Bahot Aayi Gayi Yaadein
Magar Iss Baar Tum hi Aana
Iraade Fir Se Jaane Ke Nahi Laana
Tum Hi Aana

It was only your memories which repeatedly came back to me.
But this time,
I wish you to come back instead.
Don’t bring me the thoughts that you would again go away.
Please, come back.

S

he dusted the dust formed on the book, wiping the edges with her soft hands, she moved towards the other section of books. It was strange walking around the palace library, especially around the secluded area of the library. Tanirika ran a random finger on the outline of the books kept on the bookshelf. She was moving to the history section of the library.

"Why is there a different section to every king? " She asked the man standing behind her. Librarian Samarth nodded his head in respect as he moved past her. Tanirika was holding a book in her hand while her other hand worked on the other books resting on the bookshelf.

"Every king has their historical background and story, my queen. We have organised the library in such a pattern that the books and history will be divided according to the name of the man who sat on the throne. Different section for the different reign of the king. "

Tanirika hummed in response, picking out a random book from one of the shelves. She wiped the dust away from the book and read the first line.

"It belongs to the late king's, forefather. Nearly four rule passed, they say he was very skilled in literature. Half of the books in this section were written by him. He was also the one who formed the treaty between Asaka and Rakshatra "

Tanirika kept the book back in its place after reading the name which said the financial history of that reign.

"The treaty, you mean to say the firstborn princess of Asaka will be married to the person who will sit on the throne. "

Librarian Samarth nodded at her, moving towards the right end of the section and picking a book out.

"This book has everything in detail. In the past, the Mughals have attacked the kingdom of Asaka, the late king of Asaka asked for help from the King of Rakshatra. As you know, nothing works for autonomous, everything has a price. Asaka was a stronger nation, Rakshatra was the strongest as it always has been. Joining the two kingdoms will embark on a reign of the strongest empire. The reign you are living in. The reign you rule, my queen "

He smiled knowingly placing the book in her hand. Tanirika scrunched her brows in confusion holding the book firmly in her soft hold.

"What do you mean by saying my reign is the strongest one? The treaty was formed four reigns before, I remember my great grandmother's notes hinted that one of my ancestors was married to the king of Rakshatra "

She asserted at the librarian.

"My Queen, it's been 20 years since I got the charge of this library, I take care of the books, keep a record of them and sometimes read some of the books to pass my time or help the court. I am a common man, royal secrets are not for me. "

Tanirika nodded at him eyeing the book in her hold. She was going to read it.

"There is something which you will like. Please follow me "

Tanirika followed the librarian as they walked past four sections to a fresh region, The two shelves in the section were already filled while the others had few books in them. That was not the thing that caught her eye, the section was divided into two parts. She walked inside the section gazing at it warily, the two sections were the mirror version of each other. Same colour, same arrangement, same layout but two sections.

"This section belong to King Zravasya and Queen Tanirika. The empty spaces are reserved for the future dynasty and invent which will take place in your reign my queen. " He smiled proudly looking at her. Tanirika stepped inside the section which held her name in the holdings, various bookshelves adored the beauty of the section as pages that read about her and her husband's reign slept in the books.

"Why is this section divided into two parts? " She asked him turning back on her heel, looking straight at the librarian moving her hand in a random direction.

"The left side is in Sanskrit and the right side is in Romanian. The King has a very special place for the foreign language as a token of gift to the king we decided to have a section of books in the Romanian language."

Tanirika smiled walking towards the right side of the section. She picked a random book from the shelf and started reading the words with the little knowledge she gained from the few lessons of Romania she got in these past few days.

She whispered the name of the book caressing the calligraphy of the cover.

"You know the language, my queen "

"I am still learning, I am still at early stages. "  The librarian nodded moving towards the end of the right side, he picked a book out and handed it to Tanirika.

