“गहन सघन मनमोहक वन, तरु मुझको आज बुलाते हैं,
किन्तु किये जो वादे मैने याद मुझे आ जाते हैं
अभी कहाँ आराम बदा यह मूक निमंत्रण छलना है
अरे अभी तो मीलों मुझको, मीलों मुझको चलना है।”

( “The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.”)

Tanirika chanted the mantra as she poured the milk on the shivling (Sanskrit for a symbol of Shiv). The calm atmosphere of the temple situated in the middle of the palace was a place of consensus and devotion. The scent of agarbatti (incense sticks) blowing slowly and creating a blissful environment soothed her mind and spirit. She closed her eyes praying for the welfare of the kingdom and the life of her husband.

The priest offered the prasad (sacrament) to her with his blessings. She closed her eyes, joined her hands once again showing her faith in the almighty. 

"My queen, may the gods bless you and your soul" The priest sanctified bowing towards her. She smiled touching the ground in front of his legs, as touching the priest was proscribed.

She picked the plate of prasad and proceeded towards the workers standing outside the temple. Offering every person the laddoo, she exited the temple gardens. The temple was situated in the middle of the palace, with a huge lavish garden surrounding it. The garden was filled with different herbs and flowers which were considered auspicious to the god. She smiled looking at the periwinkles flowers that moved with the wind. Lekha and rakasa followed her closely with the plates filled with offerings. The offering was supposed to be distributed among the palace members.

"Rakasa, lekha please move and offer this prasad to everyone who is working and visiting the palace.  I will offer this to the higher rank of people. " She smiled instructing them. Lekha smirked looking at rakasa who smirked back.

Tanirika furrowed her gaze in confusion, completely unaware of the reason for their smirks.

"We will give this to everyone, you can go to the king " lekha giggled looking at tanirika. Heat rushed on tanirika's face hearing his name.  She immediately composes herself and glared at her ladies.

"You both are shameless " she stated moving forward.

"We are not you are desperate to meet the king. You can tell us everything. We are your friends. You miss the king and you have missed him the whole day"

"Remember rakasa the scowl on her face when she found out that the king left without wishing her a good morning " Tanirka tried to look completely unaffected with their teasings as she didn't turn her face towards her ladies.

"Listen" she called the maid who was coming from the royal court region. The maid stopped in her tracks and bowed at the queen with respect. Tanirika nodded at her while lekha offered her the prasad.

"Is the king still in court? "  the maid shook her head negatively gazing at the floor.

"The court ended few hours ago my queen.
The King is enjoying the evening meal with the king of jagnya in the guest hall "  Tanirika frowned hearing about the unexpected arrival of the king. She dismissed the maid walking towards the chambers of her mother in law.

Lekha and rakasa parted their way away from her as they began to spread the offerings to others. She walked inside her mother in law's chambers as the soldier standing outside her room announced the arrival of the queen. 

Palasha was sitting beside a man, who was struggling to cut an apple. When her eyes fell on tanirika, she got from her seat smiling widely at the Queen.

"Mother " Tanirika bowed. Since she was the queen she was not supposed to touch anyone's feet except her husband's. Palasha smiled nodding at her.

"I hope I am not disturbing you, I was passing by and I thought to give you the prasad. The royal priest advised spreading this among as many people. " She said offering the prasad to palasha. Palasha passed her right hand ahead to take the prasad. The man who was cutting the apples walked towards them.

"Tanirika, this is meglos, one of my sons and the kings closest friend " palasha said introducing tanirika to meglos. Tanirika nodded at him offering him the prasad. He looked at his mother, who signalled him to extend his right hand. Following his mother's commands to accepted the prasad smiling cheekily at tanirika, who gazed at him with respect.

"You are beautiful. I have never seen such a beautiful woman in my entire life. Where have you been, I never saw you in this palace? "  Tanirika ceased her eyebrows, looking at meglos attentively as he ranted his appreciation playfully.

"It will be because of the gods, who blessed me and my parents which makes me look beautiful and when I came I used to live in pearl quarters and now I have my chambers in aausbaug "

"Aausbaug that place is secluded, lying in the corner of the palace. That is a boring place but you make it very interesting. "

"Meglos, she is the queen. Wife of your king " Palasha broke his trifling with a harsh order breaking his dream of being with tanirika. A sad look appeared on his face as truth was unveiled.

Tanirika smiled at palasha for saving her from the insane man who had no manners.

"I apologize for his behaviour tanirika, he is unknown to our customs, he has spent his whole life in Romania."

"This is so wrong. Why does he get all the beautiful women? He has a beautiful queen and a beautiful whore now.  And look at me no woman looks at me. I am so handsome and charming. "

"Whore??? " Tanirika interrupted as the sentence hit her.

"Yes, the woman who entered the kingdom today, the gift to the king " He recited sarcastically, annoyed at his luck.

"Which woman? And who gifted the king a woman? " She asked curiously, as resentment commenced circulating in her body. Her eyebrows  pulled closer and lowered as her eyes desired answers.

"The king of jagnya brought a gift for the king. A woman. Sumikhi is beautiful, eye-catching and interesting " Tanirika gulped as insecurity fluttered in her heart. She was married for a day and he was already filling his nights which other women. Palasha sensed the sadness on tanirika's face as meglos unfolded the truth.

She squeezed her shoulder in assurance as tanirika hid her resentment with a smile.

"I would take your leave now.  I have to pay a visit to other people. " She smiled and walked out of palasha's chambers. Several thoughts crossed her mind, making her heartache.

