Kanhaaa
Tarsu tumhiko din rain.."

Though her lips went over the lyrics like smooth waves, not even a single note off key, it was more out of habit than true focus. Her freshly washed hair fluttered in the wind, kissing her cheeks gently and her voice rang like musical chimes of temple bells. 

"Ek pal ujiraya aaye
Ek pal andhiyara chaye
Mann kyun na ghabraye
Kaise na ghabraye
Mann jo koi dhara ha
Apni rahon mein paaye
Kaun disha jaye
Tum bin kaun samjhaye.."

The incense had burnt out and she gathered the petals near the idol's painted feet. Last night's events were churning in her mind like an inexplicable labyrinthine puzzle. She folded her hands together and stared at her mischievous flute playing God's beautiful face and tried clearing her head off those irritating threads of scattered thoughts. 

"Raas rachiyan brindavan ke gokul ke basi
Radha tumhri daasi
Darshan ko hai pyaasi
Shaam shalone nand lala krishna banwari
Tumri chab hai nyari
Mein to hoon tan man hari.."

But for it was for nought. 

It seemed to her, Lord Krishna's usual serene smile had a hint of a knowing tease behind it, for the very first time. He knew her dilemma and most likely, the solution to it too, but of course, like every other deity in the pantheon, He would keep it to Himself. 

"Mein hoon tumhari hai tumhara yeh mere jeevan
Tumko hi dekhon mein
Dekhun koi darpan
Bansi ban jaungi in hooton ki ho jangui
In sapno se jalthal
Hai mera maan angan..."

Leaving her vague crumbs and incomprehensible hints to slowly figure it out by herself and all the while, laugh at her expense, as she stumbled towards clarity. The prior night had led to some fairly interesting discoveries which had entangled more knots in her mind than clearing her pre conceived doubts about the Commander. 

"Do you believe I could do... such a thing?"

Nayani knew that somewhere, defying the casual way he had asked, the question held some serious weight. It had felt like that her answer could change the equation of what formed the very foundation of her relationship with her husband.

It was simultaneously wonderful and horrible.

Having such absolute control over the subtle way one can emotionally manipulate a situation, had always appealed to her. It was like playing chess with an invisible player in one's mind where those fleeting emotions stood like landmines hidden in the battlefield.

The ball had been in her court.

Her opponent, a seasoned warrior of the mind games, himself.

And she had had, but only one chance to make it work.

But shockingly enough, the words which had slipped out of her lips even before her brain could have caught onto them, had been nothing like what she had mentally formed them to be. 

She had wanted to sound considerate... almost emphatic. 

Not... playful. 

Definitely, not in a morally ambiguous, coy way, which had been uncomfortably close to what she actually thought of the situation, than what she had wanted him to know. It had been a major slipup. Something she would have to be careful of, in their future conversations.

But at that particular moment, Mrignayani had completely forgotten about keeping appearances. Keeping the charade, so to speak. 

She hardly recalled having had such hilarious banter with any man before. 

They were either too smitten with her to behave inappropriately or considered her too much of an airheaded bimbo to be able to match up to their supposed communication skills.

And she had always gone along with their image of her. It was easier that way, manipulating the situations in her favour and getting what she wanted out of those fools.

But interacting with the General had felt refreshingly new and she........liked it. 

She actually liked it. 

And that was a very concerning fact. 

A loud and annoyed click of tongue from behind her, startled her out of her thoughts and she turned back, seated still, in front of the idol. Only to see Radha turning over the sheets of her bed with a very worried frown on her face. 

"What are searching for Radha?", she asked confused. 

"The signs everyone in the palace is also searching for since the past few days my lady", Radha huffed and bent over to straighten the corners of the bedspread, clearly frustrated. The growing bafflement on her face had probably cued in her chief handmaiden to explain herself as she walked a little closer to her and lowered her voice suggestively. 

"There are no blood stains on the sheets, Princess. And frankly, people are starting to talk."

"Why would there be blood... I am not having that time of the month yet.. Radha what are you.."

Radha looked at her like she was an imbecile, huffed again with an almighty sigh of a grandmother having being tasked with bringing enlightenment to the entire world, and dropped to sit beside her. 

"That is not.. Princess.. have you not... have you not yet consummated your marriage?"

Realisation knocked into Nayani, like a blow stealing the breath off her and the blood in her stomach shot straight up her face to flood it with what felt like a pooling vat of magma. She was almost certain that she was resembling her Lord Kahna's favourite palaash flowers. 

"That is.. what... not..why are they even talking about these things!", she exclaimed progressively getting redder in the face and berating herself for not realising it in the first place. Of course, the attendants are going to talk about it. 

The palace staff of any empire, have always been the greatest gossip mongers. 

Radha looked at her like she was a naïve little girl and she could feel her hackles rising at that immediately. 

