"Could you tell me what time is it?"

Raimoti rolled over the empty creases of maroon bedsheet, half flowing down the the royal bed, her vermilion smudged forehead told the tale of love, her body smeared in the after effect of sweet affection that Satya had showered on her the previous night.

Such a sweet lover he is!
Raimoti had thought.

Who would have known a brilliant warrior such as he could make such sweet love!

Raimoti yawned, half opening her large eyelids, and she threw the question lazily at the Mouni standing by her bedside.
The Mouni shook her head and gestured her to lie down.

"Umm... The clock?" Raimoti tried to get up, but then a sudden heaviness took over her head, slowly transcending across her body.
"When did Raja Saheb leave?"

The Mouni now showed four fingers, hinting the hour of the dawn the king had left, and Raimoti sighed softly, sinking back to the pillow with efforts.
Her health wasn't permitting somehow, but Raimoti knew in her heart it wasn't the time for her to give in, not yet.
Satya was to leave that afternoon, and under no circumstances Raimoti would allow him, or provide him with any excuse of leaving her behind.

"Mouni, could you come closer?"
She stretched her arms and beckoned her nearer, and as the lady came closer and leaned forward on the bed, Raimoti brought her mouth closer to hers and spoke slowly.
"Do I smell of garlic?"
Her voice was throaty with a lace of tiredness, and the Mouni furrowed her brows at once and shook her head in negation.

Raimoti sank back on the pillows once again.

"Speak of this to no one, I command you as your queen, and ask Karthik to see me at once."
She turned her eyes away and exhaled gravely.
The Mouni bowed and left at once.

There was an old wrist watch that Raimoti had found amidst the trunked belongings of the late king Apurba Sen. She was told that no one had touched those iron chests after the death of the queen. And, when Raimoti had asked Satya if she could open those, his reply was simple.

Everything here belongs to you Princess. Do what pleases you!

Raimoti had opened those old trunks, examining the contents with absolute meticule, and later she came to a vague conclusion that there was indeed a deep mystery that shrouds the identity of the dead king. The letters he wrote doesn't match his status of illiteracy, the sensuous poems he phrased couldn't be of a priest, and the watch he wore... Well, the watch, although broken, had caught Raimoti's attention for she had seen one exactly similar on Anirudh Roy Chowdhury's wrist, the one that belonged to his father, gifted by his father in turn. The back of the dial says Apurba, in bold Bengali alphabet, engraved in gold, whereas she recalled seeing an engravement of the alphabet BRC in Anirudh's watch, the initials of his father.
She remembered how rare that watch was!
A limited edition, imported from London, Anirudh had mentioned.

'Strange' was what came to Raimoti's comprehension, and very carefully she had kept the watch with her, by the bedside.
The fresh morning air was pouring inside the room, it felt refreshing after the dark eclipse. Raimoti breathed in a lung full of it, and then, very slowly she turned to her side to pick the watch up from the table.
6 o' clock it said, and a subtle smile played on Raimoti's lips.

Even after so many years, it still works!
A rare thing indeed, she thought.

The Mouni had drawn open the curtains already, and the soft morning sun washed the stony bed chamber, coloring the dark grey with the soothe of warmth. Raimoti rubbed her eyes and sat upright.
No matter how sick she feels, today wasn't the day to lie back in bed.

"Maa, you summoned?"
It was 7 o'clock. Raimoti had dragged herself from the bed, fixed her clothes and was now seated at the office library with some last minute chores, beside her was Debi. Karthik came inside and bowed.

"Yes son." Raimoti looked up and tried to smile.
"As you know, your Raja Saheb and I would be leaving Raipur today. So, I wanted to walk you through a few changes that I..."
Raimoti swallowed, unable to complete the sentence, only her hands slowly uplifted a few papers infront, and Karthik sank down on the ground on his knees.

"Maa..."
His voice broke, as the realisation of reality hit him hard with a sense of being  guidance less once again. Debi slowly walked beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder, making him exhaled the agony out.

"Karthik, I understand the cause of your affliction. But it's you and Debi now, playing the king and the queen, and I want you to be true to each other, and to this kingdom forever."

"Forever Maa."
Karthik repeated, his voice heavy yet quivering.

"The legal papers for two new schools are here, and I've prepared the draft for the hospital." She paused, thinking, and then spoke again, very slowly.
"You already know how to duplicate Raja Saheb's signature, I've taught Debi how to forge mine... There shouldn't be any legal complications, and I'm confident you know how to do the rest."

Karthik now got up and bowed down to touch Raimoti's feet.
"Maa... Is there no chance of your return?"

"Not without your Raja Saheb, no."
Raimoti forced a smile on her face, and it made the man and the woman seated infront break down in silent tears.

"We always knew Raja Saheb has his liabilities, his fight for the country. But then came you..." Karthik paused to wipe a tear hastily from his eyes. "And for the first time we thought there is someone to fight for us, the people of Raipur, and now we are truly orphaned Maa, truly orphaned!"

Raimoti heard, and then just sighed.
"I hope you come to bid me a farewell today, son."