"You are adding so many books to my collection, librarian Samarth. How I am supposed to read all these? "

"My Queen, this one will help you to sharpen your Romanian language. This one was gifted to me by the king, as the librarian, he wanted me to blessed with the gift of learning a foreign language. The book helped me. "

Tanirika smiled gratefully at the man, nodding her head in respect she traced the outline of the books kept on the bookshelf. Some were finance-related, few were titled based on dates while few had random names on them. There was also the book that had a brief introduction to the peace treaty and its history. Right from the empire of Asaka to Rakshatra the books we're keeping every secret inside their non-living mouths.

"Who has access to the section? Other than me and the king "

She asked the librarian moving out of the reign section.

"This section is only accessed by the king, queen and Royal advisor achyut. No one else has the right to enter this area. If by chance a need occurs then an official letter with the stamp of the king can get you access. "

Tanirika nodded moving out of the library where various guards and her ladies were standing. The guards moved the chain up and wrapped it securely on the sealed lock which was fastened around the gate which led into the private area of the gallery. After locking the door, the guard handed the keys to the librarian who added them to the chain of keys hanging around his neck. 

Lekha moved forward taking the books from the queen's hands and placing herself with the other maids behind the queen.  Tanirika walked out of the library as her ladies tailed behind her.

She walked aimlessly around the palace walls looking and surveying the various chores occurring in the palace. Noise and hustling from the eastern quarters caught her attention as she moved past the kitchen area.

She motioned one of the maids to collect the reason behind the commotion. The maid moved towards the area which had loud noises ringing out. Few of the maids walking out of the kitchen bowed their heads in respect spotting the queen in their way.

"Your majesty, the commotion is caused by the soldiers, men are fighting in the ring. The king is in the ring. "

The last sentence caught her attention, Her husband was in the ring. Was he fighting? The night of consummation swirled in her mind with the images of her husband practising in the moonlight.

She smirked as a mischievous thought ambushed her brain. Lekha knowing Tanirika very well held her hand back. She squeezed Tanirika's hand shaking her head in denial.

Tanirika signalled the guards to leave her alone while she ordered some of her maids to leave too.

"Listen give me your veil, " She ordered one of the maids. The maid without asking any questions removed her veil and handed it to Tanirika. Tanirika exchanged the maid's veil with her heavy embroidered ones. She was grateful to God for randomly wearing a red lehenga today.

The maids had a common coloured dress pattern which was red. With a plain red blouse and long skirt, they wore a red veil to cover their breasts and waist. Lekha shook her head in denial completely knowing about the evil thought circling in her queen's mind.

"You are not a princess anymore Tani, you are the queen. That area is not for you. " She seethed in a whisper looking around the walls to ensure that they were alone. Tanirika shrugged adjusting the veil properly on her head. She covered her face properly with the veil after signalling the maid to move away by handing her embroidered veil to her.

"What if we get caught!!!"

"Oh lekha, nothing will happen. You worry too much. It's been so long since I broke any rules. "

"Since when you started following rules. " Lekha muttered covering her face with the veil properly.

Tanirika smiled at her behind the curtain of her veil looking around making sure no one saw her.

She walked inside the kitchen which was hustling and bustling with maids and guards working together to get the food ready. Smells of various spices hit her nostrils as heat emitted by the hearth hit her skin. She looked around the kitchen to get something that could help them to get access into the combat area.

"You what are you doing here " A loud snap of voice erupted from her back. She immediately turned back looking at lekha who stood unaffected.

"Your majesty, we completed our previous work. Is there anything else to be done? " She muttered softly looking at the old lady who stood at a few distances with a slick bamboo stick in her hand. Tanirika smirked looking at her friend who always knew how to handle this type of situation. 

"Radha, come here. " Radha, one of the maids short in height and wealthy in curves walked towards the head of the kitchen carrying a pot of water.

"Take these two with you, there is water and some food needed in the combat area, take them with you. They are free. " The kitchen head ordered. Radha who was standing near the edge of the fruit table bowed her head in respect before snapping her eyes out at Tanirika and lekha.

"Hmm, you are wearing a very different skirt," she stated her eyes fixed on Tanirika's embroidered skirt. Tanirika's breathing hitched in her throat after being caught. Lekha who was standing beside her coughed hard falling straight into the chair kept beside her.

