1.15k votes!!!

Nandani POV

So, after talking to Agastya I went back to do a few of my pending works ignoring what happened with Rudra.

Honestly, I did not know what was happening to me right now.

It had not been a week since we got married and here we were insanely attracted towards each other, trying to fight the world and our problems. I did not know but somewhere in my heart, I was angry about what he did. A part of me was not ready to forgive him for that, and the other part was trying to love him ever more.

I loved him, there were no two thoughts about it.

But, at what cost I had loved him?

I had lost my dignity and self-respect and if the old King had heard the rumours about me been in an affair with a young man, there was no doubt that the people across the entire Hind had not heard that story too.

For a princess, maintaining respect and keeping the dignity of the family safe, was the prime responsibilities.

And, I failed in fulfilling both of them.

A part of me could still not believe how I so stupid that I could not understand his motives, but a part of me was now happy that he also loved me.

And, honestly, I was able to understand his situation somewhere. He had grown up in a really really different environment than me. Just by looking at him, I could understand that he must have started taking responsibility at a young age. I had never witnessed himself laughing, playing and enjoying life.

Every time, either he would talk about the Kingdom or the responsibility or some great values.

And, even I had seen the depth of guilt that was present on his face.

Still, a part of me was not ready to forget what happened. No love, no emotion, and no sorry could correct what my parents suffered because of a wrong upbringing.

That was why I could not stay with him for a longer time.

Because my mother had always told me that a kid is like wet mud and a parent is someone who would craft that mud into a fine pot. A wrong lesson could harm so many lives.

He was very young when he lost his mother and the way he remembers her, I was sure that her mother must be a very good person, unlike his Maasi-ma.

I could not hate him. No.

Because he was trying to change, he was trying to open up. He accepted me as I was, undignified. He passed the test.

But, I still could not balance myself with his anger, his beliefs and his values.

I did not have any major problem with the controlling period but it hurts me deep inside to see him giving up on the enjoyment of life.

He was of thirty years now. I did not know at what age he would start enjoying his life and give up on his hardworking.

What more he wanted now?

All his life, he just worked hard, and harder and only learnt to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of becoming a King.

But, what would be the use of it if was not giving him happiness.

Is that not what life is about?

You come here in this world to live, to laugh, to learn. Why do such things that cannot even bring a slight smile to your face?

Why?

Why sacrifice everything, every piece of happiness till the age of thirty?

And, I hated to know that he did all this because he wanted to become a King to avenge his father's death about whom he knew nothing.

I did not know what would happen the day when he would learn the truth about his father. When he would know the truth?

I did not know but I just could not imagine him in that pain.

I knew that lies were something he hated the most. He never lied, he never does. Even if the truth would cost him his life, he would still say it.

I did not know what would happen to know if he would know that his whole upbringing, values, sacrifices and everything was based on a lie.

That was the only reason I did not want him to continue his controlling period.

Because, if it was hurting me this much, I did not know how much it would hurt him.

The whole passed along with Suman in the visit of the Kingdom. I went to meet see the soldiers, to meet Badi Ma and took the round of the servant's quarters hearing to their problems and needs.

I asked Suman to note down everything and in the evening I sat down with her in preparing a document containing all the details of the changes that were needed to bring in the quarters. And, now to make it official I had to discuss all these with Ranaji.

I rolled the eight scrolls containing the draft of orders and kept them on the table.

"I think, you should go and take the rest now,"

I said to Suman and She smiled.

"Alright! Nandani,"

She turned and suddenly stopped.

"Also, Nandani, I wanted to tell you something,"

I furrowed my eyebrows and asked.

"What is it?"

She looked at me with surprise and said.

"Do not you know what happened in the courtroom today?"

I turned a little confused and asked.

"What happened?"

She came closer to me and looked into my eyes.

"In today's meeting, the King of Songarh put down a condition on accepting a peace treaty with Suryagarh,"

She informed and I thinned my eyebrows even more.

"What? What condition?"

My heart turned heavy all of sudden and she said.

"The King proposed for Prince Ranjvijay's wedding with one of her daughters Princess Aishwarya with Prince Ranvijay,"

An expression of shock came over my face and asked.

"Really? And, what did Ranaji and Devarsa say,"

She gulped.

"Ranaji tried to say something but then Prince Ranvijay accepted the proposal on the account that he will do everything that can help the Kingdom and people live in peace,"

She said and I lowered my gaze.

A political wedding.

I inhaled a sharp breath and said.

"You go, I will talk to Devarjisa,"

She left and I walked out to the resting area and looked at the darkness slowly covering the sky. The small stars now started twinkling and my stomach suddenly growled.

It was almost dinner time and I called an attendee to ask.

"Where is Ranaji?"

He bowed down and answered back.

"Ranisa, Ranaji is having dinner with Prince Ranvijay and Prince Agastya. He told me to inform you that,"

I nodded and he left.

I called for my dinner and ate a little in silence and peace.