I hope you be the righteous ruler that Raipur deserves, I hope you do good by the people, I hope you father heirs and prosper my dear brave Kartikey Rudra Senapati.
I hope you live long!

Karthik sat in quietude, and getting up slowly, Raimoti just placed her hand on the man's head in silence. A simple touch, but yet it conveyed so much...
had the compassion of a mother, the bravery of a soldier, and the wisdom of a ruler.
And then, Raimoti left the room, leaving Karthik and Debi behind, and along with them the burden of an entire kingdom that she so dearly had fell in love with.

8 o' clock, Raja Apurba Sen's broken wrist watch now adorned Raimoti's right wrist, clanking softly with the Sankha Pola she wore. Maintaining as much discretion as possible, Raimoti's walked down the sparsely guarded corridors of the palace, her destination was the royal infirmary.

"I don't smell of garlic."
The old Mouni was standing awestruck, as if struck by a lightening, or may be some enchantment, her eyes widened at the queen's glowing face, yet amidst the glow she could clearly see the ocean deep gloominess evident in those hazelnut eyes. 
Raimoti was in no mood for pleasantry. 
Without any inhibitions, she walked inside and sat down on the scary looking cold stone slab, and then she let her body relax on in.

"Take those out, the garlics." She murmured unmindfully, closing her eyes.

The old Mouni, as if suddenly shaken up from a dreadful slumber, shook her head and broke into a bright smile, and then she sat down in between the queen's legs, her experienced hands readily conducting the job she was commanded.
Not once did Raimoti flinch at the touch, and not once did the Mouni stop being happy.

The browned garlics came out, and Raimoti finally sat up and held the woman's hands.

"Thank you." She pressed her lips to let a smile break, but only a dry meaningless chuckle came out.
The Mouni nodded in return.

"I know what you must be thinking." Raimoti tried to justify.
"Your garlic test, I don't know how much it works, but going by your confidence, I'd say I'm carrying a life in me it seems." She exhaled out, turning her eyes away, and the Mouni held her chin to make her look up. There were glints of hope and happiness sparking in her old orbs, and it made Raimoti's heart heavier.

"Look... I know what you're thinking. I know you're happy, overjoyed... I understand, but... But this was a mistake." She gulped once to find the correct words, and am immediately frown occurred on the old woman's face.
Raimoti corrected her statement at once.
"Mistake as in... well, Satya and I didn't actually wish this to happen...not now... We, we aren't ready for any of these, and... "
The frown on the Mouni's face grew darker, and then she held Raimoti's shoulders and shook her gently in question.

Raimoti nodded her head in negation.
"No... No... Choto Maa, isn't that what Satya calls you?" She breathed.
"I'm not out of my mind Choto Maa... I know what I'm saying, what I'm doing... But, I can't be away from Satya... I ...I love him more than anything else in this world." She pushed the woman gently and stood up.
"You won't tell anyone anything Choto Maa, and I'll leave with Satya today, as planned."

The Mouni shook her head violently, vehemently refusing to comply, and Raimoti just sighed, before inching closer to her and hugging her gently.
"I know you think I'm selfish, but I don't want to become another loveless queen who would hate her child, burning the rest of her life for her king. I don't want another orphan Prince, or Princess growing up with vengeance in them. Karthik and Debi would do a fine job ruling this land Choto Maa... I just want to be with my Satya."

Raimoti left her and stood tall. The Mouni was crying. Her resistance was weakening, and she touched Raimoti's belly and looked at her with teary eyes.

"I don't know the life inside me, not yet, but I know their father. I know what a great man he is! I know how much I love him, and I know I'm not leaving him for anything in this world." She smiled and touched her belly too, caressing her flat toned abdomen with motherly tenderness.
"And, I also know my blood growing in me would understand this, and respect my decision."

She sighed deeply and took out a small glass vile from the gorge of her bosom, the same vile that Satya had given her as a 'cure'.
The Mouni shuddered at the sight.

"I hadn't had it yet as I'm being told this would make me bleed heavily. I can't afford that right now. So, I'll take my time, and once we're settled, I'll do the needful." Raimoti murmured slowly, as if speaking to her own self, and the words made a lone tear roll down her eye, fading into her pink flushed cheek in no time.
"But, anyhow, I can not afford to part with Satya... I just can not!"

The Mouni folded her hands and begged to her in silence. The fear, the plea and the heartbreak, all that was there in her eyes was suddenly getting replaced by something more fierce, patriotism... And, Raimoti know it's then or never!
Before the Mouni could do anything,
Raimoti quickly turned towards her, wiping her tears with the knuckles with an urgent promptness.

"There is one more thing Choto Maa, something which I wanted to show you... Something very important, something which..."
She held the Mouni's arm and almost dragged her to the prayer room where the old crone sits.
"It's important, this one last thing, and this can be the only thing that can keep me away from him."
A sharp frown blemished the old woman's face, and Raimoti smiled at her.
"And, in this life, nothing can separate me with..."
She hardly finished the words as with suddenness she pushed the door wide open, and before the Mouni could react, Raimoti pushed her violently with all her might, making her fall inside, on the hard floor of the dimly lit room, and then she pulled the door closed, latching it firmly from outside.