Was she so displeasing to him?

They were married for a day and he had another woman in his life. What if he founds that woman more beautiful than her? These courtesans were famous for their beauty and sharp moves. They were trained to please and catch the eye of the kings.

She was certainly not ready for this. Not ready for another woman with whom she should share her husband. Hell no, she won't share anything with anyone.

Anger blazed in her eyes, she walked towards her chambers quitting the idea of visiting the king. He can do whatever he wants, she didn't care. 

After fifteen minutes, she was busy lighting the lamps placed in her chambers when a maid entered her room. The maid bowed in respect while she nodded at her.

"My Queen, the king has requested your presence in the guest hall. The king of jaywant wants to meet you "

"I decline. Tell them the queen doesn't feel like to grace them with her presence " She dismissed the maid waving her hand in air. The maid looked at her for a few seconds before making her exit from her chambers. Tanirika continued lighting the lamps with no expression on her face.

She had no interest in meeting the king of Jagnya, she was not interested in looking at the gifts he brought. She was the princess of Asaka, a higher and stronger kingdom than jagnya, she didn't need his blessings and smiles to fulfil her life. she was capable and strong enough to lead her life.

She despised the king of jagnya, his actions proved his displeasure in her. He was not happy with the arrangement. Why would he? He wanted his daughter to be the queen of rakshatra.

Jignasa.

A friend turned into a foe.

She snorted thinking about the king's nasty move who gifts a woman as a gift to a married man. She declined the offer of meeting the king because she didn't like him and she was the queen.  she made her own decisions. The king of jagnya must know that the Queen is not happy with his presence and he can take his leave. He disrespected her marriage by bringing a woman as a gift to her husband.

Tanirika didn't sleep that night the night was unpleasant and extremely uncomfortable. Her pride didn't allow her to visit the king but the thought of him sending his night with anyone else boiled her blood. she was jealous and she had no shame to hide it. She was restless and unhappy. Why didn't he visit her tonight?

Many possibilities raised in her mind as she tossed in her bed. Lekha who was arranging her clothes in the trunk looked at tanirika worriedly.

"Tani, you are hungry at least eat something. " she pleaded.

"I don't feel good. "

"Because you are hungry and what is the use of worrying about something which is just a myth "  she asserted positively running her fingers in tanirika's long hair.
Tanirika turned towards lekha with a sad expression. She never hid anything from her friend.

"You are the queen tanirika, his wife. You hold the power, not some courtesan gifted from another kingdom. You lying here, worrying will only add faults in your beauty while that woman will try to lure the king with her beauty. Go and meet him he is your husband. Not her "

Tanrika stared at the ceiling absentmindedly as lekha caressed her forehead.

"You are right. I can do anything I want. "
She turned out from her bed, moving on her feet she walked towards the mirror. Her big necklace was missing out which she didn't bother to wear it was uncomfortable.

"How does the king likes your hair? " Lekha asked walking towards her.

"Open but braid my hair back. I am not going to meet him to distract him or prove that I am better than any other woman. I just want to see my husband. " Lekha nodded smilingly.

Lekha helped tanirika to adjust the veil on her head. Tanirika tucked the freehold of her veil into her skirt. 

"Here, take the prasad. He didn't get it. "
Tanirika closed her eyes breathing a satisfied breath of oxygen.

"Be the queen you are, women entering his life will be a common thing. He is the king. But you are the queen so be a queen" Lekha whispered as she adjusted the rakhdi, the vermilion was still fresh between her partition of hair.

Tanirika walked towards the centre of the palace, entering the king's area she looked for a maid or servant. To her surprise there was no one, the king's area should be guarded and filled with people but it was all silent.

She frowned walking towards the different corridor to get hold of someone. She spotted a soldier standing beside the entrance of the other quarters. She strolled towards him, gaining his attention. The soldier bowed at her in respect as he sighted his queen.

"Where is the king? "

"He is in his study my queen.  I remember he was accompanied by the king of jagnya " Tanirika nodded stepping away from him.

She walked deeper inside the king's area, taking the route towards the king's study she made her mind to walk away if the king of jagnya was present there. She was not interested in looking at his foolish face.

"Is the king inside?" she asked the guard standing outside the room.

"He is my queen " he bowed

"What about the king of jagnya?"

"He left half an hour ago.  The King is alone " 
She nodded signalling him to keep quiet. She didn't need his permission to enter. And she didn't want to take permission, didn't he enter her chambers without announcing his arrival.  

Tanirika walked inside the king' study slowly and cautiously as nervousness travelled on her heroic mind. That man had a great effect on her.

With the bowl of prasad in her hands, she walked inside the study only to meet with a very unpleasant view. A woman was standing too close to him while he sat in his chair writing something on the paper, the pen in his hands.

The woman's hand travelled from his shoulders to his chest making anger bubble inside tanirika's chest. She clenched her jaw, rage flowed through her like lava, anger poured through her as she was not all happy with the scene in front of her.

She was mad.

No

The queen was furious.

The hell is on loose. I am so scared for zravasya. LOL🤣

I want to tell you all that tanirika is different from any other female leads, she is the type of woman who is confident to express herself and deny anything she finds undesirable. After all she is the QUEEN.

Whereas zravsaya is also different, he is clear and knows what he wants. He has pride and strength but he is smarter.

We have reached the core of the story, which means you will receive many punches from here. Many secrets will be revealed. Things are going to be interesting. 😉

I hope y'all liked this chapter.

Love aditi ❤.