"Forgive me my lady, I do not wish to presume but.. it is unnatural. It has been three days since the wedding and... the guards had seen the Commander leave your room during the nuptial night. Everyone is aware of the separate accommodations. I had thought you were adjusting.. but.."

Radha looked apologetic as the stream of words flew right off her mouth but continued albeit a little slower, more hesitant this time, noting the stiffness in her friend's usually open face. 

"You have always been every man's fantasy back home Princess! The Maharana literally had to beat your prospective suitors off with a baton. And I have seen how the Commander looks at you... what is the problem... then."

Nayani looked askance at her, feeling a little self conscious for the first time. She didn't know that other people had also caught onto the looks they had invertedly shared, once in a while. She cleared her throat and started arranging the offering in the plate in front of her. 

"What do you mean...", she began nonchalantly, a defence mechanism intrinsic to her by this time, "how does he look at me?"

Radha gave her what most would consider a shark like smile. 

Too much teeth and too little shame in the provocative gesture it implied. 

Had it been someone other than her closest confidante, Mrignayani would have gutted them, at the sheer audacity, with the very dagger her husband had gifted her. The one, she kept hidden in her waist band, within the voluminous folds of her skirts. 

"Oh I wouldn't know Princess... how does a lion look at a deer?", the shorter woman drawled. 

"Radha...", she began warningly.  

"Sorry, but I have pledged to always say the truth to you. Even if you do not want to hear it.", the latter squeaked completely unapologetic.

"I never said I don't want to hear it.", she countered quickly.

"What is wrong then?", Radha seemed strangely relentless today. 

"Nothing is wrong. We are testing the waters... as it is. One always, does not need to jump into a physical relationship to make it work. And all men, thankfully haven't reverted back to mankind's primordial beastly ways... yet."

Nayani had stood up with the plate and was walking around her massive chambers, blowing the incense in the air. Radha didn't seemed much convinced if her next words were anything to go by. 

"Men are fickle creatures my friend. Holding onto their interest is tougher than holding one's breath under water. I don't think he would force you, but, if the General decides you are playing too hard to get, he might just take a mistress... or worse.....another wife."

She turned to look at her sharply then. There must have been something dangerous in her eyes if the sudden way Radha lowered her own could be taken into account. Nayani had no idea why she had taken offence to the former's words. They weren't very far from the truth even if an incredibly bitter pill to swallow. 

"Apologies m'lady.. I hadn't meant to...", Radha began embarrassed only to get cut across by her, not unkindly but firmly enough to make her understand that this was not something she could utter again. 

"Now, let us not jump to conclusions. I will not paint anyone with the same colours most people have, based on nothing concrete except their own biases. In fact, you should understand why I will be the last person to do it."

For Radha knew something about her which no one else did. She would know, how it feels to be misjudged, misunderstood, ignored. Only because she refused to bend to the rules they had set for her. Refused to conform. 

"I would like to believe, the Commander is respecting my boundaries.", she added after a moment of considering silence. For the benefit of any ears in the walls. 

"I am sure, his majesty is very kind, but unfortunately, my princess, all people.. most people, do not share both of your open mindedness. The society can be very cruel that way", Radha uttered melancholic, as if having gone back to some unpleasant memory of her own. 

"Well, society can go die in a gutter for all I care, my friend."

"Oh! Do take care of that rapier, you call a tongue m'lady. Walls have ears and we are already at a disadvantageous position."

Nayani grinned and they worked in comfortable silence for a moment, having set a rhythm only years of familiarity can achieve. She had finished going round her room and was preparing to go out to with the puja thaal, when the morning light glinted off the bejewelled crown seated atop Lord Krishna's head. 

It seemed to light up her entire chambers in a spectroscope of colours, hitting off the glass ceiling and marble walls and floor. 

"He didn't ask about my powers, Radha. He saw me use them in front of the elephant. He didn't ask even once. In fact, he was furious at the court when they did."

Radha looked at her mildly bewildered but mostly concerned. 

Nayani felt like she was getting a hint of that clarity she was searching for so long. 

Radha was right. But not for the reasons she thought of. 

She had to quickly take the reigns of this relationship in her own hands before someone else manages to ingratiate themselves in between. Nayani couldn't afford to let this fragile balance she has created with the General to get jeopardized at any cost. 

After all, it wouldn't be the first time she would use her body to get what she wanted. 

Her confusing feelings can take a back seat for now. They won't lead her anywhere except make everything infinitely more difficult and dare she say, painful. 

Her marriage will fall apart like a pack of cards with the truth, anyways. The truth, which she knew would come in front, sooner or later. All she could strive to do is finish her mission before the proverbial shit hits the fan. 

Then... then she will be dead meat. 

For if there was one thing, men like Bhallaladeva couldn't tolerate... its betrayal. 

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A/N:- I know this was a smaller update than usual and nothing much happens here but I needed to write from Mrignayani's point of view for future clarity and I couldn't fit it with the other events. So this is more like a filler chapter than anything. 

Comments and votes will be appreciated guys.