40
(Preview: Sruthi refused to give the king his crown because she wanted him to get closer to the Queen. The King is furious goes searching for Sruthi and Nanda goes before him and pulls her aside. What happens once Adi meets Vaishu was covered in the last chapter)
"Let me go," I said as Kanda pulled me aside into a corner.
"Shut up, Gati," he whispered closing my mouth."The king is going to here soon," he said anxiously looking at the main corridor.
"Oh so he finally going to see the Queen," I said excited pulling his hand down.
"No he is going to kill you for not giving him his bloody crown," Kanda countered. "He's here," he said and we both moved in a little more towards the wall and I found myself trapped between Kanda and the wall.
"He is talking to the guards....Oh God I think he is asking about you...." Kanda started the commentary but for some reason I wasn't able to pay any attention. The proximity between us is affecting me more than it should.
As I held onto his shirt, felt his arms guarding me, his eyes looking around in anticipation of danger, I almost felt like.....kissing him!
"He went inside the chambers, you should..." Kanda said turning towards me but paused. Perhaps he finally started to notice how close we were standing to each other. He just stopped talking and continued to look into my eyes.
I am sure this is all in my head, but I felt like he wanted to kiss me too and would have definitely done that had I given him the slightest hint.
I wanted to kiss her!!!
I wanted to kiss a women that I am not married to. A women whom I consider to be my greatest enemy.
This is embarrassing.
What happened to my ethics? My morals? My values?
Anyway after what I am sure is an eternity, I finally got myself to stop looking at her and start talking.
"You should....leave," I said.
"...Right," Gati said and started walking towards the main corridor.
"Not that way, silly girl," I said pulling her back, "That's where all the soldiers are!"
"Let's go this way," I said and lead her in the opposite direction.
"One second," I said when we came near my chambers and quickly went inside to find a dupatta.
"Now it will be hard to recognize you," I said putting it over head and her face.
"This one is....from the temple!" Gati said surprised.
"Well that is the only one I could find in my room," I said frustrated.
"But..."
"You are not my wife Gati," I interrupted, "The veil will not do anything to keep us together. If it does, I would have never put it over your head"
Lie! A complete lie!
I had all intentions of putting that veil over her head. As a matter of fact I was waiting for an excuse and when I found one, I used it!
Do I want her to be my wife? Hell no!
But I do want her in my life. Even if all I could have is a glimpse, even if her presence meant torture, even if her actions cause disasters, I just want her around because without her I am not sure if I would feel alive!
"Oh my god! So many people," I said looking out through the small gap inbetween the curtains.
"If you don't want to go out, just shout BAHH and run away," Pallu suggested. Sruthi immediately smacked her on the head.
"What?" Pallu said annoyed, "It works every single time!"
"Your highness, don't worry," Naina said, "They are not your enemies. They are people who love and cherish you. You will be fine."
I smiled and nodded.
Her words have always been assuring!
Meanwhile we heard the sound of trumpets and announcements that the king is on his way.
"You should..."
"Leave, yes," Sruthi completed and the three of them immediately left as Pallu shouted her iconic BAHHH.
I watched as Adi walked in with soldiers and ministers behind him and Nanda being the only one walking beside him.
He looks...different....perhaps it is the royal walk, or his dress that is a bit more lavishing that it usually is, or the powerful aura of his presence, I wasn't able to take my eyes off of him.
"Why are you smiling? Do I look funny?" Adi asked seriously when he came near me.
I did not even realize I was smiling!
"No certainly not," I immediately replied, "I was smiling because you look cute."
"Cute?" the general chuckled and Adi angrily glared at him.
"Curtains," tha general immediately added looking at the curtains at the other side, "Cute curtains." "Where did we get them from?" he asked a soldier standing nearby.
"Sir...general...we..." the soldier stuttered.
Adi rolled his eyes at the general's failed stratergy. "Let's go," he said extending his hand.
Wow! After everything that happened, he still wants to hold my hand!
I held onto his hand and the doors opened.
As we walked onto the stage, I could see hundrends of people cheering for us on the ground. There were even people on the top floor. Kids throwing petals, faint sound of plesant music, people waving at us, a lot of things happening at once.
For the first time ever, I really felt like a Queen.
"All hail the king!"
"All hail the Queen!"
I heard the crowd shouting in unison and that inadvertedly brought a smile on my face.
"Why are you smiling? Did you find me cute again?" Adi whispered.
I looked at him.
"Why are you not smiling?" I asked, "Does it not make you happy that so many people are rooting for you?"
"If anything it makes me scared," Adi answered, "Every time I step in here is a reminder of how many smiles are dependant on me doing my job."
"I know her," one of the kids shouted interrupting our thoughts, "I saw her at the Kali ma temple. She gave me a bangle."
"Hii," I waved as I recognized the kid. The flower seller Adi and I met when we ran away from the palace.
"Hii," she waved back excited, "Where is your husband?"
"Here," I said pointing at Adi.
"No....that was another man," she said innocently.
"Adi she probably didn't recognize you because you don't have the fake moustache and aren't smiling," I whispered turning to Adi, "Can you smile? Maybe she will figure it out."
"No," Adi said firmly, "Smiling will make people think they can get away with the bad."
"Not smiling will make people think they will not be appreciated for the good," I countered and Adi looked at me seriously.
"Fine, do as you wish," I said looking away, "Worst case, I will run away with the man that kid saw me with at the temple."
Adi's expression quickly changed.
He got jealous....of.....himself!
"Is it?" he said and turned towards the kid.
"It is the same person, sweet girl," he smiled at the kid although the message was clearly intended for me.
"See," he said removing his crown and ruffled his hair, "Shiva is Adi. Adi is Shiva."
"Yesss!!!" the girl exclaimed in excitement, "Shiva bhaiyya!!!" "I know him! Shiva bhaiyya! He is the king!!!" she shouted and Adi chuckled.
Woww!!! Just woww!!!
A king with a reputation of never smiling had smiled in the court and not only did he smile, but he also made a little girl's day. He removed his crown to clear a small girl's question!
I wasn't the only one shocked by this. By the looks of it, every single person in the court today is going to take this story home. I suspect this will be the talk of the town for atleast the next three months!
Here I was, assuming he would maintain a stern face like he always does, assuming the Queen would get anxious, and thinking of all the ways to make sure the people do not think that they have a sad marriage.
....but here they are....with their love spreading the message louder than any man ever could.
...once and for all proving to the world.
....that Adi is not just a devil who fights for the right but also an angel who loves like the God!
"General, should we bring up the...."
"No court cases today," I interrupted the officer.
"But the king would be........."
"I said no court cases," I commanded.
"Yes sir," the officer said and stepped back.
Whatever comes I will handle. Let the world see the real Adi today!!!
Next Update : 29 September