"Oh my God! She needs water. My friend. Please help " Tanirika wailed dramatically holding lekha from her shoulders and shaking it continuously. Lekha threw a very annoyed look in her direction which she returned with a smirk.

Radha who was standing in a distance kept her pot in a corner and grabbed a glass of water frantically. She handed the glass to lekha who breathed unevenly trying to look like a person in need.

Lekha took few minutes to regain her posture and assuring Radha that she was all fine. Tanirika smiled through her veil holding Radha's hand in her hold she shook them thanking her for saving her friend's life. Lekha who sitting down grabbed Tanirika's and stood between her and Radha smiling gratefully at Radha.

"Let's go before the kitchen lady started yelling at us " Radha nodded her head eyeing Lekha warily. Radha moved back turning around she strode towards the plate of sustenance that was supposed to enter the combat area.

As soon as Radha turned back Lekha turned around to face Tanirika, she eyed her angrily. Tanirika scrunched her brows in confusion looking at lekha who pointed towards her hands filled with accessories embedded in jewels.  Tanirika immediately wrapped her hands behind the other end of the veil which was lost open.

Radha walked towards them with two baskets of fruits and drinks. Lekha took one of the baskets and handed it to Tanirika while taking the other one to herself. She smiled at Radha who nodded at her as they made their way towards the combat area.

Tanirika squealed in excitement making Radha eye her weirdly.

"Hold on your horses down, lady. " She muttered.

"What do you mean " Tanirika replied with a cough.

"It's so obvious, you both don't belong to the kitchen area, you are here to take a good look at fresh masculine chests, don't you? " She smirked eyeing lekha and tanirika knowingly.

Tanirika glanced at lekha who laughed nervously looking at Radha. Goodness, how was she going to do that?

The path to the combat area was built of nothing but bamboo supporting corners of the carpet of bushes placed above the bamboo end in the air. The carpet of bushes was tied to the bamboo sticks that held the carpet properly. The area was darker the only light available was the light created by the shadow of the curtains covering the passage.

The whole area smelt of mud and dirt as they walked deeper to the upper area of the combat.

"The combat ring is the only place which is not covered. It's open from the ceiling part, whereas the other area is covered by the bush ceiling and bamboo sticks which have red curtains covering them from all parts. "

Radha said moving towards the little stairs which led them to the upper region of the boundary. One of the guard who stood near the boundary moved forward and took the baskets and drinks from them ordering them to go back.

"He told us to go. Now how are we going to see the fight "

Tanirika snorted in annoyance.

"You cannot enter the combat area women are not allowed. But you can peek from the other part of the wall. " Radha replied smirking in a different direction. They moved out of the combat passage back to the entrance of the kitchen quarters.

"Come with me, the combat area covers the six sides of the area, it's built-in the form of a hexagon, the king got it built just like his hometown. But as I told you the combat ring is open we can see the men who are fighting from the upper floor. I know how to do that come.  "

Radha walked confidently towards the end of the first floor which had stairs leading towards the upper floor. Lekha held Tanirika's hand stopping her in her tracks.

"Tani let's leave this here. The King won't like you interfering in something which is not meant for you. And I don't think you will like the scenario, there will be many women. "

"Oh lekha, don't overthink come. I know how to handle the king. " She said winking at her friend. Tanirika pulled lekha with her as they both walked behind Radha.

Hey TOMATOES 🍅, I hope y'all missed me. I missed you guys too. Thank you for voting and commenting on the previous chapter. ❤

Tanirika is so fun. Like reckless woman, always breaks the rule.

Oopsie she never follows them. I am just excited for jigansa though, that woman is more reckless. Lol.

YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO LOVE JIGNASA.

Anyways QUEEN TANIRIKA FOREVER.

And y'all love Loki too much. Some of you want him as your man. 😭what should I do now. 

Tell me your guesses, what will happen.

What do you think about the book which she got from the librarian?

Does history has something in store?

Anyways the next chapter is going to be so fun. Yayayay!!!!

Hope y'all liked this chapter. ❤

Hihihihihihi

Wear a mask. Stay at home. Take care of yourself. Keep calm and be happy.

Love Aditi! ❤