I went back to the changing room and started taking off the heavy jewellery that I had worn before going out for a round.

After getting a little comfortable, I took the comforter in my hand to walk towards the resting area.

Placing the mattress and comforters down over the carpet, I slipped into it.

My fingers unknowingly played with my loose hair strands and my eyes watched the stars slowly changing their positions.

The night grew darker and I started feeling dizzy. And, I did not know when I fell asleep.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night, I felt the warmness of a strong manly body sending warmness to me. Even in my sleep, I could recognize his smell. Unknowingly, I turned to face him and placed my head on his chest.

I felt the light touch of his fingers on my head before I dozed back into sleep.

I woke up a little late when I heard the birds chirruping and the slight sunlight falling right into my eyes. I tried to lift my lashes up and the brightness invaded my vision making me sigh with the discomfort.

I turned my face to the other side and felt the empty mattress beside me.

I sat up and tucked the loose hair strand behind my ear. I found his kurta and my hand could not stop fisting the white cloth and bringing it close to my nose. I inhaled it slowly and each pore of my body refreshed just with a mild smell. I still could feel his warmness embracing me.

A slight smile appeared on my face and I stood up to refresh myself.

After refreshing and washing my face, I walked to an attendee before taking a bath.

"Where is Ranaji?"

She looked at me and answered back.

"He is in practising area, doing his exercises,"

Exercise!

Interesting!

She said and a slight smile appeared on my face.

That means it was time to implement Agastya's plan.

I turned on my heels and started walking towards the practising area.

The moment I reached there I saw him holding a heavy long dumble. He was holding that dumble in his hand and moving it above his head and then down.

I inhaled a deep breath and walked closer to him. I stepped closer to him and he looked at me with furrowed eyebrows, with the less distance between us, he had to stop.

He looked at me for a few moments and then took a few steps back continuing his exercise.

I also stepped forward to him and he irritatingly put the dumble down.

He sighed frustratingly and laid down on his feet and palm, positioning himself into the push-up pose.

I blinked and looked at him doing push-ups. My eyes unwantedly scanned his veins which were looking even more attractive now. Every time, he was going down, I could see his fine muscular back. His body was finely curved and a stupid thought of scratching his back while making love to him crossed my brain.

I immediately pushed it back and sat down on the marble floor. Laying down, I slipped below him from the side and looked directly into his eyes.

He also looked back at me, and I saw his face closer to mine whenever he was lowering himself for another pushup.

"You know, you should not do it until you heal completely,"

I tried to say and he just stared at me continuing his pushups.

And, I shamelessly spread my arms around his neck.

"You look so hot while working out. Rudra,"

He inhaled a sharp breath and got off of me and shifted a little away to continue his pushups.

I also stood up and walked closer to him.

"You know, Rudra. When I was a kid, my father also used to do pushups and I used to sit over his back and enjoy the movements,"

I said and he ignored me.

I held my dupatta and said.

"Let's see if you can hold my weight or not,"

I sat and tried to sit on his back and crossed my legs sitting over his back comfortably.

I immediately burst into laughter when he lowered himself and pushed me up.

"Oh, My god!"

I laughed even more and remembered my childhood.

"I do not think you weight even a kilogram,"

He said and I laughed even more.

"Really!,"

He continued doing it and my laughter slowly vanished.

I gulped and looked at his nape turning sweaty.

I leaned over his back and lay my chest over his back. I snaked my arms around his shoulder and kept my face close on the backside of his left shoulder. My bare waist felt his bare back. I closed my eyes and he continued doing the pushups.

"Are you okay?"

He asked in a slow voice and I opened my eyes.

Gulping slowly, I said.

"I am missing my family a little,"

With every push up I could feel his muscles shrinking and expanding under my chest.

He inhaled a deep breath and I asked.

"Are you still angry with me?"

He continued doing the pushup and replied.

"Yes, I have all the right to be angry and mad with my little liar,"

I sighed a little and said.

"Of course, you do, but you should once listen to my justification, Rudra,"

He inhaled a sharp breath and lowered himself again for another pushup.

"What's wrong is wrong. There is no justification,"

He said and I lifted my face to press my chin against his shoulder.

"Exactly, What is wrong is always wrong. And, you made me wrong in front of the people. The letter you left with my father undignified me. But, still, my parents loves me. They still listened to me and put my happiness first. Even after I brought that much disgrace to them. They thought about my happiness. I wanted to know how much you care about me. And, I wanted to know if your love for me was just possessiveness and material or something unconditional like my parents. But, the moment you told me that all these things do not matter to you. My respect for you just increased a thousand times. Rudra,"

He sighed and did not say anything, still continuing his pushups.

And, suddenly.

"What are you doing?"

An authoritative womanly voice caught my attention and the moment my sight fell on his Maasi Ma standing in front of us. I lost my balance.

Another Update!!!

Do not forget to vote, comment, and share the book!!!

Love you all ♥️♥️♥️