27
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I was anxiously waiting outside the meeting chambers.
It has been a while since the king went to meet the queen and so far no news.
I heard the door open and stepped closer assuming it was the queen but it was the general who stepped outside shaking his head in disappointment and a hint of frustration.
"What are you doing here Ms. Sruthi?" he asked the moment he saw me.
"Nothing at all," I replied about to leave.
"Do you not want to know what happened inside?" the general asked. I turned back and waited for him to continue.
"An investigation was ordered and I am the incharge," he said with a mischevious smile.
Oh no! This is not good.....
"And you happen to be my prime suspect," he continued.
"I could never smuggle the book," I immediately opossed.
"Well, you were one of the very few people who stepped out of the palace yesterday," the general stated.
"I went to visit my parents," I replied, "You can ask them."
"Because there is no way a parent would lie to protect their child?" the general asked and it is at this moment that I realized all odds are against me.
The general is framing me!
My heartbeat kept increasing and I got visibily anxious until...I saw him....smile?
"Calm down Ms. Sruthi," he assured, "There is no way in the world, I would believe it is you."
That is....surprising....
"Thank you, gene-" I was about to say with a smile but then I heard his next statement.
"You are just not intelligent enough."
My smile immediately disappeared.
"I hate you, Mr. Kanda," I said out of anger.
I thought he would be offended but he just laughed.
"Hate is mutual, Ms. Gathi," he said and walked away.
I was anxiously waiting in Adi's chambers, preparing the points I could use to prevent the investigation. Adi hurriedly barged in talking something to the general.
"Good to see you, Vaishu," he said plesantly surprised when he saw me.
"Good to see you, too," I smiled, "I want to talk about...."
"Your book being smuggled, I assume?" Adi interrupted. I nodded.
"Do not worry about it," he assured, "the general is personally leading the investigation and we will catch the criminal soon."
"....Or...we could just not investigate?" I suggested.
"What do you mean?" Adi asked confused.
"In hindsight, everything did work out in our favor," I continued hesitantly, "Now everyone has access to the book without the need for any awkward conversations..and...and it reached the public faster."
"Illegally," Adi added. I could sense the anger that he is trying to control.
This is probably where I should stop but I continued anyway.
"...Does it...matter?" I asked.
"Of course, it matters," Adi said angrily as he lost control "Vaishu, why are you siding with a criminal?"
(Whose side are you on?)
"I am not siding with a criminal," I explained although I am getting increasingly nervous, "I just cannot let you...."
"Let me?" Adi asked getting even more agitated.
"What I meant is...."
"You will not let a king carry out justice," Adi completed.
"No, Adi...I..."
"What next?" Adi interrupted, "Will you also..."
"That is enough," the general yelled and Adi immediately stopped. The room remained absolutely silent for a few seconds. Adi continued to stare at me until....the general finally started speaking.
"Your highness, the king is the one who smuggled the book outside, for all the right reasons you mentioned before," the general calmly told me.
I looked at Adi surprised. He did not say anything but the slight mischeviousness in his eyes gave the confirmation.
"And he lied to you because he finds it amusing to scare his own wife," the general continued.
"No, I find it amusing to try and make my wife angry," the king corrected.
"Equally disturbing, your highness," the general commented.
"And unsuccessful," Adi continued. "Your patience is annoying, Vaishu," he commented looking at me.
I did not know how to react to that but the general gave the reaction for me.
"Do you want me to kill him?" he asked in utmost seriousness.
"No, please do not," I immediately replied.
"Got your answer?" Adi asked the general playfully, "Now, if you could leave us alone..."
"After what just happened?" the general said, "Absolutely not!"
"Well, I am planning to kiss my wife. Would you like to stay and watch?" Adi asked. The general gave one quick glare at Adi before turning towards me.
"I will be right outside if you need me, your highness," he assured and immediately left.
"Let me show you the cover I made for your book," Adi said excitedly as he walked towards his desk while I stood there confused.
Are we supossed to ignore his confession of planning to kiss me?
"Ignore what I said to the general," Adi answered probably noticing my confused looks, "I only said it to make him go away. I do not intend to follow through my words."
"But a king is supossed to follow through his words," I whispered to myself.
"What did you say?" Adi's eyes immediately shot up.
He is not supossed to hear that! He is not even standing near me....
"N-Nothing..." I said hesitantly.
"I heard it the first time, Vaishu" Adi stated, "I am only asking it again to understand your intentions."
"I-I do not know...what you are saying..." I said hoping to make the conversation go away.
Adi took a few steps towards me.
"Really?" he asked looking into my eyes.
No, not really. But there is no graceful way to tell him that.
So I just looked down and started playing with the sacred thread on my hand, hoping that would somehow calm my nerves.
Adi gently held onto my left hand so that I stop pulling the thread.
"Silence can speak too," he said and I slowly lifted my eyes.
"If you want me to step back, all you have to do is look away," he said in a low voice as he took a step forward.
I did not look away. I did not want to...for the most part atleast.
He took another step forward and I got so nervous that I tightened my grip on his hand. He did not seem to mind, and even held my hand firmly as a sign of assurance.
"Are you sure?" he asked for one last time.
"Ye-"
Adi did not even let me finish my sentence before he leaned in for a kiss......
I did not notice when my nervousness was replaced by calmness.
....when I went from tightly holding his hand in fear to resting my hand on his chest..
...when his hands made their way to gently holding my face.
....and when my mind completely stopped thinking giving me no further words to describe the experience.
....and like that......in the most beautiful way possible. ... we had our very first kiss!