7
I felt a tap on my hand while I was deep asleep. I payed no attention. They tapped again. I was frustrated but ignored and continued to sleep. They tapped for the third time and my anger got the better of me.
"Who the-" I paused when Vaishnavi stepped back in fear.
"Vaishnavi?" I said sitting up and rubbing my eyes, "Any problem?"
"There are soldiers waiting for you outside," she answered, "They've been here for a very long time. Must be something important."
"Then they should've waked me up themselves," I said standing up and adjusting my hair infront of the mirror with my fingers.
"They are afraid," said Vaishnavi. I stopped and looked at her.
"Are you not?" I asked.
"Not as much as them," she replied.
"There is only one acceptable answer to that question," I said.
Vaishnavi looked at me to continue.
"No," I continued and tried to walk past her but she held my wrist. I stopped and looked at her surprised. This is the first time she ever touched me.
Vaishnavi didn't reply but looked down to the sindhoor box in her hand just the way I did a couple of days ago.
Was she secretly trying to taunt and imitate me? I wish that was the case because I would find that very adorable.
I took the sindhoor from her and applied it on her hairline.
"You won't need me from tomorrow," I said giving the box back to her.
"..Or...maybe I would..." she said and paused for a second.
I patiently waited for her next words.
"I don't have place for this on my dressing table," she said with utmost sincerity and prompted for me to take the sindhoor from her hand.
I looked at the dressing table. There is literally nothing on it, apart from some jewellery in the corner.
I looked back at her. She is so good with her innocent eyes that I looked at the table again to confirm that it is indeed empty.
Oh! So she wants me to have the sindhoor so that we could have an excuse to interact everyday.
Charming!
Yet I decided to be a little cocky.
"We can arrange for a bigger table," I said and I could see her expression change from 'innocence' to confusion.
"I was just trying to be hilarious," I immediately confessed not wanting to hurt her even as a joke. "I'll keep this safe with me," I said taking the sindhoor from her hand and smiled.
"And they say the devil never smiles," she taunted.
"Little did they know," I whispered, "I am not the devil."
Vaishnavi chuckled.
"Good God! You look breath-takingly gorgeous when you smile," I subconsiouly said outloud letting my intrusive thoughts speak.
"What?" Vaishnavi asked surprised although she clearly heard me.
"I said you look breath-takingly gorgeous when you smile," I repeated a little louder.
Vaishnavi looked down and smiled and I found that to be even cuter. Am I so fully drowned in love with this women that anything she does is making my heart melt?
I heard a knock on the door interrupting my thoughts.
"I'll...have to leave," I said reluctantly. She nodded.
"Will you...be back....anytime soon?" she asked hesitantly.
"I will be here the moment I am done with work," I sincerely replied and left after we both exchanged smiles.
I turned to look myself in the mirror the moment the king left the room. I smiled to see what the king would've seen when I smiled before.
"You look breath takingly gorgeous when you smile" I said in a masculine voice imitating the king and starting laughing but I was interrupted when someone knocked on the door again.
"Come in," I said. I tried to stop laughing but the interaction I had with the king kept running in my head and I somehow became incapable of not being happy and perhaps that reflected on my face.
"We've barely seen you smile for the past two days, your highess," said Pallavi noticing my expressions, "But today you seem to be very happy. Did something special happened?"
"Perhaps the king cast a spell," taunted Sruthi. "Possible," said Naina and smiled along.
"I am allowed to be happy, am I not?" I asked.
"Of course you are, your highness," said Sruthi, "As a matter of fact our job is to keep you happy."
"But the question is," continued Pallavi, "Are you going to imprison all of this happiness within the confinements of a library."
"Hmm" I said pretending to think, "Maybe not today." "How about you take me to what you think is the most beautiful place in the palace and perhaps I could find a reason enhance my happiness?"
"Oh I know," said Pallavi excitedly, "We could go to-"
"Your highness," Pallavi was interrupted by Meihu's voice at the door. "May I speak to you in private," she asked.
"Please say no," Pallavi whispered to me, "She will waste a lot of your time talking."
A part of me wanted to say no too.
"It's important," Meihu added. I nodded to accept.
"Nooo" Pallavi whispered.
"Stop it," Sruthi shushed Pallavi and immediately left the room along with Pallavi and Naina.
Meihu quickly closed the door.
"Vaishu, what happened yesterday?" she asked me.
"You wouldn't believe it, Meihu," I said excited, "The king did not even touch me. He read my book, listened to my argument and said my voice will not be silenced."
Meihu looked confused.
"And this morning," I continued to assure that everything is alright, "we had a really funny conversation where......"
"Vaishu, do you not see where this is going?" Meihu interrupted me.
"What do you mean?" I asked genuinely confused.
"He is testing you," said Meihu, "Allowing you to read....giving you freedom...he is trying to see how far you will go."
"No," I oppossed, "He wanted me to read because he said I am exceptionally good at it."
"And he deduced that based on?" asked Meihu.
"I read all of the law books on his table in a day," I answered, "Apparently not many people can do that."
"Vaishu, anyone can do that," said Meihu and I fell silent.
Anyone can do that?
"No but..." I tried to argue with my little left hope.
"Poison will always be sweet Vaishu," Meihu interrupted me, "If not it will never be consumed."
I didn't know what to say and I find myself partly agreeing with her.
"The king is trying to see how far you will fly," she continued, "Know your limitations. Don't fly too far and get your wings chopped off."
I remained silent fighting hard to not cry.
"Sorry Vaishu, I have no intentions of hurting you. I just want you to be vigilant," Meihu said and went back to open the door.
"Your highness, are you ready to...."
"I'll need some time alone," I interrupted Pallavi, "Everyone leave, please."
Everyone including Meihu immediately left and the moment the doors closed, the tears I've been holding finally made their way out.