"I'm sorry Choto Maa... " The adrenaline was pumping excitement all over her body, the overdose of emotions making her knees wobble and her heart pound. Raimoti broke down into tears, in acute sadness, but somehow her sense of guilt weighed less infront of the profoundness of the love she felt for the sacrosanct.
"I'm so so sorry..." She sobbed outside the closed door.

****************

Monoranjan has left Raipur that morning, and now it was Satya's turn. He had done his final bid to the kingdom of his forefathers, and now was seated inside a small closet room filled with clothes and props.
His bright white skin wasn't visible anymore, and in its place a dark burnished tan made him look more earthy than royal. He was wearing big round glasses, and his long curls were trimmed considerably.
Karthik was standing behind him.

"Damn Raja Saheb, this moustache won't stick for good." He winked at his shadow companion through the mirror, addressing him as the king like he'd always do, and Karthik swallowed a dry lump of choking pain and inched forward to fix the final touch for his king.

"Is your Rani Maa ready?"
Satya asked, and Karthik looked down.

"She should be. Archer Mouni is with her... They'd be here in an hour."
He spoke gravely, but Satya hit him playfully in the arm.

"Archer Mouni? Really? Call her Debi you fool, she's gonna be your wife." Satya teased.

How can someone tease so light hearted on their journey to death?
Karthik mused.

"I meant to tell you Raja Saheb." Karthik muttered, his eyes lowered, and Satya's brows furrowed up at this expression.
Karthik continued.
"Archer Mouni and I accept our duties towards this kingdom, as you did for the country. But we won't marry or live as royals. We are your representatives, and we'll do our part, and we'll hope that one one you and Rani Maa return to us. And, that day we'll be realised from our duties."

Satya pulled the man closer, tying him at once into a tight hug.

"You'll never be relieved from your kingship Raja Saheb, you understand me... You are my only best friend, the one on whom I can trust blindly, to whom i can leave my kingdom without a worry."

"I'm scared Raja Saheb." Karthik clutched Satya's worn out kurta firmly.

"Me too. But, I know you'll make a fine king."

The two confidants stood in silence, living the moment of deep companionship, and then suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Yes."
Satya cleared his throat.

"An urgent note Raja Saheb."
A guard came inside and bowed.

"From?"
Karthik asked.

"From the Mouni attending Rani Maa."
The guard reply.

Satya took the chit and opened it, and then suddenly his jaws became hard, his teeth clenched. Karthik too saw this abrupt change, the furrows on his forehead matching that of his kings.

"Anything serious Raja Saheb?"
Karthik asked, and Satya looked up at him with a vacant sharpness.

"Leave me alone."
He growled at both the men.

********************

Raimoti had bathed, washing her long traces carefully, and the lukewarm bath gave her the much needed relaxation that she had been craving for. She had thrown up only once since morning, a rather good start, and she intended the day to follow it's suit.
The key was to keep the mind calm, and divert the senses from all agonizing thoughts, she thought, and with this positivity she came out from the bath, dried herself, and then saw her glowing reflection on the large standing mirror.
She looked beautiful as always!
It was 10 'o clock, the watch said, and smiling at it fondly, she took the silver vermilion case in hand, prepared to smear her hairline with the color of love. But wait...
She kept the case down and picked up the folded piece of paper instead. Her eyes narrowed at the handwriting inside.
A letter...
From Satyakirth!

Raimoti left the mirror and sat down on the floor, carefully, and then she held the letter open on her lap.

'Raimoti Mukherjee,

How could you?
How could you not tell me the contents of your mind?
You visited the infirmary...
You did a garlic test...
You failed it...
And you kept this a secret from me...
Why?
I may not be your husband, but the life growing in you, I'm the father... I have the right to know Raimoti Mukherjee!
Asking me if you smell of garlic isn't a justification!
I want to know what force compelled you to resort to such secrecy?
But now, I guess I'll never know.
I'm leaving.
I didn't intend this to end thus, but you left me no choice.
I can't jeopardize your life and the life growing inside of you for my cause.
I can't let you both die.
It's a mixed feeling Raimoti Mukherjee.
I can't tell if this makes me happy or sad, but know this, that I feel proud. 
I know you'll be a great mother someday, and you'll tell my son, or my daughter about me.
I hope you find peace in motherhood.
I hope my love was worth it
Goodbye.

- Rudra Narayan Sen. '

Raimoti crumpled the piece of paper and sat quietly. Her head sky bound, her eyes vacantly staring at the flower petals curved on the stone ceiling.
And then, slowly a smirk appeared on her lips.

"You can't get rid of me so easily Satya! Not in this lifetime."
She murmured.

.....................................................

Dear readers,
What do you think is going in Raimoti's head?
What do u think she'd do?

Also, I'll post once this one reaches 100 votes.
Come on guys, vote fast... Don't you wanna know what's happening in the village in Faridpur?